As the quints head into their third and final year of college, they are going to discover the thing that truly matters most - family. Follow them on their journey as the sisters deal with situations beyond their control. That is when the family becomes essential, especially the Gray Family. Now all they must do is get through the next two years with minor issues. Considering these are The Gray Sisters, expect the unexpected. With a little bit of help from the Brothers and a whole lot of humor, anything is possible. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Unconditional Love
Lakin
Patience has never been my strong suit. I prefer to use my fists to get my point across. But, of course, now I would have to garnish some with Mia.
Her speech had improved, and so did her motor skills, but she had developed an innocence about her. She looked at things differently than before, and now it was my turn to take care of her.
I spent more time with her than with my family. They understood, but today we're celebrating Grammy's birthday. I swear the woman is like two hundred years old.
According to Dad, she is only ninety-five, close enough.
I drove over to Mia's house to pick her up for the birthday party and got out of the car. I walked up to the front door and knocked.
Michael answered it and smiled. He held the door open as I walked inside.
"I'll get Lyric. Mia's a little upset."?
"About what?"?
"Her dress."?
I nodded and walked up the stairs, and he followed me.
I knocked on her bedroom door, and it was quiet. I turned the knob, opening it to reveal Mia sitting on her bed with her head down.
I walked over to her and crouched in front of her. "Hey, baby girl."
She lifted her head and looked at me, wide-eyed, smiling. "Lakin!"
"Michael said you were a little upset about your dress."?
"Oh, Lakin, it's not pretty." She sighed.
"It's beautiful."?
"Are you sure?" Her face lit up.
"Yes, now, come on. We don't want to be late." I stood up and held out my hand. She took it, standing up. She placed her hands on my shoulders and kissed me on the lips. That caught me by surprise because she hadn't been affectionate with me for a while.
I missed this. I placed my hands on Mia's face and kissed her back. I missed her lips and being close to her - baby steps.
I let go of her, and she smiled. I took her hand and led her out as Michael followed us. I led her to the car and got her situated while Michael went to get Lyric.
I drove her to Grampa's and Nana's house. After I parked, we got out of the car, and I held her hand while we walked inside the house. I didn't want people to scare her.
As we entered, she clenched my arm as people saw us. The entire family was here. Uncle Jonas and Uncle Cayson came along with their wives and families.
"Lakin, I'm scared." She buried her head into my shoulder.
"Mia? Look at me."?
She lifted her head.?
"This is my family, which will also be your family one day. So, they won't hurt you, Hunny."
Everyone gave her a soft smile as a smile curled upon her lips. Then I heard a clunking sound against the floor. Oh, shit.
Mia gripped my arm, cutting off my circulation as Grammy crept towards us. Please be kind and gentle. I prayed to myself.
"Well, hello, Mia. You're wearing a lovely dress today." Grammy said. Wait. What?
Mia loosened her grip on my arm and moved her hands to her dress as she pushed the material between her fingers. "Do you think so?"
"Oh, sweetheart, I know so. How about you come with me, and we can have cake?" Grammy gave Mia a genuine smile.
Mia smiled and turned to me. "Lakin? Can I have cake?"
"How about some food, then you can have an enormous piece of cake?"
"Okay."?
"Okay, food, then cake," Grammy told her. "Get us some food, Nathaniel. I'm not getting any younger!"
"You can say that again," Cayson said under his breath.
Mia giggled. "He's funny."
Grammy didn't argue, and neither did the rest of us. We all smiled. That was a relief. As they made their way out, Dad and Ma walked over to me. "She seems like she's doing better," Dad said.
"We're taking it day by day," I said.
"Lakin, we're proud of you," Ma told me.
"She's my heart," I told them with a shrug. I walked by them and out to the backyard. Mia was everything to me. So much had happened that I was afraid she wouldn't wake up, but she did. She might be different, but to me, she was my Mia.
*****
The party got into full swing. The noise level increased tenfold. It caused Mia to go into a full-blown panic mode because the noise was an issue.
"Stop!" She placed her hands over her ears.?
I turned and walked over to her as everyone quieted down. I reached her.?
"Lakin, it's too loud."?
"Okay, baby girl. Let's go somewhere quieter." I guided her away from everyone.
Michael followed suit.
"Will she be okay?" Larkin asked Lyric.
"No, but over time noise won't be as bad. Michael said she's been having a challenging time adjusting to things. It's because of the brain damage," Lyric said.
"She didn't deserve that. I hope that the bastard rots in hell," Maverick said.
Once we calmed her down, I took her home. The party was too much for her. Over time, she would get better with noise, but it was still a battle. At least, she was here and alive. Oh, Mia, my baby, it'll be okay.
Carrington Carrington Jones grew up with seven brothers and sisters. He has a happy-go-lucky nature with a tender heart, which sets him apart from his siblings with their personalities. He meets a woman who captures his heart. The only problem is she has a husband. Carrington’s brothers advised him against pursuing it, especially Mason and Charles, understanding it’s a terrible idea. Carrington can’t stay away from the woman. What happens with romance blossoms? Will Carrington discover his happiness, or will his heart get broken? A forbidden romance is enticing but arises in tragedy. Carrington will discover that it’s not romance where his heart lies but what occurs from it. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Matthew Harper always does the right thing. He doesn’t drink or smoke and protects his family, but he lets his past rule him. After dealing with the loss of his girlfriend Sadie, he thought he could move on, but ghosts of the past resurface. It made him close off his heart to someone who could love him more profoundly than the ocean. What happens when a past love resurfaces, making him rethink his earlier decisions? Will he get a second chance at happiness he deserves or breaks another’s heart again? It takes help from some cousins and an unexpected situation to show Matthew that we can’t let the past rule our future. The heart wants what the heart wants. *The Gray Series spin-off series. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Oliver Harper is a unique person. He doesn’t care about frivolous ideas or someone in his life to complete him. He prefers a conversation that stimulates his mind. When Oliver starts college, his friends and cousins join him. The problem with this bunch is they’re crazy. Have you met the Gray/Harper family? They define bat shit crazy. Olivier will navigate his way through college with the help of his family and cousins. He’ll meet and fall in love with the most unexpected person who’ll stimulate his mind. College life is about to explode. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Growing up next to the Harper boys, Tori Williams learned to hold her own with them. Her brother Gabe is best friends with the boys, and Tori deals with the youngest Harper boy, Deacon. There’s a slight issue when Tori dates Bradley Wilson, whom the Harper boys can’t stand. Wanting to keep Tori from her idiot ex-boyfriend, Nate and Deacon develop a plan of their own. Elias Harper graduated college and returned home to work in construction. While Nate and Deacon scheme to keep Bradley from Tori, another issue arises when Elias takes an interest in a particular neighbor girl. What happens when four years change people? Will a love connection happen, or will someone get burned? With the Gray gene cemented in your DNA, all bets are off. Follow Elias as he discovers who held his heart while growing up. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Lex and Piper are ready to settle down and have a family of their own. After celebrating the wedding of Michael and Lyric, something significant happens to Lex and Piper, which turns the Gray family upside down. Will they be able to get through this, or will they falter? With the help of The Gray Brothers and The Gray Sisters, Lex and Piper will learn the meaning of what it is to be a Gray. Love and humor go a long way for this family. Follow Lex and Piper on their journey as we find out if they can find their way back to each other. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Nash and Maggie’s offspring are off to college, along with Kaiden and Kain. As they navigate life away from home, they must deal with what happened after graduation too. Will the quints help Lyric deal with the tragedy while they deal with college life? Sometimes, you need a little help and guidance from The Gray Brothers themselves. Get ready because The Gray Sisters are taking college by storm. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Mia's life is spiraling out of control. Abandoned by her mother, bullied mercilessly at school, and thrown into a household of four dangerously attractive stepbrothers, she's desperate to find her footing. "You look absolutely edible," Sean growled, his eyes devouring her. Mia felt a rush of heat between her thighs "Oh, you think so?" she purred, turning to face him. She reached out and traced her fingers along the ribbon that wrapped around his waist. "Well, I've been waiting for this all day. And I'm starving." Sean's smile grew into a predatory grin. "Then let us feast," he said, and in a flash, the ribbon fell away, exposing his rock-hard length. He stepped closer, and Mia felt the warmth of his breath on her face as he whispered, "You're going to take every inch of us tonight, aren't you?" With Rolex's teasing smirk and Sean's quiet, hot stares, Mia doesn't know where to turn-or who to trust. Every glance, every touch leaves her breathless, confused, and craving more than she should. Will Mia survive their games, or will she lose herself in a dangerous world of secrets, seduction, and forbidden desire? One house. Four brothers. Endless temptation.
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.