[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

in me and always will. Easy wanted Jenna to know, no matter what became of them, she would never
stop being important to him for the belief she d given him with her words, her heart, and her body.
Together, the three pieces seemed to snap another piece of the puzzle of his heart back into place.
Just like building a wall. Brick by brick.
He could work with that.
 What do you think? he finally asked as he turned to her.
She tackle hugged him so hard that he stumbled back a step before he caught her in his arms and
lifted her until she wrapped her legs around his hips.
 It s the most amazing thing I ve ever seen. I can t believe you put my words on your body with
that beautiful saying and your friends names. She gave him the sweetest kiss and leaned her
forehead against his.  But why is it in red?
He met her questioning gaze with a smile.  For you, and all this beautiful red hair.
 Oh, she said, voice tight.  Oh, my God. How do you expect me not to tell people how sweet you
are when you do this?
He chuckled, then he got serious again.  I believe, Jenna, he said, referring to her affirming
words, but feeling a whole lot more. For her.  Or, at least, I ll keep saying it until it s true.
 Oh, Easy, she whispered against his lips.  I ll be right there with you, because I believe, too.
Author s Note
Writing about a suicidal character is one of the most challenging things I ve ever done, but also one of
the most important. Suicide is always tragic, but it has become an epidemic among American active-
duty service members and veterans alike. The statistics are staggering and heart-wrenching. In the
U.S. Army, which has the highest suicide rate among the branches (48.7 percent of all military
suicides in 2012), the suicide rate in 2012 was thirty per hundred thousand, compared with fourteen
per hundred thousand among civilians and eighteen per hundred thousand in 2008. In 2012, 841
active-duty service members attempted or committed suicide. Among veterans, as of November 2013,
twenty-two committed suicide every day. Every. Day. A frightening 30 percent of veterans say
they ve considered suicide, and 45 percent say they know an Iraq or Afghanistan veteran who has
attempted or committed suicide.
In a study of veterans, combat-related guilt was the most significant predictor of suicide attempts
and of preoccupation with suicide after discharge. Veterans suicidal thoughts are also related to
feelings that one does not belong with other people or has become a burden. Couple these sad
realities with the fact that veterans are less likely to seek care than active-duty military or civilians,
and you begin to understand why statistics like these exist.
Suicide is a process that begins with ideas and thoughts, followed by planning, and finally
followed by a suicidal act. If you or someone you love is experiencing these thoughts, please seek
immediate medical help or call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). This
service works with civilians of all ages, active-duty military, and veterans.
I hope Easy s story raises awareness of the problems these brave men and women and our
country as a whole face. But awareness is not enough. Therefore, I will be donating all of my
proceeds from the first two weeks sales of this book (8/19/14  9/1/14) to a national non-profit that
assists wounded veterans. Because I don t want anyone else s Edward  Easy Cantrell to be one of
the twenty-two, either.
Acknowledgments
I m so happy that Easy got his story and that my awesome editor Amanda Bergeron agreed it needed
to be told! Many thanks to her and the whole team at Avon for her incredible support of the Hard Ink
series. Many thanks also to my agent Kevan Lyon for being such an amazing source of support and
guidance, and to my publicist KP Simmon at InkSlinger PR for loving these guys, supporting me, and
cheering me on.
I must absolutely thank my good friend Christi Barth, an awesome author in her own right, for
reading the manuscript and offering such useful comments and feedback. Christi has read every word
in the Hard Ink world, and these stories wouldn t be what they are without her. Thank you, Christi!
I also want to thank Dr. Jeffrey Goodie for providing me with reports and information about
suicide in the military. Jeff is a clinical health psychologist in the U.S. Public Health Service who
served in the U.S. Air Force for nine years. (He was also my husband s college roommate and our
family s good friend!)
Next, I want to thank my husband Brian and our daughters for all their amazing support. I couldn t
write a word without it, and I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.
Finally, I want to thank you, the readers, for welcoming characters into your hearts and minds and
letting them tell their stories over and over again. It s all for you. And you re the best!
~LK
The Hard Ink series continues . . .
HARD TO COME BY
A Hard Ink Novel
Caught between desire and loyalty . . .
Derek DiMarzio would do anything for the members of his disgraced Special Forces team sacrifice
his body, help a former teammate with a covert operation to restore their honor, and even go behind
enemy lines. He just never expected to want the beautiful woman he found there.
When a sexy stranger asks questions about her brother, Emilie Garza is torn between loyalty to the
brother she once idolized and fear of the war-changed man he s become. Derek s easy smile and
quiet strength tempt Emilie to open up, igniting the desire between them and leading Derek to crave a
woman he shouldn t trust.
As the team s investigation reveals how powerful their enemies are, Derek and Emilie must prove
where their loyalties lie before hearts are broken and lives are lost. Because love is too hard to come
by to let slip away . . .
Available everywhere December 2014
About the Author [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]