Welcome back to Behind Closed Doors and the next chapter from Karma In Blue Jeans (Immortal Siblings). For those of you who are visiting for the first time, let me give you a brief explanation of this book and the series. Karma’s story came about in response to several issues I’ve seen crop up in the publishing world as well as the news and my life outside of my writing. We’ve all heard the “what comes around goes around” saying and many toss out barbs about the Karma Train coming for their enemies. I thought why not give Karma a face and a voice. Let’s see how she doles out punishments and rewards. The more I wrote in my Karma notebook, the more I found her story as well as those of her siblings would fit well as a cross over between my Now and Forever series and my Kayne Legacy series. Both have gods and goddesses as characters and the Immortal Siblings series is the perfect vehicle for me to explore the other characters and tie together all of story lines. It’s been a natural process for me because all of them are connected. It had been difficult for me to keep them separate so I gave in and let them tell their story.
This book has been a pleasure to write. I’m loving all the characters even the villains. LOL! I hope you do too. If you missed last week’s posting of Chapter One, click HERE. When you’re all caught up, please join me back here for Chapter 2. Leave a comment. I’d love to hear what you think of the story so far!
Enjoy!
Tammy
Chapter 2
“Did you see what I’ve been dealing with here? She’s going to lose her soulmate because she can’t admit she’s cheated and lied her way to where she is today.”
Karma sighed. “Ms. Cross will be confronted by those she used to lead in attacking others. They’ve already begun cutting ties with her. Reviews are being pulled and changed from five stars to one star. The tumble she loved to watch her competition go through is happening to her and headed into a full on free fall.”
“Is there hope for her?”
She draped her arm around Rhiannon’s waist. “There’s always hope. She simply has to reach out and accept the help offered with grace and humility.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen based on her track record with me.”
Lucius materialized in front of them. Karma smiled. He’d been stopping in on her assignments more and more as of late. Not that it bothered her. She adored him and wished they’d spent more time together instead of it always being on the job.
He nodded and appeared to be pleased with her work. “You went with a multipronged attack with this one. Brilliant.”
Rhiannon laughed. “She did learn from the best.”
He bowed and kissed her hand. “I do my best to share my secrets with those meant to take over when I’m gone.”
Karma sighed. “So you’ve made up your mind then? The Priestess is worth giving up everything and eternity for?”
He hugged her and chuckled. “She is and so much more. Brigid understands me and accepts who I am. She didn’t ask me to give up my powers. In fact, she left me when I told her my intentions.”
“She did what?” Karma admired Brigid more in that moment than she’d ever admit. She was willing to walk away from her soulmate in order for him to continue as one of The Three. That took courage and sacrifice, two traits she looked for in all mortals.
“It’s when Yeshua knew He couldn’t deny my request. While we’d created so many worlds together, He could read my heart like no other. He knew before I did that I would do this.”
Rhiannon snorted. “It’s that family of hers. Fate intervened with the lot of them and their friends. When she sets her mind to something, Yeshua sees that it happens. You, dear Brother were a casualty of that, albeit a pleasant one. Personally I adore the little minx who claimed your heart. She’s full of fire, the only kind able to control you.”
He smiled. “That she does. Now that I know Karma will be able to handle things, my transformation will take place soon.”
“Not before I get to spend time among them.”
“It’s not necessary…”
“I disagree. Cases like Evangeline Cross are easy. There are others who will take more finesse. I need to know how they think in certain situations. That will help me design their trials and tests.”
“I’m not the one you have to convince. You may be able to use Fate’s intervention with Brigid’s family to your advantage.”
Rhiannon agreed. “Mortals haven’t changed much through the centuries. Sure they have more toys and can communicate with each other instantly, but at their core, they’re all the same. If you feel you must experience life among them to do your job, then Yeshua will agree.”
“He wasn’t having any of it the last time I broached the subject.”
“He’s had time to mull it over and has listened to a few of us who feel you need to do this.”
She stared at Rhiannon. “What do you mean? Have you talked to Him about this behind my back?”
“No. It wasn’t a secret. You’ve been busy lately and I simply took the opportunity to let him know I supported you. I reminded him He has allowed me to do what you’ve asked and it hasn’t changed me.”
Lucius took both of their hands. “Come. Let’s make your case to Them now. Between the three of us, I’m sure we can get Their blessing.”
She smiled. “Are you sure you must leave us for The Priestess?”
He nodded. “She has been my destiny from the very beginning. Now is our time. One day you’ll be faced with the same choice.”
“Bite your tongue! I have more than enough on my plate with Justice and his shenanigans. Living disguised as a mortal is one thing. Giving up my powers is another—and completely out of the question.”
The three of them faded and left Evangeline alone to discover just how far she’d fallen.
* * * *
“@evangeline is a fraud and thief #StopPlagiarism”
“@evangeline lied and cheated her way up the ranks #TheMightyWillFall”
“I’ve deleted all @evangeline books. Will support the #RealAuthor”
She scrolled through page after page of tweets all calling her out for an explanation or joining the mobs bombing her everywhere. With one click, she deleted her Twitter account. I don’t need that bullshit. She opened a new window and navigated to her website to shut off comments on her blog. She’d decided to not go the extra step and make the site private—yet. She needed to keep up the illusion she was going to fight this lawsuit and not run from it.
She gulped down the last of the wine in her glass and then deleted the nasty comments that had escaped her filters. Her eyes snapped away from her the screen as the front door slammed. She cringed as the telltale sound of broken glass reached her ears. My vase collection!
She bolted from her office to find her daughter, Marissa on her knees picking up the pieces of glass and pottery that covered the floor. “How many times have I told you not to slam that door?”
Her daughter sat back on her heels and glared. “Are you kidding me right now? I’ve had the worst day of my life thanks to you and you’re bitching about me slamming the door. Unfrickinbelievable!”
“Hey! You may be eighteen, but you live in my house and you won’t talk to me like that.”
Marissa rolled her eyes. “I don’t give a shit, Mother. It’s all over school what you did. Do you have any idea what it’s like to have people ask if you’re still going to follow in your mother’s footsteps? My English professor called me into her office today and asked me flat out if everything I’d turned in to her was my own work.”
She stood and carried the larger pieces of debris to the kitchen. She tossed them in the trash and then grabbed the Dustbuster from the charging station. She stomped back to the entryway and collided with Marissa, knocking her to the floor again. “Look. This whole mess will be worked out in court. It’s all lies. The judge will see it and then we can get back to normal.”
Marissa stood up and leaned against the wall. “You’re delusional. I’m not a little kid you can tell bullshit lies to anymore.”
“I’m not lying, Mar. This is all a big mistake. I submitted every book to Bliss, worked through edits, and rewrites. They’re my words…my work.”
“No. You stole someone else’s work and passed it off as your own. The original manuscripts didn’t belong to you. You had no right to send them to Bliss or any other publisher.”
“You’re turning on me too? First your father and now you. I can’t do this right now. I have to get ready for my doctor’s appointment.”
“Appointment for what? Is it for your fibromyalgia you don’t have or are you having another cancer scare?”
She slapped Marissa and knocked her back against the wall. Her body shock and her chest tightened. It took all her self-control not to slap her daughter over and over again. “You will show me respect while you live under my roof.”
Marissa’s eyes glistened with tears and she touched the red hand print blooming on her cheek. “Don’t worry. I’ll be out of your hair within the hour.”
She reached out but froze when Marissa recoiled from her touch. This was supposed to be my happily ever after and now it’s all gone to hell.
Evangeline vacuumed up the rest of the shards and then returned to her office to start damage control. She opened up her private Facebook group page dedicated to her street team, Evie’s Angels. At least these people stand by me.
“Hello my Angels!”
“Evie! We’ve been worried sick.”
“I told you she wouldn’t leave us hanging.”
She grinned and licked her lips. This is going to be so fucking easy. “I had to gather myself together before I came here to be with ya’ll—the only people who’ve stood by me through everything.”
She giggled with glee as message after message popped up expressing their unwavering support. All the expensive prizes she’d given them to promote her work had not only helped her sales but had ingratiated her in their hearts. They’d do anything to get another handbag or piece of one of a kind jewelry. Little did they know, all of it was as fake as her online persona. She couldn’t give a rat’s as about any of them, but if they could get her through this, she’d consider changing her mind for some of them. The rest had always grated on her nerves.
“This legal snafu is just that. It’s all a huge misunderstanding. Each book Bliss put out under my name is mine. The truth will come out. In the meantime, I could use your thoughts and prayers. With my books pulled from Bliss and Amazon, my family will have to take a huge hit. I found out today my last mammogram detected another suspicious spot. It’s been five years cancer free for me and now it all comes tumbling down.”
She watched as more messages flashed on her screen detailing support and asking her to tell them what they can do. “I need help, my Angels. I’ve set up a GoFundMe account to help with the medical bills and other expenses with this court case. I’m not asking you all for a dime. You’ve done more than enough for me already just by being here. If you could share the link for the GoFundMe page, I’d be forever grateful.”
She waited.
And waited.
No response to her plea.
Sweat trickled down her back as the seconds ticked away.
“You got it, Evie!”
“Anything for our girl!”
Thank God. She emptied the last of the bottle of wine into her glass and read every word of encouragement as they filled her screen.
And then it happened.
“Sorry, Evangeline. I won’t share your crowd funding link like the rest of these lemmings. I stayed here waiting for you to explain yourself, maybe even apologize for what you’ve done and for all the lies you’ve told. Boy, talk about a huge disappointment! Instead of begging for a handout, maybe you should tell the truth. Your daughter did.”
The room spun in front of her eyes. The glass slipped from her hand, bounced on the floor, and then soaked the white carpet with the wine. Her phone blew up with email and text notifications. She stood and clutched her chest. Her knees buckled and then she collapsed.
Marissa rushed into the room.
She couldn’t hear a word her daughter yelled at her, nor could she speak. She tried to squeeze her hand to let her know she was still there, but her body failed her again. If I get through this, I’ll make it right. I promise.
* * * *
Chapter 3 will be up next week! You’ll get to meet Karma’s lover Justice and more of her Immortal Siblings
Behind Closed Doors 
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