I Believe Now
(Until You, Book 2)
by Hurri Cosmo
Genres: Gay (M/M) Contemporary, Romance, Mystery, Suspense
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Max doesn't usually leave loose ends. Except, this time, he did, and now it has reached into his world and taken his most precious part of it, Asher. Frantic to get his lover back, Max comes up with a plan. One that won't fail. But what happens...when it does?
Max is aware of his error in not tying up that loose end, one Wyatt Jackson. He just didn't think the man had it in him to bite back. Not after everything that happened to him over a year ago. But when Asher goes missing and the former Congressman takes the credit for the kidnapping, Max comes up with a few plans of his own. The only problem is, this time, those well thought out, perfectly planned, sequence of events that were supposed to defeat the bad guy and get Asher back in his protective arms, did not play out as perfectly as Max thought they would. And because of that, this time, neither Asher nor Max may make it out alive.
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He thought he could escape. The requirements were for his hands to be free and to be without the blindfold and the only time that ever happened was when he was in the bathroom. That time there was a window in the bathroom. A window! Daylight! The window was totally frosted so he couldn't see anything out of it at all but it was a window and there hadn't been one in any of the other bathrooms. How could he not take advantage? The window was extremely small; still his body was small too and he truly thought he could fit through it once it was open. He fought with raising it, trying to make as little noise as possible; the sound of the running water covered most of it. If sheer willpower had physical strength, he would simply have ripped the whole thing out from the frigging wall. But unfortunately he had to rely on actual strength and pray the thing would actually go up. Then suddenly…success! The damn thing was finally coming loose. It started to move. He pulled for all he was worth only.
But then...
There were fucking bars over the outside? Are you fucking kidding me?
Then, as his bad luck continued, he could not close the fucking thing again. If they came in and found the window open, they'd know what he had been trying to do. Shit! He had to hurry. Once again he pulled hard, this time in the opposite direction. Close, you son of… Suddenly his hand slipped. He had been leaning so hard into it he pitched forward, nearly tumbling to the floor. Instead he fell against the sink with a loud thunk Of course his captors heard it. And instantly knew what he'd been attempting to do. Asher prepared himself for them to come barging in but they didn't.
"What are you doing, Madden?" the voice said with a sigh sounding almost bored. "As you can see, you can't get out that way. If you are done, please put on your blindfold so we can come in."
It wasn't fair. It didn't help he was able to look out and see a maze of seemingly abandoned warehouses. If he'd been able to get out there, he could have easily lost any of the kidnappers in and among the buildings. He had done it countless times before with Max's men. He really could have gotten away.
But it didn't happen.
So he put his blindfold back on and waited patiently while they entered and once again tied his hands behind his back. They tied them extra tight that time; so much for being alone and coming up with an escape plan. One more missed opportunity. He waited, expecting more punishment than just the pain in his wrists but it never came. They were evidently that confident.
Damn it! Damn it all to fucking hell!
This time, this time, he was not going to fail. There had to be a chink in this armor, a flaw in the overall plan. He had to figure out what that chink was and exploit it. He'd find out the weakness. That's what Max would do. Asher had given them all the reasons in the world to think he was compliant and cooperative due to fear and stupidity. It was going to now work to his advantage. He'd show them. All of their attention was most likely back on Max and what it was he was supposed to do for them. As long as he was still alive and he heard nothing, then Max was still at work trying to save him. He had to escape. It was going to let Max know he didn't have to worry about Asher as much as he obviously did. He'd finally make Max understand he could take care of himself. He was going to save Max from whatever it was they were demanding—if he could escape soon enough. He would do it. The next time they allowed him to be free enough, he was going to do it.
Hang on Max! I will save you again!
He laughed to himself at the thought. He was still scared shitless, but the time he had been in captivity had taken the edge off—or maybe he was just numb. He floated from moment to moment and knowing it was like that truly pissed him off. But he could do nothing while he was tied and blindfolded. He kept telling himself that. He needed to keep telling himself that.
He could do nothing.
Max! Where the hell are you? Can you save me? Do I wait? Are you waiting for me? Do I do something? Or is that going to screw up what you might be trying to do? Why couldn't that phone call have lasted long enough for Max to at least have told him what he should do? FUCK!
Oh god…
Oh god…
The blindfold soaked up the tears. He was grateful for that at least.
But then...
There were fucking bars over the outside? Are you fucking kidding me?
Then, as his bad luck continued, he could not close the fucking thing again. If they came in and found the window open, they'd know what he had been trying to do. Shit! He had to hurry. Once again he pulled hard, this time in the opposite direction. Close, you son of… Suddenly his hand slipped. He had been leaning so hard into it he pitched forward, nearly tumbling to the floor. Instead he fell against the sink with a loud thunk Of course his captors heard it. And instantly knew what he'd been attempting to do. Asher prepared himself for them to come barging in but they didn't.
"What are you doing, Madden?" the voice said with a sigh sounding almost bored. "As you can see, you can't get out that way. If you are done, please put on your blindfold so we can come in."
It wasn't fair. It didn't help he was able to look out and see a maze of seemingly abandoned warehouses. If he'd been able to get out there, he could have easily lost any of the kidnappers in and among the buildings. He had done it countless times before with Max's men. He really could have gotten away.
But it didn't happen.
So he put his blindfold back on and waited patiently while they entered and once again tied his hands behind his back. They tied them extra tight that time; so much for being alone and coming up with an escape plan. One more missed opportunity. He waited, expecting more punishment than just the pain in his wrists but it never came. They were evidently that confident.
Damn it! Damn it all to fucking hell!
This time, this time, he was not going to fail. There had to be a chink in this armor, a flaw in the overall plan. He had to figure out what that chink was and exploit it. He'd find out the weakness. That's what Max would do. Asher had given them all the reasons in the world to think he was compliant and cooperative due to fear and stupidity. It was going to now work to his advantage. He'd show them. All of their attention was most likely back on Max and what it was he was supposed to do for them. As long as he was still alive and he heard nothing, then Max was still at work trying to save him. He had to escape. It was going to let Max know he didn't have to worry about Asher as much as he obviously did. He'd finally make Max understand he could take care of himself. He was going to save Max from whatever it was they were demanding—if he could escape soon enough. He would do it. The next time they allowed him to be free enough, he was going to do it.
Hang on Max! I will save you again!
He laughed to himself at the thought. He was still scared shitless, but the time he had been in captivity had taken the edge off—or maybe he was just numb. He floated from moment to moment and knowing it was like that truly pissed him off. But he could do nothing while he was tied and blindfolded. He kept telling himself that. He needed to keep telling himself that.
He could do nothing.
Max! Where the hell are you? Can you save me? Do I wait? Are you waiting for me? Do I do something? Or is that going to screw up what you might be trying to do? Why couldn't that phone call have lasted long enough for Max to at least have told him what he should do? FUCK!
Oh god…
Oh god…
The blindfold soaked up the tears. He was grateful for that at least.
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My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
A Note From Carly: This review contains spoilers for book one. Readers and fans of Until You need to be prepared for a VERY different sort of book. The romance and relationship development that was the heart beat of book one is practically non-existent in book two. I loved Until You. If I was reviewing I Believe Now as part of a series I would give it 3 stars due to the complete departure from book one in focus, storytelling and writing style. It's hard to pull away from the fact that this is a character entwined book from a series that MUST be read in order, but I'll try.
Review: I Believe Now is action packed, darker in perspective, quite suspenseful, and the plot is well developed. We learn a lot about Max, as it's told primarily from his point of view. That gives it a rough and tumble feel, as Asher is the softness and uplifting spirit that entwines with Max's strength. I'm glad that Hurri included some scenes from Asher's POV, because I'm of the opinion that you can never have too much Asher! If you are looking for an action/adventure story that will get your heart racing and has a plot you can delve into, then this is the book for you. Believe me when I say that Max and Asher did not ride happily off into the sunset... but their commitment to each other never waivers and, in the end, that's what really matters.
Hurri Cosmo lives in Minnesota where she holds tight to the idea that there, where it’s cold a good part of the year, she won’t age as fast. Yep, she avoids the truth as much as she avoids mirrors. But one of the reasons she loves writing is reality doesn’t always offer up a “happily ever after” and being able to take control of that is a powerful lure. Being a happy ending junkie, writing just makes them easier to find. Oh, she doesn’t mind “real life” and she does try to at least keep it in mind when she writes her stories, but she truly loves creating a wonderful couple, knowing they will fall in love and have their HEA. Every - single - time. And, of course, that is exactly the reason she loves reading this genre, too. Give her a glass of red wine, some dark chocolate, and her computer, whether she is reading or writing, and she will entertain herself for hours. The fact she actually gets paid to do it is Snickers bars on the frosting on the cake.
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Books by Hurri Cosmo
Fireborn Publishing
Until You
I Believe Now (Until You, #2)
Amber Allure
How West Was Won
The Superior Jewel
Ice Dragon Tales (contains the first two books in the series, The Servant Prince and The Servant King)
The One
Forgetting Yesterday
Saving Jack
Talasar’s Elixir (Book one in the Dragon for Hire series)
The Door Keeper
Amber Moon (Part of the Intoxicating Fantasies series)
Chase and Capture
Baby, Think it Over
Secret Cravings:
The Astral Mage (Book one of The Captains of the Wolf)
Ladders
Upcoming
Riven Creek Ranch
A Place to Belong
Thank you, Carly, for hosting me again. Thank you for the review as well. I love your reviews. Definitely a reviewer I trust! I love your blog too, so again, thank you so much for hosting my new book!
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