A Stolen Heart, Antonello Brothers Series

When he rescues a half-human orphan, a glorified space pirate turned entrepreneur sets in motion a chain of events that threatens to topple the powerful Thieves' Guild he once led.

Multiple layers of conspiracy unfold, reaching all the way to Luc's immortal ex--the king. Behind each solved mystery looms an unseen foe, undoing the good Luc accomplishes. For the sake of this child, Luc must postpone his own freedom and master his desire for revenge or he will violate an ancient vow. Worse, he'll put the toddler at risk.

At war with his compassion for the vulnerable child, loyalty to the king, duty to the Guild, and the bright lure of freedom he's coveted for centuries, Luc seeks the right path. Will he choose liberty and unparalleled success, or restore the Thieves' Guild to its former glory while overseeing the child's training?

A hard choice for any man. For an immortal whose inner monster can destroy on sight? Impossible.

A pirate with a monstrous past can never be trusted with an innocent child. Luc must ensure the child is protected, safe, nowhere near danger. Nowhere near him. Even if this little boy has already stolen his heart...

A Stolen Heart is a full length novel set in the Antonello Brothers Science Fiction Romance series. The scene below is the critical moment of the story when Luc Saint-Cyr meets Senthys (Senth) Antonello for the first time. This massive, enhanced warrior turned businessman has the empire by the tail -- as long as no one discovers Luc's real nature. Enter a tiny three-year-old boy running as if fleeing a monster. The monster (a cruel teacher) showed up, and while Senth hid, Luc redirected her elsewhere.

After she left, Luc motioned to the boy. "It's safe to come out now. She's gone."

Sticking one finger into his mouth, the boy crept forward, peeked around the door, and burst into tears.

Even Luc, whose experience with children could be recorded on his palm, could tell his cry reflected genuine relief. The boy had been terrified.

Monster chasing him indeed. What had that woman done?

The little one ran, but instead of heading for the door, he made a beeline for Luc and threw both arms around one of his legs, sobbing.

Luc stiffened.

Children didn't run to him. They fled.

Imperturbable, Pietas had called him. Seeing him now, his king would guffaw. What did it matter what Pietas thought anyway? Could he not excise that man from his thoughts for a single day?

How did one coax a child to cease crying? Luc bent at the knees only enough to pat the boy on the head. "There, there."

The child cried harder.

What if the headmistress showed up and found him with a sobbing child? What would she think? Worse, would she accuse him of some misdeed?

Her office held no toys or amusements. This room was all business, a showcase for prospective clients, not children.

"Stop crying, little boy." He tacked on, "Please."

Wailing harder, the boy looked up at him, blue eyes red-rimmed.

Heart in his throat, Luc took stock.

A terrified child. Him.

That ratio was supposed to work only one way.

He showed up. Children ran.

Why didn't this one?

An adult with issues, Luc could handle. That was territory he knew. When one lived with Pietas, one became an expert at adults with issues, as a matter of necessity.

Training, both military and in commerce had taught him three steps.

Identify the problem.

Acknowledge the problem.

Solve the problem.

He knew the problem, so he must acknowledge and solve it. First order of business was not to stand there like a dolt, but instead treat this child with respect.

Like a tiny Pietas.

Luc went down on one knee. "You're afraid," he acknowledged. "It's okay." He brushed the mass of curly hair away from the boy's tear-soaked face. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

Hiccupping, the boy reached up to him.

What was Luc supposed to do? He couldn't pick the boy up.

But this little one looked at him with such plaintive eyes, how could he ignore the unspoken plea?

“What’s the rule?” Can first-time-father Luc teach one? #Excerpt A Stolen Heart #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Luc teaches a safety rule to Senthys.

What is the rule?

In the hoversine on the way to shop, Luc taught Senthys an important rule to protect him. Now that they've arrived, how well did the first-time-father get it across?

At the entrance, two women who were leaving both greeted the boy. One wiggled her fingers at the tyke, and each gave Luc an appreciative once over.

He'd grown used to that over the years, but this appraisal had a different impact.

More sweet than sensual.

Interesting. Women found a man attractive because he was with a child. How had he missed knowing that?

Inside, the store had a clean smell, like freshly pressed linen and well-oiled wood, with an undertone of vanilla.

Senthys drew in a lungful. "I want some cookies."

"It does smell like cookies in here, doesn't it?"

A selection of clothing displayed various sizes and colors of sportswear, casualwear, and in the back, a sign designated formalwear. Formalwear for kids? Did boys need tuxes?

Before Luc could investigate, Senthys tugged at his hand and pointed to a play area near the front of the store. "I wanna go see that."

"What was the rule?"

The boy stuck a finger into his mouth, rocking himself side to side. "Stay with you."

"That's right."

"If you go see it, I can see it." He tilted his head. "Please?"

Luc could find no fault in that logic, nor resist the appeal. "Since you asked politely. Let's go see." Holding the boy's hand, he entered the play area.

Be sure to check out the other authors in this hop below.

Homeworld

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With his hair flat against his head, Senthys resembled a wet cat and looked half his usual size. Shivering, the boy stood quietly while Luc dried him. Unlike Kin, the toddler had human feet without claws. After dressing him in a clean t-shirt and underpants, Luc wrapped Senthys in one of Nikko's old button-down sweaters as a robe and rolled up the sleeves. The garment swallowed the tousle-haired moppet.

Luc had hair like the boy's. A comb would never go through such tangles. "I don't want to pull your hair, so we'll leave it alone."

Senthys took Luc's face in his hands and looked into his eyes. "Thank you."

"Welcome. Let's get you into bed." When he re-entered the bedroom with the boy, Nikko was waiting.

"Hey, Luc. I got the bed ready for you, Senth." His Deshai pulled down the covers.

Senthys hopped in excitement. "A real bed!"

Nikko helped him climb onto it. "It's comfortable too."

"I get to sleep up here?"

"You sure do." Nikko fluffed the pillow. "I'll be right over there on the couch if you need me."

"Okay. Hug, Nikko?"

Nikko bent over and hugged him. After turning around, he mouthed, "So cute!"

"Hug?" Senthys held out his arms.

Luc gestured to himself.

"Uh huh." Senthys waited.

How was it Luc was back to feeling like he was the student trying to please the teacher? "All right." He bent closer.

The boy threw his arms around Luc and kissed him on the cheek. "Night night, Sen'dai."

Touching his cheek, Luc stepped back. He'd supervised bedtimes for his older Deshai. What did one do with a toddler?

The paper gift bag on the floor caught his attention, and he picked it up.

"The house-droids sent up something for you." He sat on the edge of the bed. "Shall we see what it is?" Luc cracked open the top, peeked inside, and snapped it shut.

Senthys sat up and grabbed the blanket with both hands, looking like a cat spying a toy. "What's in there?"

"Maybe you should find out." Luc passed him the bag.

After opening it, Senthys peeked in and then squealed. "Pocket!" He pulled out the bear. "You fixed him!" He clasped the mended bear to his chest and rocked back and forth. "Thank you!" The boy clambered out from under the covers and threw his arms around Luc's neck.

"You're welcome." He hugged back.

"You have the best house-droids ever!" Senthys stood on the bed, holding the bear's arms and dancing around with him.

"Careful!" Luc guided him to a seated position. "I'll make sure to thank them for you."

"Look, Nikko!" Senthys held out Pocket. "They fixed my bear!"

"Cool!" After getting a closer look at the scraggly toy, Nikko's eyebrows shot up. "This is fixed?"

Luc nudged him. "Trust me."

"Wow."

Hugging Pocket, Senthys climbed under the covers. He nestled his head against the pillows. "Pocket is sleepy now."

Luc smoothed covers over him and on impulse, over the bear.

"Hey, Senth," Nikko asked, "should I leave the light on in the bathroom?"

"Are--" He swallowed. "Are you scareded of the dark?"

"I used to be. But what if Pocket needs the light on 'cause he's in a new house? What do you think?"

Senthys held out the bear at arm's length, looked him over, and then tucked him back under the covers. "He says you're right."

"Good deal."

"Nikko?" Senthys yawned. "Pocket says thank you."

The young Deshai grinned. "Glad to help him out."

"Me too," the boy murmured, eyes drifting shut.

Be sure to check out all the other authors in this blog hop by clicking the links below.

The Antonello Brothers Series

A Stolen Heart

He rescued a half-human child from a "big bad monster" but now who is rescuing whom... Meet the mischievous hero from At the Mercy of Her Pleasure, For Women Only and Bro as a three-year-old toddler. This is how and why the immortal Luc Saint-Cyr decided to adopt the half-human Senthys Antonello. Hold onto your heartstrings! Plus, Luc's immortal "ex" takes center stage in this story. #PietasFans will love this one!
Visit the book page
He rescued a half-human child from a big bad monster but now who is rescuing whom? A Stolen Heart #SciFi #SpaceOpera Click To Tweet

At the Mercy of Her Pleasure

A fast-paced scifi romance with an adorable, fun-loving hero who's half-human and half-cat and a by-the-book army captain heroine. Hired to steal back a prototype taken by the imperial armada, Senth retrieves it, but his brother is kidnapped to force Senth to surrender the device. Now he has to rescue his brother, outsmart the armada, and keep the item out of imperial hands. All doable, except for one small problem. He must do it in the company of NarrAy, a genetically altered woman whose pheromones could enhance the mission or crumble it into dust with a single siren kiss.
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He's a thief. She's a soldier. Do opposites attract? Oh, mercy! At the Mercy of Her Pleasure #SciFi #Romance Click To Tweet

For Women Only

To protect his brother, Khyff accepts a mission that will remove Fawni from power. After meeting her and discovering her noble heart, he begins to doubt his cause, his past and even his memories. Khyff's secret truth could devastate Fawni's family and make her an outcast. She should shun this human, return to her own people and forget him. Yet how can she let him suffer in the darkness that binds his heart?
Visit the book page
His secret truth is her people's darkest lie. For Women Only #SciFi #Romance Click To Tweet

For Women Only

The Antonello Brothers Science Fiction Romance series is Sci Fi from the sweeter side of the galaxy.
He didn't expect an alien to have such honor. He didn't expect to trust her. And he didn't expect to fall in love...

Khyff snuggled deeper into the pillows. The slick coolness of the sheets soothed his skin. The quiet lulled him. "So nice to be home."

A steady thrumming sound vibrated through the pillows.

Khyff frowned, not opening his eyes. "What the--"

Something fuzzy laid itself across his mouth. He grabbed it with one hand, felt its length. Furry. Long. Skinny. This feels like a tail.

"Tail?" He opened his eyes.

A gray tabby cat meowed in his face.

"Aaack!" Khyff tumbled off the bed in the opposite direction and got to his feet.

The cat arched its back and hissed.

Khyff scrambled away backward. "Shoo! Go away! Shoo!" He made motions with both hands.

The cat jumped off the bed and padded, tail high and twitching, toward the partially open door. It paused and looked back before exiting.

Khyff rubbed his face. How'd a cat get in here? He went into the bathroom. The items on the shelf over the toilet looked out of place. Is this Senth and NarrAy's bathroom? Since when does mine have bath oil, perfume, and--he leaned closer--feminine hygiene products?

"This room's pink. I don't have a pink room in my apartment." Or a round shower stall and twin sinks. Or pink soaps shaped like cats. Cats? I hate cats. He gulped. "Where am I?"

His nudity suddenly became an issue. He grabbed a fluffy pink towel off the bar and wrapped it around his waist before peeking into the bedroom. Still alone. Good.

His denim pants lay folded on a chair with his slip-on shoes beneath it. No socks or underwear. He dressed. No shirt in sight. Which one was I wearing?

Pink flowers decorated the covers on the bed. The dresser top held a silver brush and mirror set.

"I went home with some woman last night?" He shoved a hand through his hair. "Smackers, I must have been sotted. How'd I even let her touch me?"

For Women Only is available exclusively on Amazon and is free on Kindle Unlimited.

Just as he begins a new life safe from the anguish of his past, a young security chief must return to a profession he vowed never to practice again. To save his brother's life and appease the all-powerful Empress, Khyff must seduce and then betray an alien ambassador. Her people devastated his family. Hatred for the feline aliens burns within him, but unless Khyff can learn to embrace the past, face the demons he swore he'd forget, and find a way to forgive, his brother will die. Khyff will lose the honorable and gentle alien female he has come to love and trust -- and the Empress will see to it that no one in his family will ever be safe again.
He didn't expect an alien to have such honor. He didn't expect to trust her. And he didn't expect to fall in love...

Universal buy link https://books2read.com/u/38go96

Tag Archives: Senth Antonello

A Stolen Heart, Antonello Brothers Series

About A Stolen Heart

Excerpt from A Stolen Heart

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“What’s the rule?” Can first-time-father Luc teach one? #Excerpt A Stolen Heart #SciFi #MFRWhooks

What is the rule?

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Homeworld

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Zoom-zoom! Nope, not a bike, a book club @LoreleiConfer #Zoom #BookClub #MFRWhooks #MFRWorg

Read Sci-Fi books with diverse characters #Multicultural #Fantasy #Dystopian #SpaceOpera #SciFi

Luc must plan how to right a wrong #Excerpt A Stolen Heart #SciFi #MFRWhooks

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Luc gets his first taste of fatherhood #Excerpt A Stolen Heart by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Fatherhood - a lot of work

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The Antonello Brothers Series

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