The Inheritance Read online

  Augusta “Tucker” Delacroix is perfectly content running a successful oil field supply company until her brother and business partner, Jim Bob, dies suddenly. Things go from bad to worse when the family's lawyer introduces her to Monique, a beautiful stranger who turns out to be Jim Bob’s mistress and mother of his son. Monique wants Jim Bob's son to be a Delacroix, and Tucker steps up—it’s what family does.

  Willow Vernon has never approved of her sister’s affair with a wealthy married man, but when tragedy strikes, Willow assumes care of her nephew. When Tucker demands shared custody rights, Willow’s ready to go to battle. Tucker’s the same kind of irresponsible philanderer as Jim Bob, and she’s not falling for the Delacroix charm like Monique did, no matter how tempting Tucker might be.

  Family ties bring Tucker and Willow together, but they could also tear them, and any chance they have at love, apart.

  Praise for Ali Vali

  Double-Crossed

  “[I]f you’re a die-hard Ali Vali/Cain Casey fan and read every book, you’ll be incredibly happy with this one and will be thrilled to find a new series to follow in the same universe.”— C-Spot Reviews

  “[An] action-packed mafia entertainment with a dash of romance. It’s quite good fun.”—reviewer@large

  “[T]here aren’t too many lesfic books like Double-Crossed and it is refreshing to see an author like Vali continue to churn out books like these. Excellent crime thriller.”—Colleen Corgel, Librarian, Queens Borough Public Library

  “For all of us die-hard Ali Vali/Cain Casey fans, this is the beginning of a great new series…There is violence in this book, and lots of killing, but there is also romance, love, and the beginning of a great new reading adventure. I can’t wait to read more of this intriguing story.”—Rainbow Reflections

  Stormy Seas

  Stormy Seas “is one book that adventure lovers must read.”—Rainbow Reflections

  Answering the Call

  Answering the Call “is a brilliant cop-and-killer story…The crime story is tight and the love story is fantastic.”—Best Lesbian Erotica

  “Is there anything better than a smoking hot butch woman in uniform?…If you enjoy stories with stakeouts, gun-slinging butch cops, meddling family members coupled with murder and mayhem around every corner, then this story is certainly for you.”—The Lesbian Review

  Lammy Finalist Calling the Dead

  “So many writers set stories in New Orleans, but Ali Vali’s mystery novels have the authenticity that only a real Big Easy resident could bring. Set six months after Hurricane Katrina has devastated the city, a lesbian detective is still battling demons when a body turns up behind one of the city’s famous eateries. What follows makes for a classic lesbian murder yarn.”—Curve Magazine

  “The plot is engrossing and satisfying. A fun aspect of the book is the images of food it includes. The descriptions of sex are also delicious.”—Seattle Gay News

  Beauty and the Boss

  “The story gripped me from the first page…Vali’s writing style is lovely—it’s clean, sharp, no wasted words, and it flows beautifully as a result. Highly recommended!”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  Balance of Forces: Toujours Ici

  “A stunning addition to the vampire legend, Balance of Forces: Toujour Ici is one that stands apart from the rest.”—Bibliophilic Book Blog

  Blue Skies

  “Vali is skilled at building sexual tension, and the sex in this novel flies as high as Berkley’s jets. Look for this fast-paced read.”—Just About Write

  Beneath the Waves

  “The premise…was brilliantly constructed…skillfully written and the imagination that went into it was fantastic…A wonderful passionate love story with a great mystery.”—Inked Rainbow Reads

  Second Season

  “The issues are realistic and center around the universal factors of love, jealousy, betrayal, and doing the right thing and are constantly woven into the fabric of the story. We rated this well written social commentary through the use of fiction our max five hearts.”—Heartland Reviews

  Carly’s Sound

  “Carly’s Sound is a great romance, with some wonderfully hot sex, but it is more than that. It is also the tale of a woman rising from the ashes of grief and finding new love and a new life. Vali has surrounded Julia and Poppy with a cast of great supporting characters, making this an extremely satisfying read.”—Just About Write

  Praise for the Cain Casey Saga

  The Devil’s Due

  “This is an enthralling, nail biting and ultra fast moving addition to the Devil series…once again Ali Vali has produced a brilliant story arc, solid character development, incomparable bad-ass women in traditionally male roles, leading both the goodies, baddies and cross-breeds.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  “A Night Owl Reviews Top Pick: Cain Casey is the kind of person you aspire to be even though some consider her a criminal. She’s loyal, very protective of those she loves, honorable, big on preserving her family legacy and loves her family greatly. The Devil’s Due is a book I highly recommend and well worth the wait we all suffered through. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out.”—Night Owl Reviews

  The Devil Be Damned

  “Ali Vali excels at creating strong, romantic characters along with her fast-paced, sophisticated plots. Her setting, New Orleans, provides just the right blend of immigrants from Mexico, South America, and Cuba, along with a city steeped in traditions.”—Just About Write

  Deal with the Devil

  “Ali Vali has given her fans another thick, rich thriller…Deal With the Devil has wonderful love stories, great sex, and an ample supply of humor. It is an exciting, page-turning read that leaves her readers eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.”—Just About Write

  The Devil Unleashed

  “Fast-paced action scenes, intriguing character revelations, and a refreshing approach to the romance thriller genre all make for an enjoyable reading experience in the Big Easy…The Devil Unleashed is an engrossing reading experience.”—Midwest Book Review

  The Devil Inside

  “Not only is The Devil Inside a ripping mystery, it’s also an intimate character study.”—L-Word Literature

  “The Devil Inside is the first of what promises to be a very exciting series…While telling an exciting story that grips the reader, Vali has also fully fleshed out her heroes and villains. The Devil Inside is that rarity: a fascinating crime novel which includes a tender love story and leaves the reader with a cliffhanger ending.”—MegaScene

  “The Devil Inside by Ali Vali is an unusual, unpredictable, and thought-provoking love story that will have the reader questioning the definition of right and wrong long after she finishes the book…first time novelist Vali does not leave the reader hanging for too long, but spins a complex plot of love, conspiracy, and loss.”—Just About Write

  “[T]his isn’t your typical ‘Godfather-esque’ novel, oh no. The head of this crime family is not only a lesbian, but a mother to boot. Vali’s fluid writing style quickly puts the reader at ease, which makes the story and its characters equally easy to get to know and care about. When you find yourself talking out loud to the characters in a book, you know the work is polished and professional, as well as entertaining. Ever just wanted to grab a crime boss by the lapels, get in their face, and tell them to open their eyes and see what’s right in front of their eyes? If not, you will once you start turning the pages of The Devil Inside.”—Family and Friends Magazine

  The Inheritance

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infri
ngement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  The Inheritance

  © 2020 By Ali Vali. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-304-8

  This Electronic Original Is Published By

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 12185

  First Edition: January 2020

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editors: Victoria Villaseñor and Ruth Sternglantz

  Production Design: Stacia Seaman

  Cover Design by Sheri ([email protected] )

  By the Author

  Carly’s Sound

  Second Season

  Love Match

  The Dragon Tree Legacy

  The Romance Vote

  Girls with Guns

  Beneath the Waves

  Beauty and the Boss

  Blue Skies

  Stormy Seas

  The Inheritance

  Call Series

  Calling the Dead

  Answering the Call

  Forces Series

  Balance of Forces: Toujours Ici

  Battle of Forces: Sera Toujours

  Force of Fire: Toujours a Vous

  Vegas Nights

  Double-Crossed

  The Cain Casey Saga

  The Devil Inside

  The Devil Unleashed

  Deal with the Devil

  The Devil Be Damned

  The Devil’s Orchard

  The Devil’s Due

  Heart of the Devil

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to Radclyffe for your support and friendship along the way. I appreciate you and Sandy for all you do. Thank you also to my BSB family for being there.

  Thank you to my editors Victoria Villaseñor and Ruth Sternglantz for all your hard work on this one. Vic, thanks for making me slow down and pay attention to the characters and what their journey is. Your input has taught me so much, and I’m grateful for every lesson. Ruth, thank you for bringing the project home and for your years of friendship. Thank you also to Sheri for another great cover.

  Thank you to my beta readers, Cris Perez-Soria, and Lenore Benoit. You guys and your input definitely make all the difference when I need it most. You guys rock.

  The experience of completing this book has brought back so many good memories, and I appreciate the opportunity to tell this story that’s so important to me. I’ll never forget him, but I wrote this one as a farewell to my big brother.

  He loved closing the big deal, fishing, having a good time, his friends and family, and me. He left us way too soon, and I hope he laughs when he reads the book. I’ll miss him and never forget him, and I’ll do my best to keep him alive in the stories of the good times.

  Thank you to all the readers for your continued support. Every word is written with you in mind. To C, thank you for all the adventures and those yet to come. Verdad!

  For C

  For My Brother

  I hope you’ve found calm seas, a full glass, and endless fish

  Prologue

  One Year Ago

  “Slow yourself down,” Tucker Delacroix said to her brother, Jim Bob. “You’re going to snap that line, and if you do, I’m kicking your ass.”

  “You always threaten that, Augusta,” Jim Bob said, his voice strained.

  He was only ten minutes into his battle with the bluefin tuna he’d hooked, and the fish had taken plenty of line as it went deep. It was their first fish of the day as they made their way out into the Gulf of Mexico to inspect their newest natural gas platform. The Stella III, named after their mother, was their fifth natural gas well, and it had just become operational ten miles out along the Louisiana–Texas border, which made for a good excuse to take a fishing trip in the middle of the week.

  “That’s because your impatience is legendary. When was the last time you licked your way to the center of a Tootsie Pop?”

  “My sucking habits are none of your business, and don’t I always prove you wrong?” Jim Bob chewed on the cigar that never seemed to fall out of his mouth, even when he was talking, and laughed. He was twenty years older than Tucker, but that hadn’t prevented the close bond they shared. He’d enjoyed his status as an only child until their mother had miscalculated her menopausal symptoms. From the day she was born, Jim Bob had enjoyed his big brother job of spoiling her and never left her behind if he could help it.

  The fighter chair on the Pole Dancer Addict creaked as Jim Bob started reeling in in earnest, and Tucker moved them forward slowly to help tire the fish. Their jointly owned Azimut 72 flybridge yacht was named for what their grandfather had called their impressive collection of fishing rods. The seventy-two-foot power fishing vessel had been customized to their needs and they enjoyed taking it out together.

  “Damn.” Jim Bob grunted. “This is a big fucker.”

  “Get to it, old man.” Tucker used the teasing nickname even though he was only fifty-five. “And try not to have a heart attack, will you? I’d never get you to the hospital in time if I have to haul that fish in by myself.”

  “Fuck, don’t make me laugh.”

  Fishing and business were two things their father had taught them, but Bart only joined them on occasion now, and he’d completely retired from the business. It’d been her and Jim Bob who’d taken the Delacroix Oil and Gas Company way past where their father and grandfather had started it. They were now equal partners in a company with twenty-eight working rigs in the Gulf, one in deep water, and five natural gas wells. The best part of the job was sharing it with Jim Bob and getting to work and play with him every day. Tucker wouldn’t trade it for the world.

  “Let me show you how it’s done.” Jim Bob brought the rod up toward his chest and reeled it in quickly before letting it come forward again.

  It took two hours and both of them taking turns to get the almost three hundred pound fish on the deck. Their two permanent crew members threw it into the cooler built into the stern and iced it down. Once they reached the rig, the cooking staff would take care of cleaning the monster and preparing it for lunch.

  “Go take a shower, and I’ll get us underway,” she said, heading back to the flybridge. There were two staterooms below equal in size, and two smaller rooms for the crew. The vessel also had two guest rooms they used when they were entertaining business associates and friends, but it was days like today with just the two of them that Tucker really enjoyed.

  “Thanks, since I’m sweating like a son of a bitch even though it’s colder than a witch’s tit out here.” Jim Bob downed a bottle of water. “I’ll relieve you when I’m done.”

  “Remind me never to date a witch, and go shower.” She made him laugh as she clipped the tip off a Cohiba, then opened up the two fourteen-hundred-horsepower engines and headed southwest.

  Her satellite phone rang as she sat to light the cigar, and she smiled when she saw her assistant’s number. Syd White was a gorgeous curvy brunette with green eyes Tucker had hired after finishing a talk with the business school association at LSU. The college senior had sold herself aggressively but had refused to sleep with Tucker after a lot of flirting over dinner.

  That’s what had cinched it for her. Tucker wasn’t a fan of office romances, especially since she wasn’t planning to settle down with anyone, ever. Marriage and commitment hadn’t worked out for the majority of the people she knew, so she avoided both like unseasoned crawfish served with lukewarm beer.

  “The place isn’t on fire, is it?” She glanced at her watch, wondering what was so urgent at ten in the morning. Urgent things were the only
reason Syd would ever bother her while she was on the water. It had been a lesson Tucker’s old secretary had taught Syd before she retired at seventy-nine.

  “Maybe I missed you terribly and wanted to hear your voice,” Syd said in the teasing but somewhat sarcastic tone she’d perfected.

  “That could be true, but I happen to know you leave at lunch when I’m not there, so let’s hear it.”

  “Whoever told you that is lying,” Syd said, followed by a tapping that sounded like her fingernail against the receiver. “I leave at two, and it’s usually to get something for you, so don’t give me any shit about my hours.”

  “Let’s be honest and admit the truth. We both know I work for you, and I do whatever I can not to piss off the boss.”

  “Jefferson came by with a large package and told me to call and tell you he’s finished. He wanted me to stress that to make his life easier, you both need to make an appointment to get all this squared away before either of you drops dead.” Tucker heard a door open and close, then nothing but quiet. “Whatever it is, I’m putting it in the safe in your office.”