Contents Playlist Introduction Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Epilogue 1 Epilogue 2 Author’s Note Stripped Love About the Author Other Books by Chelsea McDonald Be My Queen Copyright © 2020 Chelsea McDonald All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form without written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either products of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Cover Artwork by ©Vixen Designs Formatting by Pink Elephant Designs Editing by Amanda Williams Disclaimer: The following story contains sexual situations and strong language, it is intended for adult readers only. Playlist Hard For Me (by Michele Morrone) Antisocialist (by Asking Alexandria) Here She Comes Again (by Röyksopp) Boyfriend (by Selena Gomez) Talking Body (by Tove Lo) Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince (by Taylor Swift) Like a Prayer (by Madonna) Him & I (by G-Eazy & Halsey) Bring Me To Life (by Evanescence) Bloody Valentine (by Machine Gun Kelly) Crowded Room (by Selena Gomez ft. 6LACK) With You (by Jessica Simpson) Anastasia Exley will not show weakness She will stand tall She will not show mercy… But she can’t promise not to weep on the inside. Nikolai King will not back down. He will find her. He will not lose his happily ever after… But he can’t promise not to destroy everyone in the process. To my valued associate, I write to you with my utmost gratitude. The problem has been eliminated and the Verela’s will no longer stand in our way. We are free to move forward as planned. Thank you for the part you played. Please continue to monitor the situation, I’d hate for Anton to cause any complications. Please feel confident that the favor will be returned, if and when it’s needed. Anything to protect our own. Enclosed is a check for valued services rendered. Send my love to Alessa and the boys. Sincerely, Bellucci “Anastasia?” An involuntary flinch of surprise jolted through me. I hadn’t expected her to answer the door, I figured it a rare occasion that she did anything for herself. Especially at this hour of the day — it was the middle of the morning, shouldn’t she be working on the family business? Whatever that was… Either way, I felt a sliver of ease at a vaguely familiar face. No matter what her motives were, I was certain that I was wanted here. “Rachel.” As I said her name, her face tightened slightly. If I didn’t know any better I would have thought that hearing her only daughter call her by her first name stung a little. But the truth was that I didn’t know her all that well. The woman who stood in front of me was family in name only, I supposed now was the perfect time for her to prove herself. “What are you doing here? Not that I’m not happy to see you, dear.” A wide but tentative smile stretched across her face as she pulled the door open further. “Would you like to come in?” Tears of fear, of exhaustion, prickled at the backs of my eyes. I had to get inside, I had to before I made a fool of myself on her doorstep. “I had nowhere else to go,” I confessed, there was an edge of desperation to my voice that surprised even me. With a piteous look, she took my hand and led me into the living room, letting the door swing closed behind us. I dropped the bags from my shoulders and perched myself uneasily on the couch next to her. The room was immaculate, as it had been the last time I was here — with Nikolai when he had found my birth parents for me, at my request. “Is something wrong?” Rachel asked, in a calm voice that told me she was used to dealing with crises. Though I’m not sure finding her estranged daughter with two bags of belongings on her doorstep was something she had experienced before. “I don’t even know where to start.” I half-laughed as a shrug lifted my shoulders and I gestured vaguely around me. Everything felt wrong. I didn’t know where to turn or how to put any of it into words. Rachel gave me a sympathetic smile. “Well then. How about instead, you tell me how I can help?” “I know there are certain strings attached but I need somewhere to stay,” I said cautiously. I know that me staying here would make it difficult for Rachel and Kaleb in one way or another. Either Nikolai would find me and things would get heated or, more likely their other child, Ambrose, who already seemed to hate me, would resent my presence and make things unpleasant. “Of course dear.” There was hesitation on her face. Obviously, I of all people, understood how much of a fucked up situation they’d put me in. But still, I wasn’t about to make it any easier on her. “So...does that mean you’ve thought about what we discussed?” “Yeah,” I cleared my throat as I struggled to hold in a resigned sigh. Instead, I chewed my bottom lip into my mouth. I could already feel regret settling in. Coming here might’ve just been the most stupid decision I’d ever made. I hated that I couldn’t see any other options, no other ways around this, no matter how wild. I’d thought through everything, this was the only way. I didn’t have any other choice at that moment in time. “Yes, Rachel, I have thought about what we discussed and I accept your terms.” I blinked at her as I tried to compose myself. I didn’t want to be here, I didn’t want to accept their stupid terms, but if this was my only way in… “I’m ready to come home.” Rachel swept me up into a hug. I tried
