Novels by Nancii Agosto

The last few weeks have been a haze. From finding out that I’ve killed someone, to being pregnant with another set of twins and raising our boys, Logan and Lucas. Life has been busy but our house is finally being cleared from its previous status as a crime scene. I watch as our home comes into view and remember all the things my therapist had told me. ‘A place does not hold memories of trauma, we do. You cannot blame yourself for having a reaction to an action. You are healing. You will be okay.’ I see Leo smiling at the front door as he waits for Elena and I to approach with the boys. I hadn’t seen Leo since that day. I had stayed at jasmines along with Elena and asked for some time. After all that I’ve been through for him, I had to sit back and reflect on whether this was something I would be able to recover from and if my marriage to Leonardo was worth this trauma. I had been disfigured, threatened, kidnapped, abused, attacked and forced into miscarrying. The last year of my lif

Did she shoot me? I feel this pain in my shoulder and I grasp it but I don’t have time to process as I stumble back in response to the force of that one small bullet. Never in a million years did I think she’d actually fight back. She’d always been a pest and nuisance but never confrontational.What changes a woman so abruptly?“Motherhood.” My mother says as I lose my balance, falling over the banister from the second floor.“Would you have felt this for me?” I ask in a daze. I remember killing my mother but never thought once about how she felt or what her thoughts were in her final moments and I’ve never bothered to ask. “Even after what I’d done to you?”“Yes. I would have ran through the flames of that house to find you.”“Why?”“Because you’re my child. I would’ve done exactly what she had done to you if the roles were reversed. That is motherhood.”“But you can’t save me now.” I say sadly as I feel tears building in my eyes.“I can’t. But I can hold you.” She wraps her hands ar

I feel a pulsating pain radiating through my skull and sit up slightly to find a broken vase at my side. Charlotte must have done this. Where is she? I look side to side but am stopped when paramedics rush to assess my wounds. It wasn’t until they bandaged my head that I remembered what had happened. Charlotte was trying to kill Claire. I have to stop her. I jump up and push the paramedics back as I rush up the stairs to find my wife.I’m met by Mason just at the top of the stairs and I can see Claire crumbled down to the ground. She looked like she’d seen a ghost and although her body shook, she was still.“Claire!” I rush to her side and try to ground her by wrapping myself around her. Mason tells me that she is the only one able to account to what happened here. Thankfully our boys were alright.“Elena, did you see what happened?” I ask as I watch her put the boys down for naps. “Yes, Mr. Leo. Ms. Claire was protecting the boys and myself. She did well.” She says sadly as she watc

Even with the storm, I could swear that I heard a gunshot and I quickly jump out of the bed to grab my own and arm myself as I run out the door. “What’s wrong? Where are you going?” Jasmine calls after me as I run down the driveway.“Call the police and give them Leo’s address. I think they’re in danger.” I yell back as I continue running, holding gun and preparing to fire at any assailant. I push the gate open and continue down the block to their home where I see a random car parked. This couldn’t be good.I quickly pull my phone out and call the facility to check Charlotte’s status but there’s no answer. I decide to abandon that thought and focus on the danger ahead. I push forward as the wind threatens to sweep me from under my feet when I finally catch a glimpse of their house. Everything seemed to be intact but I had to make sure. I run to the door and knock but hear no response until I kick down the door. Just as I walk into the threshold, j see Leo is unconscious on the ground

Leo asked that I wait upstairs while he checked the door. I scoot closer to the bassinet where the boys were sound asleep and watch the door carefully. I didn’t realize how long I had been holding my breath until I see Leo reappear and let out a deep sigh and gasp for air.“It’s okay. It must’ve been the wind.” He says as he rushes to my side, holding me form doh long over as I try to inflate my lungs rapidly.“Okay.” I nod quickly as I continue heaving.“It’s okay. We’re all fine.” After a few minutes of silence, I hear my alarm on my phone indicating that it was, once again, feeding time. “How about you stay here and I’ll grab the bottles.” “No, it’s okay. I can do it.” I reassure him. The truth was that I needed a moment alone. I then get up to get my pump supplies and their bottles while Leo watches the boys as Lucas had begun to stir.I could still feel the weariness of the storm lingering over me as I descend the stairs and walk towards the kitchen. It felt like I was walking

Some may think it’s odd that I’d feel so comfortable as to knock on the front door, even to knock as though it were urgent. But there was a method to my madness. I know Leo. He’s far too chivalrous to allow Claire to open the door, nonetheless during a ramped storm. He’s going to be the one to come to the door and while he makes his pace, I’ll be making mine to the back to find a point of access and try to catch a view of where my target was.I watch as Leo goes to the door and I have to fight the urge to run back to the front and jump into his arms. I watch as he examines the area and returns inside and I find that the back sliding door’s lock had been damaged by the falling debris. Just my luck coming into play, I have the perfect point of entry.“You cannot do this! You cannot harm those you love.” My mother screeches at me in the pouring rain.“I would never hurt Leo.”“But you have.” I decide to ignore her. Seeing as I could be heard at any moment.I wait until I see Leo go back

It must have been several hours before the police finally returned. The silence of the room had grown thick in their absence, heavy with unspoken fears and lingering adrenaline until it was silenced by my own exhaustion and rest. Jessie was still fast asleep, her breathing shallow but steady, the rhythm of someone clinging to rest after surviving something incomprehensibly dark.Then came the knock. Steady but deliberate. Followed by the unmistakable sound of two pairs of firm footsteps approaching through the sterile doorway. My body went rigid in an instant. I sat up sharply, heart racing, instincts kicking in like a current of electricity. For one breathless moment, I braced myself—ready to defend, to protect, to do whatever it took if danger had returned.But as soon as I saw the familiar uniforms, the tension in my chest released slightly. It was Officers Miller and Pennet. I let out a slow, shaky breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. They must have something if they’ve come

Lincoln and I sit in a heavy, strained silence, waiting for the officers to return — to bring answers, or at least a clearer sense of what was almost done to me. Every second stretches like an eternity, the sterile clock on the wall ticking just loud enough to remind us of how slowly time can pass when you’re desperate for it to move faster.We’re both pretending to be still, pretending to be calm. But I can see the toll all of this is taking on Lincoln. His shoulders, usually squared and proud, are slumped. His eyes flick constantly to the door, jaw tight, fingers twitching slightly against his knee. He’s in a heightened state of vigilance — wired and restless — and underneath it all, exhausted.“You can lay down, you know,” I murmur, breaking the silence gently. I shift as best as I can, wincing slightly, using what little strength I have left to scoot over. “There’s enough space. You should rest.”He glances at the bed, then quickly looks away, shaking his head.“That’s okay,” he s

Lincoln stays glued to my side, an immovable presence as we wait for updates from hospital security. They’re still searching for the imposter nurse who fled moments before, disappearing into the chaos of the hospital corridors, and we're waiting for the police to arrive. The silence in the room is heavy, taut with unspoken fear and tension. Lincoln’s normally steady hands are clenched tightly in his lap, his jaw tight, his eyes locked on the doorway as if sheer will alone could bring answers faster or keep danger away.He isn’t just concerned — he’s seething. And beneath the surface, I can sense something deeper. Guilt. A gnawing, hollow kind that sits in the chest and spreads like a slow burn. I reach out, placing a hand gently over his clenched fist.“This isn’t your fault, Lincoln,” I whisper, my voice fragile in the sterile air.He doesn’t look at me right away, but I see the way his shoulders drop — not in relief, but in resignation. A momentary softening. Barely but still someth

I forced myself to move through the shock. I was panicking. But there was no time—not when something felt so deeply, viscerally wrong.I stepped forward, slowly but deliberately, and pushed the door fully open. The room was dim, lit only by the faint glow of a single overhead fixture. The air inside felt off—too still, too quiet. The curtain that surrounded Jessie’s bed had been drawn shut, enclosing her in a makeshift wall of pale blue fabric. But something was missing. No examination cart. No nurse’s clipboard. No soft shuffle of hospital shoes or murmur of bedside reassurances.I crept closer, footsteps featherlight against the polished floor. My fingers curled around the edge of the curtain. Whoever was behind it wasn’t expecting company. I had the element of surprise, and I intended to use it.I drew in a breath—steady, controlled—and yanked the curtain back with force.What I saw made my blood freeze.A woman, dressed in scrubs, stood just inches from Jessie’s IV line, a syringe

Jessie had finally surrendered to her exhaustion, allowing it to dull the sharp edges of her grief. She now lay peacefully asleep in her hospital bed, her breathing even, her features softened at last by rest. Watching her like that—so fragile, yet still so resolute—brought a knot to my chest. I sat in silence for a long moment, just listening to the steady rhythm of the heart monitor, grounding myself in the fact that, for now, she was safe.I knew I couldn’t stay in the same clothes I’d been wearing since the chaos began, nor could I keep going without at least a moment to reset. I leaned in close, careful not to wake her, and whispered gently, “I’m going to be right back, Jessie. Just thirty minutes—to shower, clean up, grab some clothes. I’ll be back before you even know I’m gone.”I gave her hand a soft, lingering squeeze, reluctant to let go. Then, standing slowly, I let my eyes settle on her one last time before quietly slipping out the door and into the quiet corridor. I walke

I can feel every fiber in my body begin to tighten, a creeping heat of anxiety curling itself around my spine, rooting me in place. My breath hitches. This is the first time I’ve truly looked at him—my husband—since the moment he turned his back on me. Since he left me thrashing in the cold, dark water, gasping for breath while he walked away, all to protect the identity of the woman he’s been hiding.I still remember what part of him I saw last: the rigid line of his shoulders, the back of his head, his deliberate and quick steps growing quieter as my cries grew weaker. Now, two hours later, he’s standing in my hospital room, looking dry, put together, and only slightly ruffled—as if he’s dropped by out of social obligation. I imagine the party must have ended abruptly—likely not on his terms—and now here he is, likely checking me off his to-do list before heading back to his mistress.Beside me, I feel Lincoln’s arms—my sanctuary in the chaos—slowly release their protective hold. Wi

I don’t remember what happened exactly.I remember a nose bleed that was problematic.A conversation with Darren that was uncomfortable and then darkness. I slowly look at my surroundings to find myself still in the oncology treatment bay and Darren is sitting by my side.“What happened to me?” I groggily ask as I search my mind for answers.“You lost consciousness for a few minutes. I believe you were overwhelmed.” I could tell by his response that he was giving as little and as much information as possible.“Why was I overwhelmed?” I didn’t need to be tip-toed around. I needed to know what was happening to me.“You ran your fingers through your hair and well, some of it came out.” He fidgets with his fingers as he says what I feared most in the beginning.“I’m going to lose all of it, aren’t I?” I sit back to contemplate my life. What would it be like once I looked just as sick and they told me I was? What would people see? Or worst, how would they treat me?“Your hair can grow bac

I push the tissue to my nose and apply pressure as Darren grabs a first-aid kit on the shelf across from me - returning with a stop bleed stick and placing it gently into my nose.“What’s happening to me?” I ask in a nasal tone as I try to calm my roaring thoughts.“It’s just a side effect of the radiotherapy. Bleeding isn’t uncommon.” He says as he holds the stick inside my nose.“I’m not going to be able to go back to EnviroDoc, am I?” I needed to know if this was going to be my life as I proceed treatment.“You can go back. You just have to listen to your body and take it easy sometimes.” He makes it seem easy. “It’s going to tough for a little bit while your body tries to cope with the radiation but you can do it.”“What if I can’t?” I ask as the tears begin rolling down my face.“Hey, it’s going to be okay. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you get better. This is just the beginning of a long journey but it’ll pass.” He says with a soft smile.“I’m vomiting, losing consciousn

“Are you sure about your choice?” He asks as he clasps his hands together.“My choice?” Was he referring to Maverick? My choice in one man or the other? “Yes. I know you chose to pursue treatment and since the very first one, I felt a connection to you. I know you felt it too.” He says as he makes unbreakable eye contact with me. This was not the kind of conversation I thought I’d be having while being injected with radiation.“I did but my connection with him was growing as well and he’s made me happy.” I think back to when I first met him. I had been swoon after our dream but after seeing his genuine nature - I was very enamored. His confidence, intelligence and appearance were paired with care, compassion and dedication. I never thought a man like that existed or that someone like that would be interested in me nonetheless. “I didn’t think that the moment we spoke in the bathroom would lead you to him.” He bows his head.“But it was a clarifying moment, Darren. It just didn’t go

After what has come our nightly ritual, we laid down for bed. Maverick had cuddled me close until I fell asleep.I awoke the next morning to my alarm. I’d have my first radiotherapy enhancement today. I look over to see Maverick is still sleeping and I shuffle quietly out of bed. I almost make it out until I feel a hand grab my wrist. “It’s early. What’s wrong?” I look over to see Maverick peaking at me groggily.“Treatment - today. I have to be at the hospital in twenty minutes.” I say as I stare down at the bed.“Want me to come?”“No, get some rest. I’ll only be gone about an hour.” I lean over to kiss him and then get ready to leave. I watch as he rolls onto his side and falls back to sleep.This was the first time Maverick had been there when I woke up. His chiseled features accented by the shadows of light dancing along the curtain. His hair thrown carelessly and his blue eyes - out of sight as he slept. He reminded me of what Greek mythology expressed as Gods. As u admired his

Once we get back to my apartment, Maverick wakes me gently and picks me up to bring me inside. He gently opens the door and takes me directly to my bed. He then shuts the door and brings himself back to the room, sitting down in the bed carefully.“You feeling okay?” He asks carefully as if the words were boulders that would roll over me if spoken too loudly.“Yeah. I’m just really tired.” Not a complete lies I was tired although I was more exhausted than anything and it had nothing to do with a lack of sleep. I wasn’t improving the way we had hoped, my health was slowly interfering with my life, my doctor seems intent on pursuing me even while I have my person sitting in the same bed as me, I embarrassed myself at EnviroDoc and there’s still the cherry to top it all off: I have brain cancer. A cruel sick joke that taunts me relentlessly so I meant it wholeheartedly when I said I was tired.I look up at Maverick to see his mind is steadily at work. He had read between the lines. There

After Darren left, I waited about an hour while Maverick stayed resting peacefully at my side. Waiting for my discharge was just as eerie as walking up in this same room once again.I hear a knock at the door as the nurse slowly enters. She sees Maverick sleeping and decides to speak to me quietly.“Ms. Richardson, these are your discharge papers. The doctor has added your new treatment regiment in which you’ll be following up in the oncology department. I believe he spoke with you already?” “Yes. I’m aware.” I say quietly as I try not to wake Maverick.“Okay, great. Well there are some health guidelines to follow for your condition and the doctor has added a prescription of antacids for your stomach and zofran for your nausea. I have your prescriptions as the doctor requested they be sent and filled to in-office pharmacy. Do you have any questions for me?” She asks as she carefully hands me the paperwork and a bag containing my prescriptions. “No, thank you. Am I okay to leave now?