Why didn't he run away sooner? It was the question everyone wanted to know. And for Alex, it was a question he couldn't even answer himself. Five years have passed since Alex Stevenson disappeared. But a call from a payphone one evening changes everything. Suddenly, Alex finds himself back with his family, reuniting after he was taken away from them at the age of eleven. But once his parents, his old friends and the entire town begins to understand the truth as to what he experienced in captivity, Alex soon realizes returning home isn't as easy as he originally thought. (Title picture doesn't belong to me.)

❝I think we've lost the meaning of family.❞ • • • A few years ago, we tragically lost our parents, and every day since then, my brothers and I have drifted apart. We have intense defense mechanisms and our own methods of survival in the adult world. Our house feels less like home, the city feels empty, and the stars seem more distant. Will we be able to heal as a family? Or will we go our separate ways as adults? ▫▫▫▫ ▫▫▫▫ ▫▫▫▫ Cover is made by me. Copyright © 2021 Josie Marie Any relation to other stories or characters is entirely coincidental and not intentional. Any credit for the #olderbrother trend goes to its appropriate writers/creators. All of my work is original, inspired by the #olderbrother trend, but based on my own life with four brothers.

* C U R R E N T L Y E D I T I N G & R E W R I T I N G * BOOK 1 - THE LOMBARDI SERIES L I L Y At the tender age of twelve, Lily has never seen the world beyond the tiny window of her bedroom. She's never known love, or comfort, or care. Growing up with abusive parents and an older brother who seemingly could care less if she lives or dies, she's only ever had herself to rely on in order to keep her from breaking. At least, that was the case. When her family decides to move from California to New York, Lily finds everything she's only ever dreamt of. Friends, happiness... family? What happens when Lily meets the Lombardi brothers and finds out her entire life has been a lie? - T R I G G E R W A R N I N G this story contains; abuse, self-harm, anxiety, drugs, mental illness, mature scenes (SA), forbidden romance and panic attacks. there will be trigger warnings at the top of each chapter. - BOOK ONE OF THE LOMBARDI SERIES. • Book 2 - IF I STAY - Leo (complete) • Book 3 - BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME - Jack (ongoing) - 1 in #Care 1 in #Help 1 in #Bambino 1 in #LongLostSiblings 1 in #BabySister 1 in #Reunited 1 in #Saving 1 in #Friends 1 in #Childhood 1 in #Anxiety 2 in #Secrets 2 in #LittleSister 2 in #Abused 3 in #OlderBrothers 3 in #Family 6 in #Brothers 6 in #Twins - S T A R T E D - 2O|12|2O21 C O M P L E T E D - 4|O4|2O22 - C O P Y R I G H T ALL RIGHTS RESERVED @shanlivx

And then he stopped. Shane leaned his forehead against mine, breathing heavily, our eyes still closed, and he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "Astra," he mumbled against my lips. "Please don't hurt yourself." And all at once, his body fell limp and Shane Doughtry, the captain and star player of the soccer team, collapsed. ✧⁠*⁠。✧⁠*⁠。 There are two sides to every story. High schooler Astra Thatcher is the quiet girl in the corner of the room with her music on max and ink all over her hands. She was the quiet, intelligent kid who ate lunch by herself. But inside that calm exterior she was filled with turmoil- about her life. Popular, sarcastic, funny Shane Doughtry who was always the center of attention had been in her class for years and yet never noticed her- until they were trapped in an elevator together. He's never noticed her and she's never noticed him. That was the way it was - that was the way it was always supposed to be. Their lives soon become a tangled mess of love, friendship and trust. One stormy night changes everything between them as the two are drawn closer together and they learn that everything about them that people see was just a mask. To cover up the pain underneath. ⚠️TW - contains mature themes relating to mental health and suicide. and weird chapter names. All right reserved © Crazy_Cranks P.S. I'd just like to say this is the first full novel I've ever written, when I was around 14/15 years old, so yes, there will be grammar mistakes and plot holes! And bear with me, I SWEAR THE WRITING GETS BETTER ༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ (Day I wrote the first word) Start. 14.02.2022 End. 01.01.24 #1 in classclown #1 in awareness #1 in elevator #15 in sad #14 in depression #6 in humor #9 in mentalhealth

Teenage baller Kaden Hastings has a fit when his family moves to California. He can handle the new medical diagnosis that slowly eats away at his life, but when his parents separate him from his teammates and girlfriend to move him to California to see an epilepsy specialist, Kaden can't deal with it anymore. Logan Hastings has a confession. For him, the move is a chance to finally help his brother, who now has no one else to turn to for support. Logan finds that helping his brother means lying at school, lying at home, and even letting Kaden risk his life for basketball. Still plagued with guilt for causing Kaden's epilepsy, Logan must choose between helping his brother live and giving him something to live for. When Kaden meets a mysterious girl at his new epilepsy clinic, he's drawn to her, and not just because they have several things in common. When Logan pushes Kaden to get with a cheerleader at his new school, Kaden is left with a choice: the popular cheerleader who reminds him that he used to play basketball, or the mysterious girl in his art class who can relate to him, because she has epilepsy, too. In My Head is the first book in a trilogy about the unpredictability of life and the lengths we will go to take back control, fix our mistakes, and protect the ones we love. Author's Note: If you find yourself hooked on the story, you can find the In My Head trilogy on Amazon using the links on my profile! I'd love it if you would support me as a writer and snag yourself a copy of this limited edition of the books series! 🥇 First Place ~ Pretty in Punk Awards ~ Teen Fiction 🥇 First Place ~ Ultimate Romance Awards ~ Sports Fiction 🥈 Second Place ~ Datura Awards ~ Teen Fiction Highest ranks: #1 in #seizures #1 in #epilepsy #1 in #realisticfiction #1 in #backstory

Fifteen year old Isabella Delgado is living her best life (kinda) - until she's pulled into a police station shipped off to America to live with the 6 older brothers she's just found out about. Her life is flipped around in 24 hours and she has to adapt to life with six annoying, overprotective people who would rather die than see her harmed. - Will she be able to cope with her newly discovered relatives or is the whole thing gonna be a complete shitshow?? We'll see.... *first chapter is extremely cliche*

Ezekiel Delgado would deem himself as broken. With light only just beginning to shine at the end of what had been an extremely long tunnel, he knew his mental health issues were always there- threatening to rise to the surface yet again. Zeke didn't view himself as worthy of anything to do with happiness, which is why he'd been shoving his crush on his boss and sister-in-law's best friend, to the very back of his mind. Well, trying to. Alexius Reynolds was the embodiment of sunshine. Never seen without a blinding smile on his face, or a book in his hands, he radiated happiness wherever he went, on whoever he stumbled upon. His one and only employee was no exception to that. Haunted by his own past, he and Zeke find a mutual understanding for each other...but can it blossom into anything more? *War must be read before this book*

The Delgado siblings have had their lives turned around; with the inevitable appearance of a familiar face finally upon them and a whole new risk of danger, it appears there is only one way out. Eliminate the threat. It's easier said than done though - Santiago Delgado made his sons who they are today, he could play them at their own game with his eyes closed: and that is his plan exactly. Will Isabella's senior year be thrown into jeopardy by the man who brought her into this world? Or will the one man she sees as a father figure be able to save his family before it's too late? *SEQUEL TO ISABELLA - CANNOT BE READ AS A STAND-ALONE*

Marco Delgado was a lot of things - cold, charming, merciless...and most definitely not a man who falls in love. His life revolved around keeping his brothers happy, himself alive, and eliminating threats. Aniyah Wright knew what she wanted in life- or at least she thought she did. Due to be forced into an arranged marriage and kiss her freedom goodbye, her control was gradually slipping through her fingers. Until Marco entered her life. With his calculating glare and terrifying smile, Marco throws Aniyah's life into jeopardy in an instant and vice versa- just how does he give her a chance at keeping her freedom? And can Aniyah be the one to send the weight of Marco's walls crumbling? *CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE BUT NOT RECOMMENDED*

Zane Delgado had his fate sealed on the night of his 18th birthday. Abandoned by the man he barely called his father and left to look after his five younger brothers in the space of 24 hours, his life had taken a sharp turn towards rock bottom. Forced to mature even more than he had already Zane stepped up to become everything his father wasn't: caring, protective, patient - present. Throw in the messy life of crime his father had left behind and yeah...recipe for disaster. Zane must now juggle being a parent and big brother, the people out to get him and his family, as well as his attraction towards a certain boy from a cafe, nothing gracious about all of that... *** *PREQUEL TO ISABELLA*