by Rene Folsom
I doubt the man had any idea how much he affected me.
*****
Walking into my condo, the place almost seemed foreign to me. I’d been spending so much time with Grams and Liam, my place was beginning to feel more like a hotel than a home.
Flicking on a light, I nearly leapt out of my skin when I saw someone sitting in the shadows at my table. I immediately knew who it was, and my skin crawled at the thought he was in my home.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Jim?” I sneered, regretting the fact I’d given him a key while my grams lived with me those few short years. Why I hadn’t changed the locks was beyond me, and I internally scolded myself for my oversight.
“Nice to see you too, doll,” he slithered, standing from his perch in the shadows and approaching me. Within a few steps, his evil face was illuminated.
“Don’t call me doll. Now what the hell do you want?” I’d long since ditched my stuff by the door and now stood there, fists clenched tight, wondering whether I should be worried about my welfare. I suddenly wished I had Liam by my side, if nothing more than moral support as I dealt with the snotwad.
“Come. Sit down with me and we’ll talk,” he suggested, gesturing toward the table he just rose from.
“You’re not staying long enough to sit. Now, spit it out.”
“Very well. I need some information from you, and I’m hoping you’d be a good girl and help me out?” The sinister look on his face as he lifted his lips into a smile told me this wasn’t going to be good.
“I’d rather stab my eye out with a fork than help you,” I seethed, still not moving my defensive stance by the door.
“I had a feeling you’d react that way, which is why I came prepared.” Lifting his meaty hand, he brandished a digital recorder I hadn’t noticed he was holding before. My stomach dropped as I heard what came from the tiny speakers…
Gran, I just finished the very last chapter of this latest book in the Celestial series. I’d love to read it to you and get your opinion. You up for a little story time?
Always, my dear. I love hearing your stories.
“Stop!” I said, holding my hand up for him to shut the damn thing off. I made sure never to read when Big Jim was around. The fact that he now knew I was M.L. Thomas made my heart hammer in my ears. “How’d you get that?” Big Jim holding this sort of information would be detrimental to my anonymity. Surely, he wouldn’t fuck me over by telling anyone, would he? I only ever read to Gran because I knew she wouldn’t even remember long enough to spill my secret.
“I knew you were being a sneaky little thing, so I set up this recorder in Mom’s plant. I knew you’d eventually say something that would be in my favor.” The wicked snicker that left his chunky lips had my skin crawling. The man was seriously grotesque in every way.
“What do you want, Jim?” I asked, wondering why this was all coming to light.
“I want information, that is all,” he said, holding his arms out as if it was no big deal. “Just a little bit of info and this all goes away,” he added, waving the recorder up by his fat, slimy face.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I shivered, my gut telling me this was not going to be good. “If you’re not going to tell me, then just get the hell out.”
“I want what William Allen has.”
The End of Game Changer,
Book One in the Playing Games series.
If you haven’t read about Liam and Maci’s little New Year’s affair, check out The Wager, the prequel to Game Changer. Information can be found on Rene’s website at www.renefolsom/playing-games.
In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of the prequel:
The Wager (Playing Games #0.5)
You’d think the masks would come off once the ball drops at the New Year’s masquerade but, tossing caution to the wind, Liam and Maci decide to have a bit of fun by continuing to keep their faces hidden from each other during a night full of games and passion.
Get to know these two game-playing lovers before they even know each other in The Wager, a prequel to the new novel in the Playing Games series, Game Changer.
Note: This contemporary romance novella is an optional read in the Playing Games series and contains adult situations meant for ages 18+.
Find out more on Rene’s website at http://renefolsom.com/thewager
Thanks for Reading
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review where you purchased it. Also, join the popular crowd and take a moment to sign up for my newsletter in order to receive new release information and special announcements.
Subscribe to my Newsletter
More Books by Rene
Cornerstone Series
Shuttered Affections (Cornerstone #1)
Exposed Affections (Cornerstone #2)
Playing Games Series
The Wager: A Game Changer Prequel (Playing Games #0.5)
Game Changer (Playing Games #1)
Roommate Romance Series
Heart You (Roommate Romance #1)
Bind Me (Roommate Romance #2)
Share You (Roommate Romance #3)
Flatter Me (Roommate Romance #4)
Soul Seers Series
Voices of the Soul (Soul Seers #1)
Eyes of the Soul (Soul Seers #2)
Truths of the Soul (Soul Seers #3)
Blood of the Soul (Soul Seers #4)
Secrets of the Soul (Soul Seers #5)
Hearts of the Soul (Soul Seers #6)
Twisted Wolf Tale Series
Tempt: A Twisted Wolf Tale (Little Red Riding Hood)
Trust: A Twisted Wolf Tale (Beauty and the Beast)
Favorite Things Series
Favorite Things: Adventurous
Favorite Things: Bound
Favorite Things: Charming (coming soon)
Standalones
Every Thorn (A Romantic Thriller Short Story)
Have My Heart (A Romantic Short Story)
Red Hot Authors Collections
For Liberty: A Red Hot and BOOM! Story
Tempt: A Red Hot Treats Story
Boxed Sets
Soul Seers Boxed Set
Roommate Romance Boxed Set
Anthologies
Paranormal Anthology with a Twist
Stalkers: A Collection of Thriller Stories
Stardust: A Futuristic Romance Collection
All Our Love: A Collection of Stories that Speak to the Heart
About Rene
Rene Folsom, author of paranormal romance and erotica, lives in Florida with her husband and three kids. She has officially diagnosed herself with creative ADD and often has a million and one writing projects going at once. In addition to writing, she is also a graphic artist who enjoys creating custom book covers for indie authors. She is definitely an artist at heart and would love nothing more than to be elbow deep in clay during her waking hours.
Rene believes that all fiction is based on some form of reality—otherwise we would never have the inspiration or knowledge to dream up the realistic situations we portray with our words. She is proud to say that her personal experiences have been inspirational, though perhaps not always identical to that of her fictional characters. Where reality and fantasy diverge, however, must remain her little secret…
Newsletter | Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter