Hart of Vengeance: The Hart Series
Page 26
Fucker.
“Hold down the fort. Camera is live on my screen.”
Rafe nodded as I walked out.
The first floor of the shelter had an open floor plan, which consisted of a living area that melted into the kitchen toward the back of the house. I wanted women to feel warm and protected and give them space to relax as if they were home.
Aside from the bare walls that needed some artwork, the place was coming together. I’d gotten the idea for a safe haven after seeing young girls walking the streets at night, being beaten by their pimps, getting high on drugs, or even sleeping on the streets. The idea had cemented itself even more when I helped Bee and Allie, two girls I’d found one night. Allie had been her pimp’s punching bag, and Bee had been eating out of the trash. I’d taken them into my home and given them a chance to rebuild their lives. Recently, they had saved up enough money to move out and into an apartment together. I was so darn proud of them.
I hoped like hell that maybe Grace had found someone like me or a refuge somewhere in the country.
I fingered my keys as I approached Norma’s desk, which had a direct view of the open floor plan and sat adjacent to the entryway that led out to the front door.
My eyes landed on a sticky note on her computer. Remind Dillon to pay the electrical bill. I snagged a pen from the cup and scribbled on her note, I paid the bill this evening.
My mouth curled on one side. I’d met Norma through Kross Maxwell’s wife, Ruby. Both of them had lived on the streets, which was one of the reasons I’d asked Norma if she wanted a job working at the shelter. She knew how to relate to the girls we brought in.
After I punched in the key code to lock the door, I heard a muffled voice. I reached for the gun I usually carried at my back but came up empty.
Fuck. I’d left my weapon in my desk drawer.
The shelter was situated on a corner lot in a half-decent neighborhood in Boston. The street was usually quiet. The neighbors kept to themselves, and two houses around me were for sale and vacant.
I didn’t advertise or have a sign out front. I didn’t want to risk an abusive pimp or partner showing up and wreaking havoc. Sure, news about the shelter could spread to the wrong people, but that was the reason we had security.
I climbed down the steps of the wooden porch, scanning the area. The tall and dense oak tree in the yard kept the home semi-private from the neighbors across the street.
Instead of heading to my car in the driveway, I walked down the brick path from the house to the sidewalk. I spied Norton staggering toward me with what looked to be a gun in his hands.
My pulse picked up speed. A drunk with a gun wasn’t a good sign.
I could have darted back in the house, but then Norton would have made a scene and woken the neighbors, who weren’t all that thrilled about having a shelter nearby. It was best if I attacked the situation head-on.
The good news was the gun was at his side.
I backtracked until I was in my driveway. If he came onto my property, then I had a leg to stand on if I had to use force.
He stopped at my mailbox.
I raised my hands in the air as if in surrender.
The one streetlight stood tall between the shelter and the vacant house next door, giving me the light I needed to see that Norton’s eyes were glossy.
“I want to see Angel.” He slurred his words.
My pulse rarely ticked higher than sixty-five beats per minute unless I had a lead on Grace. But a skinny, gaunt drunk with a gun was rather terrifying. The liquor oozed off him in waves.
“What makes you think she’s here?” I asked, even though I had an idea.
He cocked his scruffy head, stumbling closer. “I followed her this morning.”
Against my wishes, Angel, one of my guests, had gone back to her house to get some clothes. I’d counseled her that it wasn’t a good idea, but I couldn’t stop her. She’d said Norton always left for work at dawn so he wouldn’t be home.
I lowered one arm and stretched out the other as I inched two steps closer. “Hand me the gun, Norton. You’re not a killer.” I didn’t know that for sure. I knew he’d beaten Angel until she was black and blue.
His hand began to shake more as he swayed before he lost his footing on the curb. I lunged at him, more to catch the gun than him. Once the twenty-two was safely in my hands, I tucked it in the back of my jeans, quietly blowing out a breath, relieved that neither one of us had gotten shot.
Sweat trickled down Norton’s temple as he stared at me with glossy eyes, reminding me of my old man and how he’d done wild things when the liquor overpowered his senses. One time, he’d stumbled into the kitchen with a steak knife pointed at me. Luckily, a chair had saved me that night during dinner.
“Man, get clean,” I said. “Take a shower. Get off the alcohol. If you want, I can give you an address where you could get help.” Manny, a guy I’d met from checking shelters around the city for Grace, would take Norton in. He had a sore spot for alcoholics since he had been one himself. Now he gave his time, effort, and money to helping men like Norton.
Norton pivoted on his heel, staggered, then darted down the street.
Rafe cleared his throat behind me.
I handed the gun to Rafe. “I would like to say he’s harmless, but I’m not sure.”
“Never assume, dude,” Rafe said.
I marched up to my car, my pulse slowing. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. I suggest you call in Josh. Norton will be back.” I was certain about that. He’d been a pain in the butt the last two nights, and if he showed up with a gun again, we were in for some trouble.
HART OF DARKNESS
About the Author
Bestselling author S.B. Alexander writes young adult and new adult romances that span the sub-categories of coming of age, sports, paranormal, suspense, and military fiction. Her writing is emotional, angsty, and character driven. She’s best known for The Maxwell and The Maxwell Family Saga series.
S.B. or Susan as she likes to be called is a navy veteran, former high school teacher, and former corporate sales executive. She’s a lover of sports, especially baseball, although nowadays you can find her glued to the TV during football season.
When she’s not writing, she’s a full-time caregiver to her soul mate of twenty-one years who got a bad deal in life when he was diagnosed with ALS. Her motto: “Life is too short to waste. So live every moment like it’s your last.”
You can connect with S.B. Alexander in the following ways:
Reader Group: http://sbalexander.com/sbareaderroom
Author Website: http://sbalexander.com
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Email: susan@sbalexander.com
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Also by S.B. Alexander
THE MAXWELL SERIES
Upper Young Adult/New Adult Contemporary Romance
Dare to Kiss
Dare to Dream
Dare to Love
Dare to Dance
Dare to Live
Dare to Breathe
Dare to Embrace
The Kade & Lacey Collection Box Set
Dare to Kiss Coloring Book Companion
THE MAXWELL FAMILY SAGA SERIES
Young Adult Contemporary Romance
My Heart to Touch
My Heart to Hold
My Heart to Give
My Heart to Keep*
STANDALONES
New Adult Contemporary Romance
Unforgettable
Breaking Rules
Rescuing Riley
Holding On To Forever
THE HART SERIES
New Adult Romantic Suspense
Hart of Darkness
Hart of Vengeance*
Hart of Redemption*
THE VAMPIRE SEAL SERIES
Young Adult Paranormal Romance
On the
Edge of Humanity
On the Edge of Eternity
On the Edge of Destiny
On the Edge of Misery
On the Edge of Infinity
The Vampire SEAL Collection
*Coming 2020.
Visit http://sbalexander.com for all future release dates. Please note release dates are subject to change based on reader demand and the author’s schedule. Subscribing to the author’s newsletter or following her on Facebook is the best way to stay updated with planned new releases.
Hart of Vengeance
Copyright © 2020 by S.B. Alexander
All rights reserved.
First Edition:
Print ISBN-13: 978-1-7342468-0-3
Visit: http://sbalexander.com
Editor: Red Adept Editing
Cover Design by Hang Le
Photography: Kruse Images & Photography
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons-living or dead-is entirely coincidental.
Adult Content Warning: The content contained is the book includes adult language and sexual content. This book is intended for adult audiences 18 years of age and older.