Epilogue
~Dr. Zahra Deas~
The phone rings, and I ignore it, thinking it’s only Sarah calling. My eyes refuse to leave the screen as the male news anchor goes into details. Across the screen flashes “Breaking News” followed by words I try to put together but struggle to do.
He’s dead.
He’s really dead.
Clayton Holsen is dead.
A man who haunts half the people in this hospital has finally bit the dust. A giggle escapes before I can stop it. When my phone buzzes again, I spare a glance.
Just as I thought, Sarah’s name is flashing across the screen. I roll my eyes and send it to voicemail. Sarah was a rush, a breath of fresh air, but like all my other relationships, that giddy feeling, that excitement I get when I’m dating someone, dissipated. She’s determined to prove that there is still something there. There isn’t.
After a few weeks, there is never anything left. I’m addicted to color, and after dating people, it always bleeds away. Soul-weaving changes how I see the world, makes people vibrant and that draws me in. But when the honeymoon phase ends, I’m left with nothing, no thud-ump in my heart as I look at the person who had just sent me into a spiral of lust.
Sarah’s my current victim, and I try to feel guilty about it, but I can’t. She just doesn’t do it for me anymore.
My mind flashes to blue-grey eyes framed by soft brown hair dyed to hide the white-blonde. Adalyn. I wonder what she looks like with just her natural hair color. Snorting to myself, I lean back in my chair and stare at the screen, not really seeing it. Jackson would chop off my hand if I dare to try anything with her.
In fact, all four of those men would tear me apart.
But I can’t help my curiosity. I’m attracted to her, but not crazy enough to do anything. I would never get in the middle of that bond between her and her men. Neither can I stop thinking about those beautiful swirling colors. Adalyn is a soft red to match with the passion and energy inside of her. The guys are a swirl of green, yellow, orange, and blue. The colors should have clashed together, but it works for them. They manage to find the perfect blend with Adalyn’s red at the epicenter.
“Dr. Deas, you’ll want to answer the phone this time,” my secretary says over the intercom.
I sigh and lean forward. “Send it through.”
A moment later the phone rings with an out of area number. After the third ring, I answer it.
“Dr. Deas speaking, how many I help you?”
“Hello,” a deep voice says and my heart beats an extra thud at the sound. He sounds like warm melted chocolate swirls. “My name is Raid.”
I hold back a snort. That’s an unfortunate name. I wonder how many people joke about his name in relation to the bug spray.
“Hi, Raid,” I say professionally. “How many I help you?”
And what colors make up your soul?
“Have you seen the news about Holsen?” His cautious voice sends alertness through my body, and I sit up straight.
“I have.”
He’s silent for a moment, probably expecting me to say more on the subject. Frankly, the only thing I have to say is good riddance. His death is going to do an abundance of good for many of my clients. They’ll be able to find peace.
“This isn’t well known, but he had a few people in his care.” Raid’s voice is hesitant. “They need your professional expertise.”
“They’re gifted?”
“Yes.”
I eye the TV. Holsen’s disgustingly handsome face pops up on the screen.
“Trauma?” I ask.
“Yes.”
A soft clicking grabs my attention and I realize I’m making the noise with a pen. Sometimes my hands have a mind of their own, especially when I’m anxious about something. I force my fingers to let go and the pen hits the table with a clatter.
“And you? Who are you?”
He’s quiet for a moment and suspicion whirls around.
“I used to work for Holsen. My team and I have four gifted who have been under his care for too long.”
Care, huh. That’s a nice way of putting it.
“Why should I help you? You worked for Holsen. I’m surprised you’re not out there, trying to take control of his assets or something. I imagine there’s going to be a huge power play as his empire is torn apart and spread out. It’ll be a snatch and grab by anyone with an ounce of connections.”
“That’s exactly why I need to get them out now, before whoever takes control of Holsen’s assets gets to them.”
My eyebrows raise in surprise. “You want to protect them?”
“Yes.”
“Why should I believe you?”
Again he’s quiet, trying to choose his answer carefully. Or maybe he’s trying to find a way to come through the phone and threaten me.
“My daughter is one of them.” His answer is barely a whisper over the phone, but it has its intended impact, and I get all the answers I need.
“Very well, you can send them to me.”
“I’m part of a team of six. We’ll be escorting them and then sticking around to ensure their safety.”
“They’ll be safe here.”
“We need to make sure there’s no backlash. It sounds like you have an inkling of an idea of who Holsen really was. He likes powerful people. I want to make sure others don’t go after them. You’ll want the extra protection.”
I grit my teeth because dammit, he’s right. If Raid is taking them, people might be after them.
“Fine. Bring them here as soon as you can.”
“We’ll be there tomorrow.” The relief in his voice is quickly followed by a click as he hangs up.
My gaze stays on the phone as I wonder what the hell I just agreed to.
Author’s Note
I can’t believe I’m launching a second series. This book snuck up on me and even surprised me when it told me the story isn’t over. My intention wasn’t to write a series, but the world I created begged for it and I can’t say no. So many characters I created in here got me thinking about their stories too, and so Gifted Anomalies was born.
While Adalyn’s first book is over, her story isn’t, but others are also getting started. This series is a weaving of stories with different main characters connected through plot. Adalyn and her yummy guys will be back before you know it! But first, to get a full picture, you need to read about the others. Will you take this journey with me?
If you haven’t yet, please consider leaving a review. As an indie author, those reviews mean the world to me and they’re helpful for other readers. Don’t be shy. I have a thick skin.
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Coming Soon
Surviving Souls (2019)
Gifted Anomalies Book Two
Soulweaving is an art form and one that Dr. Zahra Deas excels in. She’s content with her job as a psychiatrist in Tampa, Florida, at least until the United States loses an important citizen. While the gifted rejoice at Clayton Holsen’s death, Zahra curses the man as a group of gifted who were under his control are sent to her.
Zahra is more than willing to help Holsen’s victims heal now that he’s out of the picture. The problem is that attached to her new group of patients is also a group of guards who never learned what personal space means. While she helps her patients, she has to learn to navigate around guards who keep sticking their noses into her business.
Normally, she’d have no trouble keep others in line, but unfortunately for Zahra, someone wants a piece of Holsen’s empire and that piece just so happens to be in her care. Will Zahra and her new friends be able to keep the patients safe or will she finally learn what it feels like to be them, hunted for the gifts that they have?
From the Author
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Surviving Souls (Coming Soon)
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Fate Foretold (Gifted Anomalies Book 1) Page 23