“Such as?” Kai asked, sounding wary.
Kane winked. “Small matter of identity, that’s all.”
Questions filled her head, but they were best left for another time, when there was time. Right now, the elevator doors opened to reveal a large reception area complete with vehicle parking bays and a mechanic’s workshop. Ground floor. She didn’t need to see the earth to know it stood a few meters away. The smell of damp dirt and eucalyptus reached her nose, and she breathed deep. The call of the wild still rung true within her. This forest would always occupy a place in her heart, supplying memories both good and bad. She had Kai to thank for the good ones.
To the left, she found the remaining hybrids huddled together. The younger ones looked frightened. Mystery took care of them, topping up their mugs with a steaming brew. For a moment, she looked up and found Sari. Their gazes connected briefly, long enough for Sari to know they’d be seeing each other again. Soon.
Pitch sat nearby on the hood of a four wheel drive, his legs tucked under his rigid form. Keeping lookout. Always the protector. He nodded toward her and smiled, the raging emotion in his eyes controlled, but only just. That man would need a ton of counseling, but he’d get the help he needed, she’d see to it. Though, when a blonde woman brought him a mug of beverage, the expression in his eyes said he’d begun working on something new already.
Sari smiled.
“What is it?”
She leaned toward Kai. “Seems Pitch has found a new friend.”
“That’s Sarah. Don’t you remember?”
Sari nodded.
“You know we’re going to have answer the detective’s questions, right?”
Sari stared up into Kai’s worried gaze and smiled, before nodding toward Kane. “Well, so long as he’s ready for some weird-ass crazy answers, I’m good to go.”
They laughed before Kane interrupted. “Sari, I’m going to need you to identify a body we found.”
She followed the detective to a covered corpse, Kai in tow. When the sheet was pulled away, she grimaced at the shocking wound to the throat and the blood spattered face. He wore an expression of surprise and fear. Son of a bitch probably knew he’d finally get what he deserved.
“Waylon Landau,” she said. “CEO of Eco-Corp.”
Kai squeezed her hand for support before adding, “I think you’ll find his final papers in a vault at head office.”
A grizzly chuckle emanated from Detective Kane. “Of all the ways to go, having my throat ripped out isn’t one of them,” he said before walking away and leaving Kai and Sari alone.
“Should I tell him Waylon was still alive when it happened?” she wondered aloud.
Kai stared at her. “How can you tell that?”
“I can’t, but if it was Tom, you can bet your bottom dollar Waylon got to live through his own death.”
Pulling her into an embrace, Kai rested his chin on her head. “Where do you think Tom and Mara are now?”
She shrugged and snuggled closer to Kai’s chest. “Out there somewhere. Free. Two wild cats living it up until their baby comes.”
“And so the legend of the black cats lives on.”
She heard the smile in Kai’s voice and pulled back to see it on his lips too. “Hopefully they know better than to attract the tourists.”
He smiled. “And what about you, my little black jaguar. Besides sleeping in my bed every night from now on, what will happen to you?”
Sari winked. “Well, I thought I’d run Eco-Corp for a while. What do you think?”
“And have you as my boss?” he grinned wickedly and laughed before planting a smacker on her lips. “See, I told you you’d be ordering me around from now on.”
The End
About the Author:
Blame it on David, the boy who challenged me to a writing contest when we were nine years old. The guidelines were sketchy, and only one rule applied: write as many pages as I could. Silly boy. He obviously didn’t realize how much I loved spinning stories, which up to that point had been done by the spoken word in the playground. Until then, I hadn’t actually written anything down. When I hit twenty-five pages, my competitor threw his hands in the air and declared I’d won. I can’t remember the title of that story, nor even any of the characters, but that’s where it all began.
I'm an ordinary Australian girl who puts family first and, fortunately or unfortunately, sometimes lets my career take up too much time. A teacher by day, romance writer by night, my life is full of the good things. I write because I'm passionate about it, because it's in my heart. I love the escape, the adventure, and especially the life I live vicariously through my characters. Most of all, I relish the challenge of bringing sensual, delightful and fulfilling romance stories to life.
rose.middleton@lindenbayromance.com
Also by Rose Middleton:
Something About Maggie
When the love you’ve been searching for has been there all along…
Determined and driven, scientist Maggie Walker is used to getting what she wants—except when it comes to love. Ever since her best friend, Jack, gave her that first embarrassingly disastrous kiss at age fifteen she’s yearned for a second chance to show him that they could be so much more.
Now Jack is a jet-setting freelance photographer with an enviable lifestyle. For years he’s been traveling around the world to exotic locations, but when he comes home to Melbourne Maggie’s always been able to count on him to be the same dependable, predictable Jack…but not this time.
From the moment Jack’s plane lands, he begins to see Maggie, the one person in his life he’s always been sure of, in a different light. Could it just be that for the first time in a long time both Jack and Maggie are single? Possibly, although it seems to be more than that. Something unexpected has happened, something that’s awakened long ignored desires and hidden passions, something that can’t be ignored. This time there’s no denying it, there’s Something About Maggie…
Tantaliser
For Australian ace drummer Catherine “Charlie” Brown, it isn’t about breaking into a boys’ club. It’s about proving a point regarding lead singer and all-round bad-boy, Nicholas St. Eve. When Nik storms out of Charlie’s audition, claiming no woman will ever join his band, she’s convinced that she’s exposed him for the chauvinistic, self-obsessed pig that he is.
But there is more to Nik than meets the eye. The second he walks out the door, he realizes his mistake. He can’t deny Charlie’s talent anymore than he can deny the intense physical attraction he has for her. When instead of admitting that he’s wrong, Nik impulsively confronts the stubborn and outspoken Aussie, sparks ignite! They exchange words, issue challenges, and share the kiss of a lifetime. Then, Charlie vows to beat Nik at his own game. The race is on!
Now it’s two years later and Charlie is winning the battle of the bands with her all-girl group, Mystique. Nik could care less; he only really wants to win her. He’s never been able to forget their first encounter and if Charlie would just be honest with herself she’d admit that neither has she. She’s desperate to get Nicholas St. Eve out of her system and out of her life. And, if she can’t? Well, Charlie might very well give in to his persistently wicked attempts to tantalize her!
One Foot Forward
How do you thank someone for saving your life? Molly Keating had never found the right words to thank Mick Knight for saving her from the car accident that almost killed her and left her severely injured. When she learns the hunky firefighter is up for auction at a charity fundraiser, she figures the very least she can do is bid to take him to dinner and extend her gratitude.
Mick is thrilled to see Molly again, but he hates to see the self-doubt that is so evident in her beautiful hazel eyes. The charismatic Mick, with his commanding sex appeal and devilish charm, sets out to put the spark back into the woman he’s been unable to forget.
When Mick followed his fire-fighting father into a career that too often leads to an early grave, he knew
the risks. He long ago accepted that he may have no future, and thus has avoided relationships out of fear—fear of commitment and fear of risk.
As the passion between them ignites and the feelings build, Mick finds that he must make a choice, and Molly finds herself wondering if the impossible just might be possible. Do they live the rest of their lives in fear, or do they follow their hearts and take a chance…on love?
The Devil’s Veil
It’s a race against time to put a stop to Madam Veil and her house of horrors...
Lily’s Shadow: Drogan has lusted after innocent Lily since the moment they first met. But because he’s her co-worker, there’s a line between them she’ll never cross. Or will she? The consummate professional, he doesn’t believe Lily has ever looked at him the way he wants her to. But when she falls under Madam Veil’s spell, boundaries are crossed and he learns the truth. Under the guise of Shadow, Madam Veil’s trusted mortal, Drogan must make a choice.
Rise of the Phoenix: He has heard the legend of one who would rise and defeat the great vampire, Jamaal, but that doesn’t deter Grigore who lost the will to live when Jamaal murdered his beloved. Grigore has taken advantage of the charm protecting Madam Veil’s house and hidden himself away in hope of forgetting that he couldn’t save the one he loved. But when he lay eyes upon the radiant Phoenix, the one prophecies had foretold would appear, Grigore once again comes to life. Within her lies the answer to his long distant prayers.
Dante’s Karma: While her boss wants her to get the scoop on the mysterious house upon Devil’s Hill, Karma just wants to lose herself. The mysterious man who sweeps her off her feet isn’t the police captain she’s been sent to find, but the intriguing air about him and strange lack of a heart beat in his chest draw her to him like no other. Tempted by desire, the future oracle is compelled to follow the path placed before her, locking herself in a room with the confessed a vampire.
A Captain’s Curse: After her parents were slaughtered by a pack of werewolves, and her sister was whisked away by vampires, white witch Kendra has no desire to help the enigmatic stranger who begs for her help. Hartigan may be a police captain, but he’s also a werewolf hiding under Madam Veil’s protection. As far as Kendra is concerned, he’s lost to humanity. But can he be redeemed? Will Kendra do as the oracle pleads and save the sexy captain?
Saving Grace: Upon receiving a vision of her own death, Madam Veil flies to the land of her birth in an attempt to prevent her demise. Unwittingly stepping into a trap, she is unable to exact her fury on the band of do-gooders. Transported back in time, Madam Veil finds herself once again tied to the stake and about to burn for her sin of witchcraft. Can the woman, once known as Hartless Grace, find her humanity? Or will she succumb to a fate already lived and return to her life of evil immortality?
This is a publication of
Linden Bay Romance
WWW.LINDENBAYROMANCE.COM
Recommended Read:
Seducing the Darkness
By Shiela Stewart
Book One of The Darkness Series
Cast out by her kind, Trinity Ford has learned to live on her own…not an easy thing to do when you’re a vampire.
Trinity was once a fragile girl. Being taken by a powerful vampire prince changed her. Discovering him in the arms of another woman changed destiny. Alone, she’s learned fast how to be tough, how to survive, and how to protect the people in her city from the evil that lurks in the dark. She was managing just fine, until Basil walked back into her life.
Basil Hawthorn has been the reigning prince of vampires since banishing his father to the Realm of Dark Mystics decades earlier. When a prophetic dream makes him realize Trinity’s life is at risk, he decides the only way to save her is to push her away. Doing so is not easy. Trinity is the only woman he has ever loved, ever will love, and he can’t seem to let her go.
When rumors arise of a plan to raise the King and blot out the sun, both Trinity and Basil know they must do everything to stop it. Even if it means working together. Despite the betrayal and the threat, they find themselves drawn to each other. Love has no boundaries, especially in the face of danger. But will they be able to stop the ritual before it’s too late?
Or will the darkness capture them both
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