by J. L. Drake
She was still haunted by her memories of that night with Harry but slowly over time the horror had dimmed slightly. She knew she might never get over it, the trauma too great, but she was coping with the help of Matt and Hallie. She wasn’t sure what she would do without them and hoped she never found out. She loved them both dearly.
Amelia had slowly warmed to her, and looked uncomfortable in her formal wear. She’d opted for dress pants and fuchsia shirt rather than a dress, the colour blending well with her mocha toned skin. Amelia had taken her role as bridesmaid as if headed for the firing squad and had shared the duty with Matt’s sister Kendall.
The three groomsmen, Darryl, Dean, and Nick had accepted her into their lives as Matt’s girlfriend and she had begun to think of them as the overbearing brothers she’d never had or wanted. They were even over protective of their ‘niece’ Hallie, not that they needed to be. Matt had that covered. Whereas a normal teenage girl would yell and scream, Hallie seemed to enjoy it, even when it exasperated her. Natalie was pretty sure Hallie secretly relished in the fact that someone cared enough to put restrictions on her. Thankfully, she was a sensible girl and never gave them cause to worry much.
Each of the men were dressed smartly in their suits and she was sure every woman in the room was busy undressing them in their minds, despite their married or underage status. Everyone, she thought, except herself. The men might be handsome but they didn’t hold a candle to her Matt. He was the most gorgeous man alive, inside and out.
Of all the horror that had come from Harry’s presence in their lives, he had least brought them all together. Without the Butcher, Natalie would never have met Matt or Hallie and her life would never have changed for the better.
Matt’s mother and sister had welcomed her and Hallie into the family with open arms and for the first time in years she had a family again. She felt as she had those long ago days with her aunt and uncle, and before her father had died.
Matt had proposed at a nice romantic Italian restaurant down near the promenade. The candle on their table had flickered in the warm breeze as they sat outside and she’d smelled the water in the bay nearby. Children had laughed as they’d run ahead of their parents as they made their way down to the beach. Fishermen leaned over the pier and sat on the end of the dock hoping to catch their dinner. The sun had begun to set, glowing red in the distance just over the horizon and Matt had reached into his pocket and produced a diamond ring as he’d knelt beside her.
Her breath had caught in her throat as he looked in her eyes and asked her to marry him.
“When I first met you, I was blown away. You’re smart and beautiful, kind and giving. I wonder every day how I could be so lucky to have you love me just as I love you,” Matt said and her heart swelled in her chest even as tears rolled silently down her cheek. “When I look into the future, all I see is you. I don’t want to live without you. I love you, Natalie Miller, with all my heart. Will you do the honour of being my wife?”
Natalie had smiled and replied adamantly. “Yes.”
She’d learned later that Hallie had helped pick out the ring, a simple gold band with a solitaire diamond that she couldn’t have loved more. Natalie glanced over at Hallie who was dressed in a strapless magenta maid-of-honour gown. Her hair was bundled on the top of her head in a fancy up-do. She sat giggling with Sergeant Robert’s daughters and Natalie was glad she was so happy.
Natalie remembered the day she and Matt had gone to collect her from Paradise Valley. It was a day she would always look back on fondly. Not only had she gained a daughter but it had been the day Matt had declared his feelings to her. They had gotten in the car after she’d been introduced to his team and she’d had another moment of anxiety. She hadn’t once thought to ask how Matt felt about her decision to remove Hallie from Paradise Valley and bring her home. She’d felt awful, considering her home at that moment had been his.
Natalie had turned in her seat and had apologised profusely.
Matt had smiled and told her to relax, that he’d known her intentions the moment she had asked Alec for support and thought it was a great idea. Natalie had been immensely relieved.
She had found Hallie staring out the window. The sun streaked through the glass and made the red of her hair burn bright. Hallie had turned when she caught Natalie’s reflection in the glass and smiled, the smile fading when she’d noticed Natalie’s hands were bound in bandages.
“He hurt you,” Hallie declared and the tone of her voice suggested she didn’t care for it.
Natalie looked down at her hands. “Barely grazed the skin.”
“Is he really dead?”
Natalie nodded. “He isn’t coming back, Hallie,” she promised. “Have the police been to see you?”
Hallie nodded and Natalie wondered how much Hallie had been told.
“Yeah. I know everything.” Tears shimmered in her eyes. “How do I look at myself in the mirror knowing I’m related to that monster?”
Natalie moved towards her and knelt in front of her. Her bandaged hands rested on Hallie’s knees. Natalie’s heart broke for her and the pain she was feeling. It was too much for a teenager who had already lost everything in the world she held dear. Her life had been ruined because of a few bad decisions others had made.
“By knowing that you’re nothing like him.”
A tear spilled from Hallie’s eye and rolled down her cheek. Natalie wiped it away with the linen of the bandage on her hand.
“How could they have kept it all from me? Missy wasn’t my mum. Do you think they planned on lying to me my entire life?”
Natalie shook her head. “I don’t know, Hallie, and I don’t pretend to know how you’re feeling. But I do know family isn’t always blood. Love can come despite any familial ties. Missy was your mother in every way that matters. She loved you with all her heart.”
Hallie sniffled. “What happens now? With me, I mean,” she added.
“How would you like to get out of here?”
Natalie felt a moment of apprehension. What if Hallie didn’t want to go with her? Maybe her presence would constantly remind Hallie of this place and things best forgotten. How could she not have thought about that before? She’d been too wrapped up in her own feelings; she hadn’t bothered to think of anyone else. The idea of never seeing Hallie again hurt. The girl had burrowed deep into her heart and she feared it might break. But she would comply with what was best for Hallie. It had to be about Hallie. Always.
Hallie smiled. “For a couple hours?”
Natalie shook her head. “No. Not for a couple of hours. I was actually thinking along the lines of…” She shrugged. “A lifetime, maybe?”
“Are you being for real right now?” Hallie asked, her voice low. Natalie nodded. Hallie launched herself at Natalie and hugged her. “Hell yeah.”
In that moment Natalie had realised she had everything she could possibly want. “Come on, then. Matt’s waiting in the car.”
The three of them had fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Hallie’s adoption papers had been signed months back. Despite her only being a few months from eighteen, she and Matt had wanted to officially make her their daughter. Hallie had come a long way from the teenager she’d met at Paradise Valley. She had easily adjusted to her new home and life and had opted to continue her schooling at home with the help of a tutor and was exceeding both Matt’s and Natalie’s hopes for her.
The music died down and she was handed a champagne glass while Matt raised his own glass and toasted to her, his wonderful daughter and to his friends and family. Natalie’s eyes filled with tears at the lovely sentiment. Vanity at having her make-up ruined had her blinking them back. She couldn’t possibly love him more.
Matt then turned to his groomsmen. “You’re next, boys.”
He drank from his glass and everyone followed suit except for the three men. Dean, Darryl, and Nick all looked at each other, something akin to fear in their eyes.
“He’s joking,
right?” Nick asked.
Amelia grinned at them, obviously relishing in their discomfort. “I don’t think so.”
Dean shook his head. “Nope. Not happening.”
“I like my bachelor status. No woman is tying me down just yet,” Darryl added.
Natalie gave them a dazzling smile. “You say that now. But just you wait and see.”
About the Author
Camille Taylor is an Australian author who resides in the Nation’s Capital with her small dog. She was the typical 90’s kid and was raised on Goosebumps, Roald Dahl and Paul Jennings. In her teens she began reading the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie and in later years found Christine Feehan, Janet Evanovich and Julie Garwood.
She started writing at sixteen and enjoys spending time with her family, doting on her nieces and nephews, writing the many stories floating about her head and working on her genealogy where she can trace her heritage to England, Scotland, Ireland and Russia.
Her other interests include, anything creative—such as scrapbooking and drawing and has travelled across Western Europe, New Zealand and the UAE, after spending a year living in London. She’s also dabbled in tae kwon do.
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https://www.facebook.com/CamilleTaylorAuthor
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Website:
https://camilletaylorbooks.wordpress.com/
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7791241.Camille_Taylor
Nurse Blood
By Rebecca Besser
Prologue
The air inside the nightclub was hazy from smoke machines. Flashes of colored light cut through the swirls in beat with the pulsing music that shook the walls and the floor. The atmosphere was alive with movement―a mass of hot, swaying bodies bent on enjoying the moment. A monster waited in the depths of the darkness to bat her pretty eyes at someone and make them her prey.
The door of the establishment swung open to give way to three eager young men looking to have a good time and celebrate. The trio was instantly surrounded by dancing women. They made their way through the press of bodies to reach the bar.
Daniel forced himself not to scan the crowd for his ex-fiancée, April. But she was the least of his worries, as the real danger was a face he wouldn’t recognize.
Roy got their drinks while Hank and Daniel stood at a balcony that overlooked an even larger dance floor below. The smoke was thicker down there, and there were more lights. The dancers looked like they were paying sensual homage to their deity. The air was tainted with the aroma of perfume and alcohol; it burned the men’s nostrils and fueled their excitement for the revelry to come.
Daniel took a moment to text his twin brother, David, to let him know where they would be celebrating their shared birthday. He received a text back from David saying he was still an hour away.
Roy joined them with three shots and three cold bottles of beer, passing one of each to his friends. They downed the shots in one swallow before turning their attention to their beers.
“Dave will be here in an hour or so,” Daniel announced after downing his shot.
“Awesome—we’re gonna have a great time!” Hank yelled over the music.
As Roy took a drink of his beer, a petite, slim blonde grabbed his waist from behind. He jumped in surprise and turned, recognizing the young woman.
She tucked a finger into the front of his jeans, smiled at him, and tugged him away from his friends toward a table with another girl.
Roy looked back over his shoulder at his friends and shrugged.
“That’s Lynn,” Hank yelled to Daniel. “They’ve been seeing each other for a while. And that’s her cousin Trisha—you don’t want to go there.”
Daniel nodded and looked around. The warming effect of the shot was spreading through his body, relaxing him. He felt less paranoid about running into April.
While he was looking over the crowd, a woman caught his eye. She was a tall, slim brunette, and she was beautiful. She was standing alone at the end of the bar. He watched her for a few moments, and when she looked around, their eyes met.
He smiled and looked away.
Hank noticed Daniel’s mild interest. He knew what his friend had been through recently and why he was gun-shy with women.
“Go for it!” he yelled, nudging Daniel. “Have some fun!”
Daniel looked at his friend, took another swallow of beer, glanced at the woman—noticing she was still alone—and shrugged.
Hank laughed and gave Daniel a shove toward the bar, causing him to slam into two people who happened to be walking past. When he turned to them to apologize, he came face to face with the very woman he was hoping not to run into: April. The man she was with was leaning on her with all his weight while she struggled to hold him up.
Daniel’s heart clenched in his chest and his lungs seized up for a moment. He felt his hand tighten around the neck of his beer bottle. He wanted to slam it over the other man’s head, but he managed to restrain himself. He didn’t want her to know how much the sight of her with another man hurt him, so he put on a brave front.
“Excuse the fuck out of me,” he said with a sadistic smile, raised the bottle in the air like he was toasting them, and then took a big swig of the brew. He was pleased with the shocked expression that spread across April’s face at his harsh greeting.
They didn’t say anything to Daniel, but focused back on each other and moved around him and deeper into the establishment.
Daniel glanced over to Hank, who was grinning from ear to ear.
He smiled at his friend, nodded, and forced himself to put one foot in front of the other until he made it over to the woman at the bar. While he walked he pretended not to notice that April had glanced back at him several times as she guided her drunken man to a table where he could sit down. He was determined to show April she wasn’t the only woman in the world. He was going to prove to himself and her that he was over the breakup.
“Hi, I’m Daniel!” he yelled when he reached the woman, leaning toward her a little so she could hear him as a new song started to play.
“Grace!” she yelled back.
They smiled at each other.
The couple chatted for a while about nothing important, since it was too loud to carry on a serious conversation, and ordered drink after drink as they stood at the bar. Daniel’s emotional tension eased little by little with every drink. He became more and more relaxed, and friendlier and friendlier with Grace. Before he knew what was happening, they were pressed up against each other while they conversed so they could hear each other better.
“Let’s get out of here,” Grace said. She kissed him and reached down between them to rub his crotch.
Normally Daniel would be shocked and uneasy by such a gesture so soon after meeting a woman, but he’d had enough drinks not to care about how respectable she was or wasn’t being.
He nodded in agreement and looked around for his friends, frowning.
“I have to tell my friends I’m leaving,” he said, taking a step away from Grace.
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Grace said, rubbing his crotch again. “They’ll figure it out. Besides, you can call them later and they can pick you up from my place.”
That sounded reasonable so he followed her out to the parking lot. The night was clear and felt cool after the heat from the population of patrons inside the nightclub.
They stumbled together through the parking lot and paused to make out, pressed against the side of her car for a couple minutes before they finally separated their bodies to get in.
Daniel had the passenger’s side door open and was about to climb inside when his cell phone beeped, notifying him of a text. He stopped, stood up straight beside the car, and pulled his wallet out of his back pocket by mistake. He reached into his other back pocket and extracted his cell phone. He frowned and squinted to focus on the tiny, bright screen that said David was only a block away.
“What are you doing?” Grace asked.
“I can’t go with you,” he said with a sigh. “Sorry. I—”
He felt a sharp pain in the side of his neck. He reached up to figure out what had hurt him and spun around at the same time, dropping his cell phone and wallet to the asphalt parking lot.
Grace was standing behind him holding an empty syringe.
“I’m sorry,” she said, “but you have to come with me.”
He tried to shove her away, but his limbs wouldn’t do what he wanted them to. His legs gave out from beneath him as the world blurred into a black blob of nothing.
***
Grace shoved Daniel’s tall frame into the passenger seat when he started to fall, smacking his head on the door frame. She quickly picked his feet up from the ground and spun him so she could get him all the way into the car.
She heard laughing as a couple made their way through the parking lot a few rows over, so she didn’t take the time to pick up what Daniel had dropped.
Grace shut the passenger door and ran around to the driver’s side of her car. She scanned the parking lot as she pulled out, not seeing anyone close-by. She’d been careful, watching for people as they’d headed outside, but the distant couple had snuck up on them. Luckily they hadn’t come close enough to see what she was up to. She tensed slightly when she had to pass another vehicle as she pulled from the lot out onto the street, but the man was looking in the opposite direction and didn’t even glance their way.
Once she was out of the parking lot and a couple blocks away, she pulled out her cell phone and called Roger.
“Hey,” she said into the phone. “I have fresh meat…”
Chapter 1
FBI Agent David McCoy poured himself a measure of whiskey, sat heavily in the leather recliner in his small living room, and loosened his tie. It had been a rough day at work and he knew he had an even rougher night ahead of him. He’d already scheduled a vacation day so he wouldn’t have to go in to work the next day.