Third Debt

by Pepper Winters

  “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  He paused. “What—what do you mean?”

  Leaning forward, I stared through the tent gap at the woodland around me. This was my office, my headquarters, and it was time to arrange a battalion for battle. “I’m on your side. I want to help you.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “You don’t have to believe me. It’s the truth.”

  “What have you done with my children? If you’ve hurt Nila—”

  “Sir, she’s the one who has hurt me.”

  Tex sucked in a breath. “Good for her. I hope she tears out your motherfucking heart.”

  I chuckled. “I’m in love with your daughter, Mr. Weaver. I have no intention of letting her tear out my heart.”

  Tex’s temper soared into my ear. “Yet you’ll happily behead her just like her mother! What sort of sick fuck are you?”

  “You’re not listening to what I’m telling you.”

  “I’m listening perfectly fine, you son of a bitch, but you can’t scare me with these twisted phone calls anymore. Your father played the same game. Calling to tell me Emma was too sweet, too pure to die—that he’d find a way to end it. Only to call me on the eve of her death to tell me it was all a lie! He destroyed me, and now you’re destroying the dregs that are left.” Something crashed in the background. “I’ll tell you right now—I’m not listening. I’m coming for you, Hawk, and I’m going to make you fucking pay.”

  My anger boiled over, meeting his. “Christ’s sake. Listen to me. I’m in love with Nila. I’m putting an end to this feud. You don’t have to believe me. Just listen. I’m offering you everything you want. Your son, your daughter…grandchildren who won’t be taken for some ludicrous vendetta. Do you want that? Will you risk talking to me so we can work together to end this?”

  Silence.

  More silence.

  What did I expect? Our families had been raised to hate each other. Archibald lost his wife to my father—of course, he’d hate me.

  I can do it without him.

  Maybe then he’d believe me when I said Nila was now mine and I would do everything in my power to keep her safe.

  I sighed, “Look—”

  Tex interrupted. “What do you expect from me, Hawk?”

  My shoulders slumped with relief.

  I had him.

  “I expect you to help me save the woman we love.”

  TAPESTRIES WATCHED ME as if I were already dead.

  The very air prickled my skin with foreboding.

  Hawksridge Hall embraced me, sucking me back into its morbid evil. Every step, I wanted to cry. Every breath, I wanted to sprint out the door and never return.

  I can’t do this again…

  I can’t…

  The strength I’d found in Jethro’s company rapidly dissolved, and the cracks and fissures from what they’d done to me ruined my determination.

  My courage bled out, trailing like a bloody stain the deeper I travelled through the Hall.

  There was no more happiness, only torment and despair. I didn't know how I’d survive another hour, let alone two days.

  You can do it.

  Can I?

  I wasn’t so sure.

  Following the corridor, I swallowed a gasp as Daniel charged around the corner.

  “No!”

  His hair was wet and combed back. His little goatee gone, his face baby-smooth, and eyes bright with excitement rather than hazy with sleep.

  It’s not yet dawn.

  How could he be up? What sick joke had fate played?

  No. This can’t be happening. Haven’t I given enough?!

  Daniel slammed to a stop, surprise painting his face.

  I froze, wanting to miraculously turn invisible.

  His chest puffed with glee; he grinned. “Well, well, well.” He took a step toward me, then another.

  I couldn’t move.

  Time spilled faster through its hated hourglass, sucking me into its sand.

  “Where the fuck have you been sneaking off to?” He kept prowling toward me, tiny steps, baby steps, giving the illusion that I could run before he caught me.

  Run!

  The message shot to my legs and I bolted.

  But I was too late.

  Daniel’s feet thundered on the carpet, scooping me up in his arms before I even ran a few strides.

  “Let me go!”

  He chuckled, holding me tight against his front. His erection dug into my lower back and his breath echoed in my ear. “No chance. Never letting you go again, little Weaver.”

  He wrenched open my fingers, revealing the key tight in my fist. “Where the fuck did you get that from?” Plucking it from my grip, he palmed it. “Not that it matters.”

  I squirmed in his hold, doing my best to ram his nose with my skull. “Let me go!”

  You won’t break me. Not again.

  He laughed loudly. “Oh, I’m going to fucking enjoy this.” Slamming me back onto my feet, he struck my cheek with the hand holding the brass key.

  The thick metal crunched against my cheekbone, spurting hot tears from my eyes.

  I clutched my face, sucking in heavy breaths. Short hair whipped around, stinging my cheeks.

  Don’t cry. Don’t show weakness.

  Daniel wrapped his fist around my throat, yanking me into him. “Know what, Weaver, I don’t even care that you’re out of your room uninvited. I don’t care what shitty shenanigans you've been up to or how you got the key. None of that matters anymore.”

  Throwing my head back, I screeched as loud as I could. “Jasmine!”

  “Oh, no you fucking don’t.” Slapping a hand over my mouth, he whispered, “You don’t belong to Jasmine for this next part, whore.” His tongue traced the heated imprint of the key on my cheek. “You belong to me. Remember what Cut said last night? About a surprise…well, surprise! Get ready to pay for all your sins in one.”

  I fought harder, screaming behind his palm.

  Dragging me down the corridor, he laughed as cold as the depths of Hades. “No one can save you now, Nila. Know why?”

  I screamed again, kicking anything I could.

  “In a few minutes, you’re going on a little trip, and there you’ll learn everything there is to know about us. You’ll finally understand how we triumphed over your family. How we won and you lost. How all of this will fucking end.”

  Daniel stroked my cheek. “Our first vacation together. Won’t it be fun?” His voice turned gruff. “And the first thing I’ll make you do when we arrive is repay the Third Debt.”

  Throwing me against the wall, he grabbed my hand and placed it on his thick erection. “I’m going to fuck you. My father’s going to fuck you. And then…you’ll pay the debt we’ve kept secret. The one that will tie all of this together. The Fifth Debt. You’ll finally understand.”

  Fury fired through my blood. I struggled in his hold. “I don’t want to understand! Just let me go!”

  He grinned. “You’ll never be free again. And you’ll see why. It will all make sense. You’ll be fucked, but at least you’ll finally know how we won.”

  Kissing me hard, his putrid tongue tore past my lips.

  I gagged.

  In a flash of defiance, I bit him.

  Rearing back, he slapped me hard.

  My ears rang, and bright lights exploded behind my eyes. Pain registered but all I could think about was Jethro.

  Come back!

  Come claim me!

  Come save me!

  Shaking me, Daniel snarled, “You have six days, bitch. Six days to pay your remaining debts. And fuck, will I have fun extracting them.”

  I spat in his face. “Go to hell, Buzzard. You’ll die before I do.”

  He sighed indulgently, his temper simmering with cockiness. “Nila, Nila, Nila, so delusional. You’re not paying attention to what I’m telling you. No one can save you. No one will hear you scream. Six days. That’s how long you have to live. We’re
leaving for Almasi Kipanga right now—this very fucking second.”

  His teeth glinted in the dark. “Do you get it? Do you understand what this means? We’re taking you to South Africa, to our diamond mines, to where it all began. You’ll see the last things you’ll ever see. You’ll hear the last things you’ll ever hear. And you’ll live your final moments on foreign soil.”

  My heart shrivelled.

  No, no. God, no.

  Daniel morphed from man to monster, shadowing my future, my soul, my hope.

  I didn’t have two days.

  I didn’t even have two hours.

  Jethro!

  They were taking me away.

  They were stealing everything!

  Daniel marched me from life to death, laughing with every step. “Oh, and another thing I should mention. This little trip…it’ll be your last as you won’t be coming back alive.”

  “No!”

  After everything we’d been through. After everything we’d promised and planned.

  It was all for nothing.

  Time had fucked us once again…

  …

  Jethro

  was

  too

  late.

  “I’m in love with her, but it might not be enough to stop her from becoming the latest victim of the Debt Inheritance. I know who I am now. I know what I must do. We will be together—I just hope it’s on Earth rather than in heaven.”

  It all comes down to this.

  Love versus life.

  Debts versus death.

  Who will win?

  Add to Goodreads

  Pepper Winters is a New York Times, Wallstreet Journal, and USA Today International Bestseller. She loves dark romance, star-crossed lovers, and the forbidden taboo. She strives to write a story that makes the reader crave what they shouldn't, and delivers tales with complex plots and unforgettable characters.

  After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Dark Hero. She's an #1 iBooks bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotica Thriller. She's also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestseller, and recently signed a two book deal with Hachette. Represented by Trident Media, her books have garnered foreign and audio interest and are currently being translated into numerous languages. They will be in available in bookstores worldwide.

  Her Dark Romance books include:

  Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1)

  Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2)

  Twisted Together (Monsters in the Dark #3)

  Debt Inheritance (Indebted #1)

  First Debt (Indebted Series #2)

  Second Debt (Indebted Series #3)

  Third Debt (Indebted Series #4)

  Fourth Debt (Indebted Series #5)

  Her Grey Romance books include (click for buylinks from numerous online sites):

  Destroyed

  Upcoming releases are (click the link to add to Goodreads)

  Fourth Debt (Indebted #5)

  Ruin & Rule (Motorcycle romance)

  Final Debt (Indebted #6)

  Je Suis a Toi (Monsters in the Dark Novella)

  Forbidden Flaws (Contemporary Romance)

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  All other titles and updates can be found on her Goodreads Page.

  The Handler by Muse

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  Ruin & Rule (Pure Corruption MC #1)

  7th July 2015 from Forever Romance (Grand Central)

  In Bookshops & Online

  Learn about Arthur Killian who you just met in Third and Fourth Debt.

  I love reading MC books but this has to be the best one I've read! I couldn't put it down —Nikki Mccrae, Amazon Review

  One of the best stories I've ever read. Period. —Tamicka Birch, Amazon Reviewer

  Ruin & Rule is another dark masterpiece from Pepper Winters. Buckle yourself in for a wild ride that is pure page-turning bliss! —Rachel, Goodreads

  *

  "We met in a nightmare. The in-between world where time had no power over reason. We fell in love. We fell hard. But then we woke up. And it was over . . ."

  She is a woman divided. Her past, present, and future are as twisted as the lies she's lived for the past eight years. Desperate to get the truth, she must turn to the one man who may also be her greatest enemy . . .

  He is the president of Pure Corruption MC. A heartless biker and retribution-deliverer. He accepts no rules, obeys no one, and lives only to reap revenge on those who wronged him. And now he has stolen her, body and soul.

  Can a woman plagued by mystery fall in love with the man who refuses to face the truth? And can a man drenched in darkness forgo his quest for vengeance-and finally find redemption?

  Buy Now

  ***

  Tears of Tess (Book one of Monsters in the Dark)

  Book two: Quintessentially Q, and Book Three: Twisted Together, are available now

  6 Holy Wow This Author Took Me On A Ride I Never Saw Coming and Left Me Speechless Stars. I've never rated a book 6 stars before so this gives you an idea of just how good I believe this book to be. This story will take you by the hand and show you how both darkness and light exist within all of us. It will ultimately take you by the heart and you will be so glad that you read it—Hook Me Up Book Blog

  DARK AND HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL....IT WILL LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS!!!!

  Pepper Winters is a standout! An absolutely stunning debut!—Lorie, Goodreads

  *

  A New Adult Dark Contemporary Romance, not suitable for people sensitive to grief, slavery, and nonconsensual sex. A story about finding love in the strangest of places, a will of iron that grows from necessity, and forgiveness that may not be enough.

  “My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.

  Then it all changed.

  I was sold.”

  Tess Snow has everything she ever wanted: one more semester before a career in property development, a loving boyfriend, and a future dazzling bright with possibility.

  For their two year anniversary, Brax surprises Tess with a romantic trip to Mexico. Sandy beaches, delicious cocktails, and soul-connecting sex set the mood for a wonderful holiday. With a full heart, and looking forward to a passion filled week, Tess is on top of the world.

  But lusty paradise is shattered.

  Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror.

  Captive and alone with no savior, no lover, no faith, no future, Tess evolves from terrified girl to fierce fighter. But no matter her strength, it can’t save her from the horror of being sold.

  Can Brax find Tess before she’s broken and ruined, or will Tess’s new own
er change her life forever?

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  ***

  Forbidden Flaws (Erotic Contemporary Romance) Coming 2015

  She’s forbidden.

  Saffron Carlton is the darling of the big screen, starlet on the red carpet, and wife of mega producer Felix Carlton. Her life seems perfect with her overflowing bank balance, adoring fans, and luxury homes around the world. Everyone thinks they know her. But no one truly does.

  He’s flawed.

  Raised in squalor, fed on violence and poverty, Cas Smith knows the underbelly of the world. He’s not looking for fame or fortune. He’s looking for the woman who ran from him all those years ago.

  He wants her.

  She ran from him.

  Now she's forbidden.

  What happens when forbidden and flawed collide?

  Total annihilation.

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