by Ali Vali
“We’ll be ready to mix in two weeks tops, Mr. Clyde,” said the man he’d put in charge of his fields. The guy was young but hungry, which he needed right now. The guy actually reminded him of Mitch when they’d first met—eager to please and never saying no. If he could find a few more like this he might make a comeback.
“Good,” he said as he pushed his plate away. The potent aroma of garlic and cumin was making his stomach queasy. “You’ll get a bonus if you find some good people who can produce around the clock.”
“I do that for nothing. You gave me a job and a chance to show what I can do. Don’t worry, I’m taking care of everything.”
That was the problem, though. Something was eating away at his gut and his confidence. Something seemed to be bearing down on him that he couldn’t stop or reason with. He waved the man off and walked out to the patio that ran the length of the back, hoping for a breeze to drive back the humidity a bit. He leaned against the railing and lit a cigarette.
“Fuck this,” he said, inhaling and feeling the smoke rush along the back of his throat.
“Come on, Walter, there’s no such thing as the boogey man.”
*
The sun came up behind Wiley, and she got a clearer look at the group leaving one of the buildings and heading toward her. Each man had a rough cloth bag strapped across his shoulder that she figured contained lunch and the tools he’d need to work the grove of coca plants she’d walked through to get here.
She sat quietly, not worried they’d see her as they talked and laughed their way through their walk to work. Only one of them scanned the area, as if he expected to see something he could run and report. Who he’d tell was still a mystery since she saw no armed guards or protectors. That was highly unusual, but made sense to her. Walter had either learned subtlety or partnered with someone who’d mastered it.
In forty minutes the voices completely faded behind her and she’d stretched out on the large wide branch. The compound was still, but she knew she was right, so she took the bullet she’d shown Walter and chambered it. An hour later, there he was.
Walter walked out with a mug and cigarette pack in hand and stood looking out toward his investment with only a pair of boxers on. As she fine-tuned her focus, she saw how haggard and tired he appeared, as if being the prey instead of the hunter had taken its toll.
He set his mug down and cupped his hands around his mouth to light a smoke. “That’s really bad for your health, Walter,” she whispered as she set her sights.
The first inhale was deep, and he closed his eyes like he was enjoying his vice and the sun on his face. He held his breath momentarily, and as he opened his mouth to exhale, she pulled the trigger.
The bullet hit as the smoke trickled out, but Wiley only saw a little of it since the force of the shot threw Walter back. She could see the pool of blood fanning out from under his head like a grotesque halo. No one screamed or became alarmed as Walter lay dead.
She took a long look before she started back to her family. Not that they wouldn’t face other problems, but for Aubrey, Tanith, and her, this one was resolved. Walter would haunt them no more.
One Year Later
“Don’t stop.” Aubrey panted as Wiley buried her fingers deep in her sex. The sun wasn’t up yet, but every few days they woke with the need to connect. Touching Aubrey like this, watching the ecstasy flush through her entire body was a gift Wiley had never taken for granted from the moment she’d gotten her back.
Starting over hadn’t been as difficult as trying to quiet her demons, though they’d had to work at assuring Tanith of her place in their new life. Some nights she held Aubrey as she cried for the scars her time with Maria had left on her daughter’s soul. Those times were becoming more infrequent as she taught Tanith to draw and perform martial-arts maneuvers.
Aubrey groaned and pressed her legs together, trapping her hand to still it. “I love you,” she said as Wiley stroked her hard clit with her thumb. “And I can’t get enough of you.”
“That makes me a lucky bastard.” She stared, moving her hand slowly as she rolled closer to see Aubrey’s eyes. The passion she always saw there had reignited her art as well as her heart.
Aubrey arched into her as she came and immediately moved to lie over her. Their position reminded Wiley of waking up that morning with Aubrey kissing her way down her body until she’d wrapped her lips around her, making her instantly hard and ready.
“Will you be back before I leave for work?” Aubrey asked, since she now took Tanith to school every morning and picked her up in the afternoon.
As soon as their lives had regained some normalcy, Aubrey had returned to work in the mayor’s office. She had accepted the opportunity because it gave Wiley time with Tanith. Both of them had blossomed because of it.
“No, but I’m free for lunch if you are.”
After a shared shower they took their time dressing, and Aubrey didn’t make any comments about her slacks and dress shirt, a change from her usual shorts and T-shirt. Tanith was in the kitchen already, so they had bowls of cereal before they left.
“You aren’t leaving, are you?” Tanith asked when the car doors closed and they were alone.
“No, and to prove it I was planning to take you with me this morning, unless you don’t want to be late for school.”
They sat together in the back of the courtroom and stayed silent as a shackled prisoner was brought in wearing an orange-and-white-striped jumpsuit. The trial hadn’t taken long, and the pile of evidence had made deliberations easy on the jury, considering they took less than an hour to reach a verdict. They’d agreed on thirty-nine counts of aggravated rape, assault, and the other assorted charges the district attorney had tacked on.
“Mr. Jerry Dupre, having been found guilty by a jury of your peers, I sentence you to the maximum penalty. You are to spend the rest of your natural life in the state penitentiary.” The judge stopped and removed his glasses, as if to better glare at Jerry. “I find it amazing that after working so diligently to make it through years of schooling and training to receive your medical degree, you would indulge in these depraved acts. You tried taking the coward’s way out to stop, but failed. Rest assured, though, you’ll never have the opportunity to harm another person as long as you draw breath.”
Jerry stood as the judge had his say. Wiley had monitored the trial, not surprised when no one took seriously Jerry’s claim that a crazed woman had kidnapped and mutilated him, then set him up. He’d gained weight and had a blank expression, but he wasn’t fooling her. His need to dominate would never disappear, even if he was caged. No one could cut off that part of Jerry’s makeup and drop it into a chipper.
“Perhaps you’ll use your time to try to give your victims, including your family, some kind of peace and healing,” the judge said.
As the proceedings ended she stared until Jerry was led out. Watching him shuffle away gave her the same satisfaction as calling Sheriff Wilbert Culver and telling him that his daughter’s killer was dead.
“He sounds like a really bad man,” Tanith said.
“He is, but today was his day with Tanit, goddess of justice and vengeance. He can’t hurt anyone else.”
“Will that always happen?” Tanith asked as she took Wiley’s hand to walk to the car. She didn’t seem interested in why Wiley had brought her along, only happy to be included.
“I hope so, especially when I can help out.”
With what she’d regained she welcomed any challenge to end the need of people like Jerry to do harm, no matter how difficult, especially if she could keep those she loved safe.
Not that long ago Wiley was emotionally dead, but now she knew the Black Dragon had a lot more flights to make.
About the Author
Originally from Cuba, Ali Vali has retained much of her family’s traditions and language and uses them frequently in her stories. Having her father read her stories and poetry before bed every night as a child infused her with a love of re
ading that carries till today. In 2000, Ali decided to embark on a new path and started writing.
Ali now lives in the suburbs of New Orleans with her partner of twenty-eight years, and finds that living in such a history-rich area provides plenty of material to draw from in creating her novels and short stories. Mixing imagination with different life experiences makes it easier to create a slew of different characters that are engaging to the reader on many levels. Ali states that “The feedback from readers encourages me to continue to hone my skills as a writer.”
Acclaim for the Cain Casey Saga
The Devil Inside
“Vali’s fluid writing style quickly puts the reader at ease, which makes the story and its characters equally easy to get to know and care about. When you find yourself talking out loud to the characters in a book, you know the work is polished and professional, as well as entertaining.”—Family and Friends
“Not only is The Devil Inside a ripping mystery, it’s also an intimate character study.”—L-Word Literature
“The Devil Inside is the first of what promises to be a very exciting series…While telling an exciting story that grips the reader, Vali has also fully fleshed out her heroes and villains. The Devil Inside is that rarity: a fascinating crime novel which includes a tender love story and leaves the reader with a cliffhanger ending.”—MegaScene
The Devil Unleashed
“Fast-paced action scenes, intriguing character revelations, and a refreshing approach to the romance thriller genre all make for an enjoyable reading experience in the Big Easy…The Devil Unleashed is an engrossing reading experience.”—Midwest Book Review
Deal With the Devil
“Ali Vali has given her fans another thick, rich thriller…Deal With the Devil has wonderful love stories, great sex, and an ample supply of humor. It is an exciting, page turning read that leaves her readers eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.”—Just About Write
The Devil Be Damned
“Ali Vali excels at creating strong, romantic characters along with her fast paced, sophisticated plots. Her setting, New Orleans, provides just the right blend of immigrants from Mexico, South America and Cuba, along with a city steeped in traditions.”—Just About Write
Praise for Ali Vali
Carly’s Sound
“Vali paints vivid pictures with her words…Carly’s Sound is a great romance, with some wonderfully hot sex.”—Midwest Book Review
“It’s no surprise that passion is indeed possible a second time around”—Q Syndicate
Calling the Dead
“So many writers set stories in New Orleans, but Ali Vali’s mystery novels have the authenticity that only a real Big Easy resident could bring…makes for a classic lesbian murder yarn.”—Curve
Blue Skies
“Vali is skilled at building sexual tension and the sex in this novel flies as high as Berkley’s jets. Look for this fast-paced read.”—Just About Write
Balance of Forces: Toujours Ici
“A stunning addition to the vampire legend, Balance of Forces: Toujours Ici, is one that stands apart from the rest.”—Bibliophilic Book Blog
Books Available From Bold Strokes Books
Silver Collar by Gill McKnight. Werewolf Luc Garoul is outlawed and out of control, but can her family track her down before a sinister predator gets there first? Fourth in the Garoul series. (978-1-60282-764-6)
The Dragon Tree Legacy by Ali Vali. For Aubrey Tarver time hasn’t dulled the pain of losing her first love Wiley Gremillion, but she has to set that aside when her choices put her life and her family’s lives in real danger. (978-1-60282-765-3)
The Midnight Room by Ronica Black. After a chance encounter with the mysterious and brooding Lillian Gray in the “midnight room” of The Griffin, a local lesbian bar, confident and gorgeous Audrey McCarthy learns that her bad-girl behavior isn’t bulletproof. (978-1-60282-766-0)
Dirty Sex by Ashley Bartlett. Vivian Cooper and twins Reese and Ryan DiGiovanni stole a lot of money and the guy they took it from wants it back. Like now. (978-1-60282-767-7)
Raising Hell: Demonic Gay Erotica, edited by Todd Gregory. Hot stories of gay erotica featuring demons. (978-1-60282-768-4)
Pursued by Joel Gomez-Dossi. Openly gay college student Jamie Bradford becomes romantically involved with two men at the same time, and his hell begins when one of his boyfriends becomes intent on killing him. (978-1-60282-769-1)
The Storm by Shelley Thrasher. Rural East Texas. 1918. War-weary Jaq Bergeron and marriage-scarred musician Molly Russell try to salvage love from the devastation of the war abroad and natural disasters at home. (978-1-60282-780-6)
Crossroads by Radclyffe. Dr. Hollis Monroe specializes in short-term relationships but when she meets pregnant mother-to-be Annie Colfax, fate brings them together at a crossroads that will change their lives forever. (978-1-60282-756-1)
Beyond Innocence by Carsen Taite. When a life is on the line, love has to wait. Doesn’t it? (978-1-60282-757-8)
Heart Block by Melissa Brayden. Socialite Emory Owen and struggling single mom Sarah Matamoros are perfectly suited for each other but face a difficult time when trying to merge their contrasting worlds and the people in them. If love truly exists, can it find a way? (978-1-60282758-5)
Pride and Joy by M.L. Rice. Perfect Bryce Montgomery is her parents’ pride and joy, but when they discover that their daughter is a lesbian, her world changes forever. (978-1-60282-759-2)
Timothy by Greg Herren. Timothy is a romantic suspense thriller from award-winning mystery writer Greg Herren set in the fabulous Hamptons. (978-1-60282-760-8)
In Stone by Jeremy Jordan King. A young New Yorker is rescued from a hate crime by a mysterious someone who turns out to be more of a something. (978-1-60282-761-5)
The Jesus Injection by Eric Andrews-Katz. Murderous statues, demented drag queens, political bombings, ex-gay ministries, espionage, and romance are all in a day’s work for a top secret agent. But the gloves are off when Agent Buck 98 comes up against the Jesus Injection. (978-1-60282-762-2)
Combustion by Daniel W. Kelly. Bearish detective Deck Waxer comes to the city of Kremfort Cove to investigate why the hottest men in town are bursting into flames in broad daylight. (978-1-60282-763-9)
Ladyfish by Andrea Bramhill. Finn’s escape to the Florida Keys leads her straight into the arms of scuba diving instructor Oz as she fights for her freedom, their blossoming love…and her life! (978-1-60282747-9)
Spanish heart by Rachel Spangler. While on a mission to find herself in Spain, Ren Molson runs the risk of losing her heart to her tour guide, Lina Montero. (978-1-60282-748-6)
