Deadly Holidays (A Deadly Trilogy Christmas Novella)

by Alexa Grace

  He was a big brother now, which was a very important role, explained to him by both Jennifer and Detective Blake—except Shawn didn't call them by those names anymore. Allowed to choose any names he wanted for them, he'd chosen Mom and Dad.

  His best friend, Billy Collins, was coming over to play later, and Shawn couldn't wait to show him all the presents he'd found wrapped under Granddad Tim and Grammy Megan's Christmas tree. But most important, he wanted to tell him about his new Mom, Dad, Grammy, Granddad and baby sister.

  Christmas Day had been the best ever. With the roads plowed, Aunt Frankie and Uncle Lane arrived, with Shawn's new cousin, Ashley. Hunter got lots of hugs and kisses from them. When Shawn told Ashley that Hunter had slept with him the night before, she said, "Hunter safe" and threw her arms around the big dog's neck. Once Mr. Michael, Ms. Anne, Michael Jr. and Melissa arrived, the house was booming with people.

  Soon Grammy Megan called them to the dinner table, where there was more food than Shawn had ever seen. Once his Mom filled his plate, he got to sit at the special kid's table with Michael Jr., Melissa and Ashley. Hunter lay on the floor at Ashley's feet, and no one noticed the bits of turkey she was sneaking to him.

  It was after dinner when things got really exciting, for when his Mom stood up, she groaned as she held tightly onto her chair and told his Dad it was time. Dad ran upstairs and came back holding a small suitcase, then he couldn't find his keys, so everyone, including the kids, searched high and low for them. At last, Uncle Lane found them behind some red flowers on a table near the front door.

  After Dad tucked Mom in the car, he ran around to the driver seat and backed the car down the driveway. He was almost to the end of the drive when he stopped the vehicle, ran back to the house, picked up Shawn and kissed him on the cheek. Dad told him that he was going to stay the night with his new Grammy and Granddad and that everything was going to be all right. Shawn believed him about everything being okay, and not just about the overnight stay.

  The next day, Dad and Mom brought home the best Christmas present Shawn could have ever asked for—a baby sister.

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  Blake had taken Shawn to see a counselor, Ruby, who explained a lot of things that had been confusing. Shawn had worried that it was wrong for him to be happy when he'd never see his real mommy and daddy again. Ruby said that although it was sad that his mommy and daddy went to heaven, it was okay for him to be happy.

  When Ruby asked Shawn where he wanted to live, his eyes filled with tears and an old terror gripped him. Was she going to send him to live with the mean people? He flew into his Dad's lap. Once he was safe, with his Dad's strong arms wound around him, Shawn said, "I'm living with my new Mom, Dad and little sister." In an authoritative voice, he added, "It's been decided; I'm staying with them forever."

  Dear Reader:

  If you liked Deadly Holiday, I would appreciate it if you would help others enjoy this book, too, by recommending it to your friends, family and book clubs, by writing an honest, positive review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes, Goodreads, Smashwords, etc.

  If you do write a review, please send me an email at alexagrace@cfl.rr.com. I’d like to add you to my e-newsletter list so that you can get updates about upcoming releases first, be eligible for drawings for prizes, and get free ebook alerts.

  Thank you.

  Alexa Grace

  P.S. If you should find a mistake... I always strive to write the best book possible and use a team of beta readers as well as an editor prior to publication. But goofs slip through. If something slipped past us, please let me know by writing to me at alexagrace@cfl.rr.com. Thank you.

  Other Books by Alexa Grace

  From bestselling new author Alexa Grace, The Deadly Trilogy, three books with non-stop suspense and a healthy dose of toe-curling passion will have you holding your breath from the first page to the last. You can find them at online retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iTunes, Diesel, Sony, Smashwords, and more.

  Deadly Offerings - Book One - Anne Mason thinks she’ll be safe living in the Midwest living on a wind farm left to her by her ex's mother. She may be dead wrong. Someone is dumping bodies in her corn field and telling Anne they are gifts—for her! And how can she be falling in love with the hot attorney who represented her ex-husband in their divorce proceedings?

  Deadly Deception - Book Two- Enter the disturbing world of illegal adoptions, baby trafficking and murder with new detective Lane Hansen and private investigator Frankie Douglas. Going undercover as husband and wife, Lane and Frankie struggle to keep their relationship strictly professional as their sizzling passion threatens to burn out of control. Can they keep passion in control long enough to take down two murderers?

  Deadly Relations - Book Three - Detective Jennifer Brennan, still haunted by her abduction five years before, devotes her life to serve and protect others. Love is the last thing on her mind, but will it find her after three young women go missing and are found murdered on her watch? She vows to find the killer—or die trying.

  Alexa Grace's Deadly Trilogy Boxed Set - With more than 600 five-star reviews, it's time for you to discover the three Deadly Trilogy books: Deadly Offerings, Deadly Deception and Deadly Relations.

  For more information, go to http://www.alexa-grace.net/.

  Available in the spring 2013

  Profile of Evil

  Book One of The Profile Trilogy

  Carly Stone is a brilliant FBI agent who's seen more than her share of evil. Leaving the agency, she becomes a consultant for Indiana County Sheriff Brody Chase. He needs her help to catch a savage killer who is luring teenage girls to their death in his community.

  The two are determined to stop a dangerous predator before he takes another life—at any cost.

  Excerpt from Profile of Evil

  He pulled up in front of a two-story gray house in a nice neighborhood with palm trees lining the streets. Flicking on the interior car light, he checked the address he'd been given. It was the correct address, so he parked his rental car in the driveway. There were lights on inside the house, which was encouraging, for he had a critical need to talk to the resident.

  Impatiently, he rang the doorbell several times, then pounded his fist against the front door. Damn it. He had not come all the way from Indiana to Florida to miss talking with this guy. He had to be home. He desperately needed his help before another teenage girl lost her life. Sheriff Tim Brennan had written to him about how good this guy was. And if Brennan recommended him, he had to be excellent. He hammered at the door again, and then peeked in the front window. There was no one inside, but from his position he could see open sliding glass doors leading to the backyard.

  From the side yard, he opened the iron gate to the back of the house. The second he entered the backyard, he noticed a woman diving into an Olympic-sized pool. Transfixed, he watched her as she swam to the far end of the pool, and then kicked off to swim to the other end, this time on her back. Her body, slick from the water, glowed in the moonlight. The tiny glittering lights surrounding the pool made her look ethereal as she sliced through the water.

  He should do the gentlemanly thing and leave, but he couldn't move. His frozen legs seemed attached to the ground. He could barely breathe as she lifted herself out of the water. With long black hair as shiny as glass, she had an athletic build, with full, uplifted breasts, curved hips and endless legs. His jeans grew tighter as his arousal strained against the zipper.

  Moving to a deck chair, she wrapped a white towel around her body—then picked up a serious-looking handgun that she pointed straight at his chest.

  "I don't know who you are or why you're in my yard, but I've got a little secret I'd like to share with you," she began. "In the past two years, I've shot two men. Neither man is here to talk about it."

  He stiffened as a wave of apprehension hit him full-force. He'd been shot before, remembered it well, and had no desire to repeat the experience. He cleared his throat and said, "I apologize i
f I frightened you. I pounded on the front door but no one answered."

  "That doesn't tell me who you are and why you're here," she returned, assuming one of the best shooting stances he'd ever seen.

  He hesitated for a second, and then responded, "I'm Sheriff Brody Chase from Morel, Indiana, in Shawnee County. I'm here to see Carl Stone."

  She quirked her eyebrow questioningly, and asked, "Who told you Carl Stone lived here?"

  "A fellow Indiana county sheriff gave me your name and address in an email. Tim Brennan's his name," he replied.

  She slowly lowered the gun. "Sounds like Sheriff Brennan made a typo. It's Carly Stone that you're looking for. Why do you want to talk to me?"

  About the Author—Alexa Grace

  Alexa Grace's journey started in March 2011 when the Sr. Director of Training & Development position she'd held for thirteen years was eliminated. A door closed but another one opened. She finally had the time to pursue her dream of writing books — her dream since childhood. Her focus is now on writing riveting romantic suspense novels.

  Alexa earned two degrees from Indiana State University and currently lives in Florida. She's a member of Romance Writers of America (national) as well as the Florida Chapter.

  Alexa Grace is listed in the top ten of Amazon's Top 100 Most Popular Authors in the categories Romantic Suspense and Police Procedural. In 2012, she was named one of the top 100 Indie authors by Kindle Review. A chapter is devoted to Alexa in the book Interviews with Indie Authors by C. Ridgway and T. Ridgway.

  Her books Deadly Offerings, Deadly Deception, and Deadly Relations have consistently been listed in the top ten of Amazon's Top 100 Bestselling Romantic Suspense and Police Procedural Books. All three books are available in Alexa Grace's Deadly Trilogy boxed set.

  Her writing support team includes five Miniature Schnauzers, three of which are rescues. As a writer, she is fueled by Starbucks lattes, chocolate, and emails from readers.

  Profile of Evil, the first book of the Profile Trilogy, will be available in spring 2013 and will feature Carly Stone, who was introduced as the sister of Blake Stone in Deadly Relations.

  Contact Information:

  You can visit her at - http://www.alexa-grace.net/

  Friend her on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexaGrace

  Follow her on Twitter - @AlexaGrace2