Deadly Institution
Page 25
Asher rolled his eyes and pretended to frown though his smile slipped through. “I suppose he stayed all night.”
“No, he’s a gentleman,” she said with a smile then giggled. “I think he’s afraid of you.”
Asher snorted a soft laugh. “Me? Like I could ever harm anyone.” His smile broadened and he appeared pleased. “It’s good to see you this happy. I only hope it turns into something permanent. I like Maxwell.”
Jacey giggled. “He’s not going anywhere. He told me he loves me. Isn’t that great!”
Asher laughed and gathered her in his arms. “That’s wonderful, darling.”
Jacey then pulled away. Her expression became serious. “Sheriff Monroe stopped by this morning,” she said nervously. “Howard was seen in one of the neighboring towns early last night. He may come after you, since Dr. Talbert confessed to you about his involvement. Monroe’s concerned he may try to eliminate you as a witness.”
“If I see him, I’ll be sure to take precautions,” he said with a warm smile. “But I don’t think he’d be stupid enough to come after me.” He placed his arm around her shoulder and guided her along the path in his extravagant garden.
“Do you really think he won’t come after you?” Jacey asked with a nervous smile. “I’d hate to think of you here all by yourself. Maybe you should come stay at my house until my parents return from their cruise.”
He chuckled warmly. “Three’s a crowd. I’ll be fine, I promise.” Asher stopped her near a recently tilled plot of land. A young, weeping willow tree was planted in the middle of the fresh soil.
“You’ve got a new tree,” Jacey said with a warm smile.
“It’ll provide some shade in later years,” he announced cheerfully. “The soil is very rich here, and I’ve blended a special fertilizer.”
“Someday you’ll have to let me in on your secret ingredients,” Jacey announced. “You’re special fertilizer really does wonders for the garden.”
Asher’s smile brightened as he chuckled lowly. “I think I’ll keep that my secret.”
The End
Other books by Holly Copella!
Reviews left on Amazon are appreciated!
“Insanely Deadly”
When the dead return to life, it’s up to an admiral’s daughter and a mildly insane, former war hero to save their small town.
Jetta Cross, a Navy Admiral’s daughter, is tasked with keeping her father’s comrade, a former war hero turned town crazy, grounded in the real world. Capt. John Hunter is still fighting the war in his head, where imaginary dead people are part of his world. When a viral outbreak brings about a zombie uprising, Hunter is left to his own devices. He must resume his role as a one-man commando unit in order to destroy the ravenous undead. With Hunter still fighting his own inner demons as well as the undead, the townspeople fear their zombie neighbors may not be the only threat. Stranded at the island’s luxurious resort with a handful of workers, Jetta is forced to live up to her father’s reputation and take charge of the deteriorating situation at the hotel. She must wage her own war against the infected before the government declares her hometown a total loss.
“The Battle for Andrea Maria”
A cruise ship attack turns six survivors into overnight celebrities after they take credit for the heroic act of a stowaway who died saving them.
The cruise is just what Jess needed--a bit of harmless fun far from her daily grind. But what begins as a relaxing vacation turns into a desperate fight for her life when terrorists take over the ship and start piling up bodies. Teaming up with a mysterious stowaway, Jess attempts to send out a distress call but knows they cannot wait for help to come. If she or the few remaining passengers have any hope for survival, Jess must act now. The papers dub it “The Battle for Andrea Maria,” but to Jess it is the moment she fought side-by-side with her enigmatic Romeo, saving the ship--and losing him. She thinks the story ends there, but really, the nightmare is just beginning…
“Town Darling”
After surviving a brutal attack that claims the lives of those she loves, a young woman seeks revenge on a corrupt town.
Going back home is never easy, but for Casey, it means returning to her corrupt hometown where she barely survived a brutal attack. Accompanied by two family friends, she seeks justice for the night that destroyed her life. Her physical scars are nothing compared to her emotional ones, forcing the local sheriff to believe that the town darling is back for revenge. As the conspiracy for her revenge appears to be leading up to the coveted town fair, the sheriff is determined to stop her from fulfilling her vengeful scheme...but guilt over his role on that fateful night continues to haunt him. His desperate need for Casey’s forgiveness could be his undoing.
“Screenplays: The Island Collection”
“Jungle Princess”, “A.L.F. Resort”, “Brighton Island”
Discover how romance and fun in the sun can be downright chilling!
“Jungle Princess” is a romantic/thriller that leaves a teenage girl stranded on an island with two male shipmates and a creature of “unknown” origin. She soon discovers the island is home to an abandoned prison with several prisoners roaming free. What really killed over one hundred prisoners? And is it still out there--?
“A.L.F. Resort” is a romantic/thriller set on an island resort with Artificial Life Forms as the main draw. At this resort, all your fantasies come true…until a malfunction removes safety inhibitors on the A.L.F.’s. Zombies, biker gangs, and mobsters run amuck, turning fantasies into nightmares. A young reporter gets more of a story than she anticipates, but will she survive long enough to write the story?
“Brighton Island” is a romantic/thriller set on a private island. When the owner’s niece brings her psychic friend to the mansion, his presence awakens the spirits’ tortured souls. As the psychic attempts to solve the old murders, the niece is confronted with the possibility that she’s next to join the mansion ghosts. Stranded on the island with a crazed killer, he uncle wages his own war to save them. Will his “shock and awe” tactics actually save them or get them killed?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Holly Copella has been writing since the age of twelve when her frustration at a book’s poor plot drove her to author her own story. Over the last decade, she’s written a number of screenplays, some of which she’s now adapting into novels. Her fascination with zombies and other darker material lends an edge to her writing, which tends to lean toward horror. As a fan of Agatha Christie, she appreciates the craft of a good plot and the importance of creating significant characters.
Hailing from Pennsylvania, Copella lives in the Endless Mountains on a farm with her rescue horses and other animals. In addition to writing and reading fiction, she enjoys riding horses and traveling to Las Vegas and Disney World.