Anna swallowed. The man had nearly killed several people. The principal, thank God, would recover, as would everyone else who’d suffered at his hands. There’d been numerous cuts from shattered glass, and one student had been hit with a ricochet.
“If you hadn’t shot him, he would have killed me.” The memory was still fresh in her head. She’d glanced away from the gun to see Marc pounce, his claws in a deadly arc online with Evan’s throat, but at the last second, Colton had shot through the glass door. The bullet had torn into Evan’s shoulder blade and made him stagger forward, so Marc’s claws had gotten his chest instead.
Marc curved his body more tightly around hers and hugged her hard. “He didn’t, though.”
Colton patted her thigh. “Evan’s going away for a long time for today’s shooting, plus he had several warrants out for his arrest. Vanessa will be jailed too for fraud, identity theft, and accessory to commit murder, among other things. All because she was jealous of you.”
“Which is so stupid because she had Peter and could keep him. I didn’t want anything to do with him.”
Colton kissed her forehead. “How about with us?”
She pretended to think about it for a minute until Marc cut off her breath with his hold and Colton growled.
“I definitely want us.” She made the words as husky as she could and decided to show them exactly what else she wanted from them.
About the Author
Annmarie McKenna lives with her husband and four kids just outside of St. Louis, MO. She spent years reading romances before deciding to try out the other side—writing. After joining RWA and MORWA, she discovered all the things she’d done wrong with her first story. Then she tackled her second, Blackmailed, which she very happily sold to Samhain Publishing, and she’s now had over fifteen books published. Between naps and shuffling kids to various activities, she is working hard on her next project.
http://www.annmariemckenna.com
Taliesin Publishing thrives on introducing you to new authors and great stories. If you enjoyed this book, please continue reading for excerpts of other stories releasing soon we think you’ll love. And, please spread the word.
Taliesin Publishing
Where great stories give birth to legends.
The Ambassador’s Daughter by Theodora Lane
Brett settled into her chair on board the shuttle. In a few short hours, they’d be at their new home. Her father arrived on planet a month earlier to take up his new position as ambassador from Earth to New Commonwealth. Soon she’d be at his side handling her duties.
The rising hum of the shuttle’s engines and the slight jar as the docking clamps released told her they were off. For a moment, they hung in free space, floating. Her stomach dropped, but she only smiled. She loved this part, the docking and undocking. After the excitement of her years in the United Space Marines, training in the dropships, where the craft screamed through the planet’s outer atmosphere, Brett found the rest of space travel predictable and boring.
“Another year, another planet,” she muttered. This would be her third rotation serving with her father in her late mother’s place.
A man in a uniform pushing a cart of refreshments stopped next to her. “Milady, may I offer you a cup of tea?”
“No, thank you.” She eyed the cart’s selection of tea, nutritional drinks, and coffee.
“I’d kill for a cold beer.” The steward gasped, stared at her, then cleared his throat.
“Yes, milady.” He reached into the cart and pulled out a bottle, opened it, and handed it to her with a small napkin.
She didn’t wait for him to place the small glass in front of her, but put the bottle to her lips and drank. The cold liquid slid down her throat, and she savored the flavor.
He moved on with only an odd look back at her.
Again, she’d shocked another man. Her father’s hopes of her finding a husband sank lower than ever. Poor man. She hated disappointing him, always, even as a child.
Brett sighed, took another sip of the beer, and hoped James, her father’s longtime batman, stocked the refrigerators at the new house. Her father’s scotch, several cases of her favorite beer, and a nice assortment of their family’s wine label was sent months ago with him.
Brett snorted as she looked down at the dress she wore. If her sergeant could see her now, he’d laugh so hard he’d spit. She could just hear him, “Butler, what the hell have you gotten into now?”
Social Secretary to the Ambassador from Earth. Long dresses for day wear. Hosting parties for the elite. And here on New Commonwealth, rubbing elbows with the aristocracy. Like something from an old storybook. Kings and queens. Lords and ladies.
The men and women of her old marine outfit would ride her unmercifully. She smiled at the thought of their jokes. She missed them. Good soldiers, all of them.
But she didn’t miss her old life. It was her secret, at least from her father.
Here on New Commonwealth, things were going to have to be very different, and perhaps fitting in on this planet would be Brett’s most challenging job yet.
Women here were treated like delicate flowers, to be protected, nurtured, and kept in their hothouses. Did they never let their branches spread beyond their containers or everyone’s expectations? She sighed and rested her chin in her hand. I can adapt. I can be a plant.
But can I be a flower?
She struggled to think of herself as a flower. Well, maybe a cactus blossom, like the ones which bloomed each spring on their ranch in Nuevo Texas. All you needed to do was get past the thorns and tough skin. She laughed at the image as she keyed in the code on the vid monitor for the residence, and James appeared on the screen.
“Welcome, Miss Butler.” He smiled at her, and she gave him a salute.
“I’m just a few hours out, James. Let the general know.”
“Yes, miss.” He nodded. “Will you need a car?”
“No, I’m riding with the shipping truck to get Black settled at the stables. Once I’m done there, I’ll call for the car.”
“Very well.” His face gave nothing away. “How is the big black monster?” One brow rose.
“The usual.”
“Too bad. I’d hoped for everyone’s sake he’d mellowed.”
“No chance, James.” She grinned. “It’ll be good to see you again. And Dad.”
“Indeed. Call when you need the car.”
“I will. Butler out.”
The transmission cut off, and the screen went dark.
She played with the folds of her dress, straightening them. The light wool material swirling around her ankles bothered her. It tickled her legs, and the occasional rush of air blowing against the soft skin of her thighs and sending little shocks over her body. She felt totally unsupported. She was much more comfortable in trousers and boots. She even walked differently in the dresses. It was hard to stride confidently and with purpose while four yards of pink taffeta swirled around your ankles, threatening to trip you.
The shock of the shuttle hitting the planet’s atmosphere jarred her as it used its rear heat shield for reentry. The belt around her shoulder jerked tighter, forcing her back against her seat. The shuttle shook and vibrated against the outer reaches of the atmosphere.
She let the rush fill her, but she missed the whoops of her men and women as they rejoiced in the thrill. Here in the shuttle, people gripped their seats, gasped, and looked as if they were going to throw up.
Civilians.
She worried about Black down in the hold, and wished she could have been there with him, but the rules didn’t allow it. She should have gone down there anyway, damn the rules. Her fingers gripped the armrest, keeping her in her seat, instead of bolting for the hatch to see to Black.
Then the resistance was gone, and they were through. She exhaled, sad the small memory of her previous life was over. The shuttle rotated to point its nose at the planet-side port just outside of New London, capitol city of New Commonwealth.
<
br /> Less than an hour until they landed.
She gazed out the window at the planet below as they circled lower. She could clearly see blue oceans, green land, a few snow-crested mountains. How very much like home. Lush forests, fertile fields, flat plains. No deserts, though. The climate was temperate, like a perpetual spring with a gentle winter in between.
Great weather to ride in. Black will like it.
This wasn’t where she’d pictured herself two years ago, before her mother’s death. She’d pictured herself out of the military and running the family ranch, and for once in her life doing what she wanted to do, not what everyone else expected her to do.
One out of two wasn’t bad. She’d left the military, but never made it back to the ranch, at least not to stay. All those hopes and dreams vanished with her mother’s sudden death on a distant planet.
Now as the ambassador’s social secretary, it was her job to understand this planet. She’d always been good at what she did, no matter what duty called her to do or be. Whether she liked it or not.
As the only child of Ambassador Jonathan Butler, formerly General Butler of the United Space Marines and decorated hero of the Jihad Space Wars, it'd been expected she would follow in his boot steps. And she done it her entire life.
No one told her she’d have to take her mother’s place at her father’s side.
His boots were easy to fill, and she’d risen rapidly through the ranks of the military police.
It was the size seven high heels of her mother, Elaine Wallace Butler, Brett knew she could never fill.
Secrets in Paradise by Pauline Saull
“Ta-da!” Katie Walker waved the glittering engagement ring under her friend’s nose.
Gina looked at her, clearly unimpressed. “Engaged, huh? Why aren’t you out celebrating?”
“Rick’s gone to tell his mom. We’re going out tomorrow night.”
“Are you sure?”
“That he’s gone to see his mom? Of course I am.”
Gina laughed. “Smart aleck! You know very well what I mean…him. This is all a bit sudden, isn’t it? Don’t you find it worrying, ’cause as your best pal, I do? I mean, think about it, Katie. You’ve been seeing him, what, a couple of months and you’re engaged! I find it odd. He could have read about your win in the paper.” She studied her nails.
“Rubbish. It was twelve months ago. No one ever remembers old news.”
Gina rolled her eyes. “You can be so naïve sometimes, Katie. Have you never asked yourself how he just ‘happened’ to bump into you at the animal shelter? There’d been coverage of it in the paper all week, so how convenient that as you were handing over your generous gift, he turned up. And another thing, I hate how he keeps telling you to lose weight. It’s not right when a guy tries to bring a woman down by forever commenting on her size. I’d give my eyeteeth for your figure. You could, you know,” she added, “do far better than that man.”
“You’re just jealous.”
“I might be on the wrong side of thirty and still single, but jealous that you have Rick, I am not!”
Katie sank onto the sofa and grinned. “You know I didn’t mean it.”
“Mm, but I did. I’m ordering some takeout. Thai or Indian?”
“Thai, please.” Katie leaned back and watched Gina as she ordered. They’d been friends for years, trusted each other’s judgment in so many matters, and Gina’s words had touched a raw nerve, caused a tiny element of doubt to wiggle into Katie’s mind.
She turned to gaze out the window. Recently she’d noticed when Rick and she were talking—or rather, when she was talking—there’d be a glazed expression on his face, as if he’d rather be looking at anything other than her.
“Twenty minutes.” Gina put the phone away. “I’ll open a bottle of wine.”
•●•
The following evening Katie waited for Rick. He arrived in a taxi, the door swung open and he leaned out, looking staggeringly handsome as usual.
“Hi, babe. Hungry?” he called, beckoning to her.
Katie swallowed the lump of disappointment. She wished just for once he’d treat her in a more ladylike manner, but on reaching the taxi, and when he kissed her and she caught the gorgeous whiff of his favorite, extremely-expensive-present-from-herself aftershave, Katie smiled. “Ravenous.”
Rick’s glance flickered over her. Katie pulled her cardigan down a little farther.
Inside the restaurant seated at the candlelit table, Rick took off his jacket and draped it over the back of the chair. “Phew, it’s warm, doll.”
Katie agreed, but thought even with a trickle of perspiration running between her shoulder blades, there was no way she’d be taking off her cardigan.
“I think champagne’s called for.” Rick smiled, reaching across to squeeze her hand.
The minute the bottle popped open, they drank it rather quickly and ordered another. The meal was finished with a generous cognac, and by the time the waiter placed the bill on the table, Katie wondered if she’d be able to walk straight.
Turning, fumbling in his jacket pocket, Rick suddenly cursed.
“What?” Katie blinked, trying to focus.
“Hell’s bells, Katie…” He frowned. “I’ve forgotten my damn wallet! Or have I lost it? Oh sweetie, the meal…”
Katie laughed. “It’s not a problem. Stop worrying. I’ll get it.”
“Thanks, you’re a real doll. I just need to pay a visit.” He leaned over to kiss her before heading off to the men’s room, not noticing he’d knocked his jacket to the floor. As Katie reached down to retrieve it, a small black wallet dropped from an inside pocket. Heart pounding, she picked it up and opened it.
Inside were a collection of credit cards and two folded pieces of newspaper.
Taking them out, she looked at the one taken from a national paper. The clipping showed her with a stupid grin on her face holding the oversized eight million dollar check. The second was a cutting from the local paper, a piece Katie remembered well—when the SPCA advertised her lottery win and the fact she would be handing over keys to the new premises she’d donated on Tuesday the eighteenth.
The date was underlined in red.
In two seconds flat, Katie was stone cold sober.
Carefully smoothing both articles out, she laid them inside the folder containing the bill, collected her bag, and rose to walk out of the place without a backward glance.
Redeemed by Becca Jameson
Blood.
So much blood.
As though she were floating in the room, separated from her body, Ashley watched the blood drip off her fingers and land on the tile floor. Each plop rang in her ears, amplified by the silence now reigning in her studio.
Moments ago the house had been filled with her screams, the loud pulsing of her own blood as it flowed through her ears, the grunts and groans of her attacker as he’d attempted to dominate her with his strength.
Now it was over. Silence. And blood.
She heaved for breath as her hands began to shake. She willed herself to release the knife, and it clamored to the floor, bouncing twice with a ping that made her flinch.
Oh God, I killed him.
The reality of her actions sank in as she stood rooted to the spot, unable to move an inch. Her legs wouldn’t respond to any of the messages her brain fired at them.
She stared in disbelief at the man on the ground at her feet. Damon Parkfield. She felt not one ounce of remorse for her actions. Should she?
Concern for the repercussions yes, but not sadness or sorrow. If she had to go to jail for the rest of her life for this killing, so be it.
Sirens wailed outside. She jerked her head up at the sound. The sirens got louder and multiplied.
She narrowed her gaze, knowing instinctively they were coming for her.
Damon entered her home less than half an hour ago. The cops were fast.
His downfall: she’d been anticipating him. She’d known he would come for her.
No longer the weak girl he’d held captive for four years, Ashley’s mind had cleared. Her ability to think rationally had returned in bits and pieces over the past months. She’d visualized every imaginable scenario of this moment.
She’d known he would come eventually. Never for a second had she doubted his tenaciousness. Neither a restraining order nor the passage of time would keep Damon from seeking revenge.
“You’re mine, bitch.” His words still rang in her head. But Ashley’s head was no longer floating in the clouds as she had been for the four years he’d tortured her. Nothing he could say would have altered the course of her actions.
What he didn’t consider was her determination not to be taken by him a second time outweighed his resolve to abduct her and hold her under his thumb once again.
The sound of police cars surrounding the house increased. Tires squealed and she closed her eyes, picturing the red and blue flashing lights spinning on the tops of several cruisers, skidding up to the curb, heedless of their haphazard parking jobs.
Doors slammed and she jerked again, her feet still rooted to the spot.
She opened her eyes and returned her gaze to the man on the floor, the bastard who’d stolen so much from her. All that would end now. No matter what happened next, she would never have to worry about Damon Parkfield again. And neither would any other woman…
Witch’s Bounty by Ann Gimpel
Rain worsened from a steady drizzle to a pounding, punishing deluge of icy sleet. Colleen Kelly strengthened the spell around herself. It sizzled where it ran up against the droplets. At least she wasn't quite as wet as she would have been without its protection. Pavement glistened wetly in the last of the day's light. It was just past three in the afternoon, but December days were short in the northern latitudes and Fairbanks was pretty far north.
“At least it’s not snowing,” she muttered as she pushed through a nearby glass-fronted door into the magicians’ supply store she owned with two other witches in the older part of downtown. Bells hanging around the door pealed discordantly. She sent a small jolt of magic to silence them.
Overcome Page 14
