Cursed Ecstasy (Cursed Series)

by t. h. snyder

  Cursed Ecstasy

  The Cursed Series, #2

  By t. h. snyder

  © 2014 t. h. snyder (Tiffany Snyder)

  Published by t. h. snyder

  First published in 2014. All rights reserved. This book is copyright. Apart from the fair purpose of private study, research or review as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced without written permission.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Image Copyright

  Book Cover by Design: Kellie Dennis

  Front Cover photo by Ted Scanon Photography

  Back Cover photo by SC Photo

  Acknowledgements

  Cursed Ecstasy is the second book of the Cursed Series. This story became a part of me while writing Cursed Love, yet I had a much harder time expressing the feeling of the characters.

  Through this story, I went through a lot of personal issues that made writing that much more difficult. At the end of every day I sat down to write and found that I couldn’t. That was until I reached out to my support team…I couldn't have done this without the help and support of the following people.

  My FAMILY! Roberta M Rizzotto (Mom), Angela Minnich, Jim Minnich (Dad), and Marilyn Minnich. You guys have been there through it all, telling me I can do anything I put my mind to. This wouldn’t be possible without you pushing me along the way. I love you so much.

  To my two wonderful KIDS, you are my world Raeghyn, and Mason. I love you both to infinity and beyond.

  My ROCK, you’re always there when I need you…no matter when. You’re an amazing person and incredible friend. I don’t know what I’d do without you by my side. You seem to calm me when I’m the craziest and feel like the world is coming down on me. Thank you for being you, love you Ninja.

  My BETA GIRLS! Barb Johnson, Margaret MC, Joanne Schwehm, Karrie Puskas, Jennifer Maikis, Crystal Rearick, Jamie Bourgeois, Mary Lou Moench, Ashley Blankenship, Carrie Stadtler, Chrissy Bise and Amy Concepcion. I pushed this one on you guys at the last minute, but you never gave up on me. Thank you for taking time away from your busy lives to read my story.

  To the amazing BLOGS that support me and never flinch when I ask them to post my teasers and such. You’re all too good to be true.

  The READERS, well hell I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. I adore the messages you send me and all of your kind words. Knowing that I’ve touched so many of you with my stories makes my heart happy.

  My STREET TEAM, t. h. snyder & the pimpettes we’ve come a long way in a short period of time. You ladies make me laugh and drool every day, love you.

  A special shout out to a few AUTHORS that I know and love very much. Without your support and encouragement, I’d be lost. I love you Stacy Borel, Bayli Lane, S Moose, Hilary Storm, Julie Bailes, Margaret MC, Joanne Schwehm, Skye Turner, LL Collins, JM Witt, Kathy Coopmans, Chelle Bliss and AD Justice.

  My ROCK and BFF, Christine Stanley you already know how much you mean to me, this journey wouldn’t be the same without you by my side. You’re not only a friend but a long lost sister. I love you lots poopsie.

  Kellie Dennis, you are the most amazing COVER ARTIST a gal could ask for. I love sending you pictures and hearing your thoughts.

  My EDITING team, Tiffany Tillman and Kellie Montgomery, thank you so much for making this story a part of your lives. I couldn’t have done this without you. Love you girls!!!!

  My master PHOTOGRAPHERS, Ted and Shelton I’m so glad we found each other. You are both amazing men and I love your work. Sorry, but you’re stuck with me till the end. Love you both.

  Last but certainly not least, my COVER MODEL, Paul Blake. You are one of the very first models I can proudly say became a close friend. Thank you for putting your trust in me and my story. You’ve been an amazing person to ride out this wave with, even as crazy as I might make you sometimes. Bigs hugs and kisses boo.

  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

  Chapter 1

  A vibrating sensation sends my mind into a deep state of irritation, yet again. My phone has been blowing up in my pocket for the past half hour. Sitting on a barstool at Dick’s, I slouch into the bar with my head in my hands. Honestly, right now, I couldn’t care less who the hell is trying to get in touch with me.

  I’m frustrated, annoyed, and pissed the fuck off. I pulled one of the biggest dick moves with Etty this morning and had to witness the happily ever after of Linc and Jo before heading out of the house earlier.

  There’s no one to blame but myself. It’s my own damn fault that I steer away from the idea of a committed relationship, so why the fuck does it bother me so much?

  Lifting my head out of my hands, I look forward into the mirror behind the bar. The guy staring back at me is a worthless piece of shit—Etty is better off not getting involved with me. I know I shouldn’t have let a moment of weakness affect me the way I did. I just can’t seem to control myself around her.

  Etty is gorgeous. Her eyes, her body, and the way she walks, talks and smells. I’ve let my dick think for me and now there’s no way to take our night of amazing sex back…not that I’d really want to. It was fucking insane.

  Shit, I need to get her out of my mind. The only way I know how to clear my head is by slipping my cock into some random chick.

  Reaching for the bottle, I swallow the last sip of beer and head to the back room to check on Steve and Cliff. It’s only a quarter ‘til midnight and I could go for one more game of pool before finding a pair of legs to call my home for the night.

  As I begin to walk into the back room, my phone starts to vibrate again in my pocket. Shaking my head in disgust, I pull it out to turn it off. Glancing at the screen, I see missed text messages from Linc’s phone.

  Pausing for a moment, my feet planted firmly on the ground, I scrunch my brows in confusion. It’s not like him to send me texts this late at night, unless something is wrong.

  A sudden ache begins to fill my chest as I unlock my phone to see what’s going on.

  Linc – Dault, call Linc’s phone ASAP….

  Linc – Dault, did you get the last message?

  Linc – Fucking hell, Dault!!!!

  Linc – We need you to answer your text messages.

  Linc – Daulton, so help me god reply to this message when you see it.

  Linc – Get your fucking ass to University of Alabama’s ER ASAP

  Linc – We just got here and it’s not sounding too good, call or text us back.

  Linc – Daulton, hurry up before it’s too late

  Linc – I’m done with you, if you’re too stupid to look at your damn phone then go fuck yourself.

  The further I scroll down through the texts, the sicker I begin to feel. I don’t know if Linc is in trouble or who the hell is sending these texts to me, but I have to get out of here and get to the hospital as soon as possible.

  My head snaps up to see Steve standing against the far wall. The look on his face is of pure confusion as he begins to walk toward me.

  “Dude, what the fuck is wrong with you? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

  Without a word I hand him my cell phone. My fingers
run the length of my short blond hair as I begin to pace a short distance back and forth.

  Steve stops me by clapping his hand on my shoulder. The expression on his face is one of fear; he has to be feeling somewhat the same panic that I am right now.

  “We need to get out of here and to the hospital,” I bark in his direction.

  “Agreed, Cliff just left with some chick and I’m not expecting that he’ll be coming back anytime soon. I’ll just text him and let him know what’s going on.”

  I nod my head and start to move out of the pool room and through the darkened bar.

  A stabbing pain is starting to grow in my chest and radiate down into my stomach. I have no clue what the fuck is going on right now. I have no sense of control and I need to know what’s happened.

  Steve cuts in front of me and stares me down.

  “Let me drive, bro. You’re in no condition to focus on the road.”

  I nod my head to him and hand over the keys to the car.

  Sliding into the passenger’s side seat, I unlock my phone and start to analyze the text messages.

  “Did you text him back?” Steve asks, roaring the engine to life.

  “No,” I reply, scanning through the last ten texts.

  “Well, why the hell not? Don’t you think that whoever has been texting you can give us some insight as to what the fuck is going on?”

  “No.”

  “Dault, I know you’ve got to be in shock or some shit like that, but you have to find out what’s up. I don’t even know where the hell I should be going.”

  “The ER, dumbass. Now stop talking and fucking drive.”

  Silence fills the inside of the car. I know that there’s no need for me to take this out on Steve, but I’m worried sick right now.

  The texts are coming from Linc’s phone, but the actual messages aren’t something Linc would send to me.

  I’m utterly confused and the panic rushing through my veins is becoming more intense. I don’t know if I can take hearing that something happened to Linc or Jo or…fuck…what if something has happened to Etty?

  As I pound my fist into the dashboard, Steve jumps and looks in my direction.

  “Don’t start, Steve. My entire world could be crashing down on me again. Step on the gas and get us there, now.”

  “I’m already breaking every road law known to man and I’ve drank enough tonight to have my ass put in jail. Don’t push your luck; I’ll get us there as fast I can and in one piece.”

  My gaze turns from him to the window. It’s pitch black outside other than the street lamps and the lights of other vehicles.

  Trying to swallow the rock hard lump now lodged in my throat. I sit up in my seat as the tall buildings of the hospital come into view.

  As Steve pulls up to the ER entrance, I signal for him to stop before he parks the car.

  “Just meet me inside; I have to get in there.”

  Slamming the door shut, I run toward the doors of the ER and straight to the triage nurse’s desk.

  A small blonde turns in her chair and slides the glass window open.

  “Hi, can I help you?” she asks.

  “Yes, I received a text from a friend stating that my friends were here. Where are they?”

  Her mouth drops open and she looks at me like I’ve grown another head.

  As I clear my throat, she bats her lashes and regains her composure.

  “Well, I’ll need a name to see if your friend is here. But I can tell you now that if you’re not immediate family, I won’t be able to provide you with much information.”

  I stare the woman dead in the eyes with the most hateful glare I can muster. Sucking in a deep breath, I take a moment to calm my nerves. I understand that she’s just doing her job, but at the same time it’s my best friend that could be on the other side of these walls.

  The text message said to hurry, I could be too late…too fucking late for what?

  “Sir, I’ll need a bit more information from you if you want me to see if your friend is here.”

  Leaning down on the counter in front of the glass window, I let out a sigh of frustration.

  “I’m not sure. You see, I got a text message from my friend Linc’s phone, but I don’t know that it was him that sent the text.”

  I grip the edge of the counter with my hands, my knuckles turning white.

  “Look, I understand that you’re upset and want some answers. Give me your friend’s full name and I’ll see what I can find out.”

  As I’m about to speak, the automatic doors open alongside of me and Etty is walking toward me.

  I turn to face her as she comes straight to me and into my arms. A feeling of relief courses through me now, knowing that Etty is safe.

  “Oh my god, Dault, I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been texting you all night.”

  Her small body falls in closer to mine. She’s shaking and her sobs are heavy.

  I push her away from me to see that there’s a huge bruise forming on the side of her face. Her lip is cut and swollen and a bandage surrounds the back of her head. What the fuck happened tonight?

  “Etty, what’s going on?”

  She looks up to me with tear stained eyes. Bringing her hand to her face she wipes away the tears with the back of her hand.

  “It’s Jo and Linc. They’re here, and oh my god, Dault…it’s all my fault.”

  I stare into her green eyes, unsure of what’s going on. How could this possibly be her fault? My heart aches for the pain she’s going through and I still have no idea of what’s happened.

  “What’s your fault, Etty? What the hell happened?”

  She begins to shake her head back and forth as the tears fall faster down her cheeks.

  Her gaze turns and she moves away from me.

  I rotate on my heels just as Steve walks through the doors. She rushes to him as he pulls her up against his chest, rubbing his hands up and down her back.

  It pisses me the fuck off that she just walked away from me to him, why I don’t know.

  Looking up at me, he shrugs his shoulder and mouths, what’s going on?

  I move back to the window and give the nurse Linc’s full name.

  She punches some button on the keyboard and looks back up to me.

  “I can’t tell you much, but I will say that he’s here.”

  “Please, lady, that guy is like a brother to me. You have to give me more than that.”

  “I’m sorry, but unless you’re his family I can’t say more.”

  Fuck.

  I move back toward Steve who still has Etty wrapped up in his arms.

  “Etty, you have to tell me what happened and what’s going on.”

  She removes herself from Steve’s arms and turns to face me. Her blue hair is spiked in all sorts of directions and her green eyes are rimmed in red.

  “Rick found me. They both had a gun, Dault.”

  “Who, what….come on, Etty, you have to give me more than that.”

  My tone is stern, filled with anger. The longer it takes to get this out of her, the more pissed off I’m becoming.

  “Dault, relax, she’s just as upset as we are about this. Calm down and give her time to tell us what happened.”

  My eyes move from Etty to Steve. The glare I’m passing through him could cut a thick piece of glass.

  “Dault, I’m so sorry,” she cries.

  I pull Etty from Steve and wrap my arms around her. As much as I want to shake this out of her, I can see that she’s upset.

  Leading us over to a set of chairs, I gesture for her to take a seat. Setting myself down beside her, I tuck a few loose strands of hair off of her face and behind her ear.

  “Talk to me, Etty; tell me what’s going on. What happened tonight?”

  Fidgeting with her hands, she looks up at me and stares deep into my eyes.

  I have a feeling that what she’s about to tell me is going to hurt; it’s going to send me over the edge.

  Bracing myself fo
r what I’m about to hear, I take her hands in mine.

  This girl means a lot to Linc, and well, after yesterday, me too. I need to show her that I’m supporting her, at least ‘til she tells me the whole truth of what’s going on. I’ll decide later how much I want to like or hate her.

  Chapter 2

  My heart is racing; my palms are sweating, and my eyes burn from the tears trailing down my face.

  I know I should be lying down on the bed in the emergency room, but I had to try one more time to text Dault.

  Thank god he’s here now.

  Staring into Dault’s baby blues, I can see the pain he feels. He’s scared, and the moment I tell him what happened tonight, he’s going to freak out on me.

  My body trembles from the mere thought of how he’s going to react.

  This is my fault. Had I not come to Birmingham, none of this would’ve ever happened. I can’t even begin to fathom what took place tonight.

  It’s still a shock to me…I’m lost and confused as to why Rick came to our house tonight. There are so many answers that I need, but I have to be here for my friends.

  The police did their best to question me, but I was too preoccupied with what the paramedics were doing. They kept asking me the same things over and over again. I just wanted them to leave me the hell alone; I needed to be with Linc and Jo. The police didn’t understand how much I needed to be there for them.

  The majority of what has occurred in the past few hours is a blur. I can remember being dragged down the stairs, falling and watching as Linc came into the living room. Everything else seems to be a jumbled mess.

  I can’t believe this is happening to me.

  Dault’s hand grips tighter onto mine and I’m broken out of my trance. He’s intently staring at me and I know what I have to do.

  Taking in a deep breath, I attempt to release the buildup of anxiety filling my chest.

  “I don’t know where to start,” I whisper.

  “Tell me what happened, Etty,” Dault replies in a sincere yet stern tone.

  I nod my head and pull his hands closer to me.

  “I don’t know why or how he found me, but Rick and your old tenant Michael came into the house.”