Blood Red Rage (LIttlemoon Investigations Book 1)

by Morgan Kelley

  Blood Red Rage

  By Morgan Kelley

  Copyright © 2013 Morgan Kelley LLC

  All rights reserved. Without limiting rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, introduced into a retrieval system, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including without limitation photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. The scanning, uploading, and/or distribution of this document via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and is punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrightable materials.

  For permission requests, email author.m.kelley@gmail.com

  Content Advisory: This book is intended for mature audiences and contains graphic violence, explicit sexual activity and disturbing imagery

  ©Copyright 2013 by Morgan Kelley LLC cover by art by Amygdalya Designs.

  Other works by Morgan Kelley:

  Standalone Thrillers

  The Junction

  Serial Sins

  The Blood Betrayal

  FBI Romance Series

  The Killing Times (Book 1)

  Sacred Burial Grounds (Book 2)

  True Love Lost (Book 3)

  Deep Dark Mire (Book 4)

  Fire Burns Hot (Book 5)

  Darkness of Truth (Book 6)

  Devil Hath Come (Book 7)

  Consumed by Wrath (Book 8)

  Redemption is Here (Book 9)

  Dead Shall Speak (Book 10)

  Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Series

  Celestia is Falling (1)

  Vegas is Dying (2)

  Christmas is Killing (3)

  Love is Bleeding (4)

  Heaven is Weeping (5)

  Littlemoon Investigations

  Blood Red Rage (Book 1)

  Lost & Broken (Book 2)

  Unthinkable Games (Book 3)

  The Carter Chronicles

  Sinner Repent (Book 1)

  Sinner Realized (Book 2)

  The Harcourte Vampyre Society series

  Dangerous Revelations (1)

  Dangerous Choices (2)

  Behind Closed Doors Anthology

  Illegal Fantasies ~ Behind Closed Doors (1)

  Romance Under Arrest ~ Behind Closed Doors (2)

  Holiday Reinforcements~ Behind Closed Doors (3)

  ~~~~ About the Author ~~~~

  Morgan Kelley lives in the beautiful Pocono Mountains with her husband and two children. After attending college at Penn State University and studying Criminal Justice, Morgan knew her only true passion in life would be murder and books. She put them both together and began her career as a writer. Other than books and writing, you can find Morgan hanging out in her garden and digging in the dirt.

  Her other works include: The Junction, Serial Sins, The Blood Betrayal, The Killing Times (1), Sacred Burial Grounds (2), True Love Lost (3), Deep Dark Mire (4), Fire Burns Hot (5), Darkness of Truth (6), Devil Hath Come (7), Consumed by Wrath (8), Redemption is Here (9), Dead Shall Speak (10), Blood Red Rage (1) Lost & Broken (2), Unthinkable Games (3), Celestia is Falling (1), Vegas is Dying (2), Christmas is Killing (3), Love is Bleeding (4), Heaven is Weeping (5), Dangerous Revelations (1), Illegal Fantasies (Anthology 1), Romance Under Arrest (Anthology 2), and Holiday Reinforcements (Anthology 3)

  Please feel free to visit Morgan at her website: www.morgankelley.com, email her author.m.kelley@gmail.com, or visit her blog at www.morgankelley.blogspot.com.

  “Welcome to the war of love. It’s the bloodiest, hardest, and meanest fight that you’ll ever find yourself in. It doesn’t matter that you’re a Marine. They can’t prepare you for what lies ahead.”

  ~ Julian Littlemoon

  When Justin Littlemoon met Vivian Graves…

  Prologue

  He was a collector.

  All of his life, he always wanted to find the best things out there and make them his. It had been his mission, even from his prepubescent years.

  When something sparkly, pretty, or lovely crossed his path, he was compelled to make it his.

  It started with simple stones.

  One would think that it was innocent enough, but it prepared him for the future ahead. The rocks were just the beginning and made him want more and more.

  He would go out into the river and find the ones that nature had worn down in its current, and he would bring them home. At first his mother didn't mind, but then…

  Like so many things, it became his obsession.

  The collection grew and grew, taking over his space and his brain. It went from hobby to fixation incredibly fast. When his mother tried to step in, he was filled with hate and anger.

  IT WAS HIS!

  How dare she try to stop him?

  Even at a young age, the rage filled him when someone tried to touch his possessions. So, as time went on, his mother turned a blind eye. She ignored his obsessive tendencies and let him have it his way. The day that he exploded in rage, she backed down and would never contest his collecting again. Even she feared what may happen if he were provoked.

  This hobby opened so many doors for him.

  After rocks, it was leaves and then figurines.

  There was nothing wrong with that, right?

  Before long, as time slowly ticked by and childhood ebbed into adulthood, the needs changed and grew. The objects he longed to collect no longer were little things. As their size grew, their value to him also became greater.

  Until that one day, when he stumbled upon the ultimate collection.

  Beautiful women.

  As he went off to college, a whole new world opened around him. Since he had been home schooled his entire life, he never really understood the importance of the opposite sex. Granted, he spent his days with a woman; his mother. What was so special about her? If anything, she was mediocre at best.

  He didn't get it until that day when he was surrounded by them. It was as if something unlocked inside him, and he finally knew the truth.

  There were blondes, brunette, and redheads. They smiled and smelled like heaven. Some had curly mops and some had hair that was poker straight.

  This was a brand new world.

  He was a kid in a very sexy candy shop. Every time that he blinked, a new woman appeared before him. All he needed to do was find the one who called to him.

  So, like any good collector, he started at the beginning and prepped with photographs. Taking a few snapshots was easier than talking to them, so pictures would come first, and then he would see where it led.

  Maybe in time, he could approach them and make them his.

  A good gatherer didn't put a limit on a newly sought after prize.

  He let the spirit move him.

  Well, now, he was feeling it like never before. As he would sit in his classes, he would watch them all. The brunette liked the one jock. She would bat her eyelashes at him and hike her skirt up pretty high. The blonde was the smart one. She didn't even care about what was going on around her. All that she focused on was the man at the front of the classroom and her notebook. Then there was the redhead. She snapped her gum and looked infinitely bored, as she continued to glance at her watch. Each were very different, and yet so much alike.

  Yeah, they were all oblivious to him watching. Part of him wished that they knew the truth of what was floating around in his brain. If they could see the intent on hi
s face as he admired their different colored hair and body types, maybe then, they wouldn’t look so lackadaisical. To him, they were special.

  Once class was over, he would follow the one that he liked best. When she never noticed that he was behind her, it gave him more hope that he would finally get her picture for his collection.

  When she went to the commons and found a place to lie in the green grass, he did the same. Only, he stayed far enough away to openly admire her.

  Oh, and did he ever!

  There were shots of her licking her lips, flipping her hair, and falling asleep on her back in the sun.

  This was heaven.

  Already, his body was stirring, and he was feeling things that he never knew possible. Who would have thought that this beautiful collection was out there, wandering the world so freely?

  Why had he not decided on this hobby long ago?

  As his eyes flickered around the commons, he saw the truth. Beauty was everywhere, and now he could focus on it.

  There was no one to stop him.

  He stayed until she did, blowing off his last class of the day, only to watch her head home. He was so enraptured, that he didn't want to miss a second of observing her. If he did, surely something miraculous and wondrous would happen.

  Fortunately for him, her apartment wasn’t far from campus and along the tree lined street. If she turned around, he could dive for cover and not be seen. If caught, it would ruin it all.

  In his mind, he already had it all planned out. Not only would he take pictures, but he would study his subjects and find the best of the best.

  This woman had piqued his interest and would hold a special place in his heart.

  He was sure of it.

  As he followed, his excitement grew. His body tightened and his response confused him. In his life, he had never wanted anything more. While his other collections brought him joy, this one made him feel. It filled him and made him so very warm with bliss. It astounded him that his own mother had failed to mention the effect of the opposite sex.

  This was an endorphin rush.

  It was amazing.

  It was… addictive.

  Deep in his mind, he knew that he was on the right track to find his next collection. With this response, it had to be right.

  There was an inkling of warning, but it was pushed back down into his conscience for the momentary high. For now, that was all that mattered.

  Once at her apartment, he noticed that she lived on the bottom floor. This would make it easy. Finding a place to hide in the trees, he waited until she made her next move. This was new to him, so he wasn’t quite sure what to do next.

  So, he waited.

  Once darkness had come, he was in his glory as he moved even closer to his new subject and prize.

  He watched.

  Moving as close to her window as he dared, he began taking pictures of her for his books. This subject would have one all of her own. Where usually his collections shared a scrapbook, this beauty would get the royal treatment. He was giddy at the prospect of constructing it. There were pictures of her partially clothed and just about ready to enter the shower.

  Yes, she was the one.

  Now, he knew for sure.

  As he took the final shot with his camera, he stared longingly at the beauty. For the time being, she would be his muse. He was certain that it would lead to many more in the collection.

  How could he stop at only one?

  Backing away from the window, he made his escape into the night.

  His new obsession had begun.

  It was going to last his entire life.

  Racing back to his apartment, he was overjoyed and exuberant. The energy vibrated through him. Never in his life had he felt this alive and happy.

  Something about this woman and the prospect of the hunt, made him feel like he was living the dream. As someone who appreciated the beautiful things in life, he knew deep down that she was his pinnacle.

  This was it.

  Here was the culmination of everything that he had grown up loving and adoring.

  Gone were the trinkets.

  Now was the time for his works of art.

  As he lay on his bed, his thoughts were focused on one thing. He knew that he needed a strategic plan of action. There needed to be a guideline to tell him where he should begin and how far he could take it.

  Were pictures first?

  Would they be enough?

  He shook his head, as if to fight off the dark ideas bouncing around in his brain. He wanted so much more, but he knew that wasn’t possible.

  Yes, pictures would be enough.

  After all, he was an artist and nothing more. Then, he allowed the darkness a tiny segue into his mind. He was not only a man who appreciated beauty.

  He was more...

  He was the collector and was destined to have her.

  Many Years Later

  He watched her get into her car outside the bar, and she was a little bit tipsy. He had to admit that it made everything easier and turned him on even more. Now, all that he had to do was follow her away from there and make his move.

  It was all so simple.

  She would be the first in his collection.

  For years, he’d watched and snapped pictures, but now it was all about the process of completing what he had always longed to do.

  Now, he would bring one of them home.

  As her car pulled away from the curb, he followed her a few miles to a location where he knew it would be safe. After all, he’d made this trip many times before, in practice for what was to come.

  It shocked him how easy it was to get her attention. With the flashing lights, she immediately pulled to the side of the road, not far from her home. There was no doubt that on this deserted stretch, this would be the ideal spot to take her.

  No cars would be passing by.

  No one would question it if they did.

  This plan was perfect.

  When she pulled over, he stalked confidently towards the driver’s side window. Staring in, he noticed that there was a look of nerves and fear on her face.

  That only made it so much better.

  “Have you been drinking, miss?” he asked, as he tried desperately not to snicker or laugh.

  She tried to calm herself before answering. If her words weren’t perfect, surely he would know the truth. “Yes, sir. I had two drinks at the bar, but I stopped a few hours ago.” Maybe if she was lucky, he wouldn’t Breathalyzer her and find out the truth.

  After all, what was a little white lie? If it meant keeping her out of jail and the newspapers, it was certainly worth it. If worse came to worse, she’d pull the only big card that was left. There was no doubt that by using her daddy’s name, it would save her from getting in trouble.

  “Can you please step out of the vehicle for me, miss?”

  She did what he asked, and as she swung her long legs out of the car, her heel caught a piece of gravel and she stumbled. As she practically fell onto the man holding the flashlight, in her heart she knew the truth.

  She was screwed.

  “Yeah, you’re under arrest, miss.”

  He pulled the handcuffs from his jacket pocket and turned her around to fasten her wrists behind her back. When she could no longer see his face, he grinned wickedly in victory.

  This was like leading lambs to the slaughter. He should have done this years ago…

  “I’m sorry! Please let me go! I won’t drink anymore,” she offered, willing to say anything at that point. Man, her father was going to be pissed off when she called him from the jail.

  “You know that I can’t do that, Melissa. You’re going to have to come with me,” he replied, softly.

  She wasn’t so drunk that she didn't recognize the sound of lust in his voice. “Wait, how did you know my name?” she asked as her heart began pounding in her chest. “You never asked for my license or registration.”

  With the last click of the handcuff, he fina
lly leaned down to her ear as his body pressed against hers. “I’ve been watching you for so very long,” he replied, running his hand up her leg to her hip.

  Suddenly, the need to escape overwhelmed her. There were so many things wrong with the entire scenario. Melissa just didn't notice them before. Now that she did, the fear was pounding through her.

  His calm laughter broke the silence of the night, drawing her attention, and up rose the possibility of trying to escape. She began struggling, and prayed that she could break away from him.

  Fight or flight kicked in, and she wanted to put as much space between them.

  The rage built in him and coated his vision in a fine sheen of blood. His prize was trying to ruin his collection. The last thing that he wanted was to put bruises on her body, but something had to be done, and desperate times called for desperate measures.

  Grabbing her by the hair, he slammed her forehead off the roof of the car. As quickly as her struggles began, they ended. Sweeping her up into his arms, he carried her to the trunk of his sedan.

  This didn't please him at all.

  As he placed her inside, he once more ran his fingers across her pale flesh and to the growing lump on her forehead. Yes, it would eventually heal and not leave a mark on his precious prize, but still, he was irritated at her unwillingness to hand herself over to him. How could he live with himself if he damaged his own collection?

  Racing back over to the car, he quickly wiped down the outside and anything that he may have inadvertently touched. He didn't want to give anyone a way to trace him.