The antiquities shop looked like every other little storefront along the colorful, busy marketplace. It was a bit worn, the paint starting to fade and the front picture window a little dusty and smudged with fingerprints. The once dark green canopy over the open doorway was a paler shade of moss, frayed at the edges. […]

“This region has many…ancient spirits.  They…feed upon the weaknesses that all people possess.  Most do little harm, but some are dangerous, even deadly.  It is my task to drive these spirits from the injured and ill.” He snorted and his gaze turned away from her.  Manara’s heart cracked at that motion, and knew her future was […]

Sliding the glass door closed behind her, Alexandra padded through the sunroom and headed for the kitchen. Off in the distance, the sound of clinking silverware filled the halls as a tiny voice squawked above the din. As she turned the corner, she paused at the sight before her. Gemma and Elsa were in the […]

Lindsey Ferrell thought the recurring nightmare was bad enough. Then she acquired a stalker and her life turned upsidwe down. Security specialist Nick Vanetta needed to keep his mind on business to protect Lindsey and find her stalker, But the green-eyed beauty distracted him just by being there. Was giving in to the intense sexual […]

“Your bedroom’s exactly as you left it this morning?”
Glaring at the Denton detective for his eighteenth question in a row, Victoria Donavan clenched her fingers into a fist and staunched her trembling. Weakness could be ignored, at least, held at bay. She let her glance sweep across familiar surfaces. “The bed wasn’t made when I […]

He approached her slowly, reaching his arms around her back and untying her wrists. Once released, she jerked the gag down in a fit of rage.
“Why did you bring me here?” she demanded angrily.
“Because you wanted me to,” he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.
“You’re mad!” she slammed a tiny fist into the […]

As she reached the last step, her left heel snagged in a crevice, sending her tumbling to the street below. Colliding with the unforgiving concrete, she felt the wind go out of her lungs. Gulping for air, she pulled herself up to a kneeling position. Thankfully, there hadn’t been any traffic in the street before […]

“If I were to hire you myself, how would you convince my brother to leave his cult and go with you?” Kelly asked.
“I’d need to tell him something that would compel him to choose freedom over Star Mother.”
“Like what?”
Sam shrugged.  “I know your father and brother had a falling-out, so my original plan was to […]

* * *
Fate seemed to be pushing Ty into his path.  Why had she come along now after all his years of searching?  Now when he had prior claims on his attention.  He couldn’t drop Berengi a second time.  His heartbeat quickened as he thought about what he’d overheard Vanessa tell Duke.  “Nibele,” Vanessa had […]

Eight murders—no—nine, I corrected as I parked my Nash Airflyte behind the flashing black-and-white and flipped off the lights. I returned the nod of the uniformed officer who stood beside the squad car, then glanced at the rundown, brick tenement building. Scrawled across the bottom right side in thick, black letters was, Kilroy was here. […]

She stood and reached down to take his hands, tugging until he stood to face her.  “I know we’ve only known each other for one day, but I want you to know how special you are.  I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, and for my brother.”
    He smiled, his tension easing.  “It’s been my […]

It’s my body and my heart. If I choose to give them to someone, it’s my business. All I want tonight is a little comfort, a little security, and a whole lot of pleasure.
Jayden wanted a memory to take with her for the next few days or weeks while she made her last stand. […]

Jack rose from the bed and headed back to the shower. Neither the pounding of the spray against the porcelain, or the steam rising to fog the mirror, managed to blast Amanda from his thoughts. He pulled the curtain and stepped into the hammering, hot water.Letting it sluice over his back, he leaned his head […]