Kathi S. Barton

Monday, June 15, 2015

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Aaron MacManus, the new master vampire of the realm just wanted to go out and meet some of his subjects and to figure out what needed to be done to set things right.

April and Demetrius Carlovetti own an air service and are the most trusted and well liked vampires in Aaron’s realm. What he didn’t expect when he visited them was betrayal. His own bodyguards try to murder him and blame it on the Carlovetti’s.

Sara Temple was not a vampire. She pilots planes for the Carlovetti Airways. She had secretes of her own and working for this small air service is keeping her out of sight. The last thing she wanted to do was save a vampire, even an extremely good looking one.

Sara was only trying to survive but with Aaron she becomes embroiled in politics, the magic of several realms involving a queen in peril, magical beings, passion and love.

Blood, Body and Mind, the first book in the Aaron’s Kiss series.

Mending a broken heart is never easy. That was something Keira Johnson knew better than most people. After ending a long term relationship with a self-absorbed masochist, Keira throws herself into her work as full time editor for Legacy, a publishing company representing the paranormal world.

To top that off, it was time for the annual alumni mixer which Keira has made it a point to skip each year, but her boss, Paranormal Romance author, Claudia Woods decides she would like Keira to attend with a hearty donation on her behalf. While Keira has a good working relationship with her boss, denying her requests isn't something she is in the habit of doing.

So Keira travels to her alma mater, with the ghosts of her past to keep her company as she relives the life she thought she had left behind. Keira never imagined that Daniel might be there. The very sight of his face brings up memories that she had thought were long buried.

Would her school girl crush turn into more than a fantasy?

Megan Malone is a bored housewife determined to put passion back into her marriage. When she discovers that her husband, Ted, is a lying cheating scumbag, she decides to dump him and have a wild night with one of the hotties from her high school days. She enlists the help of her eclectic group of friends and a down in the dumps Private Investigator, Jack Weston, who coincidentally is investigating her husband and his girlfriend. She hires Jack to locate these hotties so she can put some passion back into her boring monotonous life. But Jack has other plans. Megan snubbed him back in high school and he wants revenge. Megan finds herself in a hot mess of passion, love and murder. Now its left up to Jack to try to prove her innocent. Has Megan finally gotten herself into a mess she can't get out of?

Amanda Archer is on the fast track to success. At twenty-five she has just about everything she's ever wanted. She has complete control of her life...until she meets Marco.

Marco De Lucia is a very influential man. Handsome, rich, and very powerful. Marco has a secret that few know about and live to tell it. He's a wolf.

From the moment Marco steps into Amanda's life everything spins out of her control. Marco tells her about fate, destiny and her obligations. She was born to be his...

Marco has waited three hundred years to finally find Amanda and fulfill their destiny. He knows who she is...he just has to convince her of that.

There are others that aren't too excited that Marco's found his mate. Others that will stop at nothing to make sure the prophecy isn't fulfilled...

Jenna Austin is a young, widowed artist raising a teenage son on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. As the costs of living in paradise rise, she struggles to make ends meet. Life isn't easy, but she manages.

When her car breaks down, she trudges on. She assumes life can't get any more complicated than it is. But it can...

Chance brings her nose to well-formed chest with Tres Coulter, the handsome, affluent aid to Governor Hunt. Jenna and Tres share a history; they also share a love they thought long lost. Their lives are about to be altered forever as the deceptions of the past transform the very foundation of the present.

The price of happily ever after may be too steep to pay once the past comes due.

1800 years ago...

It was time for him to die. Rembrandt was ready. He had put up a good fight and nearly died twice that day, but now he was done and he was ready to die on the battlefield with the rest of his brethren. Death would be merciful, he would finally be with his wife and children.

A being clad in black had other ideas. Rembrandt was meant to help him fight his cause and to help right a wrong that his kind had brought to this world. He gifted the reluctant Rembrandt with a taste for blood and immortality...and more...so much more.

Back to the present...

Rembrandt had had enough. He was over this life 1800 years ago and now he was just sick of it. The creatures he fought, the malefactors, kept growing in numbers and he couldn't kill them fast enough to keep up. He had fought the battle alone all these years and he wasn't sure he even wanted to anymore.

Skylar Manning was just trying to be nice. The mysterious man dressed in black was hanging around after closing...again. It was the third time this week. Only this time he grabbed her arm. Her world changed forever.

Suddenly she found herself hunted by shadowy figures with razor sharp teeth, and into the arms of a warrior who craved her as much as she did him...

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Sunday, June 14, 2015

Royce The Hunter Series Chapter Six is ready to read

~CHAPTER SIX~ Julie moved along the “homes” of her buddies. They weren’t friends, not really. They’d as soon stick a knife in someone’s back as to look at them. Some were all right, though. Moon and Toby were two of those she trusted to an extent. “Miss Rocky, you shouldn’t be wandering around this late. Get yourself a corner and stay there,” Moon whispered harshly at her. She hadn’t even seen him inside of his shelter. Julie was relieved. After Rodney, she didn’t want to lose anyone else. “I got you something. But you have to promise me you won’t share or let anyone else know you have it.” She handed him a shiny apple from the fruit basket she’d gotten. “Oh Miss Rocky! This is a treat. Yes, it is. An apple, a whole apple. I gotta share with my man Toby. He likes them too, he does.” Julie pulled out a second one and handed it to Moon. “I got one for him too. Plus, an orange each. Don’t go telling anyone. You know what will happen if you do. I don’t want anything happening to you.” “Yes, ma’am, they’ll steal it. Right outta my hand, they will.” He smelled the fruit as though it was manna to him, then looked up at her. “You didn’t steal this from someone, did you? They won’t be coming after old Moon for it back, will they?” “No, Moon. It’s yours fair and square.” She watched as he sniffed it again. “Moon, do you think I could bed down close to here tonight? My place is gone.” Julie stayed with Rodney most nights. They hadn’t slept together, but they had protected each other. She wasn’t even sure she could go back to their place now. Not yet anyway. “Yeah. Heard about old Rodney. Police had us all moved around that day. That butthole Sherman had me so mad that Toby had to hold me back some. Wouldn’t let us pay our respects or nothing. Shame, that. He was a good man, that Rodney. You stay here with me and Toby. We got us a new house just last week.” Julie looked at his new “home.” Someone nearby must have gotten themselves a new freezer and Toby and Moon ended up with a new house out of the deal. She was just getting settled when Toby showed up. He’d gone on for twenty minutes about the apple and orange. When they offered her the whole house in exchange for the fruit, she’d told them it was a gift and not a trade, but thanked them anyway. At sometime well after midnight, they settled down to sleep. Julie thought about leaving Molly’s home. She’d felt bad that she hadn’t thanked her. She decided to go by the hospital next week and tell her so. Julie was sure that had she stayed, Dr. Waite would have found a way to keep her from where she needed to be. She couldn’t do that, not now, not ever. The envelope that Rodney had given Molly was a surprise. Not only had Rodney found out who she was, but had also kept tabs on Julie’s family. They were still searching for her. Even after all this time.

Alyssa Howard was an heiress. Not just an heiress, but one with a brain. That was what the papers had called her when she’d graduated from Yale at fifteen with a business degree. She’d gone on to Brown University as well. She now had three degrees under her real name and had planned to use them running her daddy’s company for him. Alyssa’s father had been grooming her to run the company’s holdings when he retired. Howard Incorporated bought companies and buildings, revamped them, then sold them for a profit. They also had several hotels all over the world that catered to the rich, famous, and the small families. When Nathan Howard died suddenly when Alyssa was seventeen, he’d left her everything—over eleven billion dollars in company assets alone. Personal accounts and monies added another five billion, making Alyssa the youngest billionaire in the world. Alyssa’s brothers, Nathan the forth and Robert, both older than her, and their mother, had gotten an allowance. And Shannon and her sons were not happy about it. They were to get just over four hundred thousand a year that they would divide between them. And Alyssa held the purse strings. Samuel, her father’s brother, too, was on an allowance, but his had stipulations. Stipulations that he wasn’t happy about either.

So when they approached her with their “plan,” Alyssa ran. The plan was sick and perverted. Their plan made Alyssa Howard become a nothing. The clippings that Rodney had saved for her said that there was a reward for anyone knowing about her, living or dead. She didn’t have to wonder why Rodney hadn’t turned her in for the money. Two million dollars would have gone a long way to comfort most people. But Rodney had been her friend, almost like her father had been to her. Julie wondered what her family would think if they knew their missing daughter slept most nights under their noses. Looking across the parking lot from where she slept most nights Julie watched the guard walk the perimeter of the Howard Building, not knowing that less than fifty yards away, their boss slept. Julie snuggled down on the cardboard sheet that Toby had found for her and pulled her coat tighter around her. That’s when she thought of Dr. Cain Waite. Cain had kissed her. She’d been kissed before, she’d even had sex a couple of times when in a night of loneliness and stupidity, she’d had a classmate “do her.” Julie doubted that Cain would “do her” in quite the same way, neither would it be as clumsy and unsatisfying. Cain was gorgeous, sweet, and polite. Well, not to her really, but she had seen him around others and knew that he could be. To her, he was bossy, rude, and...well, really bossy. But he had also called her lovely. No one had called her that since her father. Julie rolled to her back, wincing at the pain. Cain was going to be so pissed when he figured out she had left. Even more so when he figured out where she’d gone. Smiling, she kind of wished she could see the look on his face when he did. Well, she thought, he’d forget about her soon enough. She was where she wanted to be, where she needed to be. ~~~ Cain wasn’t mad at Julie, he was furious. The little twit was gone. And not only was she gone, but she was hurt too. When he found her, and he had no doubt that he would, he decided that he was going to paddle her backside but good, then he was going to make love to her until she was too sated, too relaxed to leave him again. “You know that if she doesn’t want to be found, you won’t find her, don’t you? She has more aliases than I have ever heard. Half the people we talk to won’t answer us; the other half have no clue who she is,” the cop, Neil James, mused. Cait had assigned him to help Cain look for Julie and he was, frankly, driving Cain nuts. “I’m going to find her,” Cain growled for the third time in the last twenty minutes. “Have you asked those people over there? I’m going to ask them; you go over there and ask.” “Who should I tell ‘em we’re looking for? I got no idea what to call the stupid girl. Why she’d be out in this sort of weather is beyond me. I’d want to be in my…” Cain tuned him out. If he didn’t, he might choke the life out of the cop. How a person got through life as negative as Neil was beyond Cain. He walked up to the next “house” and knocked on the top.

Cain looked around the area. There were perhaps twenty men and women staying in this area of Columbus. Their homes varied as much as the people living here. Boxes from large appliances, sheets pulled over strings. Two people he’d seen so far were living in a car, the front wheels gone and the back ones flat. Most of the people were dirty and had smelled so bad that Cain was thankful they were out of doors. But others were clean, if not a little worn down. Cait had told him not to wear nice clothes when coming down here. He’d already figured that out, but he was sure her reasons were vastly different than his had been. He needed to blend in and his suit pants wouldn’t have done that. She’d also told him not to take out his cell phone or his wallet, and under no circumstances was he to give anyone money. He‘d be killed in a quick breath of air if he did. Cain could smell the man before he poked his head out of his box. He leaned down to speak to him when he looked as if he wasn’t going to come out. That’s when he saw the two oranges and the apple. The fruit basket. Cain wasn’t sure how he knew Julie had given this man the fruit, but he did. When the man noticed that Cain was looking at them, he covered the fresh fruit with his blanket and glared up at Cain. “I don’t need no preaching. I get enough of that on Wednesday when I get my free meal at the shelter on Tuesday. It’s Friday now, and I want you to peddle your wares somewhere else.” Cain was slightly confused about the timeline, but hurried on before the man went back into his shelter. “I’ll give you two more oranges and a pear if you tell me who gave you those oranges.” The man eyed Cain for what seemed an eternity and just when Cain was about to double the offer, the man spoke. He had a great deal of suspicion in his voice, but he did answer. “Pears are mighty expensive, boy. You must want her real bad. I think maybe you’d go for...three pears and four oranges. I think that’s worth some information, don’t you?” He smiled up at Cain. Cain would have bought him a crate of whatever he wanted if he led him to Julie. But now it was a matter of pride and bargaining. He knew the man wouldn’t just take the fruit. He’d seen what thinking someone was trying to give charity had made Julie feel. “All right, but two pears. As you said, they are expensive. And if this is the girl I’m looking for, I’ll give you some bananas too,” Cain said after careful consideration. The man looked at his stash then back at Cain. “She in trouble? I like Miss Rocky. She ain’t done nothing but be a good girl to me and my Toby. But a man has to eat.” Cain’s disappointment was profound. Miss Rocky wasn’t who he was looking for. He’d pay the man anyway—a deal was a deal, but he was disappointed all the same. “No, she’s not in trouble. Just...I’m sure Miss Rocky isn’t who I was looking for anyway. If you’ll wait here, I’ll go and get you your payment. You did keep your end of the bargain.” Cain stood. He was tired and thinking maybe Neil was correct. Julie didn’t want to be found. He’d been looking for two days now and still nothing. He was about to turn away when the man spoke again.

“Miss Rocky is a good girl, you know. She didn’t get mad at me when I cut her up the other week. Scared, I was, having myself a bad dream and all. All she’d been doing was telling me to get my fool self out of the rain. I sliced her belly right open, I did. I quit sleeping with the knife in my hand now. Too dangerous for an old fool like me to do that.” Cain looked around. It was her and he knew it. “Do you know where she is? That’s the girl I’m looking for.” “She’ll be back directly. Miss Sally, she got herself a nasty cut the other day and Miss Rocky went to take her to the clinic. They’ll get nasty with us when we go. Miss Rocky, she gives it right back to them. Funny thing to watch her get all up in their faces like she does.” The old man laughed. “Spouting off them rules like she done wrote them.” Cain just bet she did. He nearly smiled, then the anger surged forward. Damned girl. He was going to string her up when he found her. Then he wasn’t sure what he was going to do. But she was certainly not going to live here anymore. Cain was about to thank the man when he saw the bane of his misery coming toward him. He was glad that he’d seen her first or she might have run. But he was nearly to her when she looked up. The older woman she was helping was still walking and talking even though Julie had stopped. “Hello. Are you my Carl?” Cain looked at the older woman again, Sally, the man had called her. “No. No, not my Carl. He wasn’t as pretty as you are.” When Julie took a step back, Cain grabbed her arm. “I don’t think so, Miss Rocky. You’re coming with me. Now.” “I don’t want to. I like it here. How did you find me anyway?” Julie asked as she struggled against his grip. “Oranges. If you try to run, so help me I will chase you down and beat that beautiful ass of yours. I’m in a foul mood and—” “Well there’s a shocker! Cain Waite in a foul mood. You’ve been in one since I’ve known you.”

He felt his lips twitch. Damned girl. Cain pulled her tight to his body. “Do you think there’s a correlation there? You’ve tested my temper since I’ve met you.” “See here. You let Miss Rocky go. I don’t care how many oranges and pears you bring me. You let her go right now, boy. I will hurt you.” Cain looked at the man coming toward him. His gait was slow but sure and Cain did not want to hurt him. He didn’t want to hurt anyone, especially a man protecting the same person he was. But the older man was sporting a bat. “Julie,” Cain growled low. “Tell him to stop. Tell him I’m not hurting you. I don’t want to cause any trouble. I just want to take you home with me.” Cain waited and so did the man. Cain never took his eyes off of Julie’s face. He was sure of one thing, there was going to be a fight, but he would lay odds it wasn’t going to be with the man behind him. She looked ready to do battle and he was sure she would take skin and blood when she was finished. “It’s okay, Moon. I know him. I don’t like him or care for him overly much right now, but I know him. I have to go with him for a minute, then I—” “Moon? You know her, right? I’m trying to get her off the streets. You know this isn’t the kind of life for a pretty young woman. You tell her that she needs to come with me, please,” Cain said to Moon. Sally stepped forward. “Oh, dearie, if he wants you to get off the streets, then you should listen to him. He’s right. This ain’t no life for the likes of you. You’ll be worn down in no time and you know that Rodney would want you to. So long as he ain’t expecting you to turn tricks...you ain’t, are you, young man?” “No, ma’am, I’m not. I just want her to get off the streets and safe. Just like you do,” Cain answered. He suddenly had a thought. He wondered if that was how she had survived all these years. Cain hoped if it had been her way of life, that she had been safe. “I really, really hate you right now,” Julie said as she jerked away from him.

Cain watched as she went back toward Moon’s house. He followed her. There was no way he was letting her out of his sight again. Not now that he’d found her. Cain watched as she gathered up her few things and stuffed them into a plastic grocery bag. She had another pair of pants and a few books. Then she kissed Moon and told him to tell Toby that she’d see them both around. He reached to help her by taking the bag to carry for her. He stepped back when she growled at him. No one had ever growled at him before and it startled him somewhat. Not even that stupid dog they’d had as kids. But he was sure, in that second, he’d never been so afraid. Not that she’d kill him, but he was pretty sure she would hurt a couple of his more...private parts if he tried to reach for it again. He simply pointed the way to his car parked down the street. Julie didn’t say another word to him. Not all the way across the lot of the Howard Building’s parking lot nor when he’d opened the car door for her. He did nearly lose his fingers when she jerked her door from him and shut it before he had time to move fast enough. By the time they got to his house, he was pretty angry himself.

Stay Tune for Next Week Chapter Seven

Books In the series

THE HUNTERS -

1 ROYCE – http://smarturl.it/royce

2 CURTIS – http://smarturl.it/curtis

3 JESSE – http://smarturl.it/jessethehunters

4 DANIEL- http://smarturl.it/danielthehunters

I hope you are enjoying this book

Kathi S Barton

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Vicki Carver had seen all the carnage from what appeared to be some kind of battle and just stopped long enough to see if the big man was alive or dead like the rest of them. That large broadsword in his hand had her keep her distance. Pitching a pebble or two at his face should arouse him if he was indeed still alive.
Davis Brown was thoroughly exhausted, but he couldn't ignore the small stones pelting his face. If it was more malefactors to fight he'd just have to let them do him in. He was too tired to fight again so soon. To his surprise it was a woman?not just any woman?but a feisty vixen who was not only beautiful but could see the malefactors. That meant that she was either magical or one of them?a warrior?his mate....
Vicki had her own demons to battle and to be thrown into a mystical battle with Rembrandt's warriors to save their world from being overrun by malefactors wasn't anything she had planned for, much less this mate business. Who did he think he was anyway? But she couldn't seem to resist the hot, sexy man that brought her to the compound....

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Next New Release Is Asher June 26th 2015

Friday, June 12, 2015

Davis Blood BrotherHood Series by Kathi S Barton release Day 6/12/15

Vicki Carver had seen all the carnage from what appeared to be some kind of battle and just stopped long enough to see if the big man was alive or dead like the rest of them. That large broadsword in his hand had her keep her distance. Pitching a pebble or two at his face should arouse him if he was indeed still alive.
Davis Brown was thoroughly exhausted, but he couldn't ignore the small stones pelting his face. If it was more malefactors to fight he'd just have to let them do him in. He was too tired to fight again so soon. To his surprise it was a woman?not just any woman?but a feisty vixen who was not only beautiful but could see the malefactors. That meant that she was either magical or one of them?a warrior?his mate....
Vicki had her own demons to battle and to be thrown into a mystical battle with Rembrandt's warriors to save their world from being overrun by malefactors wasn't anything she had planned for, much less this mate business. Who did he think he was anyway? But she couldn't seem to resist the hot, sexy man that brought her to the compound....

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The Winner of a Mystery Gift is Rachel Denise Smith

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Chapter 1

His arms ached and his body was spent. Davis wasn’t sure, but he thought perhaps he might have liked a nap before getting out of bed today. Laughing to himself, he leaned back against the wall where he had cornered several of the malefactors to kill them and closed his eyes. Sliding down the wall to the ground seemed as natural to him as breathing did. He kept his sword in his hand just in the event one of the malefactors decided he needed to be killed again.

There were only the three of them out trying to save the world…him, Skylar, and Remy. But there were—and he knew this to be fact rather than an exaggeration—millions of the malefactors. Just today Jarvis had told them that at the rate they, the malefactors, were going, they would achieve world domination in about seven months. Not good.

Something hit him in the forehead as he lay there. He didn’t care at this point if the entire building fell on him so long as he got a moment’s rest. But when a second thing hit him, he opened his eyes to see the woman across from him picking up something else to hit him with.

As soon as she stood up and looked his way, she stood as still as a deer in headlights. Fear might have been in her eyes, but he could see that she was more determined than anything. He wondered what she was doing out this late.

“You aren’t dead.” Davis shook his head and watched her as she dropped the handful of stones she’d gathered. “What are these?”

Davis looked around. There were perhaps fifty headless malefactors around him. If the woman could see them, then she was either a shifter or she had a bit of magic in herself. Davis looked back at her before answering.

“We call them malefactors. They’re trying to take over the world. You can see them?” She nodded. “Would you like to tell me why you were abusing my poor old body?”

“I thought you were dead.” She pointed to his left where his sword was still curled within his hand. “I would have come closer to check, but that thing scared me a bit. It’s pretty sharp looking.”

“It is.” He watched her, not sure what to think of her until she turned to leave. “Wait. Where are you going? And for that matter, you should be home, not out on the streets this late.”

He knew the moment it came out of his mouth that he’d pissed her off. She went from concerned citizen to pissed-off woman in six seconds flat. And Christ, it was a beautiful sight to behold.

“I’m not a street walker, you imbecile. Did it ever occur to you that I might be getting off work just now? And that it does not include me lying on my back with a dick in one of my orifices?” He opened his mouth to tell her he was sorry when she cut him off. “If you say to me that you are sorry for what you said, I will come over there and

remove your head with your own sword. A person cannot assume something like that and think a simple sorry will suffice.”

Davis stood up. It was one thing to be reprimanded by a woman, but to be down on his ass while she did it was something altogether different. As soon as he stood up, she backed up until she was pressed against the wall across from him. He didn’t feel good about scaring her, but it did make him feel good that she wasn’t stupid enough to think he was harmless.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” She nodded but didn’t move. “I just wanted to apologize to you for my stupidity and to stand while doing so.”

“Stay over there.” He nodded and stood still. She was afraid of him. And for some reason that saddened Davis. “I’m going to leave you now that I know you’re all right. And if you follow me, I’ll call the police. Not that I think they’d have any better luck with you than these things did, but you never know. Maybe they’ll shoot first.”

“You want me dead?” He took a step toward her then, thinking only to show her that he was harmless. But she shied away from him by turning into the wall. “I told you I’d never hurt you. And I’m a man of my word.”

The malefactor came around the corner closest to her before she answered him. Not that he’d really asked her a question, but he wanted her not to be afraid of him. As he pulled his sword free of the dirty ally, he moved toward her.

The thing was going to touch her, and Davis knew that if it did she’d be hurt. Their touch nowadays would harm almost as badly as their bite. Several thousand people had died just from that alone, and it was making his job more and more difficult the stronger these things seemed to get. When he lifted the sword up to remove the monster’s head, the woman dropped to the ground. He had no idea if she thought he was going to hurt her or if she’d seen the malefactor. As soon as his sword touched the monster, she screamed.

The fucking thing had touched her.

After killing the malefactor, Davis bent to pick up the woman, who was still screaming. The pain, he knew, was unbearable. But when he was injured it healed quickly, and he had been stung by their venom so many times he was pretty sure he was immune to it.

As he made his way to the car, he held her tightly against him. She fought the pain, he knew, but she got him a couple of times in the mouth. Blood poured from the wound and all he wanted to do was help her. As he put her in the car, Skylar came around the building.

“I’ll take her.” He snatched her back. The woman was his. Skylar took a step back as well and stared at him. The feeling of…possessiveness was more than the murderous rage he’d felt when killing malefactors. “Davis?”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but the thought of you touching her is making me want to hurt you. Please just stay back.” Skylar nodded. “I have to help her. I know that she’s going to be sick, might even die, but I have to help her.”

“Okay.” Skylar moved in his direction again, this time much slower with her hands behind her back. When she spread out her wings, an impressive sight every time he saw

it, she smiled at him. “I can take her back to the house much quicker than you can. And Remy can take you. That way she’ll get treatment much faster.”

“I don’t know.” Remy came up beside him, and Davis growled again. Instead of saying anything, Remy moved to Skylar. “What the fuck is wrong with me? I have never wanted to hurt either of you before.”

“I don’t know.” Skylar moved again, this time taking the woman from him. Just as he reached for her again to take her back, Skylar took to the skies. He looked at Remy, who had been quiet up until now.

“You want me to take you or drive you in the car?” Davis looked at the dark spot in the sky. “Either way is fine with me, but you know that she’s already going to be cared for either way.”

“Fly, but no funny stuff. I’ve had a shitty night so far, and you doing those loop-de-loops isn’t what I want right now.” Remy put his hands around him and held him to his chest. Davis wasn’t a homophobe or anything, but the big body pressed to his back was a little disconcerting. But before he could say anything, he was in the air.

Flying with this couple was amazing. They could go up so fast that it made him slightly dizzy, but as soon as they would level out, taking to the route they were going, things settled quickly. The view was outstanding, and the wind rushing over his body was…well, it could make a man forget all his woes for a bit.

He could see the malefactors better from here, of course. They moved in and out of buildings and cars like it was their business. He supposed in a way that it was. It had been four weeks since they’d had the encounter with Benton, and things had gotten much worse than they were before. Not just the number of them, but also how they killed.

“We’re not even maintaining them, are we?” Remy said that they weren’t. “I don’t know how much more we can do by ourselves. We’re not even making a dent in them.”

“Not to mention they are doubling their efforts to get into the compound.” He could see that now. They were just over their home and there were hundreds of the malefactors pushing their way around the boundaries. One adventurous group was building a scaffold to get in, and Davis was a little afraid that it might work. “It won’t work either. As soon as they get over the land, they’ll be killed. It’s like we have a bubble around us.”

Davis was glad for that. He needed his place to unwind, and if he had to think about the monsters getting in, he had no idea what he’d do. He was getting very little sleep now. But the work they were doing, it just seemed to be getting them nowhere.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, he took off for the house. The clinic was on the lower levels, so he took the stairs three at a time. Skylar met him at the bottom of the stairs. He might have thought she was going to tell him the woman hadn’t made it, but he could hear her screams.

“What do you know about her?” Davis started to go around her, but she sidestepped him. “It’s important that you tell me, Davis. She’s in bad shape.”

“Nothing. She threw a rock at me when she thought I was dead.” That sounded horrible, so he rephrased it. “I was resting, and she could see the malefactors that I’d

killed. She was curious as to whether or not I was dead and didn’t want to come close to me with the sword so readily out.”

“She saw them then?” He nodded. “Weston thinks she’s not human. I haven’t a clue what she is, but I also say she’s not human for sure. But you know him. Weston is as tight lipped as you are about things.”

“Yes. He has to check and double check things five times.” He looked over her shoulder again. “Can I see her now? I need to see her, Skylar, and short of me tossing you across the room to get to her, I’d very much like for you to get out of my way.”

Her laughter made him smile, and she moved. As he entered the room where they were all working on her, he nearly stepped out again. They had her arm, where the malefactor had touched her, open all the way from elbow to wrist, trying to stop the poison.

They’d learned that splitting open the flesh, a horrid and painful thing in and of itself, would drain the poison off more quickly. Remy and Skylar were completely immune to the way it affected everyone else, but then they were invincible so far as he could tell.

Davis walked to the gurney and put his hand on her head. He had no idea why he thought it would calm her, but as soon as his fingers touched her, she lay back and quieted down. Davis looked down into the most gorgeous blue eyes he’d ever seen when she looked right at him.

“You’re going to be just fine.” Her gaze was glazed in pain, but she nodded at him. “Just let them work on you and when they’re sure that the poison won’t reach your heart, they’ll let you go, okay?”

“It hurts.” He nodded at her. “My mom. I have to tell her that I’m going to be late. She’ll worry so much.”

“I’ll tell her. What’s her name and address?” But she started screaming again, and he looked down at her arm. The blue blister that appeared there was nothing he’d ever seen before, and when she suddenly went quiet, he knew she was dead. Davis felt as if someone had taken his heart right out of his chest and stomped it.

~~~

Skylar sat near the bed and watched the woman. They knew nothing about her other than she’d been in a bad place at a bad time. And that for some reason, Davis would not leave her, unless Skylar or one of the other women were with her. He’d just gone up a few minutes ago to get something to eat and to shower. Skylar leaned forward and put her hand on the woman’s chest.

The memories flooded her, not all of them good either. Most of them, as a matter of fact, were horrific, and she wondered why the girl was still alive. The man in her life, whoever he was, was not going to live long if Davis found out about him. Which would be soon if Skylar had anything to say about it.

He hit her nearly daily. And an older woman was in her memories as well. She wondered if that was her mother, but had no way of knowing. The memories were so painful that they were all she could find in the hurt woman’s mind. The man had to go was all that she could think of.

Skylar wasn’t even sure how he was related to the young woman, but the bastard was a major factor in their lives. Sorting through the memories and thoughts, Skylar found a little bit about the woman.

She was a registered nurse, and she worked at County General. When Skylar focused on her name badge, she could see that her name was Vicki Carver. Making a mental note about the name and workplace, she dug just a little deeper.

The man’s name was Randall, and he was her half-brother. Not what she had expected, but very little these days made her pause. The woman, however, was only his stepmother, Margarita, but mother to Vicki. As she went deeper still, she was happy to see that the man had gotten his comeuppance more often than not recently. But not long ago he had knocked Margarita down a flight of stairs and hurt her badly.

“Skylar?” She looked at Davis as she stayed in the girl’s mind to keep searching. “Is she going to be all right here? Do I need to go and get her mom?”

Skylar nodded before speaking. “Her mom is in a wheelchair. I can’t tell yet if it’s permanent, but I doubt it. And she’s very independent. There’s a man, this woman’s half-brother, who is abusive to them both. I’m not sure where he is now. But she’s not really afraid of him.” Davis sat down as she continued. “You should know that she has no idea that she’s not human. I’m not sure what she is, but I have a feeling that whatever it is, she got it from her father, who she has only a passing knowledge of that I can find.”

“I’ll see to her mom as soon as she wakes up. It might be better if she goes with me, don’t you think?” Skylar nodded and leaned back in the chair, taking her hand from the woman. Davis looked at the woman as he continued. “You think she’s not going to like me? I want you to know that I’ve thought this over, and I think she might be something more than just a woman I have rescued.”

“She is. I think she might be your mate. But if I were you, I’d take it a little easy with her. She has some major trust issues.” He nodded. “Her name is Vicki Carver, and she’s a nurse at County. The mother’s name is Margarita. Her half-brother is Randall. I don’t know his last name, but I can assume that it’s Carver as well.”

They both looked at her when she moaned. Skylar could have told him the rest, like the fact that she was broke, worried about losing her mom’s house, and that she went for days at a time without food just so her mom could eat. But these were things he’d have to learn on his own. Skylar already liked the girl, and hoped that she’d be able to help them. If she could keep Davis calm and happy, that was enough for her.

“The burn…have you ever seen one do that before? Blister up like that into a ball?” Skylar had seen when it happened to Vicki and still shivered when she thought about it. She told Davis that she’d never seen anything like that and hoped never to again. “It was as if her body had rejected the poison and shoved it out.” Good description, Skylar thought.

The boil—what Weston called it later—had risen from the girl’s arm about three inches. It looked like a large pus-filled burn mark, but it was as brilliant blue as her blood beneath her skin. Before anyone could figure out what to do—if there was anything they could have done for her—it burst, and sprayed the vile-smelling liquid

all over the floor. Even then it was like an acid, boiling the wax off the hard surface. Skylar was stunned when Weston gathered some of it up in a glass vial and sealed it.

“No. I’m thinking you’re right about it being rejected by her body. Do you suppose that whatever she is, she’s able to fight this thing?” Davis said he had no idea. “I hope so. It would be nice to know that someone somewhere can win against this thing.”

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.” He stood up and moved to stand next to the bed. “I’m going to stay with her tonight. So if you need me, this is where I’ll be.”

Skylar stood up too and moved to the door. Unless they were in deep shit, deeper than they seemed to be now, she wouldn’t bother him. Skylar thought the two might need each other, much like she did Remy. She decided to have a talk with Hector. He might have arranged this.

“Not me.” Hector paced the room and talked. He did that a lot, she noticed. Worked out his problems by wearing a hole in the floor. “Do you suppose she’s his reward? Like you were?”

“I’d not say that to her if I were you. I think she’ll be touchier about it than me.” She watched him a few minutes more as he paused to pick up a child’s book as well as some colored pencils. It seemed that it had been art time before Reuben had gone to bed. “How’s Rueben doing?”

The change in his face was almost comical. The man literally lit up. “He’s doing fine. Stronger all the time. And now that he can go out of doors with the guard you’ve set up for him, he’s much less restless in here. I’ve been taking him to see Miss Catherine for study time. It was wonderful to find out that she was a school teacher.”

“It was. And she told me that soon he’ll be taking on classes that are above her teaching ability. But the guard was necessary, as you know. Now we don’t have to worry about him being out where we can’t keep an eye on him.” She waited for a few moments while he picked up the blocks that were stacked neatly in a castle-looking place. “She’s not human. I don’t suppose you know what she is.”

“I don’t. I have been to see her but not to touch her.” Hector looked over at her before continuing. “Does it matter to you what she is?”

“No. And I doubt that it does to Davis either, but I am curious as to why the poison reacted like it did. Do you have any idea why that happened?” He shook his head, but for some reason she didn’t believe him. Instead of asking him again, she stood up. Hector would tell her one way or another, but right now she was too tired to fight with him about it. “I’m off to bed. If you need anything or think of anything, let me know.”

“I will.”

As she made her way up the long staircase, she thought about her day. It was longer than she’d thought, but when the alarms went off in the command room, there was no time for beauty rest. She and Remy had a job to do, and she was going to make sure that she gave it her best. She paused outside their room when she heard voices.

“What do you mean, you have no fucking clue? I asked you to watch over them and this is what you give me?” She realized Remy was on the phone and opened the door. He glanced at her but didn’t say anything to her as he continued with the person on the phone. “There are seven hundred people in that building, most of whom are small

children. If I have to go down there and take care of this on my own, you are going to be one sorry motherfucker.”

He put the phone down after ending the call. She was wondering who he’d been talking to and what the hell had him so upset when he moved to the doors to the balcony in their room and threw them open. He stood out there for several minutes before he turned and looked at her.

“I take it someone has shit in your cereal.” He laughed but didn’t say anything. “I’m thinking that these seven hundred people mean something to you. Any of them by chance coming to help us?”

“Doubtful. And they, as a whole, mean nothing to me. The kids do, but there are very few of them there now. I made sure they were removed a few months ago.” She asked him from where. “There is an island off the coast of Hawaii that is in danger of some very violent weather. And as owner of said island, I thought it was important that they were safe. The guy who is helping me with this project is a little slower to react than I would have liked.”

“I see. And this island…is it a place you and I could go to—after the weather passes, of course—and have some down time?” He nodded and stood up from the railing. “Remy, I want you to come here and let me undress you.”

“Gladly.” He moved toward her like a sleek, big cat. She had no idea why she thought of him like that, but it was stuck in her head now, and she could think of nothing else. “Did you know that as of this morning, you own the island too? And all your debt has been paid off?”

“No. I told you not to do that.” Not that she cared at this point, but she thought she’d let him think she did. “I got my first pay yesterday. When you said it paid well, I had no idea how well. What am I going to do with so much money?”

The money, mostly in jewels and gems, came in the form of a drop off. There was cash as well, about twenty grand worth. She had no idea how much the other items in it were worth.

And “drop off” was just what had happened. She’d been in the kitchen with Ann, the cook, when the box was suddenly in front of her. She knew that the same thing had happened to Davis, as well as the rest of the people who worked with them. Jarvis had been so surprised by it he had asked her several times if it was a joke.

“I’m sure you’ll think of something.” Remy was nearly naked by the time he got to her. “Skylar, you are much too dressed for me to make love to you. What would I have to do to get you stripped down and in the bed?”

“Make me come.”

His grin should have warned her of something, but all it did was make her entire body get warm. She watched as Remy raised his hand up and put his thumb and finger together as if he were going to snap them. And when he did, Skylar screamed.

The climax didn’t just take her but bowled her over, turned her inside out, and then shattered her. As she reached for the bedpost because standing up was no longer an option, he did it again, bringing her to her knees. Before she could beg him—because she was going to beg for all she was worth for him to stop—he did it twice more. Skylar

was swallowed up in the darkness before he could do it a fourth time. Christ, the things he could do to her was her last thought for a while.

Happy Reading !!!!!

Kathi S Barton

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Royce The Hunter Series Chapter Five is ready to read

Chapter 5

Royce pulled back from her mouth regretfully. He couldn’t help but take another taste before he stood back. Then he nearly took another taste when she moaned again. Christ, the woman tasted like sex and heat all rolled into one. He watched her expression change from dreamy to pissed in a few seconds. Damn, she was amazing, and he found himself wanting to see her going from pissed to dreamy this time. He watched her face and knew the exact moment when she was herself again.

“What do you think you’re doing? You can’t just kiss me like that. I told you before to get out of here and don’t come back.”

He grinned at her. “You behave or I won’t kiss you again. Now, we have some things to discuss. It’s about your position in my company.” Her sputtering nearly had him laugh, but he wasn’t that stupid.

“Kiss me ag—are you insane? You most certainly will not be kissing me again. And for the hundredth time, I don’t work for you. I was fired before that idiot hit me and even if I hadn’t signed off on it, I still wouldn’t work for you.” She pulled the covers up over her shoulder and glared at him. “You’re nuts.”

“Most likely. But that doesn’t mean that you didn’t enjoy it. You kissed me back, Miss York. And did a damned fine job of it too. I liked the way your tongue swept over mine. The way your warm breath tickled my cheek when you moaned. Damned if I don’t want to taste you again.” As he leaned in to take another nibble, she pushed her hand against his chest.

“Don’t you dare.”

Royce felt his cock harden. Her voice, low and hot, made the skin on his body seem to come alive and his blood to run like hot lava through his veins. He couldn’t have stopped now if his life depended on it. “Kiss me, Kasey,” he whispered to her. “Kiss me again and let me feel your need. Please, baby.” He ran his tongue along her lower lip before he ran it along the seam of her lips. “Let me in, love. You know you want to.”

When she opened under his teasing, he touched his lips to hers. Soft and firm, warm and cool. He was amazed at how many different sensations a person could feel from a kiss. But he should have known she was giving in too easily. He barely escaped from her mouth before she bit down at his tongue. As it was, he got a nip on his lip.

“Damn it, woman, that hurt. You could have just said no.” He stepped back when she reached for his groin. Somehow, he knew if she got him there, he’d be lucky if he’d be able to piss much less father children.

“I told you no. I’ve been telling you no for a week. What do you need, visual aids? Just leave me alone.”

He heard the small sob in her voice and nearly stepped to her again, but her look stopped him. She pulled the blanket over her head this time and he had no choice but to leave. He needed to think anyway. Things were going much too fast, even for him. “I’ll be back later. I have something for you and neither of us is in the mood to discuss it right now. I’ll be…I’ll bring my brother back. That way if you try to have your way with me again, I’ll have someone there to save me.”

He had no idea why he’d made that parting shot, but he got a laugh out of her growling at him. Had something bigger than a pillow been close, he was sure she’d have thrown that at him instead.

Royce left her room and walked to the elevator. She affected him like no other woman had and he wasn’t sure he liked it. He really didn’t dislike it because she did bring out feelings in him he’d never had before. He really wasn’t sure he liked himself, either, for trying to make her do things she didn’t want. He had the limo take him to work and then he had a meeting he had to go to later. One that he hoped would take his mind off the beauty in the hospital. He was sitting at the long conference table when his mother, his brother Curtis, and Charles came into the room.

Curtis was the company lawyer and Daniel was their personal one. Having two lawyers in the family gave them everything they needed and then some. Jesse had become the law enforcement part of the company, including any Internet security problems they might encounter. Also the laws governing trade that way. And Royce supposed people would say he was the money maker, though all of them were wealthy. Royce had learned at his mother’s feet how to buy and sell not only on the market, but also in businesses. Royce, the oldest, had taken over the company when their mom semi-retired five years ago. And he’d been making money since.

Curtis gave them all a copy of the paperwork on the newest acquisition that Hunter Corporation was taking on and settled back to explain any and everything that the paperwork entailed. He was a very detailed person and Royce knew without reading the sheets in front of him that everything would be covered and they’d have every loophole buried so deep that it would take another fantastic lawyer like him to find it.

“We purchased the Benton Works for one point three million dollars and your back taxes will be paid with a portion of the proceeds,” Curtis said to Charles. “As soon as we are made aware that the taxes have been paid, we’ll take possession immediately and shut it down. After thirty days the building will reopen and any and all employees of the aforementioned building will be rehired at that time. You, Benton, will pay their unemployment wages until that time.”

“Tell me again why I’m paying their wages? I could care less how they make their money. I won’t own the fucking building any more. Why should I care where they work?” Charles really was a self righteous bastard most of the time.

“Because,” Curtis said with a bite to his voice, “it’s part of the deal. And frankly, Benton, I could care less if you make a thin dime off this sale, but you will do it as we’ve lain out or the IRS steps in and takes everything else you have.”

“You should have been a lot nicer to the people you used on your way up the ladder, Charles, and maybe a few of them would have helped you out on your way down.” Annamarie smiled as she spoke to him. When Charles stood up both he and Curtis stepped in front of him. “See, my sons love and respect me. You have nothing. And at the rate you’re going, you never will.”

“So this is revenge? This whole thing has been about Jessica? My God, woman, she was knocked up. What the hell was I supposed to do, support her and her bastard kids?”

“Yes. It’s called being a parent. Sign the papers, Charles, before I go after a few more of your businesses.”

Charles snatched up the paper and signed where each tab had been marked. Then he did the same for the other two copies. One would be filed in the courthouse, another would go to the files in the Hunter Corporation, and the final copy would be held until Charles paid his taxes. Once he’s signed off Curtis nodded to his mother.

Royce braced himself for the explosion. This was the part where their mother announced what the Benton building was going to be used for. It was the only reason they’d purchased the building, to rub his nose in what he’d done.

“The Jessica Home for Unwed Mothers thanks you, Charles. I’m going to make sure that each woman that comes through our doors knows the reason why we’re here and why it’s named after your daughter.” Anger boiled off the man the moment their mother finished speaking.

“You fucking bitch. This has been because I wouldn’t let my daughter have a bastard child?” When Charles stood this time, so did Annamarie. “I’ll get you for this. See that I don’t.”

“I’m not sure how much getting you’ll think you can do from prison, Charles. Last I heard, the IRS is going to seize all your properties.” His mother smiled at Benton before she sat back down. “Why, I was able to purchase your home on Wilson for a song. Seems when you make a reasonable offer, the government doesn’t mind a few taxes being not paid.”

Before he could make another step toward her the door opened and three men from the security team walked in to escort him out. When the door closed behind them Royce looked over at his mom. “You really bought his house? I hear that’s a really beautiful home. Congratulations. “

“Yes, it is pretty. It’s your wedding present if you ever get married. You’re the only one still living in an apartment and I thought you could use it. Curtis helped me get it when things started to turn sour for Charles. Poor man, but he made his bed, now he must lie in it.” She sat back in her chair and looked him straight in the eye. “Got any prospects in mind?”

Royce frowned when the first name that popped in his head was Kasey. He’d not known the girl all that long and had only kissed her once…well, twice if you counted when she’d tried to take his tongue off with her teeth. But to his mom he simply answered no. “I don’t think I ever want to tie myself down. It’s hard enough to be single. I can’t imagine what it would be like married with a woman dragging you down all the time.” Royce stood before she could comment. “I have to get some work done if we’re going to have dinner this weekend. Thanks for the house, Mom. I love you for it.”

He was sitting in his office an hour later with the same report in front of him. He didn’t know what he’d been thinking of, but he knew it wasn’t work. Royce looked up when Jesse walked in after a hard knock.

“You know that girl…Officer York, that was hurt the other week?” he asked as a greeting. Royce nodded, almost afraid to know what she’d done now. “Did you know she has a degree in Business Management?”

Royce didn’t, but only shook his head. “Every person who gets out of college now days has some kind of Business degree. What of it?”

“Not a Bachelors, but a Masters degree. And she has another in Law Enforcement. Her minor both times has been another language. One is Spanish and the other is Chinese. She’s a smart cookie.”

Royce was shocked. He didn’t think Kasey was stupid, but to have two Masters Degrees as young as she was couldn’t have been easy. Royce wondered aloud why she worked for them as a security guard and wasn’t running some corporation.

“Don’t know. Her file didn’t say. But I will tell you this, as soon as she gets up and about, I’m going to ask her out.” Jesse stood to leave. “She’s a cutie and Mom likes her.”

Royce didn’t move. He wanted to go after his brother and tell him…tell him what? Leave her alone? Enjoy dating her? Royce didn’t like either thought. He didn’t want to date her and he didn’t want his brother to either. He grabbed up his coat to go and have a few words with Miss York. He didn’t know what, but he was going to talk to her about something. He was halfway to the hospital when his phone rang.

“She’s gone. She checked herself out of the hospital about ten minutes ago,” Abby said. “I went to lunch and when I returned, she’d already done it. Did you know that you can get AMA forms off the Internet? She had them signed and gave them to the head nurse when her uncle showed up to get her.”

“Son of a bitch.”

~~~

Jay watched his niece very carefully. She was upset, that was for sure. But about what, he didn’t know. She was talking to Suzy like she always did, but he could hear the strain in her voice.

They were coloring at the makeshift table when Suzy began to cry. “No, no, no. Suzy want red. Want red. Want red.”

“All right, but you know that you can’t have it until you calm down. I won’t play with you if you can’t behave.” Kasey held the red crayon in her hand just so that Suzy could see it. “You want it, you can’t act like a spoiled baby.”

“Want. Suzy want.” When Suzy stood up and stomped her foot, Jay started to move toward her. She wouldn’t hurt Kasey under normal circumstances, but since she was hurt, it would be bad. But Kasey held her ground.

“I have it and if you want it, you know what you have to do.” Suzy stood there glaring down at her niece.

Jay had been caring for his sister since their parents died nearly ten years ago. Suzy had Down’s syndrome. And at fifty-one years old and nearly two hundred and fifty pounds, she was like a very big eight-year-old with the strength of a grown woman. But she loved Kasey, loved her since the day Leah had brought her home from the hospital. And Kasey had been caring for her aunt since she figured out how to.

“I like red. It’s pretty like the flowers.” Jay had to smile at his sister’s reasoning. “You need to let Suzy color with it. Please.”

There was a knock at the door before Kasey answered. But before he left the room, he saw Kasey hand the coveted crayon over to her. The laughter followed him into the front hall. Peace once again reigned. Well, for now, he thought when he saw who was on his front porch.

“Mr. Hunter. How are you tonight? I didn’t…” Jay looked back behind him, sudden dawning hitting him. “She didn’t tell you. She told me that you knew she was coming here.”

“No, I didn’t. I told her to stay there until the doctor released her. She needs proper medical care and I’ve come to take her back so that she can get it.”

Jay nodded. Not that he was agreeing with the man, but he knew why she’d left and he almost understood it. “You telling her to do something is the same thing as telling her to do the opposite, you know. Kasey always has been stubborn like that. The sure way to get her to do something is to tell her she can’t. Works nearly all the time.”

Laughter from the living room had him turning. He was worried about leaving them alone so he thought to get rid of the man before Kasey figured out he was here.

“Look, Mr. Hunter, she’s here now and doing fine. I can’t—” A crash had him nervous. “I have to go. You see yourself out.”

The scene in the living room wasn’t a bad as he’d imagined. The small table that had been set up for the coloring books had been knocked over and Suzy had moved to the television. Kasey was lying back on the couch with her arm over her eyes, but she didn’t appear to be hurt. Jay moved toward the mess, intending to clear it up. Royce took that moment to start into Kasey.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? I told you to stay at the hospital. Don’t you listen to a damned thing anyone tells you?”

“You didn’t tell me anything, you arrogant ass, you ordered. I don’t take orders from you or anyone else. And what the hell are you doing here anyway? I thought you’d be thrilled not to have to bother with me anymore.”

“No. No, no, no, no.” Suzy put her hands over her ears and started rocking. “No, no, no, no, no.”

“Now look what you did. You’ve upset my aunt. Get out.” Kasey tried to move, but cried out in pain when she did. Jay dropped the books he had and started to go and help her, but Royce was there before he was. Jay watched as the man paled and seemed terrified. Interesting, he thought.

“What is it? Tell me what…are you hurting? Damn it, Kasey, you have several broken ribs. They could be back in your lungs if you don’t lay still.”

“Go away,” Kasey whispered. “Please, you’re upsetting her.”

Jay moved to his sister. “Come on, Suzy, let’s you and I go and make some dinner. Royce, will you stay?”

“No. I want to stay, too. Sit. I’ll be good.” Suzy pointed to the chair next to him and Royce looked at it.

“I’d like to sit next to Kasey for a few minutes, please. She’s hurt and I want to make sure she’s all right.” Royce didn’t raise his voice like some people did when dealing with Suzy. As if raising your voice would make her understand better.

“Royce, I’m going in the kitchen. Kasey needs her pain pills. If Suzy gets out of hand, yell. I’ll come back and get her.” Jay walked to the kitchen and picked up the house phone. He called Leah. “You’re not going to guess who’s here. Royce Hunter. He’s watching over our Kasey.”

“Has he hit her yet?” Leah asked with mirth. “Those two are like two sticks of dynamite ready to explode. He kissed her today, did I tell you?”

She had, but he let her tell him again. Jay leaned his head against the cabinet above the phone and listened to her. He loved his sister very much and knew he was going to miss her more than he could imagine.

“You should come over and eat with us. I have plenty. I made spaghetti and meatballs. There’s a salad too.”

“No, I’m sort of tired tonight. I think I’ll go to bed soon. But you call me tomorrow and tell me how it went. And Jay…”

“Yes, love.”

“Don’t you dare say a word to him if he wants to spend the night. She’s in no shape to have sex and maybe she’ll sleep better if he’s there.”

Jay laughed. “Honey, you know as well as I do if they want to have sex, all the casts in the world aren’t going to stop them. But I won’t. And I’ll call you tomorrow.” He let the tears fall. Leah was his baby sister and he’d do anything in the world for her, but there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about this. He turned to finish up dinner as he thought about the couple in the other room.

He’d worked for the Hunter Corporation since before his own Jean had died some twenty years ago. Their marriage hadn’t been a great one, not even a good one, but it had been fair. Jean had never cared for Suzy and she knew it. When Suzy had had some difficult days, Jean would lock her in the closet and leave her there. It wasn’t until he’d come home from work early to see it for himself that he’d forbidden her to do it again. After that, Jay had asked for help from the local church and Suzy would spend the day with some of the ladies there. She’d grown to love them.

Then Leah had gotten sick after his Jean had died in an automobile accident in icy weather all those years before. Kasey had come home and held them all together. To this day he had no idea what she’d given up to come home to help and she wouldn’t tell him either. From Leah, all he’d gotten was that she was happier here.

When dinner was ready he went back into the other room. He stood in the doorway and watched Royce with Suzy. When he noticed Jay standing there he nodded over to Kasey.

“She’s hurting. Do you think she can have something now?” Jay knew it was bad when she didn’t argue. He handed the water and pain pills to Royce and took Suzy to the kitchen. He came in just as they were finishing up. “I’d like to stay tonight. She’s asleep now, but when she wakes I want to see if I can convince her to come back to the hospital with me.” Royce sat down. “Or bring her back to my house. I can hire someone to keep an eye on her. She won’t be happy, but I’ll know she’s fine.”

“You love Kasey. She’s my favorite. I love her more than chocolate. You love her too.”

Royce stared at Suzy, but made no comment. Jay didn’t either. The man simply looked pole axed, but about what Jay couldn’t say. He showed Royce where to take Kasey and let him settle her in her big bed. He just hoped they all weren’t making a mistake.