Jekyll, an Urban Fantasy (41 page)

Landon’s voice broke her out of the thought. “We need to get out of here before they come back. Let’s take what we have and go get help for...” He looked down at Hyde.

“I’m not leaving him.”

“Come on, Eden. He’s gotta weigh at least 350 pounds. Solid muscle. Dead weight. We aren’t going to be able to just carry him out.”

She grabbed a vial of Morphine and a bag of syringes, ripping it open and filling it. “Do you know how to hotwire a car?”

“What?”

“Hotwire a car. Do you know
how
?” If he said no,
she’d
have to go. Without questioning
how
, she knew she could do it. But she didn’t want to leave yet. There was still more to do.

“In principal, yes,” he said. “But I’ve never tried it.”

“Well, now’s the time to start. It’s a lot more difficult with something high-tech, so look for a van or a delivery truck. Something old-school.”

While she spoke, he’d stopped moving and started staring.

“Hurry up,” she told him. “Once you get a vehicle, we’ll put him in the back.” It was going to be
hell
to drag him into it, but she knew it was possible. If for no other reason than it was the
only
option.

“How do you know all that?” he asked.

She didn’t know and, right now, she didn’t have the time to figure it out. “I’m sure there are a lot of things I don’t know about
you
either, Landon.”

“His house won’t be safe—they know where he lives.”

“We don’t have a choice. The brothel’s cage isn’t strong enough.”
Not anymore.
They could find another cage, a safer place to take him to, but that would take time. Hopefully less time than it would take for The Clinic to deal with this. The cover-up. Cleaning out the entire facility. “Once they finish covering their tracks, one of two things will happen. They’ll either run for it or they’ll come after us. But by then, we’ll be ready.”

He eyed her skeptically. “How the hell are we even going to get him upstairs? Have you thought about that?”

She looked at him, knowing her face showed no emotion. Knowing it
also
showed no weakness. “Are you giving up on him, Landon?”

He glanced to where Hyde lay on the ground, and then wiped a hand across his mouth harshly. “No. I…I don’t know.”

“Are you giving up on
me
?”

“No.” He sighed. “I promised him.”

“Then help me do what I have to.”

His nod was slow, unsure. But it was there. “We’ll need a pulley system, a hell of a long rope, and a shitload of luck.”

“The first two we can buy. And the last one isn’t necessary.”

“Really?” he asked doubtfully.

“Really.” She nodded. “What we
need
is a miracle.”

The End

Thank you for reading
Jekyll, an Urban Fantasy.
Yes, there
is
a book three. And yes, it’s already in the works. And no, I’m not giving out spoilers.
J
Please visit my website to join my mailing list, friend me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter for updates.

If you enjoyed
Jekyll
(or any of my other work), I would
greatly
appreciate if you left a review wherever you purchased your copy, as well as on Goodreads. Every review helps put the book in front of more potential readers.

Thank you

When I released
Hyde
, the first book of this series, I crossed my fingers and did a
lot
of positive self-talking. But I never expected it would lead to meeting such fantastic people—both readers
and
writers. It’s been amazing, and I’m incredibly grateful for those who’ve reached out to me. Particularly the obscenely hysterical and magnificent ladies on Goodreads. You have made my writing journey beyond anything that I could make up.
J
Thank you so much! Oh, and Dawn—I owe you a few drinks.

And, of course, I have to mention my critique partners, Caroline Hanson and Christina McKnight, without whom I would be sobbing in a fetal position right now. Seriously, they’re more like therapists than critique partners most of the time.

Other Work

Writing the Summer Rains series is my way of finding balance with the dark, tumultuous stuff like the Hyde series. Summer is the kind of girl you want as a BFF. Her stories are light and fun mysteries with a wee bit of romance. If you like novels along the lines of Janet Evanovich, Stephanie Bond, or Meg Cabot, then my Summer Rains series might be just your cup of organic herbal tea.

No Experience Required
, A Summer Rains Novel

After leaving the hippie commune she grew up on, Summer Rains set a modest goal for herself: earn enough money to live a normal life in the real world.

Maybe she was aiming too high. When she wished she could get rid of the platinum-selling pop star who was stalking her, she didn't mean 'get rid of' in the permanent sense. But
someone
did. And being a suspect isn't the kind of attention she wants from the gorgeous-but-entirely-too-condescending detective investigating the case. As if
that
wasn't bad enough, her only help comes from the man she's been in love with since her hormones kicked in...and his beautiful girlfriend.

Sounds like a good time to reassess her goals. 'Living a normal life' moves down the list, and 'figuring out who the real murderer is before she gets thrown in jail' moves all the way to the top.

But crime-fighting wasn't part of the home-schooling curriculum back on the commune. So solving the case is an on-the-job kind of thing. Along the way, she learns other skills--how to fold hospital corners, how to keep herself from becoming the next victim, and how to deal with all the insanity of the 'real world'.
http://amzn.com/B00AR3GK0Y

Second Bite
, a Vampire Novella

A second chance. A second lifetime…

Party planner, Olivia, wishes she was only getting a root canal.
Instead
, she's surrounded by vampires at the 1500th Re-Birthday party of their leader. With access to synthetic and donor blood, vampires are out and proud, living amongst the humans they used to secretly feed upon. And no one besides Olivia seems to have a problem with it.

As if her trust issues aren’t enough to cope with tonight, she also has to deal with her co-worker Daniel. Gorgeous, kind and honest, he’s the perfect guy…except for the fact that he’s dead, and 'breakfast in bed', could be a lot more dangerous than it sounds.

Daniel hates who and
what
he is. There is no redemption possible, no way for him to be the man Olivia deserves. But, damn it, that’s
exactly
who he wants to be.

Just when she finally accepts him for who she thinks he is, everything she fears becomes real...and deadly. How can Daniel overcome two lifetimes of guilt and be the man she needs?

http://amzn.com/B007ZIREEA

After earning degrees in Fine Arts and English, Lauren Stewart wanted to see the world. A lack of funds meant that she didn't get far. She spent two years traveling around Mexico, the Caribbean, and Canada--first as a choreographer and then as an English teacher--meeting folks from all the places she couldn't afford to go to. But that time was highly useful--she learned about herself, other people, and how insane life actually is.

Lauren reads in almost every genre. So naturally, her writing reflects that. With every book, every story, you'll find elements of other genres--fantasy, mystery, romance, paranormal, suspense, YA, women's literature, all with a touch of humor because what doesn't kill us, should make us laugh.

Website:
ReadLaurenS.com

Twitter: @ReadLaurenS

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facebook.com/readlaurens

Goodreads:
goodreads.com/laurenstewart

Email:
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