Soul Enslaved (Sons of Wrath Book 3) (69 page)
Read Soul Enslaved (Sons of Wrath Book 3) Online
Authors: Keri Lake
“Zayne, where are you?”
The phone cut to silence, and Gavin growled in frustration.
Unbeknownst to Sabelle, Gavin and Xander had scoured the church and the school where Lachlan had recruited succubi. Marrick’s pack had pretty much cleared it out. Their search for Denya would continue every night until Gavin could bring her home to Sabelle. The phone call from Zayne was the first in almost a month since the attack at the Globe building.
“Bastard sound strung out?”
“Yeah.” Gavin’s disappointment bled through in his voice. “Says he’s got a tip.”
Xander shrugged. “Probably better you sent
him
. Staring into those violet eyes … ain’t no sayin’ what I’d do. Probably keep one chained as a pet.” He snickered. “Sucks to be Fallen.”
Gavin froze.
Images passed in rapid succession through his mind.
Fallen angel. Pet. Chains. Violet eyes
.
He frowned. “What did you say?”
Out of his periphery, Gavin sensed Xander’s gaze, but couldn’t peel his mind from the harrowing thought pounding inside of his skull. “The succubi. Their eyes turn violet when they reach renoshza.”
The vision he’d had just before his meeting at the Globe building. At the time, he’d thought it an ominous warning to keep him on guard, but events of the last month had pushed it right out of his mind.
The glass of absinthe fell from Gavin’s grasp, shattering against the bar top.
The vision hadn’t been him at all.
It was Zayne.
COMING 2015!
RICOCHET
A dark contemporary romance from Keri Lake
http://www.kerilake.com/book/ricochet/
ADD TO
GOODREADS
:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22046049-ricochet
RICOCHET BLURB
The only sure way to destroy a man is to take what he cannot live without.
Three years ago, I had everything.
A beautiful wife.A son.A reason for living.
Until a ruthless task force, assembled under Mayor Michael Culling, with a brutal strategy to make the streets of Detroit ‘
safe
’, ripped away everything I loved in a deadly hunt called
The Culling
.
They tried to kill me, too. I wish they had. Now I’m cursed by the memories of that night, and the words I whispered to my dying wife.
A promise—to avenge the wrong and set it right.
I’m no longer Nick Ryder. I’m a masked vigilante. Faceless. Loveless. Fearless. A man with nothing left to lose—one who’s seen the dark and violent truth behind the city’s flawless veneer.
Michael Culling doesn’t know who I am. Or what I want. All he knows is that I’ve kidnapped
his
beautiful wife.
An eye for an eye—isn’t that how the saying goes? And Aubree Culling is the perfect pawn to destroy him.
If she doesn’t destroy me first.
PROLOGUE
You never forget the sound of gunfire. How the ringing drowns the screaming inside your head. No matter how loud, it’s always louder, until the bullet hits its mark in an explosion of pain. Unrelenting fucking pain that sears through the flesh and leaves a gaping hole in its wake. Blackness settles in and for one fleeting moment of bliss, all is silent.
You become numb, traipsing the fine thread between life and death.
I wish the bullet had killed me
At least if it had, I’d be certain of three things:
I could forget the dullness of her eyes as the blood drained out of her body.
I’d no longer hear the promise that I whispered in her ear.
And the barrel of my gun wouldn’t be crammed down the throat of a man who’d begged for his life just moments before I cut out his tongue.
But that’s what happens when you shoot at something impenetrable.
It ricochets.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Time is the greatest sacrifice when writing a book (and sanity, but mostly, time), and I feel blessed to have so many amazing people in my life who share theirs with me.
To my husband, thank you for sharing me with a brood of hot demons who like to wake me up in the middle of the night; and to my daughters, for letting mommy play with her imaginary friends. I absolutely couldn’t do this without your support and encouragement. Thank you for lifting me up on the days that I knock myself down. I love you,
infinity
.
I feel blessed to have been raised by parents who fostered a very early belief that
nothing
is impossible. In turn, I intend to pass those same beliefs down to my kiddos. Thank you for giving me the tools to build a ladder to the stars.
Everyone needs that one best friend who doesn’t judge what you do in life and never leaves your side, even when you haven’t talked for months. I’m lucky to have such a beautiful person in my life. Thank you, Dee.
This story, these characters, this world, wouldn’t have come to life without the enormous support and cheerleading from my wonderful friend and editor, Julie Belfield. I don’t know what I’d do without you, lady! Thanks for giving me a kick in the ass when I need it.
A writer must have her muse and no one could match the handsome face of Gavin better than the insanely gorgeous Daniel Sobieray. Thank you for being such a wonderful sport in the contest and for serving as the drool-worthy character inspiration for this story.
Enormous thanks to the brilliant (and patient) cover designer and photographer for this series, David Wagner.
The background image on this cover is Woodward Avenue in Detroit, captured by incredibly talented, Curtis McGuire.
Many thanks to Colin F. Barnes for helping me turn this nightmare of a manuscript into a shiny, well-formatted book.
To the ladies on my street team—Julie, FranJessca, Melanie, Sammy, Lola, Kimberly, Holly, Heather, Cat, Anne, Terri, Naomi and Angela—thank you for always having my back and connecting me with readers and bloggers.
To my fearless beta readers—Krista, Kathi, Terri, Naomi, Catherine, and Anne—thank you for making this story better, and braving my atroshous gramer and speling.
Special thanks to Nadine Colling, Isalys B., Meli Mel, Braine, and all the wonderful bloggers who support lesser-known indies, and take a chance on their books.
To Sammy C., Angela C., Naomi L. and Anne C., I don’t know what I’d do without you. It’s during the moments, when I’m spinning in self-doubt, that one of you ladies will send me an email or mention my name somewhere and rock the shit out of my day. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.
I wouldn’t have made it this far into the series without the loyalty and encouragement of my amazing readers. You mean more to me than you will ever know. Thank you for making this possible.
And finally, to my handsome and charming Son, Gavin—I love the mornings spent with you, a cup of coffee and a pen.
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Back in March of this year, I ran a Cover Model Contest and let my readers choose the model for Soul Enslaved. Daniel Sobieray came in with the highest number of votes. I wanted to share the excitement of creating a book with the very people who’ve made me love writing these stories.
These are just some of the amazing readers who voted and made this idea a success. I owe them my sincere thanks for their contribution toward the production of Soul Enslaved. As they hold a copy of the book they helped to create, I hope that they feel a sense of pride and connectedness to the story:
Holly Collins, Sammy C., Tiffany K. Halliday, Angela Fitzgerald, Kathleen Cafeworld, Kimberly M.B. Gardner, Toby Ragatz, Janet Juengling-Snell, Lit Junkies Book Blog, Stephanie Swanson, Heather Langley, Sheneen Hartley, Anne C., Mama, Marcela Gergin, Trina James, Adrienne Samson, Shannon Fawker, Bobbi Vaughan, Naomi Lahn, Ann M Murphy, Katherine Skye, Marlena, Carol Luciano, Sierra McBride, Shirene from LoveRomanceTales, Federica, Sara Howe, Brenda Howe, Mary Mooney, Michele Avery, Tanja Haack, Shontelle Drozdiak, Jean, Sebella Blue, Lori Meehan, Claire Gillian, Phyllis Marshall, Cindy O., Michelle Escamilla, Sandy Giden, Terri Rochenski, Debb Kiehler, Laura Thomas, Amanda L Davis, Betul Erikci, Jan van Es, Rachel Bennett, April Mollenkopf, Nicole Garcia, Fernanda Marzo, Becky Leonard, Lauren Venable, Janie McGaugh, Hang Le, K Giardina, Pat F., Lola, Sara Doyle, Isalys from Book Soulmates, Shannon Wooster, Wendy N., Peggy Serour, Michelle Willms, Cara Correll, Amy Stewart, Crystal Guidroz, Jenn Mayer, Karin Anderson, Michelle Bledsoe, Lori H., Lori from Romancing the Dark Side, Kim Mathon, Cahm Merritt, Janna Shay, Rachel Akers, Priscilla Pomeroy, Mick Murphy, Julie Whiteley, Trannae Gilliam, Jen Martin, Megan Duncan, Sherry Fundin, Hollow May, Pauline Jones, Marnee Grossbauer, Lesley Nleskeyelson, Valentina, Kristina Yeager, Cathrine Trieu, Sherri Williamson, CherylSDS, Artemis, Ann Roberts, kkcarisma, Judy-Ree, Ruth Limeburner, Bube, Elizabeth Powers, Renee Moore, Stephanie Patalon, Denise Smith, Shelley S., Judy Peterson, Lynn A. Reynolds, texxie, Amanda, Heidi, Tabitha Parrish, Faye Moore-Burke, Natasha, Dee from DarkHorseRomance, Ruth Ann Ayres, Anna W., Leighanne, Iris Pross, April Epley, Mirely from Rumor Has It, Kai Wong, JoRead, Mary Preston, Kalliopi Damala, Stephanie R., Linda Townsend, Chris Gardenier, Christina, Sierra McBride, Tanya from Rantings of a Reading Addict, Braine from Talk Supe, Michelle C., Calisa Rhose, Joanne Scott, Sheralee, Jacki C., CrazyDaisyZ, Julia Wooten, Theresa Potter, Blaire M., Tiffany Webb, Alexis from Reality Bites Blog, Brandee Price, Melissa Sutton, Leslie Rodriguez, Cary, Sue McGhee, Renee S., Alexa Woodin, FranJessca Papillion, Dora Balfour-Lyda, Samantha Newbury. Pamela Wyse, Sharon Stogner, Isabelle Frisch, Cynthia Clubbs, Natalie Cleary, Karin Anderson, Cindy Overton, Aleksandra, Jennifer Fohner, Joanne Scott, Naznin Azeez, Marty Ridley, K Giardina, Annie, Michelle Dodd, Vanessa Huschke, Lesley Nelson, Arnell, Lee Todd, LL, Maeg W., Karen Roma, Jacki Chase.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Keri Lake is a married mother of two living in Michigan. By day, she tries to make use of the degrees she’s earned in science. By night, she writes dark, edgy contemporary, paranormal and erotic romance. Though novels tend to be her focus, she also writes short stories and flash fiction on the many occasions when distraction sucks her in to the Land of Shiny Things.
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Table of Contents
SOUL ENSLAVEDA Sons of Wrath Novel
Praise for Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)