Deadly & Ruthless, 1
Aera Cross is a man forged by hardship. His childhood, marred by pain and abuse, has left him with scars that run deeper than the skin. Survival has been his only mantra, that he’s learned to navigate with a hardened heart. But when a desperate father approaches him with a plea to rescue his ‘daughter’ from the clutches of a sadistic doctor, Cross finds himself at a crossroads.
The photo of Lorelei, a girl with an ethereal beauty, ignites something within him—a flicker of hope amidst the darkness. Lorelei possesses a gift that is both a blessing and a curse. But this extraordinary ability has made her a target, sold to the highest bidder and forced to perform for those who seek to exploit her. Each transaction chips away at her soul, leaving her a mere shadow of the girl she once was.
On the night of her daring escape, Lorelei stumbles into Cross’s world. Though she is wary of this rugged stranger, she has no choice but to trust him. Together, they embark on a perilous journey, where danger lurks at every corner and the lines between savior and sinner blur.
Be Warned: anal sex
Excerpt:
“Here’s a picture of my daughter. They’re going to hurt her. Please take the money and rescue her. I promise I’ll get more.”
The picture the man placed on top of the envelope grabbed Cross’s attention, and he felt compelled to pick it up. The young woman was gorgeous. Messy honey-colored hair piled on top of her head with whisps framing her heart-shaped face. Guileless grey eyes seemed to stare into his soul. Lush full lips. Unblemished skin. An ethereal woman like her only existed in fairy tales.
“She looks nothing like you,” Cross muttered.
“She looks like her mother. Does that mean you’ll accept the ten thousand?”
It was clearly obvious that Mouse Man had mistaken him for someone else. Cross placed the picture back onto the envelope. The money was a moot point. He could take the money and lie. Leave town like he planned, ten grand richer. Yet, his gaze kept landing on the woman’s delicate face.
“She looks young.”
“She’s twenty.”
Figures, he thought sourly. Too young for his fucking ass. Yet…
“Who has her?”
He hadn’t meant to ask the question, but it rolled out of him without conscious thought. Mouse Man visibly relaxed, thinking Cross accepted the mission.
“Noble Vale Sanatorium.”
Cross frowned. “She’s crazy?”
“No.” Mouse Man looked around then leaned in close. “She’s special.”
“Special as in crazy?”
“Special as in … g-gifted.”
Everything inside Cross froze. Vivi Wence flashed through his head, and how blissful it was having all the rage in his head cease even for a moment. He had tried to take her back, but messed it all up. After that, his life imploded. First, he’d lost his Heart of Darkness MC President patch. Second, he had almost fallen in the gauntlet he’d been forced to walk when the club kicked him to the curb. Had almost lost his life, and the demons in his head taunted that he’d be better off dead. The thought of suicide haunted him.
So, once he had recuperated, he ran. Trying hard to outrun his thoughts, he hopped on his bike and headed to parts unknown. Moving on when he felt it was time. And here he was, in another dive bar, drinking his way to an early grave. Maybe this woman was the salvation he desperately hoped for. Cross didn’t believe for one damn minute she was this man’s daughter, but now he was curious.
“Gifted?”
“A doctor by the name of Costello Birsha has her. He runs the sanatorium and he’s going to pick her apart trying to unlock her gift, but she’s too fragile to handle that. It’s going to destroy her. Please … please help her.”
“What type of gift?” Mouse Man shook his head, but Cross grabbed his shirt and yanked him close. “What. Type. Of. Gift?”
Mouse Man shrank back as far as he could go. “Lorelei can h-heal people.”
He had a name. Lorelei.
Wasn’t Lorelei a siren who lured men to their deaths? Damn, if he wasn’t going to follow those poor assholes.
- Series:
- /series-deadly-ruthless
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