The Middle Eye and Devil Eye By Rebecca Jean Downey

 

  Synopsis: 

When eleven-year-old Rosa Garcia disappears from an El Paso, Texas playground, Penny Larkin, a newly-certified remote viewer, is hired by Sheriff Leo Tellez to find her. The FBI believes she's a runaway, but this is the second time Rosa has been kidnapped, and Leo fears she's been taken by a sexual predator. Penny's lingering memory of fighting off a rape attempt by her foster father clouds her thoughts and prevents her from locating the kidnapper quickly. The sheriff, who rescued Rosa from a homeless man five years earlier, is up for reelection and seeks to curry public favor by finding her again. His deputies claim Penny is a charlatan and a waste of the department's money. When Penny can't locate Rosa promptly, Leo boils with frustration and fires her. Penny refuses to give up, and soon discovers the bloodcurdling kidnapper's hideout. With time running out, Penny sets out alone to rescue Rosa. Will Penny find young Rosa and exorcise her own demons in the process, or will she fall into the clutches of a Russian child-trafficking ring?

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  Synopsis: 

When the U.S. Marshal wants to stop a sale of firearms to Mexico, he asks Penny Larkin to use her remote viewing skills to track down New Mexico gunrunner, Juan Rico. Penny is sworn to secrecy because the marshal believes a law enforcement officer is involved. She can't even tell her boyfriend, El Paso County Sheriff Leo Tellez. Penny heads off to Columbus, New Mexico alone, and winds up stranded on the Interstate during a dust storm. She is forced to use her own gun to hold off a gang of men trying to hi-jack her car. A man winds up dead and New Mexico State Trooper Johnny Trejo, arrests Penny on suspicion of murder. When Leo comes to rescue Penny from the clutches of the law, he brings Adriana, the beautiful twin sister of Alejandra, Leo's dead wife. Penny is desperate to get out of jail to defend her relationship with Leo, but when she is finally free, she must keep her word to the marshal and find Juan Rico, first. On the trail of Rico, gun traffickers kidnap Penny and drag her across the Mexican border, along with their guns. This means certain death for Penny in a country where women often go missing. A rescue by the U.S. Marshal or even Sheriff Tellez is unlikely since no one knows where she is. Will Penny escape the grasp of ruthless gunrunners? The answers can be found in Devil Eye! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEEE9kQm4JA?rel=0]  

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About the author

Rebecca Jean Downey has a way of pulling you into her stories. You don't want to put the book down until you make sure her characters survive! She graduated from the Indiana University School of Journalism, covered police and court beats as a newspaper reporter, and has since had a life long fascination with law enforcement and criminal behavior. Rebecca read Sherlock Holmes in elementary school, and has devoured hundreds of mystery novels over her lifetime. She finally realized that her home in El Paso, Texas-lying on the cusp of two countries-was a perfect backdrop for sharing the haunting headlines generated south of the border in Mexico.

Today, Rebecca is a speechwriter for the President of The University of Texas at El Paso and Director of Development for the College of Health Sciences.

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More about Rebecca's Books Rebecca's novels introduce the reader to a psychic technique called controlled remote viewing, developed in the 1970s by the CIA when the agency suspected that the Soviet Union was conducting psychic spying on the United States. The US Army and the CIA utilized Stargate until the end of the Cold War when the US Government declassified it. Today, remote viewers help law enforcement agencies and individuals locate missing persons and solve cold cases. As a remote viewer herself, Rebecca found writing about Penny Larkin's adventures to be therapeutic.  

Click on the giveaway banner below to enter to win a copy of "The Middle Eye" or "Devil Eye" !

 

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Cupid's Desie By Phoenix Rayne

CUPID'S DESIRE

Author: PHOENIX RAYNE

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Publisher: G Street Chronicles

SYNOPSIS:

Alareik is a Cupid, and get that image of a diapered baby with a bow and arrow right out of your head. Cupids are all six foot Gods of love, invisible to the mortal's eyes, who are sent down to Earth with their daily assignments…to help mortals fall in love. 

Alareik is the most popular Cupid out there, and not only is he the hottest Cupid but he’s the most compassionate. Alareik stumbles across a mortal who has a third eye. Sapphire, a waitress no one would take a second glance at, can see the invisible Cupids. Alareik has never met a mortal who could do this. He’s put on a special assignment to figure her out. 

Alareik willingly accepts this task and finds himself falling for the plain and peculiar girl. Sapphire’s love for life changes this Cupid’s heart forever.

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PURCHASE LINKS:

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Watch the BOOK TRAILER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqUX92T6viY

TEASERS:

Catarina's Thoughts:

Cupid's Desire is a wonderful book full of mystical creatures and enchantment.
Phoenix Rayne  has been able to bring the mystical world to the human world by making a Cupid and a human fall in love.

Our Cupid is the tall dark haired handsome, Alareik who is given an assignment to look after, Sapphire, who is a plump girl with a lot of bad luck.  But in his heart Alareik see something more.

There are other wonderful characters who surround these to destined lovers, who help them find the way to fulfil their destiny.

You  will be enchanted by the story and find yourself wanting to see what happens,you will laugh and you will cry,  you will feel their love and pain and be surprised by the secrets that have been kept and how the journey hits walls.  I found myself chanting a little pray even though the ending had been written.

Phoenix  has created a  wonderful story that can be interpreted into modern day society,  how we are all looking for that one person to spend the rest of our life with. You will loose yourself in this enchanted story and reality hits you hard at the end.

As much as I did enjoy this book I was left deflated a little at the end and feel there needs to be a second book to see how these to lovers journey

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Phoenix Rayne was born in Federal Way Washington in a small community. Currently she resides in Nashville Tennessee where she is a student as well as a full time author… Phoenix is a published author that has several novels under her belt that she has penned with G-Street Chronicles. When not writing you can find her in a shoe store shopping or catching a good movie.

Social media links:

Facebook | Facebook Discussion Group | Website | Twitter | Goodreads  

Tour organized by: HEA Book Tours, PR & More

COVER REVEAL: Time After Time By Melody Foster

"On the night of her best friend's wedding, Becca Lawson is shocked to run into the man who once shattered her heart completely. One wild, passionate night is all it takes to stir up long-lost emotions. Becca knows her feelings for him cannot be real, and will not be reciprocated. Fearing the worst, she shuts herself off completely, denying herself the one true chance of love.

Young, handsome, and rich, Austin Blackstone is a man who seems to have it all. But inside, his heart yearns for the girl who left an unforgettable impression on him seven years ago. When a chance encounter brings him face-to-face with her on a tropical paradise, all the feelings hidden deep inside his heart threaten to spill over... and force him to forsake everything he has built.

Set on a beautiful, Caribbean island, Time After Time is a sweet love story of second chances and new opportunities. As old flames reignite and forgotten passions burn strong, can two people from very different walks of life forget their rules long enough to let love in?"

GOODREADS

I’m Melody Foster. I'm a regular girl who loves long walks on the beach with my beloved Airedale terrier Oman. "Oh, man!" were the words I said when I first met my puppy. He is not a puppy anymore...

Chocolate and coffee are my life while I write. A good laugh at myself is my medicine for self-criticism.

I’m extremely thankful to all my readers for making a new author’s dreams come true.

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Unbreakable by Amie Nichols

Title:Unbreakable

Author: Amie Nichols

Series: Cypress Grove #1

Genre: Romance

Buy Links: Amazon Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★



Synopsis:

Being adopted by one of the wealthiest families in the country Lilly Sumnor should have had a life of luxury. But being hated by her adopted mother Jane for reasons no one seemed to know, made Lilly's life one of mental and physical abuse. It wasn't until the day that a young Lilly met their gardener's son Luke Hansen did she ever feel like she had something to look forward to. The closer they got the harder it was for young Luke to control his temper against the abuse suffered by the hand of adopted mother Jane.
Luke being sent away by his father for fear of him doing something that would affect the rest of his and Lilly's life forever. Lilly was heartbroken and knew that no matter what she would never feel for anyone the way she felt for Luke. Jane being one of the most respected socialite's in Louisiana no one could save Lilly from the abuse.
Until one day it all changed. Jane and Ted Sumnor die in a car accident leaving Lilly being the only relative to inherit the entire Sumnor fortune.
Her life changes in so many ways and after Luke returns their love rekindles but can they survive the threats that are plaguing Lilly. Slowly finding out clues to how she became adopted, and finding out that her birth mother might be dead at the hands of voodoo and dark magic is it too much for them to handle.
She is wrapped in a world of dangers from what she finds out and from the threat of someone that wants to take her away from Luke forever.
Unbreakable (Book 1) is a dramatic love story that takes place in the deep south of Louisiana with twists and turns that will keep you guessing.........

Donna's Thoughts:

Lilly Sumnor was adopted as an infant by Theodore and Jane Sumnor. She spent her whole life being hated by her “mother”, but never understanding why. Jane was verbally and physically abusive, but since the Sumnor’s were so well respected in Louisiana, it was useless for anyone to report the abuse. Jane had Lilly homeschooled and the only time she was allowed to leave the house was for her yearly checkup. Lilly’s only bright spot in life is Luke Hansen, the grounds keepers’ son. Luke would come to the Sumnor mansion and help his father while Lilly watched daydreaming. It was only when Jane was away that Lilly was allowed outside to also help and this is when she was able to talk to Luke. Luke is older so Lilly is not sure if he likes her likes her or likes her as a little sister. Each time Luke finds Lilly has been abused he goes into a rage. Finally his father, fearing for what Luke might do, sends him away. Lilly is devastated. Then her parents die in a car accident and Lilly is hopeful that Luke will return for her, but it’s been six months and there is no sign; he must have moved on.

This is a very interesting story; there are lots of twists and turns. The one mystery is why Jane hates Lilly so much, another mystery is who has been creeping around the property and lastly where did Lilly come from and why were papers hidden in her father’s hidden safe? There is a lot going on in this book to keep the reader interested and I found myself not able to put the book down. I finished it in about twenty four hours. There is a lot of sexual tension in the book and because most of the characters are young; they are always at one another. Lilly, for the most part, is a likable character although due to the abuse she endured as a child, she has a short temper at times. I enjoyed the book and will be reading Unbreakable 2. I give this book 4 stars with 2.5 hands down the pants.

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COVER REVEAL: Sinfully By Leighton Riley

Author: Leighton Riley

Cover Designer: Ashley Christin

Release Date: June 10, 2014

Synopsis


Payton wrote a self-published book regaling her encounters with men while visiting Las Vegas. To her horror, life changes in more ways than one when someone finds out her true identity.

Ryder, a successful publisher, is determined to find and sign Reece Edwards. Using what little information he can find on her, he sets out to find her, feeling it will definitely be worth the chase.

While on his search for Reece, Ryder meets Payton and the chemistry is explosive. Payton has done well with not allowing anyone to get close to her, but something is different with Ryder. Ryder can’t get Payton out of his head, but he is still on his mission to locate Reece.

With two tragic pasts, Payton and Ryder each have demons to overcome. Will they be able to put those demons to rest or will it be all for nothing?

Stalk Leighton Riley

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Since He Feels By Lisa Suzanne

Synopsis

Julianne Becker has a choice to make between love and history. She needs two men in her life, but ultimatums and secrets are forcing her to choose.

Nick Matthews has a choice to make with potential costs that will put Julianne in temptation’s way. Since He Really Feels what he does for Julianne, can Nick put aside his fears to ensure that the past doesn’t destroy the future he has always wanted?

Travis Miller thought he made his choice, but obligations may just push out the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Since He Really Feels allegiance to his family, can Travis keep his past and present from colliding?

Julianne and Nick know they should form a united front and make these decisions together, but knowing what to do and actually doing it are two very different things. Will Travis’s presence in their life pull them together or push them apart?

This is the passionate and emotional concluding book of the He Feels Trilogy.

Excerpt

I walked into his office and stood on the opposite side of his desk from him. “Nick, you know I choose you. I can’t live without you. I love you, and I can’t wait to become your wife.”

He gazed at me for a long moment, and then the corners of his mouth tipped up into a small smile. “My wife,” he repeated.

He stood up from his chair, the leather squeaking as he rose. He walked over to the door and shut it. Eric and Josh, Nick’s roommates, were around somewhere, both getting ready to move out by the end of the month, and clearly Nick wanted privacy. With me.

After he shut the door, he stalked over to me. “My wife,” he whispered again, taking me in his arms.

“Let’s not fight,” I pleaded.

“Let’s never fight again,” he murmured.

“Deal,” I said, and I pressed my lips to his. The familiar buzz zipped through my spine as his mouth took mine aggressively. I loved the way his tongue moved sensually against mine, and the slow burn in my belly made its way down as desire overtook every sensation in my body and every thought in my mind.

God, I had missed him. I had missed this intimacy, this connection with him.

His electric fingertips danced across my skin slowly, leaving a burning tingle in their wake. He found the hem of my shirt and lifted it over my head, tossing it on the floor next to us and then removing his own before his lips crashed back down over mine. He unsnapped my bra with one hand as the other hand pressed into the small of my back. The feeling of his fingertips across my skin was utter perfection. 

He was truly an expert at seduction, and he was mine.

Forever.

Play List

“Girl Like That” – Matchbox Twenty

“Best Day of My Life” – American Authors

“Whatever It Takes” – Lifehouse

“Everything” – Buckcherry

“Never Gonna Be Alone” – Nickelback

“Everything Has Changed” – Taylor Swift featuring Ed Sheerhan

“Clarity” – Zedd featuring Foxes

“Back to Good” – Matchbox Twenty

“Then” – Brad Paisley

“All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You” – Heart

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Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00KEY3D6A

Kobo: bit.ly/1h1H2zm

Ibooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id879961393

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/9781498920476

Check Out The Rest Of The Series

Book #1

AMAZON/B&N/IBOOKS/KOBO

Book #2

AMAZON/B&N/IBOOKS/KOBO

About the Author

Lisa Suzanne started handwriting her books on yellow legal pads after she took a creative writing class in high school. She still has those legal pads full of stories, but now one of them is published under the title How He Really Feels. She currently works as a full time high school English teacher, and her favorite part of the year is summer. She has been blessed with the world’s best dog, a supportive family, and a husband who encouraged her to publish after reading one of her novels. She likes the advice of Ernest Hemingway’s famous quote, “Write drunk. Edit sober.”

Web: http://www.authorlisasuzanne.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/AuthorLisaSuzanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaSuzanne
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisaSuzanne24
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lisasuzanne24

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Beauty In the Ashes By Micalea Smeltzer

Standalone Dark Contemporary Romance

Release date: July 15, 2014 Add on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20761170-beauty-in-the-ashes

Cover Design: Regina Wamba (Mae I Design)

Book Description:

Some stories are a fairytale...but this isn't one.

Caelan Gregory’s life fell apart the night he went home and opened the door to find his whole family murdered. Since then, his life has held no meaning. He’s angry. He’s bitter. He’s barely human anymore. There’s nothing left to remind him of the straight A student, and football quarterback he once was…but he wasn’t a good person then, and he’s certainly not a good person now. He’s retreated into a world where all that exists is numbness and his passion for painting.

When Sutton Hale moves into the apartment across the hall from Caelan she’s not prepared for her reaction to him. Something in his broken blue eyes calls to her—after all she’s always had an irrational need to fix everything.

But Caelan doesn’t do relationships or feelings. He does drugs and alcohol. However, he can’t ignore his desire to get to know the raven-haired woman across the hall.

Two broken souls trying to mend one another.

But not everything can be fixed.

In the end, Caelan and Sutton will have to learn that there is beauty in the ashes.

Excerpt:

*UNEDITED AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE*

Prologue

Caelan

Life is like a flame.

It burns bright for a while, then it flickers and fades, until finally one small breath extinguishes it and we're left with the ashes.



The house was quiet, but I still waited ten more minutes, making sure I heard the sounds of my dad snoring.

I’d been grounded for a month the last time I got caught sneaking out.

I wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.

I crept over to my bedroom window, sliding it up as quietly as I could. It squeaked and I halted my movements, holding my breath to make sure no one in the house stirred.

I all but jumped out of my skin when the door to the bathroom that connected my room to my sister’s opened.

“Cael, what are you doing?” She asked, standing there in pajama shorts and a tank top. Her eyes were wide, reminding me of a doll.

“Isn’t it obvious?” I whispered, nodding at my half open window.

“Mom and dad are going to kill you if you get caught,” she hissed, padding into my room like she owned the place. Nosy little sisters were good for nothing. I missed the days when I could bribe her to keep quiet with candy.

“I can’t miss this party, Cayla,” I groaned. “I’m the quarterback. I have to be there,” I reasoned.

“I want to go,” she squared her shoulders defiantly.

“No,” I hissed through my teeth. No fucking way was I bringing my sixteen-year-old sister to a senior party. It wasn’t because of her age that I wanted her to stay behind, but the way I saw my friends looking at her. Cayla was too sweet and innocent to get wrapped up in one of those fuckers. I’d kill them if they touched my sister.

“Fine, then I’m going to wake up mom,” she turned on her heel to stalk out of my room.

I reached out and grabbed her arm, my fingers digging into her skin. “No,” I said sternly. “Don’t be a little tattle tale bitch.”

Her eyes widened at my harsh words. Yeah, Cayla and I bickered like most siblings, but we also got along better than most too. She wasn’t used to me being so rude.

“Let go of me,” she yanked her arm from my grasp. “You can be such a dick, Caelan.” She headed back towards the bathroom and stopped in the doorway. “I won’t say anything to mom and dad about this, but you owe me.”

“Deal,” I smiled.

She started to leave, but something in me made me say her name. “Cayla?”

“Yeah?” She stopped, her blonde hair swishing around her shoulders.

I swallowed thickly. “I love you, you know that, right?”

She rolled her clear blue eyes at me. Cayla and I looked a lot alike—so much alike that many people believed we were twins.

“I see what you’re doing here, you still owe me dickwad.”

I chuckled. “Believe me, I know.”

I was surprised she hadn’t put up much fight. I think she knew the real reason I didn’t want her to go and probably wanted to avoid me getting in a fight—which would result in our parent’s finding out that we had both snuck out.

“Have fun,” she smiled, closing the bathroom door.

“Night, Cayla-belle,” I said softly, so low that she couldn’t hear me.

I eased the window the rest of the way up and crouched outside. I waited a minute to make sure Cayla wasn’t going to reappear—or one of my parents—then closed it.

I tiptoed down the eave of the roof, spotting the taillights of Kyle’s car waiting down the street for me.

I lowered to my stomach, sliding over the edge and grabbing on. I dropped down to the ground, careful to tuck my body so I didn’t injure myself.

Getting down was the easy part of sneaking out. Getting back up…now that was a different story.

I jogged down the street to Kyle’s white car.

“Dude, what the fuck took so long?” He asked when I finally slid into the passenger seat.

“My sister caught me,” I muttered.

Kyle grinned and I didn’t like his smile one bit. “Why didn’t you bring her? She’s hot, I’m sure someone could’ve had some fun with her.”

I glared at him, my fists clenched. “Don’t talk about my sister like that.”

Kyle raised his hands in mock surrender, a smirk playing on his thin lips. “It’s the truth. A lot of the guys would love to have a piece of—”

I punched the side of his face.

I didn’t care if he was my friend or not.

No one talked about my baby sister like that. Hopefully he’d take this as a lesson and so would the other guys.

“Fuck, Caelan, did you really need to punch me?”

“Yeah, I really did. Maybe that will teach you that running your mouth about my sister is a bad idea,” I retorted. “Would you want me making comments about your sister?”

“My sister is fourteen,” he countered.

“Mine’s only sixteen,” I continued to pin him with a glare.

“Fine, whatever dude. She isn’t worth getting punch over for no-fucking-reason,” he hissed.

He finally pulled away from the curb.

“Where’s this party at?” I asked.

After we’d won the football game, I’d had to head home for dinner—my parents were really big on family time. Sometimes ‘family time’ could be a major pain in the ass since it kept me from doing stuff with friends, but when I heard some of them talk about how messed up their families were I was silently thankful for my overbearing parents.

“The Cove,” he answered, winding around a turn too fast. I knew better than to complain. He’d only speed up.

The Cove wasn’t really a cove at all. It was a rock formation near the lake that provided great shelter from the surrounding neighborhoods. As long as we kept the noise level reasonable, most people didn’t know we were out there.

“Leah is going to be there,” Kyle said casually, watching me out of the corner of his eye for a reaction.

I’d been going after Leah for a few weeks now. She always tried to blow me off, but I could tell I was breaking down her walls. It wouldn’t be long until I had her right where I wanted her. She was enjoying playing hard to get, and I was enjoying the chase, but it ended tonight. I’d have her.

Kyle parked a block over from The Cove and we walked from that point. People would get suspicious if a bunch of cars were parked too close.

“Cael?”

I turned at the sound of my name, my lips curling up as I spotted Leah.

Her shiny red hair was curling down her back and her lips were coated in some kind of shiny gloss that I was desperate to taste.

“I’ll see you later…I guess,” Kyle winked, heading on without us.

“You know,” I told Leah, “you shouldn’t be standing out here all by yourself where anyone could get you.”

“Oh,” she purred, striding forward, “is the big bad wolf going to eat me?” She asked, purposely letting her breasts brush against my shoulder.

“Maybe,” I smirked, staring down at her.

“And maybe,” she stared brazenly up at me, “I want him too.”

Aw, hell.

I’d been waiting weeks for this moment, and I wasn’t going to let it pass me by.

I reached out for her, my hands finding the curve of her butt, and pressed my lips to hers.

She let out a soft little moan that stirred something inside me. I pressed more firmly against her as her fingers pulled at my hair. I knew she was a feisty little thing. I nipped at her bottom lip and then plunged my tongue inside her mouth. I wanted her and I wanted her bad, but we were standing on the street, and I did value my life, because if I got caught my dad would be pissed enough to string me up by my balls and leave me to die, so I broke away.

“That’s hardly over,” I warned her.

She giggled, reaching for my hand. “I hope not…and it certainly doesn’t feel like it’s over,” she bit her lip, running her fingers over the hard-on pressing against my jeans.

My breath hissed through my teeth as she felt me up. If I’d driven I would’ve told her to forget about the stupid party and we would have went back to my car to finish this.

I led her through the tall grass and around the large rocks where the party was roaring. A small fire provided warmth—but wasn’t large enough to attract unwanted attention. Someone played music from their iPod dock and bodies swayed.

“Dance with me,” Leah pleaded, pulling me towards everyone else.

I wasn’t a dancer, but I agreed just for the pleasure of watching her sexy little body move.

She grinded against me and I closed my eyes, tilting my head back.

“If you keep doing that,” I warned her, grabbing her stomach and rubbing my thumb against the underside of her breast, “I’m going to haul you out of here and make you scream my name.”

She looked up at me, her brown eyes sparkling in the moonlight. My throat tightened as her tongue flicked out to moisten her pouty lips. “I wouldn’t complain.”

“Fuck,” I growled, my hands tightening against her.

I wanted her and I wanted her bad.

“Come on,” I pulled her away from everyone else and into the tall grasses. I kept dragging her until we were far enough away that we wouldn’t be found easily.

I sunk down on the ground, pulling her with me onto my lap.

“You’ve been teasing me for weeks,” I lifted her shirt off her head. “This ends tonight.”

“Just make it good,” she challenged.

“Oh, trust me, baby, you don’t need to worry.”

⌘⌘⌘

When we returned—clothes and hair mused, but completely satisfied—the party had grown even larger. It seemed like everyone in our senior class was in attendance.

People wanted to talk and congratulate me on the game. I smiled and nodded—but honestly, I didn’t really care. Football was fun, but it wasn’t my whole life.

I sat down on the ground, beer in hand, with Leah between my legs. Her head rested against my chest.

When the sun started to peek above the edge of the lake, we all knew it was time to leave.

I said goodbye to Leah, giving her a long lingering kiss. Tonight had been good and I wasn’t ready to let her walk away just yet.

“Come on, Lover Boy,” Kyle pried me away from her lips.

I laughed, calling to Leah, “See you later?”

She nodded, her cheeks flushed with happiness.

Kyle dropped me off at the same spot he’d been waiting for me earlier.

I walked slowly towards my house, my head bowed.

When I finally looked up, ready to cut across the side yard to the back, so I could get back to my room, I noticed that the front door was slightly ajar.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.

Oh, shit.

My parents had woken up and found me gone. I was in so much trouble it wasn’t even funny.

I swallowed thickly, my heart pumping in my chest as I made my way up the front steps into the house. There would be no point trying to sneak in. I had been caught and I needed to face this.

When I pushed open the front door the rest of the way, I was surprised to find the house in disarray. Drawers were open, lights smashed, and our belongings strewn about everywhere.

“What. The. Hell,” I gasped.

My heart raced even faster.

Something bad had happened. It looked like someone had broken in and tried to rob us.

I walked to the back of the house, to the kitchen, expecting to find my mom and dad there calling for the police, but it was empty.

“Mom!” I called. “Dad!”

Silence greeted me.

Maybe they had run to the neighbors house? Or were at the police station? Or—?

Something told me that neither of those things had happened.

Dread settled over me, sliding through my body like toxic sludge.

I swallowed thickly, heading for the main staircase.

I took the steps slowly and when I came to a standstill.

Blood.

Blood everywhere.

My shoes were growing damp with it.

“Dad!” I dropped to my knees, not caring that his blood was now soaking my jeans. “Dad!” I screamed again and again—willing him to answer. I rolled him over, choking on a sob as his lifeless eyes met me. There was so much blood. God, it was fucking everywhere, seeping out of a series of knife wounds on his chest.

I released him, running for my parent’s room.

“No!” I yelled, when my eyes took in the sight of my mom lying on a blood soaked mattress, her eyes focused on the ceiling. There were cuts and slashes all over her. I couldn’t mistake the sound of her blood dripping from the bed onto the hardwood floors.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

I ran to Cayla’s room next, praying that she had hidden and was okay—or better yet, hoping I’d wake up and find this to all be a nightmare.

“Cayla!” I shouted, clutching my stomach as it heaved violently.

Like my mom, she was lying in her bed. Her eyes stared straight at me—the color so light it was almost white. Her normally rosy complexion was now a grayish blue color. Her throat had been slit open, the blood coating her, the bed, and the floor. Her mouth was open in a never-ending silent scream.

I fell to the ground, sobbing hysterically.

“Cayla,” I cried, crawling on my hands and knees over to her bed. “Cayla, please! You can’t die! Cayla!” I smacked her cheeks, shook her, yelled at her, and none of it did any good.

She was gone.

They were all gone.

I pulled my phone out, fumbling to press the right buttons.

“911 what’s your emergency?”

“Help! You have to help me! They’re dead! They’re all dead!”

“Who’s dead, sir?” The calm voice asked me.

“My family! They’re dead! God, they’re all dead!”

“Sir, what’s your address?”

I couldn’t answer the woman. I had lost all capability of speaking. A strange noise was escaping me—half crying, half screaming.

I shook Cayla some more, hoping in vain that what I was seeing would disappear and she’d wake up and tell me I was crazy.

I’d rather be losing my mind than face this reality.

When I knew that Cayla wasn’t going to wake up I sat on the floor beside her.

I rocked back and forth, sobbing, my blood-covered hands running through my hair. I kept muttering under my breath, “This isn’t real, this isn’t real, this isn’t real.”

That’s how the police found me.

Even five years later, I still felt like I was stuck in that room, rocking back and forth beside Cayla.



Only now, I said, “This is real.”