Slay Bells Ring (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 12) Read online

  Slay B ells Ring

  By Morgan Kelley

  Copyright © 2015-2016 Morgan Kelley LLC

  All rights reserved. Without limiting rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, introduced into a retrieval system,

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  including without limitation photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief

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  For permission email [email protected]

  Content Advisory:This book is intended for mature audiences 18 + and contains graphic violence, explicit sexual activity, and disturbing imagery

  ©Copyright 2015-2016 cover photo Cover art by Rachel Zellers for Morgan Kelley LLC

  Other works by Morgan Kelley:

  Standalone Thrillers

  The Junction

  Serial Sins

  The Blood Betrayal

  FBI Romance Series

  The Killing Times (Book 1)

  Sacred Burial Grounds (Book 2)

  True Love Lost (Book 3)

  Deep Dark Mire (Book 4)

  Fire Burns Hot (Book 5)

  Darkness of Truth (Book 6)

  Devil Hath Come (Book 7)

  Consumed by Wrath (Book 8)

  Redemption is Here (Book 9)

  Dead Shall Speak (Book 10)

  Pledging to Die (Book 11)

  Slay Bells Ring (Book 12)

  Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Series

  Celestia is Falling (1)

  Vegas is Dying (2)

  Christmas is Killing (3)

  Love is Bleeding (4)

  Heaven is Weeping (5)

  Hell is Burning (6)

  Littlemoon Investigations

  Blood Red Rage (Book 1)

  Lost & Broken (Book 2)

  Unthinkable Games (Book 3)

  Truth is Found (Book 4)

  The Carter Chronicles Trilogy

  Sinner Repent (Book 1)

  Sinner Realized (Book 2)

  Sinner Reborn (Book 3)

  The Harcourte Vampyre Society series

  Dangerous Revelations (1)

  Dangerous Choices (2)

  Dangerous Misery (3)

  Dangerous Retaliation (4)

  Behind Closed Doors Anthology

  Illegal Fantasies ~ Behind Closed Doors (1)

  Romance Under Arrest ~ Behind Closed Doors (2)

  Dear Readers,

  This one is dedicated to all of you!

  Happy Holidays from my whole team! Let’s celebrate it Blackhawk style!

  Much love, mayhem, and murder…

  Morgan.

  ~~~~ About the Author ~~~~

  Morgan Kelley lives in the beautiful Pocono Mountains with her husband and two children. After attending college at Penn State University and studying Criminal Justice, Morgan knew her only true passion in life would be murder and books. She put them both together and began her career as a writer. Other than books and writing, you can find Morgan hanging out in her garden and digging in the dirt.

  Her other works include: The Junction, Serial Sins, The Blood Betrayal, The Killing Times (1), Sacred Burial Grounds (2), True Love Lost (3), Deep Dark Mire (4), Fire Burns Hot (5), Darkness of Truth (6), Devil Hath Come (7), Consumed by Wrath (8), Redemption is Here (9), Dead Shall Speak (10), Pledging to Die (11), Slay Bells Ring (12), Blood Red Rage (1) Lost & Broken (2), Unthinkable Games (3), Truth is Found (4), Sinner Repent (1), Sinner Realized (2), Sinner Reborn (3), Celestia is Falling (1), Vegas is Dying (2), Christmas is Killing (3), Love is Bleeding (4), Heaven is Weeping (5), Hell is Burning (6), Dangerous Revelations (1), Dangerous Choices (2), Dangerous Misery (3), Dangerous Retaliation (4), Illegal Fantasies (Anthology 1), and Romance Under Arrest (Anthology 2)

  Please feel free to email her at [email protected], or visit her blog at www.morgankelley.blogspot.com.

  How wonderful is Death,

  Death, and his brother Sleep!

  One, pale as yonder waning moon

  With lips of lurid blue;

  The other, rosy as the morn

  When throned on ocean’s wave

  It blushes o’er the world;

  Yet both so passing wonderful!

  ~ from Queen Mab, Percy Bysshe Shelly

  Elizabeth Blackhawk…

  We’re coming for you.

  Catch us if you can.

  Prologue

  I am Bonnie…

  Yes, we’re watching you. If you’re pompous, arrogant, and one of the ‘beautiful’ people, you should be afraid. I won’t rest until I have my fill. My life’s goal is to make you suffer. I want to watch you bleed.

  I will make you quake at the mere mention of my name. When it escapes your lips, you will shake in terror.

  Why?

  Because I’m a merciless killer.

  I have no conscious.

  I have no love.

  When you cross my path, I will make a split second decision on whether you will live or die.

  If you’ve angered me, you shall feel my wrath. When it’s all over, I shall remain standing in the blood of those who made me.

  Oh, I’m not your average killer. You won’t get that lucky. When you enter my world, you have so much to lose. As I take you and your mate, I’ll make you fear everything from life to death.

  There will be no joy.

  Why?

  None should be given at this time of the year. People think the holidays mean happiness and love, but they don’t. They mean death, pain, and misery.

  I am the blight that has settled upon your home. There will be no ghost of Christmas Past, Present, or Future. There will only be us.

  We will be your worst nightmare.

  As you sit there in your happy homes, enjoying the luxury of your gains, you don’t see anyone beneath you. We’re invisible to your eyes, and that’s a mistake on your behalf. You’ve underestimated us, and now we’ll get you when you least expect it…

  In your home.

  You see, I am watching you. When you’ve let down your guard, I’ll be delivering one hell of a Christmas present. One day you’ll be alive, and the next you’ll be dead.

  When I come calling, I won’t be alone either.

  I will bring help.

  Together, we’re going to shatter your world, make you weep for what is to come, and then…we’ll destroy you.

  But not only you.

  No.

  That would be too easy.

  We’ll also destroy the ones who love you—the ones you guard so carefully, isolating them from the cold, vicious claws of the world. They will be our victims too.

  When they least expect it, a present will arrive.

  That cheery package will hold the most amazing of gifts. It will linger in their minds for the rest of their lives.

  It will steal their happiness, warp their joy, and devour their love.

  The second they open it, Christmas will never be the same again. It will alter their paths, crush their souls, and make them fear closing their eyes.

  Now, that is powe
r.

  And only I deserve to wield it.

  So beware what is coming, oh weak and weary. Before the holiday is over, we shall strike. We shall take what we want, bend it, break it, and send it back with a bloody bow. Before this season has passed, there will be a reckoning.

  It will be yours.

  I am your judge.

  I am your jury.

  I am your executioner.

  And I will enjoy every single second of it…

  * * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *

  I am Clyde…

  You may have heard my name before, but never like this. I make the original look like a saint. I am warped by hate, anger, and loathing.

  I’m like nothing you have ever known before. When you and I meet, one of us will leave in a bloody box, and it won’t be me.

  No…I am your doom.

  I was born to kill, and now that I have the love of my life, we will be spreading Christmas fear. There will be no eggnog, cheer, and caroling. It’s well past that now. When we land on your doorstep, there is something devious, dangerous, and deadly coming your way.

  We may look sweet, but we’re bloodthirsty killers.

  Once you learn of us, you’ll shiver in fear. Once we have you in our cage, you’ll beg and weep.

  We won’t care. We never do.

  You see, we are your worst nightmare. While my woman lures you in, I’ll create the ultimate means of torture. You’ll have to endure so much, and when you break…because you will, I’ll make you one of mine.

  Forever, you’ll live in my mind and on the lips of those who had to gaze upon your ruin. There won’t be bells and songs. There will only be tears.

  I’ll break you.

  I’ll damage you.

  I’ll take you apart.

  Perhaps, I’ll use your body in any way I see fit. I might even feed you to some hungry animals.

  It’s all going to depend on my holiday mood, and how naughty you’ve been all year.

  See, we’re watching.

  It’s what we do.

  All year, we follow you and mark your steps, knowing that before long, you’ll be ours.

  I can taste your flesh against my mouth.

  I can hear your screams as I take you apart piece by piece. It gives me pleasure, and that’s what the holiday is all about, right?

  Screw peace on Earth.

  I want pain.

  I want to hurt.

  I demand desecration of your happiness.

  I crave to see the fear in your eyes and across your face. By the time we’re done, you’ll be nothing more than wasted flesh at our disposal.

  Fear not.

  We will make sure you are not forgotten. You see, you’ll live forever in the minds and hearts of your family. They will see you at your worst, and they will mourn your life. Every day, they will remember what was done to you, and each day, it will never lessen. With time, the horrors will live on, making our memory special.

  They’ll celebrate your life.

  We’ll celebrate your death.

  You may call us twisted, sick, and perverse, but we are none of that. We are avengers of all that is wrong in the world, and we’re out to find the perverted people who call themselves clean.

  Watch for us.

  Wait for us.

  We’re coming, and when we land on your doorstep, you won’t ever be the same.

  It’s the holidays, and I hope you’ve been nice.

  If not, you’re in for a rude awakening…

  Pain is coming.

  It will be our pleasure to give you that one last gift.

  * * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *

  Harmony Falls

  Late Night

  Christmas is a time of giving.

  So, that’s exactly what they were doing. All around the town, there were Christmas lights, songs, and happy people. They celebrated the entire month, buying way too much, spending insane amounts, and forgetting the meaning of the holiday.

  They shopped.

  They walked around smiling.

  They didn't see what was right before their eyes.

  Now it was time to make them aware of what lurked behind ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘White Christmas’. The holiday was coming, and so were they.

  There were gifts to be given out, and nothing could stop that from happening. It was a full year in the making, and before long, the festivities would begin.

  The presents were wrapped with love and adoration. The brightly covered offerings were being prepared for the people at the large house.

  At dawn, when they opened them, they would be so happy. In them, there would be a gift. It was so precious, and they didn't deserve it.

  None of them did.

  Alas, that wouldn’t stop them from receiving it. Sometimes, the best gifts in life are the ones you didn't expect. They were the ones where you learned the most powerful lesson, and these were such gifts.

  This day would live forever, for it would shape lives in indescribable ways.

  As the packages were handled with reverence and care, there would be no celebration until they were delivered.

  “Is she ready?” he asked, wiping the blood from his hands. It stained his flesh, making it hard to come clean. That was fine with him since he learned long ago that blood was power.

  Life was messy.

  His life was chaos.

  “Yes, they both are, my darling,” she replied, cheerily humming a Christmas song.

  He inspected her work.

  “Bonnie, you’ve done a spectacular job of wrapping those presents. I’m impressed by your skill. They’re pretty enough to be in a window of a fine shop.”

  She beamed. “Really? I think I’m getting better,” she admitted, clipping some ribbon to make a bow. “It used to be so tricky, but now I feel like a pro.”

  “You can tell.”

  She beamed at him. “I hope I’ve made you happy.”

  Oh, she had.

  “You are getting better and better, Bonnie, my sweet. With each gift, you can see the inner you coming through.”

  She smiled brightly at him. “Thank you, my darling.”

  He studied her work. It was meticulous. Then again, it should be.

  This box wasn’t the first present they had delivered.

  It wasn’t the twentieth.

  No, they had made lots of deliveries the last couple of Christmases. It was their thing. Over the previous two years, they’d delivered two dozen gifts, and this year there would be twelve more.

  Hopefully…

  “Are you finished, Clyde, my darling?” she asked. “I haven’t heard anything from your work area.”

  He sighed. “They didn't last long. I thought that they would hold out from the pain, and I have to admit that I’m a little disappointed. They seemed so strong. When we picked them, I believed they could be worthy.”

  She clucked her tongue in disappointment. “You’ll like the ones coming up,” she offered. “We’re going to have so much fun with them.”

  He hoped so.

  There was a growing ball of anger building in him. With each kill, he wanted something more, but he wasn’t quite able to find it. The joy of the season seemed just out of his reach.

  The first year they killed, he was filled with giddiness and joy. It was the best holiday he’d ever had. The second year wasn’t too bad. He still reached that holiday nirvana.

  Now this year…

  He was struggling to find that adrenaline high.

  It was pissing him off.

  “Clyde?” she asked, waving her hand in front of his face. “Where did you go?”

  He shook his head, trying to focus. “I’m sorry. I was thinking about what to give you for the holiday.”

  She bounced. “You know what I want.”

  He did.

  She was out for blood.

  “What were you saying?” he asked, trying to stay calm. It wasn’t easy. Everything was making him edgy.
r />   “I asked if you planned on placing the rest of them with the others.”

  He pondered it as he hopped up onto the table beside the gifts. There weren’t a lot of places to dump a body. They’d had to get creative.

  “We probably should, Bonnie. I like to make sure we keep our working areas clean, but we can’t keep using that place. It’s going to smell at some point. Once the thaw hits, it’s going to be a dead giveaway of what we’ve stashed there. We only rented it for so long.”

  He had a point.

  “I want to give you a gift for Christmas,” she offered, smiling sweetly.

  “You are my gift.”

  “Oh, Clyde, you’re amazing.”

  He grinned at her.

  “Can I give you a present you’ll never forget, and in the process, I’ll get rid of the mess we have at that location?”

  He wanted to stay calm.

  In his head, he tried to see her as a sweet mate, but even she was becoming clouded with his haze of anger.

  “I would love a present from you.”

  “I want to make us famous.”

  He was intrigued. Normally, he didn't like a lot of attention, but in this case… yeah, he wouldn’t mind. Maybe that would help him get into the spirit. Clyde desperately wanted to feel like he did that first year.