Before She Dies (Slaughter Creek) (5 page)

Afterword

Thank you so much for reading BEFORE SHE DIES. I hope this short prequel whets your appetite for my new romantic suspense series set in the fictitious, small rural Tennessee town of SLAUGHTER CREEK.

Book one DYING TO TELL picks up twenty-five years later with Sadie and Amelia, and is a dark romantic suspense thriller set around a mysterious sanitarium nestled in the mountains.

If you enjoyed this story, do me a favor and post a review on www.Amazon.com.

Thanks so much!

DYING TO TELL

Sadie Nettleton fled Slaughter Creek ten years ago, leaving behind the only home she’d ever known — and the only man she ever loved. Sadie knew Jake Blackwood could never forgive her if he discovered her terrible secret, so she ran and never looked back. But when her grandfather is murdered, and her mentally ill twin sister charged with the crime, Sadie has no choice but to return and face the ghosts of her past…

For Sheriff Jake Blackwood, time has not dimmed the love he felt for Sadie Nettleton — or the pain of her leaving. But now that she’s back, he’s determined to help her uncover the truth about her grandfather’s death. As their investigation leads them deeper into a world of secrets, lies, and betrayal in Slaughter Creek, Sadie becomes the target of a madman who will do anything to keep the truth buried. Jake would give his life to protect Sadie. But can he again risk giving her his heart?

And here’s a sneak peek at the beginning of

DYING TO TELL…

Prologue

From the moment I decided to kill him, I began to feel relief.

It had to be done. There was no other way to escape.

No turning back.

He had led me to the secret room so many times. He’d taken my soul and left me empty inside.

Ting. Ting. Ting.

The chimes began to ring. Crying. Shrill, grating sounds like a knife scraping bone.

No, he shouted.

Crying wasn’t allowed.

I heard the tears anyway. Silent streams of pain. Pleas for help. Prayers to die.

But no one came.

Were the screams just in my mind? Or were they real?

It didn’t matter.

I had to save myself.

The screech of the metal door echoed in the night. The bright light seared my eyes. The gruff sound of his voice whispering that he loved me.

My fingers curled around the knife as he walked nearer. So close I saw the whites of his eyes.

The black pupils where his soul should have been, if he had ever had one.

The smell suffused me. Seeped into my pores.

The antiseptic. The cleansing soap. The faint hint of sweat.

Sickening.

Then he leaned over me.

Ting. Ting. Ting.

Emotions left me, bleeding out like the crimson life force I intended to take from him.

I raised the knife and jammed it in his chest. His grunt of pain and shock echoed in the icy cold chamber.

His blood spurted onto my face.

Then his body collapsed against mine, and I waited for him to die.

It was the only way I could survive…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning, bestselling author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden book, but she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job. She has written several romantic comedies, but especially enjoys writing dark, sexy romantic suspense thrillers set in small rural towns.

For a list of all her works, visit her at
www.ritaherron.com

You can also find her on Twitter: @ritaherron & facebook.com/ritaherron!