Read Into a Dangerous Mind Online
Authors: Tina Gerow
Into a Dangerous Mind
Into A Dangerous Mind
By
Tina Gerow
ISBN: 978-1-927111-46-8
SMASHWORDS EDITION
PUBLISHED BY:
Books We Love
192
Lakeside
Greens Drive
Chestermere
,
Alberta
,
Canada
Copyright 2011 Tina Gerow
Cover art by Michelle Lee 2011
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
Dedication
In memory of my brother, Jim, who would’ve been very proud to walk into a bookstore and see his sister’s book on the shelf.
He introduced me to the world of science fiction and nurtured my passion for reading.
I think he would’ve enjoyed this mixture of romance, suspense and paranormal.
I think he would’ve enjoyed this mixture of romance, suspense and paranormal.
I’ve written other books, but this, my very first book, holds a special place in my heart.
So, Jim…this is for you…enjoy!
To
AJG
who inspired a lot of this book. Hopefully like Zach, he’ll embrace what’s possible before it’s too late.
AJG
who inspired a lot of this book. Hopefully like Zach, he’ll embrace what’s possible before it’s too late.
To Kathy, my best friend who inspired the Kathy character in the book.
You’ve always been there for me, and I love you dearly.
You’ve always been there for me, and I love you dearly.
Chapter One
She hadn’t dropped a lobster tail down the front of her dress or puked escargot on her date yet.
So far so good.
Cassidy James stepped out onto a secluded terrace at the Top of the Rock Resort, taking a few minutes away while her date paid the bill.
The empty ballroom behind her stood dark and silent, which left the terrace quiet and deserted, a welcome change from the lights and noise of the restaurant below.
So far so good.
Cassidy James stepped out onto a secluded terrace at the Top of the Rock Resort, taking a few minutes away while her date paid the bill.
The empty ballroom behind her stood dark and silent, which left the terrace quiet and deserted, a welcome change from the lights and noise of the restaurant below.
Cassidy cringed as the mortification of
that
that
long ago date assaulted her.
But, she reminded herself, none of those things happened this evening.
Tonight, she’d been graceful, cultured and elegant, and the date so far had been intimate and romantic…and the most boring few hours she’d ever spent.
But, she reminded herself, none of those things happened this evening.
Tonight, she’d been graceful, cultured and elegant, and the date so far had been intimate and romantic…and the most boring few hours she’d ever spent.
What the hell’s wrong with me?
Trying to ignore that particular question, she breathed deep and let out a little sigh of pleasure.
The scent of the desert filled the air, ripe with the monsoon rains she knew would sweep through later that evening.
A light breeze toyed with the ends of her shoulder-length auburn curls as she looked out over the glorious
Phoenix
mountainside—red and ochre in the moonlight.
The scent of the desert filled the air, ripe with the monsoon rains she knew would sweep through later that evening.
A light breeze toyed with the ends of her shoulder-length auburn curls as she looked out over the glorious
Phoenix
mountainside—red and ochre in the moonlight.
Resting her forearms on the waist-high terrace railing, she glanced skyward at the gentle explosions of stars, and wondered as she always did, why everyone didn’t live here.
Lost in thought, she trembled as Brian stepped close behind her, gently pinning her in.
Turning in his arms, she smelled his expensive cologne as he cupped the back of her neck and leaned in ever so slowly for a kiss.
She thought about pulling away, but as long as he wasn’t looking for a way to talk her into bed on their second date, she didn’t see the harm in a simple kiss.
Turning in his arms, she smelled his expensive cologne as he cupped the back of her neck and leaned in ever so slowly for a kiss.
She thought about pulling away, but as long as he wasn’t looking for a way to talk her into bed on their second date, she didn’t see the harm in a simple kiss.
His lips brushed across hers gently before he dipped his tongue inside to taste her.
Very sweet and pleasant, but nothing that could be mistaken for blood-boiling or passionate.
Cassidy relaxed against him and into his touch, enjoying the sensations of being in a man’s arms…and wishing she felt more than she did.
Very sweet and pleasant, but nothing that could be mistaken for blood-boiling or passionate.
Cassidy relaxed against him and into his touch, enjoying the sensations of being in a man’s arms…and wishing she felt more than she did.
The hairs on the back of her neck prickled, gooseflesh broke out all over her body, and a hard ball of dread settled low in her stomach making her nauseous.
Before she could react to the signs her body sent her, Brian changed the intensity of the kiss and slammed her back hard against the railing, grinding his body against hers.
He swallowed her gasp of surprise and outrage before he clamped a hand into her hair.
He gripped and squeezed her everywhere as alarm bells developed a shrill clang inside her head.
Before she could react to the signs her body sent her, Brian changed the intensity of the kiss and slammed her back hard against the railing, grinding his body against hers.
He swallowed her gasp of surprise and outrage before he clamped a hand into her hair.
He gripped and squeezed her everywhere as alarm bells developed a shrill clang inside her head.
She struggled against him and tried futilely to push against the wall of his chest with both hands.
This couldn’t be happening.
This couldn’t be happening.
Cassidy bit his lip until she tasted hot, metallic blood.
“Brian!
Stop it!” she screamed against his mouth.
She pounded her fists against his chest and finally succeeded in breaking through to him enough to stop his hands from roaming over her.
Even as she looked up into predator’s eyes, his rock hard erection pressed against her stomach, and terror rose in the back of her throat, tasting of bile.
“Brian!
Stop it!” she screamed against his mouth.
She pounded her fists against his chest and finally succeeded in breaking through to him enough to stop his hands from roaming over her.
Even as she looked up into predator’s eyes, his rock hard erection pressed against her stomach, and terror rose in the back of her throat, tasting of bile.
Her heart pounded painfully inside her chest as he crushed his mouth against hers again.
She struggled as her internal instincts screamed for her to escape.
She struggled as her internal instincts screamed for her to escape.
A sudden, intense pain seared inside her head, and, for a moment, she staggered against him.
Fear and adrenaline flowed through her in a rush, and she vowed to do everything she could to get away.
She tried to pull back.
He tightened his hold on her face and pressed her harder against the railing, his mouth still fused forcefully with hers.
She squirmed against him, clawing at his neck and arms.
Tears welled in her eyes when she realized the hot flow of blood coursing from the furrows she’d scored down his arms had done nothing to loosen his hold.
She tried to pull back.
He tightened his hold on her face and pressed her harder against the railing, his mouth still fused forcefully with hers.
She squirmed against him, clawing at his neck and arms.
Tears welled in her eyes when she realized the hot flow of blood coursing from the furrows she’d scored down his arms had done nothing to loosen his hold.
Her ears rang, and bright lights danced in her vision.
No, she couldn’t black out.
What would happen to her then?
What would happen to her then?
Cassidy slumped against him again, conserving her strength as panic swelled inside her.
That primal self-defense urge to fight, to flee, to survive, broke through her panic as a fresh surge of adrenaline gushed through her body.
She elbowed Brian’s side, and he stepped back giving her room to stomp a spiked heel down hard onto his foot.
As soon as he winced and widened his stance, she drove her right knee into his groin.
That primal self-defense urge to fight, to flee, to survive, broke through her panic as a fresh surge of adrenaline gushed through her body.
She elbowed Brian’s side, and he stepped back giving her room to stomp a spiked heel down hard onto his foot.
As soon as he winced and widened his stance, she drove her right knee into his groin.
The white-hot pain inside her head stopped instantly.
Brian’s hands dropped away from her face to grasp at his injured crotch.
As he collapsed on the ground in a heap, she stumbled away.
She raised one hand to her lips as she stumbled, and grabbed the railing to steady herself.
She raised one hand to her lips as she stumbled, and grabbed the railing to steady herself.
Still dizzy and weak from the aftereffects of the pain, she took a deep breath and tried to make her legs move.
Brian looked up at her.
“
You stupid bitch, you’ll pay for that!
“
You stupid bitch, you’ll pay for that!
”
Cassidy jumped.
Brian’s lips hadn’t moved.
No words had come out of his mouth.
But she’d heard his voice inside her head.
Brian’s lips hadn’t moved.
No words had come out of his mouth.
But she’d heard his voice inside her head.
What the hell is happening?
Am I losing my mind?
Am I losing my mind?
Brian’s hand snaked out and latched firmly around her left ankle, startling her out of her shock.
She met his blazing gaze, and renewed pain seared inside her head.
Still reacting to the overdose of adrenaline, she kicked Brian in the face, and heard a satisfying crunch.
Blood gushed from his nose, and she bolted away, rushing toward the long flight of stone steps that hugged the side of the building and led down to the front of the resort.
Still reacting to the overdose of adrenaline, she kicked Brian in the face, and heard a satisfying crunch.
Blood gushed from his nose, and she bolted away, rushing toward the long flight of stone steps that hugged the side of the building and led down to the front of the resort.
As quickly as her spiked heels allowed, she raced down the steps straining to hear any sounds of pursuit behind her.
“Don’t trip, don’t trip, don’t trip!” she chanted until finally she reached the last stone step.
She rounded the corner and rushed into the noisy crowd bustling around the front entrance.
She rounded the corner and rushed into the noisy crowd bustling around the front entrance.
Thank God for all the people.
I should’ve never gone somewhere so secluded!
I should’ve never gone somewhere so secluded!
A young man in the khaki uniform of the resort sent her a concerned expression.
“Are you okay, Miss?”
“Are you okay, Miss?”
“I need a taxi—fast, please…”
She pulled a handful of bills from her purse and thrust them at him.
She pulled a handful of bills from her purse and thrust them at him.
“Thank you, ma’am, that’s very generous.”
He gestured with both hands to a line of waiting taxis.
He gestured with both hands to a line of waiting taxis.
Tears stung her eyes as joy and relief warred inside her chest, and she bolted past him toward the taxi that drove up in front of them.
She tore open the door and dove inside.
She reached out to pull the door closed and came up short as she realized the man in the khaki uniform stood in the open doorway.
She tore open the door and dove inside.
She reached out to pull the door closed and came up short as she realized the man in the khaki uniform stood in the open doorway.
He leaned down to look at her.
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yes, I have to go.”
Too bad I’m too busy with the Reaper tonight to wipe the frown off that pretty face, but I’m glad she isn’t leaving with him.
“The Reaper?”
Shock traveled over the man’s face before a movement near the front entrance caught her attention.
Brian rushed out of the restaurant with a handkerchief pressed to his gushing nose.
“I have to go!”
She pounded on the clear partition between the front and back seats.
“Drive!
Drive!”
She pounded on the clear partition between the front and back seats.
“Drive!
Drive!”
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