With Visions of Red (Broken Bonds#2) (14 page)

It’s not about the dark hiding our shame, making it easier to utter the histories that forged us. But rather, it’s the strength in which we find there. The comfort that we are not alone in that dark.

I’m reluctant to move. I know that once I do, the soreness will take hold of my body and then it will be impossible to find sleep again. A smile touches my lips as the night comes back to me, and the discomfort feels less immediate.

Still, with all what I have to do tomorrow, I decide to try to stave off the ache with a countermeasure. I pry myself off the cot and head toward the table in hopes that I’ll find something more than lotion and aftercare products, like aspirin.

I’m amazed at how light I feel, regardless. How my shoulders roll back easily, my head lifts a bit higher. Baring your soul to someone you trust—there’s nothing else that compares. It’s almost enough to counter the blow of having been removed from the case. And with that thought, my mood tunnels. Damn Quinn.

Forcing disappointment aside, I savor the afterglow of our moment, for however long it will last. And truly, I almost feel as if I glow, but then I realize it’s just the fogginess of my sleep-addled brain and the flashing coming from Colton’s phone.

I glance back at him, then at his phone. It’s blowing the hell up. Biting my lip, I take a peek at the screen.

The fucking world implodes.

I clamp a shaky hand over my mouth, my eyes unable to look away from the horror on the screen. With each new message, another image pops up. Each one becoming more and more terrifying.

“No.” I shake my head. “No, no, no.
No
!”

Those who you care for the most.

The UNSUB’s words mock me. As another image of a bound and gagged Avery flashes across the screen, I drum up my courage and grab the phone. I open the message and scroll through the images. Like a flipbook, her poses slightly shift as she struggles against her restraints.

“She’s alive,” I say, scrolling to the first and then back to the most recent. “She’s not dead. He’s holding her captive.” I say the words aloud, willing them to be true. Believing them…because I cannot accept any other outcome.

“Sadie,” Colton’s voice crashes through the fear gripping me, and I whirl to face him.

“You have access to the main office here,” I say, my own voice sounding foreign. It’s not a question. “And surveillance. You have to have some kind of surveillance. The UNSUB was here…so he might’ve been caught on tape.”

His face registers his confusion. “I do, but it’s early—”

“We need the member files. Now.”

He moves close to me and rubs his hands along my arms. “You’re shaking. Jesus, Sadie, what’s—?”

I hand him the phone, unable to say what I dread. “I can’t, Colton. I just…I have to get to those files.”

I’ve done everything the UNSUB required of me up to this point. I’ve played his game within the system, and this is my punishment. Avery is suffering.

Colton’s stony gaze travels from the screen to me. “You know her.”

I nod. “We have to save her…I can’t let—” The tears fall free, and I choke them back. Avery needs my strength. I cannot break.

The phone buzzes, and Colton looks down. He reads, “You should not have given up your communication so easily, Sadie. A person must then go to extremes to gain your attention.”

Gripping my hands in my hair, I tear at my scalp, trying to force my brain past the panic and to think.
Think
.

Fuck. Anger rages anew, blistering my veins like lava.

It’s clear. All so clear.

“He’s on the inside,” I say, and march over to my discarded dress.

The UNSUB has insider knowledge. There may be a huge leak in the department, but my removal from the case was only hours ago. And like I warned Quinn, that would only piss the UNSUB off.

Now someone who doesn’t deserve his wrath is paying the price.

And I swear—I swear to God—I will not lose Avery.

I will tear through every member of that department until I find the UNSUB.

T
o her darkness
, she whispers. Of monsters and visions of red, of the terrors that claw up from her abyss. Monsters are forged, but heroes are born. To the light, she sings. Of fortitude and acceptance found only in his arms. ~Sadie Bonds

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Living Heartwood Novels

The Darkest Part
: Living Heartwood (Book 1)
-iTunes

Losing Track
:
Living Heartwood (Book 2) -
iTunes

Fading Out
:
Living Heartwood (Book 3)
-iTunes

Bad Road
: Living Heartwood (Book 4 coming soon)

With Visions of Red
: Broken Bonds, Book One
-iTunes

With Visions of Red
: Broken Bonds, Book Two

With Visions of Red: Broken Bonds, Book Three (coming soon)

The Goddess Wars

Of Silver and Beasts
: Goddess Wars (Book 1)

Of Darkness and Crowns
: Goddess Wars (Book 2)

Kythan Guardians

Destiny’s Fire
: A Kythan Guardians Novel

Astarte’s Wrath
: A Kythan Guardians Novel

Fireblood Series

Fireblood
: Fireblood (Book 1)

Unveiled
: Fireblood Novella

T
hank you to
:

My amazingly talented critique partner and friend, P.T. Michelle, for reading so quickly, giving me the much needed pep talks and advice, wonderful notes, and for your friendship.

My super human beta readers, I could not write books without your brilliance. Honestly, you are my girls! Katrina Tinnon, Naomi Hopkins, Amy Bosica, and Michell Casper. I really can’t express how much you mean to me—just know that I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you.

A special shout out to the girls who keep me sane in the Wolfe Club, where it’s perfectly acceptable to be anything but ;) You guys are the best. You make me laugh, keep me motivated, and offer so much support, you have no idea. I adore every single one of you.

My awesome assistant, Naomi Hopkins. I could not get through one book without your insightful input, girl. You go above and beyond an assistant’s duties to help me sort through my chaotic life. Thank you for being a friend.

To my family. My son, Blue, who is my inspiration, thank you for being you. I love you. And my husband, Daniel, for your support and owning your title as “the husband” at every book event. I love you, too. To my parents, Debbie and Al, for the emotional support, chocolate, and unconditional love—I love you guys right back.

Najla Qamber of Najla Qamber Designs, thank you for so much for not just creating this stunning, take-my-breath-away cover, but for also just rocking so hard! You were so much fun to worth with; you took the stress right out of the very stressful task of series cover creation, and I cannot wait to work with you again on future projects. This cover is everything I envisioned and more.

A special acknowledgement to Damaris, thank you for being not only a wonderful friend, who’s there when I just need to call someone, but also a huge support of my career. You mean so much to me.

There are many, oh, so many people who I have to thank, who have been right beside me during this journey, and who will continue to be there, but I know I can’t thank everyone here, the list would go on and on! So just know that I love you dearly. You know who you are, and I wouldn’t be here without your support. Thank you so much.

To my readers, you have no idea how much I value and love each and every one of you. If it wasn’t for you, none of this could be possible. As cliché as that sounds, I mean it from the bottom of my heart; I adore you, and hope to always put out books that make you laugh, swoon, and cry.

I owe everything to God, thank you for
everything
.

F
rom an early age
, Trisha Wolfe dreamed up fantasy worlds and characters and was accused of talking to herself. Today, she lives in South Carolina with her family and writes full time, using her fantasy worlds as an excuse to continue talking to herself. Get updates on future releases and special bonus material at
http://www.trishawolfe.com/

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