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Tuesday, May 12, 2026

PROMO: Tales of the Quiet Kitty

 



Sci-Fi Fantasy Romance, LGBTQ+

Date Published: May 15, 2026



These futuristic sci-fi tales are anything but quiet.

Board the Quiet Kitty Waveship and travel with Brant Sel, a Sh'Bahkyr Tygyr and his crew: Bevel-leveB, a Medusoid Jenari with a sentient cock, and Willa, a Sprite from the wounded planet Sparkle.

Brought together by fate, these three have common goals -- to rescue and gather their lost peoples so they can take down the corrupt, brutal Corporation, run by the most evil beings in the three Galaxies... Humans.

Publisher's Note: This box setcontains the previously released Quiet Kitty novellas Under the Cat's Paw, Dancing with the Devil, Holiday Dreams, Naked Secrets, and Cat Scratch Fever.

 

 


EXCERPT

 

Excerpt from Under the Cat's Paw

The door opened and the sensor controlled walkway winked out beneath her weighted feet. Almost sorry to reach her destination -- she so rarely had a chance to see daylight -- Willa plodded heavily into the interview room, her small ankles locked into a pair of slaver's cuffs. Head down, neck bowed, she flicked her eyes about in quick, furtive forays, taking in the room's sparse furnishings: a six foot long cushioned slab and a straight-backed, armless chair. Noting the absence of tweezers, whips, electronic probes and other sadistic devices with a thankful sigh and a renewed sense of hope, she dared to sneak a quick glance at the room's other occupant, determined to somehow influence him to take her with him. A harsh, swift breath lifted her full breasts and set her covering plumes to fluttering.

Before her stood a grey-skinned bi-pedal Being lounging at ease, his long slender hands resting on the upper horizontal bar of a tall-backed chair. He faced her, his nude body -- tall, slim and muscular -- displaying a total lack of self-consciousness. A thick mop of unruly platinum hair waved in the brush of an unseen -- and unfelt -- breeze, falling over his forehead to obscure his sightless silver eyes. His mouth hung open, allowing a nineteen-centimeter tongue, coated with cilia, to protrude slightly.

She identified the Being as a Jenari. A member of a race powerful enough to stand up to the Corporation, his kind usually did not travel in Corporate Space. Jenari rarely mingled with other races, remaining a mystery rarely seen among the Corporation's citizenry. Because of this much speculation abounded regarding their peculiar genetic makeup.

She had heard enough about the genetically blind, Medusoid race to know the Jenari's tongues served as their true "eyes." With their tongues, they "tasted" the air, able to sense their environment more accurately than could most sighted persons.

Currently, the naked alien appeared nonchalant and relaxed. His posture broadcast his sense of control, his power over her in this private chamber, obviously unaware how easily that privacy -- his privacy -- had been breached. The so-called secure interrogation cubicle was anything but, her master having ordered it wired for video and sound, rendering it accessible and easily monitored by him.

The Jenari cocked his head toward her now, giving the impression of eyeing her askance, locating her so accurately, she almost doubted his sightlessness.

"Sso... you are Willa. Your masster tellss me he hass had you trained ass a SSexengineer... capable of keeping a Dinyar-classs Wavesship and a medium number of crew in tip-top orgassmic condition."

The male's sibilant words slid from his lips. He framed his sentences oddly, their cadence broken and rendered choppy by the repeated extrusion of his tongue. The cilia laden appendage darted out between every several words, sipping the air in her direction.

"You look much too fragile for ssuch sstrenuous work. A female of your delicassy sshould be cossseted and cared for... your cunt well conditioned with frequent usse... your ssweet cream churned with a long thick sspoon..."

Willa felt the Jenari's thick voice, his dulcet tones, flowing over her, calming her jangling nerves. Her pussy, long denied any easing, dewed in response to the pictures his words painted. A strong compulsion beat at her, making her want nothing so much as to loll at his feet in adoration.

Strange, how clear his words are, given that he speaks using that crowded appendage... Oh, Drasarka -- not so strange when he is attempting to mind-thrall me!

"Sparkle!"

With a negating shake of her head and an inward surge of disgust at the endless power-games of males, she threw up her mind blocks, easily winning free of the subliminal influence. Angered beyond thinking, she verbally blasted the alien, incensed he would try such a trick on her. "Your mind speak will not work on me, Jenari."

She tossed her head, meeting his renewed mental challenge with a sneer. "I am a Sprite. I cannot be compelled by your voice, nor can your honeyed words thrall me."

The alien's wide mouth spread in a practised movement that aped a smile. "You are a fressh ssassy baggage! I can ssee why your masster ssayss you invite beatingss, sslave!" His lips closed in a thin line, concealing his tongue.

She cringed, damning her mouth and her loss of self-control. By Sparkle! When would she learn to keep her comments to herself? What would she do if her unruly anger lost her this chance of escape?

It had taken too long to convince her master she truly wished to serve his plans by spying for him. She had spent the long, grueling years learning about ship propulsion units, drive flux capacitors and other diverse technical entities for just such a chance as this: escape. During that time, she'd swallowed her gorge and taken the physical abuse and so-called sexual cruelties Lord Avron had doled out, never letting on how his milder tortures ignited her carnal hungers. She'd only slipped up once, but that lapse had proven costly.

Avron had somehow learned she needed his release -- any partner's release -- inside her, needed the life-giving fluid of come washing the walls of her sex in order to flourish and grow a healthy set of pinions and fronds. Since that time, he'd kept her at the minimum edge of physical and psionic sexual starvation, taking pleasure in gauging what lengths she would go to, the degradations she would endure in order to receive a few drops of come.

Years of maneuvering, of posturing and subterfuge had paid off. Lately, unrest and political furor had escalated within the Corporation. Due to financial setbacks and personal miscalculations, Lord Avron had lost respect among his peers. The other Corporation Lords, like canker-phish -- more deadly than the great blalor-sharks of Trofu that devoured their own young -- hovered about, sniffing around his weakness, waiting for his failure. Her master had been forced to regroup, jettisoning some of his plans for advancement just to maintain his present lofty position among the powerful despots.

Unwilling to go outside his private power base to obtain help and whatever information he sought, it had been easy to convince him of her willingness to win the position as Sexengineer aboard the Quiet Kitty Waveship and garner information from its crew to transmit back to him. Why he had become obsessed with this vessel, she neither knew nor cared. All that concerned her lately was finding her scattered people. Sparkle called for her and its other children, its summons an imperative she could not ignore. Time was fast running out for her. If she messed this interview up, she knew Avron would kill her.

Belly roiling with resentment, she averted her face to hide her grimace and abased herself before the alien -- probably her last chance at freedom. "I offer apologies to you, Gentle-Being. I beg you to take no offence."

"Be at easse, Ssprite. I tesst all who sseek to sserve aboard my vesssel. No one sso eassily controlled iss welcomed aboard my Quiet Kitty. Let uss begin anew..."

One long arm extended palm up, in the manner of greeting peculiar to her slavers, the alien stepped from behind the chair, unerringly approaching Willa. "I am Bevel, masster of the Quiet Kitty Waveship."

She choked, eyes riveted in desperate immediate hunger to his newly revealed sex. Obviously, her information loop had seriously failed to include some pertinent data...

Standing before her, hands extended, awaiting her acknowledgement of his greeting, the alien was an impressive sight. Or rather, the impressive sight was his more than ten inch penis swaying lazily between his grey muscular thighs. A darker grey than the rest of his skin, the Medusoid cock undulated back and forth, its serpent-like moves hypnotic, compelling, drawing her fascinated gaze.

 


About the Author

A funny thing happened on the way to the grave... In 2006, Cammy was diagnosed with Pulmonary Sarcoidosis and given two weeks to live. She promptly discharged herself AMA -- Against Medical Advice -- since, as she stubbornly informed her doctors, she could die at home far more comfortably than at the hospital. But then... she got an idea for a new story. Then another, and another...

Fifteen years and dozens of fantastic tales later, Cammy passed quietly in her sleep, at home, as was her wish. We miss her. Her work lives on, and we hold her in our hearts. Cammy decided many years ago that upon her passing, she wished to donate her royalties to The Quiet Kitty fund, which helps authors with emergency medical expenses. We do, to keep her in our hearts and minds.

 

Find Camille’s other works at Changeling Press


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Monday, May 11, 2026

PROMO: Voyagers - Homeland to Heartland

 



Biographical Fiction

Date Published: March 26, 2026



Voyagers: Homeland to Heartland is a sweeping, multi-generational saga inspired by true family history, tracing a Norwegian immigrant family's journey from the rugged valleys of Norway to the windswept prairies of Nebraska.

Rooted in the author's own heritage, the story follows Kittil and Marte Dyrebu as they leave behind everything familiar-family, language, and homeland-to chase the promise of opportunity in America. Their passage across the Atlantic is only the beginning. What follows is a lifetime of perseverance: carving a home from raw prairie, enduring devastating storms, profound loss, quiet joys, and the relentless demands of frontier life.

Told through richly detailed vignettes, Voyagers weaves together the lives of parents and children, siblings and spouses, revealing how love, faith, and tradition are carried forward even as circumstances change. From intimate moments around a family table to life altering crossroads shaped by duty, sacrifice, and longing, each generation faces its own tests-yet remains bound by shared memory and resilience.

At its core, Voyagers is a tribute to storytelling itself: the way stories preserve identity, heal grief, and connect past to present. It is a novel for anyone drawn to historical fiction, immigrant journeys, and the enduring power of family legacy.

Both tender and unflinching, Voyagers honors the courage of those who came before-and the stories that continue to shape who we are.


About the Author


Award-winning author and motivational speaker, D. L. Norris is widely recognized for her insightful contributions to literature and personal development. With a prolific career spanning several decades, Norris has explored themes of health, emotional wellness, family dynamics, and cultural history, earning her a devoted readership. Her acclaimed novels, "The Long Way Home," "Where the Heart Is," "Old Books and Faded Dreams: Collector's Edition," "Field of Memories: A Tapestry of Heartwarming Short Stories," The Intercessors: They Walk Among Us," and "Voyagers: Homeland to Heartland"—are celebrated for their vibrant, oft-humorous stories and authentic portrayal of real-life events and mindsets inspired by her beloved Scandinavian heritage.

Norris's writing is characterized by its warmth, wit, and ability to capture the complexities of human relationships, drawing from her own experiences and family traditions. Through her work, she invites readers to reflect on the importance of resilience, hope, and unconditional love, weaving together narratives that resonate across generations.

She and her husband, Quincy, reside in the picturesque city of Hartford, Connecticut, where they continue to inspire others through their commitment to storytelling and community engagement.

 

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PROMO: Alive... For a Reason

 


What You Don’t Know Will Kill You and It’s Not the Pandemic: Julia’s Story


Nonfiction / Biographies / Health

Date Published: December 23, 2024



You don’t have to die… like Julia almost did.

This gripping memoir tells the true story of a sudden, devastating illness—thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)—a rare blood disorder with a 90% mortality rate if left untreated.

Through a deeply personal and conversational narrative, Jaiden Jackson Smith brings readers into Julia’s world:

● A body turning against itself

● A mind navigating fear, confusion, and altered reality

● A spirit clinging to faith and purpose


What You’ll Discover

● The hidden dangers of undiagnosed illness

● The link between stress, trauma, and autoimmune disorders

● The reality of hematological conditions and platelet disorders

● The emotional and spiritual battle of survival

 

About the Author


Jaiden Jackson Smith is an award-winning author, advocate, and storyteller whose work centers on truth, healing, and human resilience.

Her debut memoir earned the 2025 International Impact Book Award, marking her as a powerful new voice in inspirational nonfiction.

Jaiden holds a Master’s degree in Law and Public Policy in Nevada and is committed to continuing her education to advocate for:

● Individuals with intellectual disabilities

● People with disabilities

● Senior adults

Her life is guided by three core values:
Integrity. Loyalty. Determination.

Beyond her professional achievements, Jaiden finds joy in:

● Spending time with her husband

● Enjoying music—especially Earth, Wind & Fire

● Writing and creative expression

● Bringing light into the lives of others through kindness

Her mission is simple yet profound:
To remind people they are seen, valued, and never alone.

 

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Blog Tour: Goodbye Demons

 




Historical Fiction

Date Published: 04-24-2026

Publisher: Salty Books Publishing



When injuries put an end to the figure skating career of Angela Fernandez Parnell, she joins the Peace Corps.

She is assigned to Tunis where she falls in love with U.S. diplomat James Whitcomb. At the conclusion of their tours of duty, they marry. Within weeks of the wedding, he is taken captive in the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1979-81.

James, held hostage in the U.S. Embassy in Teheran, endures the same demons that afflicted the real life hostages during the actual crisis 45 years ago.

Angie, biting her nails at home, endures her own demons. How can she support him? Should she join efforts to force the president into negotiating a release? Or even a rescue?

When the ordeal finally ends fourteen months later, the couple faces a new set of demons. Rebuilding their life together as they each recuperate from their own PTSDs.





Excerpt

 

This was the chance of a lifetime, and Angie swore she wouldn’t blow it. She did elaborate stretching exercises and weight training. She followed a dietician’s meal plan and skated five days a week under the guidance of her coach. Angie concocted a brilliant plan to capture the Gold at Nationals and guarantee her a slot on the Olympic team.

Her coach objected. “No woman has ever done a triple axel, and you’re not ready.”

“I did it in practice. You saw me.”

“You fell. A perfect double axel that you’re capable of doing trumps a triple axel that you screw up.”

Angie was determined to do the triple without falling. She doubled down on her training regime. Bruising falls came each day. It wasn’t until a week before the competitions that she completed a triple. She grinned triumphantly at her surprised coach. Then on the next try she took a nasty fall that left her limping when she rose from the ice. Her coach sped over to her. After making sure Angie had broken no bones, she again warned her to stop trying the triple axel.

“You’re not ready. It’s a riverboat gamble.”

“I have to take the gamble when I’ve got the chance.”

“You’ll have a chance next year. You’ll be stronger and more experienced. That’ll be the time to do it.”

“In the meantime, some other girl might do it first, and nobody will ever hear about me. Even if I do one the next day. Can you tell me who was the second woman to fly across the Atlantic?”

 



About the Author


Historical thriller author JJ Harrigan is a former US Service Officer and political science professor. He scribbles his tales of intrigue on the banks of the St. Croix River in Minnesota, where he lives with his wife, Sandy.


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Blog Tour: Living Soul-Full

 



 

Renewing the Mind, Restoring the Soul: A Small Group Study for Christian Spiritual Formation


Nonfiction / Religion / Spirituality / Christian

Date Published: February 27, 2026



Living Soul-Full invites you to a 26-week sacred journey of deepened intimacy with the Holy Spirit, rooted in Romans 12:1-2 and the call to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Within a trusted small group, you will explore time-honored spiritual disciplines, discern the obstacles hindering your spiritual growth, and discover the rhythms that nourish your soul. Along the way, we will learn to identify and rewire harmful patterns of thought while opening our hearts and bodies to Christ's restorative love. We do his, in community, for the purpose of living as a healed and healing presence in a fractured world.

 


Excerpt

A couple of decades ago, my life hit a wall I never saw coming. Relentless anxiety appeared without warning, quickly escalating into repeated panic attacks, and the many roles I had carried pridefully, and often frantically, throughout my lifetime grew impossibly heavy.

Sleepless nights and a rising desperation pulled me into a spiritual and mental health crisis that began to fracture the carefully constructed self I presented to the world. I felt cut off from even the presence of the God I had loved since childhood.

From my earliest memories, I had lived for the approval of others, auditioning for acceptance in my family and community. I had finally, and later realized, mercifully, reached the limits of my human capacity for energy and emotional engagement. I was unprepared for the truth that my “strength” was far more fragile than I had believed. Afraid of being seen as incompetent, needy, or not enough, I hid my struggle from even my closest friends who could have been trusted to care for me.

I was forced to tend to my exhausted body, mind, and spirit to regain my life. Unsure where to begin, I first visited a doctor (a good start!) and registered to attend a Christian group spiritual direction retreat, with no clear idea of what I was signing up for. In a safe and holy space, compassionate and spiritually grounded strangers helped me see my breaking point, not as failure, but as a necessary part of the divine journey toward wholeness. (Who knew?)

I began to experience for the first time the resilient truth of 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.”

I would eventually express deep gratitude for the desolation that propelled me into the healing presence of Christ. I entered a season of unlearning, rewiring, and remembering how to breathe again. A new path opened, leading to seminary, Clinical Pastoral Education, and a mid-life calling as a hospital chaplain, where I could bear witness to the pain and joy of others with the same healing I had received.

My companions on that first retreat introduced me to authors, living and long gone, who mentored me through their writings about the essential role of spiritual formation and sacred practices in the life of faith, and I read hungrily. I began to realize that much of my Christian upbringing focused on who God is, yet seldom invited me to explore who I was becoming in Christ. It emphasized serving God but rarely simply being with God.

One book, Sacred Companions by David Benner, stirred my longing for relationships marked by trust, vulnerability, and the courage to be seen (shadow and all). He writes, “If you are making significant progress on the transformational journey of Christian spirituality, you have one or more friendships that support that journey. If you do not, you are not. It’s that simple.”

Courageous people are willing to be fully seen because they have already learned to offer compassion to the unlovely parts of themselves-no small feat. We cannot genuinely give to others what we withhold from ourselves.

When we can extend love and grace inward, we are then fit to become someone’s sacred companion. We will have eyes to see the whole individual, ears to hear their truth without judgment, and compassionate space to surround them in love.

This curriculum was born from an invitation from church leadership who identified the need for a safe haven to experience spiritual transformation within our community.

Our first small group included six Christian servants who needed rest and reconnection. We met weekly, sharing from our journals, practicing spiritual disciplines, reading together, and often simply sitting in silence.

We bonded through a shared willingness to be vulnerable, which is derived from the Latin “vulnerabilis,” meaning “susceptible to being wounded.” True vulnerability risks rejection for the sake of connection, and authentic connection heals.

The “Soul Care” ministry was born out of that first gathering and grew organically as the Holy Spirit stirred others who were also seeking soul respite and deeper intimacy with Christ. Many who completed the experience felt called to lead new groups, bringing their own renewed joy, freedom, and sense of belonging to others.

The need for structured lessons became clear as more groups formed. These chapters were created to share the practices and insights that have been most life-giving for us. This is not a traditional Bible study, though a deep love for Scripture will enrich the experience. It is for those who desire more of God’s Spirit, are willing to be truly seen, and can commit to fully participating.

By saying yes to this study, you are responding to an invitation from the Spirit of God to engage in formation for the sake of Christ’s kingdom. It is no small thing to enter a new experience of Christian community without knowing exactly where the journey will lead. Yet you are here!

Engaging with these teachings and practices alongside companions will help you discover, or rediscover, the divine center that has always been within you, where God’s Spirit dwells with your own. In this astonishing place, God’s purpose is fulfilled as you embody Love on earth.

One aim of this curriculum is to awaken your hunger and thirst for the richness that is already yours in Christ. The hope is that your longing for more of the Living Water and Bread of Life will move you to continue pursuing holy practices, both individually and within community. May Living Soul-Full simply be a springboard to dive more deeply into the ever-abiding Presence of our God.

Key teachings are repeated intentionally throughout the book. It is way too easy to lose perspective when life gets complicated, even after years of practice. Many who return to lead new groups say it feels like encountering the material for the first time, a reminder that the work of being formed into the image of Christ lasts for a lifetime.

So, as souls in communion with the saints who have gone before, may we listen for and discern the invitation to accompany Jesus and one another on the way to living from a healthy soul.

Gratefully,

Your Companion,

Laura Beth Richardson

 

 


About the Author

 

 L.B. is a hospital chaplain and ministry leader whose passion is to help guide others towards spiritual regeneration and wholeness.

It has been her honor, through writing the Living Soul-Full curriculum, to help build and nurture a holy space for renewal-where mind, body, and soul are restored through God’s grace- and to partner in community with others who desire to live emboldened, Spirit-led lives marked by vulnerability and compassion.
Over more than a decade, LB has edited this guide as it evolved into a trusted 26-week small group curriculum in spiritual formation, integrating biblical teaching, spiritual disciplines, practical reflection and even neuroscience.

She is deeply indebted to all those quoted within Living Soul-Full, whose timeless writings and teachings have, across the centuries, nurtured both our desires and efforts to cultivate a healthy soul within Christianity.

She also carries immense gratitude for every participant, facilitator, and all those whose vision for the “Soul Care” ministry at Mountain Christian Church surpassed her own, investing wholehearted from the very beginning. This curriculum is possible because of the support, feedback, and genuine partnership across her church community.


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PROMO: Garbage In, Faster

 



Why AI Needs Conversation Architects

 

Business, Nonfiction

Date Published: April 19, 2026

 


AI doesn't remove the need for human alignment. It amplifies it.

From the co-author of the #1 Amazon Kindle Bestseller Connecting Goals to Impacts and Outcomes comes a provocative companion: a book about why AI makes human conversation skills more essential — not less.

Organizations laid off Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches. Then they adopted AI. They eliminated the people who create alignment — and bought a technology that makes alignment more critical than ever.

The result? Garbage in, faster.

 

This book was written in collaboration with Claude AI by Anthropic. The entire manuscript was generated in under 60 seconds. But those 60 seconds only worked because of the hours of structured conversation that preceded them — and the twenty years of expertise behind those conversations.

The process of writing this book proved its thesis.

 

What you'll learn:

• Why "agile is dead" is the wrong diagnosis — and what actually failed

• Communication Debt: the invisible liability destroying your organization

• Why AI multiplies clarity AND confusion equally — and you choose which

• How VERB + NOUN syntax creates infrastructure for both humans and AI

• Why "context engineering" is Structured Conversations by another name

• The five conversations AI can never have for you

• How to become a Conversation Architect — the role organizations need most

• Five conversations you can have Monday morning with no new tools

 

Who this book is for:

• Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches wondering what comes next

• Product Managers whose AI tools produce beautiful, meaningless artifacts

• Executives who invested in AI but aren't seeing results

• Anyone who suspects that better conversations might be the answer

 

A companion to Connecting Goals to Impacts and Outcomes: Harnessing Structured Conversations for Customer-Driven Value Delivery. That book is the complete toolkit. This one is the argument for why that toolkit is now existential.

Structure the Conversation. Deliver the Outcome.

 

 


About the Author

 

Claude Hanhart is a Product Strategist and Agile Coach with 10+ years of leadership experience in driving groundbreaking product strategies and agile transformations. His approach centers on fostering innovation rooted in business objectives, customer experience, and market leadership through tools such as Generative AI, OKRs, and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD).

Claude's unique academic background - with an MA in Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology and Languages from the University of Berne in Switzerland and an MA in Geography from the University of Minnesota - brings an interdisciplinary perspective to modern product challenges. His multilingual abilities in German, Swiss German, and French have proven invaluable in international collaborations.

Structured Conversations represents Claude's commitment to bridging strategic thinking with practical implementation. Currently based in New Jersey with his wife, Claude finds that their three energetic dogs serve as daily reminders about the importance of clear communication and patient guidance - principles that translate beautifully into his professional coaching work.

 

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PROMO: RIP

 



(Kiss of Death MC)

 

Motorcycle Club Romance, Suspense, Age Gap

Date Published: May 15, 2026




She found her strength. I’ll makes sure no one takes it again.

 

Jade -- I ran from a man who broke me, only to land in the arms of a biker who could destroy what little I have left. Rip is an alpha protector with a dangerous edge I can’t seem to resist. He sees too much, wants too much, and makes me crave things I swore I’d never risk again. He gives me the courage to believe in myself. When my past refuses to let me go, I know I can surrender or stand and fight. If my ex thinks he can take everything from me again, he’s about to learn exactly how wrong he is.

Rip -- The first time I see Jade, she’s barely holding herself together, a trauma survivor trying to outrun a nightmare who won’t stay buried. She’s still fragile enough I know better than to push my way into her life, even when every instinct tells me to pull her close and never let her go. I don’t expect her to see me as anything more than a safe place. Whether I claim her or not, my MC brothers will lay down their lives for her. And when the smoke clears and the blood is washed away, Jade will know she was always meant to be mine. Forever.

 


EXCERPT

 

Jade

The soft, warm lighting in the small dining room did little to reassure me. I stared at my hands resting on the scarred wooden table, watching them tremble against my will. Three weeks at Haven, and my body still hadn’t gotten the message that I was safe now. Safe. What a strange word to apply to homelessness, to sitting in a communal room, surrounded by women who couldn’t meet my eyes because we all recognized the shame in each other’s faces.

I pulled down my sleeve to cover the faint, yellowing bruise on my wrist. My ribs still throbbed with a dull persistent ache that no amount of ibuprofen could completely relieve. The pain was almost comforting -- a reminder that I hadn’t imagined it all, that I wasn’t crazy. My fingers brushed against my cheekbone, the swelling finally gone but the discoloration still visible beneath the concealer I’d carefully applied that morning.

A little boy, maybe five or six, darted past me chasing after his sister, both of them laughing. Their mother called after them in a hushed voice. All the women here spoke quietly most of the time, as if normal volume might shatter whatever fragile peace we’d found. Or too afraid our respite would end in violence once again. I watched them without trying to seem like I was watching. Their mother had dark circles under her eyes, but she smiled when she caught them, tickled them until they squealed.

I looked away. There was an intimacy to their bond that felt invasive to witness, like I was trespassing on something precious. I didn’t belong here, among these women who’d fled with children, with purpose. What did I have? A business degree I’d never used, a dried-up marketing career, and a suitcase only half full of clothes I’d grabbed while Eric was at work. No kids. No friends left. Just bruises and tremors and the growing realization that I had nowhere else to go.

“Jade? Do you have a moment?”

I looked up to see Ada approaching, a clipboard tucked under her arm and a sympathetic smile on her face. Since I’d come here, I’d learned that every woman from that club Mia’s new man belonged to volunteered at this place. The men guarded Haven but never made the residents feel smothered. In fact, I only saw them occasionally. Everyone here cared. Probably too much sometimes. I saw the few people who came through here. Everyone had a sob story and most of them were horrific. By comparison, I had it pretty easy.

“Of course,” I said, straightening my posture automatically.

Ada slid into the chair opposite me and placed the clipboard on the table between us. “Your thirty-day evaluation period ends this weekend,” she said, her voice soft. “I have your extension paperwork here. I hate that we have to do shit like this, but it gets us money for supplies.” She smiled.

My heart stuttered. I hadn’t realized how terrified I was of her saying anything else until the relief flooded through me. “Yes,” I said too quickly, then bit my lip. “I mean, if that’s OK. I’m still working on… figuring things out.” I had to force myself not to wring my hands. I didn’t used to be like this. I didn’t want to be like this now.

Ada pushed the clipboard toward me. “That’s what we’re here for. I just need your signature.”

I picked up the pen, my fingers trembling. I gripped it tighter, trying to control the shake as I signed my name. Ada watched without commenting on my obvious anxiety. She was good at that -- giving people dignity even when they were falling apart.

“Thank you,” she said, taking back the clipboard. “The extension is for another sixty days. After that, we’ll reassess.”

I tried to smile but couldn’t quite commit. I knew how pathetic I looked by not getting back in the game of life, but the thought of trying to explain the abrupt departure from my previous job, of interviewing with visible bruises, of having to be around strange men who might remind me of Eric, could send me into a panic attack.

“Jade, honey? You OK?”

I glanced up at Ada when she spoke. Short answer? No. I wasn’t OK. Better answer? “Fine,” I said. “Just tired.”

Her eyes softened with understanding that made me want to crawl under the table. “There’s a resume workshop on Thursday. No pressure, but it might help to interact with others. And group therapy tomorrow at four is open to everyone.” She put her hand on my shoulder. “There’s no rush, you know. I’m checking boxes because it’s required. You take as much time as you need. We call this place Haven for a reason.”

When she left, I let my shoulders slump, exhausted by the brief interaction. Across the room, a woman about my age was showing her daughter how to braid string into a friendship bracelet. Another was helping her son with what looked like math homework. I’d wanted that once. A family. To be all domesticated and stuff.

Eric had told me he had the same dream. Turned out, his dream had been more about building himself up by keeping someone under his foot. It had been me since before college. Then he wanted Mia but wanted his fucking mind games with me too.

I picked at a dangling hangnail until it bled, sucking the small wound. I’d come to Haven because the nice lady who’d brought me said this place would keep Eric away from me. No questions asked. I stayed in Haven because I was officially homeless and had nowhere else to go. The sad truth was, I hated the thought of leaving this place because I’d never stayed anywhere I felt safer than I did at Haven.

What came next? The question circled in my head like a vulture. I couldn’t stay here forever, but I couldn’t imagine a life outside these walls either. Not when Eric was still out there.

I wrapped my arms around myself, pressing against the bruises on my ribs until the physical pain drowned out everything else.

The crash shattered the afternoon quiet like a gunshot. I didn’t see what happened. First, the ball bouncing across the linoleum, then a little boy chasing after it. One or both of them hit the table where a ceramic vase sat just a little too close to the edge. I only registered the sound as it exploded against the floor, blue and white shards spraying outward like shrapnel. My body reacted before my mind could catch up. Flinch. Gasp. Arms over face. Heart instantly hammering against my ribs as if trying to punch its way out of my chest.

The rational part of my brain knew it was just a broken vase. Just a child’s accident. But my body was already in full survival mode, dumping adrenaline into my bloodstream. My ears rang. My vision tunneled. My muscles coiled tight, ready to do anything I could to avoid what usually came after a crash.

I sucked in a sharp breath that hurt my throat. Held it. Forgot how to release it. The common room had gone still. Through the gaps between my fingers, I saw women frozen in various postures of interrupted activity. Some exchanged knowing glances and looks of sympathy, a language survivors recognized as a trigger response. Others deliberately turned away, giving me privacy in my panic, or maybe protecting themselves from the mirror I’d become.

“I’m so sorry,” the little boy’s mother murmured, already on her knees, gathering ceramic pieces into her cupped palm. “Tyler, go put your ball away, please.” Her voice was tight but controlled. Tyler looked terrified, his lower lip trembling as he clutched the rubber ball to his chest and scurried away.

“It’s fine,” someone said. “Just an accident. Our fault for having something not kid-proof in here.”

“I’ve got a dustpan,” another woman offered, heading toward the supply closet.

I forced my arms down, away from my face. Attempted a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking, but I couldn’t just sit there like a broken doll while everyone else handled the situation. I slid from my chair and knelt beside the boy’s mother.

“Let me help,” I said, reaching for a larger piece of ceramic.

She glanced up at me, her expression a careful blank. “Thanks.”

My fingers trembled so badly I couldn’t pick up the shard. I tried again. Failed again. The third time I managed to grasp it, but my hand shook so hard that I dropped it almost immediately. It clattered against the floor, breaking into smaller pieces.

“Sorry,” I whispered, mortified.

“We’re all a hot mess,” she said with a watery smile. “How about we do the best we can and understand we’re all ghosts.”

The woman with the dustpan and a hand vacuum arrived, sweeping carefully to get the larger pieces before using the vacuum. I tried again to help but my breath came in shallow gasps that weren’t bringing in enough oxygen. Black spots danced at the edges of my vision. I was going to pass out and make an even bigger scene.

I stumbled to my feet and backed away, scanning for somewhere to retreat. The bathrooms were too far. The dormitory area was up a flight of stairs. My legs couldn’t even manage to make it to the elevator much less make it up a flight of stairs. Luckily, I found an empty corner by the bookshelves, partially screened by a large potted plant. I made my way there on wobbly legs, pressing my back against the wall and sliding down until I sat on the floor, knees pulled tight to my chest.

I used to be good at talking myself down from the ledge. Back when the panic attacks were just garden variety anxiety and not the souvenirs of systematic abuse. I tried now, struggling to find the rhythm of controlled breathing that had once been second nature.

I pressed my forehead against my knees, trying to make myself smaller. A tear leaked from the corner of my eye, sliding hot down my cheek. Then another. I wiped them away furiously with the heel of my hand. I was not going to cry in this fucking corner like a child because someone broke a vase. I was not going to be this broken thing Eric created.

But the tears kept coming, silent but unstoppable. They weren’t really about the vase or even about the flashback. They were tears of pure frustration at my body’s betrayal and my mind’s inability to distinguish past from present. And for how pathetic I’d been for so long. Now I had nothing.

* * *

I’d come to an agreement with Hannah. I help out with housekeeping, cooking, and anything else needed in Haven, and I could stay longer. At least, that was the agreement I proposed. She’d smiled and told me that of course I could stay. That there were no conditions and I could stay as long as I wanted. As safe as I felt here, I knew it would be a long while before I “wanted” to leave. And also, I didn’t really believe they’d let me stay here much longer. It was past time I left. I just couldn’t make myself go.

Now, I pushed the supply caddy, which seemed to weigh a ton, its wheels squeaking as I pushed it down the hallway. Hannah had asked me to deliver fresh towels and toiletries to the linen closet where everyone got what they needed. A simple task, but it got me away from the sympathetic glances after my meltdown in the common room. The building designated for Haven had been a former warehouse. But someone had converted the place into a very comfortable, very soothing atmosphere inside.

I passed the small office and approached the security station that controlled access to the entire building. The security here was insane and every security guard working here took their job very seriously. No one got inside Haven who didn’t belong. The door was ajar, and I slowed as I heard Hannah’s voice from inside, clearer and more authoritative than her usual soft-spoken manner.

“-- have to adjust the rotations since Noose’s funeral. We can’t leave any gaps in coverage, especially at night. The restraining orders don’t mean shit if --”

I hesitated outside the door, not wanting to interrupt but also curious about the changes happening around us. Noose had been killed just before I came here. He’d died in the same fire that had nearly claimed the lives of Mia and Oktober, as well as Pain and Inferno. The Kiss of Death MC had been providing security for Haven since its founding, a fact that had initially terrified me until I realized they were the only thing standing between the women here and the men who might come looking for them. More than once, I’d been ashamed of the way Eric had called these men criminals. I’d learned that, while most of them had killed, they’d all had good reasons for what they’d done and had taken their punishment.

I knocked lightly on the doorframe, the caddy parked beside me. “Sorry to interrupt. I have supplies for --”

The words died in my throat as I stepped into the doorway and saw who Hannah was talking to. A large man filled the small security office with his presence across from Hannah. The Kiss of Death leather cut stretched across shoulders that could have belonged to a linebacker. His dark hair was buzzed short on the sides but longer on top, and a shadow of stubble darkened his jaw. But it was his hands that held my attention. They were large and weathered with scars across the knuckles. I didn’t know this man, but he obviously belonged to the club.

I froze, instinctively. I didn’t like strange men. Most of the women here had issues with strange men. I gaped at the guy, feeling like prey caught in a predator’s trap.

“Jade, perfect timing,” Hannah said, seemingly oblivious to my reaction. “This is Rip. He’s taking over Noose’s security detail.” She turned to the man. “Rip, this is Jade. She’s been with us about three weeks now and has been helping with a few chores. She’s been a lifesaver in so many ways.” Hannah gave me a smile before reaching out to take my hand and tug me farther inside the office. “If you can’t find something, find Jade. She’ll either know where it is or if we have whatever it is you need.”

I managed a tight nod, my throat too dry for words. This man was here to protect us, not harm us. I knew he wouldn’t be here if he were a bad person, but my body didn’t get the memo.

“Rip’s going to be handling the night shift security,” Hannah explained, filling the quiet.

I nodded again, stealing a glance at the man from beneath my lashes. I found it difficult to read the guy. His gaze was direct and penetrating, taking in everything around him. When they met mine, I felt a jolt of emotion. Not fear, exactly, but I knew he could see straight through to the very core of me and saw the wreckage hidden underneath the surface. His eyes were intense but kind.

The longer he looked at me, the more his gaze narrowed. He looked almost startled. He turned his head slightly toward me and rubbed the center of his chest absently as though it ached.

I dropped my gaze immediately, studying the scuffed toes of my shoes. My chest tightened with the familiar anxiety that men triggered in me. This man saw things I didn’t want him to see. I knew it like I knew my own name.

“Good to meet you,” I managed to say. I backed toward the door, eager to escape the intensity of his gaze. “I should let you get back to it.”

Rip nodded once. He still hadn’t spoken, but somehow his silence wasn’t threatening. It felt considerate. As if he understood that his voice might be too much for me right now.

I slipped out of the doorway and leaned against the wall in the corridor, breathing deeply to slow my racing heart. Through the partially open door, I could hear Hannah resuming their conversation as if they hadn’t been interrupted.

I pushed away from the wall and headed back toward the common area, my mind replaying those few moments of eye contact. There had been something oddly comforting about the weight of his gaze. Rip hadn’t given me the predatory assessment I’d grown accustomed to from Eric but simply waited. Watchful in the way a guardian surveys their charge.

Strangely, for the first time since arriving at Haven, I felt truly seen. Not as a victim or someone who’d betrayed her best friend, but as a person worth protecting.

 

 

About the Author

Marteeka Karland is an international bestselling author who leads a double life as an erotic romance author by evening and a semi-domesticated housewife by day. Known for her down and dirty MC romances, Marteeka takes pleasure in spinning tales of tenacious, protective heroes and spirited, vulnerable heroines. She staunchly advocates that every character deserves a blissful ending, even, sometimes, the villains in her narratives. Her writings are speckled with intense, raw elements resulting in page-turning delight entwined with seductive escapades leading up to gratifying conclusions that elicit a sigh from her readers.

Away from the pen, Marteeka finds joy in baking and supporting her husband with their gardening activities. The late summer season is set aside for preserving the delightful harvest that springs from their combined efforts (which is mostly his efforts, but you can count it). To stay updated with Marteeka's latest adventures and forthcoming books, make sure to visit her website. Don't forget to register for her newsletter which will pepper you with a potpourri of Teeka's beloved recipes, book suggestions, autograph events, and a plethora of interesting tidbits.

 

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