Abigail Lefay, owner of the infamous fetish club, The Black Flame, is much more than just an eccentric occultist. She's a powerful witch with a violent past. When the Chicago Mafia violates a truce with her coven, Abigail must leave her self-imposed sanctuary to teach them they're not the only family who should be feared. To save four innocent girls from violent rape and a life of slavery, she must incite...a Blood War Excerpt Jimmy's mouth and jaw were bruised, and his left eye was swollen shut. But the adrenaline rush of revenge and his love of fire had him feeling just fine. He was going to roast those bastards alive and make those little bitches watch, then take his excitement out on them. Further down the hallway, two of the overhead lights suddenly exploded. Sparks showered down to the floor, and that part of the corridor plunged into darkness. "They're shooting out the lights," one man whispered. "I didn't hear any..." Marco trailed off when two more bulbs blew out. Instantly they all edged closer to the walls and crouched, aiming their pistols at the encroaching darkness. More sparks flew, and this time Bellino glimpsed movement just beyond the shadows. "Now " Marco barked, and each man squeezed off several shots. Wood splintered...but Bellino frowned when three bullets burst into flame with a popping sound, as if they'd exploded without hitting anything. A shape suddenly emerged from the shadows. Marco aimed his gun, then stared in surprise. "What the hell?" Jake demanded as the crow hopped into the light. It screeched at them, and spread its wings as if challenging them. "Bye bye, birdie " Marco laughed, and squeezed the trigger. The bird squawked again, and excitedly flapped its wings. Each round exploded before reaching it. The air in front of them was shimmering. The crow made a noise Bellino swore sounded like a mocking laugh. "Wanna play with fire?" he snarled, and aimed his gun, preparing to hose it down with flame. He stopped when a tall, black-cloaked figure emerged from the shadows behind it. The cloak's hood was pulled low, hiding the face behind it. The person's arms were folded, and both hands were tucked into the cloak's wide sleeves. Willie and Jake didn't wait for orders; they quickly fired several more rounds. The figure raised both arms, and spread hands that were long-fingered and white as chalk. Every round exploded harmlessly without connecting, as if they'd struck an invisible wall. "Fire with fire, bitch " Bellino yelled. A thin stream of flame shot out from his modified pistol, and enveloped the woman. "Yes " he bellowed triumphantly. Sudden chills rippled down his spine. The woman was completely engulfed in flames, but she wasn't screaming...she wasn't even moving Quickly he sprayed more fire, and the flames burned brighter. Then they vanished as if a switch had been thrown. "Mother of God," Marco whispered. The robe had burned away. The woman underneath was wearing a long black skirt that covered her ankles, but when she stepped forward, Bellino saw it was slit up to the hip on both sides, exposing high boots and thighs as white as her hands. Her top was a black and blue corset laced tightly to showcase large milk-white breasts. Her bare arms were covered from shoulders to elbows with demonic tattoos. A wild mass of blue-streaked black hair covered her downturned face. She advanced toward them, and Marco and Bellino cautiously retreated. At his side, Marco ejected his spent clip, and slammed another one home. "Defective rounds," he whispered, sounding as if he was trying to convince himself. "I want your name, bitch " Bellino demanded. "I am the daughter of the devil." Her raspy voice echoed from beneath her thick mass of hair. "And I'm here to collect my fath
Halloween will never be the same again A costumed psychotic killer calling herself 'Bad Kitty' is stalking the streets of Providence. She targets unfaithful married men and promises them exquisite pleasure, but delivers only brutal death. Lead detective Josh Wilson, also a notorious adulterer, is one of her targets. He must race against time to stop her before she kills again. His trap is set, but will the hunter become the prey? Will he catch his elusive cat? Or will Bad Kitty prove that Every Dog Has Its Day? Excerpt "Police " Josh hammered on the door. "Open up, now " "She's going out the window " a voice cried from inside the room. Josh stepped back, and kicked the door just under the knob. The force of the impact thrummed up his leg and into his hip as the door splintered and flew open. He stepped forward, gun in both hands, and in a second that seemed frozen in time, took in the scene. A man was naked and tied to the bed with pink ropes, his erect shaft purple from the sex ring's pressure. At the foot of the bed was their killer. She was dressed in a short, tight leather skirt with knee-high leather boots, and a pink low-cut top. Her black mask covered her upper face, and included a set of pink ears and long pink whiskers. As soon as he entered, her arm was moving forward. Lamplight caught the silver glint of the long blade as it spun through the air at his face. Josh threw himself awkwardly down and to the left. He landed on his knees, and was already bringing the gun back up when he heard a cry of pain behind him. He glanced back into the doorway. Matt was on his ass, staring in shock at the long curved knife protruding from his shoulder. The sound of breaking glass made him whip back. She was crouching on the windowsill. She swung her elbow into the frame, sending both wood and glass exploding out onto the fire escape. "Get your ass down on the floor, bitch " Josh leveled the gun at her from his knees. "I said..." Her hands flashed out, and Josh dove to the side as large shards of glass flew toward him. One sailed over his head, but the second hit the floor and skipped upward toward his face. Josh let momentum roll him onto his back. The glass shattered next to him as he saw her scrambling onto the windowsill. Josh squeezed off two shots. The first one went wild, hitting the wall to the right of the window. It sent a shower of plaster cascading down over the guy on the bed, who was screaming like someone from a horror movie. The second shot was much closer, hitting the frame just to her right. She yelped as chunks of wood exploded from the window, striking her. Josh rolled back onto his knees and took aim, but she'd already darted out the window. He jumped to his feet, and turned to check on Matt. His partner had wrapped a handkerchief around the hilt to try and preserve any prints, and was gingerly pulling the knife from his shoulder. "You all right?" he demanded. "It didn't go deep. Go get her " He jumped to the left of the window, gun extended, looking out onto the platform of the fire escape. Seeing nothing, he spun around, checking the other side. "Wait for backup, then come after me " he ordered. He leaped out the window, and looked over the railing. A shadow moving on the alley floor made the hairs on his neck rise. Swiftly he spun to the right and brought his gun up. She was hanging from the bars of the landing above them. She made a feline mewling sound, and viciously kicked his chest. The impact hurled him back into the railing. Fiery pain lanced through his shoulders and down his legs as he gasped in shock and landed hard on his ass. Before he could catch his breath, she dropped lightly onto the landing between his outstretched legs. "Hello, doggie," she whispered, her lips curled over her teeth in a feral snarl.
For J.D. Walker, owner of the infamous fetish club The Devil's Playground, life is good. His club is successful, he has plenty of money, and he spends his time indulging in his lifelong addiction: sex. But despite his current success, he is still haunted by a dark and violent past. Two years ago, reporter Molly Malone was part of a news team sure they could prove the Playground was a high-end brothel where people paid to have their sickest fantasies fulfilled. But Malone and her partners underestimated J.D. Walker's powerful connections and the expos blew up in their faces, ending in a libel suit that cost all but Molly their jobs. Now J.D. faces a far more serious threat from Reverend Zachary Knox, a fire-and-brimstone preacher who has sworn to close dens of iniquity like the Playground. Knox's protestors are scaring always Walker's clients and his employees, and it seems the reverend has just as many connections as he does. Molly Malone wouldn't mind seeing J.D. go down, but she has a personal vendetta against Knox. Back in Alabama where Molly grew up, Knox and his corrupt ministry were responsible for the darkest event in her life, one that has left her scarred emotionally and craving dark perversions. Up until now, J.D. and Molly had nothing in common but a mutual loathing for each other. But both have reasons to bring down Knox, and are willing to dance with any devil that gives them a chance, including each other. Using Molly's firsthand knowledge of Knox's crimes and Walker's connections, the two unite to destroy their common foe...and learn they have more in common than they knew: they are both driven by the demons of their pasts. Excerpt "The detective who was involved with the fight in the parking lot, Higgins, works in Vice," J.D. said. "I'll call him, and give him the tip there's some funky shit going on in the Connecticut fetish scene. See if he gets any bites. But I still have doubts you could pull off going in there with us." Her spine stiffened, and she stared belligerently up into his eyes. "I'm tougher than I look." She realized she was losing the battle with Slut Molly when she impulsively goaded him, "I'd offer you a demonstration, but I doubt your girlfriend lets you off the leash for long. Isn't it about time you ran home and reported everything to Mommy like a good little boy?" "A demonstration?" He loomed over her and, despite her bravado, she took a nervous step backwards. "What, you think I'm one of those creeps from Chelsea? You think I'd jump at your little 'free lunch' sign?" "Oh, please." She glared disdainfully up at him. "You're an easy target I've hit close to home with you every time, and you know it " Her voice took on a caustic edge. "I know your kind, Walker, and I know how to handle you." "Do you?" His smirk reappeared, and he advanced steadily as she backed up again. The rational part of her mind screamed to tell him they were done, and make him leave, but her sluttish persona was eager to play her game. J.D. Walker had haunted her dreams for two years now. In a way, he'd become the personification of everything she craved, but shouldn't...the ultimate bad boy. An arrogant jerk who made her yearn to be treated the way he did his clients. The wall blocked her retreat, and he towered above her. "You want to play Tough Girl with me, Molly?" he demanded, gripping her chin in one large hand. "What's the matter? Don't know how to play the game because you're in your place, and not on your knees in some back alley?" "You arrogant son of a..." "You want a demonstration?" he insisted. "I'll give you one." He released her, then began undoing her blouse. "I told you there's one rule: consent." Another button popped open, and her breasts heaved as she struggled for breath. "That doesn't mean you have to say yes...it just means you didn't say no. Tell me to leave, and I will. If you don't..." He shrugged. "We both know what will happen."
The storm is coming "Things are moving...forces are gathering, and they gather against you " Old Pearl's ancient spirit guide predicts an impending war like even the bloody city of Chicago has never seen. But Abigail Lefay, mistress of a deadly coven, is no stranger to conflict. Most would fear danger. Abigail openly invites it. She shows no fear of Mafia lieutenant Donnie Bellino, whose violent brother she killed, or his mysterious hired assassin. Nor will she back down from the cruel Ruine family she framed for Jimmy Bellino's murder. After all, Abigail Lefay is far from helpless. Her occult powers are formidable. Seth and his loyal mercenaries will fight at her side-and so will Pearl's niece, Jasmine, a powerful psychic. Most importantly, Abigail's coven will come to her aid...or will they? When she breaks a longtime tradition and risks war with another occult family, she faces the one threat she may not be able to survive: Her own family Excerpt They reached the car, and Frank was about to open his door when Rocco exclaimed, "Are you kidding me?" Frank followed his gaze. Abigail Lefay was coming toward them from the other end of the alley. She'd changed, and was now wearing a long black skirt slit up to the hips on both sides, exposing thigh-high boots. Protruding from each boot was the hilt of a knife. Her top had been replaced by a leather vest with silver skulls as buttons. It wasn't her outfit or even the knives that caused his hair to stand on end; it was her face. The big fake was smile gone; her black-painted lips were set in a feral snarl. She walked toward them, and her boots clicked on the concrete floor of the alley. A shadow passed over them, and with a loud caw, the crow dropped from the sky and perched on her shoulder. Its claws bit into the leather of the vest. "Well, well Check it out, boys " Rocco laughed. "Lily Munster is back, and she looks pissed." Rocco walked past the car, and the other men followed. Frank forced himself to move through the feeling of dread that had returned full-force, and caught up to them. Abigail stopped about twenty feet away, and the guys spread out in front of her. Frank sidled up next to Jake. "Hang back. Let them handle this." "Is she nuts?" Jake asked him quietly. "Yeah, looks that way." "A little girl all alone in an alley better watch out " Willie called to her. "No one's going to hear you scream when we shank your snotty pink ass." "It's not my screams that will fill this alley." She pointed at them. "You dogs come into my club and seek to scare me? You threaten me?" "What you going to do about it, bitch?" Bobby pushed his jacket sleeve up to expose the black sheath around his forearm...the one she had somehow known he was wearing. "Think I'll start with your bird." With a flick of his wrist, he threw one of the small knives. It sailed end-over-end, heading straight for the bird. Abigail flicked her wrist to the side. The knife veered to the right, and struck the wall. A shower of sparks exploded. "Huh?" Bobby threw another, this time harder, and she flicked her other hand. The blade sailed up over her head, and they heard it land on the ground somewhere behind her. "My turn." She held her hand out. The knife in her left boot flew into her palm, and Rocco gasped, "You... You see that?" She bent her arm so the blade touched her shoulder, then threw it in a backhand motion. The knife sailed through the air, spinning sideways, and both Willie and Rocco jumped away when it struck Bobby in the throat. He released a choking gurgle, and blood spurted around the knife protruding from his neck. He sank to his knees, clutching his neck and gagging, spraying blood several feet in front of him.
