Happy New Year!

   Hi everyone! Just wanted to wish you all a wonderful and happy New Year! I have been spending time with my extended family, and will be going to our annual 500 tournament New Year party pretty soon. Any of you have family traditions for New Years? Feel free to share!

Facebook "Likes" and Tracker Reviews

  Hey everyone! My Facebook page now has 70 'likes'! Thank you to everyone who has 'liked' me so far, and to anyone who has encouraged others to check out either my page or my blog. I would especially like to thank those who have recommended Tracker to other readers, especially those who reviewed Tracker on amazon:
Four Star Review:  A good read. November 9, 2013

By ARLL

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved the suspense, it kept me reading. I've already recommended this book to a few readers I know. I can't wait to read more about Jason and his friends when book two comes out.

Four Star Review: tracker review October 28, 2013

By mbwesten

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Loved the story line and the main characters. Jason is a modern day hero who uses his abilities to help police catch the bad guys. He has had a lot of bad things happen in his young life yet he still wants to help others and better himself. Lots of action and suspense. I think this is a great ya read. Looking forward to book 2.

Merry Christmas!

   Merry Christmas everyone! I am looking forward to having some family time, and also some time off of work! I will be taking my writing work with me, so I will continue working on editing Fear and also work on writing the next Earthshaker Series short story, tentatively titled: Guardian. (subject to change as I determine the direction of the story)
I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas!
   As usual, feel free to peruse the previous posts for more character information, the short stories, sample chapters, and previous series updates.
Ta ta for now!

Yet Another Computer Update

  Hey everyone! I got my computer back from the repair company on Friday, and yet again it was having the same issues. When I called it in, I talked to a sympathetic guy who said that if the previous repair people who'd dealt with it were regular army, then those who will be looking at it this time will be the special forces. Here's hoping the "Navy Seals" (as he put it) of the computer repair world will be able to get my computer fixed so that I can be back in business without needing to kick my mom off her computer.
   Even with these problems, I did get Earthshaker Series book two out, am currently working on editing my mystery novel: Fear, and will be working on the short story explaining how and why Jason decided to help out and protect other street kids. Keep watching for more updates, and follow the links above to visit my Facebook page, and to find Tracker and Kindred on amazon.com. Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Gift Idea!

   Know any readers who are looking for a new series? If they are anything like me, they are always looking for an interesting read. Check out the Earthshaker Series! Books 1 and 2 available now on amazon.com! Follow Jason as he fights to keep his own morality intact as he fights the criminals in his city, along with his own demons from the past in the form of his abusive father and his life on the streets. Just follow the links at the top of the page to read more!

Computer Update

   Hey Everyone! Just letting you all know that I am still in the same boat as I've been for the last couple weeks. I have access to a computer, but not my own, so I have limited access. My computer will be sent back to the company (again) tomorrow, and hopefully will be back in working order the next time they send it back to me.
  On the plus side, I was able to get Kindred published this weekend using my mom's computer, and it is available for purchase at amazon.com, just follow any of the links on my previous posts! Just in time for Christmas, the first two books of the Earthshaker Series, check them out! And as always, please let me know what you think!
   I would love to hear some feedback, even if it is simply on the sample chapters or (from any who have read book one) any comments on the characters and story line (as long as it doesn't give away key information to those who haven't read it yet) please feel free to share! Either review it on amazon or comment either here or at my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/earthshakerfans Thanks!

Book Two Available! (Link and Summary:)

Hey everyone! Kindred- Earthshaker Series book two is now available in paperback and kindle editions! Check it out!  http://www.amazon.com/dp/1492919586/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk

“You saved me, consider this a gift. I will be watching. Be safe, Tracker- Kindred.” With this message, left alongside the murdered body of Jason’s father, Kindred entered Jason’s life as a protector- and a threat. Jason is still trying to work through the repercussions of being kidnapped and tortured, along with the reluctant guilt he feels about ending a life. Adding Mason’s former assassin, who thanks Jason for his freedom by killing people, is too much. When Kindred’s vendetta against those he sees as a threat to Jason leads to confrontation between the two men, Jason needs to fight his instinct to grab his belongings and run in order to stay and protect the people he loves. After watching Jason suffer through the injuries accrued while under Mason’s control, Hannah wants him to stop working with the police and live a more normal life. She tries to get Jason to talk about everything he’s been through so he can learn from it and move on. When Kindred refuses to stop sending messages, she realizes Jason can’t sit idly by while the other man kills more people. Unfortunately Kindred is no longer happy simply observing Jason and keeping him safe, and he gets in the way of Jason’s attempt to live a normal life. Hannah wants to keep Jason safe from the threat Kindred has become. She must learn to let Jason deal with things his own way, even if it could mean losing him.

Kindred Release! Now Available!

Hey everyone! I have Kindred's files finished and uploaded, and it is now available for sale on Kindle. In about 5-7 days it will be available in paperback! Follow the link below for Tracker and the link under Kindred's cover photo to get Kindred!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_hxQKsb1Q9SNW1

Book One now available! Just follow the link!

Book Two Now Available! Follow this link!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H59N8V2/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_O3KOsb16XAA47

Positive Kindred Update :-) Possible Release This Weekend!

Hey everyone! Even with the computer trouble I've been having, I managed to edit the files for Kindred and have submitted the updated file for review. Within the next day or so I will find out if they have been accepted, and then I set up the Kindle version and hopefully will be able to accept the files and publish them. In other words, watch this weekend for the release of Kindred! I am hopeful that no other issues will come up preventing it, but stay tuned for any other updates! Thanks for hanging with me through all of my computer problems!

Very Frustrating Situation :-(

   So, I got my computer back from the repair people today, and it worked okay while I was reloading my programs onto it, but when I had to restart to finish the updates, it began to do the exact same thing it had been doing before. Needless to say, I am now extremely frustrated. I will be sending it back to the company and the tech I spoke to today said it might be a memory issue, not a hard drive issue as we first suspected. Unfortunately this may delay Kindred's release date yet again, but I will continue working on it. If the computer takes too long to repair, I may attempt to take up my mom's computer long enough to submit my files for review and get it published anyway, but I still have some work to do before I can update those files. Sorry for the delay.
   While you wait for the release of Kindred, don't forget to check out Tracker on sale at this link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_hxQKsb1Q9SNW1
   You can also look back in my previous posts and read the Earthshaker short stories, which all take place before the events of Tracker. Check them out and let me know what you think! Thank you for your patience!

Funny (Winter Related) Story

   Hey everyone! So, today I became one of "those" drivers. You know the ones. The drivers who, on the first snow fall of the year forget how to drive in it. And it happened pretty much the second I turned out of my driveway to go to work. We got the smallest amount of snow, but the temp was around the freezing mark and everything was very slippery. I drive a Jeep, but neglected to put it into 4-wheel drive, so almost as soon as I turned out of my driveway (which is located at the top of a hill, by the way :) I began to lose control and fish-tailed wildly down the hill, ending up in the ditch at the bottom of the hill. The car was fully in the ditch, but I was able to drive back out again, (by using the aforementioned 4-wheel drive) and continue on my way to work without any further issues. I found the whole situation hilarious, since I've been driving in Wisconsin winter's since I got my license, and for some reason just couldn't handle it today.
   On a more writing-related note, I got an email from the computer manufacturer today and I should be getting the computer back later this week. It may take a couple days to finish updating my files, but I have hopes of sending in my new files by the end of this week, and then- barring any unforeseen printing issues- will hopefully be able to approve publication of Kindred. Keep an eye out for further updates! :-)

Buy Tracker For the Readers on Your List!

Hey everyone! If you have readers on your Christmas shopping list, check out Tracker on amazon.com. Just follow this link!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_hxQKsb1Q9SNW1

Jason is unlike any other eighteen year old. Even barring that he lives on the streets to keep away from his possessive and abusive father, he is also able to detect slight vibrations in the earth allowing him to follow or avoid people with ease. In addition, he can manipulate the ground, calling it up to help protect against anyone who wishes to harm him or those he cares about, such as the group of other runaway children he protects. Over the years since the discovery of his power he has fine-tuned the ability to be able to recognize specific people based on the way they move.
His only contact with authority is Detective Alice Farrow, whom he helps with cases as a Confidential Informant. She is also one of the few people Jason has trusted with his hidden powers. While utilizing his abilities to pursue dangerous criminals, she does her best to keep him out of the line of fire.
Their latest case pits Jason against Trevor Mason, one of the city's most notorious criminals who is suspected of every crime from theft to violent torture and murder. Mason has discovered Jason's power and desires to use it for his own means. Jason must work with Alice and her partner to stop Mason before Jason becomes something he shouldn't: a tool of destruction for an evil man.

Happy Thanksgiving!

   Hey everyone! Hope you are all having a wonderful Thanksgiving! Mine has been pretty cool so far, most of my family (all except one brother and his family) are over and playing cards or watching TV, all having a good time. Our meal, however, has been postponed. We all thought the turkey was cooking because we were smelling the giblets on the stove, but the Nesco that the Turkey was in hadn't been plugged in :-) Oh well. We all got a good laugh out of it, and we're having a different meal today. Fun times in my house today! Making memories we will look back on and enjoy, and that is what matters! Enjoy your day, and please feel free to share any of your funny moments either here or on my Facebook page!

Tracker Price Changing Soon!

   Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you all know that I will be raising the cost of Tracker on paperback once I get my computer back. It is a necessary change in order to make Tracker available to other book sellers both on and offline. To take advantage of the current low price of $7.19 on amazon.com simply follow this link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_hxQKsb1Q9SNW1
  Also- don't forget that Kindred will be available soon! Keep watching for the release date!

Definite Later Release Date for Kindred

   Hey everyone! After talking to hp tech support, I will be needing to send my computer to them to have the motherboard replaced. It will take at least two weeks before I get the computer back, so I will not be able to have Kindred ready to publish by Thanksgiving as I'd been hoping. I still have hopes that it won't be too much later, but that will depend on how long it actually takes to get the computer back and whether it's all working the way it is supposed to when I get it back. In the meantime- Tracker- Earthshaker Series Book One is available! Check it out! You can also check out some of my earlier blog posts for sample chapters of both Tracker and Kindred. Take a look and let me know what you think! :-)

Computer Problems- Possible Later Publish Date

  Hey Everyone! Just wanted to let you all know that my posts will not be coming as regularly for a while, because my computer is having some hardware problems. It is still under warranty, so I should be able to get it repaired or replaced, but I don't know exactly how long that will take. I do have access to another computer, but not quite as regularly. Unfortunately, this may mean that the release for Kindred might be pushed back a bit, but I will be continuing to work on it while I wait for my computer to be taken care of. Meanwhile, Tracker is available for reading/reviewing, so take a look at Amazon.com to purchase a copy before book two is released! :-)

Kindred Proof Corrections in Progress :-)

   Hey Everyone! Well, I'm not quite done going through the proof for Kindred, but I have been working on correcting some of the mistakes I have found so far. I hope to have the corrections done and re-submitted before Thanksgiving so I can get Kindred published either by Thanksgiving or shortly after. Wish me luck!

   Tracker is available on both Kindle and Paperback through Amazon.com and Createspace.com. Kindle price: $2.99, Paperback price: $7.99.

 Earthshaker Series Book One
Now Available

Earthshaker Series Book Two

Coming Soon

New Proof Update: Kindred

   Hey Everyone! Just wanted to give a quick update on how the proofreading is going on Earthshaker Series Book Two: Kindred:  So far I have found a few mistakes that I will need to correct. It will take a little longer to get through the rest of the book as I search for errors, but in the meantime, Tracker is still available for sale at amazon.com. The paperback copy is $7.99 (on amazon $7.19) and the kindle version is $2.99. Take a look! You could read book one while waiting for the release of book two- Just follow this link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC

Jason is unlike any other eighteen year old. Even barring that he lives on the streets to keep away from his possessive and abusive father, he is also able to detect slight vibrations in the earth allowing him to follow or avoid people with ease. In addition, he can manipulate the ground, calling it up to help protect against anyone who wishes to harm him or those he cares about, such as the group of other runaway children he protects. Over the years since the discovery of his power he has fine-tuned the ability to be able to recognize specific people based on the way they move.
His only contact with authority is Detective Alice Farrow, whom he helps with cases as a Confidential Informant. She is also one of the few people Jason has trusted with his hidden powers. While utilizing his abilities to pursue dangerous criminals, she does her best to keep him out of the line of fire.
Their latest case pits Jason against Trevor Mason, one of the city's most notorious criminals who is suspected of every crime from theft to violent torture and murder. Mason has discovered Jason's power and desires to use it for his own means. Jason must work with Alice and her partner to stop Mason before Jason becomes something he shouldn't: a tool of destruction for an evil man.

Thirteen More Hours!

   Only thirteen hours left in the $0.99 kindle sale for Tracker! After that it is back to it's normal price of 2.99. Take advantage of the last few hours of this deal! :-) Just follow this link to find Tracker on Kindle for $0.99 and in paperback for $7.19 (amazon price) Check it out!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC

36 Hours Left!

  There are only 36 hours left in the Tracker $0.99 promotion! To take advantage of this deal follow this link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC
For those without a Kindle or the Kindle app, the paperback version of Tracker is now available for $7.99, a full dollar less than the original cost!

Jason is unlike any other eighteen year old. Even barring that he lives on the streets to keep away from his possessive and abusive father, he is also able to detect slight vibrations in the earth allowing him to follow or avoid people with ease. In addition, he can manipulate the ground, calling it up to help protect against anyone who wishes to harm him or those he cares about, such as the group of other runaway children he protects. Over the years since the discovery of his power he has fine-tuned the ability to be able to recognize specific people based on the way they move.
His only contact with authority is Detective Alice Farrow, whom he helps with cases as a Confidential Informant. She is also one of the few people Jason has trusted with his hidden powers. While utilizing his abilities to pursue dangerous criminals, she does her best to keep him out of the line of fire.
Their latest case pits Jason against Trevor Mason, one of the city's most notorious criminals who is suspected of every crime from theft to violent torture and murder. Mason has discovered Jason's power and desires to use it for his own means. Jason must work with Alice and her partner to stop Mason before Jason becomes something he shouldn't: a tool of destruction for an evil man.

 

Only Two Days Left!

   Hi all! There are only about two days left in the Tracker $0.99 promotion. Take advantage of this deal before it runs out! The promotion ends on November 9th at 8 am, so check it out! The price for the paperback version of Tracker has also been dropped. It is now only $7.99, a full dollar less than the original price! Follow the link to take advantage of these deals!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC

First Draft Book Three Complete!/$0.99 Deal Continues!

   Hi everyone! Tonight I finished the first draft of Book Three of the Earthshaker Series: Hunter. Now I will be concentrating a little more fully on going through the proof copy for Kindred, and getting it finalized and ready to publish.
  Don't forget, the $0.99 deal for Tracker is still going, but only lasts until 8 am on Saturday November 9th, so for the chance to get a great deal on Tracker on Kindle, check out this link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC and you can get Tracker before Book Two: Kindred is released. Check it out! :-)

$0.99 Promotion Counting Down!

  Tracker is only $0.99, but it won't last long! For your chance to get Tracker on your Kindle or other device with the Kindle app, go to
 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC  now! This deal only lasts until 8:00am on Saturday November 9th, so take advantage of this awesome deal while you still can! Only Four days left! :-)

Special Promotion Reminder/Progress Updates for the Series

   Hello everyone! Just a little update on the progress of Kindred and the writing of Book Three: I have delivered the proof copies to my readers, and I am hoping to get feedback from them quickly so I can make any changes necessary in order to get Kindred fully ready for publishing.
   And in book three news, I have almost completed the first draft. I'm working on getting the last chapter or two written, and then it will be on to editing.
   Also, a reminder, the special $0.99 promotion for Tracker starts tomorrow! Check it out and spread the word! Follow this link:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC

Special Promotion for Tracker on Kindle! Starts November Fourth!

   Hey everyone- Through kindle direct publishing I have the opportunity to set a special promotion for Tracker. From November 4-9 (Monday-Saturday) Tracker will be available on Kindle for $0.99. If you have not gotten Tracker on your Kindle or other device yet, check it out during this time period to get it at a great deal! Follow this link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC

  Jason is unlike any other eighteen year old. Even barring that he lives on the streets to keep away from his possessive and abusive father, he is also able to detect slight vibrations in the earth allowing him to follow or avoid people with ease. In addition, he can manipulate the ground, calling it up to help protect against anyone who wishes to harm him or those he cares about, such as the group of other runaway children he protects. Over the years since the discovery of his power he has fine-tuned the ability to be able to recognize specific people based on the way they move.
  His only contact with authority is Detective Alice Farrow, whom he helps with cases as a Confidential Informant. She is also one of the few people Jason has trusted with his hidden powers. While utilizing his abilities to pursue dangerous criminals, she does her best to keep him out of the line of fire.
  Their latest case pits Jason against Trevor Mason, one of the city's most notorious criminals who is suspected of every crime from theft to violent torture and murder. Mason has discovered Jason's power and desires to use it for his own means. Jason must work with Alice and her partner to stop Mason before Jason becomes something he shouldn't: a tool of destruction for an evil man.

Kindred Proof has Arrived!

   Hello everyone! I received the Kindred proofs in the mail this week, and am working on getting the copies to my proof readers for review. Once they have read and gone over it, they will let me know if there is anything I need to adjust/change in order for Kindred to be ready to publish. Here is the cover picture and summary of Kindred, to get you excited for the release! :-)

“You saved me, consider this a gift. I will be watching. Be safe, Tracker- Kindred.”  

With this message, left alongside the murdered body of Jason’s father, Kindred entered Jason’s life as a protector- and a threat. Jason is still trying to work through the repercussions of being kidnapped and tortured, along with the reluctant guilt he feels about ending a life. Adding Mason’s former assassin, who thanks Jason for his freedom by killing people, is too much. When Kindred’s vendetta against those he sees as a threat to Jason leads to confrontation between the two men, Jason needs to fight his instinct to grab his belongings and run in order to stay and protect the people he loves. 

After watching Jason suffer through the injuries accrued while under Mason’s control, Hannah wants him to stop working with the police and live a more normal life. She tries to get Jason to talk about everything he’s been through so he can learn from it and move on. When Kindred refuses to stop sending messages, she realizes Jason can’t sit idly by while the other man kills more people. 

Unfortunately Kindred is no longer happy simply observing Jason and keeping him safe, and he gets in the way of Jason’s attempt to live a normal life. Hannah wants to keep Jason safe from the threat Kindred has become. She must learn to let Jason deal with things his own way, even if it could mean losing him.

Excited about the release of Kindred- Book Two of the Earthshaker series? Let me know!

Poll Winner!

  Hello everyone. We have a winning topic for the next short story, and that is #3 on the poll: how Jason met and began protecting the other children. And the winner of the copy of Tracker is Emily E. Thanks for voting, and congratulations Emily!
  To everyone else who is reading, feel free to let me know your opinions on my work, I would love to know what you think! Share your thoughts on my short stories and/or sample chapters, and if you have read Tracker, let me know what you thought of it! I would enjoy hearing from you. Thanks :-)

Vote By Midnight Tonight for Your Chance to Win!

   Hello everyone! I am extending the voting until midnight tonight, so this is your true last call for voting! Vote now and you could win a copy of Tracker! Simply leave a comment choosing your favorite short story or short story idea along with your first name and last initial (or screen name) so I can let you know if you are the winner! Please vote now! Last Chance to WIN! :-)

You Could Win! Last Chance to Vote

   Hi everyone! This is the final call for votes in either of my polls. One day left! Vote for either your favorite short story so far or for the next Earthshaker series short story to win a copy of Tracker! The drawing will be held tomorrow night (Oct. 31st) after I get home from work. Get your votes in now for your chance to win!

First Review!

   It may seem like a small thing to some, but to me it is a wonderful feeling. The first fan review of my first published novel! I love to get feedback from those who have read my work, it helps me to make my writing better, or to continue along the lines I was currently on. So getting the first review is a huge wonderful step!
   On an unrelated note: Only two days left to vote in my polls for a chance to win a copy of Tracker. Vote now!

Time's Running Out!

  Only three days left to vote for either your favorite short story, or the next short story topic! Everyone who votes will be entered to win a copy of Tracker! Vote now!

Productive Weekend :)

   Here is a recap of my weekend- The files for Kindred were reviewed, and I ordered proof copies that should be here within the next week or so. Today I wrote a full chapter plus a couple pages in book three. The story is moving right along, and it shouldn't be too much longer before I have the first draft copy done. Then it will be on to editing.
   And another reminder, There are only four days left to vote in either of my polls for a chance to win a copy of Tracker, so please vote! I have the books here and waiting for a winner! Just pick your favorite short story or short story topic and you could win!
   And finally, I would like to remind you that the price for Tracker will be going up starting near the end of November, so if you want to get it at the current price, you have until November 24th. Again, this price increase is required for adding the extra sales options to Tracker and I apologize for the necessity.

A Large Step Forward + Kindred Chapter Four

   Today I was able to order the proof copies for Kindred! I will hopefully have a few people read through it to make sure everything looks good, and I'll go from there.
   Also there are only five days left to vote in my short story polls- both are now available on this site, so feel free to vote for the opportunity to win a copy of Tracker. Vote now!
   And in anticipation of the release of Kindred, here is chapter four- Give it a read and let me know what you think!

FOUR

Hannah

            Why do people do what they do? I look at Jason and see him acting normal, doing his day-to-day activities, but he's clearly hiding a deep pain. He needs to talk to someone, yet he goes to no one. We are his friends, and we can see the pain he's still in after what that Monster put him through. Jason had not said a word of complaint in his entire ordeal, and had only broken down once.

            The concern I feel as he hides his feelings is nothing compared to my near panic attacks when he becomes non-responsive. Each time it happens I worry that he's slipping further into himself...further away from me. That concern is what kept me from speaking up when Dustin pushed him into a corner. His urgent tone told me all he wanted was for Jason to get help, and I couldn't deny that I did too.

            Jason's soft confession came after several minutes. "You might be right." I could hear the fear in his quiet acceptance. "I'm not trying to scare you," he said, "but I can't tell when it happens until it ends." He hid his face in his hands. "I slip away, but I can't stop it, and I don't know why it keeps happening."

            Dustin spoke up again. "I'm no expert, but what you went through last fall was hugely traumatic. I would be surprised if this wasn't some form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," he hesitated before continuing. He obviously didn't want to push Jason right now, but it was needed. "Jason, it's only going to get worse if you don't get help. PTSD doesn't just go away."

            "He's right," I pitched in. "Each time this has happened, it takes longer to pull you back," the desperation I tried to hide showed all too clearly, and Jason cringed.

            "I'm sorry," Jason said. He seemed almost surprised by our concern, but didn't shy away from it as he'd done in the past. Instead he turned to Dustin and asked, "Can I come to you?"

            That he asked for help was a wonderful first step. I was happy with it, but it didn’t stop me from feeling like he’d punched me in the gut. Why? Why did he feel he couldn’t come to me? He’d come to me before, and had seemed better, if only briefly. Dustin hesitated. "You know I want to, Jason. And I know I offered, but I'm not qualified..."

            "I won't go to a shrink," Jason said firmly. "I will not talk about this stuff to a stranger."

            Dustin shrugged. "Alright." He'd been given little choice in the matter. Jason wouldn't go to someone else. I should have guessed that. "I'll just have to do more research and talk to some of my professors. Don't worry," he assured Jason when he noticed the worried look on his face. "I won't tell them who I'm talking about. Even though I'm not a doctor yet, I'll give you confidentiality. No one will know about this unless you tell them. I won't talk about our sessions to anybody."

            I could see Jason relax at that, and realized he'd gotten very tense at the possibility of anyone else knowing about him. Dustin and I exchanged a look and he gave a small shrug and a half-smile. It looked like he was going to become an expert in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, whether he wanted to or not.

            I jumped when Jason clapped his hands together. "Alright, that’s taken care of. Now what should I do about this?" he asked, holding up the note.

            "Talk to Alice," I said automatically. My sister would know what to do, or she'd figure something out. "Make it a problem for the police. You have enough to deal with."

            Dustin was shaking his head. "Hate to say it, but I agree with her. As much as you want to help, right now you shouldn't get involved. Get yourself right, then you can go back to being a superhero."

            Superhero. With his power, I guess it was an appropriate term. But unlike other heroes, he had no superhuman strength or bulletproof skin. He was as human as the rest of us...more than some. Jason had power that scared even him, and he hesitated to use it even before Mason had gotten a hold of him. It was worse now, and the fact that he used it, even just to check for footsteps, surprised me.

            I looked at Jason, expecting him to seem upset that we wanted him to sit this out, but he seemed...relieved. I frowned. He'd wanted to go after Kindred before, so what had changed?

End Chapter Four

   Let me know what you think. If you liked it, check out Tracker- available for sale at amazon.com

Thanks for reading!

More Distribution for Tracker

  For Tracker I am planning to add distribution options by the end of November. It will be put on lists that bookstores and other online sellers choose from, and will hopefully be seen by a wider audience. Unfortunately in order to do that I will have to raise the cost on Tracker. So if you are interested in Tracker, and don't want to pay the higher cost, you have until November 24th before I change the price. Just follow this link to get to Tracker on Amazon: 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC

   Don't forget, you also have a chance to win a free copy of Tracker, just vote in either of my polls and you could win! Voting ends October 31st, so get your votes in now!

Moving Forward- One Big Step Completed

   Today the process was started for getting Kindred printed. The files are now under review by Createspace, and I should be able to get Proof copies before too long. It may take some time go get further with it and finalize the files, because I will be having some people reading and critiquing the proof copies when I get them so any mistakes will hopefully be found and fixed before I send it through to be published. How many of you are looking forward to Kindred being available?
   Also, If you haven't read it yet, don't forget to pick up Tracker, available for sale at amazon.com, just follow this link:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC and you will find it for sale on Kindle and Paperback format.
  For your chance to read Tracker for free before Kindred's release, vote on my polls, now both available here on my blog for your convenience. You have one more week to get your votes in, and you could win an autographed copy of Tracker!
 

My Facebook Poll- Which Topic? You Could Win!

   For any who have not made it to my Facebook page, here is the list of topics you can choose from for the next Earthshaker short story. Pick a topic and you could win an autographed copy of Tracker- I will be picking a name at random on October 31st so vote now! Thanks!

Topic #1- Reason Jason does not commit crimes despite living on the street
Topic #2- Previous to him running away, someone who noticed the abuse Jason suffered
Topic #3- How Jason met and began protecting the other children

Pick your favorite topic and the winning story will be the next one I write! You have until the end of this month to choose! 

You Could Win a Free Book :)

   There are only nine days left to vote for either your favorite short story so far (here on my blog) or for the topic of the next short story I write (on my Facebook page- facebook.com/earthshakerfans). Please don't forget to vote, and you could win an autographed copy of Tracker! I will be picking a winner at random on October 31st, so get your votes in now!

Tracker is available for sale at amazon.com in Kindle (2.99) and paperback(7.89) format. Check it out at this link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC

Organization Equals Writing (at least for today:)

   After spending a good chunk of my afternoon organizing stuff in my room, I was finally able to feel motivated enough to get some writing done. The last stage of the first draft of book three is moving forward, and I am pretty excited about it. I have the ending in mind already, but I am still working out how to get it there. I wrote just over three pages tonight, and plan to write some more either later tonight or tomorrow.
   On the topic of Kindred, I am still waiting on the responses to the second draft summary I have written, and I may be doing another quick look through to make sure there aren't any obvious mistakes before I submit the files.
    Don't forget- the 31st is fast approaching, so get your votes in on the polls here and on my Facebook page (facebook.com/earthshakerfans) for a chance to win an autographed copy of Tracker- book one of the Earthshaker series!

Still Creeping Forward :)

   Right now I am waiting on the responses from my brother and my friend about the updated Kindred summary, but so far it seems like it is going to be ready to go. I am also trying to work with one of my friends on setting up a website, but as I am not overly computer savvy, it may take a little while before I am up and running.
   Book three is still in the works, and getting pretty close to its conclusion. Then it will be time to have it read and reviewed so I can begin the editing process. Meanwhile, for those of you who haven't yet read Tracker, it is available for sale at amazon.com, just follow this link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC
   Also, don't forget to vote in my polls both here and at my Facebook page for your chance to win an autographed copy of Tracker :-)

Another step forward :-)

   I heard from my brother, who was reading and critiquing my summary for Kindred, and he was able to give me some good ideas for improvement. The updated summary is now written and sent out to be reviewed. If all is good, I will get the ball rolling on publishing. Now that the summary is on it's next step, I plan to do some more writing on Book Three for a little while tonight, which is a little hard to do while my cat is sleeping on my arm :-) But I will be working on it for a bit.
   Also, don't forget to vote for the next Earthshaker short story on my Facebook page (facebook.com/earthshakerfans) or for your favorite short story so far on an earlier post here, for the chance to win an autographed copy of Tracker, which is also available for sale on amazon.com and createspace.com. The drawing is on October 31, so get your votes in!
 

New Kindred and Book Three Update/Voting Reminder

   I made a little step forward today in the summary for Kindred, but I am still waiting on a response from one of my readers so it may still be a little while before it is completely ready. I did make some progress on writing Book Three this weekend as well, although that one will take a while before it is ready for publication.
   Also, another reminder to vote in the polls both here and on my Facebook page for your chance to win a free copy of Tracker- Book one of the Earthshaker Series. Visit facebook.com/earthshakerfans to choose the topic of my next Earthshaker short story.

Series Update

    Hi Everyone! I am still working on a few details for Kindred before I can continue the publishing process, so it may take a little longer than I was hoping. On a more positive note, I made some progress on book three, and got an idea for the story line of book four, so the series continues!
    Also, just a reminder to cast your votes either for your favorite short story (see blog post) or choosing the topic for the next Earthshaker series short story (see my Facebook page- facebook.com/earthshakerfans) for your chance to win an autographed copy of Tracker- Book One of the Earthshaker Series.

Free Book

    Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that I will be doing a random drawing where someone could win an autographed copy of Tracker. All you have to do is either vote for your favorite short story (an earlier blog post) or visit my Facebook page- facebook.com/earthshakerfans and vote for your favorite topic for my next short story. You have until the end of this month. I will choose the winner on October 31st once I am home from work (It could be pretty late). If I get enough votes on both my blog and the Facebook page, I will choose two winners. Happy voting!

Update

    I have been working on the summary for Kindred, and will hopefully have some feedback on it by later this week. Once I have the summary completed I can move forward with the publishing process.
Also, I posted a poll on my Facebook page where you get to choose the topic of my next Earthshaker short story. To vote, go to facebook.com/earthshakerfans.

Kindred Update/Kindred Chapter Three

    While on my trip to MN this weekend I had quite a bit of time to work on editing Kindred. Because of that, I was able to finish the last several chapters I had left to edit. Once I'd finished I did the majority of my formatting, so the files are nearly ready to submit for review. I am hoping to get the process started within the next couple days, so it shouldn't be too long before book two is ready. :-)
     Meanwhile here is chapter three of Kindred- book two of the Earthshaker series, and don't forget to check out Tracker- for sale now at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC

THREE

Jason

            After meeting with Alice and Dan I headed to the park to meet Dustin, Hannah and Sam. I found them quickly and walked over to the basketball court where Dustin and Sam were playing a game of Horse. I ignored the other people who were playing Frisbee in one area and football in another, skirting around the edges of the games in order to reach the basketball court. Hannah sat on a bench on the sidelines, watching and laughing at Dustin's intense concentration as he lost to a twelve-year-old.

            Dustin was letting Sam win, but he was doing a good job of looking like he was trying his hardest, and he kept the game close. The look of joy on my brother's face as he made the last basket made me smile. It was good to see him having fun. He hadn't been able to have much fun in his life, and now that we were in a relatively stable situation, he was able to be a kid again. If only his big brother wasn't so screwed up. I felt a pang of self-pity for my own lost childhood, but quickly pushed it away. What was done is done, I reminded myself firmly. There was no point in dwelling on it.

            The sun was nearly blinding, so I reached into the backpack I'd retrieved from the house before coming to the park, and grabbed my sunglasses. "Hey guys," I said walking up behind Hannah. She jumped and squealed slightly. "Sorry," I said with a laugh. "Didn't mean to scare you."

            "I didn't realize I was so jumpy," she said laughing. "How did things go with Alice?"

            I didn't feel like talking about it in front of Dustin or Sam, so I shrugged. "Fine," I answered vaguely. She frowned, but Dustin came over before she could respond.

            "Hey, Jason. You want to join in this round?" My new friend asked, clapping his hand on my shoulder. I tried to hide my flash of discomfort at the contact and be happy he hadn't chosen my left shoulder that still had pain issues, but from the way he pulled back, I obviously hadn't succeeded.

            "Sure," I said, wanting to move on. I didn't want Dustin to start acting uncomfortable around me, like he had to walk on eggshells or something, so for now we'd move past this awkward moment. There were enough people treading lightly around me already, and I knew it was my fault. After what had happened last fall, I’d pushed them away. Even after telling Hannah it was the last thing I wanted, I couldn’t help it. Running was my response to pain. Always had been. But it didn’t always have to be.

            We spent the afternoon playing ball and having fun, eventually convincing Hannah to join in. It was the first time in…well, I didn’t know how long, that I allowed myself a day to be normal. Despite that, I was unable to shake the feeling that something was about to go very wrong. Strangely, it was Dustin who picked up on my mood. Hannah and Sam were seemingly oblivious as they shot around while Dustin and I took a break on the sidelines.

            I watched Sam and Hannah laughing and playing, but I could feel Dustin's concerned gaze on me. "What?" I asked softly, finally looking at him.

            "What's going on, man?" he asked, his brow furrowed in concern. "It's like you're a million miles away all the time, but you seem scared again today. You haven't been scared lately, so what happened?"

            After Dustin had discovered my powers, Alice and Hannah had told him what they knew about the case, so I simply said, "Kindred's back."

            His eyes widened and he opened and closed his mouth several times without speaking. He swallowed a couple times and asked, “Who?”

            He wasn't asking who Kindred was, but rather who the man had killed. “A friend of my father's. Same M.O. as my father.” He'd been tied to a chair and his throat had been cut just as deeply as dear old dad. “Not that he didn't deserve it, but I'd rather not have some psycho killing people for me.”

            Dustin seemed thoughtful for a moment. “You said he was doing this to thank you, right?” I nodded. “Maybe he's done now,” he said hopefully. “This ‘friend’, I assume he was the one who knocked you out when your father tried to grab you?”

            “Yeah,” I rubbed my hand over my face wearily.

            “Then maybe he's done.”

            I shrugged. “Hopefully. Or maybe he starts going to the less obvious threats, or Mason's men who avoided the police but knew about me. Who knows?”

            I tensed suddenly, going to the ground in a crouch, my right hand in the dirt. “Speaking of...we need to get out of here,” I said standing up and wiping the dirt off on my pants.

            “Hannah, Sam, let's go.” Sam came immediately, used to following my orders without question. Hannah came more slowly, grabbing the ball before joining us.

            “What's wrong, Jase?” Sam asked as we nearly sprinted to Hannah's car.

            “One of Mason's men, along with some other footsteps I don't recognize. They were heading in our direction.”

            “From where?” Dustin asked looking around quickly, trying to spot the threat.

            “A few blocks east,” I answered, gesturing in the general direction, still running to the car.

            Once we'd reached the car and climbed in, Dustin asked, "Are you sure they were coming to us? How would they even know where we were?"

            I shrugged. "I don't know for sure, but it seemed like a bad risk to take. I killed their boss. They probably don't like me very much."

            "Alright. So I guess we go back to Hannah's and study," Dustin said mildly.

            Sam pouted. "That's boring. I don't wanna study."

            "You don't have to, bud," I said glancing back at him from my spot in the front seat. "You can watch TV or a movie, or play on the computer." He shrugged and watched out the window as we got closer to Hannah and Alice's house.

            The tension I'd felt when I noticed the footsteps refused to loosen as we reached home, so as soon as I got out of the car, I dropped to a knee and sent streams of my consciousness into the ground, searching for any signs of a threat. There were multiple echoes around the house, none of them familiar. None of them had entered the house either. "I think we're clear," I said standing up and brushing the dirt off my hands and onto my jeans.

            My three companions trusted me to know when the house was clear, so they piled out of the car and headed in.

            "Jason, there's an envelope here for you," Hannah said after opening the screen door.

            "Another one? In the same day?" I said incredulously, taking the envelope from her. We went into the living room and sat down: Hannah and I on the couch, and Dustin and Sam in the chairs.

            "Sammy, go play on the computer please," I said.

            "But..."

            "Go. Now. If it's something important I'll tell you later," I promised. It was a lie. The only thing I would tell my brother about this new note was if it said that he was in danger.

            "Fine," he said shortly, probably sensing my lie. I waited until he was out of the room, and then opened the plain white envelope. I stared down at the single sheet of paper, unable to believe what I was reading.

            "What? Jason, what does it say?" I handed it to Hannah silently, and she read it out loud. "We need your help. Mason's assassin has turned on us and is hunting us down. We worked with Mason, but had nothing to do with what he did to you. Please help us." Hannah stopped reading and looked at me in shock that quickly turned to anger. "Why ask you? Why not just go to the police?"

            I shrugged. "In a way they kind of are," I said. "They'd have to know that I'm still working with the police and will tell them about this note. The thing I'm not sure of is what they think I can, or will, do to protect them."

            "They're desperate," Dustin pitched in. "They know you have no reason to help them, but they have no real way to fight Kindred. From what you've said, the man's a ghost. They know you took out Mason, who apparently controlled Kindred, so they think you might be able to beat Kindred too." I stared at him for a moment, not knowing where he'd come up with that. He shrugged in response. "I'm pretty sure it's how I'd think if I were them."

            "Besides, just because they worked for Mason doesn’t meant they deserve a death sentence. They’re coming to you probably because they know about your abilities," Dustin continued. I snorted. Yeah, them and about every other dirt bag in the city thanks to Mason. Dustin had found out about them shortly after the incident with Mason. He hadn't known that he was supposed to announce himself before coming down to the basement, and the sudden footsteps in my sanctuary had startled me. My lack of control showed once again as I nearly tore through the basement floor in an attempt to protect myself.

            It was a good thing Alice and Hannah's house was very solidly built. That hadn't been the first or last time I'd lost control. I still hadn't reached the last time. At least I don't think so. That I hadn't lost control when I'd felt the footsteps of people who worked closely with Trevor was a good sign. I'd felt my control slipping when the note had arrived...

            "JASON!" Hannah yelled, dragging me out of my thoughts. I blinked and jerked backwards when I noticed her face only inches from mine. "You back?" she asked, her voice back to normal. "You were a million miles away again," her tone was light, but her concern was obvious.

            "I'm sorry. I was just thinking."

            Dustin spoke up. "Your 'just thinking' looks a bit like you going catatonic. You're slipping more, Jase. You need to talk to someone."

            Talking. How could talking solve my problems? Yet my friends kept urging me to do so. I looked up at Hannah and saw the worry all over her face. Regardless of my original response, I was beginning to think they might be right.

End Chapter Three

I hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you think :)

Update/Tracker Chapter Three

Hi everyone! I have been working on editing Kindred, and have only about 50 pages to go before I do my next read-through. I will be out of state this weekend, and will probably not be posting anything between now and Sunday. Also just wanted to let everyone know that Tracker (paperback edition) is currently listed at Amazon for $7.42 (USD) so check it out to take advantage of the lower price!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ES5XIGG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_4hLrsb15TYCBC

And here is chapter three of Tracker. Enjoy!

THREE- Jason:

Despite being unable to move, my body tensed in preparation for fight or flight. The door creaked open and I was able to put faces to the footsteps. The first man, whose stride was long and purposeful, was dressed like a businessman in an expensive looking black suit and blue pinstriped tie. He had a jagged scar on his neck from when someone had apparently tried to kill him.

According to Alice one of Trevor’s business partners had gone missing a couple years ago and had been found with his throat cut so deep the bone was visible. If I had to guess, I’d say that was the guy who’d tried to kill Trevor, and this man, with the scar and the bodyguards had to be Trevor. It was my first close up view of the man most street people feared. Two more men followed the first, big and beefy types, both treaded heavily on the ground, leaving deep impressions on the earth. If I’d been following them, I could have felt their echoes for hours after they’d passed, unlike whoever had entered the room across the cement wall. Those were so light as to be almost non-existent, but I had no time to figure out the odd steps. The bodyguards took over my concentration.    

The first man that followed Trevor into the room was a familiar face. I’d seen him on a wanted poster Alice had shown me when she’d first asked for my help, but there hadn’t been a name to go with the picture. That had been about a week ago, and I’d only managed to find one area where it seemed like he did a lot of business. This thug looked like a bulldog. His face was round and the nose had been broken so it looked flatter than normal. His cheeks sagged slightly and he had the empty eyes of a killer. Based on what I’d found, he seemed to be one of Trevor’s right hand men.

    The second thug was huge. His face was unfamiliar, but I memorized it quickly. He had an angular face that didn’t seem to fit on a man his size. This one had about two inches on the other man at about six foot six and weighed about three hundred pounds if I had to guess, and looked like a football player. His eyes were a clear blue and had the same empty look as the thug I’d dubbed the Bulldog. Both bodyguards wore jeans and plain black T-shirts. The uniform of a hired thug, I guess.

    I turned my attention back to the first man. Trevor Mason. The name seemed innocent enough, but just thinking it sent shivers down my spine. His face was set and emotionless; he’d probably beat me hands down in a poker game. I tried to mirror his expression, but the slightly amused crinkle around his eyes showed that I’d failed miserably.

    “What do you want?” I asked, a slight crack in my voice giving away my anxiety. I eyed him warily from my cage, knowing I was at the mercy of a killer. Say what you want about innocent until proven guilty, but upon my first meeting I had to say he was guilty of everything the cops suspected him of doing. And probably more that they were unaware of. He carried himself with the confidence of a man who knew he could do whatever he wanted, and have no trouble getting away with it. What was his secret?

    He seemed to consider my question carefully before giving an answer. “You’ve been working with the police.” He stated, his voice deep, but slightly raspy. A lingering effect of getting your throat slit, I’d imagine.     A pity his partner hadn’t been slightly more successful in that endeavor.

    My first reaction to his statement was to deny it, but he was watching me carefully so I knew he wouldn’t believe the lie. Also, the way he’d said it made it clear that he already knew it was the truth. I nodded slowly, not liking the direction this was going.

    “You forced me to close down operations in a thriving business area.” He continued his raspy voice carefully neutral. I blinked in surprise. That was news to me. All I had done was talk to some of the street people and ask them if they knew anyone working for Mason. “I simply want to make you an offer,” he continued. He leaned toward the Bulldog and whispered something. The bodyguard nodded and left the room.

    “What offer?” my voice was wary, any offer he had couldn’t be good. I was debating asking him how I had forced him to shut down, but determined it might put him in a worse mood. He thought I’d shut him down somewhere? All I’d done is follow some of his people that my contacts had told me about. I hadn’t been able to find definite proof of anything in the short time I’d been helping Alice. I was pulled from my thoughts when I felt Bulldog’s footsteps coming back and with him…”Sammy,” I whispered.

    Mason’s eyes widened slightly in surprise—the first real emotion I’d seen from him—and I berated myself. The man had no idea of my abilities and would now wonder how I’d known it was Sam. This was one person I did not want speculating about what I was capable of. If he threatened Sam, I would have to show him firsthand, but I would cross that bridge when it came.

    The door opened and Bulldog pushed Sam in front of him, the little boy stumbling slightly. His dark brown eyes were narrowed in anger, but his face was pale with fear. “Let him go.” I growled tensing and ready to unleash my power. My desire to keep my powers hidden did not extend to watching some common criminal hurt one of my kids, and the tentative hold I kept over my ability was already slipping with the thought of this monster’s thug holding Sam. When I pulled myself together a bit, I noticed that Sam was tapping his foot, letting me know through a code I’d made up, that he’d seen the outside of the building. He was a very observant eleven-year-old and had been able to memorize the building number. After passing on the message he stood quietly, careful not to draw too much attention to himself as he waited for me to make a move.

    Mason was watching me closely and I tried to hide the fact that I was receiving information about where we were. “You want to make me an offer, get me out of this,” I demanded, shaking my hands and making the cuffs rattle on the pipe.

    He pursed his lips slightly and nodded at thug number two. “Let him out, but keep the cuffs on him.”

Thug two opened the cage door and unlocked the cuffs from the wall. He dragged me out, and I nearly blacked out at the sudden change from laying on the floor to standing. Only the thug’s beefy hands on my arms kept me from falling over. He put the loose end of the cuffs around my wrists and closed them…hard. I winced in pain as the unyielding metal dug into the skin and cut off the circulation to my hands.

    Okay. This would make things a little bit harder, but my hands weren’t completely necessary for accessing my power. Having them free made precise work easier, but I wasn’t going for precise right now. “Sammy, you okay?” The boy nodded, his brown hair falling into his eyes and shadowing them, hiding the fear I’d seen right away. He seemed unhurt, but I couldn’t be sure. “Cut to the chase, Mason.” I demanded. My eyes narrowed in anger, my fear was gone or buried so deep it didn’t affect me. “What do you want?”

    “It’s simple,” he said. “I want you to stop helping the police. If you do that, little Sammy here will remain safe in my care,”

    “Oh, hell no,” I growled. Alice had told me what kind of things Mason did to children and I would not allow Sam to go through that. “Sam won’t be staying with you and I will take you down.” I nodded once and Sam dove to the ground as I let loose the power I’d been building. The ground shot up, making chunks of concrete fly around the room hitting the startled bodyguards and making Mason dive for cover. Someone yelled in fear or surprise, or some combination of the two as I continued my attack.

    I made a wall protecting Sam both from the effect of what I was doing and from the Bulldog, who was trying to grab him as a shield. I sent a tendril of power through the uncovered earth, and located Alice. I was able to push enough power through to send the address Sam had given me.

    We were only about two blocks from where the detective was, and I could only hope she’d get here quickly. “Sam, get out!” I yelled as I poured more energy into keeping Mason and his thugs busy. I felt Sam’s response as he rose and quickly ran to the door. There was a pile of dirt and debris blocking the door and I sent enough power to clear it away, allowing Sam to get out. The effort distracted me long enough for Mason to sneak behind me.

    Unfortunately it was also at that moment that my strength gave out. I heard a click and felt the cold circle of metal on my neck as I nearly collapsed from exhaustion.

    “Enough,” Mason said his voice filled with anger and possibly a little fear. He hadn’t expected that, I thought with a smirk as my legs gave out and I fell to my knees. My hands were numb, still held in the cuffs behind my back. Trevor kept the gun to my head as he surveyed the damage. His thugs were nowhere to be seen, but there were still the very light footsteps behind us, but whoever was there didn’t bother interfering. The sirens right outside gave him reason to be concerned as well, and I felt several people enter the building, distracting me once again from the odd footsteps. Alice and Dan were among them.

    “It’s over Trevor.” I said with a short bark of laughter.

    “Not even close, Freak,” he hissed. I almost snorted. No, I didn’t like being called a freak. But really, couldn’t he come up with something a little more original? He yanked me to my feet just as the door slammed open.

    Alice and Dan entered with their guns drawn and my anxiety level increased at having three guns pointed at me; my near-amusement of a moment ago was forgotten. Mason adjusted his hold on me, the larger man not having too much trouble holding me up. I’m only about five foot eight and weigh about one hundred fifty pounds, while he stood at easily six foot and weighed about two hundred. And as I could feel through his suit, he was quite strong. He held his left arm around my neck and his right hand held the gun to my head.

Alice’s eyes caught mine after quickly taking in the damage done to the building. I allowed my exhaustion to show for a moment to let her know I had reached my limit and was down to running on fumes. They would have to take care of this on their own. I could hardly move a pebble at this point.

Sam’s footsteps had gone out a different door, before Alice had arrived so I wasn’t sure if she even knew he had been here.

    “Let him go, Mason,” Alice demanded, her blue eyes piercing and colder than I’d ever seen before. Her smooth brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, which sharpened the angles of her face, making her look sleek and dangerous. Her partner entered next to her, his slightly wrinkled face set in a mask of anger, his dark eyes narrow and gun aimed at Mason’s head. Alice didn’t always take charge, but in this instance, Dan allowed it.

    I felt some familiar steps approaching behind the two officers, “Alice, look out!” I called as I saw both Bulldog and the Big Man creeping up behind them, guns in hand.

End Chapter Three

Hope you enjoyed this excerpt! Let me know what you think!