SNAP (The SNAP Trilogy Book 1) (25 page)

The End…for now.

Flip the page for a sneak peek of the next book.

(You really didn't think I would leave you hanging like that, did you?)

Cady

My blood turned cold when I reached for the doorknob and it opened. For some reason I didn't think to knock, I just reached for it and it turned. I should have known better with everything going on. Hazel locks up her apartment tighter than Fort Knox these days. But when the door swung open, there was an eerie silence that greeted us. My heart pounded in my chest as I stepped inside.

"Cady," Erick whispers and points to a dent in the wall that has a spot of blood on it.

Erick and Bobby look at each other with worry in their eyes. I spin around taking in her apartment, but I don't see anything out of place. There doesn't look like there was a struggle in here.

"Hazel?"

I yell out to her thinking maybe Cash and her are in the bedroom and she didn't lock the door since he was here. Hope blooms in my chest, thinking maybe, just maybe, I'll catch the two fucking and we'll get a laugh about this. A clicking sound from the hallway catches my attention and I hold my finger to my lips. Everyone freezes and we listen intently. I think I hear footsteps, but I'm not sure if it's just my ears playing tricks on me.

I wave my hand as I tiptoe toward the hallway and see a chair toppled over on the floor in the kitchen. The knife next to it scares the shit out of me. Erick and Bobby stop and stare at it too. I listen intently, but can't hear anything except my heart pounding in my ears as the adrenaline courses through my body. I have to find Hazel. Now.

I check the bathroom and find Hazel's work clothes soaking wet on the floor. As I step toward her bedroom door, the foreboding in my gut intensifies. Fear makes it feel like time is moving so slowly that it takes a lifetime to reach it. I take a deep breath and put my ear against the wood. I wish I could say I hear panting and moans, but I hear nothing.

My attempt to turn the knob leads me nowhere. It's locked. I raise my hand and knock on the door.

"Hazel?"

I listen for a moment before pounding harder.

"Hazel," I yell, getting more and more terrified by the second.

"Are you in there?" I yell again.

A sound I can't identify comes from behind her door and petrifies me. I grab the knob and shake the door trying to slam my shoulder against it screaming her name over and over. Erick tries to pull me away, but I need to get to Hazel. Oh god, what if she's hurt in there?

"Cady, move out of the way," Bobby bellows and I let go of the knob letting Erick pull me back.

Bobby tries the knob first, then slams the door with his shoulder. It shakes against the frame, but doesn't budge. Without a second thought, he lifts his foot and kicks the door hard. Wood splinters around the knob, and with one more kick the door flies open. I hold my breath for a moment as Bobby stands in the doorway and doesn't move. As I shove past him he tries to stop me, but he's not quick enough. I wish he were.

A scream rips from chest as I stumble toward the bed. My vision blurs with the tears streaming down my face. All I can see is red. Red everywhere. I reach out and Erick grabs my hand, wrapping his arms around me. I hear Bobby crying behind me as he yells directions to someone. It sounds like he's yelling through a tunnel.

"You can't touch her," Erick chokes out. I think he's going to be sick. Hell, I might be sick. "Take a breath before you pass out."

I suck in a lung full of air, but all I smell is the coppery scent of blood. My throat closes up and I begin to panic. I wipe the tears from eyes and stare at my best friend who is unrecognizable. Her face a blend of red, purple, blue, and black. The belt around her neck trails down her nude chest covered in blood, bruises, and whip marks. The indents of teeth around one of her nipples causes me to almost vomit. I choke as I swallow it down, my eyes trailing down her body. No one should see her like this. She wouldn't want anyone to see her like this. I want to tell Erick and Bobby to leave me alone with her, but I fear I'll lose it completely if they aren't here with me. We all need each other right now.

"Oh, Hazel," I whimper as I fight the urge to take her in my arms and show her how much she was loved. How much I love her.

When Erick turns to Bobby to calm him down, I reach out and hook my finger around Hazel's peeking out from under her. I don't give a fuck. She's like my sister. I need this. I need to touch her. I couldn't be here to stop it, but I can be here for her now. Her skin is warm against mine and I look up to her face wondering if she's still alive.

"Hazel, can you hear me?" My voice breaks as the tears start again. "Please, for the fucking love of God, please be alive!"

"Cady." Erick grabs my shoulder and sobs. "You can't touch her, babe."

"Don't fucking tell me wha–" I start yelling at Erick, but I stop when Hazel's lip moves. "Did you see that?"

"What?" Erick asks kneeling by me.

I slip my hand further under her and grip her hand tightly then lean as close as I can to her trying not to touch anything else.

"She moved," I whisper to Erick without looking away.

He leans in next to me and watches closely as I whisper to Hazel.

"I don't know if you can hear me, but hold on, Hazel. I love you so much," I choke on a sob as I squeeze her hand tighter. "You can't leave me. I need you. You're so strong, Hazel. Please don't leave me."

Tears slip from her eyes and I choke on my sobs knowing my best friend is alive. Sirens sound from down the street.

Erick clutches my shoulders. "Keep talking, babe. Don't stop," he says, before running from the room.

"I love you so much. I don't know what I would ever do without you."

My heart breaks and yet heals at the same time that Hazel tries to grip my hand. Her mouth moves slightly, but no sound comes out. She doesn't need to tell me who did this, we all know who did this to her. As I cling to Hazel I hope against hope that if she loses her strength she can draw from my own. I'd give her every bit of it with a prayer if she makes it through this to see tomorrow. Seeing her beaten, broken, and covered in blood breaks something in me too. I never thought there would be a day in my life that I would enter a house to discover someone I loved brutalized and almost murdered. That shit is only supposed to happen in horror movies. I feel like I'm in a horror movie. My gut burns as my fear shifts to a hatred I've never known. I squeeze Hazel's hand as I hear the shouts of Erick and Bobby outside waving down the ambulance and police.

"I'm going to find him, Hazel." My resolve solidifies my voice. "And when I do, I promise you, I'm going to fucking kill him."

Hazel's eyes flutter as footsteps sound in the hallway. She grips my hand and then whispers in broken words, "No. I will."

Hands land on my shoulders and pull me away from Hazel. Her hand slips from mine as I fight to stay with her. The last thing I see as I'm wrestled from the room is a wall of paramedics and police shouting orders as they converge on my best friend.

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I want to thank all the readers who picked up this book. I thought about leaving you on a major cliffhanger, just so I could watch you squirm, but I hate that shit and didn't want to do that to you. I wanted you to have hope to cling to and I didn't know if I was ready for death threats yet. I really hope you loved Hazel's story and look forward to the next book. If you didn't, and you don't, that's okay too! Whatever your feelings, I ask that you hop on over to Amazon and rate your experience in Trinity and leave a review. It helps us little guys out tremendously and helps other readers find books.

This book would've never made it as far as it did without a few people. Because of them, I buckled down and allowed the dark parts of myself see the light of day. It was one of the best decisions I ever could have made. I learned a lot about myself while writing this story and I couldn't have done it without them.

Nathan, my husband, who works his ass off day in and day out to provide for our family so I can stay home with our kids and chase my dream. No matter what I'm writing, you are on board. Whether it's my poetry, erotic romance, or this romantic psychological suspense, you sit and bounce ideas with me and listen patiently as I read it all to you. I love that you love me to read to you. Especially things I have written. I think you secretly enjoy torturing me by making me read the sex scenes aloud so you can watch my face turn red. Regardless, it's worth it. Thank you for your love and support and for helping when I have writer's block. You're amazing. I love you.

Laura Barcenas, my fucking Spicy Wench. I fucking love your fucking face. Out of all the people who signed up to beta read, you were the only who did it. And you did it step by step with me. Thank you for your messages, your encouragement, and for hounding my ass when I didn't think I would even finish this book because you had to have more. You fell in love with my story when I hated it. I kept going just for you. Thank you for your foul mouth that matches my own, thank you for your friendship, thank you for being you. Thank you for everything.

RM Gilmore (RMGraphx), you badass bitch you. Not only did you create an amazing logo for me, you created a fucking awesome cover for SNAP and the pretties that line the pages. Thank you for seeing my vision and making it more than I thought it could be. Thank you for answering endless questions about all things pertaining to self-publishing. Thank you for reading parts of my book even though you don't like this genre. Thank you for being an all-around badass bitch and amazing woman. Friends like you are hard to come by, but I'm thankful you're one of mine. One day we'll drink to that. As you would say, smooches and shit. Love ya.

Mary E. Palmerin, my dear friend, and Goddess of Darkness. Thank you for allowing me to read parts of my story to you on the way to your book signing and giving me your thoughts. Your opinion means more to me than you'll ever know. And let me tell ya, when your fave dark author gives you the thumbs up, there's no greater feeling of accomplishment than that. Phil was all for you, baby! Love ya, lady.

Amie Nichols, my boss lady. Thank you for diving into my story right before release day to give me your thoughts. You're opinion means the word to me. The fact that you devoured my book in a short period of time and loved it made me do a happy dance. Thank you for pointing out things that needed clarified before throwing it to the masses. You're awesome and I love you.

Danielle James, my other boss lady, thank you for formatting this bad nasty at such short notice. Your help is greatly appreciated and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I wouldn't have released on time without you. Love your ass!

Last, but not least, to all the bloggers who signed up for my cover reveal, release day blitz, and to review. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You wenches help make a girl's dreams come true. Keep on being all around badasses.

About the Author

Tara Dawn is a married, stay-at-home mom who homeschools her three sons. When she's not busy with them, you can find her reading, talking about other authors and books over at
Word Wenches Guilty Pleasure book blog
, writing, crafting, or hula hooping. She wears many hats and finds that if you aren't learning something new every day, then you aren't living to your full potential.

She's addicted to Facebook and loves connecting with others and making new friends. You can find her on there all times of the day. Stop by her
page
and say hello or shoot her a friend request. She loves shooting the shit on the regular. Just beware that she curses like a sailor
.