Before She Dies (Slaughter Creek) Read online

  What was wrong with her? What had they done to her child?

  Would she ever be normal?

  “Dammit,” Ben mumbled. “I don’t understand this medical jargon, but you’re right. Something looks fishy here. Did you approve this list of medications?”

  “Of course not.” Norma’s stomach rolled as she climbed the hills, braking as she approached Blindman’s Curve, one of the most dangerous places on the mountain.

  But when she pumped the brakes, the car sped up instead of slowing. She tried them again, easing down this time, but the pedal went all the way to the floor and instead of the car slowing, it accelerated.

  Fear choked her as they raced down the incline.

  Ben dropped the folder as the car jerked to the right and skidded on the shoulder. “Slow down, Norma.”

  “I’m trying but the brakes aren’t working,” Norma cried.

  Ben gripped the dash with a white-knuckled grip as she pumped the brakes again, but they failed, and the car swerved out of control. She tried to steer into the curve, but the car hit a patch of black ice, tires squealed and they skidded toward the ravine.

  Ben shouted again, and Norma screamed as they careened toward the edge of the mountain. The car barreled over the embankment and tumbled down the rocky incline, slamming into the rocks below with such force that Norma flew forward.

  The next minute the world went dark.

  Sometime later, Norma stirred, dazed and confused, her body aching. She tasted blood then panicked when she saw blood tricking down Ben’s cheek. His leg looked crooked, his face pale. She shook his arm, terrified he was dead.

  “Ben…honey, are you all right?”

  He opened one eye. The other was black and blue, swelling shut. A piece of shattered glass was stuck in his thigh, blood soaking his pants.

  “Yes, are you?”

  “I think so,” she whispered as she glanced through the window at the brush and trees where they’d landed.

  Ben pulled her into his arms. “It’ll be okay,” he whispered. “Someone will find us.”

  Tears blurred her vision. She wanted to believe him, but they were way off the road. “If we don’t make it – ”

  “Shh,” Ben said as he stroked her arm. “We will make it. We just found each other again.”

  She nodded, her throat thick as she rested her head against his chest. “You’re right. We have to. The girls need us,” Norma said holding onto him tight.

  Although worry mushroomed inside her as the snow continued to fall.

  If they didn’t make it, the girls would be alone.

  No, her parents would take care of them. And Sadie was tenacious; when she got older she’d figure out what was wrong with her twin sister.

  The world was spinning again, but Ben kissed her. A tender, sweet kiss that promised they would be always be together.

  And she knew they would.

  She just prayed someone rescued them soon.

  Then they would find out what was happening to the children in Slaughter Creek…

  Watch for DYING TO TELL,

  the first exciting installment in the

  Slaughter Creek series, December 25 , 2012

  from Amazon Montlake!

  ISBN: 978-1469276601

  Afterword

  Thank you so much for reading BEFORE SHE DIES. I hope this short prequel whets your appetite for my new romantic suspense series set in the fictitious, small rural Tennessee town of SLAUGHTER CREEK.

  Book one DYING TO TELL picks up twenty-five years later with Sadie and Amelia, and is a dark romantic suspense thriller set around a mysterious sanitarium nestled in the mountains.

  If you enjoyed this story, do me a favor and post a review on www.Amazon.com.

  Thanks so much!

  DYING TO TELL

  Sadie Nettleton fled Slaughter Creek ten years ago, leaving behind the only home she’d ever known — and the only man she ever loved. Sadie knew Jake Blackwood could never forgive her if he discovered her terrible secret, so she ran and never looked back. But when her grandfather is murdered, and her mentally ill twin sister charged with the crime, Sadie has no choice but to return and face the ghosts of her past…

  For Sheriff Jake Blackwood, time has not dimmed the love he felt for Sadie Nettleton — or the pain of her leaving. But now that she’s back, he’s determined to help her uncover the truth about her grandfather’s death. As their investigation leads them deeper into a world of secrets, lies, and betrayal in Slaughter Creek, Sadie becomes the target of a madman who will do anything to keep the truth buried. Jake would give his life to protect Sadie. But can he again risk giving her his heart?

  And here’s a sneak peek at the beginning of

  DYING TO TELL…

  Prologue

  From the moment I decided to kill him, I began to feel relief.

  It had to be done. There was no other way to escape.

  No turning back.

  He had led me to the secret room so many times. He’d taken my soul and left me empty inside.

  Ting. Ting. Ting.

  The chimes began to ring. Crying. Shrill, grating sounds like a knife scraping bone.

  No, he shouted.

  Crying wasn’t allowed.

  I heard the tears anyway. Silent streams of pain. Pleas for help. Prayers to die.

  But no one came.

  Were the screams just in my mind? Or were they real?

  It didn’t matter.

  I had to save myself.

  The screech of the metal door echoed in the night. The bright light seared my eyes. The gruff sound of his voice whispering that he loved me.

  My fingers curled around the knife as he walked nearer. So close I saw the whites of his eyes.

  The black pupils where his soul should have been, if he had ever had one.

  The smell suffused me. Seeped into my pores.

  The antiseptic. The cleansing soap. The faint hint of sweat.

  Sickening.

  Then he leaned over me.

  Ting. Ting. Ting.

  Emotions left me, bleeding out like the crimson life force I intended to take from him.

  I raised the knife and jammed it in his chest. His grunt of pain and shock echoed in the icy cold chamber.

  His blood spurted onto my face.

  Then his body collapsed against mine, and I waited for him to die.

  It was the only way I could survive…

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Award-winning, bestselling author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden book, but she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job. She has written several romantic comedies, but especially enjoys writing dark, sexy romantic suspense thrillers set in small rural towns.

  For a list of all her works, visit her at www.ritaherron.com

  You can also find her on Twitter: @ritaherron & facebook.com/ritaherron!

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five