Burden Of Blood Read online

  Burden of Blood

  By

  Wenona Hulsey

  Copyright 2011 Wenona Hulsey

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  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  ISBN# 978-1-4524-9478-4

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  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Note From The Author

  Get To Know The Author

  Chapter 1

  Blue lights flashed as the siren of Nicole’s police cruiser echoed through the hot mid-day summer air. The eighteen wheeler’s large red tail lights lit up, signaling the driver was going to pull over without the chase she had expected. She pressed the button on her walkie-talkie, keeping a cautious eye on the door of the truck as it rolled to a stop at the side of the highway.

  “Winston 2 to 67, I’m 10-39 on an eighteen wheeler along Highway 33, one mile past County Road 78. I’m 10-16 and need assistance.”

  “A car is in route Officer. Don’t go playing hero again. Wait for backup.”

  Nicole’s attention was pulled from the conversation as the door of the truck opened. She stepped out of her patrol car being careful to shield her body behind her open door. “Stay inside of your vehicle,” her voiced boomed out loudly as she popped the strap button to release her gun from the black leather holster at her side.

  The man hopped down from the truck as he put his hands up in the air. A playful smile stretched over his lips, exposing yellow, chipped teeth. “Sorry Honey, I was already in motion. Once these legs are set on going somewhere, well,” he shrugged his shoulders, taking another step in her direction, “they’re damn hard to stop.”

  “Turn around and put your hands on your head,” she ordered as she pulled out her gun, keeping it from the man’s view.

  “Come on baby, don’t be like that.” He combed a grease stained hand through his stringy, black hair. His denim shirt was completely unbuttoned exposing a pot belly. A skull with two guns forming the crossbones, most likely a prison tattoo judging by the faded blue color and jagged lines, sat above his navel.

  Nicole aimed her gun, steadying her arms on top of the open door, “I will not give you another warning. Stop where you are and turn around.” She pulled back the hammer letting each click emphasize her words.

  The man’s lips drew back into a dark sneer as he stopped walking. He raised his arms stretching his fingers wide, and moved them towards the back of his head.

  Their eyes locked for what felt like an eternity but, in reality, was only a matter of milliseconds. Nicole watched anger boil up inside of the man and his face turned hard as stone. He began to turn slowly, as if he were going to obey, then, with one fluid motion, he pulled a pistol from the back of his waist band and swung it in her direction.

  Nicole had already moved to the back of her car before the man had the gun cleared from his back. He stared in confusion as he readjusted his aim in the direction of the trunk firing off two shots. “Quick little thing ain’t you?” he chuckled menacingly, “I’m not going to jail bitch.”

  Nicole began easing around the side of the car, being careful to stay low to the ground as she moved silently. She watched the guy moving towards the back of her car with his gun stretched out in front of him, waiting like a snake for the chance to strike.

  As soon as his feet were past her front tire, she lunged forward across the hood of her car in a body slide, catching him by the waist while using her small frame’s momentum to send them both crashing to the pavement. She grasped onto his arms, dropping her own gun so she could keep him from regaining control of his. With a hard push, the man managed to pull one arm free of her grip. He slammed his fist into her face with such force it knocked her off his chest, onto his shoulder. Stars danced across her vision, as blood trickled from her nose down onto her lips.

  The man shoved her body, moving her off his pinned arm. He stood and pointed his gun towards her head as he raked his eyes across her body. “Maybe you and I should have a little fun before I finish this. I do like an aggressive woman.” He reached down grabbing a handful of curls that fell from the tight bun she wore and yanked her to her feet. He began popping buttons open with his free hand as a dark grin played across his face.

  Nicole let him get about four buttons open, revealing her ample cleavage which was draped in a black lace bra, to keep his attention while she sent her palm crashing into his nose, causing him to release her in order to cup his bleeding nostrils. She powered an uppercut into his chin, sending him stumbling backwards, then a quick kick to his knees dropped him to the ground.

  The sound of sirens could be heard in the distance as she grabbed the man’s arms, placing them behind his back while he continued to groan in pain. “Guess we’ll have to put that fun off for a few years, baby,” she whispered in his ear, with a laugh. “You’re going to jail for a long fucking time.”

  *****

  “Officer Keenan, if you keep going at this rate, you’ll wipe out all the scum bags within a hundred miles of this town by the end of the summer,” Sheriff Thompson said. He was tucking Officer Nicole Keenan’s current catch into the back of his patrol car. “This is the biggest drug bust our department has ever accomplished, over thirty thousand pounds of marijuana and they’re still counting the kilos of cocaine.” He flashed a proud smile, then hid it behind his normal slated expression. “I don’t understand how you do it, but you’re the best dang cop I’ve ever seen, no offense, Luke.”

  “None taken, I’m the one who taught her everything she knows,” Luke said teasingly. He reached over and put a hand on her shoulder. A bullet proof vest stretched across his broad chest, hiding his black uniform shirt and dark blond hair peeped out from under a black WCPD cap.

  Nicole’s body heated from the simple touch of her partner’s hand. After three years on the force, she was still trying to hide it when Luke made her heart flutter and her body ache. He gave her shoulder a slight squeeze, then moved his hand to rest on his holster.

  Nicole smiled back at the men, not sure what to say as she shifted uncomfortably from the praise. Sometimes she felt like such a cheater in life. Sure, she was using her gift for the greater good but it did give her an unfair advantage in police work. Really, what else could she be expected to do with something like this? Hearing the evil that other people thought, had freaked her out at first. It was hard to convince herself she wasn’t crazy when murders, assaults, rapes and drug deals were being plotted inside her own mind.

  Once again, she needed to come up with a believable story of how she knew that today, a big rig trailer would stop in the middle of the Bankhead Forest to do a massive drug deal. Me and my bright idea, she thought.

  Nicole started to imagine another fabricated cover story when her cell phone began vibrating on her belt. With a relieved breath, she turned and walked a few yards away from the group. She glanced at the screen to see Kathy’s number.

  “Kat, this better be important because you know I'm working. One of these days you’re going to get me shot by calling me whenever you want to. What if I was sneaking up on a perp when you made my cell st
art singing?”

  “Wow, you’re crabby today.” Kat chuckled. “I know damn well that you keep your phone on vibrate all the time, so stop trying to blow me off.”

  “So what’s up Kat?” Nicole rolled her eyes at her moot point.

  “Dad’s been sitting by the scanner again. He said y’all got a big one, so of course, he had to call me. Sometimes, I think he wishes you were his daughter instead of me, the boring insurance agent,” she chuckled. “I wanted to make sure you were alright and…umm… that you’re not canceling on us going out later tonight, Miss. Antisocial.”

  “So the truth is, you just wanted to know if I was going to pass on going out with you. Girl you never change.” she grumbled. “Yes, I’m still going, so don’t write me off yet, but remember you promised you won’t make me go again anytime soon. The clubbing scene isn’t fun for me anymore.”

  “Yes,” Kat huffed, “I remember my promise. I don’t know what’s happened to you. You’ve turned into such a stick in the mud.”

  “I am not! My life is full of enough excitement at work. I don’t need to go out to find more.” Not only that, but hearing all the drunken thoughts of people in a club would be too much. When inhibitions were shot to hell, things went from being ideas to actions in a split second, but she couldn’t tell that to Kat. Her friend would haul her into the first church she found for an emergency exorcism.

  “Ok, I hear you loud and clear. Hey, is Luke with you?” Kat asked, trying to seem casual but Nicole knew she had a bad thing for him. Kat had always had a date on her arm, while another sat on the back burner. She and Kat had been best friends since sixth grade and dating was nothing new for either of them. Nicole wasn’t a habitual dater like her friend, although she used to enjoy going out but after her gift emerged, her social life ended. She resolved to believe a life alone was safer for everyone, even though she had to admit the thought of Kat and Luke together hit a raw nerve.

  “Yes, you know he is, why?” Nicole turned toward the group of men meeting Luke’s stare. She flashed him an awkward smile, “Kat said to tell you hello.”

  “Hi Kat,” he replied as he walked in her direction.

  “Ask him if he wants to go with us tonight.” Kat’s pleasure vibrated through the phone.

  Nicole pictured Kat literally melting from the sound of Luke’s voice. The clicking of her trade mark stiletto heels as she paced on her kitchen’s hardwood floors echoed through the phone. Kat believed in dressing like she just stepped off the runway at a fashion show every day and, with her long legs and slim build, she looked gorgeous in everything. Beautiful black hair reached to the middle of her back in long silky strands. Her light green eyes and high cheek bones gave her face an exotic, sexy quality. Nicole had always been secretly jealous of how Kat’s hair shimmered like she just stepped out of the ritziest London salon, a stark contrast to her own long unruly brown curls.

  “Um…Kat I’ve got to get back to work. You know, big drug bust still in progress and all that jive. I’ll call you when I get home, bye.” She snapped the phone shut then she turned to face Luke, putting her business face back on.

  “Are they about to wrap up?” she asked gesturing toward the swarm of DEA agents loading the cocaine into large, white, plastic tubs. The smell of marijuana lingered in the air even though the bales had been sealed away in large, green containers, evidence labels already neatly in place on each one.

  “Yes, I think they are close now.” He paused as if debating something. “So, do you and Kat have plans tonight?”

  Nicole nodded, stuffing her hands into her pants pockets, “Yep, she’s dragging me out clubbing. I’ve been trying like hell to get out of going but she seems to think I’m becoming a hermit.” She laughed nervously, knowing she didn’t need to be a mind reader to see where this conversation was going. “Um…Kat wanted me to invite you along with us.” She was quick to get it out there as an invitation from Kat before he assumed she was asking him out. So many times she had dreamed of testing the waters with Luke, but that same nagging voice reminded her she was crazy to try. Let it go, Nicole. You need to realize you are going to be alone. End of story. It’s better this way.

  “Sounds like fun. We can celebrate in honor of your awesomeness today,” he paused, giving her a small, sly smile, “And Kat’s right, you do need to get out more. You spend way too much time on the job. Maybe if you weren’t so wrapped up in police work you would let me take you out sometime,” he said with a wink.

  “I guess my work ethic is a matter of opinion and well…as for us going out, I kind of think Kat wants to get her claws into you and who am I to stand in the way of true love?” With a smirk, she walked back to the group of officers, brusquely putting an end, once again, to another guy trying to ask her out. Man this sucks!

  *****

  Nicole spent more time getting ready for the night than she intended. She still didn’t want to go but she couldn’t get Luke off her mind. Her stomach fluttered as she thought of his hand resting on her shoulder only a few hours ago. Such a simple touch that to most women, would mean nothing, but it’s the closest she would ever allow herself to get to him so she savored the moment.

  Her mind drifted back to the last guy she had allowed herself to care for. She had met Nick on a weekend trip to Panama City, Florida. Sure, it may have ended up being only a vacation love but she never got the chance to find out. That was the weekend everything started to change in her life, and ultimately led to her never calling the phone number Nick sent attached to a bouquet of red roses. Nicole sighed as she went back to getting dressed, pushing away the thoughts of that wonderful weekend that ended very badly.

  Black was the color for her tonight. She put on black pants that were a mix of silk and spandex, making them hug the curve of her hips before turning into a flowing loose leg. Her shirt, also black, tied around the neck with a split down the center from below her breasts to her waist line. The cut let the material flow in a sexy teasing way, exposing her firm belly when she moved. She added a pair of three inch heels, diamond earrings and a silver bracelet to complete her outfit. After much mental debate, Nicole decided to leave her long curly hair down as she applied her makeup lightly going for a natural look. With a little help from some concealer, she was able to cover the small bruise on her face from today’s action. After adding a hint of peachy lip-gloss to her full lips and a touch of bronzer to her high cheekbones and across the bridge of her narrow nose, she pushed away from her vanity.

  She spun around in front of the full length mirror with an approving smile. “If I’m being forced to go, I should look the part, and damn girl, you look good.”

  Nicole drove herself to the club, instead of riding with Kat. She thought it would be better to have an escape plan, just in case she felt like a third wheel or if her mind got so jumbled with other peoples’ thoughts, she might want to cut out early. She expected both to be good scenarios for how tonight would end.

  Nicole pulled up to The Devil’s Diamond club. The building sported a large red devil’s head, kissing a shimmering diamond, as flashing red and blue flames danced all around. A long line of people wrapped around the building of the town’s hottest night spot. She debated on jumping back into her car and going home but in the same instant, she noticed a waving hand at the front entrance. There stood Kat, signaling her to walk to the door ahead of the line. Nicole was sure this had to do with Kat’s gift with men because the gorilla like bouncer eyed her approvingly as she gave him a flirty smile.

  Shaking her head in amazement, she joined her friend and followed her in. Angry grumbles trailed after them as they walked past the line of waiting people. Kat led her to a table where Luke sat with a beer in his hand. His eyes got big when he spotted Nicole.

  “Wow Nicole, you clean up nice.” He flashed her a charming smile as he stood to pull out her chair. He wore a dark red, silk shirt open at the top, revealing his bare chest, and dark washed jeans.

  She pried her eyes off of his pecs, forcin
g her gaze to his chiseled face and hazel eyes, as his woodsy scent filled the space between them. She gave herself a good mental slap trying to regain focus. “Thanks Luke, you’re not too bad yourself tonight,” she said, feeling the heat rush to her cheeks

  Trying to change her train of thought, she turned to face Kat, only to view the back of her head. Kat sat on the edge of her seat, watching the people dance in the flashing strobe lights. Nicole quickly caught onto Kat’s vibe when she followed her friend’s eyes out to the floor. The lights gave everything a sexy, slow motion feel. Nicole gazed as a couple danced together, moving like one, bodies shimmering with sweat. The tall, exotic woman’s arms started up the man’s chest then, in the next flash of the strobe, her arm’s draped around his neck, her mouth inches from his lips. The guy, who could easily have been a cover model, had his hands on the woman’s upper back, pulling her close to him as he tried to taste every inch of her mouth. In the next flash of lights, his hands gripped her ass tight, pulling her hard against his lower body as they swayed to the beat. The atmosphere on the dance floor oozed sex and lust. Slowly, it wrapped around Nicole like a warm bath.