Flawless Dreams Read online

  Flawless Dreams

  Hadena James

  With Author C. Patt

  Copyright

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any names, places, characters, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination and are purely fictitious. Any resemblances to any persons, living or dead, are completely coincidental.

  Hadena James

  Copyright © 2017 Hadena James

  All Rights Reserved

  Smashwords Edition

  Acknowledgements

  This book required a second author for the first chapter, Bones. Thankfully, C. Patt was willing to step up to the plate and write the romance so I could move along to the killing. She deserves a big round of applause for making this book happen.

  Table of Contents

  Bones

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Whistle

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Display

  Rachael

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Hell

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Lewis

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Raphael

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  Twenty-Seven

  Twenty-Eight

  Twenty-Nine

  Eric

  Bones

  Cathy stood in his arms, facing the front door, as Kiernan slid the key into the lock. As he drove them back to his house he had held her hand, kissing it as they passed time telling each other about their daily lives. He had admired her long strong fingers under the moonlight, brushing his lips over each one as her breath caught between statements.

  He pushed her long dark hair aside as he nuzzled her neck from behind, her pulse racing as his lips found the soft narrow of her collar bone, jiggling the key in the old farm door while he nibbled. Opening the door with his free hand, Kieran guided her in by the hip, keeping contact with her long tall body as best he could.

  He had left a sole soft light on in the far corner of the room, and a long shadow fell across the high ceiling. He pushed the door closed and locked it behind him. Dropping his keys on the entry table at the door he paused and turned Cathy towards him. “Here darling, let me take your purse. You won’t be needing this tonight.”

  Her eyes locked on his, and soon fell away, the shy girl he had been dancing with all night trying to worm her way back in. “Ok,” was all she whispered in reply.

  His hand moved slowly up to her chin, taking care not to spook her, her breath catching as his slid his fingers along her jaw. He stared at her soft freckled skin, a counter point to his tan, worked hands, as he took in the lines of her strong, perfect jaw. “Let’s go sit on the couch, darling. We have all night, no need to rush things.”

  She let out a breath, her shoulders relaxing under his guidance. He was willing to bet she was having second thoughts, and there was no need to spook her. Now that he had her he was never going to let her go.

  He took her hand and led her gently over to the stuffed leather sofa, the one that faced the big screen TV. Maybe he should put on some music help sooth her nerves, he thought to himself as he settled her down next to him. Reaching out for the remote on the hardwood table in front of them he smiled her way.

  She fidgeted slightly, unsure what to do with her hands as she crossed and uncrossed them on her lap. So sweet and innocent, it was what had drawn him to her from the start. That, and the perfection he found in her face. Such startling symmetry, he could not help but covet the lines that lay beneath her skin. He reached behind her to set the remote on the table to her left, making himself part of her personal space.

  He loved that she was almost as tall as he was, eye to eye with the slight heel of her cowboy boots. Her long sturdy arms toned from work in the stables. He pushed a stay lock of hair behind her ear as he took in the beauty of her cheekbone, allowing his finger to gently trace down it and land on her lips.

  “May I,” he asked as he leaned in to kiss her.

  “Yes,” she replied in a whisper.

  His lips touched hers ever so lightly, a question waiting on them. Her reply was firm and encouraging as she groaned ever so slightly, pushing into him as she tilted her head slightly, hands still on her lap with a lack of purpose. He knew that all she needed was a little more confidence in herself and she would bloom like a flower before him. To pull her closer would only chase her away.

  “Stand up darling,” Keirnan’s voice husky, laced with need. “I need to look at you.”

  Her eyes darted down at her hands, she was shutting down.

  “Please,” his voice almost a whimper. He unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt, giving himself a little more room, releasing some of the tension that was building. His hand left his shirt and landed on her knee, gently working its way up her thigh. “I promise to be gentle.”

  He could feel the heat coming off of her as her passion rose, his hand inching its way to the promised land. He feared she wasn’t ready yet, that he needed to give her a little more time. Her hand moved as his started to slide to the crook of her jeans. He was certain she was going to halt his progress and was surprised as her hand continued past his, running up the length of his strong arm, settling on his bicep as she let out a small moan.

  “Kiss me Keirnan, I need you to kiss me.”

  Mamma had always taught him to do whatever a woman asked and he smiled coyly at her as he locked his eyes to hers. He raised his arm behind her, laying it across the back of the couch and leaned into her, caging her with his torso. His lips met hers. Keirnan’s hand gently caressed the hard seam in the Y of her jeans, eliciting soft noises from the woman he now pinned to the couch. Her tongue darted past his lips, dancing for him in ways that were raging in his blood and wreaking havoc in his pants.

  After a few moments she slowed. Playfully, she bit at his lower lip, gently tugging at is as they parted, leaning back into the couch with a content smile. Cathy made quick work of his remaining buttons. Her hands moved under the fabric of his shirt, her cool fingers eliciting waves of energy that all shot directly to the hard shaft now begging to be let out of his jeans. If he didn’t’ have his way with her soon it was going to be the death of him.

  “We need less clothes between us Cathy,”

  “Here, in the living room?” Her eyes electric.

  “I promise no one will see you. Those curtains are extra thick,” he said with a nod to the windows across the large room.

  “Now, up you go.” He pulled away from her, taking her with him until she stood before him. Hands on her hips he pulled her gently until she stood between his legs. He took in her body as he mentally striped her. A shiver ran though him with the thoughts of all the things he would do to her. Soon, he told himself, soon.

  “Let’s just start nice and slow.” He whispered, his fingers wiggling their way beneath the material of her shirt as he untucked it. Hem in hand he worked his way to the front, starting at the lowest button. His eyes ran up the length of her as his fingers worked. He could see her heart race, a slight shake to her hands as she stood before him, unsure of herself. She started to sway slig
htly to the soft music in the background as she closed her eyes and a leaned her head back, enjoying his soft touch on her skin. His hands traced her ribs as he moved her shirt back, exposing her simple bra and ample breast.

  “That’s right hon, you just relax,” he said as he gently pinned her legs in place with his knees and planted soft kisses at her navel. “You just relax and let me do all the hard work.”

  His hand moved to the button of her jeans as she started to hum along with the song. Her eyes still closed she never noticed his right hand slide into the side of the couch, finding the knife he had placed in there. He traced the path it would take one last time with his lips, marking the entry point with one final kiss.

  He plunged the blade in at an upwards angle, standing as it did it to drive it in deeper. He was well experienced with this maneuver and the carbon steel slide easily through her soft intestines, missing all the bones. He wrapped his arm around her as her eyes flew open. Fear made the pupils dilate, her breathing quickened, and her mouth opened as if to scream. Keirnan covered it with his lips as he twisted the blade and yanked it back out.

  Warm blood splashed down his legs. It pooled around his feet, soaking into the leather of his boots. Her weight collapsed into his arms and he pulled his lips away, knowing that the scream wouldn’t come now. She didn’t have the strength to get it out. Her eyes welled with tears. His arms could feel her losing her strength as her blood flowed from the wound.

  He swept her up into his arms, lifting her feet from the ground. There was no reason for her to bleed out completely in the living room. The floors had been treated recently, but blood would still seep between the boards.

  As he walked her outside, he could feel her getting heavier. Her muscles were relaxing as her body gave out. The dead do not naturally close their eyes. They stare unblinking at you, as if they are judging you. Keirnan avoided this glazed stare.

  He cared little for her flesh, he wanted to see her story. He wanted to read her bones. When he was finished reading her story, he would display them for everyone to read.

  However, getting to the bone was not an easy task. It was why he had built this farm. This beautiful farm where nature could get rid of the useless material that kept him from reading her story. The barn door was hard to open with Cathy still in his arms, but he managed on the second try.

  She had been a handsome farm girl. Her bones would tell an amazing story of hard work and perseverance. They might reveal a few secrets as well.

  The buzzing and chirping was instantly overwhelming. Millions of insects in carefully labeled, hand-built cages. Cages that he could access from above when he had to fill orders or from below when they had work to do. He supplied most of western Missouri and Eastern Kansas with bait, pet and livestock food, and even specialty stores for human consumption. Thankfully, he was friends with the FDA guy that came out to inspect his feeding practices, meaning he always knew when he was coming.

  Her first spot was in the base of his dermestid beetle case. They would make the easiest work of her stocky body. In a few days, he’d have to move her to the maggots section, but he had built a device for that as well. Everything on his insect farm was top of the line. He was a great engineer.

  One

  After the fall of the FGN, I had spent nearly a month in the hospital. Another month in hearings for my conduct and the fact that Patterson had escaped. Three months on unpaid suspension for misconduct. One week before that had ended, I’d shown up at Nadine Daniels’ house and done my job, which had landed me another 4 week suspension for insubordination.

  I had not protested any of this. The world had changed. The flaws in our security had been made evident. Everyone appeared to be terrified.

  However, now we had proof. There was a conspiracy. There were more serial killers active within our borders than we had ever imagined. We’d even let some come into the country from other places, like Canada and the United Kingdom. Not to mention the three super psychopaths that had been converging on Nadine Daniels’ house as mob enforcers had been Russian. The authorities were still trying to figure out how they had gotten into the US, let alone all the way to Kansas City.

  I was spending my suspensions putting my life back together. I had a new house that was filled with sleeping bags and camping chairs. My sister-in-law, Elle, had taken a job in Australia. Nyleena was on sabbatical after her rape and attempted murder by some coked up gang leader. She had gone with my mom to Australia to help Elle and the kids settle in. That had been three months ago and they weren’t sure when they would return.

  Aside from the fact that I sort of needed, Nyleena, I thought it the best course of action. Someone was coming for us, all of us. The VCU had been demolished by the head of the FBI. Malachi and Caleb Green had been transferred to different divisions, but the US Marshals had come in and swooped them up. They were the basis for a second SCTU team that was still being assembled.

  Kansas City had officially become a section of Hell. There were twenty active serial killers that we knew of. No telling how many we didn’t. It had made us the Murder Capital of the US and we were working our way towards being the Murder Capital of the world. My mother, Elle, Nyleena, none of them needed to be here for that. They were better off in Australia. Before leaving, they’d taught me to use Skype. So far, I hadn’t used it, but that was because up until two weeks ago, I had been living in one of Daniels’ Security’s safe houses. It wouldn’t have been prudent to Skype with Nyleena or anyone else for that matter.

  There was no official news on Patterson. This didn’t bother me. I had a new dark angel by my side. There were still a few reservations about Apex’s loyalties, but not many. He had stopped by the safe house three times to see me, to check on me. He’d even covered me when I had gone to save Nadine from the Russian mob enforcers that were in fact serial killers in their spare time. He wanted answers as badly as the rest of us. Like the rest of us, he knew the only way this could happen was if someone was pulling strings from on high. He’d ruled out the governing body that controlled the SCTU and the head of the US Marshals. Everyone else was still suspect. For my own wellbeing, we didn’t discuss how he eliminated suspects or who he actually suspected or what he was doing about it. There were things I didn’t need to know, it was something I had learned very fast after the fall of the FGN.

  The last week, my life had felt empty. It was a new experience, that I couldn’t pinpoint as an emotion. I was attributing it to the fact that everyone I knew was either working or in Australia. Even Trevor was too busy to spend time with me as he decorated houses, one by one, for all the SCTU members.

  When the FGN was overrun, they had targeted us. Malachi, Caleb, Lucas, and myself had our houses burnt to the ground. Xavier, Fiona, and Gabriel had theirs ransacked and trashed. They had busted through supporting walls, ensuring that the houses would eventually collapse. Fortunately, we had all been too busy to be home when the houses did finally give up and fall down. Trevor, Elle, the kids, and my mother had actually taken refuge with Ivan Daniels’ kids and his mother in his panic room. Melina Daniels was no slouch when it came to personal protection. The four adults could have held off a small garrison of psychopaths, if the bad guys had managed to get inside the panic room. For that, I was thankful.

  I couldn’t even go to the newly built Fortress to see my brother. He’d been attacked four times while in Leavenworth. He’d survived all of them. The same couldn’t be said for his attackers, but that sort of attention had landed him in protective custody. Even I didn’t know his location. If anyone I knew did, they weren’t talking.

  Even I had changed. I knew it. There was little I could do about it. Fighting alongside my brother had made me feel righteous. It surprised me to realize that I missed him. I had removed him from my memories as much as possible, but when the shit had hit the fan and he had been there to play the white knight, I had suddenly remembered exactly why I had thought so highly of my brother. He had always tried to be my white knight. His
armor was a little blood spattered and tarnished, but that was fine by me.

  It wasn’t just with regards to Eric that I had changed either. I had realized that I was a soldier in a war I wasn’t sure could be won if we always played by the rules. People like Eric, Apex, and Patterson were necessary to make any head way. Yes, they were murderers, who didn’t always do the right thing, but what we were fighting was much worse. Their body counts were more like resume bullet points than reasons they should be imprisoned.

  In other words, my world no longer contained much black and white. Everything was shades of grey. We were prioritizing killers based on their victim preferences and body counts, not based on who called us when. Those days were gone, possibly never to return.

  That was the one big change; we could now walk into any law enforcement agency in the country and demand they cooperate if there was a serial killer or mass murderer in their jurisdiction. We no longer needed them to ask us for help. We had the power to do it ourselves.

  My time off had not been spent idly sitting in a room and sulking. At least, not all of it. The head guy needed to be found and like Apex, I had a vested interest in who it might be. I was going through my own thoughts on who it might be. However, much like Apex I wasn’t making much progress. I did have a lead on a guy and I was still suspended. My plane left tomorrow for Texas. Ciudad Juarez, Mexico was a city filled with frightened citizens, overbearing drug lords, and more than its fair share of serial killers.

  Of course, I couldn’t touch any of those serial killers, but I could see what tourism in El Paso offered.

  My phone rang as I got up. I checked the caller ID and saw Gabriel’s name on it. I tried not to sneer, realizing someone had alerted him to my trip. Since only three people knew I was going, the list of who had ratted me out wasn’t exactly complicated.

  “Cain,” I answered.

  “I hear you’re going on vacation to El Paso. It seemed odd that you would go for a vacation in a city that was a hop, skip, and jump from Juarez. You cannot go into Mexico, Ace.”