Prologue
GHOST MARKED
Book One of the Logan x Lia duet
“Shh, shh. Please be quiet. Please, we’re almost there. Don’t make any noise, sweet baby. You can sleep soon. Please don’t cry, Aurora.”
My little girl hiccups a whine into my chest. She’s only two but she feels so heavy in my arms. I’ve been carrying her for over an hour, stumbling down the road, my hands and knees scratched from the metal fence I had to climb over, my eyes straining to see in the stifling darkness.
I’m exhausted, in pain all over, but I would do a lot more to save her.
She doesn’t deserve this life. She deserves to be in a happy home, with two parents who love her. She didn’t ask to be born into darkness and gloom. She didn’t ask for any of the things that have been her fate since I birthed her.
I once thought I’d despise her. I once thought I’d hate her for what she symbolized. But the minute I held her in my arms, I knew I would do anything for her.
Right now, anything means getting the hell away from the monster who makes every second of our life hell. Even though I know he has a pack of feral dogs, and he wouldn’t hesitate to use them.
But it’s one thing to be married to that monster. It’s another to leave my hometown behind.
Not that I carry this place in my heart. But I know what happens to lonely women in strange places.
If I’m gone, who will protect my Aurora?
But the road is neverending. At the end of it are the mountains that border the wealthy neighboring town of Astley. I don’t have much of a plan apart from reaching those mountains, and climbing as far away from Carmelo Moretti as I can.
But I’m starting to wonder how I can possibly make it. Each step I take feels increasingly difficult with the weight of my baby burning my arms. Sweat sticks at my back, making my shirt cling to my skin, the beads of perspiration itching me all over.
“Almost there, baby Aurora,” I croon. “Almost there.”
She opens her mouth to protest, but her whine is drowned out by a violent detonation.
Fuck.
They found out I left.
They’re hunting us.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Sudden, sickening fear overwhelms me, and my stumbling footsteps give way to frantic running.
I didn’t know I had it in me to run, and yet, this new danger gives me an adrenaline rush.
I clutch my baby to my chest, scrambling off the road and down the steep cliff that leads to parched shrubbery and not a single place to hide.
I no longer feel the achiness in my muscles, and my eyesight is suddenly sharp.
I would do anything to save her. Anything.
But even my desperate will has its limits. At last, I stop, panting hard, the world around me tilting in a way that makes me want to retch.
It’s all I can do to lie on the ground, holding myself just inches away from the dusty vegetation so I can hide Aurora under me. Useless. All my efforts are useless. I don’t believe for one second anything I do can possibly help us.
A miracle is the only thing that can save us now. I know what Carmelo will do if he finds me. Shooting me would be a mercy. No, he’ll sic the dogs on me. He’ll have them tear me apart.
I love animals, but I’ve always hated those dogs.
Tears prick at my eyes as I look down at Aurora, but they don’t fall. I don’t think there’s an ounce of moisture in my body anymore. I’ve sweated it all out.
“I’m sorry, little Aurora,” I whisper in her ear. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
I squeeze her, and she seems to sense what’s about to happen, because she doesn’t protest at the way I nearly crush her to my breast.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I repeat, as I hear footsteps grow closer.
No dogs, at least. No dogs yet.
That probably means he’s not the one hunting me. I guess he’s sent his men after me. But that only delays my fate.
There’s no doubt in my mind that I will meet my end at the teeth of those cruel dogs.
And what will happen to my Aurora then?
I allow myself to sag just a bit, resting my forehead against hers, breathing in her beautiful red curls. She blinks at me with her blue-green eyes, one of them unfocused. I love those messed-up eyes. Goddammit, I love her.
“I’ll always be with you, Aurora,” I breathe. “Always.”
The footsteps grow louder, and I know that whoever it is has found me. He’s making a beeline toward me. But I don’t have an ounce of strength left. I can’t do a thing but lie down in the dry shrubbery, waiting for my fate.
Louder those footsteps fall, one after another, an inexorable sound, as I squeeze my eyes shut, feeling my hands hold onto the frail warm body of my little girl. Trying to be present for my last moments with her.
I’ll throw myself down at Carmelo’s feet and beg for his mercy. Beg him to spare her.
Maybe he will. She’s his too, after all.
Yes, he will. He must.
I’ll endure anything as long as she’s safe.
Footsteps. Louder still.
The crack of a twig, just inches away from me.
Hot air against my neck. My hunter has crouched behind me. He’s here.
“Lia,” says a deep voice.
A hand on my shoulder. Fuck, I don’t want this. I don’t want to die.
I thought I’d do anything for Aurora, but I really am just a coward, because in these final moments, I’m thinking of myself.
And every cell in my body is rebelling.
Don’t take me! Don’t hurt me! Don’t kill me!
“Lia,” says the voice again.
Goosebumps pebble on my neck as I slowly move to a sitting position and turn around, ready to look into the face of the one who has found me.
Then my stomach plummets to the ground.
I knew I was fucked.
I didn’t think I was this fucked.
“You,” I choke out. “You!”