Liliana began reading romance novels with all her new found free time, and when she ran out of things to read, she decided to write her own novels. The result was a 150,000 word thriller—a dazzling adventure—where the heroine was a thirty-year-old virgin assassin (Yes, you read that right). She couldn’t imagine why people weren’t knocking down her door to read it, but she persevered and began writing a second book. She finally got the hang of things, and eventually learned that losing one’s virginity wasn’t all that romantic after all. All of her books involve some kind of suspense (she just can't help herself), laughter, and a lot of steamy sex.
Since self-publishing in June of 2011, she's sold more than 2 million ebooks all over the world, hit both the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, and been nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award. Liliana is addicted to reading, kickboxing, and Bones. She lives in a big, rambling house in Texas with a couple of cats to keep her company. She loves to get emails from readers.
You can find Liliana here:
http://www.lilianahart.com/index.html
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Before Evil
by Alex Kava
Chapter 1
Warren County, Virginia
He stood in the shadows watching. This part had always come naturally to him. He could blend in anywhere whether it was a forest with dying autumn leaves or a busy sidewalk café. He was a chameleon ready to change colors, shed his skin if necessary. He could change his hairstyle, wear a suit and tie as easily as a barista apron. He could be thin or fat, grow old, perfect an accent and even pretend to be blind. Last month for three days he was a war vet with a limp.
A chameleon playing charades.
Of course with each change came a new name. This week he was using Stucky. Last week it was Casey. He’d seen both on several gas stations in the Midwest. Nothing wrong with gas station names.
He wouldn’t even be here right now tromping through pine needles if this guy hasn’t been such a hothead, stopping him and getting in his face. Stucky had planned on being in Florida by now and this idiot had delayed his trip, hell-bent on humiliating him, intimidating him.
It would be so easy to gut him and be on his way. Hang him from a tree like a deer. Slit his belly open while he was still looking at him. Watch his insides slide out and fall to ground.
But he decided to wait. There was something about the guy that intrigued him. Something familiar that convinced him to follow the bastard instead of simply killing him. At least for a few days.
He kept his vehicle hidden from view, too. It was parked on an old dirt path in-between a grove of trees. No one else probably would have noticed the road. Lone Wolf certainly hadn’t. That’s what he called his new prey. Actually he was using Loner for short. He should be calling him Loser but something told him this guy might be more interesting. Or maybe it was just him hoping this wasn’t a waste of time.
Either way, Loner was a generous nickname considering what the guy had done. For now he’d let the bastard live but he expected his generosity to pay off. However, two days of stalking had proven mostly boring.
Until now.
Loner was parked at the end of a long driveway. A line of pine trees hid his vehicle from the occupants of a double-wide trailer. He’d been there for about an hour. Loner had done this the day before then drove twenty miles to stop at a liquor store in another county before driving home.
Boring.
But this time when Loner started up his vehicle he actually turned into the driveway. Stucky waited thinking he must just be turning around. He couldn’t see much of the property from where he stood up in the trees. He’d been more focused on Loner than the residents. By the time he realized the asshole had driven onto the property and all the way to the double-wide, Stucky was scrambling for a better view.
He hurried along the treeline only able to get a glimpse – bit and pieces between the trees. He was too far away. Still, he kept his eyes focused where he expected the property to be. He rushed through the forest, anxious to see. Branches slapped in his face. Vines snagged his pant-legs. Leaves crunched underfoot. And he still saw nothing.
Finally he decided to hike back to his vehicle. He’d drive by. Find another spot.
Damn it! It was taking forever.
He glanced at his watch. Okay, not forever. It had only been fifteen minutes since he watched Loner turn into the driveway. Fifteen more minutes to get to his own SUV. He needed to slow down. Play it cool. See but not be seen.
He found a place in a muddy field to turn around.
Tick-tock. Ten more minutes to navigate the dirt-patch road.
He could hear clumps being kicked up and hitting the tirewells. Again, he tried to slow down. Almost to the main road when suddenly a vehicle zoomed past.
Loner.
He recognized the silhouette behind the wheel even if it was in a flash.
Stucky hit the brakes. Watched Loner’s taillights blink on, only for a second before they disappeared around a curve. Then he was gone.
Had he even noticed Stucky’s SUV? Or had the trees along the dirt road blocked his movement? He waited expecting the asshole to backtrack. He didn’t move, foot still on the brake, hands on the steering wheel. He was used to watching. Used to playing statue. Used to blending in and becoming invisible.
Twenty-two minutes went by and Loner never returned.
Stucky shifted into gear.
“Okay, let’s see what the hell you did.”
Chapter 2
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