Act of Blood (An FBI/Romance Thriller ~ Book 16) Read online

  Act of Blood

  By Morgan Kelley

  Copyright © 2016* Morgan Kelley LLC

  All rights reserved. Without limiting rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, introduced into a retrieval system, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including without limitation photocopying, recording, or other electronic or technical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  The scanning, uploading, and/or distribution of this document via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and is punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrightable materials. For permission requests, email [email protected]

  Content Advisory: This book is intended for mature audiences and contains graphic violence, explicit sexual activity and disturbing imagery

  ©Copyright 2016 cover by Celestia Abraham

  Other works by Morgan Kelley:

  Standalone Thrillers

  The Junction

  Serial Sins

  The Blood Betrayal

  FBI Romance Series

  The Killing Times (Book 1)

  Sacred Burial Grounds (Book 2)

  True Love Lost (Book 3)

  Deep Dark Mire (Book 4)

  Fire Burns Hot (Book 5)

  Darkness of Truth (Book 6)

  Devil Hath Come (Book 7)

  Consumed by Wrath (Book 8)

  Redemption is Here (Book 9)

  Dead Shall Speak (Book 10)

  Pledging to Die (Book 11)

  Slay Bells Ring (Book 12)

  Past will Haunt (Book 13)

  Choices will Destroy (Book 14)

  Blood shall Run (Book 15)

  Act of Blood (Book 16)

  Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Series

  Celestia is Falling (1)

  Vegas is Dying (2)

  Christmas is Killing (3)

  Love is Bleeding (4)

  Heaven is Weeping (5)

  Hell is Burning (6)

  Justice is Dead (7)

  Croft Family Mob Justice

  Dark Justice (Book 1)

  Littlemoon Investigations

  Blood Red Rage (Book 1)

  Lost & Broken (Book 2)

  Unthinkable Games (Book 3)

  Truth is Found (Book 4)

  Haven of Nightmares (Book 5)

  Forbidden Secrets (Book 6)

  The Carter Chronicles Trilogy

  Sinner Repent (1)

  Sinner Realized (2)

  Sinner Reborn (3)

  Oracle/The Phoenix Files

  Oracle Rising (book 1)

  Oracle Seeing (book 2)

  The Harcourte Vampyre Society series

  Dangerous Revelations (1)

  Dangerous Choices (2)

  Dangerous Misery (3)

  Dangerous Retaliation (4)

  Behind Closed Doors Anthology

  Illegal Fantasies ~ Behind Closed Doors (1)

  Romance Under Arrest~ Behind Closed Doors (2)

  Holiday Reinforcements ~ Behind Closed Doors (3)

  ~~~~ About the Author ~~~~

  Morgan Kelley lives in the beautiful Pocono Mountains with her husband and two children. After attending college at Penn State University and studying Criminal Justice, Morgan knew her only true passion in life would be murder and books. She put them both together and began her career as a writer. Other than books and writing, you can find Morgan hanging out in her garden and digging in the dirt.

  Her other works include: The Junction, Serial Sins, The Blood Betrayal, The Killing Times (1), Sacred Burial Grounds (2), True Love Lost (3), Deep Dark Mire (4), Fire Burns Hot (5), Darkness of Truth (6), Devil Hath Come (7), Consumed by Wrath (8), Redemption is Here (9), Dead Shall Speak (10), Pledging to Die (11), Slay Bells Ring (12), Past will Haunt (13), Choices will Destroy (14), Blood shall Run (15), Blood Red Rage (1) Lost & Broken (2), Unthinkable Games (3), Truth is Found (4), Haven of Nightmares (5), Celestia is Falling (1), Vegas is Dying (2), Christmas is Killing (3), Love is Bleeding (4), Heaven is Weeping (5), Hell is Burning (6), Justice is Dead (7), Dangerous Revelations (1), Dangerous Choices (2), Dangerous Misery (3), Dangerous Retaliation (4), Sinner Repent (1), Sinner Realized (2), Sinner Reborn (3), Oracle Rising (1), Illegal Fantasies (Anthology 1), Romance Under Arrest (Anthology 2), and Holiday Reinforcements (Anthology 3)

  Please feel free to visit Morgan at her website: www.morgankelley.com, email her [email protected], or visit her blog at www.morgankelley.blogspot.com.

  Fame has its price. You never know what the cost until it’s too late…

  prologue

  Washington DC

  Monday

  All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. Truer words were never spoken. Those poignant words were deep, profound, and too many people didn’t heed their meaning.

  To them, they meant nothing, and that was the problem.

  In life, there were the actors, and there were the spectators. It was better to be the actor than one who watched life go fleeting by with no control over what was happening around you.

  Life was a precious thing, and unfortunately, it was wasted on the unworthy. The ones who deserved to live were often struck down in the worst of ways, being ripped from their loved ones by that cruel mistress, Fate.

  Then there were the ones who had everything, and they didn’t deserve it. They were users, pushers, and the true dregs of society.

  They were the pariah.

  They were the scourge.

  They were now the people being targeted.

  These were no ordinary victims.

  No, they were the wealthy, frivolously spending money and yet only donating a drivel amount to their pet charities. They didn’t live in reality.

  They believed they were ‘special’ and worthy of being treated as if they deserved their notoriety.

  It was sickening.

  To be that rich…it would mean so much.

  The people who could be helped would be limitless. Instead, they were only acting a part. They pretended to care, and in the end, it would be their destruction. Their lies and malevolent behavior would be the nail in the coffin as the truth was set free.

  Everyone would see them for who they were.

  They would know the truth.

  Despite trying to come across as heroes to the masses, they were nothing more than the cancer eating away at the core of humanity.

  They were the issue.

  They were the reason society was crumbling. Humanity was eroding, and behind it all was a class of people who believed they were better than everyone—above the rules, laws, and punishments—they were wrong.

  So very, very wrong.

  Their lackadaisical attitude toward everything in life was infuriating.

  To those who studied them, it was crystal clear. They were acting and nothing more than horrible human beings—not worthy of living.

  If there was one thing that was loathed more than anything in life, it was people who hid behind masks of false truth. Why pretend to be something you weren’t?

  It was a waste of time, simply because at some point, the truth would come out. The curtain would be pulled back, and the mighty would be seen for the soulless animals they truly were.

  They would be judged.

  They would find their sentence.

  They would die.

  It was simply how it
had to be. When the truth came out, there would be no sympathy. In the end, this story would be written with a not so happy ending—for them.

  For everyone else, especially the ones they’d hurt along the way…there would be justice.

  It was time.

  Every dog had its day, and theirs was way overdue. Too many people let them slide. With the issuing of a big fat check, they were allowed to slip through the cracks. They believed money could buy them redemption, freedom, and peace of mind.

  It couldn’t.

  They were delusional.

  That was the big issue with all of them.

  They were liars.

  Cheaters.

  Thieves.

  There was never a more sickening group of people than these animals. They flaunted and strutted around like they were the most important people in the world, and they weren’t.

  They were nothing of the sort, and the fact that they didn’t realize it spoke of the dire situation. They believed themselves above the rest.

  Precious.

  Perfect.

  Indispensable.

  They were no one. In the end, they were going to see that they rotted, turned to dust, and disappeared just like everyone else. Born screaming, they would go out the same way.

  It would be fun to watch them beg.

  That was why they were targeted. There was no doubt they would whimper and plead, trying to save their own asses, and in the end…

  It wouldn’t happen.

  They needed to be taught a lesson, and that would overflow to the others. They would see and fear what they’d been doing all their lives.

  It was why the entire production had been staged, put on, and set to play out for the world to see.

  They were the actors in this mayhem, and before long, they would do exactly what was planned.

  How could they not?

  It was divinely written into the stars.

  All the world was a stage, and someone had to pull the strings. That someone was the one writing the details down for fate to play out.

  It was all set.

  It began today.

  Watching the first person, there would be great joy in taking a life. He was one of the vile, and he’d been studied to ensure the punishment fit the crime. As he played his multiple rounds of golf at the exclusive country club, his fate was in the hands of another.

  He would die today.

  Well, not today, but within a few days. There had to be suffering. It had to be painful, long, and torturous. It would be perfect.

  Thankfully, inspiration had struck, and it was already planned out.

  When he was packing up his Mercedes for the ride home, it was time to do the deed.

  He was going to disappear.

  Poof!

  Just like that, he’d go missing from the rich social circles he liked to play in, and he’d be on someone’s desk as a missing person. There would be no more news reports of his generosity or how he had been a good person.

  It was time to reveal the ugliness.

  Wouldn’t they be surprised?

  This man wore a mask to hide the truth, and it was about to be ripped away for the world to see.

  It was just and deserved.

  It really was.

  This man was a gross misinterpretation of what a human should be. His watch alone would feed a small family for two years. That was sickening. The way he flaunted his money, rubbing it in the faces of those around him.

  It had to stop.

  Even at that moment, on his final day, he was being a dick. He didn’t tip his caddy. He didn’t even look the man in the face.

  Who did that?

  Did he not see the humanity around him? He must. That meant there was only one reason.

  He simply didn’t care.

  It had to be true. He was out of touch with the reality of the world, and that had to come to a halt.

  Someone needed to show him.

  He’d never had to work a day in his life. Everything had been handed to him on a silver platter. It began at the beginning of his life, and it followed him until that day.

  Well, now he was going to pay for that.

  Death didn’t play favorites, and even if it did, this man wouldn’t be high on the list.

  The fun was about to begin.

  The foul man was watched as he moved around the pricy vehicle. He didn’t suspect a single thing.

  It was clear that he didn’t think he would ever be in danger. He was walking around as if he owned the place.

  Well, that was about to change, and fast.

  As he was grabbed from the parking lot, a bag thrown over his head, and knocked out, the game had begun.

  Silently, he was pulled into the woods surrounding the country club, and there was no remorse. There was time to set him free and alter the course.

  No, that wasn’t happening. This had to be done. One way or another, this man had to pay for his life, lack of compassion, and vile behavior.

  This was needed.

  It was setting a scene.

  It was important to do this exactly as planned or it wouldn’t have the outcome needed. His life had to end so more things could be birthed from his death.

  He was to be sacrificed to get their attention.

  After all, that’s what the actors in the world’s play did. They gripped your attention, made you laugh, cry, and cheer. Then they tore your emotions to shreds with a worthy performance.

  This would be that performance.

  Before it was over, there would be gasps, horror, and fear of what would be coming.

  That was a given.

  This was a masterfully written plan, and it would do the job.

  Pulling this man’s dead weight through the woods, it was clear that he needed to be placed somewhere not too far from the country club, but far enough that there would be time for him to die.

  This was going to be a lengthy process.

  It wouldn’t be overnight—or that was the hope. He needed to suffer. He needed to be afraid.

  No, this vile asshole was going to wake to find himself in a dire situation, and that was entertaining. It was worth the price of admission to this production.

  Oh, the look on his face when he realized what had happened would be priceless.

  That’s why he was chosen.

  That’s why all of this was picked just for him.

  So, it was time.

  Pulling out a shovel, the mulch was moved and a sufficiently deep hole was dug. The ground was sloppy and wet, and that was a good thing. When this was done, it would be perfect for what was planned.

  He’d sink.

  He’d suffer.

  He’d…die.

  Alone.

  When the hole was dug, the rich man’s pulse was checked. It was thready and weak. Apparently, the hit to his head was a little too hard.

  Well, shit.

  Oh well…it didn’t matter.

  If he didn’t wake up, the message would still be conveyed. Sometimes, you had to roll with the punches and deal with the problems as they came up.

  They would get it.

  The whole world would. His death only had to come. Ultimately, it didn’t matter if it was now or later. The point was made, and that was all that mattered.

  This minor setback didn’t matter in the end. For now, it was all about teaching him a lesson.

  It was about writing his own ending.

  This man’s death would matter—unlike his pathetic life. He was going to go out with a bang!

  Dropping the one thing that would tie it all together, the scene was set.

  It was perfect.

  It was ingenious.

  It was time to make a hasty retreat.

  When they found him, they would get it. There was no doubt that they were smart enough to put one and one together to find the trail.

  This was going to be a fun one.

  The authorities would need help, and that would be exactly what was planned.
They would go to the only people who were equipped to handle something like this.

  The FBI would be stepping in.

  More importantly, Elizabeth Blackhawk and her team of merry men would be on the case. That was the ultimate goal. They had to be the ones who worked on this one.

  This was for them.

  Once they were on the case, it would be set into play.

  Then the fun would really begin.

  * * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *

  Wednesday

  It was an exciting time to be alive.

  Well, for some people.

  From the well-manicured trees, the next victim could be seen. He was doing laps in his pool.

  Actually, it wasn’t a pool. It was the size of a damn lake! Here was proof that he, too, wasn’t focused on what mattered in life. He, too, was one of THEM.

  The rich.

  The powerful.

  The self-absorbed.

  Watching him as he worked out was entertaining. Today was his final day, and he didn’t even realize it. In a little while, he’d be dead, and all his exercise was useless.

  But it spoke of him.

  The man was so vain. He was worried about his body, his physique, and the things that didn’t really matter in life.