Amanda McKinney [McKinney - Sinister Secrets

Copyright 2018 Amanda McKinney

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the authors imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

eBook ISBN 978-1-7324635-2-3

Contents

Also by Amanda McKinney

Lethal Legacy

The Woods (A Berry Springs Novel)

The Lake (A Berry Springs Novel)

The Storm (A Berry Springs Novel)

The Fog (A Berry Springs Novel)

Devils Gold (A Black Rose Mystery, Book 1)

Hatchet Hollow (A Black Rose Mystery, Book 2)

Tombs Tale (A Black Rose Mystery, Book 3)

Evil Eye (A Black Rose Mystery, Book 4 )

Dragons Breath (A Black Rose Mystery, Book 6)

Skull Shore (A Black Rose Mystery, Book 7)

And many more to come

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For Mama

PROLOGUE

Lightning pierced the dark sky as Misti slid into a parking spot between a rusted Volkswagen and a dented blue pickup truck.

What the hell?

She frowned at the cheap motel in front of her. A cheap motel .

This is where he wanted to meet? Shed been to some sleazy hotels, but this was just plain dirty. She was better than this, for Christs sake Wasnt she?

What a crappy way to cap off a wonderful evening.

Shed just left the most fabulous party, in the dress hed bought for her sent in the mail, but that didnt really matter. Shed gotten an invite to one of the most glamorous galas in town, courtesy of him, and that was all that mattered. During the event, they never spoke, only a few stolen glances as she attempted small talk with some of the wealthiest people in the area. The relationship was usually their fun, dirty little secret, except the look in his eyes tonight had been different. Haunting, almost. Damning. And, for some odd reason, shed felt like she had eyes on her all evening. Someone elses eyeshiding in the shadows watching her.

And now, hed asked her to meet him at the dirtiest motel. Of all places.

It didnt add up, and despite the twookay, threeglasses of champagne shed guzzled, a small warning bell was going off in her head.

Did he know?

Had she been caught?

She knew she was pushing it. Although her attempt to video them during their last rendezvous had been a successif a tad blurry in spotsshed had this sick feeling that hed known. Over the last few days, shed replayed her covert operation over and over in her head. Shed been very careful and had positioned the camera perfectly behind the tiny cutout in her knock-off designer bag.

There was no way he could have seen it.

Right?

When hed sent her the text to meet him at the Towering Pines Inn after the party, she almost turned him down. But greed had taken overas it did so many timesand she thought if she could get one more recording. One more, crystal clear, not blurry. One more to really seal the deal.

Greed had decided for her once again, and here she was.

She bit her lip as her fingers nervously tapped the steering wheel, and as if being pulled like a magnet, her hand slid down to the gear shift.

Reverse.

Reverse, Misti. You got what you needed last time. Go home.

A low rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. She glanced up at the pitch-black sky, then shifted her gaze to the dense woods that surrounded the motelthe dark, mysterious, rumored-to-be-haunted Great Shadow Mountains, looking creepier than ever against the stormy night.

She looked back at the decrepit motel where a grisly murder had taken place no more than a few weeks ago.

A grisly murder.

Her pulse picked up. She contemplated leaving, but then her thoughts drifted to the last time shed been with him. How wild it wasnot to mention the best sex shed ever had in her life. He was selfish, no doubt about that, and a bit lacking where it mattered, but he made up for it by making sure she was pleased at the end of their time together. It was a pride thing, she assumed. He couldnt fail, at anything, and that was just fine with her. Better than all that, the man was rich. Born into money, and it was no secret. He was a man that got what he wanted, a charismatic, conniving, little snake that always got his way, which was perfect for his day job. Yes, he was spoiled in every way.

Rich, rich, rich.

And important, by most peoples standards, anyway.

Ever since their first hook-up, hed made her promise not to tell anyone. The press would have a field day, after all. She obliged, of course, and had kept up her end of the deal.

But that deal didnt specify no video cameras.

Or, no blackmail.

A wicked grin cracked her overly made up face. She could practically smell the hundred dollar bills coming her way. She knew hed do anything to keep their little affair a secret, including paying her handsomely.

God, she wanted to be rich. She wanted a life where she didnt have to worry about money every damn day. No stress, carefree. No drama. Over the last forty-eight hours shed daydreamed about what she was going to do when she got his money. First, shed throw away the horrible knock-off shed been carrying on her shoulder and buy herself a real designer bag.

A real one.

Black no red. Bright red. Bright red to match the shade of lipstick she was known for. Bright red to match the fiery attitude that drove her to live life on the edge. Bright red to match his fancy little sports car.

A subtle screw you.

She let go of the gear shift.

She pulled down the mirror and checked her reflection, smirking at the red gloss that sparkled on her lips. Her dark eyes were lined heavily black, her cheeks lightly dusted pink. She wore her long, blonde hair downhe liked to pull it, which she wasnt really a fan of, but whatever.

Okay, she looked good.

Money and sex. The words chanted through her head like a pep talk. Money and sex.

The nerves began to fade, replaced with excitement for his touch. His money. If nothing else, she knew shed have a hell of an hour. As she always did with him.

She turned off the engine, popped in her favorite little blue pill and grabbed her stupid fake purse.

The cool wind whipped around her as she stepped out of the car onto the wet pavement. Dead leaves spun around her red high-heels.

More spring storms on their way.

She closed the door, and a chill ran up her spine, causing her to pause.

Why the hell was she hesitating so much? Shed been with him three times already What was so different about this time?

She shook her head, waving away the warning bells, and stepped onto the sidewalk, glancing at the room numbers.

Three-thirteen, three-thirteen

She paused at the end of the building where the sidewalk wrapped around and peered into the darkness. The light above the walkway was out, of course, and just a few feet beyond the edge were the woods.

Thunder boomed. Closer this time.

She shivered.

Gripping her purse straps, she rounded the corner and descended into the darkness.

Three-eleven, three-twelve, and on the very end, three-thirteen.

A dim light shone through the edges of the window. She paused at the doorway. Her stomach clenched with nervesagain.

Maybe she shouldnt

The door opened.