Whispers of Innocence Romantic Suspense

8/4/2019 Whispers of Innocence Romantic Suspense

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Whispers of Innocence

Things are not always what they seem.

(Buy locations available at Davisstories.com)

Early ReviewIntricately plotted and complex, yet not hard to follow. The opening scenes suck

you in and never let you goThis is a page turner. I highly recommend this

intriguing story. Night Owl Romance, o! reviewers !ic" # $ stars

Other boo" reviews, awar%s an% vi%eos available at Davisstories.com

BlurbBor%er violence& cor!ses aban%one% in the %esert. ra''ic"ing in a !reviously un"nown %rug.

%angerous religious cult in an isolate% community. oun%s li"e hea%lines ri!!e% straight 'rom to%ay*snews!a!er but it*s the reality o' the romantic sus!ense, Whispers of Innocence. Enoch mith, an

intelligent, yet !sychotic cult lea%er, uses more than his 'loc" to e+ecute o%*s wrath on a sin'ul nation

an% evil government.

Dra"e Elliot, a 'ormer - arshal un%erestimates the !ower o' the cartel that in/ures his son an%

maims himsel'. -n%er the guise o' !rotecting his brain#%amage% son, Dra"e see"s revenge an% returns

to ri0ona to 'in% the col% an% calculating !eo!le res!onsible 'or this trage%y.

ic"i 1ewis, an investigative /ournalist in ucson, receives a ti! regar%ing the origins o' the latest

%rug to hit the streets an% returns to lta 2ista, home o' Enoch*s 3hil%ren o' o% community in whichshe was once a member. Dra"e an% ic"i /oin 'orces to uncover the secrets behin% the cult an% its

success hel!ing chil%ren li"e Dra"e*s son recover normalcy. 4hat they 'in% is 'ar worse than %rugs

coming across the bor%er. heir %iscovery !rovi%es answers to the sha%ows that haunt their %reams an%the hi%%en connection into their !ast& an% their lives will never be the same.

EXCERPT 1

Enoch stro"e% the "in"y gray bear% as i' it were a treasure% a!!en%age, yet his s5uinte% narrow

eyes never %e!arte% 'rom the note hel% tightly in his !ale han%s. hu'' o' stale air e+ite% his cha!!e%

li!s while he shoo" his hea%. 6e brought his hairy 'ingers together an% entwine% them li"e ro!e until

his "nuc"les whitene%. Enoch bowe%, close% his eyes, an% move% his mouth without uttering a soun%.4hy must it be so har%, 1or%7 3an we not achieve 8our !ur!ose without the loss o' our own7 9

will hee% 8our wor%, but !lease, not another 'allen angel. Not so soon.

E+ce!t 'or the hum o' the %es" 'an an% the ta!, ta!, ta! o' the !ull chain bouncing against thebase o' the brass lam!& the room remaine% silent. 6e straightene% his shoul%ers an% o!ene% the curtain

to the %esolate lan%sca!e beyon% the win%ow o' his s!arsely 'urnishe%, white#!ainte% o''ice. he

swivele% chair crea"e% an% moane% as he leane% bac"& !art 'rom his weight, !art 'rom its many yearsserving as his 'avorite seat.

he shi'ting !alette o' twilight colors re'lecte% against the thin clou%s 'orming !in" swirls an%

stationary waves across the %esert s"y. he silhouette o' a ma/estic saguaro cactus stoo% guar% over the

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serene sha%ows cast by the thorny vegetation ca!able o' %rawing sustenance 'rom har%#!ac"e% caliche.

o his le't, thirty yar%s 'rom the community boun%ary, something strea"e% in an% out between

the ari% !lant li'e, 'ollowe% close behin% by a larger outline. hrough the o!en screen win%ow, a %istants5ueal signale% the en% o' the chase. scraggly white !awe% coyote a!!eare% 'rom behin% a bun%le o'

scrub brush. 9t !ause% 'or a moment an% re!ositione% a "ic"ing /ac"rabbit in its /aws as i' it were an

inanimate slab o' meat o' no conse5uence. hen it !ace% out o' sight to rea! the rewar%s o' victory

over those inten%e% as 'o%%er 'or the beast that roam 6is %omain an% harvest the wea" 'or their own!ur!ose.

so't ta!#ta! soun%e% against the %oor. 3ome in. Enoch*s thoughts returne% to the o''ice as he

greete% his secon% in comman%. 8es, ;oshua7 6ave our sus!icions been con'irme%78es, El%er Dear, o%. Not little

bby. o much s!irit, such !romise.

;oshua a!!eare% con'use%, unsure how to res!on%. Enoch %rug his large han%s across his eyesan% uttere% a series o' mumble% wor%s. 6e wor"e% his stubby tongue across his li!s an%, as i' in a

gesture o' %enial, he uncovere% his 'ace an% %eman%e%, re you absolutely sure o' this, ;oshua7 4e

must be !ositive.he subor%inate 'ocuse% %irectly on Enoch*s !lea%ing eyes, 8es, El%er

No? he gi't is too im!ortant i' we are to achieve 6is !ur!ose. 9t has !rotecte% our 'loc" 'rom

the wolves again an% again. 9 will not let the unholy threaten our community li"e be'ore.

he attem!t to !ush bac"

hovere% between them. Enoch conveye% an e+!ression o' %ominance to reestablish his su!reme rule.

;oshua hesitate%, as i' !on%ering something, then ca!itulate% to his master. 8es. hey say the

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traitor is on the run. heir sources re!ort he*s see"ing asylum with the unholy ones.

Enoch 'rowne%. 6as he given witness to us, to our o!eration7

No sir, not yet. 6e transitions to 4ashington tomorrow morning. 9*ve as"e% A s"e%7 y o%, man. 8ou want them houn%ing us again. 3all the clan hea% bac" now. ell

them everyone he*s come in contact with must be recti'ie%, imme%iately.

6is secon% in comman% acte% uncertain. No, it was as i' the im!lications o' the last or%er were

more than he coul% stomach.Enoch remove% any %oubt 'rom the e5uation. 9 un%erstan% your reluctance. 9 regret that our

course may encom!ass the innocent, but nothing can %eter us. he ser!ent must be 'lushe% an%

behea%e%. ll touche% by its tongue must be cleanse%. here is no alternative. Now go, 5uic"ly, be'oreit*s too late?

Enoch returne% his attention to the new %ar"ness outsi%e his win%ow. he !oc"#mar"e% moon

%ominate% the hori0on an% 'orme% a bac"%ro! to the outline o' the %istant mountains. Your will is exactand hard, oh Lord, but we heed Your word.

6e !raye% 'or continue% gui%ance until the wall cloc" chime% eight times. El%er


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light cast %own the hallway !ulle% 'urther bac" into the sha%ows. Enoch*s 'ace burne%, his eyes

scorching through the reluctant e+!ressions o' the 'ollowers. 6e snorte% li"e an anti5uate% bu''alo an%

/amme% his right 'oot har% against the 'loor. he men resiste%, but were too cowar%ly to re'use theirmaster. =inally, the !air le% a young woman into the center o' the hall. s they remove% the hoo% 'rom

her blac" robe, the whim!ering 'emales in the room crie% out.

ilence? El%er


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6e trie% not to inhale, 'ought the %rive to survive, but the instinct to breathe was too strong. 6is

bo%y over!owere% the %esire to en% everything. 6e gas!e% 'or air, li"e a man %rowning in a river o'

sweat. hen he !ulle% his ba% leg across the be% an% %own on the 'loor, burie% his 'ace in his han%s,an% 5uestione% the insanity o' his worl%.

%ne nightmare wasn$t enough& 'hat did I do to deserve this punishment& I tried to stop it. I

risked everything to hold them to account, and for what& 'asn$t my career enough& (id you have to

take the only woman I evenDra"e cleare% his throat, again an% again, until the soun% converte% to a growl. 6e trie% to rub

the moisture 'rom his 'ace, but there was too much. 6e !ic"e% u! the sweat#soa"e% !illow an% use% it

as a towel. 6e %ro!!e% the cushion to the 'loor an% re'ocuse% his vision on the night stan%. 6e ri!!e%the %rawer out so 'ast, the solution to his torment tumble% once an% lan%e% on the !illow. 6e reache%

%own, li'te% the blac" ob/ect, e+change% it into his right han% an% stu%ie% its sha!e, the 'inality o' its

'orm. 6e !resse% it against his tem!le. he col% steel suc"e% the heat 'rom his s"in as he close% hiseyes. Dra"e tightene% his 'inger an% waite% 'or the answer to his !ain. 6e o!ene% his li%s one last time

to sam!le what he was about to leave behin%. 6e hear% the actuator s!ring clic" at the same moment a

!hoto came into clear 'ocus.)oon, my love, I$ll be with you.

s he lowere% his eyes, the curly hair o' the secon% 'igure in the !icture caught his sight.E%%ie.

4hat woul% ha!!en to his son i' he>who woul% care 'or his s!ecial nee%s7 he reality o' his!light burst into his hea% li"e the bullet still chambere% in his gun.*o one but me.

he cowar%ly !ath might van5uish his nightmares, his sorrow, but what o' his son7 lowly,

cautiously he release% the trigger an% remove% the barrel 'rom his hea%.*o. I can$t let them take his father, too. They must be the ones that pay, not +ddie. e$s suffered

enough. I promise )on, I won$t fail this time. These bastards will be held to account.

6e !ic"e% u! the %rawer an% 'e% it bac" into the night table, holstere% his .$ revolver, an%lim!e% through the %ar"ness into the bathroom.

EXCERPT !ic"i struggle% anew. he was %amne% i' she*% let this asshole brutali0e her. he /abbe% her

elbow bac" into her assailant*s mi%section an% was rewar%e% with a mu''le% cry o' !ain.

!ronounce% thum! behin% her hea% ma%e Ethan su%%enly release his tenacious hol% on her

throat. here was another lou% noise& only this time it soun%e% li"e the crac" o' woo% s!litting in two.6er survival instincts !rom!te% a renewe% 'ren0y to a''ect an esca!e. he 'elt another han% on

her shoul%er an% twiste% her 'ace to sin" teeth into 'lesh, while !o"ing the shar! !oint o' her elbow

bac"war% blin%ly, ho!ing to hit something, anything.Ouch? Damn it, girl, 9*m on your si%e. 9t was that soothing gravelly voice she coul%n*t get out

o' her min%.

Dra"e7 ic"i reali0e% belate%ly she ha% /ust woun%e% the man who rescue% her 'rom

something she never wante% to e+!erience again.Oh, shit. he !ivote%, relieve% to 'in% his han%some 'ace. 9*m sorry.

y 'ault. houl% have worn gloves, you little ba%ger.

Behin% Dra"e, she coul% see the lim! bo%y o' her attac"er lying in the %irt alongsi%e her ;ee!.ic"i shu%%ere%. he wante% to laugh an% cry, both at the same time. he use% the heel o' her han% to

angrily swi!e at the tears welling at the corner o' one eye.

Dra"e*s eyes shi'te% uncom'ortably, away 'rom her 'ace. 8ou reali0e that*s three, right7hree what7

hree times 9*ve save% your ass, only this time 9 save% it literally.

ic"i hate% to show her vulnerability. he struggle% to %re%ge u! a glib res!onse instea% o'

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bursting into tears. re you im!lying my ass isn*t worth saving7

9n the re'lection o' his !ic"u!*s hea%lights, he grinne% slightly an% 'ocuse% on the curve o' her

hi!s reveale% by her !ulle%#%own !ants. No, 9 woul% never say that.ic"i loo"e% %own at the scratche% an% bruise% 'lesh an% ma%e haste to re'asten her /eans. 6er

trembling 'ingers ma%e 'itting the buttons into the holes %i''icult. Besi%es, 9 %i%n*t nee% your hel!.

Dra"e actually snorte%. Right.

4ait a minute. 6ow %i% you get here when you %i%7 4ere you 'ollowing me78eah.

4hy, Dra"e7 Do you "now something 9 %on*t7

6e scanne% the carnage on the groun% an% use% the 'ingers o' his in/ure% han% to !ress againsthis mustache, as i' he were trying to hi%e his e+!ression. No. 9*m /ust a better observer.

8ou mean you saw this coming7

s you !ulle% out 'rom the restaurant, these yo#yos s5ueale% out 'rom the bac" corner o' the!ar"ing lot without switching on their lights an% too" o'' in your %irection. ;ust %i%n*t seem right, so

here 9 am. 9 coul%n*t ignore the little voice telling me they were u! to no goo%.

hat*s a %amn goo% thing.nything else you*% li"e to say to me7

ic"i crosse% her arms, running her han%s u! an% %own the goose bum!s there. han"s 'orsaving my ass.

hat was har%, wasn*t it78ou*ll never "now how har%. ic"i bit her li! to "ee! 'rom blubbering. he %anger was !ast,

but the clear evi%ence o' Dra"e*s em!athy ma%e "ee!ing her emotions in chec" e+tremely %i''icult.

he /amme% a !alm into her eye soc"et an% twiste%, then wi!e% the wetness on her /eans.Damn. Dra"e muttere% the oath so'tly, too" a lim!ing ste! 'orwar% an% gri!!e% her wrist.

hat was all it too" 'or ic"i to close the %istance between them. he turne%, clung to his

broa% shoul%ers, an% burie% her 'ace in the heavy 'abric o' his shirt to sob silently. 6is arm encircle%her bac"& his han% gently rubbe% the s"in o' her arm e+!ose% by the sleeveless blouse.

hey stoo% in silence, a woman unaccustome% to revealing her emotions gaining com'ort 'rom

a man who care% enough to let her get them out in her own way, in her own time.ic"i 'inally e+hauste% her tears. he wi!e% her 'ace across his shirt then raise% her eyes to his.

9n the moonlight, the scar running across his chee" a!!eare% almost metallic, highlighte% by the shell

woman*s silvery rays. he reache% a tentative 'inger u!war% to trace its outline.

Dra"e shu%%ere% slightly. 6e remaine% 'ro0en in !lace, as i' unsure how to react.9*m sorry about that. 9t*s been a long time since> 6er wor%s %ro!!e% o'' as 5uic"ly as her

han% 'rom his 'ace.

No nee% to be sorry.8our shirt is wet.

9t*ll %ry.

9 hate to cry.

8ou %o it well. ic"i raise% an eyebrow an% Dra"e elaborate%, 8ou %on*t ma"e a soun%.9 learne% not to. 9' anything, ic"i was even more embarrasse%. he too" a ste! bac"war%

an% sought to change the sub/ect be'ore Dra"e coul% as" 'or an e+!lanation. 4hat ha!!ens now7

Dra"e reache% %own an% !ic"e% u! both !ieces o' his cane. Damn. hat asshole has a thic"s"ull. 9 really li"e% this one. hen he a%%resse% her 5uestion. 4e call it in an% wait till the sheri''*s

o''ice gets here.

9 %on*t want to %o that. 9 %on*t nee% the e+!osure right now.4e have no choice.

ic"i let go o' her arms an% reache% out a han% to gras! his in/ure% one, !ressing her 'ingers

into his !alm. 8ou thin" you coul% hel! me out here7 9 can*t blow my cover, not now.


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s!ecial to someone, to a man. 6e ha% ma%e a mista"e, mis/u%ge% who an% what this woman was about,

an% that recognition stirre% something insi%e, in his heart, something he thought woul% never return.

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Whispers of Innocence Romantic Suspense

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