Vision of Paradise E-Book

Angel Rupert

• Herausgeber: Bentockiz
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Of course, he planned to get hammered. It’s what he did every weekend. I didn’t know why he felt the need to drink excessively. He had a career, an apartment, a supposedly awesome girlfriend. What problems could he possibly have?

Leseprobe

Title Page

Vision of Paradise

Genuine Soul

Angel Rupert

Vision of Paradise / 9th of series: Genuine Soul / By Angel Rupert

Published 2023 by Bentockiz

e-book Imprint: Uniochlors

e-book Registration: Stockholm, Sweden

e-book ISBN: 9789198846980

e-book editing: Athens, Greece

Cover Images created via AI art generators

Table of Contents

Title Page

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Introduction

Through books we come into contact with everything important that has happened in the past, analyzing also current events and putting our thoughts together to predict the future. The book is a window to the world, acquiring valuable knowledge and sparking our vivid imagination. It is a means of entertainment and is generally seen as a best friend, or as a slave that carries together all valuable information for us. The book is a friend who stays together without demands, a friend you call upon at every moment and abandon when you want.

It accompanies us in the hours of boredom and loneliness, while at the same time it entertains us. In general, a book does not ask anything from us, while it waits patiently on a dusty shelf to give us its information, to get us out of dead ends and to travel us to magical worlds.

This may be the travel mission of our books. Abstract narration, weird or unconscious thoughts difficult to be understood, but always genuine and full of life experiences, these are stories of life that can’t be overlooked easily.

This may be the start of something amazing.

Chapter One

I rode in the back of Scott’s squad car to the precinct while Henry filled me in over the phone. Apparently, the vampire woke up and was cooperating. His name was Kai, and he admitted to raping and feeding on all seven of the girls as well as hurting Robin. He was going on and on about how he’d left his mark and how proud he was of it.

When we got there, I saw Regina first, and she came over to us and hugged me. She then released me and hugged Scott. The Taylors were going to be there soon so we could give them the official story of what happened. Apparently, Nicola didn’t want to be there, and I understood. After this tragedy and our stupid fight, I didn’t want to be either. Henry had taken her home.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” Regina said.

“Where is he?” I asked, meaning Micah.

“He’s down the hall. The MITF doctor is finishing up with his examination.”

Scott informed me that she was going to his office to wait for the Taylors and I went to find Micah. Colton wanted to tag along, so I held out my hand, slowing my pace until he caught up then his little fingers grasped mine. I doubted he had any idea what was going on.

Micah was sitting on the table, and his shirt was off. There was a bandage wrapped around his torso, and the doctor was putting away her supplies. She left the room to give us privacy. Micah didn’t even look at me as he put his shirt back on. Usually, I wouldn’t find his stoicism this disturbing, but the guilt in his eyes made me hurt for him. Why was he feeling guilty? He couldn’t have known the phone call was a setup.

“How are you doing?” I asked.

“The doctors were suspicious. I had to tell them my ribs were sore, so they wrapped them. I’m actually fine.”

“I didn’t mean that. I know you’re made of steel.”

He jumped down from the bed and folded his arms. “I don’t know what happened. One second, he was on me, and he overpowered me. Then he went for Mona.” His voice faltered. “I froze. He was hurting her, and I couldn’t do anything but stand there. I didn’t move until after he bit her.”

Bile rose in my throat. The thought of someone doing that to my best friend made me sick and I was glad that the vampire responsible was in custody. She’d been killed in cold blood and for what? Enjoyment? Men like him deserved to be burned alive.

“What happened when you got there?”

“I found my door open. I couldn’t see anyone there then I heard something in my bedroom.” Colton let go of my hand and went over to hug Micah, who then lifted him into his arms. “He was...” he closed his eyes. “On top of her. Then . . . the vamp came up behind me and held a gun to my head. He said he wanted me to watch while . . . while they—”

He closed his eyes and stopped talking. This was always what he would do when he was upset. Even when he was very young, he would just close himself off and not talk for hours, sometimes days.

I gave him a firm hug to try and comfort him. I didn’t care that he wasn’t a hugger, he needed someone to be there for him and assure him that it wasn’t his fault. It had only been two hours since the tragedy, and we were still in shock.

Someone knocked on the door, and I released him as Scott came in. He put a sympathetic hand on Micah’s shoulder and forgot for a few moments that he wasn’t our father. It was good for him to be here.

“I just got off the phone with the police. The description matches the man caught on the security camera before the fourth girl was murdered. Based on his confession, we got our guy.”

“Not all of them,” Micah said. “There were two men there tonight. One was mortal, and he got away. He’s still out there.”

“Why don’t you two talk for a minute,” I said. “I’m going to see the Taylors.”

I hurried out of there before they could ask questions and went up the elevator. Whoever that man was, he’d just made this personal. Robin had been a random, according to the vamp we overpowered but Mona was targeted. We got too nosy, and Mona paid for it with her life. I was starting to realize that I was in over my head.

I got off on the second floor and looked for Mona’s family. I spotted Riley first and then Gabby. They were talking in the hall, and when they saw me, Gabby hugged me and started crying. She’d always been like a second mom to me and wanted to be there for her as well as everyone else.

“She loved you, you know,” she said. “Both of you.”

“I loved her too. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend.”

She sniffed. “I wish your mother was here.”

I pulled back from the hug and looked at her. “Regina’s downstairs if you want to talk to her.”

“No, Lucas. I mean your real mother.”

Gabby looked back at her family then took my hand and led me down the hall. I couldn’t believe she knew about me. I had my suspicions when we found the photos but hearing it out loud was baffling.

“Your mom and I were pregnant at the same time,” she said. “We had a double baby shower. We were there for each other when you, Mona, and the twins were born. After she found out you were adopted by the Wright family, she asked that I keep an eye on you. To ensure that, I found out which school you were enrolled in and I put my kids there. I wanted you to be friends with my daughters.”

“You knew who I was this entire time?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry I never said anything. It wasn’t my place. I had always dreamed of my kids being friends with her kids, and that dream came true. But I never thought . . .” she choked on a sob. “I would lose my Desdemona. My little girl.”

As she wept once more, Terry came over and hugged her. Scott was ready to speak with them, so the entire family went into one of the meeting rooms. I couldn’t be there anymore. I needed to get out of there before I went crazy.

When I got to my apartment, I walked up the steps, my legs heavy with grief. I’d forgotten where I put my keys since I’d left in a hurry and searched through my pockets. I found them then stuck it in the door, only to find that it was already unlocked. I pushed it open all the way and slowly went in, listening for signs that whoever had broken in was still there.

The place wasn’t completely trashed, but all my drawers hung open. The first thing I checked for was my wallet, which I found in the kitchen and all my money and cards were there. My tablet and other electronics were there as well. I had a feeling that this visitor was looking for something specific.