Tribulation Road: A Red Hot Treat Story

By Shyla Colt

This Halloween, something sinfully wicked is coming your way. Give yourself a Red Hot Treat this fall with ten spine-tingling stories sure to warm up your night. Scary just got sexy with Tribulation Road, part of the Red Hot Treats multi-author series (stands alone for reading enjoyment).

The members of Noble exist in the shadows, keeping the evil seeking to ruin the world at bay. For centuries, the covert organization caused fear in the hearts of the supernatural community. But that is all about to change. As the daughter of the Noble Clan leader, Brigh Howell is prepared for anything. Until one hunt changes life as she knows it.

With the revelation of a betrayer in the ranks, she’s forced to call the one man she hoped she would never see again. Her ex-fiancée and Noble deserter, Jaeger Sutton.

Forced to work together to save their clan, the two find the connection between them is still alive and well. Will airing their secrets be enough to mend the broken pieces of what once was?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shyla Colt
• Release date: Oct 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311356796

Shyla Colt

Shyla Colt lives in southern California with her marine husband and two tiny tots. When she's not teaching Abc's , running errands , or headed to the park she writes full time and works a job in the publishing industry. As you can tell, she thinks sleep is over rated. Her goal is to bring you erotic romance full of characters that feel real, plots that make you, think and happily ever after endings that show you the true power of love.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Brigh Howell cut the engine on her black sedan and surveyed the hotel. The beige building with hunter green accents had decent cars in the parking lot, a clean exterior, and prices in the fifty to sixty dollar range. When Richard called her in on a case involving suspected ghouls, she set aside her research and hit the road. It’d taken her six hours of driving while pushing the speed limit, but she made it here with the sun still high in the sky. They would hunt tonight. She stepped out of the car and stretched her arms above her head. Unlike the movies, keeping a low profile meant having a nondescript vehicle.

Rolling her neck, she worked out the kinks and moved to the back seat. She hefted the black duffle over her shoulder and walked to room 203. Rapping on the door, she studied the neighboring rooms. Everything seemed quiet for a town plagued by disappearances. The door swung open and she smiled at the olive-skinned man with sharp brown eyes, long black hair, and facial hair that told her he’d been living for this case for the past week.

His eyes lit up and he flashed the million-dollar smile that usually got him out of sticky situations. You got here fast, Richard said, stepping back and allowing her entrance into his room.

They don’t call me lead foot for nothing. How’s it going, Richie? You’re looking rough around the edges.

There were shadows forming beneath his eyes and the tiny red lines on the whites of his eyes told her he hadn't slept much. You’re all heart, Brigh, he quipped as he rolled his eyes.

You wouldn’t like me if I was a liar.

You’re right. He shut the door behind her and engaged the lock.

You want to clue me in on this? she asked while studying the maps he had taped to the wall.

Yeah, I got called in by the local parish. They had a lot of Alzheimer’s patients disappearing from the nursing home. Residents claimed to hear strange noises and a few of them said they saw lights. The building borders the woods, so my first thought was maybe it was puckwedgies or will-o-the-wisps.

I would’ve thought the same.

I set up some recon, and the next thing I know, I have a group of stumbling, rotting, corpses.

Brigh shuddered. Even after all this time, ghouls got under her skin. There was something utterly disturbing about a monster that resembled a perverted version of a human. Their yellowish-green skin drooping off bones, spindly fingers, bulging eyeballs, and hideous stench could turn the stomach of an experienced hunter. Her father, however, had trained her well. Members of her community were known for being the best. Raised for the sole purpose of hunting, Noble was a name well respected among inner circles of hunters. I’m glad you called me. You have a pension for trying to play hero.

Yeah, well, a pack of ghouls will make mincemeat of the best hunter, he said.

Truth. What can I do?

Sharpen your sword and help me come up with a plan.

I hope you aren’t expecting me to play bait.

What do I look like, an amateur? he scoffed.

She opened her mouth to answer.

Don’t answer that.

Brigh smirked and he rolled his eyes. The mood lightened. Mission accomplished.

Smart ass. I swiped some blankets from a newborn to wrap a realistic baby doll in. Richard walked over to his desk and lifted an eerily accurate facsimile of a newborn. I tampered with the vocals and have them hooked up to a remote control. I figure we can use it to draw them in.

Well, no one ever accused ghouls of being the brightest bulbs on the tree, she said.

Thankfully, ‘cause the bastards are like indestructible tanks. You damn near have to dismember or roast them to make them stop. Not convenient when you’re trying to avoid getting arrested.

Yeah, she snickered. Are we dealing with enchantment, or naturally occurring? She flipped through the case files on the missing residents. They were from a number of surrounding cities, different races and ages. If a connection existed between them, it wasn't obvious.

I can’t say, but I’m leaning toward freak of nature variety, because nothing else odd is going on in the town. No breaks-ins, no family feuds. Richard shook his head and set the baby down on the desk.

Brigh