Ryker Chronicles: Dead Man: Ryker Chronicles, #2

By Jeannette Savage

This is the second book in the Ryker Chronicles series!

Agent Morgan Lazaro, blown sky-high to cover up an unauthorized mission, is preserved in cryogen, directly under headquarters' nose. Dr. Samantha Warren, his shell-shocked sweetheart, does everything to bring him back, even at the risk of her own life.

Miraculously, Lazaro awakens in a body that's not as he remembered and possesses powers most humans could only dream of. With his newfound abilities, and as the only one of his kind, Lazaro has to navigate his uncertain existence alone. Soon, the elusive Dame Commander threatens the only person he cares about, hell-bent on obtaining the power he possesses.In a country gone insane by the discovery of monsters – vampires, werewolves, witches, descendants, and even Gods – Lazaro tries to protect the only person connecting him to the human race. But, as the walls of his world close in, he has to make a choice between being with the one he loves or letting her go.

She's only human, after all.

And humans don't live long beside a demigod.

 

*Note: This work of fiction contains elements and references of sexual abuse, fantasy violence, and dismemberment. If these themes offend you, please do not purchase.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeannette Savage
• Release date: Aug 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393769699

Book preview

Acknowledgments

Thank you to everyone who participated in the making of Ryker Chronicles: Dead Man! As always, to my amazing husband and son, who have done so much to help me find success, I couldn’t have done it without my boys! To my sister, Thylene Mendez, who is that constant positive edge I need to keep up my motivation to finish the damned books. To Evelyn Gardner, who is an absolute Saint for donating her time and energy to making this book as great as it can be! And to my readers, who keep me chugging forward with the series!

To my readers: If you’re picking up one of my books for the first time, STOP and pick up Ryker Chronicles: Blood Moon (Book 1). That is the true start to my series, though I do my best to recap for new readers. Enjoy!

Recap:

The Convergence – A mysterious event that occurred on Beltane’s Blood Moon, including the conduit and two representatives of each major race of creatures, including humans, witches, shifters, descendants, and vampires. The convergence summoned the last trace of a lingering Goddess’ spirit, which allowed the world to ‘open’ and free energies that had been stifled by the portcullis’ closure.

The Conduit – The key to the convergence, Amy Ryker, who served her destiny, then was swept up into a multi-dimensional rift along with her mate Kane Blackmoor and two of their packmates.

Beltane’s Blood Moon – A rare event that happens only once every hundred years, opening the world to receiving and giving energies to other dimensions for a short time. It has not been activated in thousands of years since the portcullis was sealed.

The portcullis – An anomalous hole in the earth, covered by a metal grate that is far stronger than any known object, hidden deep in the natural forests on the east coast of the North American continent. It was surrounded by a building by Gabriel’s pack, but the building exploded as a result of the convergence. Now, the portcullis is watched over by the Warden of the continent.

The Witch – A woman who lives outside of time and never divulges her name. She is older and eclectic, but generally has everyone’s best interest at heart. Her previous master bequeathed her a home outside of time – a sanctuary of sorts – for her and her allies. The witch is often seen in an illusion of her own design, which is a little cottage usually seen in the woods. The cottage is an extension of the house outside of time and never stays in any one place. It’s safer, that way.

The Fallout – What the humans are calling the convergence. The human race has not been informed of the creatures living alongside them, as most can blend in with society well enough not to attract notice.

Descendants – Rare beings with strange powers, these creatures can be mistaken for shifters or witches due to their irregular abilities. Almost all descendants have a secondary form and have a strong grasp of pyrotechnics. The secondary form is contingent upon the ‘adopted’ parentage. Usually, those with animal forms were adopted by an animal of the same type, for example, the characters Bear or Hercules. They have horns when they are born and until they hit puberty, the horns continue to grow. They will shed them around the age of twelve, but regain them in their secondary form.

The Warden – Each continent on Earth has a Warden that watches over the inhabitants. Their main job is to keep humans from finding out about the other races and cover-up or disprove possible stories that hit the media. Otherwise, they do what they want.

Characters you should know:

FBI agent Morgan Lazaro – He watched over the conduit for many years, secretly keeping an eye on the girl after she found her mother murdered, torn apart by her own twin sister. Amy was permanently scarred by it, so Morgan kept tabs on her as she grew up. He had a pretty nasty run-in with a shifter named Danny, who has since disappeared without a trace. During the excitement, he fell for a one Dr. Samantha Warren, whom he promised coffee. Morgan Lazaro’s body is currently being held in cryogen, and is posthumously being blamed for the fallout debacle.

Dr. Samantha Warren – She gets her paycheck from the government for containing and experimenting on organic material they receive from agents on the field. She has a degree in biochemistry, not cryptozoology, but here she is. She had an encounter in Manaus, Brazil during an abroad trip for a Field Biology class that landed her a job as head doctor beneath Director Aldridge. Dr. Warren fell head over heels for the late Agent Morgan Lazaro, and now has no idea what to do with herself.

Director Aldridge – Strict man that doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. He wants things done by the books and hates it when he is ignored. Good guy to have as an ally, but he’s only human, in the end.

Ezekiel – An erratic and ancient vampire who rather enjoyed the carnage at the convergence. One of his offspring, however, was nearly destroyed by Gabriel’s pack during the fight and he has withdrawn to his own manor with his young wife, Elizabeth. His five remaining children are well.

Ezekiel’s remaining children – Victoria, Garrett, Benji, and the twins, Raphael and Theodore. They all miss Jane terribly, though you’d be hard-pressed to hear them admit it.

Dr. Shizuka Sakue – Ezekiel’s personal doctor. She assists with his youngest children’s mealtime, as well as assists with Elizabeth’s transition and hunting. Sakue has set to work to revive the fallen offspring, though it is a very difficult task to revive such a damaged vampire.

Amy Ryker – Conduit and vessel for a Goddess’ spirit. She is now trapped on an alien planet with her mate and she’s having a helluva time.

Gabriel Ryker – Deceased. Amy and Celeste’s father. A power-hungry man who cared only that one of his offspring was the conduit. The Witch switched the two girls’ birthmarks shortly after they were born, so Gabriel could not use Amy in his plans.

Agent Kipling aka Agent K– A man who was hell-bent on stopping the Convergence, at the behest of the mysterious Dame Commander who got her claws into him. He is intelligent but gullible when it comes to the persuasion of a creature such as she.

The Dame – ???

Praxites – An old friend of Ezekiel’s and the witch’s, as well as Jesse’s tutor. He did not make an appearance in the first book, but Roth is one of his acolytes as well.

Brian – Samantha’s ex-husband.

Now that I have you caught up, enjoy!

Up next! The Fallout.

What does it mean for our future?

We’re joined today by Alex Barber from D.C., where evidence from the Fallout is still being analyzed.

Al, thanks for joining us.

Thank you, Diane. As we know, a strange event occurred Saturday morning that has confounded the scientific community around the world. A large, unidentified object shot into the sky approximately a hundred miles from where I’m standing, here outside the Lincoln Memorial.

It exploded into the atmosphere and particles have settled on every continent. Since then, people are reporting strange sightings and collective hallucinations, drawing the conclusion from some sources that this is the ‘End Times’, and sparking riots all over the globe."

Thousands of citizens have disappeared in the major cities across the continent, potentially millions worldwide.

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LOCAL POLICE ADVISE you to report any missing persons to them as soon as you can. If you, yourself have been detained, please call the local authorities with information regarding the assailants. They are still considering this a ‘mass abduction’ situation, and it is their highest priority.

Thanks again, Al.

Is this the work of aliens?

Or is this really Armageddon?

Stay tuned for updates as they become available,

and as always:

Tune in at six for your nightly news.

Thank you, and may God protect us all.

"A woman in grief has the propensity to do great and

terrible things." – Anonymous

Chapter 1

Dr. Warren tossed to the other side of the bed. No, she murmured in sleep. Dream fragments coalesced into a point of light that shattered into a million pieces. " NO !" She woke in a cold sweat, throwing herself upright.

Secret agent Morgan Lazaro promised her coffee the following morning. Instead, she found herself storing his corpse in the cryogenic freezer at work, piece by bloody piece and sobbing all the while.

Their blossoming relationship ended in a flash that blew Lazaro’s car – and him – sky-high.

Samantha’s heart gave a jarring thud, throbbing painfully in her chest. She rolled over as if the change in position might ease the pain. Tears streamed down her face, chasing over the same old salt lines from last night.

If he died during the Convergence, the deity’s power might have revived him. Instead, the rogue agent K planted a bomb that killed her Lazaro after the miracle occurred.

Mr. Smiley meowed at her and leaped onto the bed. The Persian had been her companion through this ordeal, but he was a constant reminder of her miserable failure of a marriage. It took years to recover from her ex’s infidelity, but she immersed herself at the lab and eventually returned to something that bordered on normal.

But this?

This was beyond anything she could’ve imagined. One moment, Lazaro was with her, kissing her, holding the promise of a better life. The next, gone.

Another wave of self-pity blurred her vision. It rose up from the recesses of her soul, then descended into empty heartache once more. In between undulations, however, lay quiet moments of clarity where rational thoughts surfaced.

Humans were so frail, but shifters? Not so much. Vampires even less so. Each species had specific genes for survival that the human genome was without. Dr. Warren knew, she’d studied them her entire career.

The thought got her brain whirring.

If she could isolate the genes, revive the tissue and inject it into the circulatory system, it might be possible for his body to recover from its heinous injuries. Might, being the key word. And yet, if she didn’t try, what was the point of preserving him?

The possibilities set her in motion. Mr. Smiley yowled in protest, leaping off the bed. His ears twitched as he stared at her with tousled irritation.

She ignored the testy feline, shuffling into a pair of slippers and washing her face over the bathroom sink.

Samantha’s hands shook as she looked herself dead in the eye, viridian flecks against the redness of her round face. She reminded herself that there was a very slim chance of seeing Lazaro again, even if her half-cocked theory was correct.

But she had to try, and she couldn’t do it alone.

A jingle of keys later and she was out the door. Sam thought about Lazaro’s stone-cold body with renewed vigor.

It was only waiting to be revived.

Awaiting resurrection.

Chapter 2

W hat the hell do you mean, ‘No’?

Don’t you speak English, doctor? The Witch bent over and pulled a radish from the ground, brushing the soil off. When she rose again, the jingle of charms sounded from her neck and wrists. Her cool gray eyes hardly glanced up from the gardening as Sam nearly imploded with disbelief.

It can’t end this way. Sam took a ragged breath to keep herself from passing out. "We did everything you asked of us. He died for you!"

The Witch straightened from the task and wagged a finger at her. "He did not die for me. He died saving the world. It was a noble death." She leaned over to pull another radish but pity crossed her weathered face.

No. No, no, no... Samantha clutched the sides of her head, tangling her fingers in her long red kinks.

That’s what I said. The Witch rifled through the soil and found another bulbous root. Accept his death, dear. People die every day.

But not him, Sam said, smiling with a desperate laugh. He beat the odds. He survived!

The Witch shook her head. Borrowed time is no time at all. Every moment you had with him was mere luck. He’s gone, dear. She looked up at the doctor. You’re a good woman, full of spunk. The world would be worse without you in it, and I see the path you intend to take. Nobody comes out the other side unscathed.

My life is over, Sam whispered, more to herself than anyone.  There’s nothing for me, here. A new line of tears trailed down her cheeks.

Do yourself a favor, Samantha: go home. The Witch offered her a parting nod, a trace of sadness in her eye. Lazaro is forfeit. With that, she hobbled up the steps and shut the door to her bright little cottage.

The building vanished along with the sunlight.

Dr. Warren stood in an empty clearing. Gray clouds hung over the woods, threatening rain. It had taken her hours to find the little house, and now she was lost in the sticks.

"What good is your magic, witch, if you can’t save a life? What good is science?" The frail vision of his return crumbled, leaving a black void in her chest. If the Witch refused to help, she had no other choice but to bury him. Unless...

Sam recalled a thesis she’d read regarding preserving tissue samples almost indefinitely. Assistants could be pulled in to the experiment and expedite the process.

And, at the lab, she’d be closer to him.

Dr. Warren trod back through the woods in the misty rain, finding her car within minutes. She had a feeling it was the witch’s hand. Screw you, she said to no one.

Lazaro is forfeit, her own thoughts reminded her.

Chapter 3

The ride to headquarters was equally painful.

Lazaro was everywhere, from the drivers passing by, to the cyclists speeding along the causeway. Even the pedestrians reminded her of him: his gait, the way he stroked his hair back, his nimble fingers, the narrow bridge of his nose. Sam couldn’t escape the gnawing absence of him.

On some level, she grasped the irrationality of it. They only knew each other for a short time. But it was that extinguished spark, the premature loss of him that broke her resolve. Having Lazaro and losing him was worse than never having him at all.

His murderer, agent K, was still free to roam. No one suspected he was the actual rogue, breaking protocol, stealing military vehicles, and killing other agents.

Sam turned right and paused in front of the guard post.

Afternoon, doctor.

She nodded at the guard half-heartedly. Hey, Marty.

He shot her a worried glance before opening the gate. Watch out for that rogue agent, I’ve heard he’s been trying to break into headquarters.

Sam ignored him and drove through, tears threatening to spill. Between losing Clara to the rift, and Lazaro’s untimely death, she could barely think straight.

A small voice inside of her warned against telling anyone about the event, Lazaro, or her role in the Convergence. If they knew Sam had been an active participant, she’d be barred from her lab and debriefed immediately. Then they’d toss her in a holding cell to rot.

She killed the engine and looked in the mirror, wiping away fresh tears. You got this, girl, Sam whispered to herself.

The security guard, Bailey, stared as he waved a metal detector over her, leaning further than he needed to so he could scan both sides of her. She wondered if it was yet another cruel fat joke, but if so, he made no indication. You’re clear. He continued to eye her as she took her keys back. A niggling unease set in, giving everything a sinister edge.

They’re watching.

Sam dismissed the thought with the shake of her head. There was no way they knew she’d been involved unless someone was paying very close attention to the security cameras last night. Even then, it’d be a stretch for them to assume either of them had been involved in the Convergence.

By the time she reached the laboratory door, she’d made up her mind on who to trust in this half-cocked experiment. Mitchell and Angie knew how to keep their mouths shut. They did when Clara arrived, years before. The intern, Ava, was also a great set of hands and a solid mind.

Gabby swept up broken glass as Sam opened the laboratory door. Doctor Warren! The girl’s cheerful demeanor gave her a headache. Gabby gave a wide smile, then went red in the face. I dropped a tray of vials.

Sam stepped over a glittering pile of glass. Definitely not her. How’s the research going?

The blotchy rouge spread down the intern’s neck. Great! Her false-positive remained tentative. I’m testing the serum on subject 39. It’s definitely coming along!

That meant Gabby had 38 failures prior to this one. She hoped the intern wasn’t using up their test material. Keep up the good work. She flitted past the girl and waved Mitchell and Angie over.

They followed her into the cramped office. Once the door closed, they turned to her with questions.

Where have you been? Angie removed her gloves and stuffed them