Chicanery road: Red Dirt Rune Chronicles, #1

By Rachel Blake and Amilia Quinn

One, two, Davie's coming for you...

As sheriff, I live by a code of honor. A code that doesn't include defiling my little sister's best friend, no matter how badly I may want to.

But then the bodies start piling up, turning my small town into a graveyard for a madman. And Trixie, the girl I'm not supposed to want, disappears.

Screw the code.

Trixie is mine, and there is nothing I won't do — no rule or law I won't break — to get her back.

Even as I fight to save my girl, I'm forced to face a horrible truth: Evil has come to Theophilus. And we may not be strong enough to defeat it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Blake
• Release date: Feb 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201954796

Book preview

Prologue

Lyssie!

The name he hated had Ulysses spinning around to face his sister and her best friend. What in the hell are the two of you doing here?

Well, seeing as it’s a party, I would say we’re partying. Beatrix smiled sweetly as she took a drink of the Coke she held in her hand.

She always smiled so sweetly at him. The only time she looked at him any differently was when she was sure he wasn’t paying her any attention. Unfortunately for her, recently he was always looking at her.

Fuck. Where did the little girl who carried around the rattiest of baby dolls go? Or the girl who had a mouth full of braces and couldn’t manage to smile without getting her lips stuck on the brackets.

In her place was a woman, and he wasn’t sure when the hell that had happened.

I’m partying, Cricket slurred, pulling him from his thoughts as she jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. Trixie is a party pooper who’s refusing to get drunk with me.

No, Trixie is the responsible party-goer who decided it was better to have a sober ride home than two drunk friends. Beatrix poked her tongue out at her friend before turning back to him. What brings the law here? Party get too rowdy?

I’m not acting as the law tonight. At this moment, I’m acting like the big brother my little sister clearly needs. Ulysses held his hand out to his sister. Give me your keys.

Oh, I lost those an hour ago. Cricket took a pull of her beer.

I’m sorry, what? Beatrix looked between the two of them. What do you mean, you lost your keys?

I’m not sure how to make that any clearer. Cricket scowled at her brother when he pulled the brown bottle from her hand. Hey! I wasn’t done with that, Lyssie!

Oh, but you are. He sat it on a nearby table before picking up the conversation where it left off. Now, tell me how you managed to lose your keys.

It’s real simple, actually. I had them in my hand, then they were gone. Cricket shrugged, her eyes big with the wonder of her story. Then I got another beer and forgot about them until you asked for them.

Oh, for fuck’s sake, Beatrix mumbled as she shook her head.

Ulysses didn’t even think, he just popped her on the ass and wagged his finger in her face, like he would any woman he was entrusted with. Watch your language, young lady.

Oh! Trixie’s in trouble! Cricket yelled as she stumbled into his chest.

Ulysses caught his sister easily, but couldn’t tear his eyes away from Beatrix. Her eyes were wide with shock, pupils dilated, and her breathing had sped up, but those weren’t what had his attention. It was that bottom lip she had caught between her teeth.

Fuck, it put an image in his head. An image that he shouldn’t have about the girl he’d known since she was old enough to wander into their back yard.

Lyssie.

The sound of his name had him looking at his sister. Yeah, Bug? The words were spoken just before the sound of retching met his ears and Cricket threw up all over his shoes. Fuck.

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Did you get her into bed? Beatrix asked when he came back into the living room.

Which time? Ulysses flopped down on the couch next to her, releasing a heavy sigh. I put her in bed the first time, and she rolled out, laughing like a maniac the whole time. I put her back three times, and finally, on the third, she said she was going to puke, so now she’s sleeping on the floor in the bathroom.

So, what I’m hearing is you didn’t get her into bed.

You’re hearing I made a valiant effort, but she is stubborn when she’s drunk.

Just when she’s drunk? Beatrix threw her head back and laughed.

Fuck, it was a contagious laugh he wanted to hear far more often than he had a right to.

Quitter.

Quitter, my ass. Ulysses playfully pushed her over. You try getting that brat into bed when she doesn’t want to go. See how well you fair.

Oh, I’ve done it. The last time, she pinned me under her and passed out. Do you know how hard it is to get dead weight off you when that dead weight insists on cuddling?

It was his turn to throw his head back in laughter. Only when he recovered and looked back at Beatrix, his lips crashed onto hers, exploring and tempting her.

Then she kissed him back—actually kissed him—and it wasn’t an innocent kiss. It was the type of kiss you shared with another person who you were hoping to get more than a kiss out of.

Ulysses was happy to oblige, but he was going to do it his way.

Taking over the kiss, he sank his hand into the hair at the back of her head and deepened their connection. A small tug of her hair had her mouth falling open in a moan, and he easily slipped his tongue in.

Fuck, she tasted good. Warm, sweet from the Coke she’d been drinking at the party, and just enough of her own taste to have him wanting to taste every part of her.

Pulling back, he grabbed the hem of her shirt and whisked it over her head.

Really?

What? Beatrix looked down at her bra. You don’t like the Looney Tunes?

No, I love the Looney Tunes. I’m quite fond of them, but they would look way better on the floor.

He reached behind her and easily unhooked the clasp of her bra, freeing her breasts. God, they were gorgeous, her nipples a dusty rose that demanded he pull them into his mouth. Who was he to deny them the attention they deserved?

Leaning in, he sucked one into his mouth, enjoying the feel of her nipple hardening as he suckled. Each pull of his mouth had her arching into him in pleasure. With a pop, he released the flesh and moved onto the other, using his teeth to taunt and torture it a bit more.

That was when her hands went to his head. He didn’t have long enough hair for her to wind her fingers into it, but that didn’t stop her from trying to direct his mouth.

Pulling away, Ulysses looked at her with a raised brow. You’re not in charge here, Little One.

And you are? Beatrix’s brow fell as soon as she looked at his face. You are.

Good girl. Now that you know how this is going to go, if you try to take control again, I will be left with no choice but to punish you. Do you understand?

Um… She nibbled her lip again, and he gently tugged it from between her teeth.

The only one who gets to nibble on you is me. So, back to my question. Do you understand what I’m saying?

I think I know what you mean.

Tell me what I mean. God, he was going to hell. Watching her struggle to get the words out shouldn’t be hot, but fuck if it wasn’t making his dick hard as hell.

Like when you swatted my ass at the party. Beatrix avoided his eyes. That wasn’t the first time you’ve done that, so I’m guessing that’s what you mean. If I try to take over again, you’ll spank me.

Good girl. Taking hold of her wrists, he put them above her head. Those do not move from there. If they do, well, you know. Smiling, Ulysses ran the tips of his fingers down her arms as he moved down her body. She shivered and squirmed under his ministrations, but her hands stayed where they were. God, you’re beautiful.

He lapped at each nipple once, loving the moan that escaped from her chest, but that was all he gave her before moving lower and dropping kisses on her exposed abdomen. When he got to the waistband of her pants, she started to move more vigorously.

Is there something you want, Little One?

Yeah, I want to know what the hell you’re doing to my best friend, Cricket slurred from the hall as she leaned heavily against the wall.

Fuck! Ulysses grabbed the blanket from the back of the couch and threw it unceremoniously over Trixie’s body. Cricket! I put you to bed, three times!

I know, but I remembered I had cookies in the cupboard, then I walked in on this little… Cricket waved her hands toward the two of them. I don’t know what to call it. Sex? Foreplay?

Someone, kill me now, Beatrix mumbled as she pulled the blanket up over her chin, her cheeks turning a brilliant shade of red.

So, y’all going to tell me what this is? Cricket’s smile could not have been bigger. Ulysses? Are you doing the dirty with my BFF?

No, this is nothing. Ulysses climbed from the couch and went to his sister, ushering her to the kitchen. Come on, Bug. Let’s get you some crackers.

Cookies, Cricket corrected.

Ulysses should have been paying attention to the woman he’d left on the sofa. If he had, he would have seen the hurt in her eyes.

Chapter One

Wiping her forehead, Trixie rolled her neck before lifting the blow pipe and moving toward the furnace. Placing the pipe into the furnace, she held it in place for the molten glass to build up on the tip. When she had the amount she wanted, she removed it and began blowing through the pipe to create a bubble.

Not sure how you’re single with blowing skills like that.

Releasing the pipe, she turned and found her best friend grinning at her. In my experience, guys don’t actually like it when you blow on their dick.

Damn. That must be what I’ve been doing wrong all these years. Cricket laughed and stepped toward her. What are you making?

I’m not sure. She spun the pipe against the marver, smoothing the glass. At this point, I’m just seeing what I come up with.

Cricket picked up another pipe. Cool. Maybe this time, I’ll make something useful.

Useful isn’t always the point. She rolled her bubble over different colors of glass shards, loving how the colors always landed in the perfect place. Sometimes, you just need to create something pretty.

Taking that to the glory hole?

Narrowing her eyes, Trixie put the glass covered end of her pipe into the second furnace. Yes. Grow up.

Come on! You can’t call something ‘the glory hole’ and expect people not to laugh.

Not the first time, but it’s been years. It’s just the name of it. She pulled the pipe and went back to smoothing the surface, watching the colors begin to blend as her friend pulled her own and began to shape hers.

There will never be a time when I won’t at least chuckle at the name.

I know, but I’m still going to give you shit for it. Grinning, Trixie shook her head. Someone called to hire you after you left. It’s a missing persons case.

Really? Who? Cricket stopped her movements as she waited for an answer.

I don’t know. They told me their daughter has been missing for a while and they are desperate to find her. I didn’t ask for many more details, but they’ll be in to talk to you in the morning.

That’s great! She rolled her glass again. I wish you would’ve gotten their name, though. I could’ve done some research.

Maybe if you wouldn’t sneak out before closing time, you would be able to ask whatever you wanted to. Where did you go anyway?

Grinning, Cricket looked up. Do you remember Austin Miller?

From high school? Of course, I do, we graduated with the same forty people we started kindergarten with. Didn’t he join the military? She gently placed her pipe back in the glory hole and turned back to her friend.

He did. He’s back in town and he wanted to meet up.

Didn’t you two fuck in high school? Trixie wiped the sweat from her forehead and pulled her pipe from the fire.

Yes, but he’s learned some new moves.

You fucked him again?

I did, and I’m not even sorry. Cricket chuckled. He no longer thinks missionary is the only position, and I’m not kidding when I tell you that his tongue is a goddamn national treasure.

Curling her lip in annoyance, Trixie rolled her glass on the marver. I want to be happy for you, but I don’t even remember what a human penis feels like. BOB and his batteries just aren’t the same.

You could accept the fact that my brother is an asshole who has his head up his ass too far to see how amazing you are and move on. Maybe Austin has a military friend.

No thanks. I’m good. Also, I’m over Ulysses. Every time I look at him, I hear him calling me nothing and it breaks my heart all over again.

Looking up from the smooth glass at the end of her pipe, Cricket sighed. I’ll agree that he shouldn’t have said that, but we both know he didn’t mean it. He’s just as protective of you as he is me. He’s an idiot, but I’m pretty sure he’s in love with you.

Loves me or not, he still said it. I’m done talking about him. Focusing on working a hole into the end of her bulb, she changed the subject. Why didn’t you tell me you were still talking to Austin?

He found me online a few weeks ago and we talked about meeting up when he came home. He ended up getting here early and we met up for a drink. One turned into several and I went home with him.

Aren’t you worried about what Matt is going to think?

Not at all. I mean, he’s going to be pissed if he finds out, but despite what he seems to think, we aren’t together.

Adjusting the pipe in her hands to work at a different angle, Trixie frowned. Didn’t you two spend the night together a couple of months ago?

Yeah, but his dick game is bad. One position the whole time and I had to finish myself off when I got home.

I still can’t believe that. Laughing, she placed her pipe in the glory hole. He had to of been really drunk because that doesn’t match up with what we’ve heard from other girls. He’s supposed to be top notch in the bedroom.

I don’t know. Cricket lowered her pipe to her lap. I may have been the problem. I kept thinking of how wrong it was for me to be fucking him. As my brother’s best friend, I have always seen him as another brother.

That’s fair, but I’ve also seen you two together and there is usually some amount of chemistry between the two of you. Maybe you should try again. Sober this time, and give him a chance to show you the Matt that everyone else sees.

The arrogant, pretty boy cop?

No. Trixie removed the pipe and went back to continue manipulating the glass. The one who goes out of his way to help Mrs. Johnson with her groceries every Friday. The one who mows Mr. Moore’s yard and makes sure he has enough food to eat. He’s a good man, Cricket. She worked in silence, allowing her friend time to think over what she told her. She twisted the glass to see how it would hold and studied it before holding it out to Cricket. What do you think?

Pretty. Will it stay like that?

No idea. I’m just experimenting right now. She moved it to the lehr to cool over night and stepped aside so Cricket could do the same. After they closed the door to it, they crossed the