Hard Habit to Break

By Melissa Schroeder

Once a powerful paranormal, psychically crippled Drug Enforcement office, Nolete Ashford has rebuilt her life from ashes. Thanks to experiments done at government facilities, she has lost all of her abilities. It doesn't stop her from doing her job especially now there is a powerful new drug killing paranormals. Unfortunately, she needs help from the one man she could never forget.

Drake thought he had lost Letty years before. He will stop at nothing to help her find the man behind the drug. When her abilities start to return, he is ready to stand by her side and prove to her that he is the man for her. As the get closer the truth, long buried secrets come to light, altering Letty and Drake's entire world and threatening the fragile new relationship they have built--not to mention their lives.   

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Publishing
• Release date: Jul 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781094443904

Melissa Schroeder

From an early age, USA Today Bestselling author Melissa loved to read. First, it was the books her mother read to her including her two favorites, Winnie the Pooh and the Beatrix Potter books. She cut her preteen teeth on Trixie Belden and read and reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school. It wasn’t until she was in college that she tried to write her first stories, which were full of angst and pain, and really not that fun to read or write. After trying several different genres, she found romance in a Linda Howard book. Since her first published book, Grace Under Pressure, Mel has had over 60 short stories, novellas, and novels published. She has written in genres ranging from historical to contemporary to futuristic and has worked with 8 publishers although she handles most of her publishing herself. She is best known for her Harmless and Santini series. After years of following her military husband around the country and world, Mel happily lives with her family in horse and wine country in Northern Virginia.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Nolete swallowed the fear that tightened her throat and closed her eyes. The metal lab table was cold against her bare back. She lay, strapped and naked, but it was nothing new. Without looking, she was positive goose bumps rose on her skin. Since she’d been detained several weeks earlier, she’d lost count of the number of times she had been in this position.

She shifted her weight, trying to ease the numbness in her ass. How long had she lain here? Lord only knew. Flexing her fingers and wiggling her toes, she tried to keep the blood pumping into her hands and feet. The wrist and ankle straps constricted blood flow. She had to do something to keep her mind busy, so she counted back trying to figure out what time it was. The windowless lab had no clock, just a sink, some antibacterial cream and a closet.

She shivered and opened her eyes. Damn. She didn’t know if she could take another round of their experiments. The skills she’d tried to hide for so many years had been tested and prodded, pushed to the limit. When they first arrested her and brought her here, she’d fought the scientists, and any experiments. But after several weeks of very little food, and more and more time in the lab, she’d broken down. She was beyond the point of caring. She realized she would never make it out alive; they couldn’t have that. If the public at large found out about the experiments, there would be investigations. And, if that happened, the Center would lose their Federation funding. If they knew about the electroshock or the drugs, the public outcry would ruin their pampered lives here.

As she tried to move her mind away from those memories, she thought of her life before her arrest. Before Drake had turned on her and handed her over to some of the sickest people on the planet. Sharp pain twisted in her stomach and her heart ached. Her eyes filled with tears. She’d never believed he’d been the one to do it, but she’d learned the hard way. If she ever made it out of quarantine alive, which she doubted, she would never trust another human being again.

She licked dry lips and tried to swallow. Concentrating on the doorknob, Nolete tried using her mind to move it. Nothing. Sighing with frustration, she closed her eyes again. There was something missing in her. Panic clawed at her throat. Even as a child she’d had those other senses, but now, now she was like a blind woman, feeling around in an unfamiliar room.

The door slid open and then closed.

Well, Ms. Ashford. Doctor Killigan’s smooth oily voice sent a chill down her spine. I see that you are ready for another round.

She didn’t respond, didn’t open her eyes. Killigan liked it when she fought him. Nolete was convinced the jackass got off on it.

Telling Edwards you lost your ability to move things. Did you think that would help? He tsked, his voice mocking her, but Nolete refused to give in. If there was one thing she had left, it was her resistance to his baiting. They would do what they wanted, but she didn’t have to make it easier for them.

The door to the closet opened and closed and she fought the urge to open her eyes to see what he had chosen for today.

I have never understood why you paras think this is a bad thing. If we can figure out everything there is to know about you, there could be something which could make you stronger.

She listened intently, waiting for the hum of the electromachine to kick in. It was Killigan’s favorite. The only sound she heard was metal against metal. Fear slithered through her at what was coming next. A moment later, the prick of a needle bit into her arm.

He massaged her arm, helping the drug to spread. Now, let’s see what happens with this one.

CHAPTER TWO

Nolete walked through the halls of what ten years ago had been her nightmare. She shivered as she fought the memories of those days, weeks, months—she had no idea how long she’d been imprisoned.

She could still hear the screams and the crying. It haunted her to this day. If she hadn’t lost her abilities, she might still be there. Once Killigan realized she hadn’t been lying, he’d ordered her released instead of killed. She reached the door to Killigan’s favorite lab. The same sickening panic curled in her stomach.

Agent Ashford?

She turned to find Marcus Carlyle standing at the end of the hallway with an understanding smile curving his lips. Dressed in his customary expensive suit, silk shirt and tie, Marcus intimidated a lot of people. She’d always felt comfortable around him.

Do you know what happened to Killigan, Mr. Carlyle?

He shook his head. No. Killigan disappeared with a lot of files and drugs right before the arrests.

He’s the one you want. He nodded in understanding. I just don’t know why it was allowed to go on for so long.

People were afraid. Johnson scared them.

So, let’s punish the ones left behind. And their children. She couldn’t hide the bitterness in her voice. Tears gathered in her eyes, and she turned away. Her parents had died before she’d turned a year old, and the pain of being alone, of having no one to go to when she finally was released, still throbbed. She didn’t want her supervisor to see her weakness, to know it still affected her.

Agent Ashford—Nolete—I know this will be hard for you, but I feel, as does Shana, you’re the best person for the job. You can ferret out the culprit.

The considerate tone in his voice embarrassed her and got under her skin. She couldn’t handle kindness. Not anymore. I know who the head of this mess is.

Johnson.

She glanced back at him, knowing Ripley Johnson had been implicated in the two terrorist attacks that year, both of which had affected Marcus’ new wife and her brother.

Yes. He’s behind it, but this trash on the street, Killigan’s in charge.

Are you sure?

The worst of the memories washed over her. Her stomach roiled. She drew in a deep breath and swallowed the bile clogging her throat. The drug tests were far worse than any of the other experiments.

"Positive. The tests he was doing here were leading somewhere. Part of it was because he was a sadistic bastard,