Lost Boy - Ker Dukey Page 0,73

he admonishes, and I blush, throwing myself back against my pillow and covering my face. “Don’t be long,” I groan from beneath the duvet.

When I know he’s gone, I yawn, stretching out my limbs. Pushing the duvet from my body, I slip on a t-shirt and shorts.

The front door opens and closes, the scent of pizza dough hitting my nostrils. Yum. Walking into the kitchen, I grin. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”

Charlotte rolls her eyes, dumping the box and her keys on the counter. “When my ass is the size of my car, you’re paying for my gym membership,” she huffs. All we do these days is eat comfort food and veg out. Opening the fridge, a gasp whooshes from her lips. She turns, facing me. “We’re out of wine!”

Laughing at her dramatic flair, I steal a bite from a slice and point upwards. “Jack will have wine. I’ll run up and get a bottle,” I say around a mouthful of cheesy goodness.

“I love having his stash,” she calls out as I grin and pull open the front door, taking the stairs up to Jack’s apartment. Trying the handle of his front door, I push inside when it gives way under my hand. “It’s just me,” I call out, seeking him out but coming up empty. “Jack?”

A thudding of feet race from his room, the door slamming. “Lizzy, what are you doing up here?”

Jerking a thumb over my shoulder, I say, “Charlotte forgot wine.” My gaze flicks behind him. He looks like I interrupted something. Secrets, I can’t bear to have more of them. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” His answer is too quick. Shadows pass through his eyes. My moon is trying to hide from the tide. “Don’t lie to me, Jack. Not ever. I can’t bear it.” I whimper almost losing my breath, a hand to my chest.

“Lizzy…” He says my name with so much emotion, tears spring in my eyes. God, what is it? What more could we have to overcome?

Reaching his hand out, he implores me with his eyes alone. Stepping forward, I take his palm in mine. “I love you. God, no one has ever loved a woman the way I love you. You’re my everything. My soul is tethered to yours—now, then, always.”

“What’s happening, Jack?” I ask, fearful of the answer.

“Willis was a monster. No matter how much I want to deny it, it leaves a stain, my sins, his sins—they haunt me, Liz.”

“Jack,” I hiccup his name, my free hand cupping his jawline, “you’re so much more than you give yourself credit for. You saved me, and god knows how many others.”

“But there are others who need saving.”

His words confuse me. “What are you saying?” Furrowing his brow, he turns toward his room, tugging me along.

My heart drums in my chest as he twists the handle and pushes it open.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The wall that was once filled with my face and Stephan’s victims is now plastered with new images, a new girl, clues, newspaper clippings. A title scribbled at the top, ‘Doll maker’

“There are a lot more Willis’s and Stephan’s out there. It’s my duty to stop them. My salvation lies in saving kids like us—women like our mothers.”

This is what he does. “I hunt.” His words resurface in my mind, bouncing around like a ping pong ball, lighting up every emotion imaginable. Gathering all the pieces of my soul, heart, and the strength he gives me, I nod. “Who is she?”

“She’s missing. They think taken by a serial killer. People in the chat rooms online are calling him the doll maker. He keeps his victims alive for at least a month, dresses them up like dolls.” He looks over the images on the board.

An icy cold shiver dances up my spine at the thought of this girl being kept somewhere, terrified, waiting to die. I slip my hand into his. “What can I do to help?”

A smile, half sad, half elated, broadens his features. “Really? You don’t have to be a part of this,” he implores, raising our joined hands to his chest.

“I’m part of you. Whatever we do, we do together. Let’s help this girl.” I jerk my head in silent confirmation.

Wrapping me in his embrace, his lips dance over mine, causing a fever to rise within me. “I love you.” His lips continue to devour before pulling away when we’re both breathless, his vivid green eyes boring into mine. “Together.” He nods.

Slipping from his embrace, I go to his board and rub away the title Doll Maker. This isn’t about the killer. I don’t want to feed into the hype and fame of them. It’s about the victims, finding them, giving them a voice and retribution. I write the fitting words above her face: Lost Girl. Just like with my lost boy, we will find her.

The End…

If you enjoyed this title you may enjoy

Pretty Stolen Dolls

I See You

or

Devil

Titles found here:

Amazon

Acknowledgments

Thank you firstly to you the reader, I know I kept you waiting for so long with this one and I hope you found it worth the wait. These characters were complex and needed the right attention. Thank you for sticking with me and being patient.

Monica (Word Nerd Editing)

- Thank you for your hard work and support, your excited comments made me giggle.

Teresa, (Proofreader)

- Thank you for always being there to pick up whatever I throw at you last minute. You’re a Rockstar.

Amy Queau (cover designer)

Thank you for the changes you made without complaint, I adore your work and you.

Franggy, (cover model)

Is it weird to thank you for being gorgeous? If so, thank you for being humble and easy to work with.

Enticing Journey (PR company)

Thank you for always making space for me and being easy and stress free to work with.

Terrie (my PA)

Thank you for being there when I drop things on you last minute.

To my stalKER’S (my group)

Thanks for keeping the group thriving, and for sharing my stuff, I love you guys.

Bloggers –

Thank you to all bloggers, insta peeps and readers for sharing the cover, teasers, release packet , etc.: It never gets easier being seen and getting my books in front of readers and without your help it would be near impossible so thank you, thank you, thank you!

Big thanks so Kirsty Moseley my cheerleader and best friend, you always have my back and push me to get shit done. I love you.

And last but not least, my family who sacrifice time spent with me so I can create these worlds. You’re the best and I love you. Faith gets extra kudos because she insists, I buy a cake to celebrate every time I type THE END! Mama needs more of these encouragements! <3

Fine me here:

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Contact me here: Ker: [email protected]

Ker Dukey’s Books.

Empathy Series:

Empathy

Desolate

Vacant – Novella

Deadly – Novella

The Broken Series:

The Broken

The Broken Parts of Us

The Broken Tethers That Bind Us – Novella

The Broken Forever – Novella

The Men by Numbers Series:

Ten

Six

Drawn to You Duet:

Drawn to You

Lines Drawn

Standalone Novels:

My Soul Keeper

Lost

I See You

The Beats in Rift

Devil

Dukey’s Dark Delight titles. (Bite sized dark reads)

Stalk Her

Muse

Heart Thief

Royal Bastards MC series.

Animal

Rage

Grim TBA

Co-Written with D. Sidebottom

The Deception Series:

FaCade

Cadence

Beneath Innocence – Novella

The Lilith’s Army MC Series:

Taking Avery

Finding Rhiannon

Coming Home TBA

Co-Written with K Webster

The Pretty Little Dolls Series:

Pretty Stolen Dolls

Pretty Lost Dolls

Pretty New Doll

Pretty Broken Dolls

The V Games Series:

Vlad

Ven

Vas

KKinky Reads Collection:

Share Me

Choke Me

Daddy Me

Watch Me

Hurt Me

Play Me

Joint Series

Four Fathers Series:

Blackstone by J.D. Hollyfield

Kingston by Dani René

Pearson by K Webster

Wheeler by Ker Dukey

Four Sons Series:

Nixon by Ker Dukey

Hayden by J.D Hollyfield

Brock by Dani René

Camden by K Webster

The Elite Seven Series:

Lust – Ker Dukey

Pride – J.D. Hollyfield

Wrath – Claire C. Riley

Envy – M.N.Forgy

Gluttony – K Webster

Sloth – Giana Darling

Greed – Ker Dukey & K Webster

Titles found here:

Amazon