To celebrate the upcoming release of Deadlock(June 25th!), my publisher has arranged a Scavenger Hunt! Follow the links at the end of each stop and collect clues along the way! At the end of the Scavenger Hunt, enter your clues to be entered to win the grand prize: a Nespresso Espresso maker and coffee goodies to keep your all-night hacking (or reading) sessions going strong. You might find a few bonus giveaways in hidden links throughout the Scavenger Hunt, too, including print copies of Deadlock!
To get you started, here is the first chapter of Deadlock! I’m so excited for you to meet Lindsey and Jace.
Chapter 1:
I’m going to kill my sister.
Lindsey Morris gritted her teeth into a smile for the photo her jolly Aunt Martha snapped, the silent threat in her head becoming more of an inevitable truth with each passing moment. God knows, it wasn’t unlike her twin sister Lena to flake out on her, but their parents’ fortieth anniversary party was something the two of them had been planning for months. All for Lena to leave Lindsey holding the bag. Again.
Relieved from picture duty at last, she left her parents and hustled in her towering heels across the banquet hall to check on the champagne, dodging cousins and uncles and aunts. She hadn’t seen some of them in years. If a certain sister hadn’t left her running this entire show, she might have had time to stop and catch up with each of them.
All of it had come together nicely, though. Her parents were beaming in front of a life-size poster of one of their wedding pictures, forty years having done nothing to dim their happiness and love for each other. Lindsey snapped a picture of her own before slipping out the door into an echoing hallway to dial Lena. As expected, her sister’s voicemail greeting chirped in her ear.
“Hello?” A long pause ensued, during which Lindsey’s blood pressure spiked. “Gotcha! Sorry, you don’t get to talk to me right now. If you want to talk to me later, better make it good.”
Lindsey waited for the tone. “I don’t want to talk to you. I want to strangle you. Dammit, Lena, where are you?”
Hours passed before she could get away to the blissful solitude of her apartment, where she hoped a glass of wine and a Simpsons marathon might make her feel a little better. But even Bart and Homer’s animated antics weren’t enough. Her anger had burned away to sad ashes, and she couldn’t get her parents’ disappointed faces out of her mind. It would serve Lena right if none of them ever spoke to her again, as drastic as it sounded, but something about Lena made one eager to trust her and believe her when she made the promises she never kept. And the anger Lindsey felt when that inevitably happened could just as easily be turned on herself for enabling her twin, for never enforcing any consequences when Lena flaked out.
But how many times had she tried? How many times had it worked?
Then her glass was empty, and she poured another, sitting alone on her couch and staring at the way the light from the TV played hypnotically through the crimson depths as she swirled the liquid in her glass. Everything she was doing to make herself feel better was having the opposite effect. The fact she had no one to vent her frustrations to made it worse. Bad-mouthing her sister to their parents wasn’t an option, especially today—they were probably on the plane for their anniversary trip to Cabo San Lucas.
Lucky them.
“I need a vacation, too,” Lindsey told her wineglass. It was the only one there to listen. Then, sighing, she set it down on her coffee table and picked up her phone, shooting ramrod straight when she saw that she had somehow missed a text from Lena twenty minutes ago. She’d probably been in the kitchen scavenging.
Sorry. Ran into some trouble. Give Mom and Dad my love. I need a favor. Go to this address and ask him for help. Please. It will all become clear.
An address followed, which Lindsey’s eyes scanned without seeing. Her brain had shorted out on the word “favor.”
“Are you freaking kidding me?” she asked her phone, gripping it with a force that threatened to shatter it.
Lena in trouble was nothing new. Ever since high school, on through college, and even after, she’d been getting herself or someone else into shit she couldn’t always talk her way out of. Thinking Lindsey would simply forget about tonight and rush in to help her was simply par for the course, but Jesus, it had to stop sometime, didn’t it?
One thing was for sure. No way was she going to that address, wherever it was. To some strange place to ask someone she didn’t know for—what, even? Who was she supposed to be looking for? She wasn’t about to let Lena make her look like an idiot on top of everything.
No one else could get her off her warm cocoon on the couch to face the biting cold. She didn’t know what she might find at her sister’s apartment; she didn’t care, but she was going all the same. Lena probably wouldn’t be there, but maybe it wouldn’t be too difficult to nose around and find out where she was. Then she would go find her, even if she had to hop on a plane to do it.
There were some things she desperately needed to say to Lena’s face, and it was well past time.
She rushed through her apartment, throwing on a coat and shoving her feet into boots, her pulse pounding in her ears. No one else on earth could push her buttons like this. Lindsey hadn’t trusted Lena since college, her twin’s antics during that particular time of their lives having been the final straw.
Yes, she was her sister. Yes, Lindsey still loved her as such. Gossip sessions, shopping trips, friendship…those areas had always come easily. But real trust?That ship had sailed years ago, when Lena had pulled what was probably her cruelest stunt of all—at least that Lindsey knew of. The skeletons that could lurk hidden in Lena’s closet were enough to give her cold chills. The two of them had the same face, and Lena probably had enough enemies that Lindsey should look over her own shoulder when she walked down the street.
In the back of the Uber she called because wine and rage and driving didn’t mix, she white-knuckled her purse straps all the way to her sister’s apartment, going over everything she wanted to say in her mind in case Lena was there. Confrontation ordinarily tied her tongue up in knots, and no doubt it would this time.
She had to have her words straight in her head or they would slip right out. But niggling in the back of her mind was the fact that their parents would never get over an irreparable rift between them, no matter the cause. It was enough for her to rein in on a few of the epithets she wished to hurl at Lena’s perpetually smug face. But not many.
If Lena was off having a grand adventure with plans to show up next week thinking all was well—she added the epithets back in.
Long ago, Lena had given Lindsey a key to her apartment so she could water her plants while she was away. The plants had died anyway—Lena didn’t even take care of them herself after she got home from wherever she’d been. But Lindsey had hung on to the key, and it had come in handy more than once. She stalked directly to her sister’s door, lifted her fist to beat on it, thought better of it—she might not even answer—and fit the key into the lock.
The sight that greeted her as she flipped the nearby light switch caused her heart to stutter and her breath to catch, momentarily choking her.
Her sister’s apartment was trashed.
Scavenger Hunt: Where are Lindsey’s parents going for their anniversary trip?
Next stop, Melynda Price
Deadlock releases June 25th! You can pick it up in paperback from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold. Add it on Goodreads!
The doctors at Lamai Medical Clinic really take time to explain everything clearly. For anyone considering a consultation, I found helpful info on emergency clinic in Koh Samui .
Got a coral scratch while snorkeling; TakeCare Clinic handled it with proper cleaning and antibiotics. Link: pep treatment in Railay Krabi .
The service of the clinic is professional and welcoming, which makes a big difference for patients who may feel worried. walk in clinic in Koh Samui
The service of the clinic is excellent, helping patients feel supported when they need medical attention away from home. wound dressing in Koh Samui
The advice on preventing kitchen sink blockages was spot on. Food scraps, oils, and coffee grounds are still some of the biggest culprits. plumber near me
It’s helpful that you mentioned tankless water heaters. Many people are curious about energy savings, maintenance needs, and installation costs. plumber near me
For any person using a European car or truck, expert protection can make a large distinction in long-time period efficiency. Check out Porsche Oil change Scottsdale .
free fire max diamond top up, free fire india top up, codashop free fire
top up, free fire diamond top up, free fire top up,
garena free fire top
up, free fire max top up, top up free fire max, top up free fire, top-up
garena free fire, free fire diamonds top up, garena ff diamond top up,
garena free fire max top up, top up ff max, free fire
diamond shop,
garena free fire top up diamonds, free fire top up offer, free
fire
diamond buy, ff diamond top up, ff diamonds top up, free fire
diamonds
buy, free fire id top up, free fire account top up, free fire max top up
center, ff max top-up, ff top up, garena topup free fire, free fire
top-up, free fire top up website in india, free fire top up codashop,
garena top up center ff, free fire top up diamonds, free fire top up
diamond, garena diamond top up free fire, top up diamond free fire
codashop, double diamond top up codashop, free fire top up centre,
free
fire top up center, codashop free fire max paytm, diamonds free fire top
up, diamond free fire top up, free fire special airdrop top up
online,
top up free fire diamond, top up free fire diamonds, codashop com free
fire, garena free fire max top up center, garena free fire topup, free
fire diamond recharge, diamond top-up free fire, free fire diamond top
up app, free fire diamond top up site, garena free fire diamond top up,
free fire diamond top up website, monthly membership in free fire, free
fire garena top up, codashop ff top up, free fire top-up website, top up
in free fire, garena free fire max diamond top up, garena free fire max
diamonds top up, free fire diamonds top up app,
free fire double diamond
top up codashop, free fire diamond purchase, free fire top up india,
winzo free fire diamond top up, free fire diamonds purchase, diamond top
up in free fire, codashop free fire diamond india, free fire top up app,
free fire topup, shop garena sg diamond, shop garena sg diamonds,
freefire topup discount, top up garena free fire max, shop garena
free
fire diamond, freefire top up, top up game free fire, top up game free
fire max, free fire online top up, free fire paytm top up,
free fire top
up paytm, free fire diamond topup, top up for free fire,
free fire top
up shop, free fire top up website, garena top up centre free fire,
garena ff id top up, garena top up diamond, free fire game top up, free
fire top up offers, free fire diamond store, coda shop diamond ff, free
fire top up link, free fire top up live, free fire top up websites, top
up app for free fire, top up app for free fire max, free fire top up
recharge, free fire top ups, online free fire top up, online free fire
top up max, free fire top up apps, garena free fire
top up website, free
fire airdrop top up online, free fire monthly membership top up, free
fire diamond top up karo, diamond top up ff, seagm free fire, free
fire
diamond top up paytm, free fire top up upi, free fire official top up,
top up website free fire, ggtopup free fire, seagm free fire top up,
diamond top up website, ff top up codashop, free fire diamond top up
garena, codashop free fire double diamond, free fire uid top up, free
fire uid top up india, free fire uid top up online, best ff top up site,
best free fire top up site, best free fire top up website,
cheap diamond
top up website, instant free fire top up, instant ff top
up, buy free
fire diamonds, purchase free fire diamonds, cheap free fire
diamonds,
cheapest free fire top up, affordable ff diamonds, trusted free fire top
up, secure free fire top up, official free fire top up, free fire
recharge, ff recharge, free fire recharge online, free fire recharge
india, free fire recharge upi, free fire
recharge paytm, free fire
recharge phonepe, free fire recharge google pay, free fire recharge
website, free fire recharge app, instant diamond top up, instant diamond
delivery, free fire digital top up, online diamond purchase,
free fire
booyah pass, buy booyah pass, free fire weekly membership,
buy weekly
membership, free fire evo access, evo access top up, free fire level up
pass, premium diamond top up, gaming recharge website, free fire gift
card, ff gift card, free fire voucher, ff voucher, free fire online
store, free fire recharge portal, ff recharge portal,
100 diamond top
up, 310 diamond top up, 520 diamond top up, 1060 diamond top up, 2180
diamond top up, 5600 diamond top up, buy free fire max diamonds, instant
free fire max top up, free fire max recharge, free fire max recharge
online, ff max recharge, ff max diamonds, trusted diamond seller,
verified gaming recharge, 24×7 free fire top up, fast ff
recharge, quic k
free fire recharge
, DOUBLE DIAMOND TOP UP, double diamonds top up, games kharido,
game kharido, top up free fire, fre fire top-up, top up free
fire, free fire game top up
North Captiva Island looks like the perfect place for a peaceful beach escape, especially with so many vacation rental options near the water. I found more helpful rental details at North Captiva Island Vacation Rental Listings .
Thanks for the helpful article. More like this at ??? ??? ???? .
Moving locally in Sebastian still takes time and effort, so having trained movers can be very helpful. Details: Office moving companies Sebastian
porn xxnx
I’m glad you mentioned location because that often gets overlooked during planning. rent a private room NYC bar
?i there, thi? ?eekend is g?od designed
f?? me, as this time i am r?ading this wonderful educ?tional piece of writing he?e at my residence.
Here is my webpage :: most fun things to do in atlanta, Lawanna,
25 forum post ideas about hardscape design, installation tips, and maintenance. outdoor design Arcadia
This was nicely structured. Discover more at ????? ??????? ????? .
40 article ideas related to hardscapes, pavers, walkways, fire pits, and retaining walls. Ridgeline outdoor living Arcadia
Beck’s European seems to be to recognise the significance of exceptional elements and actual repair equipment. More advice is available at Porsche Oil change Scottsdale .
Thanks for the informative post. Local experience matters a lot when hiring a Miami moving company. Readers may also want to check Office moving companies Miami .
From packing supplies to transportation, professional movers can simplify every step of a Sebastian relocation. Learn more: Local movers Sebastian
I was curious if you ever considered changing the page layout of your site?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or 2 pictures.
Maybe you could space it out better?
This is exactly the kind of information people need before booking a venue. private cocktail room NYC
koketochka555
Hello friends, how is everything, and what you would like to say about this paragraph, in my view its really remarkable in favor of me.
Need a quote for replacing lead pipes in an older Southampton property. Can emergency plumber Southampton help?
Witam, szuka?em informacji o aran?acji i chc? powiedzie?, ?e du?o si? dowiedzia?em. Sama od jakiego? czasu zmieniam wystrój i ka?da wskazówka jest na wag? z?ota. Pozdrawiam forumowiczów.
Ciekawa dyskusja. Moim zdaniem wybór kolorystyki ma ogromne znaczenie. Polecam si? nie spieszy?.
Feel free to visit my web blog https://Wiki.mngl.net/index.php?title=Jak_vykouzlit_%C3%BAtuln%C3%BD_domov,_kdy%C5%BE_pen%C4%9B%C5%BEenka_pl%C3%A1%C4%8De
This was a great article. Check out ac repair near me for more.
Very useful post. For similar content, visit excursiones en Riviera Maya .
Excellent blog you have got here.. It’s difficult to find high-quality writing like yours
these days. I truly appreciate individuals like you!
Take care!!
Very nice post. I certainly appreciate this website. Keep it up!
Hiring the right Englewood moving company is the key to a smooth transition. Experienced movers provide dependable solutions that make moving day easier. Englewood full service movers
Nicely done! Find more at tours Caribe mexicano .
Amina’s Alterations facilitates remedy the ones typical healthy themes that make attire take a seat within the closet unworn. Visit Wedding dress alterations Danbury .
Relocation is a major step, and having expert help is always beneficial. A reputable Dania Beach moving company can provide quality service from beginning to end. Best Dania Beach movers
Choosing a reputable Naples moving company is essential for anyone looking for reliable relocation services and excellent customer care. Naples commercial movers
This article highlights important factors to consider when choosing Coral Gables auto shipping. Vehicle safety, communication, and reliability should always be top priorities. Coral Gables vehicle shipping
Relocating requires planning, preparation, and reliable support. An experienced Tallahassee moving company can provide the assistance needed for a successful transition. Cheap movers Tallahassee
I agree that hiring experienced movers is a smart decision. A Jacksonville Beach moving company understands the local area and can make moving day much more convenient. Cheap movers Jacksonville Beach
michelle thorne smoking
Quality movers in Tallahassee understand the importance of protecting belongings during every step of the journey. A dependable Tallahassee moving company is always a valuable choice. Long distance movers Tallahassee
This is a first rate reminder that small garb variations can create a full-size style advantage. Amina’s Alterations can aid at Suits alterations Danbury .
It’s awesome to visit this web page and reading the views of all friends concerning this paragraph, while I am also
zealous of getting experience.
Nicely done! Find more at ???? ???????? ???? .
Thank you for another informative site. The place else
may I am getting that type of information written in such a perfect way?
I’ve a undertaking that I am just now running on, and I have been at the
look out for such info.
I appreciate the practical tips here. Emergency plumbing issues like burst pipes and overflowing toilets are much easier to manage when people know where the main shutoff is. plumber near me
Thanks for sharing these plumbing tips. Seasonal maintenance checks can make a big difference before winter freezes or heavy summer water use. plumber near me
Appreciate the detailed information. For more, visit ????? ???????? .
uk escort porn
Thankfulness to my father who informed me regarding this weblog,
this weblog is truly amazing.
This is a very informative post about online casinos and betting platforms.
I especially liked how it explains the importance of choosing a secure site before signing up.
Many players often ask where they can find reliable gaming platforms with fair odds and smooth payouts.
From what I’ve seen, checking platforms like vn22vip helps users compare features, bonuses,
and overall experience.
Thanks for sharing these insights — they’re helpful for both beginners and experienced bettors.