Title: On a Knife’s Edge
Author: Lynda Bailey
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Book Blurb:
She was once his sweet salvation…
Lynch Callan has been a dead man walking most of his life—nothing out of the ordinary for a member of the 5th Street biker gang. There was a brief period, though, when she made him believe he could be more. That he could be worthy…of her love. To protect her, and keep their relationship from being discovered, he went to prison. Except now the Streeters are in danger. But in order to save his crew, he must first betray them. If caught, he’ll end up dead for sure. It’ll be the mother of all balancing acts—especially with her in the picture. But Lynch will do whatever is necessary to protect the people he loves.
He was once her deepest desire…
Shasta Albright doesn’t break the rules. Not anymore. As an unruly teenager, she defied her family at every turn…even secretly befriending, then dating, then falling in love with a bad boy Streeter. Finally her recklessness caught up with her—with dire and lasting consequences. Now she leads a pristine existence, always staying within the lines and keeping her secrets hidden. That is until he gets released from prison. Can Shasta hold her perfect world together, or will everything get hurled into chaos?
With young girls going missing, the sleepy town of Stardust, Nevada becomes an unlikely epicenter for an illicit slave trade, with Shasta and Lynch caught in the middle. Amidst the rising body count, they fight to keep their loved ones—and each other—safe. A single slipup could have deadly repercussions. It’s an untenable and treacherous position. Much like walking On a Knife’s Edge…
Excerpt:
A jagged bolt of lightning gashed the darkening sky. Seconds later, thunder rumbled in the not-too-far distance. Suddenly the sky opened, releasing a deluge of rain. Typical Nevada weather…one second a few splatters, the next a freaking downpour.
Instead of turning back, Shasta increased her pace determined to get a run in, albeit a shorter one. The rest stop was just around the bend. She’d take cover there until the cloudburst ended which shouldn’t be too long.
Another clap of thunder sounded, closer this time. A blur whizzed past her on the right. She turned just as a hand covered her mouth and a muscled arm circled her waist. The whiff of damp leather teased her senses right before she was yanked backwards against something rock-hard.
Then her feet no longer touched the ground.
Her instincts kicked in. She wrestled for escape, but her assailant easily carted her behind an enormous clump of sagebrush and dropped her onto the wet dirt. She rolled away only to have the hand return to her mouth and a heavy weight pin her face down.
Despite the terror gripping her, she forced herself to think. To remember her self-defence lessons. She took shallow breaths through her nose. She needed to fight just enough to convince whoever was on top of her she was trying to get away. Then she’d feign passing out. Hopefully he’d drop his guard, allowing her to run.
She diminished her resistance and after a long moment, the heaviness holding her captive lessened a bit. She trundled onto her side and drove her knee upwards. It connected with something pliable. A pained grunt penetrated the thrashing in her ears.
She tucked her arms to her chest and rolled three more times, then surged to her feet. A powerful grasp cut short her freedom. Again, she was tossed to the soggy ground. The impact whooshed oxygen from her lungs. She continued to twist and torque, scratch and kick anything and everything as she somersaulted with her attacker.
“Goddamn it, Shaly,” a gruff male voice hissed low. “Settle down.”
She landed on her back and strong hands gripped her upper arms, shaking her…hard.
“Shaly—I said to settle down.”
Shasta ceased her struggles. No one called her Shaly except…
She swiped rain off her face and stared into hypnotic, smoky blue eyes. A tiny squeak slipped past her lips.
Lynch.
Anger overrode her confusion. She slapped his chest and shoulders. “What the fu—”
He again covered her mouth with his hand as he pulled a handgun from the back of his waist. She felt her eyes widened, but he held the barrel to his lips.
That’s when she heard men arguing—and they were very, very close…
“So where the fuck’s that Dupree bitch?” one demanded.
Horror shafted Shasta’s chest.
They were talking about her.
Panic must have shown on her face because Lynch gathered her close, shielding her. Her nipples peaked as heat swirled through her belly.
Good God. What the hell was wrong with her? She coerced herself to concentrate on the conversation rather than her innate reaction to Lynch’s hard body pressing into hers.
“Think she turned around because of the rain?” a second man grumbled.
“Hell if I know,” the first voice griped.
“Maybe one of the others grabbed her.”
“Yeah…maybe. Fuck. I ain’t got no goddamn signal out here. Jesus…Junkyard’s gonna be pissed if we missed her. He wanted her on the shipment to Vegas next week.”
“Should we look for her?”
Lynch tensed, his gun poised.
“Look where? Anyone’d be crazy to be out in this shit. I’m soaked through. Don’t know why Junkyard wants her in the first place. She’s old and has a kid, for crissakes. No money to be made with her.”
“Yeah, but if Junkyard wants her, that’s all we need to know. C’mon, let’s go back. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find her ass.”
Sloppy footsteps trailed off, and Lynch slowly rose onto his knees. When she followed suit, he placed his hand on her shoulder and leaned close. “Stay put. I’ll make sure they’re gone.”
She shook her head. “No, I—”
His hand again covered her mouth, his gaze narrowing. “Do not argue. Stay put.”
She glared back. She didn’t need him telling her what to do. But those men were looking for her. Specifically for her…so she remained on the wet ground.
Lynch shrugged off his cut and laid it over her. In a half-crouch and gun in hand, he prowled away to the right.
Shasta curled into Lynch’s jacket, her knees to her chest trying to get warm. She clamped her jaw tight to keep her teeth from clicking.
A monstrous clap of thunder rent the air. The ground shook. She pressed her hands to her ears and squeezed her eyes shut.
Why hadn’t she stayed home? Why had she insisted on going for a run? She’d been so stupid. God only knows what would have happened had Lynch not shown up. A thought that lurched her stomach with bile burning her throat.
A hand gripped her shoulder.
She scuttled away, finding a good-sized rock in the process. She scrambled to her feet and spun around, prepared to bash in someone’s brains…but it was Lynch.
With his hair plastered to his head and his t-shirt clinging to his torso, he looked like hell. She almost wept with relief.
“C’mon. Let’s go.”
If she weren’t cold and scared, she might question where exactly he was taking her. As it was, she allowed him to lead her to his waiting Harley.
He retrieved a spare helmet from his pack, placed it on her head and fastened the buckle. He threw his leg over the seat, helped her mount up behind him then slowly maneuvered back down the jogging trail.
She huddled close to him, working to calm her breathing and pulse.
She was safe. Lynch was taking her home. And she might never leave again.
Buy Links (including Goodreads):
What’s your favorite way to combat stress?
Losing myself in a good romance is one of my most favorite ways to combat stress. That and drinking red wine while eating dark chocolate. 😊
Why is your featured book a stress busting read?
On a Knife’s Edge is a biker RS and is sure to take your mind off the everyday stress in your life, at least for a little while.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon US or Canada gift card
Open internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US or Amazon CA account to win.
Runs May 1 – 31, 2023.
Drawing will be held on June 1, 2023.
Author Biography:
I’ve always loved stories, especially romances. For me the only thing better than reading a romance is writing one.
My romances are full of passion, with heat levels ranging from hot to sizzling! I’m proud to have been a 2010 finalist in the prestigious Golden Heart®. I hope you’ll join me for laughter and love, and where the good guys win in the end.
You can visit my website www.lyndabailey.net or drop me an email at Lynda.r.bailey@gmail.com.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.lyndabailey.net
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/LyndaBaileyRomanceAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlyndab
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/baileylynda/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Lynda-Bailey/e/B007UQHW9E/