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  Hell Hath No Fury

  Forget Me Not

  Steve Cain has been assigned the story of a lifetime. There’ve been a series of disappearances in Hell, Michigan. Following up on a lead, Steve goes there in search of answers. But what he finds instead is something he never knew he’d lost: the love of his life.

  Victor Valente has been living a dark life for the past century. The only ray of happiness he ever experienced he had to give up years ago. He never thought he’d see Steve Cain, his soul mate, again after he erased Steve’s memory and sent him away. But now that Steve’s back, Victor’s hell-bent to fix the wrong he did. He and Steve belong together. He’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen. Even if he has to go against the most powerful and ruthless vampire, his father Helder Valente, to do it.

  Will they finally be able to live their happily-ever-after or will Victor’s father erase them from existence forever?

  Genre: Alternative (M/M, Gay), Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Shape-shifter

  Length: 23,029 words

  FORGET ME NOT

  Hell Hath No Fury

  Alexia Ward

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  FORGET ME NOT

  Copyright © 2018 by Alexia Ward

  ISBN: 978-1-64010-882-0

  First Publication: January 2018

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2018 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book or print book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at

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  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Alexia Ward is a writer, mother and wife whose passion for life, love, and happiness has led her on many fascinating, thrilling journeys in her lifetime. But nothing has been more fulfilling than becoming a mother and a writer.

  She loves romance and everything paranormal and tries to include both genres in her stories. Her favorite place to write is in the den on her comfortable couch. The gorgeous trees in her backyard, along with the sunshine beaming through the nearby window, help feed her energy and creativity. She hopes that her heroes and worlds she creates will bring many hours of enjoyment to her readers, just like they’ve done for her.

  For all titles by Alexia Ward, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/alexia-ward

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Landmarks

  Cover

  FORGET ME NOT

  Hell Hath No Fury

  ALEXIA WARD

  Copyright © 2018

  Chapter One

  “What am I missing?” Steve Cain read the article on his tablet for the fifth time.

  “You missed nothing,” Harry Firth responded curtly. “Will you pack your things? We have to get off the train.”

  “Yeah, just one second,” he mumbled distractedly.

  There had to be something in one of these articles that would help him with his assignment.

  Brett Nickels, the editor-in-chief of Virtual News Here and Now had sent Steve and Harry to Hell, Michigan to investigate the rash increase of missing persons’ cases that had been reported in the tiny town and surrounding county of Livingston in the past couple of months.

  Steve was the one who suggested the online newspaper should do an exposé on it. His interests in the town had piqued after he’d come across a blog post from an amateur photographer, Guy Thicke, who had photographed, using a telephoto lens, unidentified bodies at two separate crime scenes. Symbols were carved on the foreheads and chests of the victims.

  The police had obviously not given the photographer permission to take the photos. Supposedly, if what the blogger had written was true, the police had withheld the details of the murders from the public.

  It was usual protocol, Steve knew, for the detectives working on open cases like these to withhold important details from the public to prevent would-be copycat murders. Another reason was that it helped them catch the killer more easily and not cause mass hysteria.

  But what Steve found even more intriguing was that the blog entries were from two months ago. Nothing had been added on the photographer’s blog site after that. He’d been a prolific poster. He usually posted every Thursday like clockwork. But after those entries of the disturbing murder scenes, there wasn’t anything else.

  Steve had tried to email the photographer through his blog contact page but had received no reply.

  When he’d approached Brett with all the info he’d collected so far, Brett didn’t hesitate to assign Steve to this project, which he named “Murder and Missing Persons Mystery from Hell.”

  Knowing that Steve was good friends with Harry, a full-time photographer at the newspaper, whom Steve had worked closely with on numerous projects, Brett had assigned Harry to this assignment, as well.

  They were to head to Hell, Michigan the next day and begin their probe into the mystery of the missing persons’ cases and on Guy Thicke, the amateur photographer and blogger.

  They had a month’s time to come up with an article for the online newspaper.

  Steve had been grateful for the extended deadline. Normally, Brett gave him a week, or two weeks at the most, to investigate, research, and write his article.

  But this case wasn’t about corporate extortions or harassment cases, or any of the other cases Steve and Harry had worked on. This one was huge, bigger, and more complicated than anything he and Harry had ever worked on.

  And now Steve wondered if he had taken on more than he could handle. Because even though he’d read and reread all the posts and reports he’d collected so far on his tablet, he had no idea where to start.

  Harry nudged Steve as he got up. “Look over there. The coach attendant is coming this way. Hurry, will you?”

  “Okay. Okay.” Steve huffed, tucking his tablet into his backpack.

  The coach attendant frowned as he approached. His furrowed, puffy black eyebrows practically touched, Steve noted.

  “Gentlemen, you can’t remain on board any longer. You ha
ve to disembark.”

  Harry smiled, his lips in a thin, wide, tense line. “Sorry. My friend has horrible time management skills. We’re going to be on our way.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t realize we arrived at the station,” Steve added, averting physical contact with the stout man as he sidestepped him in the narrow aisle.

  Harry grumbled, hurrying to the closest boarding platform. “You know how I hate confrontations like that, Steve. Why do you always do this to me?”

  Steve half laughed as he patted him jokingly on the back. “Because I love to see you squirm.”

  He’d known Harry for more than five years. And in all that time, Harry had been obsessive, compulsive, and a worrywart. But that never stopped Steve from trying to help him calm down and let loose.

  After all, life was too short to harp on timeliness and order. Chaos was and would always hold life’s reins. So one might as well let go and enjoy the ride while they could because come tomorrow it might be too late.

  Steve focused on the annoying zipper of his backpack that had snagged half open when he began his distracted, hurried descent off the train.

  He didn’t see the tall, mysterious stranger in his path until he crashed hard into his massive chest.

  The impact was so powerful that it sent Steve hurdling backward. The back of his head smacked the steel railing, which sparked an explosion of stars fluttering in the corner of his vision.

  Chapter Two

  “Watch where the hell you’re going!” Victor Valente reprimanded the clumsy human.

  Of all the times for someone to get in his way, it had to be now when he was late. His father was waiting, and one didn’t make his father wait, especially not his eldest son, the black sheep of the family.

  Helder Valente never wasted a moment’s time offering his distaste in his son’s abilities and accomplishments. “You are such a disappointment,” and “You ought to know better,” were interchangeable phrases Helder used on the rare occasions when he spoke to Victor.

  Helder Valente was one of the four elder vampires in the state who demanded respect from his coven and his children. From his last count, Victor had twenty siblings. Their ages ranged from a hundred and fifteen years old to as young as two.

  Helder had turned them after he’d chosen them, draining their blood in his feverish hunger. Wanting to claim their souls, he’d allowed them to feed on his blood, thus transforming them into vampires.

  Victor didn’t know how old his vampire father was. Nor did he remember any of his life before he’d been turned from human to vampire. Helder had wiped away his memory of that life, just like he’d done with all his children. It was for their own good not to know, he’d often say whenever one of them asked.

  Victor had been born again as a creature of the night in 1898. He was one hundred and nineteen years old. His one hundred and twentieth birthday was coming up in November, but he hardly took note of it. Having lived as long as he had, seeing and experiencing all he had, he did not look forward to yet another year on this earth as a blasphemous creature.

  But that didn’t mean he wanted it to end, either. He just wanted to find someone with whom he could enjoy life, someone who could love him for who he was unconditionally, and who would not recoil at the thought of touching his ice-cold body.

  He’d found that special someone a decade ago, whom he’d loved deeply, but circumstances, and his father had torn them apart.

  There’d been no one since then…until now.

  As he saw the human fall backward after their collision, he locked gazes with his enchanting sapphire-blue shocked eyes.

  His non-beating heart actually stirred. It wasn’t quite a beat, but it did jiggle and plump.

  He wasn’t quick enough in his reaction to catch him before the human’s head came into contact with the railing.

  “I’m sorry.” He helped the man up onto his feet. “Are you all right?” he asked peering keenly into his eyes, searching for any signs of a possible concussion.

  “I’m okay.” The human rubbed the back of his head. “It was my fault. I wasn’t looking where I was going. I was too busy trying to zip this.” He held up his open backpack.

  “Come on, Steve. We’ve got to get going to the Sunrise Hotel. I told them we’d be checking in at ten,” the man beside them stated.

  Victor hadn’t even noticed the tall, pale, lanky man until he’d spoken.

  “Umm, yeah,” Steve said but didn’t waver his gaze from Victor.

  They stood only a couple of feet apart. Steve’s human scent was intoxicating. Victor had to muster all his willpower to restrain himself from grabbing him into his arms and kissing him passionately.

  To touch those supple, warm lips…

  The incoming text message on his cell phone drew him quickly out of his reverie.

  He knew who it was even before he checked the screen. Where the hell are you!!!!!!

  From the six exclamation points in his text, his father was obviously close to his boiling point.

  “I gotta go.” He began to scurry away, but he twisted his head to shout over his shoulder, “Once again, I’m sorry for bumping into you.”

  Steve grinned, waving. He never broke eye contact as Victor moved farther and farther away.

  Victor knew that although they had to part ways now, they’d soon reunite.

  Chapter Three

  There was something about the tall, dark, and hunky stranger Steve couldn’t quite put his finger on. The man looked familiar. Steve could have sworn they’d met before, but no matter how thoroughly he racked his brain, he couldn’t remember where he’d seen him.

  Maybe he reminded Steve of someone else, but he couldn’t think of whom it could be.

  He rubbed his aching head in frustration. He hated this feeling of uncertainty. He loved searching for answers and the truth, hence the reason why he became a journalist. He strived for it. So having this enigma gnawing at his mind was driving him crazy.

  “You okay?” Harry asked with concern shining in his eyes.

  “Yeah, but my head hurts.” He gently glided his hand over the bump that had sprouted at the back of his head. It throbbed under his contact.

  “You want to go to the emergency to get it checked out?”

  Steve glanced at his watch just as the black Uber car Harry had booked through the phone app arrived. Steven shook his head, which sent sharp pain from the back of his skull to his temples. His surroundings spun around him for a moment.

  “No, I’ll be fine after I take two aspirin and rest a bit. Let’s head to the hotel and check in.”

  “All right, but if you don’t feel better soon, you should check it out. You hit your head pretty hard.”

  Feigning, he smiled. “Don’t worry about me, Harry. I’m thick headed. You’ve said so yourself on numerous occasions.”

  Harry’s serious tone lightened with Steve’s joke. “True. Very true.”

  He leaned forward, grinning at the middle-aged driver, who wore thick glasses and a blue baseball cap. “Hi, you’re Jack?”

  “Yeah.” Jack got out of the car and walked to the back of the Honda Civic. “Let’s put your luggage in the truck.”

  A minute later, Steve and Harry slid into the back seat. Steve took a purging breath. He was wasting time probing his mind. He had never met that handsome stranger before today. The blow to his head had gotten him confused.

  But it was a shame because he wouldn’t mind if they bumped into each other again. This time he’d make sure to get his name and number.

  Chapter Four

  Victor rapped his long, dexterous fingers on his desk while he waited. The annoying ticking of the clock on the wall felt like a constant jab at his patience.

  “Where the hell are you, Luca?”

  He’d called his brother over an hour ago and asked him to meet him in his quarters as soon as he could.

  Luca had been turned into a vampire four years after Victor. When Helder had brought him home, Victor didn’t hesit
ate to take the frightened and confused Luca under his wings.

  They’d quickly bonded, becoming best friends as well as close-knit brothers. Whenever Victor had a problem or needed someone to talk to, Luca was always the one he confided in.

  Victor desperately needed his brother’s aid and advice tonight. His anxiousness stirred him to his feet. He had the jitters. His legs refused to remain still. He began to pace when he heard a knock at the door.

  He leaped to the door, swinging it swiftly. A swooshing sound followed.

  “You’re finally here,” he complained, tugging his brother by his arm into the room.

  Luca turned his smile into a frown. “Hey, I told you I was at work. I couldn’t leave before the bar closed. There was a customer who refused to leave until Echo kicked him out.”

  Luca bartended at the Brouhaha, one of the many establishments Helder, their father owned. Echo was a seven-foot-tall hulking bouncer, who’d worked with Luca for the past ten years. Luca said Echo was the gentlest vampire one could meet but turned into a raging monster if someone crossed him or ticked him off.

  Victor had met Echo a couple of times and thanked his lucky stars he’d never gotten on the intimidating bouncer’s bad side. He’d seen the towering vampire fling boisterous bar patrons to the curb with little effort.

  Victor huffed, crossing his arms across his chest. “Anyway, the important thing is you’re here now.”

  Taking the swivel chair at Victor’s desk, Luca twirled it around. He sat, crossed his legs, and folded his fingers over his bent knee. “I’m listening.” He observed Victor with wide, alert gray eyes.