Shadows And Strings Series by KB Winters – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

Shadows And Strings Series by KB Winters – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.ilovenovels.com Fri, 06 Dec 2024 20:23:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 http://www.ilovenovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png Shadows And Strings Series by KB Winters – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.ilovenovels.com 32 32 The Last Shadow (Shadows And Strings #3) Read Online KB Winters http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-last-shadow-shadows-and-strings-3-read-online-kb-winters Fri, 06 Dec 2024 20:23:24 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-last-shadow-shadows-and-strings-3-read-online-kb-winters Genre: Alpha Male, Dark Authors: KB Winters Series: Shadows And Strings Series by KB Winters
Advertisement

Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >49

She’s digging for truth. He’s burying it in lies.
I married Detective Francesca DeMarco to keep her from talking—to tie her to me before she could expose everything. A convenient arrangement wrapped in designer dresses and golden handcuffs.
She was supposed to be my enemy, but she's become my obsession. Now she's stuck in my world, in my home, in my bed—right where I want her.
Every step she takes into my darkness makes me realize she's the only one who might actually understand me. Because she's got her own dark secrets, too.
We're bound by shadows, tangled in lies, and loving a monster always comes at a price.
For the first time, I'm not sure if I'm the one pulling the strings, or if she's the puppet master.

Get ready for the explosive conclusion of the Shadows and Strings trilogy. The Last Shadow will keep you guessing until the very end. Because when love blooms in darkness, it can either save you or destroy you.
Scroll up and one-click today!

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

Frankie

My life is ash. Everything I’ve built, worked for—gone. All those years, all that hard work, reduced to nothing in a single instant.

I stand in front of what used to be my home. My cute little two-story house, the place I saved for, renovated, and decorated. It’s nothing now—just a charred skeleton of blackened beams against the gray sky. My chest tightens with every breath, the pain settling deep inside, and it’s almost too much to bear.

Tears slide down my face, but I don’t feel them. I can’t feel anything right now. It’s like the world is moving in slow motion, everything muted, like someone hit a switch and I’m watching it all from a distance. Numb. Lost.

A few feet away, Jay stands quietly. He’s never quiet, always running his mouth or throwing out some dumb joke to lighten the mood. But not now. He knows there’s no joke that can fix this, no words that can make it better.

I clench my fists at my sides, trying to keep it together, but the anger bubbles up inside me, burning hotter than the fire that took my house.

“Fuck,” I whisper, the word slipping out before I can stop it. But it’s not enough. I want to scream. I want to tear the whole world apart because everything I’ve built has been ripped away from me. “FUCK!”

And then, just like that, Damien’s voice creeps into my mind. The way he snapped at me earlier. The way he stormed out, slamming the door behind him, leaving me standing there, heartbroken and alone. If Jay hadn’t shown up, I’d still be sitting on the floor, sobbing in the apartment we share, wondering how it all went so wrong.

A car door slams in the distance, breaking through the haze in my mind. I look up, and Damien’s rushing toward me, his face full of concern. It feels like a bad dream, watching him come closer. All I can think about is the fight. His angry words still sting like a fresh slap across my face.

“Francesca,” he calls out, breathless as he reaches me. “I’m so sorry. I came as soon as I heard. Are you okay?”

A bitter laugh escapes me, sharp and humorless. “My house just burned to the ground, so no. Not really.”

Damien flinches but recovers quickly, running a hand through his dark hair. “Yeah, stupid question. I just⁠—”

He trails off, and for a moment, I think I see genuine regret in his eyes. But it’s not enough to fix this. Nothing can fix this.

“I’m sorry, Francesca. I was a total ass earlier. I shouldn’t have yelled; shouldn’t have left you like that. Can you forgive me?”

Forgive him? My insides twist into knots. I stare at him, my emotions swirling. Rage, hurt, confusion. I don’t know what to feel. I don’t know how to feel. Part of me wants to scream at him, lash out, tell him how much he hurt me. But another part—this small, broken part—just wants to crumble into his arms, to let him carry the weight of this for me.

“I don’t know, Damien.” My voice cracks, raw from crying, from the exhaustion that’s settling in. “I just…I can’t right now. My life…everything I worked for…it all just went up in flames.”

He nods. “I know. Whatever you need, my pet. Just say the word.”

I let out a slow breath, trying to find something solid to hold on to, but it’s like the ground has been ripped out from under me. I don’t know how to move forward. I don’t even know where to start.

“What I need,” I say softly, “is time. Time to figure out what the hell I’m going to do next.”

Damien doesn’t push. He just nods, his face somber. “Of course. I’m here, kitten. Whatever you need.”

I glance at the ruins of my house again, and it’s like a punch to the gut. All my hard work, my memories are gone. Just like that. Poof. Ashes. I feel as if I am free-falling, spiraling, and there is nothing to hold onto to stop the descent.

Damien’s hand slides into mine. “Come home with me, Francesca.”

My body stiffens. My mind screams at me to push him away, to tell him to go fuck himself. But I can’t. I’m tired. So fucking tired. I don’t have the energy to fight anymore. Not now. Not after this.

“Okay,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “Let’s go.”

We start walking toward his car, but Jay steps forward. “Frankie, wait.” He touches my shoulder, and the warmth of his hand is grounding.

“I know you’re going through a lot,” he says softly. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

I manage a small smile, but it’s weak, hollow. “I appreciate it, Jay. Really. We’re going to Damien’s place. It’s all I’ve got right now.”

Jay nods, his eyes full of unspoken worry. “Okay. But if you need anything, anything at all, call me. Got it?”

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >49

Advertisement
The Perfect Deception (Shadows And Strings #2) Read Online KB Winters http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-perfect-deception-shadows-and-strings-2-read-online-kb-winters Mon, 21 Oct 2024 11:26:57 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/the-perfect-deception-shadows-and-strings-2-read-online-kb-winters Genre: Alpha Male, Crime, Dark Authors: KB Winters Series: Shadows And Strings Series by KB Winters
Advertisement

Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44998 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >48

She’s his darkest obsession—and his greatest danger.

Control has always been my greatest strength—the key to my empire, the shield that silences my enemies, and the force that hides my darkness. And Detective Francesca DeMarco threatens to shatter my carefully crafted world.
With every day that passes, she’s inching closer to uncovering the truth—about the murders...and about me.
When she finds an old photograph, she thinks she’s uncovered my darkest secret.
She’s wrong, but the fear in her eyes tells me she’s afraid I’ll be next. And it’s unraveling everything I’ve worked so hard to protect.
She’s falling deeper, getting closer, and if she keeps digging, she’ll uncover the truth—about me, about who I am.
And when she does, I’ll either be her salvation or her destruction.

Continue the dangerous journey of love and secrets in The Perfect Deception, book two of the Shadows and Strings trilogy.
Scroll up and one-click today!

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

Frankie

“We got five fuckin’ vics now, Frankie. This is bullshit.” The tension in Jay’s voice is completely understandable. With five dead bodies splashed all over every newsstand and tv in the city, the pressure is on us to find this asshole.

But to do that, we have to figure out how—or if—these victims are connected. “I’m sure there is,” I tell him as we head inside the morgue to meet with the medical examiner, Dr. Chris Montgomery. “We just haven’t found the connection yet. We will,” I assure him.

“Yeah, but probably not before another body drops.” He grumbles and shakes his head. Pissed off vibes radiate from his broad shoulders. “We have to be missing something and with the Chief breathing down my fucking neck we have to find it sooner rather than later.”

I agree with Jay. There are enough bodies with just enough similarities that even the top brass is using the two words no one in law enforcement wants to use. Serial killer. A total of five bodies. Five lives taken for no good reason. Five men who will never see their families, hug them or celebrate with them ever again. And why? Because some asshole freak out there gets off on torturing people and then killing them.

Jay pushes open the door to Chris’ office with more force than necessary and the doctor looks up with a frown. “Good morning, detectives. Everything all right?”

I roll my eyes in apology for my partner. “Jay is just frustrated that victimology isn’t panning out fast enough.”

“Frustrated? I’m goddamn livid.” He raises his hand and smacks it against the door. “Doc, tell us you have something, anything that’ll get us closer to this prick?”

Chris stands, taking a sip from his coffee cup before setting it back down and grabbing a chart from his desk. “I’m not sure.” His gaze bounces between us and then down at the chart. “Have you considered groups that don’t exactly have a membership list?”

My mind instantly starts racing as I try to come up with a mental list of organizations that might not keep a list of members. “Like church?”

Jay snorts. “Trust me, churches know exactly who their members are so they can ask ’em for money at every opportunity.”

“You’re right,” I reply, drawing the words out with a sigh. “So not church.” Weight loss groups are out because men are statistically unlikely to attend those, and gyms require memberships. “Support groups?” I blurt out like a rookie.

“That’s what I was thinking.” Chris points at me, a smile on his face.

“Like a grief support group?” Jay asks. “They don’t usually keep a list of members because there are no dues to pay, and people show up at different times.”

The victims are all young men, so it’s unlikely they’re widowers. “Could be a 12-step group, maybe even children of addicts’ support group.” Shit, that’s a real possibility.

“There’s gotta be hundreds, if not thousands, of meetings in the city, never mind the county.”

Chris shrugs his shoulders and goes to his desk, shaking the mouse to wake up his computer. “Donavan and Petrovic had cocaine in their system, but nothing that shows anything other than recreational usage.”

I jot down a few notes. “So, what makes you think we should check out 12-step groups?”

Chris looks up from his computer, his eyebrows lifting just a bit. “These groups are about support. If our killer is pulling from those spaces, we’re talking about someone who preys on that pain. Addicts often feel lost, and someone like that could easily take advantage.” His fingers fly across the keyboard again, his eyes glued to the screen. “We’ve got to figure out how these men are linked—whether it’s through the groups or something else. It’s about finding out what pulled them in and who might’ve been lurking in the background.”

I tilt my head, not quite buying it. “Why support groups, though? Why not church?”

Chris leans back in his chair, giving my question some thought. “Support groups offer a different kind of closeness, Frankie. People are in there sharing their worst fears, their biggest mistakes, their regrets. It’s raw and personal in a way you don’t always see in church. At a group, they’re bonding over the struggle, and that builds trust. A predator? They could walk right in and become someone’s shoulder to lean on, blend in without raising any red flags. Plus, it’s not as structured as a church service. Things can get messy, and it’s easier for someone with bad intentions to slip through the cracks.”

He pauses, like he’s weighing his words, then adds, “And not everyone’s turning to religion. Some people feel more at ease surrounded by others who’ve been through hell, not sitting in a pew.”

“Okay, I get it. Thanks,” I tell him.

“For nothing,” Jay adds under his breath.

“Sorry. Not making progress apparently turns him into a toddler.” I aim a thumb at Jay with an apologetic smile for the doctor. “See you soon.”

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >48

Advertisement
The Darkness Within (Shadows And Strings #1) Read Online KB Winters http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-darkness-within-shadows-and-strings-1-read-online-kb-winters Mon, 23 Sep 2024 09:21:26 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/the-darkness-within-shadows-and-strings-1-read-online-kb-winters Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Dark, Suspense Authors: KB Winters Series: Shadows And Strings Series by KB Winters
Advertisement

Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >50

In the game of deception, who pulls the strings?
By day, I’m the tech visionary the world adores. By night, I’m the darkness that’s haunting Detective Francesca DeMarco’s dreams. She’s hunting a killer. I'm chasing my prey.
For months, I’ve watched Francesca’s relentless pursuit of justice, my obsession growing with each case. The bodies I’ve left behind aren’t just crimes for her to solve.
They’re a trail leading her straight to me.
When I step out of the shadows and into Francesca’s life, her world will change forever. She has no idea what’s coming, but one thing is certain—once I have her, I’m never letting her go.

Love a romance that walks on the edge of danger? Let The Darkness Within lure you into its web of obsession and intrigue.
One-click this super steamy psychological thriller romance today!

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

Frankie

It’s pouring buckets out here, an absolute downpour, and what am I doing? Not curled up cozy under my comforter like any sane person in L.A. would be at this ungodly hour. Oh, hell no, yours truly is standing in this rainstorm, already soaked to the bone, at yet another gruesome crime scene.

With a bitch of a hangover.

I should’ve just called it a night after clocking out last night, but how could I miss sending off Smitty in homicide as he transfers to take on organized crime? So instead of heading home, I spent the evening getting absolutely wasted, reliving the glory days of past investigations.

Fast forward to now, and I’m running on fumes, battling a wicked hangover with one measly cup of joe in my system. As I tug on some black nitrile gloves, I finally look at what dragged me out here in this miserable weather.

The poor sap looks maybe late 20s, early 30s tops. He probably considered himself quite the looker before someone worked him over really nasty. This was no clean job—guy got the drawn-out, agonizing end.

“This man was tortured,” I say to no one in particular, my eyes roaming over the vicious wounds that mar his body. Squatting down to get a better look, I examine the wounds closely, I spot a few slash marks on his organs, which further confirm my suspicion that this man was tortured.

This isn’t the first ritualistic killing and even though the methods aren’t exactly the same, I have a feeling it’s the same murderous asshole and if so, this victim makes him a serial killer. “Bastard.”

“Talking to yourself again, DeMarco?” My partner Jay’s gravelly voice cuts through the rain.

I straighten up, my knees popping. Jay’s blue eyes sparkle despite the ungodly hour. “I don’t talk to myself. It’s called taking notes. Maybe try it sometime,” I say.

Jay chuckles, his salt-and-pepper hair plastered to his forehead. He’s been my partner since my dad, his former partner, died when I was a kid. The department shrink would have a field day with that tidbit if I were dumb enough to wind up in a therapist’s office.

Jay taps his temple with his forefinger. “Who needs notes when I have a steel trap memory?”

“Oh yeah? What did you have for breakfast yesterday?”

His brows, still a deep brown, dip into a frown. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“I rest my case,” I say in a self-satisfied tone. “Now, can we get back to the dead guy, please?”

I crouch next to the body and scan the DB’s stomach, intestines, liver and colon laying out on top of him. “Multiple lacerations on the abdomen and chest. Possible torture,” I mutter, more to myself than to Jay.

Jay leans in, his face inches from mine as he examines the wounds. “Yeah, and check out this puncture wound on his neck. Peri-mortem, I’d say.”

I nod, standing up and wincing as my knees protest. “Could be the cause of death.” I survey the area, noting the lack of blood. “No spatter or pooling. Body was definitely moved.”

“Yeah, this isn’t the primary crime scene.” Jay’s brow furrows as he scans the surroundings. “Damn rain might’ve washed away any trace evidence.”

I sigh, frustration bubbling up inside me. “We’ll have to rely on the autopsy. Hope the killer slipped up somewhere.”

As Jay steps away to talk to the uniforms, I take another look at the body. The cuts are too precise, too calculated. This guy knew what he was doing. A shiver runs down my spine, and it’s not from the rain. We’ve got a real sicko on our hands, and he’s got a head start. I just hope the rain hasn’t washed away our only chance to catch him.

“It’s him, Jay.” I know he doesn’t want to hear it, not yet. It’s too soon, that’s what he’s thinking, but I know that this is the same guy.

His lips pinch in that way they do when he’s preparing for a lecture. “You can’t possibly know that, Frankie.”

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >50