Dark Rapture Read Online Free PDF Page A

with an incredible pad. It’s got a hot tub and it’s on the beach. It’s just going to be a few friends that we’ve met on the road. Don’t worry, it won’t be too big or wild. I promise.”
    Scarlet sighed. She didn’t want to sound too thrilled, but she was in the mood for a party. “Fine.” She got up and headed toward the rickety stairway.
    “Fine?” Vince bounded behind her. “This girl’s easy.”
    “Not your kind of easy, buddy,” said Gary. “Just remember that.”
    ***
    Once back in the grand room, Vince noticed a large iron door on the far wall under the steps. Sure that Scarlet had wandered into the kitchen, he whispered to Gary. “That must be the family vault my aunt told me about. She said great-grandfather Lyons kept centuries of family treasures in there.”
    Gary eyed the foreboding iron door. “You’re really going to go in there?”
    “Aren’t you curious?”
    Gary thought about it. “Yeah, I guess so. But let’s wait until we get hold of some flashlights.”
    “Cool. But don’t tell Scarlet, at least not until we find out if it’s true or not.”
     

Chapter Three
     
    Glasses clinked, cans crushed, and loud unnerving music blared from within the beach house. The party had turned out to be a little more than just a quiet evening with friends. It had become a full-blown event. Gary hosted a large crowd of his friends, his friends’ friends, and a few people whose origins were unknown.
    Scarlet didn’t mind. It had been a while since she’d hosted a party, or even been to one for that matter.
    Gary slipped over to the stereo and slid in a demo of Wild Child’s music. Its hard-driving bass beat reverberated against the walls and out to poolside. He played a little air guitar and then oozed back into the crowd.
    Scarlet watched as he went from one group to another, men and women, schmoozing and gossiping, exchanging info about possible gigs. He planted kisses on the women he knew and even on the ones he apparently didn’t know. And all the while, his jaw worked madly at his gum. She wondered; if he stopped chewing, would his motor run down?
    Through the evening, Gary had introduced her to a handful of his good friends that the band had met on the road. The men had been more than happy to meet her as their eyes slipped down her body and slowly back up to her eyes, but the women had just smiled and then walked on. Fine, she thought, she wasn’t interested in the women anyway.
    The atmosphere was friendly and casual, and Scarlet was enjoying herself, but as the night grew long the piles of cigarette butts and empty glasses pulled her from party mode and she switched into cleaning overhaul, while her cat, Casper, followed her around trying to avoid being caught up by an overzealous partier.
    ***
    She was familiar. But not the same.
    Memories of a time spent together. A short time. Until his life had changed forever.
    Jarred back to the present by a furious blast of untamed music, the man focused on her once again. His plan was quickly worked out. Before the night became morning, he would go to her. And their future would begin.
    ***
    A lean, dark-haired man sat down next to Vince, stretching his long legs in front of him, and popped open a beer. When he spoke, his voice was soft and sure. “So Vince, you know anything about that gorgeous set of legs who owns this place?”
    Vince didn’t have to look, he knew from the hint of an accent in the man’s voice that it was Sebastian DelaCourte. A French accent, he thought sullenly. What more could a single guy who had looks, money, and talent ask for?
    Sebastian stood out in the crowd tonight, not remotely showing any signs of drunkenness like everybody else. He was cool and reserved, as always. Having known him for a few months, Vince admired the charm and subtle eloquence Sebastian assumed around friends, and women in particular. The man had only to cast a seductive gaze toward a woman to have her purring at his feet.
    “Her name