I shouldn’t have agreed to this. What was I thinking?
Appearing on a local news show? Just because something happened to me?
I live mostly in isolation on purpose.
But here I am.
I was so nervous that I needed the make-up chair, twice.
And then I walked past his room.
He’s a giant—no softness, all muscle.
And a rich beard that made me want to rub myself all over it.
He made me see stars, literally because the second time I saw him, I tripped.
Or I would’ve, but he caught me, and the cameras were rolling.
Soon, that clip will be trending because he wasn’t just another guest on the show.
He’s Brett Broudou, the Kings’ newest football star.
We couldn’t be more opposite.
The only special thing about me is the reason I was on the show.
Brett, the Super Bowl champion, and me, the survivor who helped bring down the infamous Midwest Butcher.
Brett might not think he’s anyone’s hero, but he’s about to become mine.
Billie was only twelve when she hid under a bed to survive the brutal home invasion that killed her best friend’s family. Just days after witnessing the slaughter, she lost her own family in an accident and went into foster care. Those were rough years, until she went to a wonderful family who considers her a daughter and sister. But even with their support, she’s never had a truly normal life, living mostly as a hermit and supporting herself as a graphic designer so her work is all on-line, never face-to-face. She’s the sole survivor of the Midwest Butcher and the world has never let her forget it. Billie’s been hounded for years by the media, the busybodies, and the serial killer fans, so she’s used to it, but it will always be creepy.
Billie rarely discusses what happened but agrees to an interview on the local news and meets Brett in the studio. The Kings’ star defensive end is smitten with Billie. Well, not at first. He initially thinks she’s trying to set him up, but quickly comes around. Billie’s annoyed at his initial reaction but can’t seem to hold it against him because he’s exactly what she needs. She may be alive, but she hasn’t really been living, until now. Until Brett. He sparked life back into her in a way that nothing ever had before, and she loves every minute of it.
They’re both terrified because the little anonymity she does have will vanish when the world learns she’s dating the NFL star. As if the creepy calls and letters aren’t bad enough, she has to worry about the freaks who worship serial killers; some of the fans would like to finish the job their hero started. Billie has good reason to worry anyway, since someone is stalking her. She’s in grave danger and Brett is determined to protect her. The premise really grabbed me, so I was looking forward to reading their story. I loved the characters and the insta-love worked.
The mystery was a little predictable so there weren’t any big surprises, which is unusual for this author, but Brett and Billie are such great characters, I still loved their story. She’s an incredible badass and he would do anything for her, so I just liked them more as the story unfolded. This is a spinoff from the Fallen Crest world, but you don’t have to have read the Fallen Crest series to enjoy this book, it’s a complete standalone.
