BEFORE HE LAPSES Read online

  It was the perfect way to end the meeting. There was nothing more he could say to get his point across, nor to have her in rather high spirits upon leaving his office.

  When she left, she didn’t bother with a single look back. Like he said…she had a bright future ahead of her, so what was the point in looking back?

  As if she needed a reminder of that bright future, her hand instinctually went to her stomach, where the bulge was getting larger.

  ***

  Two nights later, Mackenzie woke up with a gasp coming up out of her throat.

  She looked around the bedroom, sure there had been someone there. But of course, the only other person was Ellington, dead asleep beside her.

  What woke me up? she wondered. What was that?

  But then she knew. She knew because she felt it again.

  The baby was moving. She’d felt small flutters a few times before, but this was different. It wasn’t quite a kick, but it was noticeable movement.

  It was probably the strangest thing she had ever felt. It wasn’t painful, though it wasn’t quite pleasant, either. She waited for it to come again and when it did, it was much smaller this time.

  Afraid the baby was going to be done with its little assault any moment now, she reached out and shook Ellington by the shoulder. “Babe…wake up.”

  “What’s it? You okay?” He barely rolled over, his body trying to decide if it was an emergency.

  “Wake up. Someone wants to say hello.”

  “What?”

  She took his hand and pulled him closer to her. She then placed it on her stomach and waited. Ellington, apparently sensing what had happened, sat up in bed right away. A smile inched its way across his sleepy features instantly.

  And there was the baby again. Mackenzie figured it might be a little knee or perhaps an elbow, as the little edges of a solid shape were clearly felt. Mackenzie let out a little giggle that brought with it a tear or two.

  “Oh my God,” Ellington said. “That’s…that’s beautiful. And a little weird.”

  “You think it feels weird?”

  He kissed her on the lips, his hand still on her stomach. The baby made its presence known once more before it apparently decided it was done.

  “You okay?” Ellington asked her as their hands finally left her stomach.

  “Yes,” she said. “I’m perfect.”

  And for the first time since being kicked in the stomach in a hotel room in Baltimore, that was a true statement. Even though she had been without work for five weeks and still had a lengthy stretch to go, she did not care. Because for the first time since seeing that positive result on the pregnancy test, she knew the answer to the question that had been haunting her.

  If she had to, would she choose parenthood over her career?

  She smiled in the darkness when she realized that it was the easiest yes she could imagine.

  NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!

  BEFORE HE ENVIES

  (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 12)

  From Blake Pierce, #1 bestselling author of ONCE GONE (a #1 bestseller with over 1,200 five star reviews), comes BEFORE HE ENVIES, book #12 in the heart-pounding Mackenzie White mystery series.

  BEFORE HE ENVIES is book #12 in the bestselling Mackenzie White mystery series, which begins with BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1), a free download with over 500 five-star reviews!

  When two rock climbers turn up dead, each killed in the same disturbing way, FBI Special Agent Mackenzie White, mother of a newborn baby, must face her fear of heights as she is summoned to catch a serial killer before he strikes again.

  Mackenzie, settling into motherhood, wants to take some time off. But it is not meant to be. Rock climbers are turning up dead in Colorado, hunted by an elusive serial killer, caught at their most prone moments. A disturbing pattern emerges, and Mackenzie soon realizes she is up against a monster.

  And that the only way to catch him will be to enter his diabolical mind.

  Feeling the effects of post partum and not ready to return to her job, Mackenzie finds herself ill prepared for the hunt of her life.

  A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, BEFORE HE ENVIES is book #12 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.

  Also available by Blake Pierce is ONCE GONE (A Riley Paige mystery—Book #1), a #1 bestseller with over 1,200 five star reviews—and a free download!

  BEFORE HE ENVIES

  (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 12)

  Did you know that I've written multiple novels in the mystery genre? If you haven't read all my series, click the image below to download a series starter!

  Blake Pierce

  Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes fifteen books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising twelve books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising three books (and counting); of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising three books (and counting); of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising three books (and counting); and of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books (and counting).

  ONCE GONE (a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #1), BEFORE HE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL (An Avery Black Mystery—Book 1), A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1), and WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1), are each available as a free download on Google Play!

  An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

  BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE

  A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES

  THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)

  THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)

  THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)

  CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE MYSTERY

  NEXT DOOR (Book #1)

  A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)

  CUL DE SAC (Book #3)

  KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES

  IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)

  IF SHE SAW (Book #2)

  IF SHE RAN (Book #3)

  IF SHE HID (Book #4)

  THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES

  WATCHING (Book #1)

  WAITING (Book #2)

  LURING (Book #3)

  RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES

  ONCE GONE (Book #1)

  ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)

  ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)

  ONCE LURED (Book #4)

  ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)

  ONCE PINED (Book #6)

  ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)

  ONCE COLD (Book #8)

  ONCE STALKED (Book #9)

  ONCE LOST (Book #10)

  ONCE BURIED (Book #11)

  ONCE BOUND (Book #12)

  ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)

  ONCE DORMANT (Book #14)

  ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)

  MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES

  BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)

  BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)

  BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)

  BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)

  BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)

  BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)

  BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)

  BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)

  BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)

  BEFORE HE LONGS (Book #10)

  BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)

  BEFORE HE ENVIES (Book #12)

  AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES

  CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)

  CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)

  CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)

  CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)

  CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)

  CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)

  KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES

  A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)

>   A TRACE OF MUDER (Book #2)

  A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)

  A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)

  A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)