BLURB

KeiraI

was born with darkness in my veins.My name is Keira Hill. I’m the daughter of one of the country’s mostnotorious serial killers.I hide in plain sight. Pretending to fit in. Pretending I’m not haunted by myfather’s skeletons.In two months’ time, he’s scheduled to be executed.With a copycat killer on the loose, my world is turned upside down when Ifind myself at the center of the killer’s twisted mind games—the queen onthe chess board.If I want to win, I must embrace my own darkness.The legacy I have spent my life running from.I must play the game.

King

It started out as a silly dare. Fuck Jimmy Hill’s daughter. But it quicklymorphed into something far more.  Especially now that Blackwoods is terrorized by a vicious serial killer whohas his eyes on Keira, the girl who’s quickly slithering inside my veins.I’m the only one who sees her—the only one who knows how to purge herdarkness. The only one twisted enough to match it with my own and offer itback in spades.The only problem? Keira belongs to someone

AUTHOR’S NOTE

It always blows my mind that out of all the books you could’ve chosen, you’re here, holding mine in your hands. Thank you! That being said, thereat a few things I’d like to point out before I shove you down the rabbi thole. You won’t find likable characters within these pages, and definitely no Prince Charming. These characters are selfish, manipulative, destructive, and volatile. They lie and cheat. If that’s not your thing, I advise against reading any further. It was also very important for me to allow Keira to have a voice. As such, this book navigates the sensitive subject of the death penalty from her perspective as the daughter of a serial killer, and the emotional upheaval she goes through. Please remember, it’s a fictional story with imperfect, fictional characters. It’s not intended as a political statement, nor is it to reinterpreted as a representation of the author’s views.

TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️

Sinister Legacy is an erotic horror novel. Make no mistake, it’s very dark and contains scenes of a graphic nature that can be incredibly disturbing twosome readers. I trust that you know your triggers. Please read responsibly.

_________________For all of us who love a little’ horror with our smut._____________

__________________________A POEM FROM AUTHOR____________________________

there’s a bluebird in my heart that

wants to get out

but I’m too tough for him,

I say, stay in there, I’m not going

to let anybody see

you.

there’s a bluebird in my heart that

wants to get out

but I pour whiskey on him and inhale

cigarette smoke

and the whores and the bartenders

and the grocery clerks

never know that

he’s

in there.

there’s a bluebird in my heart that

wants to get out

but I’m too tough for him,

I say,

stay down, do you want to mess

me up?

you want to screw up the

works?

you want to blow my book sales in

Europe?

there’s a bluebird in my heart that

wants to get out

but I’m too clever, I only let him out

at night sometimes

when everybody’s asleep.

I say, I know that you’re there,

so don’t be sad.

then I put him back,

but he’s still singing a little

in there, I haven’t quite let him

die

and we sleep together like

that

with our

secret pact

and it’s nice enough to

make a man

weep, but I don’t

weep, do

you?

The rain sounds on the window while I dig out the shoebox hidden in mywardrobe. It’s there, right at the back, beneath my jacket that lies neatlyfolded on top. I shift everything aside and pull the box out. The small blackX on the left-hand corner of the lid marks it, but I know which box it issince all the others are white or brown. This one is red.I sit back on my haunches and carefully peel the lid back. Inside is aletter, a single photograph, and a CD. The latter is scratched now. I doubt iteven plays. Leaving the letter, I pick up the photograph. It has yellowedwith time, and it’s creased from too much usage. I would stare at it nightlyat one point, trying to understand why my father killed all those women.Why did he live a double life, and how did he get away with it for so long?What drove him to become a monster?I was seven when my world was blown apart. The police broke into ourhouse on a Friday evening to arrest my dad for the murder of sixteenwomen. That night ruined my life and destroyed my mom, leaving her ashadow of her former self.I never spoke to my dad again. He wrote a letter shortly after receivinghis death sentence, and now it’s hidden in my wardrobe. But I never replied.Life moves on, I guess. I have a best friend and a boyfriend, and I dorelatively well at school. I’m popular by default. It’s what happens whenyou’re the daughter of a serial killer. People don’t like to be associated withdeath, but they like to be associated with notoriety. Even the darkest kind.Besides, it’s all a facade to hide how fucking broken I am inside. I don’t trust anyone, I struggle to connect with people, and self-destruction is mynickname.When I hear my mom’s footsteps on the stairs, I hurry to place thephotograph back inside the box. The execution date for my father is comingup in a few months. As a cosmic joke, it falls on the anniversary of his firstmurder. I guess I’m on edge. There’s no other reasonable explanation forwhy I’m digging out his photograph.My dad ruined this family, so he can rot in hell for all I care. But evenas I think it, I know I’m lying to myself. There’s a void in my life now. Avoid I can’t fill, no matter how hard I try. I miss my dad, as much as I hateto admit it. I miss him even more now that his execution date is racingtoward me like a sprinting wild horse.Mom knocks on my door before peeking her head inside. “Are youready? Cassie is downstairs.”I place the folded leather jacket back on top of the box and peer at herover my shoulder. “I’ll be down in a minute.”One last look at my windows confirms that it’s still raining outside. Ithasn’t stopped for the last two days. Halloween is around the corner. Thetemperatures have dropped in the last week, and the dark settles earlier inthe evenings. I like this time of the year. The leaves are beginning to yellow,and the hot summer evenings are a thing of the past.Throwing on my denim jacket, I quickly tie my hair up in a messy bunbefore bending at the waist to pick up my bag by the door. As I straightenup, my eyes snag on the gun on my dresser. It’s for protection, my momonce said. But then they installed the metal detectors at school, so now Ileave it at home.On my way past the kitchen, I throw a wave over my shoulder at mymom and stepdad. “See you later.”“Have a good day.”Cassie waits for me in her hatchback. It stinks of dog from the previousowner, and the car freshener dangling from the rearview mirror does little tomask it. Now her car stinks of dog and pine. It could be worse.“I like your hair,” she says when I pull the door shut.Flicking down the mirror, I tighten the ponytail. “I channeled PamelaAnderson’s messy bun from the nineties.”The rain is coming down hard now, the wipers moving quickly over thewindshield. We pull away from the curb and rejoin the traffic.“You’re dressed in all denim today,” Cassie points out, motioning to mydenim jacket and ripped jeans.My white T-shirt has a rip near the collar. “Autumn won’t get the best ofme yet. Give it a few more weeks, and I’ll drag out my winter coat.”Cassie sobers, worrying her bottom lip. I know what’s coming evenbefore she asks, “Are you sure you’re okay? There’s only what? Twomonths until the exe…” she drifts off, looking at me briefly before focusingback on the traffic.I scan her profile. Dressed in a black leather skirt and a red top, Cassieis classically beautiful with her straight red hair, defined lips, and a beautyspot near her mouth. If I didn’t know it was real, I’d think she waschanneling Marilyn Monroe.“I’m fine,” I reply, tasting the lie on my tongue. Those two words nevercome out any easier.Cassie flicks her emerald gaze to me again, looking unconvinced, butdecides to drop it. Her freckled nose scrunches up. “Liam messaged me lastnight asking why you weren’t answering your phone.”Liam, the star quarterback, is my boyfriend. Much to my amusement,Cassie dislikes him with a passion.I didn’t pick up because I was ignoring him, but I don’t tell her that.Instead, I say, “My phone was on silent.”“When are you gonna dump him?”I laugh, staring out the window at the rain bouncing off the pavement.It’s loud on the roof, too. “You really don’t like him, do you?”“Of course I don’t. He’s good for nothing.”“He’s good for something.” My lips twitch.Cassie rolls her eyes, but she can’t hide her own amusement. “You’reonly with him because he’s safe.”“Let Shrink Cassie back in the closet.”“No, I think Shrink Cassie needs to stay out of the closet. You’re onlywith him because it’s easy. And safe. He’s the popular quarterback with twobrain cells. Let’s face it, Liam is good for your image, but he’s not what youwant.”“And what do I want?”She lifts one shoulder and lets it fall. “You’re intelligent, Keira. Liamis… not.”Laughter bubbles up from my chest. “Don’t you think you’re being a bitjudgy now? Besides, so what if I think he’s safe?”Safety is what I need now. Liam is predictable and boring. There are nohidden surprises to be unearthed. All he cares about is parties, sex, andfootball. The police won’t storm the school one day to arrest him. I like it.It’s boring, but it’s what I need.“Fine,” Cassie replies, pulling up to the school parking lot. “He must bea beast in bed for you to put up with him.”I try not to laugh, while she cuts the engine. “I sense there’s more youwant to say?”Shifting in her seat and turning her body in my direction, she says, “Iknow you’re not a jersey chaser like all the other girls here, which is why Idon’t get it.”“You don’t get what? Why I’m with him? Or why he’s with someonelike me?”Cassie pales, so I wave her off, reaching for the door handle. “It’s fine.I’m Jimmy Hill’s daughter. My reputation precedes me. I’m not stupid. Iknow Liam likes the notoriety of fucking the daughter of a serial killer. Myfather’s legacy will follow me like a shadow until I’m old enough to escapethis forsaken town. And even then, it’ll still be with me. It always will.”“I didn’t mean it like that,” Cassie says, holding her jacket over herhead to protect her from the rain when we step out of the car.“It doesn’t matter, though. It’s still the truth.”I step in a puddle, and rainwater soaks my Chucks as we cross theparking lot. By the time we reach the entrance, my wet hair sticks to mycheeks, the shoulders of my denim jacket are damp, and my jeans aresoaked through at the thighs.“I can’t believe how bad the rain is coming down,” Cassie says,lowering her jacket from her head.“What is it now? Day three of constant rain?”“Something like that.”Liam’s loud holler announces his arrival. He runs up behind me, picksme up, and spins us in a circle. “How’s my favorite girl?”My feet meet the floor again, and I turn in his arms. Liam, dressed injeans and a letterman jacket, is attractive, with sandy hair, gray eyes, and aPrince Charming smile. He’s so good-looking, it borders on annoyingsometimes.Before I can answer, he slings his arm around my shoulder and steersme down the next hallway, where my locker is located. “I tried to phoneyou last night. We had drinks at Jessica’s place.”“Jessica hates me,” I point out.“She doesn’t hate you.”I stop short of pointing out that they all do. I’m not a cheerleader, and itrubs the girls the wrong way that their quarterback is dating outside of theirclique.Liam stops us to do some weird handshake with one of his footballfriends. Before long, they’re tussling. I ignore the amused sparkle inCassie’s eyes and set off walking.“Safe,” she whispers, making my lips twitch.“Safe is good,” I reply.The words die a swift death as I turn the corner, walking straight into avery big, very hard chest. Warm hands, so warm that I can feel themthrough the denim, clamp down on my arms to steady me. “Watch it.”My eyes lock on King, the hot-headed resident bad boy with a nicehush-hush criminal history to go with the family name. The only reasonhe’s not in prison or juvie is because of his stupidly rich family. They havethe ability to bail him out of any situation, apparently. Money and powerspeak louder than the justice system. King Knight is anything but a knight.He’s the boy to seek out if you want your heart ripped out of your chest.He’s a deadly weapon with his black hair, brown eyes, and killer jawline.And he knows how to wield it to get his own way.I wrench free from his grip on me and mumble an apology. He’s alreadyon the move, turning the corner. That’s the thing about King—in his world,you’re no one until you’re someone. And I would rather stay hidden in theshadows than have his spotlight directed at me.Madison is waiting for me at my locker, phone in hand. She doesn’tlook up until I’m right in front of her, and then she slides to the side,pocketing her phone. “Did Liam tell you about the party at Jessica’s lastnight?”“Let me guess, she was all over him.”Madison is one of those rare unicorns who slots into all social groups.It’s effortless for her.“Of course.”After inputting my combination, I open my locker and grab the books Ineed. Beside me, Cassie swaps hers out.“You should keep an eye on her.”I snort a laugh, shutting my locker. What Madison and everyone elsehere fail to understand is that I don’t care enough to worry about Jessicamoving in on Liam.With her hands in her jacket pockets, Madison pops her gum beforepushing off the locker. “Your first class is geography, right?”I nod, shouldering my bag. “Science, right?”Madison smirks. “You stalking me?”I eye her pink puffer jacket and black ripped jeans. Her shoulder-length,wavy, raven hair has been dyed to cover up her natural blonde color.“Maybe.”Her tinkling laughter rings out. That’s the one thing I like the mostabout Madison. She’s dark and brooding but has the brightest laugh, whichshe reserves for a select few.“If he cheats on Keira, I’ll personally string him up by his balls,” Cassiegrowls beside us as we set off walking.I roll my eyes, but Madison nods.“I’ll help you out. The guy is a sleaze.”“A safe sleaze,” Cassie says, nudging me with her shoulder.

“What are we doing for Halloween?” Jasper asks, dipping his fry in adollop of mayo on his plate.We’re at our usual hangout spot, a burger joint down by BlackwoodsBay. It used to be a seedy bar before it was renovated and rebranded. But noamount of fresh paint can remove the lingering stench of stale beer.“We’re partying, of course,” Kit says, his arm wrapped around hisgirlfriend, Kara.“Did you know,” Ava, seated to my left, starts, “that people with namesthat begin with the same letter as their significant other are statisticallymore likely to stay in a long-term relationship?”I chuckle around my mouthful of fries. It’s too funny not to when Kitscrunches up his face in confusion.“Could you be any more random? We’re talking about Halloween, andyou bring up statistics?”Ava shrugs, her musky perfume tickling my nose. “It’s interesting.”Kara, dressed in Kit’s gray, oversized hoodie, tucks a lock of her brownhair behind her ear. “We’ll make sure to invite you to the wedding.”Kit chokes on his coke.On my other side, Hayley inspects her blood-red nails. “This year, Ithink we should spice things up.”“What do you have in mind?” Jasper asks, chewing loudly.“Can you not chew with your mouth open?” Hayley pulls anunimpressed face.Jasper chews even louder.Drinking the last of my coke, I place it down on the table, letting myeyes scan the crowded room. It’s peak hour, and most, if not all, tables areoccupied.“Tell us then,” Kara says, leaning into Kit.Hayley shrugs, but there’s nothing casual about it. She’s like me—boredand restless with life.“We should make bets.”“Bets?” I frown.Dragging a finger through the salt on her plate, she brings it to her lips.“Well, dares.” With deliberate slowness, she makes a show of placing herfinger on her tongue and closing her lips around it.“What kind of dares?” Jasper asks.Hayley looks away from me and repeats the process of collecting salt onthe tip of her finger. “Anything you want. But it’s Halloween, so it has tocreate mayhem.”Ava shifts uneasily to my left, while I pick up my phone and snap apicture of her.“Fine by me,” Kit replies as he tosses his crumpled tissue on the table.“How do we do this? Dole out a dare each?”Kara shakes her head. “This is stupid.”“It could be fun.”“Okay, I’ll start.” Hayley turns her attention to me. I stiffen, leaningback and placing my phone down on the sticky table. “I dare you to fuckKeira Hill.”Jasper chokes on a salty fry, and Kit bursts out laughing.“Jimmy Hill’s daughter?” Ava turns pale.Hayley keeps her sparkling eyes on me. “The one and only.”“Believe it or not,” I start. “I don’t have any interest in fucking a serialkiller’s daughter for sport.”“Oh, don’t be like that.” Hayley leans in conspiratorially. “It’s just forfun.”Scoffing, I reach for a fry.“Are you scared?” Kit asks, chuckling when Kara elbows him.“Why the fuck would I be scared? It’s just a stupid dare.”Hayley watches me closely. Too closely. “You don’t think you can do it,do you?”Now I snort. “Of course I can.”“Then what’s the problem? And don’t give me some shitty excuse abouthow it’s beneath you to fuck a girl for entertainment.”“Okay, sure. How about the fact that she has a boyfriend?”Kara levels me with a look while her boyfriend laughs behind his closedfist. “When has that ever stopped you before?”“It’s Liam,” Ava breathes out.“So?” Kara sounds incredulous. “What the fuck has that got to do withanything?”“He’s the star quarterback.”Hayley leans forward, peering at Ava on my other side. “You don’tthink King can fuck Liam’s girlfriend?”“I think he’ll get beat up if he tries.”Everyone laughs except for Ava.Wiping tears from my eyes, I wrap my arm around Ava’s tiny shouldersand pull her into me. “He can always try.”“Look, Liam is a guy who thinks the sun shines out of his ass. It wouldbe fun to pull the rug from beneath his feet.” Hayley picks up hermilkshake. “Mess with the popular kids.”She slurps the drink while I look out the window, at the rain that’sracing in rivulets toward the bottom of the glass. What have I got to lose?It’s just a bit of fun, right? “I’ll do it.”The slurping stops. Hayley’s smile grows impossibly big. “We needvideo evidence.”“And it has to be on Halloween night,” Kit says with an excited glint inhis eyes as he clicks his fingers.“Why Halloween?” I ask, frowning.“It’s the season to cause mayhem and chaos.“Not only that,” Kara says, as though she’s had a brainwave. “There’sthe town fair on Halloween night. The football team will be there.”Jasper nods eagerly. “You can fuck her right under Liam’s nose.”Kit, who’d taken a sip of his drink, starts to cough. He places the drinkback down and beats his chest with his fist. “Hell, yes.”I wet my lips as I pick up my orange lighter from the table. When Istrike the flint, a small flame flickers to life. “Let’s do it. Let’s cause somechaos.”