Another Wednesday. More #1lineWed words. Today’s theme? Well…do you fear the UNKNOWN? Is there an Unsub (UNKNOWN Subject) in your future? Been to the Tomb of the UNKNOWN Soldier? Yup, our theme is **UNKNOWN**. Sadly, for Derek Alexander, the hero of CRASH & BURN, there are lots of unknowns in this snippet–Kit’s fate, who’s calling him, will he get to her in time? Hrmmm…

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It was becoming increasingly difficult to keep his wolf at bay. If Derek didn’t concentrate, claws, fangs, and fur sprouted spontaneously. He was sitting three cars back at a stoplight when a fire engine roared across the intersection, lights flashing and sirens blaring. More fire apparatus followed.

Derek! His lungs seized as his name echoed in his head. Kit. She was in imminent danger—and not too far away. His gaze followed the fire trucks and his gut clenched. He knew he was right. So did his wolf.

His phone rang. Unknown caller flashed on the screen. He answered but didn’t speak.

“The woman is going to die.” The deep voice was oddly accented, the English stilted. “If you drive very fast, you might save her. Or not.”

“What do you want, asshole?”

“You seem to know me so well. It is very simple, Mr. Alexander. I can save her, but I will need certain assurances from you first.”

You have a price on your head, literally. Smoke’s voice echoed in his head. And he caught the nuanced “can save her” as opposed to “will save her.” He clamped down on his emotions and leashed his wolf. “What do you want?”

“Your head.”

He laughed. “Yeah, right. I get someone to deliver my head and meanwhile my…the woman also dies. That’s not a bargain I’ll be makin’.”

“Ah well. We will play another day. In the meantime, I will watch your mate die.”

Derek caught the sound of sirens. The fire trucks. Oh, fuck. Kit was in danger of burning to death. But then the sirens faded, passing by the caller.

Laughter scraped his eardrum. “Big fires. Little fires. Both can kill. Too bad the firemen are going the wrong direction.”

“Listen to me, you motherfu—” The line went dead.
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If you haven’t read C&B yet, just click on the book over over there on the right. Remember, the price goes up in a week or so. And if you have unknown words, share them!