Dark Rites. Heather Graham

      

      The witches, they are real...

      A series of bizarre assaults is mystifying Boston police: an unknown attacker is viciously beating random strangers and leaving a note quoting an old warning about witchcraft. History professor Alex Maple was one of the victims, and now he’s gone missing. Vickie Preston is certain that someone has taken her friend for malicious purposes. She’s having blood-drenched visions that seem to be staining her waking life, and the escalating attacks suggest that a dangerous cult is at work behind the scenes—a cult so powerful that its members would rather die than be apprehended.

      Vickie is grateful to have Special Agent Griffin Pryce and the FBI’s elite Krewe of Hunters on her side. She and Griffin are finding their way in an increasingly passionate relationship, and Griffin is desperately trying to keep her safe and the two of them sane amid the disturbing investigation. The search for Alex will take them deep into the wilderness of Massachusetts on the trail of a serial killer, and it will take everything they have to survive the ancient evil that awakens and threatens not just the man they’re striving to save but their very souls.

      Praise for New York Times bestselling author

      Heather Graham

      “Intricate, fast-paced, and intense, this riveting thriller blends romance and suspense in perfect combination and keeps readers guessing and the tension taut until the very end.”

      —Library Journal on Flawless

      “Graham is a master at world building and her latest is a thrilling, dark, and deadly tale of romantic suspense.”

      —Booklist, starred review, on Haunted Destiny

      “A riveting mystery...interesting history, [and a] sweet romance with a second chance at love.”

      —Fresh Fiction on Darkest Journey

      “Graham is the queen of romantic suspense, and her latest is proof that she deserves the title. What makes this story more fun than most is the relationship between Kieran Finnegan, who wants nothing more than family harmony and a functioning restaurant, and FBI agent Craig Fraiser, who wants justice. Sparks fly, and it’s electric.”

      —RT Book Reviews on Flawless

      “The Krewe is back! Graham excels at weaving history, finding the proper balance between past and present and keeping a story fresh and authentic, with Haunted Destiny being no exception. The chaos and camaraderie of the characters are captured with vivid detail, and the identity of the killer will keep you guessing until the very end.”

      —RT Book Reviews on Haunted Destiny

      “Graham stands at the top of the romantic suspense category.”

      —Publishers Weekly

      “An incredible storyteller.”

      —Los Angeles Daily News

      Dark Rites

      Heather Graham

      In memory of two men from Massachusetts.

      My uncle George Law.

      An amazing in-law I would have been proud to have

      as a blood relative, as close and giving and supportive

      as any family could be. Kind, generous, wonderful.

      A true hero in his strength and kindness.

      And my dear friend Dennis Cummins.

      Musician, bandmate, Lizzie Borden house protector,

      Biography Channel Andrew to my Abby and Chynna Skye’s

      Lizzie, amazing friend who quietly made every occasion

      together one that made me smile.

      I loved them both, and it is true—

      the world is a poorer place now that they are gone.

       CAST OF CHARACTERS

      Victoria (Vickie) Preston—historian and author

      Griffin Pryce—special agent with the FBI’s Krewe of Hunters

      Jackson Crow—field director, Krewe of Hunters

      Craig “Rocky” Rockwell—special agent with

      the FBI’s Krewe of Hunters

      Devin Lyle—children’s author and Krewe agent

      Dylan Ballantine—ghost of a seventeen-year-old boy

      who haunts Vickie

      Darlene Dutton—ghost of a nineteen-year-old girl

      Roxanne Greeley—Vickie’s best friend

      Alex Maple—history professor and Vickie’s friend

      Milton Hanson—professor

      Ron and Cathy Dearborn—local musicians

      Isaac Sherman—man whose wife went missing

      Law Enforcement

      David Barnes—detective with Boston PD

      Jim Tracy—sketch artist

      Wendell Harper—Massachusetts State Police

      Robert Merton—detective from Bristol, Rhode Island

      Cole Magruder—detective from Fall River, Massachusetts

      Charlie Oakley—retired detective in

      Fall River, Massachusetts

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Praise

       Title Page

       Dedication

       CAST OF CHARACTERS

       Prologue

       Chapter 1

       Chapter 2

       Chapter 3

       Chapter 4

       Chapter 5

       Chapter 6

       Chapter 7