Book Excerpt from Only One Way Out. *Spoiler Alert. I do mention what happens to one of the characters in the end. It’s not a main character, but…
Jackson sat on a bench with his knees pulled close to his chest. A dreary atmosphere filled the room, accentuated by the scent of urine which hung in the air. A light flickering from above highlighted the dirty floors and walls. Caked up dirt from a lack of care and a non-existent cleaning regimen.
The dark, musty room reminded Jackson of the locker room back in high school. In early summer, it smelled worse because of the warm temperatures. His eyes darted around, observing the scuffed floor and cracked paint on the walls.
The walls showcased tags and carvings… gang tags. As Jackson’s eyes glanced over them; he recognized a couple from the One44. Only one other person was in the cell with him, but he lay sprawled out on the floor, passed out, drunk. Jackson’s stomach growled. Yet when the guard offered a meal, he turned them down, considering the scent of urine and food didn’t go well together.
Without close family, and with his mom dead, there was no one to bail him out. And the charges against him were true. Eager to sleep under a roof where it was warm, Jackson didn’t think twice when Reggie told him to use his apartment.
It turned out to be a setup, but by the time Jackson realized it, the One44 chased after him. They had him cornered until he slipped out of the fire escape, then they chased him down an alley until he lost them.
The police picked him up a couple of hours later. They mentioned a video of him breaking in and a long list of stolen items. Items Reggie never even owned.
All because he no longer wanted to be part of the gang. He tried to distance himself from the streets, but the streets continued to force its way in. They called him back and held him hostage, regardless of his willingness to let go. He spent the last year trying to outrun the call, and now it had landed him in jail. Even with the danger involved, he resolved to keep running.
He knew too much… saw too much, and that made him a liability. That, plus… you can’t simply leave a gang. No matter how much Jackson wished for an easy way out, none existed.
“Jackson Oaks?”
He turned toward the clanging door as it opened and looked at the guard. His heart pounded in his chest as he wiped his clammy hands on his jeans. He was hoping the One44 didn’t bail him out. If they did, there would be no turning back, and he would have no choice but to go back to them.
“Let’s go. Your lawyer bailed you out.”
Bile rose, causing him to clear his throat.
The only individuals aware of his presence were those responsible for putting him there.
Jackson wiped the sweat from his brow, then shoved his hands in his pocket to stop them from shaking.
Welcome to Diary of an Introverted Author. My name is Bobbie Lou and I'm the author of three published novels. Desperate Girls, Baby Pawn and my newest release For You, I would. All are available on Amazon.com.
What I shared was an excerpt from my upcoming release, Only One Way Out. It is scheduled to go to my editor this week and I am hoping for an October Release. I am not sure if it will be on Amazon or if I will make it “freebie”. Hopefully I will decide this week.
Only One Way Out is a contemporary fiction novel with suspense and thriller elements. It is under the umbrella of crime because it is tied to my series. A young man finds himself in a situation he can't get out of easily. It there's a found family theme, as in many of my books. While this is not part of the Chronicles of Iniquity series, it does bridge Book 2 (Baby Pawn) in the series to Book 3. Jessie Lance, Riley and Jordan, who you met in Desperate Girls are in this novella. I introduce to a couple of new characters… Jackson, who you just heard about is an eighteen your old in a difficult situation. James… or King James, as he is called, is a gang leader. I have grown fond of him. The last new character is Petey. All of these characters will be making an appearance in an upcoming book.
Which brings me to a little issue… I am gearing up to edit and revise the 3rd book in the series and I cannot figure out a title. If you have any suggestions, please send them my way!
If you are interested in being an ARC Reader, please reach out to me. I would like to put together a team of Beta Readers and Arc Readers. My typical genre is crime with suspense/thriller elements. I also write YA, and I have a Cozy Mystery that I will begin editing after the 3rd book in the series comes released. As well as Christian Fantasy and Contemporary. All of my books are clean, and I am experimenting with genres to find the best fit for me. So, if you are open to being a Beta Reader or ARC ready, let me know.
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