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    Up the Ante
    Up the Ante
    Up the Ante
    Ebook74 pages55 minutes

    Up the Ante

    By Parker Williams

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    About this ebook

    Two months ago, Ben Nelson stepped between a vengeful demon and psychic Artie Middleton—and has been paying for that decision ever since. Now that the last rites have been administered, doctors are ready to pull the plug on the young police detective. The trouble is, Artie has seen his future and knows that Ben belongs there.
    When a friend suggests a solution that seems...out of this world, Artie must face Ben’s parents and convince them that there’s a chance their son can be saved.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherParker Williams
    Release dateMay 13, 2015
    ISBN9781941841198
    Up the Ante
    Author

    Parker Williams

    Parker Williams is a bestselling author of MM romance and suspense. One of his recent works was nominated for the Lambda Literary Awards, and several books have been runners-up at the Rainbow Awards. Parker loves the written word. A chance encounter with an amazing author changed the course of his life as he began to write the stories his men were whispering to him. With the help of some amazing friends and a community of writers he’s proud to be part of, Parker continues telling stories of love, hurt, comfort, and sometimes tosses in a little angst for fun. He believes in love, but also knows that anything worth having requires work and sacrifice (and maybe a little hurt runs smooth, and he enjoys writing about it. Parker lives in Milwaukee, WI, with his husband, Paul, and their menagerie of dogs and cats. Most days you’ll find him on Facebook, sharing stories and pictures of the zoo, or even about Paul, who is always good for a laugh and comfort too). The course of true love never. Website: www.parkerwilliamsauthor.com Twitter: @ParkerWAuthor Facebook: www.facebook.com/parker.williams.75641 Email: parker@parkerwilliamsauthor.com

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      Book preview

      Up the Ante - Parker Williams

      Up The Ante

      Four of Clubs Two

      PF 2015 Collection

      By

      Parker Williams

      Copyright

      Up the Ante: Four of Clubs Two is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

      Copyright © 2015 by Parker Williams

      Cover Art by Laura Harner

      Edited by Jae Ashley

      Formatting by Author.Services

      All rights reserved.


      Smashwords Edition Published in the United States by Parker Williams.

      ISBN: 978-1-941841-19-8

      Warning: All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without written permission, except for brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

      The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

      Contact the publisher for further information: parker@parkerwilliamsauthor.com

      Trademarks Acknowledgement

      The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following trademarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

      Twister: Hasbro, Inc.

      The Princess Bride: The Princess Bride, LTD.

      Contents

      Copyright

      Acknowledgements of Trademarks

      Up the Ante

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      About the Author

      Pulp Friction 2015

      Up The Ante

      Two months ago, Ben Nelson stepped between a vengeful demon and psychic Artie Middleton—and has been paying for that decision ever since. Now that the last rites have been administered, doctors are ready to pull the plug on the young police detective. The trouble is, Artie has seen his future and knows that Ben belongs there.

      When a friend suggests a solution that seems…out of this world, Artie must face Ben’s parents and convince them that there’s a chance their son can be saved. Unfortunately, even if he succeeds, every good deed comes with a price.

      And someone is always waiting to up the ante.

      Chapter One

      Artie sighed as he peered into the room where Ben lay, still unmoving. Ben hadn't spoken, eaten, or given any indication of awareness since he’d arrived. The hospital staff fed him intravenously, but the doctors hadn't even attempted to appear cautiously optimistic.

      The memories of what had happened assailed Artie… Ben diving between him and the demon who had been claiming souls, taking an attack that had been meant for him.

      Without conscious thought, he’d pressed his lips against Ben's rapidly cooling ones. It hadn't even occurred to him at the time that what he dreaded the most from physical contact wasn't happening. There were no images gleaned from Ben. No injuries appeared on his own body. That was impossible, yet it had happened. Was it because of something the demon had done?

      Or was it Ben?

      The ambulance had taken Ben in, siren wailing, Artie following close behind. The doctors had refused to tell him anything, and he’d fisted his hair in frustration when they’d pointed him toward a waiting room while they worked to save Ben. Someone had contacted Ben's family, who had drawn together in the corner. He’d wanted to go over and demand information, but they were grieving in their own ways. Their son was dying as a poison seeped into his veins, and Artie had overheard the doctors tell them they could do nothing to stop it. That all they could do was make Ben comfortable until the…he shuddered, hearing the doctor's words once more. Until the end came.

      He’d cursed and kicked the chair, sending it skittering across the linoleum floor. A hand landed on his sleeve, and he jerked away before he turned and locked gazes with the puffy eyes of Ben's sister.

      You're Artie, right?

      Not trusting himself to speak, Artie had simply nodded.

      I figured from the way you’re bundled up, she’d said with a small smile. Ben talked about you. I'm glad you're here. You're welcome to join us…if you can.

      Artie had nodded again and trudged along behind the young woman, trying to remember her name… A something. Anna? Ari? Ally. Ben's mother stood and approached him, looking for all the world like she needed him to hug her and assure her it was all okay, but how could he? The last thing he could do was offer them comfort when he was the reason their son was there in the first place.

      Now, three weeks later, each of them still showed up every day, praying for a miracle. He'd gotten to know them, this family of Ben's. They were so strong, and though they barely knew him, they accepted him as their own. Still, as the days bled into one another, he could tell that their confidence wore thin.

      ***

      Artie hadn't realized another month had passed until they flipped the calendar at the nurse's station. They were still being denied the miracle they needed. He was there when the doctors gathered the family, being told by Ben’s mother that he needed to know what was happening, too.

      It was a tense atmosphere. The doctors’ expressions were grim as they announced that they

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