It Ain't Me, Babe (Hades Hangmen #1)(110)
I jumped off my Chopper and embraced Judah, his brown eyes tight and filled with a mixture of sadness and rage. Hell, I’d missed him. Five f*ckin’ years I’d been gone; no direct contact.
“You live,” he said on a sigh. “We feared you had been killed also.”
“I got away,” I said, offering nothing but the barest of intel.
“Thank the Lord!” Judah said in relief but his head dropped, eyes to the ground. “They killed them all, Cain: Prophet David, the elders. They slaughtered our brothers. Only women and children survived.” My breath paused until Judah shook his head, meeting my eyes once more. “Cain, none of the original twelve remain alive.”
My gaze was impassive.
Judah swung his heavy arm around my shoulders and began leading me into the house, the house where we had been kept apart all our lives from others of The Order. Where we’d been trained since adolescents for a day such as today, no other family but each other, our mission as the heirs was our only purpose in life.
“We have begun to rebuild,” Judah informed. “We have found a new site for the commune to where our people can be moved. We are planning on uniting all the communes, creating one unified community: more guards, more people, and more guns. Then it will be time, brother,” he said meaningfully, squeezing my arm.
I stilled.
Judah moved before me and frowned. He had always been the most militant of us both, the most devout. He had never left The Pasture, believed one hundred percent in the cause.
“Time for what?” I asked vaguely.
Judah smiled in excitement and in response, a wave of dread set in my stomach. “For you to ascend… Prophet Cain.”
My heart stopped.
My eyes widened.
Oh… f*ck…
The End
Playlist
To listen to the playlist, please check out my website: www.tilliecole.com
Metallica —Nothing else matters AC/DC — Highway to Hell
Nirvana — About A Girl
Guns and Roses — Knockin on Heavens Door Jonny Cash — God’s Gonna Cut You Down Tom Waits — I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love With You The Pretty Reckless — Makes Me Wanna Die Nine Inch Nails — Closer
The National — Gospel
Willie Nelson — Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain Pistol Annies — Hope You’re the End of My Story Bob Dylan — It Ain’t Me, Babe AA Bondy — The Mightiest of Guns The Eagles — Desperado
Rolling Stones — Wild Horses Depeche Mode — Personal Jesus Velvet Underground — Pale Blue Eyes Black Sabbath — Heaven and Hell
Acknowledgements
Dad, thank you for finally jumping on board the Tillie Cole express and for devoting a huge amount of your time helping me with this novel. Your notes on Psychology have been amazing and I look forward to the next one!
To my beta reader team—Thessa, Kelly, Rachel, Kia and Lynn. Thank you for reading a very badly edited, first draft version of this novel and for your amazing feedback. I adore the final outcome and it wouldn’t be where it is today without your brilliant input.
Thessa, for being on board from the very beginning, assuring me my book was not crap and for making me laugh through our emails. Oh, and for begging me to write Flame and Maddie’s story! We’ll see…
My husband, for putting up with my various meltdowns and moments of writer-insecurity. You’re always there and I love you to pieces.
Kelly Moorhouse for just being one of the best people I know. Book Blogger, tour organiser and now, beta reader, and of course, friend. You amaze me and I am beyond thankful for all that you do.
Mam, Sam and the brood. Love you, guys, lots.
A special shout out to the bloggers who gave this book (and author) a chance. There are so many of you that have been supportive during this—relatively new— journey for me. Gitte and Jenny from TotallyBooked, Smitten’s Book Blog and Lezley-Lynn’s Book Blog. You guys rock! Oh, and Lezley-Lynn for just being amazing and creating my fabulous street team: Tillie’s Hot Cole’s. Love the team and want to thank you lot for your support! World Domination!!!!
Lysa, my crazy Bostonian web designer and one of THE most hilarious peeps ever! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
And finally to YOU, the readers for your constant support.
I have no words.
You simply floor me…
About the Author
Tillie Cole hails from a small town in the North-East of England. She grew up on a farm with her English mother, Scottish father and older sister and a multitude of rescue animals. As soon as she could, Tillie left her rural roots for the bright lights of the big city.
After graduating from Newcastle University, Tillie followed her Professional Rugby player husband around the world for a decade, becoming a teacher in between and thoroughly enjoyed teaching High School students Social Studies for seven years.
Tillie has now settled in Calgary, Canada, where she is finally able to sit down, write (without the threat of her husband being transferred), throwing herself into fantasy worlds and the fabulous minds of her characters.
Tillie writes Romantic comedy, Contemporary Romance, Young Adult and New Adult novels and happily shares her love of alpha-male leading men (mostly with muscles and tattoos) and strong female characters with her readers.