The Harbinger

The Harbinger A Dark Cult Romance Ann-Marie Davis Copyright © 2023 by Ann-Marie Davis All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either 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. Cover design by Leah-Maree Editing by Paige Lawson Contents Books By Author Preface Dedication Epigraph 1. 1 2. 2 3. 3 4. 4 5. 5 6. 6 7. 7 8. 8 9. 9 10. 10 11. 11 12. 12 13. 13 14. 14 15. 15 16. 16 17. 17 18. 18 19. 19 20. 20 21. 21 22. 22 23. 23 24. 24 25. 25 26. 26 27. 27 28. 28 29. 29 30. 30 31. 31 32. 32 33. 33 34. 34 35. 35 36. 36 37. 37 38. 38 39. 39 40. 40 41. 41 42. 42 43. 43 44. 44 45. 45 46. 46 47. 47 48. 48 49. 49 50. 50 51. 51 52. 52 53. 53 54. 54 55. 55 56. 56 57. 57 58. 58 59. 59 60. 60 61. 61 62. 62 63. 63 64. 64 65. 65 66. 66 67. 67 Epilogue Acknowledgments About Ann-Marie Moreno Mafia Series Charity’s Torment Protecting Charity Charity’s Vengeance Charity’s Redemption Blackstone Tech Series His Obsession , Book 1 Corrupting Ivy , Book 2 Decoding Adelaide , Book 3 Reclaiming Adelaide , Book 4 Do you want to read them in Chronological order? His Obsession ( Blackstone Tech ) Charity’s Torment ( Moreno Mafia ) Protecting Charity ( Moreno Mafia ) Charity’s Vengeance (Moreno Mafia) Corrupting Ivy (Blackstone Tech) Charity’s Redemption (Moreno Mafia) Decoding Adelaide (Blackstone Tech) Reclaiming Adelaide (Blackstone Tech) Standalones The Harbinger Preface I want to share a few words before you embark on this literary journey. I've poured my heart and soul into crafting a story that immerses you in the clash of cultures, specifically in the context of Russia. While I've strived to portray the Russian culture as accurately as possible, it's important to note that this tale is ultimately a work of fiction, set in a world of my own creation. One aspect I wanted to emphasize is the feeling of being a stranger in a foreign land, just like our protagonist, Mia. To convey her sense of alienation, I made a conscious choice not to provide translations for conversations unless they are crucial to the story. I hope this decision allows you to fully experience Mia's perspective, sharing in her challenges, and connecting with her emotions. It is also vital to understand that the beliefs and religions depicted in this book are entirely fictional. Any resemblances to real-world religions are purely coincidental. . I must forewarn you that this novel touches upon a multitude of triggers. I encourage you to brace yourself and, if needed, refer to the list of potential triggers available here. Your well-being is of utmost importance, and I want you to navigate the story with awareness and self-care. This book is dedicated to me, and to the sanity, creativity, and light I lost while writing it. Hell is empty and all the devils are here. — William Shakespeare Chapter 1 MiaHungry, aching parasites burrowed beneath my skin, just out of reach, gnashing their sharp teeth into my nerve endings. Lightning bolts branched across my burning muscles, and my stomach churned in knots as bile clawed up the back of my throat. “Hurry.” The foreign man shoved my bruised shoulder, and I surged forward with a quick gate, tripping over the floppy sole partially attached to my second-hand shoes. I braced for impact as his hard shove sealed my fate. The grimy ground in the dark alleyway rushed towards me, my hands catching the brunt of the impact.Tender skin shredded across my palms from dull-edged rocks as I skidded across them. My body stretched into the plank position, begging what little muscle I still had to hold me off of the pungent stink of week-old urine.“It’s what you asked for, isn’t it?” He yanked me to my feet, and the odor searing my nostrils vanished, replaced by his woodsy scent.His bruising fingers sank into my bare arm and dragged me toward a black full-sized SUV where a beast of a man stood at the opened back door.“I, um…” My chin trembled as I pulled against his painful grip and glanced back in search of Jenny. “I think I’ve changed my mind.” “A little too late for that,” he said, his accent bleeding through heavier than the micro cuts on my palms. “I think I’m going to be sick, though.” My body lurched, pulling my arm from his grasp and towards the shadows where my stomach emptied the beef broth I’d been lucky to be given. I held my stomach as the cramps licked across my tightened abdomen and worked the rest of the food from my belly while voices behind me raised in a language I didn’t understand. Their tones grew discordant as if an argument developed between them. The behemoth of a man I’d propositioned earlier moved me away from my humiliation with gentle hands, unlike the rabid-eyed man who’d manhandled me through the alleyway and helped me to the back of the vehicle.This was a bad idea, but desperation gripped me tight and wouldn’t let go. I needed this. I wiped my mouth with the back of my filthy hand and pulled my weakened legs into the vehicle, my heart lurching in my chest as he flung the door closed, scowling at the man as he did. What had I gotten myself into, and where was Jenny?My