#MFRWHook – Him or Them | Maggie Blackbird

Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog. Readers can jump from one author to another who share hooks from their current WIP (work in progress) or any previously published books.

For this week’s edition of Book Hooks, I give you a teaser from Twisted Beauty, a m/m dystopian romance.

His community or his enemy. He can’t have both.

Deep in the badlands, long after the fall of modern civilization, Hunter patrols the area as the war chief for his Lakota community. His latest mission is to hunt down a marauder who robbed his neighbors of their precious goods. He’ll act as this man’s judge, jury, and executioner.

Having lost everything at his former Ojibway encampment, Chassis is far from home. He wanders the badlands, a grim reaper bringing death to those with what he needs to survive. But there is one man courageous enough to challenge him.

When the duo faces off, neither expects the sizzling chemistry to erupt between them, nor for their duel to touch what both have denied themselves. Now they must choose to either remain together and sacrifice their beliefs, or go their separate ways, losing what they’ve spent their lives searching for—love.

Genre(s): M/M Dystopian Romance, LGBTQ+, First Nations Romance, Native American Romance
Heat Rating: Level 4 (violence, dubious consent)
Publication Date: November 3, 2023
Publisher: eXtasy Books

PURCHASE A COPY AT EXTASY BOOKS

After walking for a good forty-five minutes, Mechanix muttered, “I think the marauder’s pulling our leg.”

“It’s here,” Hunter reassured him.

They started their descent.

Hunter glanced about. Wherever the Mach 1 was, it had to be within driving distance of what was left of the dirt road, hidden away somewhere.

When they reached the bottom fifteen minutes later, Chassis led them around a big rock.

“This is my kind of ride.” Grizzly ran his finger over the hood.

“What’cha got under here, marauder?” Stix asked.

“It’s nothing to brag about.” Mechanix snorted. “I can modify cars way better than this.”

“Can I?” Stix raised his pipe.

Hunter shook his head. For all he knew, road dogs could be sneaking around, which was highly unlikely, but he wasn’t about to take the chance. Nothing out here was considered a safe place unless the area was first scouted. He spoke quietly. “There’s a reason I asked for you to accompany me. I got word of some very bad news.”

“What is it?” Grizzly checked his rifle.

“He didn’t kill Renegade purposely.” Hunter shoved his chin at Chassis.

Mechanix cocked his brow. “Right. Tell me another one.”

“Have I ever lied to you?”

“No. But he’s capable of lying.” Mechanix directed his attention at Chassis. “His lifestyle says he’s capable of anything.”

“He hasn’t lied to me yet.” Hunter stood firmly.

“Yeah…yet.” Mechanix stressed the last word. “And how can you be sure he hasn’t?”

“I know he hasn’t.” Hunter glanced at Chassis. “He told me why he had to kill Renegade.”

Grizzly scoffed, apparently still rankled by Renegade’s death.

“What piss-poor excuse did he give?” Mechanix narrowed his eyes at Chassis.

“Do you think if he would’ve outright killed Renegade, he’d still be here?” Hunter stared at his best friend.

“Then why was he sniffing around when we came upon you two? Sounds like he’s up to something,” Stix said.

“He wasn’t sniffing around. We were talking.” Hunter braced himself.

“Talking?” Grizzly ceased checking his rifle and aimed.

“I didn’t give the order. Put it down,” Hunter warned.

“The fuck’s going on?” This came from Mechanix.

“I’m still war chief. Put it down.”

Grizzly scowled but lowered his rifle.

“I came upon him,” Hunter began. “As I said, he didn’t have to return. If anything, he could’ve stripped down the chase car, looted Renegade’s body, and killed Tracker, too. So why did he let Tracker live to tell everyone what he had done? Why not kill him? We know the dead can’t talk.”

Sweat beaded along Hunter’s brow as he assessed his comrades. If they didn’t believe him, he’d have to do battle with three men he’d grown up with. Having Chassis on his side guaranteed they’d win. But putting bullets into his friends was something Hunter refused to do. As for Chassis, Hunter didn’t doubt if the marauder had to defend himself, he wouldn’t think twice about firing to kill.