Novels by Rachel Holt

Jacob faced Verons Heis across the improvised roadblock, every instinct screaming danger. The Argo military commander stood relaxed and confident, as if cornering the Dark Blade was just another routine operation. Behind Jacob, his wounded team waited in the vehicles, trapped between pursuit from the burning barracks and this ambush ahead."I could kill you right now," Verons continued, gesturing to the armed soldiers positioned in darkness beyond the headlights. "End the legendary Dark Blade with a single order. But that would be too quick. Too merciful for the man who murdered my brother.""Your brother was butchering civilians," Jacob replied, his hand inching toward his concealed weapon. "I stopped a massacre. If you want revenge for that, it says more about you than me."Verons's expression hardened. "My brother was a soldier following orders. You executed him when he tried to surrender. Do not pretend you were some noble hero—you are a killer who got lucky enough to be on the wi

Jacob's financial accounts remained frozen, leaving the resistance scrambling for operational funding with invasion hours away. But they still had weapons, fighters, and the will to make Argo pay dearly for attempting conquest. Money mattered less when you were preparing for total war."We hit their staging areas," Jacob decided during the emergency strategy session. "Bishop cut off our money, so we cut off Argo's ability to invade effectively. Destroy their equipment before it crosses the border."Intelligence from Bishop's captured servers revealed locations of three hidden barracks where Argo had positioned invasion forces just outside Seron's territory. Officially, these were training facilities for Argo's border patrol. In reality, they housed the battalions that would spearhead the conquest."Each barracks holds approximately five hundred soldiers plus vehicles and heavy weapons," Leo reported, displaying satellite imagery. "Hitting even one would significantly reduce Argo's ini

The discovery of Bishop's fail-safe complicated everything. They could not kill him without immediately handing Verons the exact locations of all five artifacts. But they also could not leave him alive to coordinate the invasion. Jacob stared at the automated protocols, searching for some weakness they could exploit."Can we disable the fail-safe?" Jacob asked Leo, knowing the answer would probably disappoint him."Not without access to Bishop's personal devices," Leo replied, studying the encryption protecting the system. "The fail-safe is tied to biometric monitors that only Bishop wears. If those monitors detect cardiac arrest or sudden removal, they automatically transmit the data. We would need to physically capture him and carefully disable the monitors before attempting anything.""So we cannot kill Bishop, and we probably cannot capture him alive," Anna summarized. "That means we focus on destroying everything around him instead."Jacob nodded agreement. If they could not remo

Jacob's declaration to stop holding back meant abandoning the careful, surgical approach they had been using. No more small raids on peripheral targets. No more avoiding civilian casualties at all costs. They were going straight for Bishop's throat, and anyone who got in the way would be destroyed."The underground facility," Jacob said, pulling up the detailed maps they had compiled during weeks of surveillance. "That is Bishop's nerve center. Everything runs through there. We hit it hard enough, we cripple his entire operation.""We tried infiltrating that facility before," Carl reminded him. "Nearly got trapped and killed. Bishop has it defended like a fortress.""Which is why we are not infiltrating," Jacob replied. "We are assaulting. Full force, maximum violence, overwhelming firepower. We go in through the front door and kill everything that moves."Leo looked shocked. "Sir, there could be hundreds of people in that facility. Guards, yes, but also civilian staff, technicians, a

The Noble Council meeting descended into shouting matches and accusations that threatened to become physical violence. Jacob's security team moved to extract Anna before the situation deteriorated further, but the political damage was already done. Half the council believed her evidence, half thought she was lying, and that division meant neither side could take unified action against Bishop."That went poorly," Anna said with bitter understatement as they escaped through a side entrance while council members continued arguing."You got half of them," Jacob replied, trying to find the positive angle. "That is more support than we had before. Some of those families control significant resources that can help us."But Anna knew the real result of her public revelation. She had forced Bishop's hand without achieving the overwhelming support needed to stop him. Now the conspiracy would accelerate its timeline while she had fewer allies than hoped.Back at their operations center, Roseline

The sealed doors trapped Jacob's team in the maintenance corridor for seventeen minutes before Carl managed to breach one using a shaped charge from their demo supplies. They escaped through smoke and chaos, but the close call made one thing brutally clear—Bishop was anticipating their tactics and setting counters."We cannot keep fighting this way," Anna said during the emergency debrief after they returned to base. "Every raid we attempt, he is one step ahead. We are losing people and accomplishing nothing."Jacob knew she was right. Two more operatives had been killed during the escape from Bishop's trap, bringing their casualties to ten in just three days. At this rate, they would run out of fighters before the invasion even began."We need a different approach," Jacob admitted, studying the intelligence reports that showed Bishop's network remained largely intact despite their best efforts. "Military action alone will not stop this conspiracy. We need to attack it politically."A

The observation deck at the top of the crystalline spire had become Jack's favorite place to think. From here, he could see the entire city spread out below—rebuilt stronger and more beautiful than it had ever been, filled with people living lives that would have been impossible without the protection his network provided.But tonight, as the dual moons cast silver light across the transformed skyline, Jack wasn't admiring their achievements. He was remembering where it all began."Hard to believe it started with Charles Oliver's execution," he said aloud, knowing his friends would hear him through their permanent mental link even though they were scattered across different dimensions on various missions."You mean it started with a weak boy nobody wanted," Lucy's voice replied warmly through their connection, her protective instincts wrapping around the memory with fierce affection.Jack smiled, pressing his hand against the medallion that had become part of his chest. The golden sur

The war room deep within the crystalline spire had become the nerve center for the most ambitious defensive project in dimensional history. Holographic displays showed the status of their entire universal cluster—thousands of realities connected by the portal network, each one now monitored by their expanded consciousness.Jack stood at the center of it all, no longer the weak boy who had once struggled to survive in a world that saw him as worthless. The medallion had become so integrated with his being that its golden surface was visible beneath his skin, pulsing with the rhythm of dimensional currents across countless worlds. But unlike the corrupt artifacts that had consumed previous wielders, his medallion was sustained by the bonds that connected him to his friends."Protocol Seven is now fully operational across all monitored dimensions," Sierra reported, her tactical awareness coordinating defensive measures on a scale that would have been incomprehensible months ago. "Early w

Six months after the dimensional crisis, their city bore little resemblance to the place that had nearly been destroyed by Vale's invasion. The rebuilding hadn't simply restored what was lost—it had created something entirely new.Where the old council headquarters had stood, a crystalline spire now reached toward the sky, its faceted surface designed to detect dimensional anomalies from hundreds of miles away. The building served as headquarters for the Dimensional Monitoring Initiative, the organization Jack and his friends had established to prevent future crises."Seventeen minor rifts detected across the northern sectors this week," Sierra reported during their morning briefing, her tactical awareness processing data streams that would have overwhelmed any individual mind. "All within normal parameters, but the frequency is increasing."Jack nodded, his consciousness simultaneously monitoring the reports while maintaining awareness of dimensional currents across their entire real

As the final seconds of his transformation ticked away, Jack felt his consciousness crystallize around a revelation that changed everything. The medallions' power didn't have to choose between perfect guardianship and human connection—it could create something entirely new."What if the burden doesn't have to be mine alone?" he said through their shared mental link, his voice carrying wonder despite his fading physical form. "What if we've been thinking about this wrong from the beginning?"Through their psychic connection, his friends felt his idea taking shape—not one guardian managing impossible responsibilities, but a network of consciousness that could handle the dimensional network's complexity while remaining anchored to humanity."You mean permanent integration?" Sierra breathed, her enhanced understanding immediately grasping the implications. "All of us linked directly to the dimensional network?""The ancient guardians failed because they became isolated from the people the

Jack's consciousness spread like spilled mercury across the dimensional network, his awareness touching worlds he'd never imagined. He could feel the pulse of life on countless planets, sense the delicate balance that held reality together, perceive threats to dimensional stability that existed light-years away.It was overwhelming and magnificent and terrifying all at once.Through his expanded perception, he could see their own world as just one node in an infinite web—small, fragile, but pulsing with the fierce determination of beings who refused to surrender to despair. He could feel Mrs. Sophie organizing relief efforts in the ruined city, Lord Rasmus's surviving soldiers helping with rescue operations despite their old conflicts, even the corrupted treasure hunters slowly recovering their humanity as the dimensional toxins were purged from their systems.But he could also feel himself slipping away from all of it. His connection to individual human concerns was fading as cosmic

The moment Jack's hand closed around Vale's dark medallion, reality screamed.Two opposing forces—one meant to protect, one designed to consume—collided within his consciousness with the fury of colliding stars. Jack felt his sense of self being torn apart and rebuilt simultaneously, his awareness expanding beyond the boundaries of single-dimensional existence.Vale's eyes widened in shock as his dark artifact began resonating with Jack's medallion, the two pieces fighting for dominance within the same host. "What are you doing, you fool? You'll destroy us both!""Maybe," Jack gasped, feeling the competing energies threaten to tear his mind apart. "But at least I'll take you with me."The dark medallion's hunger crashed against Jack's consciousness like a tidal wave of pure malevolence. It whispered promises of power beyond imagination, showed him visions of ruling infinite realities, offered him the ability to reshape existence according to his will. The corruption was overwhelming,

Detective Shaw stared at Richard for a long moment after the name left his lips.Donovan Pierce.Shaw had been a detective for twenty-three years. He'd worked organized crime, white-collar fraud, corruption cases that stretched into the highest levels of city government. He knew the names that mattered in this city. The families that controlled industries, influenced politicians, moved billions of dollars with a single phone call.And Donovan Pierce was one of those names."I see," Shaw said carefully, keeping his expression neutral. "And what exactly is Mr. Pierce's involvement in all of this?"Richard's smile widened. "That's not something I'm going to discuss with you.""You just told me his name.""Because I wanted you to understand," Richard said, leaning forward slightly despite the handcuffs. "You can charge me with whatever you want. You can parade me in front of cameras, make examples, write reports. But it won't matter. Donovan Pierce doesn't let his people rot in jail."Sha

Vivian grabbed her jacket and phone, rushing out of the apartment. Marcus was staying in a dingy motel on the other side of town—the only place they could afford now that the Ashford family had cut him off completely. His father had made it clear: until Marcus cleaned up the mess he'd created, he was on his own. Vivian knocked on the door rapidly, not caring that it was barely eight in the morning. "What?" Marcus's voice came through, muffled and irritated. "Open the door. Now." A moment later, the door swung open. Marcus stood there in wrinkled clothes, his hair a mess, his eyes bloodshot. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. "What's so important that you—" Vivian shoved her phone in his face. "Look at this." Marcus squinted at the cracked screen, reading the headline. His frown deepened. "So? General Cole rescued some CEO. What does this have to do with—" He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening slightly. "Wait. Claire Sterling. That's the woman from the club." "Exact

James held the reporter's gaze for a moment, then straightened his shoulders and spoke clearly into the microphones."Yes. I led this rescue operation personally when we learned that Claire Sterling, CEO of Sterling Global Corporation, had been kidnapped."The reporters erupted with questions, voices overlapping in a chaotic rush."How did you know where to find her?""Were the kidnappers armed?""Is Miss Sterling injured?"James raised his hand again, commanding silence with nothing more than his presence. The crowd quieted, though cameras continued flashing."We received intelligence about Miss Sterling's location approximately thirty minutes ago," James said, his voice steady and authoritative. "I immediately mobilized a tactical team and we moved to secure the area. The suspects were apprehended without incident. Miss Sterling is safe and receiving medical attention.""Were there casualties?" someone shouted from the back."No casualties. Several suspects are in custody and will f

The soldier helped Ethan to his feet, though Ethan didn't really need the assistance.He stood slowly, brushing dust from his pants, his expression unchanged. As if kneeling on a factory floor surrounded by armed gang members was just another Tuesday evening.Around them, the cleanup was already underway.Soldiers were hauling gang members to their feet, checking them for concealed weapons, reading them their rights. Police had arrived—regular city police, not military—and were taking statements, photographing the scene, bagging evidence.Victor Kane was being led out in handcuffs, his massive frame flanked by four soldiers who looked small next to him. He didn't resist. Didn't say a word. Just walked with his head down, his face blank.Richard was different.He was screaming."This is a mistake! I'm a victim here! That man—" he pointed at Ethan with his zip-tied hands "—he's the one you should be arresting! He attacked us! He broke into this building!"Nobody paid attention.Two poli

The sirens were deafening now.Then came the sound of engines. Heavy vehicles moving fast. Too fast for civilian traffic.Military.Victor's face went from white to gray. He looked around at his men, all of whom had frozen in place, their eyes darting toward the exits."Boss, what do we—" one of them started.The factory gates exploded inward.Not literally. But the force with which they were rammed open made it sound like an explosion. Metal screeched against metal. The chains that had secured them snapped like string.Through the opening poured a convoy of military vehicles—armored trucks, tactical vans, all of them painted in dark colors with no visible markings except for small military insignias.The vehicles screeched to a halt in a semicircle around the factory entrance, their headlights flooding the interior with blinding white light.Doors flew open.Soldiers poured out.Not regular soldiers. Special forces. You could tell by the way they moved—fast, coordinated, weapons up a

Ethan didn't move.His eyes locked on Victor's blade, calculating the distance between them. Fifteen feet. Maybe sixteen. Too far to close before Victor could drag the knife across Claire's throat.And Victor knew it.The gang leader's smile widened, triumphant. "That's right. Stay exactly where you are."Ethan's mind worked rapidly, running through scenarios. Every possible angle of attack. Every way this could play out.None of them ended well.If he rushed forward, Claire died.If he tried to negotiate, Victor would stall until his men returned from the perimeter. Then Ethan would be outnumbered again, and any chance of getting Claire out alive would vanish.There had to be another option.But right now, with that blade pressed against Claire's throat, Ethan couldn't see it."Smart boy," Victor said, his voice low and pleased. "I can see you thinking. Running through all your little plans. But here's the thing—there's no move you can make that doesn't end with her blood on this flo