A Plague of Grackles

A swatting attack on a fellow transgender woman ignites a fire within Avery Byrne. A goth tattoo artist by day and a fierce vigilante by night, Avery sees a sinister pattern linking this tragedy to escalating assaults on the trans community—a pattern the police refuse to acknowledge.

Fueled by a relentless need to protect her people, Avery, alongside her girlfriend Roz, vows to unravel the conspiracy that targets her community. But their pursuit of truth turns perilous, spiraling into a maelstrom of violence that strikes Avery at her core.

Surviving an attack meant to silence her, Avery emerges scarred but undaunted, diving deeper into the abyss to confront a nemesis entwined with her own dark past. With every revelation, the stakes skyrocket, pushing Avery to a precipice where a single misstep could devastate the trans community she fights to protect.

A Plague of Grackles, book three in the Avery Byrne Goth Vigilante series, weaves a tale of action, suspense, and profound courage. Dharma Kelleher delivers a heart-pounding thriller that not only entertains but also challenges the reader to confront the complexities of justice, trauma, and solidarity.

Dive into Avery Byrne's world—where the fight for justice is personal, the risks are monumental, and the quest for truth knows no limits.

Sophia Bitsui gazed deeply into Étienne François’s dark eyes aglow with candlelight. The aroma of cologne with a hint of shea butter made her senses tingle. Étienne leaned closer and trailed a line of kisses down her throat. 

Her body reacted as if awakening for the first time. A deep need grew in her core. She craved him in a way she’d never felt with anyone before. The kisses continued along her chest, teasing the buds of her nipples, making her gasp. 

Dialogue from the half-watched movie murmured softly, its meaning drowned out by the thunder of their synchronized heartbeats. Wrapped in this magnificent man’s embrace, Sophia allowed herself to let down her shield and be in the moment—a respite from the hatred and vitriol of the white man’s world that preferred women like her to disappear without a trace. 

Étienne’s touch was gentle, strong, and reassuring, pushing her ecstasy to heights she’d never thought possible. She moaned hungrily when at last he entered her. He was so big yet still a perfect fit.  

Faster and harder he thrust until, at last, pleasure overwhelmed the circuitry in her brain. The orgasm rippled through every cell of her body. She cried out and laughed, her heart fluttering. 

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God…”

When the waves of rapture subsided, Sophia floated on a cloud of euphoria. “That was… better than I ever dreamed possible. I haven’t had an orgasm since…”  

He chuckled. “Well, it was about time, then.” 

Étienne’s deep and resonant voice sent shivers through her body. His spellbinding accent danced around each syllable.

“You… you’re so amazing,” she said.

“As are you. For many years, I dreamed of meeting a woman as lovely and enchanting as you.” 

Sophia flushed. “I don’t know why you say that. I’m nothing special.”

“Okontrè, cheri mwen,” Étienne replied in Haitian Creole, his eyes sparkling. “You are a woman so rare.”

“I think the word you’re looking for is freak.”

“Non, non, non. Rare like yon bijou presye, a precious jewel.”

“Why? Because I’m trans? Or because I’m Navajo?”

“Both have shaped you into the woman you are—brilliant, beautiful, fearless, and strong. The struggles you’ve overcome to be your authentic self—they’ve amplified your radiance. Your vibrant, courageous soul enchants me like a siren’s song.”

“You’ve faced far worse struggles than I have.”

He nodded. “Wi, I have survived many tragedies. Hurricanes, earthquakes, disease, government corruption, loss of my family.”

“You did more than survive. You thrived. To become a doctor after all of that? You did your family proud, baby.”

“Wi, but my proudest moment was finding Mademoiselle Sophia Bitsui of Phoenix, Arizona.” 

Étienne kissed her deeply again. She felt their souls intertwine. Bliss was the only word to describe it. 

Without warning, he broke off the embrace, his eyes alert with alarm. “What was that sound?” 

“What sound?” She’d noticed nothing over the thunder of their heartbeats. But when she concentrated, she heard it too—a muffled clomping of footsteps and tinny, distorted voices.

“It’s just the TV,” she assured him, not wanting to interrupt their second round of love-making. 

Étienne sat up and snatched the remote from the coffee table then muted the television. The sounds were getting louder. The front door burst open, and a group of men dressed in combat gear stormed into the house, their assault weapons trained on Étienne. 

“Police! Get on the floor! Do it now!”

Étienne sprang to his feet, his naked body shielding Sophia’s. “Who are you?” he demanded, brandishing the remote. “How dare you break into this house! Get out this instant!”

Terror coiled around Sophia’s heart as she sat up, her blood chilling to ice. She sensed the impending doom but was powerless to stop it. Time slowed, each second stretching into eternity. 

In an instant, deafening gunfire filled the air. Bullets tore Étienne’s body apart in a grotesque tableau of death. His once sturdy frame collapsed to the floor. 

“Nooo!” She reached for him, and searing pain bit into her own shoulder. 

Her ears rang with an otherworldly silence. Her body felt detached from her spirit, even as her shoulder burned with hellfire. Consciousness faded as the hungry void pulled her into merciful oblivion.