W.L. Knightly's Blog, page 11

Stroke of Luck is Live!

Happy Thursday, Stroke of Luck is now live!

Just when Fiona Wilde gets her freedom, she learns its cost when Enzo Juarez demands to make a deal.

With Alex on the backburner, and everyone else in her life untrusted, someone besides her dead father is sending Fiona a message.

Will she be able to solve this one on her own, or will she make an unlikely ally?

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Chapter 1
Fiona

As Alex sped down the highway, Fiona turned around in her seat to check on Lucy.�� ���She���s back out again,��� she said, unsure if Lucy was going to make it.

���Turn around and put your seatbelt on,��� said Alex as he shifted. ���She���s going to be fine.���

Fiona spun around and reached for the belt. ���What were you doing there?���

���My job.���

���Bullshit!��� Fiona shoved his shoulder. ���Tell me why you were there! You looked awfully chummy with them.���

���You wouldn���t understand.���

He had that right. She wasn���t sure she would, but that didn���t quench her curiosity. ���Try me. Explain it.���

He turned his eyes from the road for a quick glance in her direction. ���I don���t have to explain anything to you. You just have to trust me.���

He really had some nerve. ���I don���t have to do anything! And I don���t trust you, just so we���re clear.���

���Noted.��� He didn���t even seem to be out of breath. ���I can understand that.���

He was so calm it put her on edge. Why wasn���t he worried? Because he was the one in control.��

���Where are you taking us?��� she demanded. ���You forced me in your car with Lucy and gave my car to those thugs. How do I know you���re not going to kill me?���

���Because the sex is too good.��� He shrugged, giving her a smile.

The words were designed to get under her skin. ���Oh, that���s never going to happen again,��� she said.

���We���ll see,��� he said with a slight lift of his shoulder. ���You know, you should be thanking me, Fiona. I saved your ass back there.���

���You���re an asshole.��� She settled back in her seat and contemplated jumping out of the car. Things had happened so quickly it was all a blur. She took a deep breath and tried to sort it out.

She had only gone down to the warehouse to snoop around and hadn���t expected the others to show up. After being trapped in the warehouse, unable to leave, she���d been forced to sit and listen to the events as they unfolded, missing parts here and there.

And when she was caught, she knew her life was over.

She could still hear the sound of the gun going off. For a split second, the entire world slowed on its axis and ceased to turn. In that brief moment, she found herself both happy and horrified at the thought of Jack getting shot. Had she really turned into that kind of person?

But when Rona hit the ground with a terrible thud that probably cracked the woman���s skull, panic overtook Fiona.

Was Enzo Juarez going to keep firing and kill them all? What had she walked into?

���What the fuck?��� said Jack in the silence that followed. His eyes were ringed red though the rest of him had gone a ghostly pale. ���You shot my fucking runner!���

���Your runner? Bad choice.��� Juarez huffed. ���It doesn���t matter. You owed me a girl.���

���You could have taken her,��� said Connor. ���You didn���t have to kill her.��� He looked down at Rona with a hard expression, as if her death were a waste. It was the closest to sympathy Fiona had ever seen from him.

���She���s better off. Believe me. Besides, she was trouble. She���s already burned me once. I won���t have that happen again. You should watch who you trust, Jack.���

���I���ll keep it under control. Fiona will listen to me.���

���The hell I will,��� she said.

Juarez smiled. ���I don���t think you should mess with her anymore. As a matter of fact, I forbid it.���

���But we have an arrangement, and I���m her family.���

���And I just vetoed your arrangement with my own. I���ll handle my business with your sister from now on.���

Fiona didn���t like the sound of that, but when she saw how Jack���s anger was eating him up inside, she felt a certain satisfaction.

���Fine,��� said Jack as Juarez spoke to his men.

As Fiona stood there with her heartbeat thrumming in her ears, not knowing what would happen next, she couldn���t help but be scared.

After a brief exchange with Juarez, Alex scooped Lucy up like a sack of potatoes and threw her over his shoulder. He grabbed Fiona and made her follow as Juarez and his men wrapped Rona up in the plastic. The last Fiona saw of the woman, she was being carried away like a package.

Three of the men grabbed Jack and Connor and escorted them to their cars as Juarez gave Jack one more warning. ���I���ll be in touch,��� he said. ���With all of you.���

Fiona panicked as Alex slowed down the car to make a turn. Had he meant her too? ���He���s going to kill me, isn���t he?���

���Who? Juarez?��� Alex narrowed his eyes. ���If he wanted to, he would have already. And besides, he told Jack to leave you alone. You should be thankful.���

���Thankful? Listen to you. And of course, I���m scared. He said he would be in touch.���

���He���s trying to keep your stupid brother in line, Fiona. Don���t worry about it. He liked you.���

���Liked?��� She felt a wave of nausea roll through her. ���Well, I guess I should be relieved. But now I���m in business with the mafia thanks to you.���

Alex laughed. ���He���s not mafia, Fiona.���

���Whatever. He shot someone. Or didn���t you see that happen right in front of you? You���re a cop. Shouldn���t you have arrested him? Is he just going to get away with it?���

���Rona Rockland���s problems don���t have to be yours. And as for doing something about it, as I said, you wouldn���t understand. I���ve had something in the works for a while now, but you don���t make it easy, not listening.���

���I understand all right. You���re a bad man, Alex. You���re not who I thought you were.���

���Damn, Fiona. What the hell do you think I did for your father all of those years?���

���You were his bodyguard.���

���I was his hitman before he sent me to the police academy. Hell, he hired me from Juarez���s father. That���s how I know him.���

���So you���ve been in it all along? It figures. I can���t trust anyone. Rick said you were corrupt. I just didn���t think it went this deep.���

���Oh, you���re listening to Rick now? Using first names and all that, too, I guess. You just don���t listen, do you?���

���How can you act like it doesn���t even bother you? A person is dead, Lucy is strung out and practically a zombie in your backseat, and now I���m stuck in the middle of some drug war.���

���It���s not a war. Juarez can just be a little unpredictable, is all. He���s obviously had it out for Rona for a long time.���

���Oh, you don���t say? I caught that when he shot her.��� She didn���t know what was worse, remembering the gunfire or her hitting the ground.

���She did him wrong a long time ago. Your brother should have known better than to involve her again.���

���Sounds like you know all about it.���

���It���s hard to explain, but just know when it comes to you, I���m not the bad guy. But sometimes, things get a little sticky.���

���Sticky? That���s an understatement. I feel like I���m sinking in quicksand.���

���You���re going to be okay, Fiona.��� He was still brushing it off like she was overreacting. Since he had come back into her life, she couldn���t think of another time she wished she���d never met him. But she had to worry about herself now.

���I���m going to find a way out of this,��� she said. ���I can���t be involved.���

���You already are. But if you listened to me, you wouldn���t be. You could have messed up everything.���

���Are you really going to go there right now, with an ���I told you so��� moment?��� She was at the end of her rope, trying to sort it all out, and he wanted to play the blame game.

���It���s the truth. I told you not to go down there. I had everything under control.��� His tone was a little harder than before. ���But you just didn���t listen. So you have yourself to thank for the consequences.���

���Are you saying it���s all my fault?���

���Not all of it. You didn���t have anything to do with Rona, if that���s what you���re worried about. There���s no blood on your hands, Fiona.���

It didn���t make her feel any better. ���Do you think they���ll kill Jack and Connor too?���

���Nope. Juarez just likes to assert his authority. But you don���t need to worry about all of that.���

���Oh, I���d disagree. Jack is going to have it out for me now.��� She could see him coming after her and having to keep one eye open for the rest of her life.

Alex laughed. ���Fiona, you don���t get it. If Juarez tells Jack to leave you alone, he���s going to leave you alone.���

���That only makes me wonder who he���ll move on to next. No one is safe with Jack still around. And what about Lucy? Why would he try and get rid of her? He just hired her. Did she get too close? Did she learn something?���

Alex shrugged. ���I don���t know. But I have a feeling you wanted Juarez to shoot Jack. Didn���t you?���

A wave of shame and guilt washed over her. ���It crossed my mind he might, but I���m not a monster. I don���t want anyone to die. I just want to be rid of him.���

He didn���t seem to buy it. ���It���s okay. I had hoped it, too, for a brief moment, but that would have taken away the pleasure of me doing it myself.���

Fiona figured he was just talking nonsense. If Alex had wanted to kill Jack, he had more than one opportunity. ���You know, I���ve often wondered why you don���t. I wondered if the only thing stopping you was your morality, but now I know you don���t have any, so I guess I���m missing something. Must be you really are on his side. Probably have been all along.��� She folded her arms. ���Was there ever blackmail on your end?���

���Yes.��� He kept his answer blunt as if he were sick of talking about it. ���All of that was real. And for the record, I���m not proud of how I handled it. I tried to make up for that, and one day, I will.���

���You need to explain everything to me so I can understand why you���re there with them. They���re into human trafficking, Alex.���

���Yeah, I know. And I���m handling it.���

���You���re out of your mind,��� she said. ���Letting them nearly sell off Lucy to God knows where? That���s you���re idea of handling it?���

Lucy stirred in the backseat, and Fiona glanced back to see she was waking up, but Alex adjusted his mirror as if using it to take a peek.��

���She���s still groggy,��� he said.

���Someone beat the hell out of her,��� said Fiona.

���She���ll be fine. You���ll get her fixed up, I���m sure. You know, you should be proud. You saved her life.���

���And you should be ashamed. But I guess it���s a good thing I didn���t listen to you.���

���Yeah,��� he said. ���I suppose you���re right about that.���

���And if I hadn���t shown up, you���d have let them take her away.���

���I wasn���t there when he turned her over. I had no idea.���

���Still, it���s horrible. And what happened to all of those girls Rona had been recruiting? Maybe you should have listened to me sooner. God knows how many women Jack has sold to slavery.���

Things went quiet for a minute as Fiona undid her seatbelt and leaned back to try and give Lucy some water from a bottle Alex had in his car. She felt Lucy���s forehead. ���She���s broken out in a cold sweat.���

���She���s coming down. She���s probably going to be sick before she gets better. Keep her on her side just in case she vomits.���

���Oh, Lucy, what did you get yourself into?��� Seeing her old friend like that was almost too much to handle.

Alex pulled into Fiona���s drive and shut off the car just outside of the guest house. He quickly got out and came around to help Fiona.

���I���ve got her!��� she snapped. ���You���ve done enough.���

���I���ll help you get her inside.��� He gave her a look that said he wasn���t going to take no for an answer.

They brought her inside, and Alex carried her to the bedroom. Fiona went to the bathroom to get a cool rag and went to Lucy���s side and put it on her head.

���She���s probably going to be sleeping for a while. Just let her sleep. When she wakes up, she���ll most likely be sick, but feed her, give her plenty of fluids, and let her rest. I���ll want to talk to her, but I can come by later and do that. You can let me know when she���s up for it.���

���I can���t believe this is happening,��� she said as she walked him to the door. ���I don���t know how I ended up in the middle of all this. All I wanted was for you to help me figure out who killed my father and why the cards were missing. Now look at what���s happened.���

He opened the door and stepped out on the stoop. ���It���s going to be all right. Call me when she wakes up.���

���No,��� she said. ���You can contact her on your own if you want, but we���re done. Stay away from me. It���s over.���

Alex didn���t blink. He didn���t put up any sort of fuss like she figured he would. Instead, he nodded. ���Be safe,��� he said.

Fiona���s chest rose and fell as the emotions built up inside her. She shut the door and leaned against it, wondering if she could trust anything he���d said. Was she safe? She knew she wasn���t. How could she be?

She glanced back across the room where she could see Lucy through the open door. She was still out, and Fiona wondered if she was going to get better at all. It was time to toughen up and take back control. The first thing she needed to do was get out of the arrangement with Enzo Juarez.

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Entwined Pair is Live!

Entwined Pair is LIVE!

After being swept to safety by Alex during the horrific murder of Ethan Spade and his parents, Fiona Wilde’s mission to find her father’s killer has come to a screeching halt.

With what could have been her only way out of Jack’s hold dying along with Ethan, she’s forced to turn her focus on those she loves but no longer trusts.

Now that her best friends have secrets, she’s got no one to turn to but an old lover who is torn between protecting her and pushing her away.

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Chapter 1
Fiona

With Tres’s arrest, Fiona’s nerves were on edge. Alex had told her he had new information, but even though Tres was at her house, she hadn’t expected he had killed her father or the nurse. Tres was a lot of things—spoiled, narcissistic, and a bad boyfriend—but a double murderer? Why? How?

She remembered the day of her father’s death when she walked in and found him lying in bed with a bullet hole in his forehead. And Susie Paulson, her lifeless body lying in a puddle of blood.

“Are you okay?” The sound of Silas’s soothing voice brought her head around. He had been with her at the guesthouse all afternoon after the memorial golf tournament had taken a turn for the worst. “Here, drink this.” Silas handed her a cup of coffee that she hadn’t realized he’d gotten up to fix. “You’re so out of it, you’re scaring me. You’ve stared at the same spot for the past twenty minutes.”

“I guess I have a lot on my mind. I’m sorry I’m so freaked out.” She sat forward on the couch to take a drink and put the steaming mug down to cool.

Silas eased down beside her. “It’s no wonder, considering all you’ve been through lately. But if it helps, you can always talk to me and tell me what’s bothering you. Not that it’s not obvious, of course, but you know what I mean.”

Fiona didn’t want to shut him out. She was getting used to being all she had with their last fight. “I was just thinking about my father and his nurse. I found them both in that room. My father looked so normal, but then I saw the nurse’s blood. She was lying on the floor like a ragdoll. It was so shocking and such a contrast.” There was something odd about it, and looking back, Fiona still couldn’t quite place what it was.

Silas brushed his hair back with both hands and rubbed his face with his palms. “I wish I could take that scene out of your head.” He turned to look at her. “I hate that you had to go through that. Losing your father was bad enough, but for him to be murdered and for you to have to relive that over and over? It’s just not fair.”

She took the warm mug and held it close. “Sadly, I’m growing used to it. I have seen it over and over again so much that I’m beginning to dissect it in my mind. My father looked so peaceful. It was like there wasn’t much out of place with him. And yet, on the other side of the room, there was this horror show with so much blood.” She blew the steam from the cup and took a sip, thinking about the woman’s scrubs being soaked with blood.

“You’re so much stronger than I give you credit for. But I guess that’s just because I don’t think I could take it. I’d be a basket case. When my father died, I had to keep busy, or it was all I’d think about.”

She angled on the cushion toward him. “Well, I know one thing. I’m stronger when I have you in my corner. I’m glad you were there with me today. You are all I really have in this world.”

“What do you mean? You have your company, and you’re wealthy, and you’re in the prime of your life.”

He just didn’t get it. “Aside from the maid and my hired secretary, I have no one that I can even call a friend. And let’s face it. I don’t pay them to listen to my troubles. There’s no one I can turn to, or trust, or confide in anymore but you.”

Silas gave her an apologetic look that was tinged with just a tad of pity. “I guess I can see why you were so upset with me. You thought I had been dragged to the dark side with Lucy, didn’t you?” He nudged her with his foot as if she should know better.

“Yeah, I thought I lost you, for sure. It’s like you’re the only family I have, even though we’re not related.”

“Are you kidding? I feel the same way about you. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved and ever will love. I can’t even call you a sister because I’ve seen you naked, but you’re my closest friend, Fiona. I hate that I hurt you. And I’m sorry I didn’t handle that situation with Lucy the right way.”

“No more worries about that. We’ve said our apologies already. I’m just glad it’s behind us. And that you’re here now.” She reached for his hand.

He took hers, giving it a squeeze. “I won’t let you down again.”

“I hope not.” She took in a deep breath and let it out as she leaned back with him. “I don’t know what to think about what happened today. I need to talk to Alex. At the country club earlier today, he told me that they had new information. I just wasn’t expecting it to be Tres. I thought he was hiding something by not talking to the cops, but I can’t see him doing it.”

“But if Alex arrested him for it, he must have had some proof, right? Alex wouldn’t do that for no good reason.”

“It just doesn’t add up. My father’s murder was clean. It was a single bullet to the head, but the nurse was brutal and bloody in the same room. I can’t see Tres shooting my dad. It was so clean. It looked professional. Tres is sloppy and high all the time, and he would have had to be standing over him for it to happen that way. My father would have fought back. With his dying breath, he would have struggled.”

Silas narrowed his eyes. “I believe it. He was a fighter, and you have a point. Two murders, both too different but happening at the same time? Have you talked to Alex about it before?”

“Yeah, I’ve tried. But he’s more concerned for my safety than letting me help. And he’s technically not even working the case. Or so he says.” She couldn’t tell Silas about the way Alex had been keeping an eye on her while she was keeping an eye on Jack and his minions.

Silas put his arm on the back of the couch behind her. “So, if you don’t think he killed your father, who do you think did?”

“Jack. I think he hired a hitman. Probably the same one he hired to kill Ethan Spade and his family.”

Silas paled. “Do you really think Jack would do that? I mean, he’s done some bad things, but murder? Do you think he’s capable?”

“Hell yes. Where is your mind? I think you’re the one in outer space now. Jack was upset with Ethan over him wanting to marry me, and let’s not forget that he’s a miserable jerk, so yeah. Besides, he might act like he loved my father now that he’s gone, but I know things were strained between them. I know that better than anyone.”

“So they had some problems?” Silas shrugged. “Parents and kids always do, but you can’t think they were bad enough to warrant an action like that. And Ethan was one of his closest friends.”

“Exactly. Jack was supposed to be at the party, but he went to some business meeting instead. I think he didn’t want to be around. Now he’s hired Lucy for some mystery job, he’s hired Rona, he wants my property, and Tres is arrested? It’s all so weird.”

“You are just full of theories.” He put his arm down on her shoulder and drew her close. “I think you’re wrong, but I hope they figure it out soon.”

Fiona agreed, but she was trapped in the middle of a yawn and unable to respond.

Silas smiled as she stretched. “You should get some rest. I can stay if you want, but I have to be in early, so you’ll have to set the alarm.”

“Thank you, but I think I’ll be fine.” She wanted to talk to Alex alone but didn’t want Silas to know she was sending him away for the comfort of another man. “Will you text me when you get home?”

“Yes,” he said, standing from the couch. “And you can text me back if you want to chat. I’m going to go do some laundry and look over next season’s catalog layout before I turn in. I have some new stuff that you’ll like. You should drop in and check it out sometime. I’ll make sure my pig of a brother isn’t around.”

“I’d appreciate that,” she said, getting to her feet to show him out.

He hugged her again at the door. “You call if you need anything. I’m always here for you, Fiona.”

“Back at you,” she said as she kissed his cheek. “Drive safe, and thanks again.”

He gave her wink and turned to go to his car. She watched until he drove away, and shut the door and locked it.

Fiona went immediately to the phone and tried to call Alex, only to get a busy signal. “Dammit.” Afraid that he would shut her out, she tried again and would call all night if that was what it took.

She continued to call as she got comfortable for the night and when she went to the kitchen for a snack. Fiona was busy munching on crackers when she was surprised by a knock at the door, so she brought the box with her to the door, expecting Helen was checking on her. The news of Tres’s arrest for the murder of her father and Nurse Paulson was bound to be around town by now.

But when she opened the door, she found Alex standing there with a tired look in his eyes. “Hey, Fiona. I wanted to come by and give you an update on my way home.”

She stepped aside and waved him in. “Well, come on. I’ve been waiting for one all damned day.” She led him back to the couch, hoping he’d sit where Silas had been, but he remained standing next to the couch.

“I’m sorry,” he said, stretching his back. “I’ve been busy with interrogation and waiting for processing. Sometimes, especially with a case as big as this, it takes time.”

She wrapped herself up in the throw that was on the back of the couch for comfort. “So, what happened? This new information you had led you to Tres? Or was it his lack of consideration by not giving a statement that finally made you look at him?” She knew they couldn’t pick Tres up and arrest him for that alone, but she wanted to remind Alex how uncooperative the man had been.

Alex shifted on his feet. “I know you’re frustrated, Fiona. Trust me. I get it. I just need you to understand that I have to do my job first. And I couldn’t tell you what happened earlier and have you ruin the arrest by making a scene.”

“I wouldn’t have made a scene.”

“Yes, you would. I know you, Fiona. You’re a force when someone lights your fuse.”

“Okay, stop stalling and tell me.” She was dying to know what happened. “What did you have?”

“I have him on tape saying he was in the house, and he also indicated that the woman was alive while he was there.”

Fiona let it sink in, even though it still didn’t make any sense. It had to be true. Tres Ellington was in her house. He had been the only person in the house with them when she got back home and found them. It must have been him she heard rummaging in the house. “Well, between the time when he left and I walked in, she was killed. They both were. And I know I didn’t do it.”

“I know,” said Alex. “And Lucy is sticking to her guns. She says she doesn’t know what happened.”

Fiona huffed. “Well, they left in a hurry, remember? And when I arrived, Lucy said they were already fighting, and that’s why he was in the car. They fought all the time. I don’t know why she was even moving in, but she claimed it was the way they made it work. She loved him. They’d fight. They’d make up. I didn’t understand it.” She and Alex had never played games like that. They were too busy sneaking around.

“Well, he wandered in the house at some point for sure, and he’s admitted to that much.”

“But?” She patted the space next to her, and Alex gave in, keeping more distance between them than Silas had.

Alex eased back against the cushions. “He says they were already dead when he went inside.”

“It’s possible, you know? I mean, it’s possible that he just found them that way, just before I went in.”

“It’s possible but unlikely. And the evidence says otherwise.”

“And he’d be bloody, right? Lucy would have seen something. So the killer came and went before they got there.”

“But you said they’d been there a while, right?”

“Yeah.” She let out a breath. “You’re right. Tres could have done it way before I got there. We both know he lies, so he has to be lying. You said the woman was already cold.”

Alex looked away and nodded. “Yeah. She was already losing heat. But that could be a lot of different factors contributing to that.” He angled in his seat, turning to face her. “Did Lucy say how far into the fight did he leave Lucy to pack alone?”

“I can’t remember. But I know it had been a while. Lucy didn’t have a lot of stuff, but it was scattered enough that it could have taken her a couple of hours. Especially if they got there just after I left.” She moved her cover over his lap, moving a bit closer.

Alex didn’t push her away. Instead, he pulled the covers over his arms. “I think I might need you to help me figure that out.”

“Lucy and I are not on the best of terms, remember?” She didn’t think they would ever make up the way she and Silas had.

“I know, but I’m in a bind.”

“How so?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. His posture sagged a bit, making her wonder if he was in trouble. “Is everything okay?”

“The proof I have wasn’t exactly obtained legally, so I need someone to talk to make it stick. Either Tres is going to or Lucy. I can’t let it go to court the way it is. It could be thrown out, and he could walk. If you can get Lucy to tell you anything at all, it would save me a whole hell of a lot of problems.”

Fiona nodded. “I’ll see what I can do. But you’re saying this was probably all for nothing? It’s not going to stick if I don’t?”

He let out a breath and nodded. “It’s not going to be admissible. But I think you can get her to talk. You two used to be so close.”

“Yeah, that’s the keyword. We used to be. Now? Not so much.” She closed her eyes a minute and sighed. 

Alex took her hand beneath the blanket. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here sooner. I know I could have called, but I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Thanks.” Everything she wanted to say went out the window with him taking her hand. And she searched her brain for the question she had. “You said you had proof that the woman was alive?”

Alex nodded, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. “I have him on tape saying the nurse screamed at him. Last I checked, dead women don’t scream.”

“I’ll do what I can, but no promises.” She wanted to help but wished she could help in any other way. If she messed it up, not only would she blow things for Alex, but her father’s killer might go free.

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Exploding House is LIVE!

After being swept to safety by Alex during the horrific murder of Ethan Spade and his parents, Fiona Wilde���s mission to find her father���s killer has come to a screeching halt.

With what could have been her only way out of Jack���s hold dying along with Ethan, she���s forced to turn her focus on those she loves but no longer trusts.

Now that her best friends have secrets, she���s got no one to turn to but an old lover who is torn between protecting her and pushing her away.

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Chapter 1
Alex

Roland Spade���s birthday party had not gone down the way Alex expected. For one, he had never intended for Fiona to end up in his bed, and two, he never thought he���d be working the scene of a triple murder.

He walked back into the venue, thinking about the woman he���d left alone in his room and hoping that for once Fiona would listen to him and not try anything foolish like leaving.

LA���s finest were working the scene, and since Alex had called the chief and told him what he was up to, no one blinked an eye when he returned. He scanned the broken glass and bloodstains where one of the forensic team, a shrimpy little guy named Eli, snapped photos.��

���Hey,��� said Alex, getting his attention. ���I���m looking for a necklace. Did you find one?�����

There was no telling who might have picked it up and stuck it in their pockets, and he wanted to get it back for Fiona.

���Is this it?��� Eli asked, walking over to a table where he had a few things in bags. ���Looks real. Do you think it is?��� He held up a plastic baggie where the beautiful diamond necklace was still covered in blood.

Alex knew better than to let on how expensive the thing was. ���Nah, it���s clearly a fake. It���s Fiona Wilde���s. She was upset. We left it behind. I���ll make sure she gets it back.�����

Alex stuck it in his pockets. Chief Swanson walked over and pulled him to the side behind the large planter just inches away from Mrs. Spade���s bloodstain.

Her body had been removed, but Ethan and his father were still lying where they had been gunned down.

Alex glared at Ethan. The bullet wound in his neck had been lethal, and his father had been shot right between the eyes.

���How���s Fiona?��� asked Swanson. ���Is she safe?���

���She���s fine. I had to get her out of here. I was afraid they were after her too. That there might be more than one.���

���You followed the other one?���

���Yeah, but it turned out just to be a frightened party guest. I let him go and took Fiona to safety. I think we���ve got our only shooter. Every shot came from above and right in this general location.���

Chief Swanson seemed okay with that, and Alex knew he would believe anything he told him. They had that kind of relationship. Swanson let out a breath and walked over to look down at Roland Spade. ���He never saw it coming,��� he said. ���Where were you?���

���I had gone to the back. Mr. Spade wanted me to check the kitchen entrance and make sure it was locked. It was. I had told him it would be. The caterers used the side doors. I made sure the place was secure, but the shooter must have slipped in somehow with the staff and hid out before the party ever started. That takes dedication.���

Alex looked up to the second floor, where there was another team of two working that area.

���Well, he must have been waiting for the chance you���d be gone. Pretty brave move, doing it in front of everyone and just after the toast.���

���Yeah.���

Swanson sighed. ���Come on. Maybe you can give me a positive ID on this asshole. Tell me if he���s who I think he is.���

Alex nodded and followed the chief to the stairs. They went up and walked into the area where the crew was still taking photos and laying markers. It was all a lot of busywork that was solely to cover their asses. No one was going to trial for this.

Chief Swanson walked over and looked down at the man. ���Do you know him?���

���Danny Swearingen.���

���That���s who I thought he was. Only a sniper as good as him could pull something like this off with specific targets. It���s a wonder he didn���t get Fiona too.���

���I got to him before he could. He was in a good spot too. Unless you���re standing right down there where they were, you don���t have a good shot up here. I was already on my way back when I heard the first shot. It was during the toasts, so I think that���s why there was a delayed reaction from the crowd.���

���Well, some of the witnesses claim that they only saw him. So I���m pretty sure you���re right about it being one shooter. Any reason why he���d do the job? Someone hire him maybe?���

���Actually, I think it was personal with Swearingen. I know he used to work for Spade a while back, and I also know they had a falling out. It���s why Spade wanted me here. He was afraid of Swearingen and a few others. None of the others seemed like much of a threat.���

���Who were they?���

���Well, he thought Jack Wilde might attend, and with him and Fiona both here, he was afraid that whoever killed their old man might try to do the same to them.���

He glanced over at Roland. ���He and Wilde were shot in a similar manner. It���s possible. Let���s just hope we find something that helps us out.���

Alex agreed. ���It would seem likely with Spade and Wilde doing business together.���

���Yeah. I hope we���re right. But let���s keep digging. If we let a killer go on a hunch, we���re not doing our jobs.���

���I���m on it.���

���Get with Detective Russel later,��� he said. ���He was okay with me taking the helm before, but he���s starting to get a bit antsy about this one. I���ll hold him off as best as I can, but you know him.���

The detective was busy working the scene, and while Alex usually worked undercover, he had worked with Russel on many occasions.

���Looks like I���ll get my chance now.��� The man was walking over to them with a clipboard in his hand.

���Moore,��� he called, addressing Alex, ���I wanted to talk to you about your involvement.���

���What do you want to know?��� Alex wished the chief had stayed between him and Russel as he had with the Wilde investigation. He was back from his first vacation in five years and still acted like he had a wedge up his ass.

���Well, for one, what did you do with the necklace Eli gave you?���

���It���s in my pocket, and I���m going to return it to the owner. She���s in protective custody.���

Before he could make a fuss, Swanson spoke up. ���It���s hardly evidence, Russel. What do you want to do? Keep it locked up in evidence? For what? This case is solved.��� He nudged the dead man with his foot. ���This is our killer. I���m sure your evidence will indicate that to be true. Mrs. Wilde lost the necklace when Alex got her the hell out of here. He saved her life.���

���Good, I���d like to talk to her and get her account. There might have been a second shooter.���

���The only second shooter was me. I was hired to be on watch at the event, and I killed him after his third shot. You see where those landed. He���s an ex-Marine sniper. One of the best, and pulling this off was like morning coffee to him.���

���Funny how you always know so much about these people. And you���re a lousy guard.���

���It���s funny to me how you don���t know anything. Isn���t that your job, Detective? Oh, that���s right. That���s why the chief puts me on it instead of you. You handle the fluff. I���ve got the rest.��� He and Russel had never worked well together, and if the chief didn���t play referee on a daily basis, Alex would have already had him replaced.

���You���re an ass,��� said Russel, narrowing his grey eyes. Alex was about a foot taller and twice as bulky. It was like comparing a Semi to a Pinto.

Chief Swanson grumbled. ���Okay, I���m tired of you two pulling each other���s dicks. I told you this is a sensitive case, and I need Alex on it. I���m calling the shots until you two learn to play nice.���

Russel stormed away, not looking back as he ran down the stairs.

���That guy is such a pussy,��� said Alex, giving him a death stare.

���He���s a good detective. He just doesn���t know when to mind his own business.���

���Good thing for you, I do.���

Chief Swanson ignored that remark and looked down over the railing to the scene below. ���Well, this is all a waste of taxpayers��� dollars. If it were any other family, we���d be packed up and done with this already.�����

They went to the stairs.

���I���ll still look into it a bit, just in case,��� Alex said, pausing at the top step.��

���Okay. Well, I���m going back to the office.��� Chief Swanson turned to the forensic team. ���Get that piece of shit tagged and bagged. I want him out of here before he starts to stink any worse than he already does.���

The men nodded and went about their work.

When Alex got downstairs, he watched as they zipped up the old man���s body bag. Ethan lay in his, the zipper still down, while they arranged his hands and smoothed down his suit to close it.

You didn���t get her, you piece of shit. But nice try.

He stood and watched as he was zipped up, just like his father. ���Well, that takes care of that,��� he mumbled, shaking his head.

He was about to leave the scene when he spotted Rick, the washed-up reporter sneaking around behind one of the backdrops, a camera in his hand.

Alex let out a breath and shook his head. The man was never going to learn. He went the opposite way and made his way around so he could sneak up behind him.

���What have I told you?��� said Alex, tapping the asshole on the shoulder.

Rick turned around and cowered at the sight of Alex. ���I thought you left.���

���No, I was just going to take out the trash.��� He grabbed Rick���s camera strap and twisted it. Then he dragged him out of the side entrance, away from the credible sources and the few stragglers from the party who were still hanging around. They were all up at the front, and the other cops had done their job keeping them away.

He grabbed the man���s camera and took the card out.

���Hey! That���s mine. It���s my personal property!��� He tried to grab it, but Alex put his hand on the man���s forehead and pushed him away.

���You didn���t have any permission to be inside taking photos. Consider it confiscated.��� He took the camera and slammed it against the brick building. ���And now it���s trash. Good thing I���m working on that.���

���You���re a dick! I saw you run out of here with Fiona Wilde. You���re really protective of her, aren���t you? Seems like the two of you have a past. And now this is four deaths in her life in what, a matter of weeks?���

���Are you sniffing around for a fight? Because that���s all you���re going to find. Fiona Wilde���s name better never be spoken from your mouth again. Do you hear me?���

���Ah, she is something special. I have a feeling she���s the key to all of this. And when I find out if my hunch is right, I���ll expose you both. You might break my camera, but you can���t break me. I���m not afraid of you.���

���I wouldn���t be so sure about that.��� Alex took a step toward the man.

He scurried back, hopping on his feet like he was ready to run. ���I���m going to make you pay for that camera, too!���

Alex reached into his wallet, found a couple dollar bills, and threw them at him. ���Here, go buy yourself another cheap piece of shit.���

He reached into his pants and pulled out his phone. ���I���ll use this on you. Everyone will see how you treat me.��� He fumbled with the phone as if he had no idea how to use the device.

Alex walked away, finding his car. He needed to get back to Fiona before she woke up. If she had ever gotten any sleep.

He got in his car and drove back to the motel. He parked, took a deep breath, and got out to go inside. Having her there was against his deal with Jack, but he had to do it to save her life, and maybe this was just the loophole he could take advantage of.

He went in to find her sound asleep, her hand tucked up to her chin and the big ring still on her finger.

Alex sighed, thinking he should have never had her put it back on, but at least he had just saved himself from a huge mistake.

He undressed, put on a pair of shorts, and crawled into the bed, careful not to disturb her.

Cover Reveal Exploding House

I'm so excited to share the Cover Reveal for Exploding House, book 3 in The VIP Series. It's due out August 27th. Can't wait for you to read this. Come back next week for Chapter 1

Royally Similar is LIVE!

Just when she thought finding a way out of Jack’s clutches was the biggest problem in her life, Fiona Wilde’s life has turned upside down. Not only has her father passed away, but it’s been a catalyst for others to come forward who seek to take advantage of her and what she stands to inherit.

But when she gets an unexpected package from her father’s attorney that might contain clues about his murder, her mission of survival will change to finding her father’s killer.

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Chapter 1
Fiona

After a long night of going over the cards her father left for her, Fiona felt as if she had more questions than answers. Not only did a few things not make sense as far as the why of it all, but she wasn’t sure if she named the right people through the cards.

With so many possibilities, her head hurt, and she had thought too long about people she had not wanted to think about.

She needed Alex’s help more than ever. After he had hung up on her, she had vowed not to bother him again—but she was utterly alone in this.

It wasn’t as if she could confide in Lucy, who had betrayed her by talking to the press, or Silas, who was already freaking out when she mentioned the gun trade. Not to mention his own family was named with the Two of Diamonds. It had to mean Connor and his old man. Silas was an angel and well loved by her father, never doing him any harm. But that didn’t mean he would keep his mouth shut and not tell Connor about the cards.

He would also probably tell Fiona she was about to get in over her head, and she was looking for more of a partner than another man telling her what to do.

Fiona had to make Alex help her. She had to talk sense into him somehow.

Knowing she’d regret it, she picked up the phone and called him back. She was prepared for him to hang up on her again, so she knew she had to act fast to convince him.

The phone rang, and it rang so long that she began to wonder if Alex had blocked her. “Pick up,” she said with frustration in her voice.

But he never did.

She called back, determined to get him on board. After the fifth time she called back, he finally answered. “Oh my gosh, Fiona. Take a hint.”

“You didn’t block me,” she said, surprised.

“Yet. I’m seriously considering it, though.”

“Well, you aren’t going to want to do that. And I can explain it all if you’d just hear me out.”

“I’m really busy, Fiona.”

“I understand, but it’s about my father. And yes, I know you’re not on the case, but—”

“Then you know you should be talking to Chief Swanson, right? Because I’m not allowed to discuss the case. Especially with you.”

“It’s not about the case,” she said. “If you’d just let me finish talking instead of being so hellbent, you’d already know what’s going on.”

“And do I care?”

“Did you care about my father at all? I mean, you owe your stupid career to him, and all you can do is ignore me when I need your help.”

“Fiona, if Jack sees us together or knows that we’re talking, it is not going to be good for either of us.”

“Remember when you said that shit about me not caring what the world thinks in regards to my stepbrother? Because I’m pretty sure you give a shit what Jack thinks by the sound of it.”

“I’ve made a deal with him, Fiona. He could take back that deal any minute if he thinks we’re messing around.”

“My father’s dead. Who I date is hardly a problem now.”

“Do you believe that Jack’s really going to let you date anyone your father wouldn’t approve of? Look, just let whatever this is go.”

“I can’t. It’s my father. He won’t let me let this go. He sent me a message, Alex. He’s practically screaming to me from the beyond. I have to help him.”

“Fiona, you’re distraught. Your father is gone. And any delusions you’re having are not messages. They are simply you missing your father.”

“First of all, they are not delusions, and I resent you thinking that I’m crazy.”

“I don’t think it. I know it. You’re crazy for calling me. Haven’t I made your life hard enough?” 

He hung up the phone again, and Fiona sank back against the couch.

“What an ass.” She groaned and cursed, tossing the phone to the sofa cushion beside her. “I can’t believe him. What’s his fucking problem?”

She heard a woman’s voice from the hallway as if someone was passing her doorway, but she knew it wasn’t Helen’s voice singing a pop tune. It just wasn’t the woman’s style.

Fiona went to the door, and when she peeked out into the hall, she startled the young woman who was walking toward the stairs. 

“Oh, you scared me,” said Poppy, holding her heart. “I didn’t know you were here too, Fiona.” She rested her glasses on top of her head.

“This is my house. Of course, I’m here.” She knew Poppy was there because Jack was. But when he said he was staying, she had no idea that it meant he’d have company.

“Well, it’s just that Jack said you lived in the guest house. But it’s cool. There’s more than enough house here for all of us.”

Fiona’s blood boiled at the woman, inserting herself as if she had any stake in the claim of her home. “I beg your pardon?”

“Oh, it’s just that Jack said we’d be staying a while. I’m going to take a morning swim. I like the pool here much better than the one at Jack’s.”

Fiona took a morning swim almost every day, but she wasn’t about to go with Poppy. She had other matters to take care of anyway. “Well, enjoy it while you can.”

She and stormed back to her room and got dressed, all the while thinking of how miserable it would be to have Poppy in the house. She decided to keep the cards on her or locked up at all times. She had a safe in her closet that no one knew about, and she went to it and put the cards inside. The only person she wanted to show might take convincing.

After making sure she was ready to meet the world head first, she walked downstairs to the veranda to find Jack, who had never left, sitting at the breakfast table where her father always sat. It was as if he was trying to make it apparent that he was now the ruler of the house. He had the papers in front of him and had nearly made it through the entire stack.

“How long are you both going to be here?” asked Fiona. “I didn’t expect Poppy. And I’d appreciate it if from now on, you’d tell me who you’re going to invite over to the house. It’s not easy having people around while I’m mourning, and I’d appreciate the privacy at this time.”

“Someone woke up thinking she had rights.” He reached for a grape that was included in the spread of fresh fruits and muffins that Helen had laid out. 

Fiona sat in her usual seat, taking a blueberry muffin from the basket and smearing it with butter. “I do have rights. Rights to privacy and a right to know when there’s someone else in the house that my father was just murdered in. What if I’d have thought she was a prowler and called the police?” Or worse, shot her thinking she was a prowler? She knew where every gun was in the house, though the police might have taken them all.

“They would have wasted a trip. Unless you want to use it as an excuse to call your cop buddy, Alex. I’m sure he’d like that.” He took a bite from a large blueberry muffin he’d stuffed with strawberries and butter.

“Are you ever going to stop lording that video over our heads, Jack? Don’t you ever get tired?” She bit into the muffin, only to find it still warm in the middle.

“No.” He gave a wicked laugh. “Not when it comes to tormenting my little sister. Oh, and since you want warnings, I thought I’d let you know that I’m not selling the company. At least not anytime soon and not per this agreement. I’m going to run it myself. These numbers discussed were terrible. And I know that in a few years, I can double them.”

“You should honor our father’s wishes.” She sighed, knowing that Jack wasn’t like decent human beings. He would always look at things from his own point of view and would never do anything that truly honored anyone else.

“I’m not slandering the family name with wild sex videos, Fiona. I’m only backing out on a deal that was bad for us. I’m protecting you too. We stand to lose a whole lot doing this deal, and then there’s Bradley and Wallace, who would have come out smelling like roses. Not by the skin off my back they’re not. If they have any sense, they’ll not fight me either. I’ll make it worth twice as much to them in the future.”

“You’re taking a big risk. It would take more money to get things in order. Dad was selling it for a reason. He said we’re both set up with our own companies. We don’t need it. He never planned on us ruling over it.”

“Well, then he shouldn’t have trained me for it.” He patted the contract. “I have read this from top to bottom, and the only people who gain from this shitty deal are Bradley and Wallace. Don’t you think that’s wrong? It’s like they were taking advantage of an old, dying man. You should really think about that.”

She knew it wasn’t that at all. Her father had already given her the upscale rentals they managed and two of the newer apartment units. They would keep her a wealthy woman for the rest of her life. 

She wasn’t concerned about the older apartment buildings, the ones that were outdated and needed work. Fiona was glad her father hadn’t stuck her with them. If Bradley and Wallace wanted the burden of it, then more power to them. Managing them had been hell when she helped her father through college. And her father hadn’t wanted her or Jack to have to live with the burden forever. Jack might have had his training, but Fiona had some too, and she had seen enough to know what was going to be successful and what wasn’t.

She felt that Jack only wanted the properties for the added perpetual income, and he had never worked as she had on the receiving end of complaints. The rentals were work. Selling houses, making a deal, and washing your hands of the rest were so much more her speed.

Jack was ripe to be a slum lord, though, and he probably had no intention of fixing up the older properties anyway. He’d be the type to go in, raise the rents, and evict anyone who didn’t comply. He didn’t care at all. And he didn’t have a license to sell the new properties. Only she did.

“I just think we shouldn’t go against his wishes. But we can talk about that later.” She wasn’t going to bring up Mr. Holbrook, or the cards, or what he had told her about a new will. But she was curious if Jack had ever gotten a message from him about it.

“I’ll talk to Carter later,” he said, sipping his coffee. “He’ll know what’s going on. But I want you to be thinking about it, Fiona. I’m doing it, with or without you. You won’t be able to stop me.”

Carter was the original attorney, and her father must have lost his trust in him. By the old will, Jack and Fiona would split everything, aside from a special trust that was set up for her from her mother. It was the only thing Jack couldn’t touch, outside of extortion and blackmail, but so far, he hadn’t wanted any of her money. She knew if he wanted to assert his weight over the other properties, he very well could.

She only hoped that the new will would take care of any problems that Jack would try and cause. “Well, then, I guess we’ll see.” She got up, taking the muffin to go, and walked to the door. “Oh, and tell Poppy to stay out of Dad’s study, and if I see her snooping around the house, I’m going to break both of her hands.”

Jack laughed. “Wow, there’s a bit of our old man in you yet.”

Fiona turned and looked back on her way out. “Just enough.”

Cover Reveal Time

It's cover reveal time, check out the cover for Royally Similar. Book 2 in THE VIP series will be out July 30th.