Epilogue: Dangerous Liaisons

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Chapter 10: Bullets for My Valentine

Blistering winds bit at Alexa’s face, the only part of her body that was exposed as she laid in wait near the old refinery. Thanks to Gavin’s discovery, she had left a blackmail letter for Mayor McLintock. If she wished to keep her name out of the papers with regard to the conspiracy, she’d be wise to deliver half-a-million dollars in small, unmarked bills to the designated location at noon.

The plan was to get the mayor or her cohorts to expose themselves, allowing Alexa to get definitive proof of their involvement. Thirty minutes past the scheduled meeting time, she heard the distinct sound of leaves and gravel crunching under tires. A dark colored SUV was pulling into the lot. Three men exited the vehicle. Two searched the area while the third waited near the driver’s side door.

Chapter 09: Blood Money

Warm hands wrapped around Gavin’s middle as he quietly worked in the garage. Taking a deep breath, he gently rubbed Alexa’s soft skin and felt her head rest against his shoulder. “You alright, Babe?” he asked stealing a glance behind him.

“Yeah,” she sighed before slipping around to look him in the eyes. “Sorry about last night.”

“Nah it’s ok. I sorta figured you fell asleep where I’d left you in Curt’s room. How’s he doing by the way?”

“Alright, I guess. The local police have agreed to put a full guard detail on him until he’s released.”

“And when is that?”

“Not sure. Maybe Tuesday? His doctor wants to give his wounds a little while to heal and to make sure he’s safe from clotting. He’s not taking their advice and staying in bed so it’s prolonging the process.” Alexa hopped up on the table beside Gavin’s workspace as he took a seat. “How was your evening?”

“Productive.”

Chapter 08: Up All Night

Gavin raced down the gravel road, driving furiously until he saw the devastating sight. Alexa’s car set on its side, bright flames and dark smoke drifting from its ruins. Remi, and Gavin jumped out of the car and ran to the disfigured vehicle. Heat still steamed off the metal in shimmery waves.

Gavin ran up as close as he could to get a look inside but saw nothing. He turned around in a circle searching for clues, then looked at the cabin and saw the upstairs windows open. He pulled out his Glock, “The house,” he said. Remi and his men took attack positions around the perimeter of the home. Gavin tried to catch his breath. Remi was already at the front door and gestured for him to take the back. 

Chapter 07: Hit Squad

It didn’t take much convincing. Just another seventy grand U.S. to get Juan to locate a coyote brave enough to transport Manuel Garcia across the border for Alexa. Although things hadn’t gone to plan down in Puebla, they had gained some valuable Intel that could blow their case wide open. And while it would have been more prudent to finish their hostage off and leave his body on Julian Cruz’s doorstep, Curt was committed to bringing the mayor face-to-face with her misconduct.

After securing Garcia in a vacant home in the woods, she and Curt returned to her house to decompress. Plus, Alexa had been anxious to get back and hug Willow. Gavin stood at the door as the pair pulled in and almost instantly, Garcia’s words about his dad began swirling around her head. “Are you ready for this?” Curt asked, noticing her apprehension.

“Yeah. Let’s get this over with,” she replied and slid out of the driver’s door.

Chapter 06: Out of Bounds

Alexa and Curt sat in a lane of thirty cars waiting for Border Patrol to allow them into the country. Less than 24-hours ago, her family had been attacked by unknown thugs. Now here they were, waiting in line to get their revenge. And while it would have been ideal to fly to their destination, which was also Curt’s suggestion, Alexa wanted to be able to get in and out as quickly as possible.

Chapter 05: She Bangs

“Jesus fucking Christ! A hit?” Curt shouted once Alexa had finished going over what she and Gavin uncovered at the Gala. “Are you sure?”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” Alexa answered. “Michael West is a fall guy. I’m betting that if we look into his finances or those of his closest relatives, we’ll find the payoff.”

“Fuck!” He continued pacing, burning holes in his hundred-dollar Rockports. “Why? Who would want the Commissioner dead?”

“Well,” Alexa glanced over at Gavin, seeking permission before she continued. He nodded and she released a deep breath. “The information was in a folder sitting in the Governor’s office.”

Chapter 04: Silent Knight

Alexa was pinned down behind the car, taking shots from an unseen attacker to her right. Meanwhile, Curt was returning fire in the same direction. He was shielding himself on the porch, providing Alexa with much needed cover. “You’re gonna have to get away from there, Alexa,” he shouted over the gunfire. “I don’t know how much more that engine block can take before the thing blows.”

As the words escaped his mouth, the smell of gasoline met with Alexa’s nose. Looking beside her right shoulder, she saw the fuel tank had been punctured and a steady stream of gas was pouring into the gravel beside her. “Curt?” she shouted in a shaky voice.

“I got you, Trouble. Just run to me. I promise, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Chapter 03: Bad Blood

Alexa’s eyes opened to darkness. It had only been a few hours since she joined her husband in bed. Gavin’s smooth chest was beneath her fingertips as he held her against him; his breathing slow and even. She smiled, feeling his arm squeeze around her tighter. He always knew when she stirred.

Quietly, she pulled away from him. Dark eyes peered up at her as she stood naked at the side of the bed. He leaned up for a moment, fully alert but, barely awake. “You ok?” he mumbled, running a hand over his face.

“I’m fine.”

“Well, come back to bed,” he whispered, his gaze slowly trailing down her body.

“I’ll be right back.” She touched his hand and his fingers tangled with hers before she slipped away. The shirt on the floor was nearly pushed beneath the bed and she grabbed it before walking away, pulling it on just as she opened the door. 

Chapter 02: Leap of Faith

“All this is from one case?” Gavin asked, joining Alexa out in the garage. She was poring over the files Curt had brought over earlier which was all stored in boxes—lots of boxes.

“Apparently, they’ve been tracking every move La Hermandad made starting in 2005,” she said without looking up. Focusing on a particular file, Alexa analyzed the information, combing through the notes and still images looking for whatever it was Detective Fuller indicated toward in his last communication.

From the urgency in his voice, it would seem he stumbled onto something big…big enough to warrant an unauthorized trip to Mexico. And enough to have gotten him killed. 

“And Detective Monroe thinks you’ll find something they couldn’t in all that time?”

“He knows I’m good at what I do.”

“That’s putting it mildly.” It was a whispered assertion but not so quiet to go unnoticed by Alexa. “Does that mean you found something?”

Chapter 01: Back in Business

Water trickled down the etched lines of Gavin Stark’s hard body as he stood beneath the warm spray. His fingers combed through his raven black hair, allowing the soap to wash through. Alexa sat perched upon the sink, watching as he moved his tall frame further beneath the nozzle and suds turned to clear water as he lifted his face to let the shower rain down on him. 

Heat flared to life within Alexa as she imagined those hands gripping her thighs and rudely exposing her most intimate parts. As if reading her thoughts, Gavin’s dark lashes opened and the depths of his steely blue eyes locked onto hers with a look of desire and that delicious smirk. “You know, you could have joined me,” he said, his voice echoing around the small room. 

Update

Hello, Readers,

I am currently working on the next addition to Alexa and Gavin’s escapades and wanted to give you a small update on my status. Currently, I have 10 chapters written (but not in a fully consecutive order because sometimes writing the endings is much easier than the stuff in between).

Right now, I have a prologue and epilogue for the first case completed as well as chapters 1-8. Now, if I can just figure out chapters 9 and 10 I’ll be ready to start taking shots and get this puppy published!