EXPOSED: Sizzling HOT Detective Series (The Criminal Affairs Collection Book 1)

by Taylor Lee

  “Yeah, tootsie, believe it or not, the fuckin’ Muñoz cartel took a major hit in the cojones. What’s left of them is scrabbling into the dirt like the filthy maggots they are. Hard as it is to believe, Sergeant, you got in the middle of a high-level international raid that had been in the planning stages for nearly two years. I hope you know that your little renegade escapade coulda torpedoed the whole damn thing.”

  He must have seen her dismay, because Captain Michels relented. “Although from what the operative’s leaders said, you were instrumental in helping them bring down Francesca and Muñoz.”

  “Who…who were the operatives?”

  “Some high-level interagency team headed up by a hot-shit former Special Ops guy. I never met any of them. They disappeared like the ghosts they are. Apparently they had fifty-plus men involved. Everyone from the DEA, to ICE, to Homeland Security. I heard off the record that the leader was on loan from an undercover team at the LAPD.”

  “Were…any of them hurt?”

  “No, somehow, the whole team made it out alive. You were the only good guy who got hurt. And as I said before, Sergeant, you came goddamned close to dying.”

  “Are any of them…still here?”

  “Hell no. Like I said, they skedaddled out of here like rats off a ship. You know what those off-the-books operations are like. The Army or the federales or whoever ordered the fucking mission will deny with their dying breath that it ever existed.”

  After a couple of days, Viviana stopped expectantly looking at the doorway every time it opened. She finally gave in to the fact that he was gone. That she’d likely never see him again. Viviana confessed that knowledge hurt a hell of a lot more than the painful stitches in her side. She was certain they would heal faster than her heart would.

  ****

  It took a solid three months of rehab and working her ass off to get back into shape and work her way off desk duty at the precinct. Viviana admitted that it was a hell of a lot easier healing her body than her pride. After browbeating herself in every way possible for her stupidity, she finally came to grips with the hard reality. The most exciting and challenging—not to mention the sexiest—man in her life had used her. She’d been nothing more than a means to an end. A pawn on a chessboard.

  Repeatedly reliving those incredible three days she spent with him in Belize, Viviana acknowledged what had happened. He’d clearly discovered who she was and decided the only way he could keep her from fucking up his high-level op was to fuck her. And simpleton that she was, she fell for it—and him. It hurt like hell to admit that she’d been had. But after she was finally able to run again, she spent miles on the running trail convincing herself that she could and would survive. She promised herself that she’d be tougher, more of a loner than ever before. She declared bitterly that no one would make a fool of her again.

  Viviana wasn’t surprised when Captain Michels decided to retire. He’d been threatening to for the last three years. Viviana was sad to see him go. As angry as he was at her ninety percent of the time, he’d given her more rope than any other captain would have. He seemed to admit that her stunning record for closing cases made her off-the-books behavior tolerable. At his going-away bash, the crusty man had said, only half kidding, that now he’d just have to put up with his wife, his mother-in-law, and his thirteen grandkids. Which would be a hell of a lot easier than corralling Viviana Moreau.

  A month after the captain retired, Mick O’Reilly caught up with her. “Hey, Viv, did you hear that we’re finally going to get a new captain?” When she said she hadn’t, he continued, “Hear he’s some hotshot they’re grooming to take over the commissioner’s job when Davis runs for mayor. Apparently the dude is a friend of the current mayor and the fucking governor.” He gave a disgusted snort. “You know how that crap works. You gotta know somebody to be somebody.”

  The next day Commissioner Davis and Police Chief McElroy called a meeting of the Violent Crimes Unit. Staring at the tall, dark-haired man standing at the podium beside the commissioner, Viviana barely heard Chief McElroy’s words.

  “We never thought we could get this guy standing beside me to come to SAPD. But somehow, we did. All I can say is that we must have done something right in our sorry lives. Fellow officers, I’m pleased to introduce the finest undercover cop I know, as well as the toughest Delta Force leader to run a special op. I oughta know, since he was my commander for four of the hairiest missions I’ve served on.”

  Through the thunderous din in her disbelieving ears, Viviana heard the smiling chief say with a flourish, “Ladies and gentlemen, meet your new boss, Jaxton Hughes.”

  AFTERWORD

  Thank you for reading EXPOSED. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much I enjoyed writing it. I also hope that it piqued your interest in the upcoming books. If you think Viviana and Jax are hot in EXPOSED, wait until you read FORBIDDEN and the rest of the books in the series. All I can tell you is to buckle up. You are in for a heck of a ride!

  If you enjoyed EXPOSED, do a huge favor for me. Click on this link and write an honest review of the book. Authors live and die by their reviews. The few extra seconds it takes really helps us authors out. Many, many thanks! AND please go to my website www.taylorleebooks.com for my publishing schedule and lots of FREE stuff! Sign up for my newsletter. It is the way I stay connected to my glorious readers.

  The Criminal Affairs Collection

  Taylor Lee’s HOT NEW Suspense Collection

  Prequel: EXPOSED

  To purchase the EXPOSED Prequel Novella; click here

  COMING

  June through December 2017

  Book 2: FORBIDDEN

  Book 3: BETRAYED

  Book 4: SEIZED

  Finale: AVENGED

  Taylor Lee’s OMNIBUS

  Collections

  The Justice Brother Series

  To purchase Jared: Book 1 click here

  To purchase Jude: Book 2 click here

  To purchase Jorden: Book 3 click here

  To purchase Jake: Book 4 click here

  To purchase Judge: Book 5 click here

  Ladies of the Night Series

  To purchase Sapphire: Book 1 click here

  To purchase Ruby: Book 2 click here

  To purchase Topaz: Book 3 click here

  To purchase Diamond: Book 4 click here

  The Man in the Arena Collection

  Includes: The Courage to Dare, The Courage to Love, The Courage to Triumph

  To purchase The Courage to Dare: Book 1 click here

  To purchase The Man in the Arena Collection: click here

  The All Fired Up Omnibus Collection

  Includes: Playing With Fire, Trial By Fire, Fire and Ice, Ring of Fire, You Light My Fire, Special Ops and Cops Christmas

  To purchase Fire and Ice: Novella click here

  To purchase Playing with Fire: Book 1 click here

  To purchase The All Fired Up Collection: click here

  The Blonde Barracuda Collection

  Includes: Big Girls Don’t Cry, In the Still of the Night, Every Breath You Take, Nights in White Satin, Blue Christmas, Love me Tender plus Short Story Finale: When a Man Loves a Woman.

  To purchase Nights in White Satin: Prequel click here

  To purchase Big Girls Don’t Cry: Book 1 click here

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  The Red Rock Collection

  Includes: Code Name: Red Rock, Red Rock Rises, Red Rock’s Revenge, Red Rock’s Rebel, Red Rock’s Redemption and Red Rock Rules

  To purchase Code Name Red Rock: Prequel click here

  To purchase Red Rock Rises: Book 1 click here

  To purchase The Red Rock Collection: click here

  The Dangerous Affairs Collection

  Includes: The El Paso Incident, The Moscow Affair, The D. C. Incident, The Bangkok Affair, The Rio Affair and The Paris Incident)

  To purchase The El Paso Incident: Prequel click here

  To purchase The
Moscow Affair: Book 1 click here

  To purchase The Dangerous Affairs Collection: click here

  The Grandmaster’s Legacy: Masters of Love and War

  Includes: Struck by Thunder, Race for Redemption, The Frenchman’s Woman, The Frenchman’s Revenge

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  The Bad Ass Brigade

  Bad Guys Beware, The Good Guys Are on the Prowl

  A Sampler of Sizzling Romantic Suspense.

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  Books by Other Authors

  If you like my HOT Mystery Thriller/Romantic Suspense Novels, check out these other authors I love!

  Bared to You (Crossfire, Book 1)

  by Sylvia Day (Author)

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  Avenged (Hostage Rescue Team Series) (Vol. 5)

  by Kaylea Cross (Author)

  To purchase Avenged click here

  In Plain Sight (Sisterhood)

  by Fern Michaels (Author)

  To purchase In Plain Sight click here

  Darkest Before Dawn (A KGI Novel)

  by Maya Banks (Author)

  To purchase Darkest Before Dawn click here

  About the Author

  USA Today Best-Selling author Taylor Lee writes Suspenseful Mystery Thrillers—with a heavy dose of Sexy to Sizzling HOT Romance.

  In the four years that she has been writing, Taylor has written more than forty books. Her eight series track her Special Operatives, Covert Agents, Cops, Firefighters, and other iconic heroes and heroines, through the harrowing situations that make up their lives. From human trafficking rings to corrupt politicians, Taylor investigates the underbelly of society and the criminals who flourish there.

  Taylor says, “From the residue in my personal blender of mixed races, cultures and world views, my characters emerge. It comforts me to know that while evil slinks in the shadows, the “good guys and gals” of the world sniff it out—and snuff it out.

  “My characters are arrogant alpha males and the feisty women who bring them to their knees—and vice versa…They fight hard, love hard and don’t mince words. They are dangerous men and women in dangerous times. Love, passion and ridding the world of evil? What’s not to like?”

  A sampling of Taylor’s reviews that number in the multiple hundreds and are incredibly positive:

  "Taylor Lee never disappoints! These books are sizzling hot and keep you guessing at every turn. For discriminating readers who insist on great characters and a spellbinding story that also includes HOT romance!" Sarah Reviews

  “The sexiest, most outrageous hero I’ve read in a long time. Snappy, laugh out loud dialogue, and a Sizzling HOT romance makes these wildly exciting murder mysteries true page-turners.” J. John

  "These are the best books I've read recently. Taylor Lee's stories are so full of action, sex and exquisite love that I hate when they end. I want them to just go on and on. I can't wait for the next installment." Deidre Abbot

  “Spellbinding police mystery thrillers that will have you on the edge of your seat. Pulse pounding action and steamy romance. A cast of unforgettable characters that will capture your heart.” Action Junkie

  Contact Information

  Taylor Lee loves to hear from readers!

  Contact at:

  E-mail: taylorleewrites@gmail.com

  Twitter: @taylorleewrites

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  Blog: www.taylorleebooks.com

  Sign up for Taylor Lee’s Newsletter to get the scoop on Taylor Lee’s SIZZLING ROMANTIC SUSPENSE at www.taylorleebooks.com

  Copyright Information

  EXPOSED: Book 1; Criminal Affairs Collection

  Copyright, 2017 by Taylor Lee

  idesire publications

  All rights reserved

  This book is a work of fiction. Characters, incidents, places and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  No portion of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Any inquiries can be made to: www.taylorleebooks.com or taylorlee@taylorleewrites.com

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  Table of Contents

  Main Menu

  Afterword

  Other Works by Taylor Lee

  The Justice Brothers Series—Contemporary Sizzling Suspense

  Ladies of the Night Series—Contemporary Sizzling Suspense

  The Man in the Arena Series—Contemporary Sizzling Suspense

  The All Fired Up Collection—Contemporary Sizzling Suspense

  The Red Rock Collection— Contemporary Sizzling Suspense

  The Blonde Barracuda Collection—Contemporary Sizzling Suspense

  The Dangerous Affairs Collection—Contemporary Sizzling Suspense

  The Grand Master’s Legacy Collection—HOT Historical Romance

  The Bad Ass Brigade—Contemporary Sizzling Suspense

  About the Author

  Contact Information

  Copyright

  Chapters:

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

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