by L. P. Dover
ARMED AND DANGEROUS SERIES
No Limit
Roped In (August 2015)
FOREVER FAE SERIES
Forever Fae (Forever Fae #1)
Betrayals of Spring (Forever Fae #2)
Summer of Frost (Forever Fae #3)
Reign of Ice (Forever Fae #4)
SECOND CHANCES SERIES
Love’s Second Chance (Second Chances #1)
What He Wants (Second Chances #1.5)
Trusting You (Second Chances #2)
Meant for Me (Second Chances #3)
Fighting for Love (Second Chances #4)
Intercepting Love (Second Chances #5)
Catching Summer (Second Chances #6)
GLOVES OFF SERIES
A Fighter’s Desire: Part One (Gloves Off #0.5)
A Fighter’s Desire: Part Two (Gloves Off #0.6)
Tyler’s Undoing (Gloves Off #1)
Ryley’s Revenge (Gloves Off #2)
Paxton’s Promise (Gloves Off #3)
Winter Kiss: Ryley and Ash (Gloves Off #3.5)
Camden’s Redemption (Gloves Off #4)
Kyle’s Return (Gloves Off #5)
STANDALONE TITLE
Love, Lies, and Deception
Murder. Lies. Betrayal.
I deal with those things every day. My name is Jason Avery, one of the best undercover agents in the country. I have yet to fail on a mission, which is why I’ve been sent to Vegas. Countless women have been abducted, tortured, only to show up dead in the middle of the night. It’s my job to find out which sick fuck is responsible. Unfortunately, every lead sends me to a dead end; at least, until Aylee McFadden shows up at my door.
Aylee is a stubborn, headstrong FBI agent and also one of the sexiest women I’ve ever seen with a gun. In joining me, it gives us the leverage we need to get on the inside. She fights me at every turn, but soon realizes there’s more to me than tattoos and a dirty mouth. I can’t get enough of her. Now that we’re in the game, we’re one step closer to solving the crime. However, gambling with money isn’t what the big boys want. They want the one thing I’m not willing to give.
It’s a no limit game, and if I back down I lose everything. I will lose her.
STANDALONE NOVEL
I’d like to dedicate this book to my dad, Jerry Moore. Out of everyone in my family, he has been one of my biggest supporters. No Limit wouldn’t have been written without his help. A huge thank you goes out to him and I hope he knows how much I love him.
“You found me.”
If there was ever a moment when I needed to keep my wits about me, it was now. But how could I do that when I wanted nothing more than to snap the man’s neck in front of me; to make him bleed like he did the families he murdered.
“Did you think I wouldn’t?” I spat through clenched teeth. His file flashed through my mind, the pictures of the carnage he left behind . . . those children. My blood boiled.
He was poised, ready to fight to the death by the look in his eyes. “I guess it was only a matter of time.”
His name was Michael Bruxton, a computer analyst with skills matching my own. But he had a sick hobby that cost the lives of three families over the past two weeks. I spent day and night searching for him, and now I found the bastard.
We circled each other in the rundown, abandoned warehouse he’d holed up in while on the run. On the floor were tokens he stole from his victims. The baby doll with a bright pink dress caught my attention first. My whole body shook with rage. “How could you do it, you sick fuck?”
His eyes sparkled. “It’s like putting paint to canvas.” He looked down at the things he collected and smiled. “Their pleas for help were music to my ears.”
Flashes of the children laying in their own blood, their lives taken from them at such a young age plagued my mind. They were innocent, along with their parents who only wanted to protect them. A man like him deserved to die a slow, painful death . . . and I was going to make sure that happened.
Lunging for him, we went down to the dirty floor, his head slamming against the concrete. He tried to punch me and missed. I couldn’t hear anything other than the blood rushing through my veins. Pinning him with my weight, I punched him over and over, the feel of his bones crunching beneath my fist. I didn’t know the families who were killed, but I fought for them, bringing their murderer to justice.
The sick fuck spit to clear his throat, blood dribbling down his cheek, and laughed. “I love it when they fight back.” He pushed his arousal into me and groaned.
Jesus Christ. Grabbing his neck, I squeezed and snuffed his next words out. “You get off on pain you perverted son of a bitch?” I picked up a brick from nearby and raised it high. “Let’s see how you like this.” As hard as I could, I slammed it down on his face. “You said screams were music to your ears,” I yelled into the silence. “Where are the screams now, you bitch?” I slammed the brick back down on his mutilated face over and over again, trying to unsee the pictures of the flayed bodies he’d left behind.
Throwing the brick across the floor, I got up and surveyed the scene, breathing hard. “Now you can’t hurt anyone ever again.”
“Got anything new comin’ up?” Blake asked, leaning against the doorframe.
Strapping on my holster, I shook my head. After everything that happened with Bruxton, I needed a break. “I hope not. You?”
Jaw tight, he trudged into my office, gray eyes full of turmoil. “Actually, I’m headin’ out for good. I just wanted to say goodbye.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Are you skipping town or quitting the team?”
Blake Evans and the rest of the guys on our team were the best undercover agents in the country. We’d already lost a couple people, including my sister who decided to move away to California to settle down. We couldn’t afford to lose another skilled agent.
A small smile splayed across his face as he sat down. “I’m still going to be a part of the team. This is my life. I’ll just be living it somewhere else.”
“Where to?”
“Wyoming. My grandfather passed away and left me his ranch. I figured I’d go since nothing’s really keeping me here. I’m single, and we’re always traveling with the job. I’m never in Charlotte that much anyway.”
“No shit. I think this is the first week in months I’ve been able to sit back and relax.” I stared at him and chuckled. “Blake Evans turned cowboy. I never would’ve thought it.”
He got to his feet. “Me neither, but it’ll sure be interesting. How about we get one last drink together at Second Street before I go?”
“Sounds good, bro. I was just about to head out.” We got halfway to the door when my cell phone rang. I looked down at my phone and walked back to my desk. “It’s the Chief of Police from Vegas.” So much for the break I wanted. Leaning against my desk, I answered the call. “Ryan Griffin, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“No pleasure in this call, son. Are you still at the station?”
“I was just getting ready to leave. What do you need?”
Sounding tired, he sighed. “I sent you some files. Take a look at them for me.”
Blake took a seat while I sat back down behind my computer. It didn’t take long for it to boot back up and when it did, I found the files. “All right, I have the files opened up.” The first one was a woman who was found dead two months prior, followed by two other murder victims and one who was missing. “What the fuck is this?”
“Whoever this fucker is, he’s cutting them, strangling them, and then leaving them on the side of the road.”
I waved Blake over. “Take a look at this,” I whispered, holding the phone away. While he sat down, I moved back. “Did it all start two months ago with this first woman, or have you had similar cases?”
“Nope, all new. We’ve had eyewitnesses give us descriptions of the people these women were last seen with—all high rollers of Sin City. No one wants to talk. All we’re getting are dead ends. I need someone on the inside who doesn’t look like a cop. My people can’t get close enough.”
Blake moved out of the way and I glanced at the pictures one last time before closing them out. “I’ll be there soon,” I said, hanging up.
“That’s some really nasty shit going on out there,” Blake stated.
Anger boiled in my veins. The pictures of those women were going to forever be ingrained in my mind. “Yes, it is, and I’m going to make sure I find the fucker responsible.”
Three Months Later
“Going out again?” Ryan grumbled through the phone.
“That’s the plan. I can’t exactly do much sitting on my ass.”
“One would think that’s what you’ve been doing since you haven’t figured out shit. Please tell me you have something . . . anything other than the thousands you’ve won.”
Clenching my teeth, I took a deep breath. “I’ve given you more than what you were able to come up with on your own. For three months now, I’ve kicked ass at each casino and learned every single game. I have a name out there, but nothing’s going to make these guys seek me out. I’m nothing to them.”
Unfortunately, two more girls had shown up dead. Both were professional escorts from the same agency, which happened to be run by Ronnie Chatfield, a female pimp. I had yet to speak to her, but was determined to seek her out. The woman was invisible. On her website, it said the ranch was temporarily closed for business, yet more of their girls were disappearing.
The women were beautiful, some fuller than others, and way more expensive than the drugged out prostitutes you’d see on the street. These women were for the elite. Other than that, I did know what my suspects looked like, what their names were, where they worked, who their families were . . . basically, it was tracking them that was a complete bitch.
“But at least you’re enjoying the money in the meantime, right?” he scoffed.
“Kiss my fucking ass. I’m here to help you out. I don’t have to be here. If anyone wants to get this case solved quickly, it’s me. I’m ready to get the hell away from this place.”
Ryan huffed and the line grew silent. I had made a shit ton of money, but that was because I was good at the games. To get in with the high rollers, I had no choice but to learn. As a reward, the casinos offered me free rooms and other amenities. I was living like a king. There was no denying I enjoyed it, but my full focus was on the case, nothing else.
“Look, I hate to be a dick, but the FBI is breathing down my neck. If you don’t figure something out soon, they’re going to intervene.”
I snorted. “I’d like to see them get as far as I have.”
“Either way, they will show up. I just want you to be prepared. I’ve worked with some of those douchebags before.”
“As long as they stay out of my way, I’m fine.”
“I can already tell you now . . . they won’t.”
One Week Later
“Mr. Avery, would you like another gin and tonic?”
I looked up and smiled. “That’d be great.” The night was young and I already had over two hundred grand in chips. Ryan’s words about the FBI butting in had been nagging on me all week.
“Is there anything else I can get you?” the sultry waitress asked, biting her lower lip. She stuck her tits out, showing me the hardened nipples through her white shirt. Her hand slid up my thigh and my dick twitched.
Groaning, I pushed her hand away. I almost wanted to take what she was offering, slide away to a back room and fuck her senseless. She wasn’t exactly the type of woman I’d go for, but a dark room could do wonders. It’d been an eternity since I’d had a good fuck. “Sorry, sweetheart. I don’t have time to play tonight.”
“Maybe next time?” she asked, sounding hopeful.
I kissed her hand and winked. “We’ll see.”
Tossing back the gin and tonic, I grabbed my chips and started for the floor. I had played every single game so much it bored me. The stakes were all the same, there was no competition. Going through the motions, I spent the next three hours going from table to table. It wasn’t until the brush of a hand on my shoulder pulled me out of my monotony. I thought it was the waitress trying her luck again, but it wasn’t.
“Do you mind if I join you?” Her hair was a deep red and in soft curls past her shoulders, and her eyes were the clearest blue I’d ever seen.
“What’s your name?” I asked, staring at her tight black dress.
She took a seat beside me, grinning wide. “Ariel, and yours?”
By the look in her seductive blue eyes I knew she was lying. I held out my hand. “I’m Eric. Want to board my ship?”
Catching the reference, she shook my hand. “Well played. But I’d be more than happy to ride on your ship.”
“Normally I’d say all aboard, but now is not a good time,” I said, getting to my feet.
Smirking, she got up and let go of my hand. “Pity. I was hoping to have some fun tonight.”
“Oh, I’m sure there are plenty of gentlemen here who could use your services.”
“Am I that obvious?” she challenged, regarding me with narrowed eyes.
“It’s of no concern to me either way.” But before I could turn away, an idea sparked. Looking at the red haired vixen, she was exactly the type of person I needed. Unfortunately, the men I was searching for weren’t there. “Actually, I may have a proposition for you.”
“What kind of proposition?”
I pulled out one of my cards and wrote my number on it. “It might be dangerous, so I understand if you don’t want to. But you look like the kind of girl who’d be up for a challenge.”
She took my card and smiled, her eyes lit with humor. “You have no idea.”
“All you have to do is give me a call tomorrow morning.”
“What kind of money you talking?”
I tapped her chin and winked. “Don’t worry, you’ll be well compensated.” Making my way out of the casino, I glanced over my shoulder; she was gone. Ryan might not like the ideas going through my mind, but it was the perfect solution. The only problem now would be putting my trust in a prostitute.
Back at the hotel, I turned on my phone and set it on the bed, ignoring its incessant beeping. It’d been a week since I’d talked to Ryan and the last thing I wanted was to hear him bitch. He was just going to have to go another day without talking to me. Running a hand through my hair, I looked out the window at the city lights. I prayed I could figure out the case before another woman went missing.
Over at the bar, a bottle of whiskey called my name. I was about to pour a tumbler full when a loud knock sounded on the door. Who the fuck is that?
As soon as I opened the door, the red-haired vixen strolled in, carrying a bag in her hands. “You decided to follow me? You should know I’m not into stalkers.”
Throwing her bag on the floor, she turned to me, her smile gone. “It’s a good thing I’m not stalking you then. My name’s Aylee McFadden. I’m with the FBI.” She lifted her leg on the couch and retrieved something strapped to her thigh, throwing it at me.
Eyes wide, I stared down at her badge. “Holy fuck.”
“I can’t believe you were going to get a civilian to help you with the case, least of all a fucking prostitute,” I scolded. Instead of answering, he clenched his jaw and tossed me my badge. “I’ll give you credit though, at least you didn’t try to fuck me.”
He stepped forward, sliding his shirt sleeves up, showing off the tattoos tracing down his right arm; green eyes blazing. “My mind is always on the case. So what exactly does the FBI hope to accomplish by sending you?”
Reaching into my bag, I pulled out my detail assignment which now included him. “First off, I want you to stop talking to me like I’m the enemy.” He scoffed, pissing me off more. “And sec
ond,” I added, throwing the file at him, “it was my idea to risk my life to help you.”
Hearing what was being done to the victims brought back horrible memories. I was sick for a week after looking at the pictures. I wasn’t a weak woman, but there was only so much you could take before the past came back to haunt you. My eyes started to burn.
“So what, I’m supposed to take orders from you now?” he asked, breaking into my thoughts.
Rolling my eyes, I crossed my arms. “Is this really how you’re going to be?”
He tossed the file on the couch. “I can do whatever the fuck I want. This is my case and I’m going to solve it. I don’t need you or the bureau fucking everything up.”
Barreling toward the door, I didn’t even try to stop him. “Whiny bitch it is then,” I muttered. Pulling out my phone, I dialed Ryan’s number. He’d warned me about Jason’s reaction.
“Let me guess, he told you to fuck off,” he said, answering the phone.
“Not in those exact words, but I got the gist.”
“He may be an arrogant jackass, but he’s one of the best. I’ve been giving him hell the past month. It’s never taken him this long to solve a case.”
Sitting on the couch, I put the file on my lap and opened it. “That’s because he can’t do this one alone. He needs me, whether he likes it or not.”
“Good luck with that. Make sure to keep me posted, he’s been ignoring my calls.”
“I will. All I have to do is get his considerable thick skull out of his ass.”
Jason had been gone for hours and I wasn’t about to wait up, so I went to bed. It was now morning and the bed was so warm, I didn’t want to leave. It was almost as if the sheets were heated. Snuggling into them, I felt a puff of warm breath on my ear.
“What the flying fuck?” I screeched, elbowing the arrogant jackass behind me. I tried to get up, but Jason laughed, tightening his grip around my stomach. It wasn’t the damn sheets keeping me warm, it was him.
