by Serena Zane
Dark Diamonds
by
Serena Zane
FIRST EDITION
*****
PUBLISHED BY:
SZ Publications
Dark Diamonds
Copyright © 2012 Serena Zane
All rights reserved.
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
Adult reading material.
Cover Image: Louisa Stokes / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Cover Image: MR LIGHTMAN / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Other works by Serena Zane can be found on her website at:
http://www.serenazane.com
DEDICATION
Thank you to all my friends and family who have offered support and encouragement as I finished this series. You are all wonderful. A special thanks goes to my husband Gary, without who’s encouragement might have left this first novel sitting in a file drawer collecting dust. Also thank you to my good friend Chrissy who has encouraged and supported me through this process.
*****
*****
Dark Diamonds
*****
CHAPTER 1
Torrents of rain splashed down around her high-heeled boots. Special Agent Lucy Montgomery couldn’t see anything in the darkened alleyway, with grayed bricks faded to black. She wrinkled her nose at the damp smell of rotted food wafting from a nearby dumpster.
Her hand went to the purse hanging from her shoulder. She smiled in confidence. The weight of her .45 reassured her. Lucy palmed the cold steel of the barrel, rubbing the grip. Wind whipped by, causing a strand of hair to fly across her face. A chill crept up her spine as the gust made its way through her designer parka.
So much for fashion-- How long did she have to wait? She glanced at her watch. One hour in the rain so far.
Why wasn’t he coming out? He’s late. Lucy wrinkled her nose, and scanned the vicinity.
There was barely enough light from the lone streetlamp to illuminate her wristwatch. A couple hurried by, squeezed together under an umbrella. Sounds of traffic from the busy nightlife blared and she gripped her head to stop the ache.
Lucy wished she hadn’t come here alone. She pursed her lips into a frown. Miserable, she tried unsuccessfully to huddle underneath the overhang of a small pharmaceutical company left of the alley that had seen better days. She attempted to keep some of the rain off her soaked body. Hair plastered about her face in long strands. Lucy shivered, and glowered.
This really is all Chase’s fault. He needs to be more careful. Only Chase would get mixed up in a mess like this one.
A cold raindrop snaked its way down her back.
Agent Chase Montgomery, Lucy’s twin brother, shared her looks. They had the same emerald eyes, strawberry colored hair, and a healthy sense of rivalry. As they grew older their interest had always settled in the same areas; bikes, books, and hobbies. Their personalities had remained completely different though.
With a half smile, Lucy remembered when they had gotten their first puppy. She pictured them. Chase had wrestled with the animal and Lucy had run behind them to pick up the mess they left before their mom did. Lucy always knew she’d be the one to take care of the puppy.
Now, here I am again. Cleaning up his mess-- Damn it, what’s wrong with men?
The wind whipped up and a strand of long hair flew across her face again, she brushed it away, angry.
She was always more responsible than her brother. Lucy took her job seriously, working almost twenty-four hours a day. Which might explain why I don’t have a social life.
Chase had accused her of running away from something, but she couldn’t imagine what he’d meant. She’d tried her hardest to curb the streak of impulsiveness that seemed to appear at the most inopportune moments, like now.
Lucy didn’t have time for impulsiveness. She was constantly on the go. At times she juggled ten balls in the air, travesty awaited if one fell. She never gave herself a moments rest. Lucy felt the wear on her system, and yawned. She hadn’t slept since she’d found Chase gone.
Lucy tried to keep her focus on the pub door. She watched as couples came in and out, just not the person she waited for.
Chase ran with a pretty rough crowd. Lucy often worried that his attitude would one day land him in deep water. She’d been right.
He’s a good man at heart. When other agents turned cynical after only a few years with F.I.U.W.; Chase still wanted to believe the best in people. A deeper frown creased her brow at the thought of where that trust landed him, she gripped her gun harder.
They worked for a privately-funded force against organized crime and terrorism called F.I.U.W., or Forced Intelligence of the United World. F.I.U.W. recruited Lucy from her job at the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Chase from S.W.A.T. right there in New York. They both performed at top of their class, and excelled at solving cases. F.I.U.W. recognized their talent, and had recruited them shortly after the 9/11 attacks. F.I.U.W. forces grew and spread globally. Work for F.I.U.W. could be dangerous. Their cases often involved undercover assignments and investigations into criminal activity that funded terrorists.
Someone had taken her brother, and the only person who could tell her what happened sat comfortably in that pub across the street.
Water splashed, and her view of the pub door became temporarily obscured as a city bus passed by. Her heart paused for a moment, until the vehicle moved on. The door to the pub closed again. She rushed to the edge of the alley. Lucy looked both ways on the street. She caught sight of a couple walking away under the dim glow of a streetlamp. She stepped back into the alley to wait and let the darkness swallow her. No sign of the mark.
She and Chase thrived on challenges. They’d asked to work separately for personal reasons. They knew that as twins their close relationship might jeopardize a mission. If one or the other died while on mission together; the results would be devastating since they could feel if the other twin was in pain. Right now, that came as an asset. Lucy sensed Chase hurting. She needed to find her brother, and she needed to do it now.
Why can’t he just hurry up? Waiting for her mark became increasingly more uncomfortable there in the alley, and goosebumps had risen on her arms with cold.
Things went well for Chase, until two days ago.
Chase had gotten assigned to a case in New York City which involved a series of high-class thefts. At the time, Lucy didn’t understand the depth of danger involved.
She pressed her body against the bricks of the wet building beside her, centering her reality. She recalled his excitement as they’d crossed paths at Headquarters.
Lucy had gone to his flat last Friday. She’d found the place ransacked, and no sign of her brother. All day long, a knot had settled in the pit of her stomach. She should’ve followed her instincts and gone to her brother’s studio apartment earlier.
Lucy slammed her head back against the wall, and berated herself. She should be more aware.
She hadn’t considered his current case until she had found some files under a floorboard where Chase hastily stuffed them. He’d told her about the hiding place months before. The d
ocuments matched the ones he’d given her. She didn’t think twice about what happened to him. Somehow, he’d been discovered. Lucy had rushed back to her apartment and gone through all the information.
The dank alley where she waited faded into the background. Lucy recalled how her brother as he stood in front of her, his strawberry hair shone in the lamp on an end table the lighting turned it to a burnished gold, just like her own. He exuded a sense of unease any normal person would easily have picked up on.
Chase wouldn’t meet her eyes. When he had spoken the hairs on Lucy’s arm stood on end. He hid something. That wasn’t like him. Lucy had become nervous while she watched her brother fidget with the corner of an envelope he’d held. Shadows under his eyes had told her of how little sleep he’d run on.
She remembered getting impatient. Lucy regretted when she’d snapped at him to get to the point. He had visibly winced.
“Luce, nothing is wrong. Here,” Chase stretched out the hand with an envelope in it. “I want you to take this in case something does happen. Take it.” He shoved it towards Lucy and she grabbed the manila file.
Lucy could tell it contained several pieces of paper from the thickness.
“Make sure you read the whole thing.”
She looked at the packet. A chill passed over her. Lucy searched her brother’s eyes and read the worry etched in their depths. Feeling his unease deeply, she wanted to reassure him. Pride swelled in her chest that Chase could trust her as his backup, but something had to go terribly wrong for him to come to her.
Her protective instincts had risen. She dropped the envelope on the coffee table. Lucy knew she’d needed to do something to assist her brother.
“Be reasonable, why won’t you let me help you? This isn’t such a tough case that we couldn’t work together to crack it. You know I’d be happy to help.”
Chase smiled at his sister and laughed. For a moment she caught a picture of his carefree side, but it hadn’t lasted long. “You know I could never ask you to help me on a case. That’d ruin our healthy competition.” His eyes darkened again, “Just don’t worry until something happens, if anything does. I took this extra measure only for a security plan. Relax Luce, it’s nothing but another case.”
She gave him a doubtful look.
He quirked a smile, but his eyes remained haunted. “Trust me. If I get this one that’ll be four to five, I’m almost caught up with you.” Chase got up from her couch and started to move to the door.
Lucy grabbed his arm. “You’ll only catch up if I don’t hit a breaking point on the case I’m currently investigating.” She flashed her brother a smug grin, stood, and gave him a quick hug. “See you later then?”
Chase enveloped Lucy in his arms, and held her tight for a moment, as if saying goodbye.
“Sure, try my place in a few days.” As he headed out the door he smiled and she let him go.
Lucy remembered a twinge of trepidation passing through her body. The second he left she’d torn into that file.
The envelope contained case documents, an address, and a contact to get a hold of in case he ended up missing. According to the papers, she looked for a man of medium build who walked to and from the pub every night. He wore a cream colored suit, and a black overcoat. He carried an old fashioned cane in his left hand. His name, Chuck Conner; an informant paid by their organization to give them information on the thefts.
Wanting to catch Conner unaware, Lucy remained huddled against the sidewall of the alley. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the pub door.
Stomach growling, she thought once more of how often she overlooked mealtimes. Lucy reprimanded herself for being so forgetful. She rubbed her tummy. Cindy Hawke, her best friend, would have a heyday with her if she knew Lucy forgot dinner again.
Lucy fidgeted in her purse, found a small soda cracker, undid the wrapper, and popped it into her mouth.
Like that will hold me. She felt the crumbs stick to her teeth. Lucy groaned, and pulled at her wet clothing. Even her coat soaked through as she waited in the alley across from Finnegan’s Pub. Drenched to the skin, she wished for the foresight to bring an umbrella. If Chase wasn’t dead when she found him might kill him herself.
A sound in the alley behind her brought Lucy out of her reverie. Senses alert she stilled, listening, waiting, there it went again. The soft sound of a shoe scraped against pavement, she gripped her gun. Most likely some vagrant, after all, it’s New York.
Several more seconds ticked away as Lucy listened further for the sound of a shoe. When no noises came she began to relax, but she didn’t let go of her gun. No need to get nervous over some poor homeless guy, but she wasn’t stupid.
It’s not his fault he’s got no place other than the alley to sleep tonight, her pity for the man welling up in her, He’s probably more miserable than me.
Just as Lucy began to believe her imagination made up the noise, a shadow dropped across the wall and swiftly laid a palm across her mouth. A gun pressed to her side.
CHAPTER 2
Agent Kevin Garrett swore as the pressure of Lucy’s full lips pressed against his hand. Her drenched hair pressed into his cheek where he held her close and he picked up the faint scent of her spicy perfume, mostly washed off in the rain. Lucy’s tightened curves molded to his hard muscles through the soaked overcoat. His attack wasn’t expected.
What could she be thinking not bringing backup on this assignment? Kevin shook his head aware she was trained better. Rain on the back of her coat started to moisten the front of his shirt and the heat of her body seeped through their clothes. A low growl started deep in his throat.
“Next time you might not be so lucky Montgomery.” Kevin stated in a deep, rough voice. She shivered against him. He fought the urge to pull her closer.
She recognized his voice.
He waited.
After several long years in the same agency, he fought the urges his body demanded. Kevin forced himself to resist licking the raindrops running down her neck, a much more pleasurable pastime than holding a gun to her side. It wouldn’t do to allow his personal desires to affect the mission, the same reason why he hadn’t acted on his feelings the entire time he’d known the little spitfire. Business and pleasure don’t mix, at least that’s what the Agency believed, and since he represented the Agency that meant hands off.
Kevin gave his head a slight shake to clear his thoughts, and smoothed his thumb over her bottom lip in regret while he slid his gun into the holster. He placed a small wiretap on the waistline of her skirt, and his fingers brushed the metal edges of her zipper. He sighed.
Too many nights he’d gone to his bed hard, fantasies running through his head, her staring center stage of each one. He would like to do a lot of things with those plump little pink lips.
Reluctantly he let go of her mouth after getting the tap placed. The soft rasp of her mouth against his palm made him harden to almost a painful point. Kevin shifted away from her body so she wouldn’t notice the evidence of his arousal. He waited, knowing she would take advantage of the opening he gave her.
Her muscles tensed in readiness, and he forced himself to let her pull away. He counted on her reaction. It wouldn’t do for her know how much he desired her.
***
Lucy took several steps away, and turned to him ready for a confrontation. Her lips tingled from the feel of his hand, every nerve ending in her body aware of him. She wiped a hand aggressively over her mouth, hating how he affected her with just a touch while he seemed unmoved. Glaring, she placed her hands on her hips.
Who does he think I am? Some rookie? Like I wouldn’t feel him place the bug. She decided not to make a big deal out of the tap. Lucy let it go, but retained her glare. Kevin probably came with a team and that meant there would be backup. It galled her though that Killroy would send him. The director was aware of her feelings towards Kevin. She wondered if the reason the director put Kevin on this mission might be because he knew Kevin would be the only one who could
keep her in line.
Well aware it went against policy for an agent to be part of a mission in which they became personally involved, Killroy made the exception only because she and Chase were twins. Killroy played by the school of belief that twins sensed things about each other that normal people couldn’t.
Lucy’s mind turned over the problem of how to deal with the man who just interfered in her plans. In the dim light of the alley, silence stretched between them. She could make out the broad shape of his shoulders. Narrowing her eyes to slits as they traveled up his chiseled features to meet his gaze, she barely restrained her reaction to him. Her whole body went on alert.
Damn him anyway, she grumbled to herself, he’ll never find out how glad I am my back is covered. He doesn’t need to look so good either.
“Kevin, what are you doing here? I’m flying solo on this one. Now here you come, barging in where you’re not wanted -.”
“Whoa there,” Kevin held up his hands, “aren’t you jumping the gun a bit?” He put his hands down and started advancing on her. “This isn’t exactly a solo assignment. We’ve already lost one good operative on this case.” Kevin pointed at her accusingly. “You’re the one who ran off by yourself deciding you’re good enough that you didn’t need help from your teammates.”
Her back touched the brick wall and she couldn’t retreat any further.
Kevin placed his hands on either side of her head effectively trapping her where she stood. “Killroy assigned me to this case. You know how I feel about being here with you.” Anger showed in his piercing silver eyes making them look as dark as the night around them. “You should have a better idea than anyone when to call for backup.”
