by A. L Long
Contents
Title
Copyright
Acknowledgment
Prologue
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
About the Author
New Releases
Contact Information
Beneath
Deception
An Unbreakable Series
A.L. Long
Copyright © 2018 A.L. Long
Beneath Deception (An Unbreakable Series)
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior consent of the author
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictionally, and any resemblance to any actual person, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Interior edited by H. Elaine Roughton
Cover design by Elena Krishtop
Acknowledgment
To my husband of many wonderful years, who is with me heart, body and soul through each word I write. If it weren’t for him my dream of writing would have never been fulfilled. I love you, sweetheart. And to my family, whom I also love dearly. Through their love and support, I can continue my passion for writing.
To the many readers, who took a chance on me and purchased my books. I hope that I can continue to fill your hearts with the passion I have grown to love.
Most of all I want to thank my incredible PA, Barbara Danks. I don’t know where I would be without her and to my wonderful Street Team (Athena Kelly, Lori Hammons, Kristen Ann Tanner, Marsha Black, Heather Swan, Sallie Ann, Andrea Miles Roads, Stacey Charran). You ladies have been a godsend.
Prologue
New town, same life. Even though leaving Manhattan was the hardest thing I had ever done, I knew it was best for me to leave and start over. So here I stand in my plush penthouse apartment, one year later. Taking a sip of my Scotch on the rocks, gazing out my floor-to-ceiling window, wondering what this magnificent town was going to bring me tomorrow. I always liked the nights in LA. It seemed to be the only time that the big city came to life. I loved the rush of a city at night. It was like escaping into a whole different world where every fantasy could be lived.
It was also the time when your worst nightmares could appear, and believe me, I had my share. As I downed my drink, I reflected that the night always brought back one nightmare in particular. I will never forget the look on my brother’s face when he realized I was dead. God, how I hated doing that to him, but it was the only way to break free.
Looking back at that day at Willow Crossing, it was amazing what one tiny pill could do. It could slow the heartbeat just enough to make it seem like you were dead. A little bit of animal blood as a prop could make it that much more real. With a little planning and a little money anything was possible. Luckily for me, I ran into the right man, and he needed a little help himself. The hardest part was finding a body. “Good old college academics and those donor lists,” I thought to myself with a chuckle. Who would have thought that a body being donated to science would be my savior? And with a little help from my needy coroner friend, I would soon be nonexistent. Free to start over.
Grabbing my suit jacket from the barstool, I casually put it on, making sure to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror above the expensive accent table. There was always something about a man in a suit that women seemed to go crazy for, and with the money I’ve made, I always made sure my closet was brimming with the best designer suits money could buy. Picking up the keys to my Jag from the table, I smoothed back my brown hair and adjusted the collar of my freshly-pressed shirt. Tonight was my night off and I really wanted to have some fun.
As I rode the elevator down to the parking garage, the memory of what I left in Manhattan came aboard. Thinking back, the only downside to my plan was hurting the one person I loved most. I guess for every action there is a reaction, and the reaction was a new life for me. Besides, he’ll survive. With the only woman he ever loved at his side and the men he served with watching his back, he’ll do just fine. As for me, I am alive and well, living in California. I’m no longer Josh Hyatt, born of a convict and raised by a mom and dad who couldn’t be honest to the son who brought them so much joy. That man died a long time ago, and a new man was born.
While I smiled to myself in my new reality, the elevator door opened, and a gorgeous brunette got on. Checking out the curves on this beauty, I needed to get me some of that. Inhaling the scent of her perfume, I casually leaned over and asked in a sultry low voice, “That scent you’re wearing is breathtaking. What is it, if you don’t mind me asking?”
The minute she turned and our eyes met, I knew this was going to be easy. There was a hunger inside those emerald eyes that couldn’t be mistaken. At least there was one thing I didn’t regret. Watch out, LA, Xavier London is in town.
~ One ~
Not every man can say that they have had as many women as I have in the span of a year. Some would call me a man whore. As for me, I only saw myself as a man with certain needs. So, taking that little minx in the elevator was no more than an appetizer. I guess coming near death changed the way I thought about life, and thanks to the decision I made that I couldn’t take back, I am alive and well.
I hadn’t planned on taking her to my place. I ran into her at Direction 96, which had become not only my hunting ground the past year, but also my pride and joy. There was no way I could pass up the opportunity to have a piece of her, especially the way her sexy legs looked in her five-inch stiletto heels.
Normally, I would have asked her to leave before dawn, but she was a fun girl and our romp in the hay lasted way past that. It didn’t come as a surprise that when I requested she leave once I got my fill, my right cheek was met with her right hand. I so enjoyed the spicy ones.
Waiting until she left, I poured a cup of coffee, looked at the time, and waited to hear from my nemesis, who was also my savior. While thinking back on my evening, my cell began to ring, letting me know that it could only be one person. Right on time, as usual. I swiped the screen, and before I could answer, the authority in his voice sounded. “Meet me in an hour. Our usual spot.”
Before I could ask him what it was about, he hung up. It really didn’t matter, because I was pretty certain it was about another job he needed me to take care of. Colin Gates always liked to leave people hanging, but
I knew he would tell me soon enough. I will never forget the first job I did for him. It had been the worst day of my life, but I soon learned to accept my destiny. I would forever be his little minion because of my selfish desire to live.
Placing my empty coffee cup in the sink, I headed to my bedroom to change into my workout attire before heading to my own personal gym. I had an hour, which meant that I could get in a short but intense workout before having to get ready. God, how I loved this room with a 180-degree view of the city. Who wouldn’t? Walking over to my $5000 Bose sound system, the adrenaline began to flow as I turned up the volume. Pumping a few reps of 80-pound curls, I could already feel the burn in my biceps as I looked to the mirrored wall, admiring the veins in my forearms as they began to fill will blood. No drug could ever take the place of the high I got seeing that my hard work was paying off.
~*~*~*~
“You’re late,” Colin spat as he stood before me in his three-piece suit that probably cost more than what it took to feed a Third World country.
When he handed me a manila envelope, I opened it and briefly looked at the contents inside. It was always the same: pictures, profiles, and location information. Tucking the information under my arm, I looked to Colin and asked, “How long?
“One week,” he stated firmly. “And, London, this time no hiccups.”
Heading back to my Jag, I opened the door and threw the envelope on the passenger seat. I wasn’t happy about having only a week to do this job for Colin, but at 50k, who was I to argue? Shifting the car into reverse, I backed out of the warehouse and headed down the street. Catching Colin’s Mercedes in my peripheral vision, I noticed that someone else was in the back seat beside him. As I looked in the rearview mirror, I watched the car head in the opposite direction. It was only after I got a glimpse of the most perfect set of eyes gazing out the side window that I realized it had been a girl sharing the back seat with him. It wasn’t just her eyes that caught my attention, but what had happened next. I knew that Colin was a ruthless man, but when he yanked on her long hazel brown hair only to force a kiss upon her ruby lips, I knew that somehow, she belonged to him. Maybe she was in the same situation I was and would forever belong to him. I shook my head, wondering what would have happened to me if I hadn’t accepted his offer a year ago. Lowering my hand to my abdomen, I felt the scar that would forever remind me of my choice.
Taking one last glance at the mirror, it was evident that whatever was going on in the back seat of the car wasn’t good as I continued to watch them. The girl pushed Colin away from her only to end up with a slap across the flawless skin of her face. No woman ever deserved to be treated like that, no matter what the circumstance. Spinning my car around, I headed in his direction, hoping that I would be able to catch up to him. My effort was stopped when a large delivery truck came out of nowhere, almost causing my car to crash into the side. Luckily for me, I was able to slow the car down by shifting into a lower gear. I don’t believe in coincidences and it certainly seemed as though the truck was commissioned to appear when it did.
I hate losing, so when the truck finally pulled out of my way, I stepped on the gas and forged ahead. There were so many side streets in this part of town that I might as well have given up. Taking my next right, I headed up the street that took me to the freeway and back downtown where my penthouse was located. Turning the radio up, I began weaving in and out of traffic. “God, how I love this car,” I said to myself, cranking the radio up even louder. There was no way that my life in New York could have ever offered me the luxuries that I have now.
As I pulled up to my spot in the parking garage, I exited the car only to be greeted by Ginger. She just wouldn’t give up. I knew she was going to be a problem the minute I groped her in the elevator and ran into her at the night club. Though I tried my best to avoid her, her voice rang behind me in a squeaky, annoying tone which echoed off the concrete walls, probably causing their hard surface to crack. I had no other choice but to give in to her as I waited for the elevator to come down.
“Baby, are you trying to avoid me?” she blurted, reaching me before I could escape inside the elevator.
I wasn’t the kind of man to ever treat a woman badly, but this woman was getting on my nerves. Maybe she needed to be reminded of the definition of a one-night stand. Turning to face her, I held out my hand and ordered. “Stop right there, woman.”
Wobbling on her five-inch heels, she placed her hands on her hips, looking as though she was ready for business. As attractive as she was, she was not my type, other than the fact that she was easy and willing to give me what I wanted. I couldn’t help but chuckle as she began tapping her foot against the floor. Keeping my distance, I laid it out on the line for her. “Look, Ginger, I’m not interested in whatever you have to say. We had a good time and that was it. You need to move on, and if I ever feel the need to fuck you again, I know where to find you.”
“Fuck? Is that all it was to you?” she cursed.
“Yep, love. Petty much,” I ended. Hearing the door to the elevator open, I tried to block out her cursing as I turned to get inside the car.
Hitting the “close door” button, I watched her walk toward me knowing that she wanted nothing more than to dig her claws in me. Thankfully, the heels she was wearing prevented her from getting to the door in time to do just that. Hopefully she got the hint, because I really liked living here and hated the thought of having to move. Leaning my head back against the wall, I was beginning to think I needed to pick my women a little better.
When the elevator dinged, letting me know that I had reached my floor, I pushed from the wall and dug my keys from inside my pocket. As I was walking down the long hallway to my place, I couldn’t help but think about the young woman in the car with Colin. There was something about those blue eyes that really got my attention. I wasn’t aware that he had a daughter and she was much too young to be anything more. I decided that it was worth finding out, and there was only one other person that knew more about Colin than I did.
Entering my apartment, I placed the manila envelope on the kitchen counter and pulled my phone from my pocket. Searching for Kyle Lincoln’s number, I pushed the phone icon, and waited for him to pick up.
“London, good friend. How the hell are you?” Kyle answered.
“Hey, friend. It’s been too long,” I stated, knowing that I needed to do a better job at staying in touch with Kyle if I wanted to get any information from him.
“What’s been happening in your world?” Kyle questioned.
Kyle knew everything about my business and it never bothered me, because as long as he did, I knew he would always have my back. Grabbing a brew from the fridge, I balanced my phone against my ear as I twisted the top from the bottle. Taking a long pull before I answered, I set the bottle on the counter and said, “I need to talk to you. Can you meet me at Direction 96 tonight, say around eight o’clock?”
“I think I can manage that. Can you let me know what this is about?”
“Not over the phone. I will let you know when I see you.” I needed to take every precaution. I wouldn’t put it past Colin to have my penthouse bugged.
~Two~
The minute I arrived at Direction 96 I realized I probably should have chosen a better place to meet, especially on a Wednesday night. The place was swarming with ladies, which in my world was like walking into a candy store. But since I owned the joint, it seemed the most logical place to meet.
Walking past the row of sex-deprived women, I spotted Kyle talking to two blondes at the end of the bar. Laughing to myself, I shook my head and headed in his direction. When I reached him, I looked to the two blondes, who each had an arm around his shoulder, and said with a touch of cockiness, “Sorry, ladies, I’m going to have to break up this little party. It’s time for my friend’s treatment.”
The look on Kyle’s face said it all as the girls began backing away from him, probably wondering just what kind of treatment he needed. Patting him on the
back, I looked across the bar to Russ, who was also shaking his head. When I held up two fingers, he grabbed two glasses from under the bar and a bottle of McCallan’s and handed them over. Patting Kyle on the shoulder, I said, “Come on, bro, let’s head on up to my office.”
It wasn’t long until he was off his chair and following me up the stairs to my office. As we headed up the stairs, the eyes of every woman in the bar were on us. I knew then that tonight was going to another fun one. I also knew that I needed to make sure Kyle got a piece of the fun, especially after what I did to him earlier.
As we entered my office, I hit the switch on the right side of the door, which automatically closed the blinds that covered the windows overlooking the lower level. I wanted to make sure that I had his undivided attention before I began quizzing him about the young woman that was with Colin in the car. Placing the two glasses on my desk, I twisted off the cap, breaking the seal on the bottle of Scotch, and began pouring a generous amount in each glass. Taking a seat on the edge of my desk, I waited for Kyle to make himself comfortable on the couch.
Downing half of my Scotch, I looked at him and said, “Colin has requested another job be done.” I knew Kyle would already know since he knew everything when it pertained to me, but I needed to ease into the direction I wanted this conversation to go.
