by DL Gallie
When love and hate collide
* * *
A Falling novel
by DL Gallie
Copyright © DL Gallie 2020
Falling for Agent Cox
First published 3rd October 2020
Email: [email protected]
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a database and retrieval system or transmitted in any form or any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the owner of copyright and the above publishers.
This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be stored or reproduced by any process without prior written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher
* * *
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the produce of the author’s imagination or used factitiously. Any resemblance to the actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
* * *
Edited by Karen Hrdlicka, Barren Acres Editing
Cover by Kristie, Vanilla Lily Design
Proofread by Heart Full of Reads Editing Services
Interior formatting by DL Gallie
Contents
Also By DL Gallie
Prologue
1. Corey
2. Baylor
3. Corey
4. Baylor
5. Baylor
6. Corey
7. Baylor
8. Corey
9. Baylor
10. Corey
11. Baylor
12. Corey
13. Baylor
14. Corey
15. Baylor
16. Corey
17. Baylor
18. Corey
19. Baylor
20. Corey
21. Baylor
22. Corey
23. Baylor
24. Corey
25. Baylor
26. Corey
27. Baylor
28. Corey
29. Baylor
30. Corey
31. Baylor
32. Baylor
33. Kye
34. Corey
35. Baylor
36. Corey
37. Baylor
38. Corey
39. Baylor
Epilogue
Playlist
Acknowledgments
Also by DL Gallie
Contact for DL Gallie
About the Author
Synopsis
There’s a fine line between love and hate.
And a love fuelled from hate, is the strongest of them all.
* * *
BAYLOR
My life hasn’t gone as I planned, but it’s all my doing.
I’m given a second chance.
But I didn’t count on him—Agent Corey Cox.
He’s on the straight and narrow, abiding by the rules.
He calms my inner beast and makes me want to be a better person.
When my past reappears, that wildness inside sparks to life again.
Is his love enough to stop me turning my back on everything I’ve worked so hard for?
* * *
COREY
I live my life by the book.
Being an agent is everything to me.
The lines are never blurred.
Until her—Baylor Evans.
She’s wild, carefree, and marches to the beat of her own drum.
She brings out a side to me I never knew existed.
When the past catches up with us, everything implodes.
Is my love for her enough? Or will I lose it all?
Also By DL Gallie
STAND ALONES
Out of Nowhere
Antecedent
Seven Nights
Doc Steel
* * *
Christmas Treats - coming 1 November
* * *
In the Dark of Night anthology
FALLING NOVELS
* * *
Falling for Dr. Kelly
Falling for Dr. Knight
Falling for Agent Cox
Falling for Agent Cruz - coming early 2021
Falling for Mr. Myers - coming mid 2021
Falling for Mrs. Gray - coming late 2021
THE CASTAWAY GROVE COLLECTION
Love has arrived in the Grove
* * *
Oasis
Unequivocal Love
Five Words
Broken Rules
…and a few more to come.
THE LIQUOR CABINET SERIES
Liquor has never been so disturbingly saucy
* * *
Malt Me (Book 1)
Tequila Healing (Book 2)
Wine Not (Book 3)
The Final Shot (Book 4)
* * *
The Liquor Cabinet: Series boxset
THE UNEXPECTED SERIES
When it comes to love, expect the unexpected
* * *
The Unexpected Gift
The Unexpected Letter
The Unexpected Package
The Unexpected Connection
To Bec,
This dedication is because you told me to, you’re welcome and its appropriate since you loved Baylor from the beginning. You coined #BaylorIsABitch so thank you for that.
...but seriously, thank you for your support and your stylish dress sense.
I’ll give you a non-hug next time we see each other
* * *
And Nicola, Agent Cox is yours
"The course of true love never did run smooth"
~ William Shakespeare
Prologue
“Time’s up, bitch,” he snarls at me, “Time to choose who lives…and who dies.” While delivering the ultimatum, his tone changes to sinister and downright frightening, especially on those last four words; how I was ever in love with this man—no, monster— is beyond me.
“No,” I cry, my eyes flicking between them. The choice before me is impossible. The old me would’ve easily chosen in a heartbeat, consequences be damned, but the new me? Well, she cares. She has a heart now. She worries about things and people.
No matter what I choose right now, someone will die. Someone I care for will lose their life and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
My gaze darts between the two people who mean the most to me in this world. How do I choose? And then it hits me; I know what to do. “Me,” I whisper.
“What?” he growls, spittle flying from his lips.
“Me,” I quietly whisper. “I choose me,” I say, louder this time, my voice clear and firm. The ramifications of my decision yet to sink in.
“No!” they both cry out.
“It’s the only way,” I reaffirm.
Looking back to him, I stare into his evil eyes. “I. Choose. Me,” I confidently say, enunciating each word to prove my point. There’s not a hint of hesitation in my voice; in reality, it’s the complete opposite of how I really feel, but it’s the only way to protect them. It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. My death means they will live.
“Very well then.” He raises his pistol and points it directly at me. My heart races as I stare down the barrel of his gun.
With death literally staring me in the eyes, a calmness washes over me as I wait. Closing my eyes, I breathe in deeply for the last time.
I’m ready.
His snicker pierces the silence and that sound grates through me. He clicks th
e safety and then all hell breaks loose.
Gunfire rings all around me. The sound is deafening as bullets fly around, and then it’s silent.
Dead silent.
I’m frozen on the spot, waiting for death to take me. Waiting for the pain of being shot to register, but it doesn’t come. Everything around me is moving in slow motion. Everything around me is fuzzy. I’m blinking rapidly to clear my vison but it doesn’t clear. My heart rapidly races at the unknown.
In the distance, I vaguely hear voices and shouting but it’s all muffled. In the blink of an eye, everything comes roaring back to life in high definition and surround sound.
I can hear the people around me shouting and running. The birds chirping in the trees nearby. The water lapping at the shore end, and then it hits me; I’m still standing.
I’m still alive.
Looking down, that’s when I see it. My eyes widen at the scene before me. Tears begin to flow down my cheeks. My vision blurs as more liquid leaks from my eyes. I collapse to my knees and fall to the deck. I stare into lifeless eyes.
Someone is shouting my name but darkness is encroaching and engulfing me. It’s pulling me under and I’m powerless to stop it.
My last thought before I drift into the dark abyss is they are dead…and it’s all my fault.
1
Corey
Standing in the adjoining room, I stare through the two-way glass, flicking the mic switch on. I smirk when I hear her going off at the agent. With his back to me, I’m not sure who it is. I turn it off and shake my head; Baylor Evans has a smart and sassy mouth. From watching her just now, she intrigues me and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not, especially with what I’m about to propose to her.
She’s sitting at the table across from the agent, her clothes are torn, her hair is a mess, and her face is bruised and swollen. From what I can gather, she’s been through a lot in the last four days. My eyes are locked on her. This woman has been at the forefront of my mind, ever since the boss handed me the file with her picture in it. I’ve stared at the photo more than I should have, and I’ve memorized every inch of her face and body: blonde hair, blue eyes, super fit, a killer rack—hey, I’m a boob man, shoot me. In three words, she’s fucking hot, and just the person I need to wrap this case up.
Picking up the file, I go over it one more time, not that I need to because I know it word-for-word and back-to-front. I’ve been on the Vlahos case for eighteen months now, and this is the first positive lead I’ve had fall into my lap.
Looking back up, I watch her. She’s angry right now, I need her to calm down before I approach her and offer her the deal of her life.
The door opens and in walks Agent Oats. “Oats,” I say in greeting, shaking his hand.
“Cox,” he replies, and knocks on the glass garnering the attention of his partner, Agent Hall. Yes, their names are Agent Hall & Oates—great, now I’m fucking humming “Maneater” by the famous duo.
Hall stands up and exits the interrogation room to join us. When he opens the door, we hear her. “You fucking dickwads, you can’t keep me locked up. I was just kidnapped for fuck’s sake. I have fucking rights. You ass—”
He pulls the door shut. “Fuck me,” he mumbles, as he leans against the door he just closed.
“Well, she seems fun,” I say, as I offer him my hand. He takes my outstretched hand and shakes it. “She’s kind of a wild kitten with no filter, hey?”
“More like a foul-mouthed, fucking out of control tiger.” The three of us laugh.
“You sure about this plan, Cox?” Oats asks me.
Nodding my head, I turn around and lean against the glass, crossing my legs at the ankle, while resting my palms on the window ledge. “Yep, Baylor Evans has the in that I need."
"But she’s a live wire," Hall retorts.
"Exactly, she’s perfect," silently I add, in every-fucking-way, "and that’s why they won’t suspect a thing."
"It’s your career," he throws back at me. "But first, you need to convince psycho Barbie in there to cooperate with your crazy plan."
Turning around, I stare at her before turning my attention back to him. “Are you doubting my ability, Hall?”
“Fuck yes, I am. That woman is a time bomb waiting to explode, Cox. I hope you know what you’re doing.” With that, he and Oats walk out, leaving me alone.
Taking a deep breath, I pick up the file, a box, and open the door. I step into the danger zone, also known as the interrogation room.
“About fucking…” she snarls and stops when she sees it’s me and not Hall. “Who the fuck are you?”
“Watch your mouth,” I warn.
“Fuck you,” she spits back at me.
I raise my eyebrows at her and she flips me the bird. Shaking my head, I walk farther into the room. “I’m Agent Corey Cox.”
“Where’s dumbass?”
“Not here,” I say, taking a seat across from her. I slide the box over to her.
“What the fuck is this?”
“What have I said about your language, Ms. Evans?”
She rolls her eyes at me and we silently stare at each other across the table, assessing one another. The longer we stare, the thicker the air becomes in the room. She really is more stunning in person. Focus, Cox, focus.
“Well?” she sasses.
“Open it and see.”
She eyes me suspiciously. I stare back at her, not giving anything away.
Finally she gives in and lifts the lid, her eyes widen in surprise. “How do you know that Grape Laffy Taffy is my favorite?” she asks, as she grabs a piece of candy and begins to unwrap it.
“It’s my job to know everything about those I’ll be working with.”
She has the piece halfway to her lips, and asks, “What the fuck are you talking about?” She pops the taffy into her mouth and begins to chew…loudly…like a fucking horse.
“As I said before, Ms. Evans, watch the language, please.”
“Oh, are you the swearing police now, Agent-whatever-you-said-your-name was?” She pauses, her eyes roam over me, trying to determine why I’m here. My thoughts are confirmed when she asks me, “What’s this all about?”
“You and I are going to be working closely to bring down Kye Vlahos and his organization.”
Her face drops at the mention of Kye, and it confirms to me she really has no idea he’s still alive.
“Kye’s dead,” she whispers flatly.
“You sure about that?” Opening the file, I grab a surveillance photo taken three days ago and slide it across the metal table to her.
She picks it up and when she looks at it, her eyes bug wide open. “How? What? Why? This is a trick. You’re fucking with me.”
“No trick, Ms. Evans. And I’m not fucking with you either. Seems lover boy left you out of the loop and kept something pretty significant from you. Kye Vlahos is very much alive and well. His doppelgänger however, well, he’s dead.”
“What?” she says, her tone shocked at the doppelgänger revelation.
“Do you know who Kye Vlahos really is?”
“Obviously, I don’t because I thought he was dead, but from that photo, clearly,” she sasses, “he’s not.”
“Mr. Vlahos is THE king of the drug trade on the East Coast and head of the Vlahos dynasty. He faked his death to throw us, and his family off his trail, but we have eyes and ears everywhere, and well, you can guess the rest. We knew he was still alive, we just didn’t know why or how or where he was hiding out. That was until he got cocky. He reappeared in person a few days ago. He’s looking for someone.” I pause for effect. “That someone…is you!” Her mouth drops open at this revelation, “He’s been following you for weeks now, Ms. Evans. Well, his lackey, Creed Dawson, has been following you. Seems like Kye misses you.”
“He’s dead,” she whispers, shaking her head. “I saw them kill him. I saw it with my own fucking eyes,” she says, still staring at the photos of her not-so-dead ex-lover. She lifts her
head to look at me. “Are you fucking with me?”
“Mouth. As I’ve already said, I’m not messing with you. You saw what they wanted you to see. And he wanted you, us, and everyone else to think he was dead.”
She throws the photo on the table and starts shaking her head from side to side. “That fucking, dickwad, psycho asshole,” she snaps, standing up, and slamming her palms on the table in anger. “I’m going to kill that fucker myself when I find him—”
“That’s not the plan I have in mind,” I tell her.
“Fuck you and fuck your plan. No one tells me what to do.”
“Watch your mouth.”
“Go fuck yourself, Cox.”
“Do you want your sister to get hurt again?” I know it’s a low blow using her sister like that, but I need Baylor if I’m going to crack this case.
Her heads snaps up toward me and if I thought she was angry before, she’s furious now. “Leave my sister out of this,” she growls between clenched teeth. “She has nothing to do with this.”
