Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Roulette

Cover Photography by Eric Battershell

Cover Model: Johnny Kane

Cover Design and Interior Formatting by Cassy Roop of Pink Ink Designs

2017 C.D. Bradley. 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 author or publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and other noncommercial uses as permitted by copyright law.

OLIVIA SAT AT her large mahogany desk thumbing through the file before her. A shiver ran down her spine. She couldn’t put her finger on it but something about this case chilled her. She checked the clock, two fifteen, and shook her head. Her witness was late, again. She wanted to help the woman, but if she missed another appointment, they were going to have to drop her plea bargain. Silently she cursed. Gwen Robertson’s haunting brown eyes and thin face moved her. Their last meeting, two weeks ago, still hung with Olivia. The quiet way she moved reminded her of . . .

“Stop it,” she said to the still air of the office. You can’t bring her back. She reminded herself. Even if you help every lost soul that crosses your desk it won’t bring her back. If she could get Gwen to talk she could help her. Her job was to find the truth and pursue justice, especially for those who couldn’t speak for themselves.

Olivia Hastings hated to back down from anything and her track record proved it. She had clawed her way to the top of her class at Yale and while all of her colleagues were clamoring for big dollar firms, she set her sights on becoming a prosecuting attorney. At thirty-one Olivia had already made a name for herself working for the District Attorney of Norfolk, VA. Early mornings, late nights, and every last shred of her twenties, Olivia had poured into this job. But it wasn’t just a job. She looked down at the tarnished silver frame on her desk. A set of freckled faced girls smiled back at her, their matching eyes bright with hope and joy, so innocent. Pitty. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. You can’t bring her back. No, this wasn’t just a job, this was her life.

She glanced through the vertical blinds out the large windows of the sixth floor down to the street below, hoping to see her witness hustling in. People in business attire moved in and out of the building. A straggly man in worn clothes stood holding up part of the concrete wall and lit a cigarette. The public defender appeared to be trying to keep the wayward man’s attention. She snarled. Her natural instinct was guilty until proven innocent. She loved the law and bringing justice where it was due had become her singular passion. She took one last look at the woman’s battered face and closed the file. She would call and give her another chance. She couldn’t give up on her today.

“Miss Hastings, I have your mail,” Margaret called from just outside her office door as she bustled into the room. “Oh and Mr. Trudeau is on his way up.”

Olivia stiffened at the mention of his name. Vincent Trudeau. They had gone to law school together but while she had pursued a career in public service, he was making his way toward partner in a flashy firm across town. He made his fortune defending the kind of scum she was determined to put behind bars. If he thought he was just going to waltz in here in his Armani suit and weasel his client out of the charges, he was seriously smoking crack. Silently, she gave herself a pat on the back for giving up her lunch. It was a small price to pay for the chance to be prepared for this. She put her notes and the case files back in the folder and laid it neatly on the edge of her immaculate desk.

Margaret waddled her way over to the desk carrying a large white mail basket and plopped it down with a thud.

“Is that all for me?” Olivia sat open mouthed. Her perfectly neat desk was now littered with envelopes that spilled from the massive inbox. “What is all this?”

“Mr. Davis said that you were taking over the Hardman case. Your mail is in there too,” Margaret offered with a sympathetic smile. “Sorry, honey.”

Olivia sighed, “No I got it.” She pulled the basket close and began to riffle through it. Her witness was a no show anyway. She stood over the tote and began to sort the envelopes.

“Olivia,” Vincent cooed from the doorway. “Wow you look knee deep in a pile of shit! I would say congrats on your promotion, but maybe I should say I’m sorry instead. You know you wouldn’t have to deal with all of that if you came to work for us.” He flashed the ten-million-dollar smile in her direction. His eyes scanned her government issue office. He raised one eyebrow in disapproval as he looked around the small space. The beige walls and commercial grade green carpet sealed the deal.

She resisted rolling her eyes. “Just doing some research.” She would not give him the satisfaction. Olivia knew what she was doing was more important than office furnishings and partnership benefits.

“Looks like you have a lot on your plate. Tell you what, drop the Lafferty case and give yourself a little break. We both know your evidence is circumstantial at best,” he offered, crossing the room to stand beside her desk.

Olivia stood open mouthed for a minute. She had just gotten that case this morning. Damn he moved quick. “Nice try. If you didn’t spend so much time trying to shovel the shit back out on the sidewalk we wouldn’t be so busy.” Olivia nearly spat, and raised her sculpted eyebrow.

“Aw, don’t pout baby, even the devil’s gotta dance sometime. Think of it as job security.” A satisfied shit eating grin spread across his chiseled face. “I’ve missed ruffling your feathers. I’m glad they’re finally gonna let you play with the big boys.”

“I’m not here to play Vincent. I don’t know how you do it. Day in and day out, you work your ass off to get pure evil set free.” Olivia shook her head. His track record for using technicalities and breaking a witness to get charges dropped was legendary.

“You just have to be willing to explore someone’s weaknesses and not be afraid to use it. Everyone has a breaking point, Ms. Hastings. Everyone.” He stepped closer so that she could feel the heat from his body radiating to hers.

Olivia gritted her teeth and looked him in the eyes. “There is more than one kind of monster, Vincent. I’m not afraid of them, and I’m not afraid of you,” she countered, but did not back up. She could feel his hot breath on her forehead.

“Olivia, I’m glad you’re here,” Mr. Davis announced as he walked in the room. His voice cut the tension that hung thick in the air. “Have you had a chance to look at the attempted murder they sent over this morning?” He paused seeing Vincent. “Oh. I didn’t realize you had company. Mr. Trudeau what brings you here?” Davis’ eyes narrowed to slits.

“We were just discussing my client Miles Lafferty,” Vincent piped up and stepped back to face Mr. Davis before Olivia could even open her mouth. “I dropped by to congratulate Ms. Hastings on her promotion and couldn’t help overhearing that she was handling the Lafferty case. I was just telling her that as overwhelmed as your office is with the current caseload,” he waived his hand across her now cluttered desk, “and as circumstantial and far reaching the evidence is, it would really be in everyone’s interest to drop this one to save your office and the taxpayers a great deal of time and money.”

“Is that so, Vincent. Way to be a team player,” Mr. Davis said sarcastically and patted him on the back. “I have every confidence that Ms. Hastings and her team are more than capable of taking care of this.”

“Suit yourself.” Vincent flashed his politician smile. “I make money either way. Looking at this mess though, I won’t hold my breath.”

“Actually, Mr. Davis,” Olivia interrupted the circle jerk for a moment, “I started on that case this morning. In going through the evidence it looks like we have what we need to bring charges.” Of course proving the right to search and seizure was going to be a challenge, but she wasn’t about to say that in front of Vincent.

“That’s if you can get your evidence admitted. Good luck with that,” Vincent countered and turned toward the door. “Oh, and Olivia, I’m looking forward to sparring with you again. See you in court, baby.” He gave her a wink and took off down the hall.

Mr. Davis shook his head, stepped forward and took the folder. Silently he reviewed the motion she had put together. Several tense moments passed as he studied, stopped and check referenced evidence photos, and then returned to the motion.

Finally, he closed the folder and looked up at her with a grin. “Good work, Ms. Hastings. This is why you are going to make such a good addition to this team.” He slapped the folder down on her desk. The surprise in his eyes told her it was harder than he meant to. “Sorry, that man makes my blood pressure skyrocket. I may be getting too old for this. You know you are going to have a battle getting that search and seizure to stick.”

Olivia nodded. “I know. I am going to fight for this tooth and nail.”

“I have no doubt, Olivia, but remember you have a team. Work together. You don’t have to do this alone.” His voice heeded an air of warning.

Olivia did not have the reputation of being a team player. She liked to work late, long, and alone. Other people often wanted breaks or evenings home or God forbid weekends off. She forced a smile. “Of course, yes, the team.” She didn’t know which would be worse . . . dealing with Vincent or working in a group.

“Good girl. I’m heading to a meeting with the governor so I’m going to miss your team meeting this afternoon. Keep me up to date, okay?” he said, raising his eyebrows and nodding. He turned and started out of her office then paused at the door. “I know you can do this.” He smiled and left her to sort the Mount Everest of mail.

Olivia let out a long sigh. She had forgotten about the team meeting. A Freudian slip to be sure. She didn’t know why she couldn’t just do this on her own; let the team handle other cases. Surely, she could be more effective working by herself. She began sorting the mail. Her own went into a small stack on the right, the rest was for the Hardman case. She made piles for tips, complaints, and miscellaneous reports. She pulled a red and black envelope out of the box. It was addressed to Olivia Wilson Hastings. She paused, ice water ran over her skin. Who the hell was this from? She didn’t see a return address on the outside, but curiosity was burning the page in her fingers, so she opened it.

Sexy and Sassy Signing and The Literary Gossip Present

“Star Studded Weekend Affair”

She looked it over and laughed. This had obviously been sent by mistake. She wasn’t an author and hadn’t read for fun in years. If she did, it definitely wouldn’t be romance. Olivia did not believe in the tooth fairy, Santa Claus or happily ever afters. That part of herself died a long time ago. She started to crumple it up when the name on a note tucked inside caught her attention. Carefully she uncrinkled the paper for a better look. Piper Barringer. Olivia sat back in her chair. She started to count the years since they had actually spoken. Could it really have been ten years?

How the hell had Piper found her here? Olivia immediately felt guilty for the thought. Piper was her roommate and best friend in college. Man, they used to get into some shit. Olivia recalled the time Piper nearly caught their dorm on fire reheating Chinese food in the metal container for their Miss Saigon dinner. When the fire department arrived they were wearing bathrobes and wedge sandals with their hair twisted up in chopsticks. The RA had not been amused. The firefighters on the other hand, well that was another story entirely. Ten years. Olivia suddenly felt more alone than she cared to admit.

She turned the card over again. The invitation made perfect sense coming from Piper. She always had been a hopeless romantic. Olivia chuckled remembering the semester Piper was head over heels for the professor from her English Lit class. She had been his biggest fan, reading all his books, and attending his lectures at a neighboring campus. Olivia had teased her calling her captain of the Harlequin paparazzi. Piper wasn’t fazed. She was star struck and madly in love until the end of the semester when she had walked in on him with another student; a male student. Poor sweet Piper had been crushed. It was only then, she realized she never stood a chance.

To cheer Piper up, she and Grace had pooled all their money and taken Piper to Virginia Beach for summer break. What started as a one week vacation became one fucking crazy summer. They worked as waitresses in a bikini bar and lived in a hole in the wall apartment on the beach. Looking back it was careless, as they were poor, but oh . . . Those beautiful tan boys and sexy sailors made it all worthwhile. That was the summer between their sophomore and junior years of undergrad. Shit, they were crazy back then. Suddenly she longed to feel that carefree again. They were on top of the world. When the summer ended, she and Piper had gone back to Yale, and Grace had gone back to Brown. Olivia shook her head. That was a long time ago.

She wasn’t the same girl she was then. She put the invitation down and looked out the window. That was before . . . She swallowed hard again. There was a reason she hadn’t seen Piper in all these years. I need to get back to work. I don’t have time for this.

Throughout her casework that afternoon, Piper kept creeping back into her thoughts. She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind. Piper had been her best friend. Olivia knew it hadn’t been fair to shut Piper out. Guilt was a demon that was too great to bear. Some scars don’t ever really heal. She glanced at the clock. Oh shit. It is already three fifteen. How did that happen? She jumped up and grabbed her files and sprinted down the hall. Despite her black Paolina heels, Olivia moved with the speed and grace of a gazelle to the sixth-floor conference room. She eased into a seat just as Deputy Harris was starting the meeting.

Olivia stilled herself to the here and now. She moved through the meeting and the rest of her day focused on the cases at hand. She had spent a decade pushing her inner demons far into the recesses. She wasn’t going to let them come roaring back now. Olivia tossed the invitation into the overflowing recycling bin beside her desk and got back to work.

Long after everyone else had gone, Olivia began to clean up her desk for the day. The janitor was already vacuuming the hall when Olivia made her way toward the elevator, arms loaded with files to review over takeout. She had just reached the elevator when he called out to her.

“Ms. Hastings! Wait!”

Olivia turned to see Harold, the janitor, coming toward her waving something.

“You dropped this Ms. Hastings,” he said, a little out of breath from his haste. He stretched out his hand and placed the red and black card in hers.

Olivia stared down at the invitation in her hands. “Thank . . . Um . . . Thank you, Harold,” she stammered, unable to believe it. She was sure she had thrown it away earlier in the day. She nodded to Harold and got on the elevator still staring at the card. Is fate playing tricks on me? Olivia laughed into the empty elevator. She didn’t believe in fate, but maybe she had punished herself and poor Piper long enough. It would be fun to see Piper again. Ahh, to be young and carefree just for one weekend. She turned the invitation back and forth in her hand like a fan and bit her lip. What would it hurt to take one weekend for actual fun? Olivia couldn’t remember the last time she had done that. She tapped the card on her hand. As she exited the elevator, she took out her cell and dialed the number listed for Piper.

“Hello,” the familiar voice answered. God, Piper’s voice was exactly the same, soft and slightly high pitched. “Hello, this is Piper Barringer, can I help you?” she asked again.

“I doubt it,” Olivia answered in full snark.

Silence.

“Olivia?” Piper asked cautiously, as if she was afraid to believe it was true. “Olivia, is that you?”

“Yeah, it’s me. I got your invitation. How are you, Piper?” Olivia replied. She suddenly realized she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t even know Piper anymore.

“You are a hard woman to track down. I wasn’t sure if you would even respond. It’s been such a long time, but I had heard you were in Norfolk, and then this event came up. It was fate,” Piper said hopefully. Olivia pictured her twirling her blond hair nervously, the way she always did when she studied.

“I’m glad to hear from you, Piper. I can’t believe it has been this long.” Olivia almost laughed when she heard Piper gushing about fate. She was still the hopeless romantic, she guessed.

“Olivia, it would be so good to see you again. Do you think you will be able to attend the event? It’s going to be amazing! The authors, the models, Olivia I am telling you SaSS is the event of the year!” Piper sounded like she was about to go to Disney World.

“I’m not sure about all the romance jazz, but it would be great to see you again.” Olivia hoped she wasn’t going to regret this. “When are you coming into town?”

“I’ll be in Thursday evening. I have a room booked at the Sheraton Waterfront where they are holding the event. I got two tickets to everything just in case you said yes. This is going to be the best weekend ever!” Piper was as chipper as Olivia remembered.

“Okay whoa, settle down. I have to work all week. Is this your cell?” Always the level headed one, Olivia had to put her cases first.

“Yes, this is my cell. Do you want me to meet you at your office on Friday? Where are you practicing?” Piper asked hopefully.

“No, no I’ll call you when I leave here Friday, and meet you in the lobby of the hotel,” Olivia offered, anything to keep her from coming to the office.

Piper squealed with delight. “Okay, that sounds great. Olivia, you are going to love this, I just know it.”

“I’m going to love seeing you anyway,” Olivia corrected.

“See you then!” Piper blurted with the anticipation of a kid at Christmas.

Olivia was surprised as she hung up that she was actually looking forward to it too. Until she heard Piper’s voice, Olivia didn’t realize just how lonely she had been. Am I really ready for this? Seeing Piper again was going to be a mix of emotions. While she was really looking forward to reconnecting with her old friend, the last time she saw Piper, Olivia choked back tears that had long since dried up, was at Grace’s funeral.

OLIVIA HUSTLED DOWN the courthouse steps. It was only eleven thirty and she had already filed preliminary motions on both cases. She was trying not to feel too proud of herself, but this week had gone rather well. She had located a case that set precedence for the search and seizure in the Lafferty case. That combined with the other evidence, she was sure that they had a slam dunk. The Hardman case was coming along and she was able to file for a search warrant based on additional DNA evidence.

When she reached the bottom of the steps a town car pulled up to the curb. Just before she reached it, the door opened and Vincent Trudeau stepped out in a navy pinstripe suit. He flashed the smile in her direction and Olivia did her best not to vomit on his eight-hundred-dollar shoes.

“You’re in a hurry,” he observed with mock concern. “Don’t tell me you forgot some crucial evidence and you have to rush back.” He puffed out his lower lip in a gesture of sympathy.

“No, actually I’m all done here. Good luck today.” She smiled and side stepped him.

“Hustle back to your hole, little rabbit. Unless you’d like to come watch the big boys work,” he offered, as he raised his eyebrows and grinned at her.

“Thanks, but I’ve seen all the circle and sniff I care to for one day.” She turned and left him standing on the sidewalk.

She sort of wished she could see the look on his face when he read her motion and the charges in the Lafferty case. No dice though. In law, like in life, anything could go wrong at any time. She wouldn’t allow herself any real congratulations until the perp was convicted. Just a quick stop by her office and she would be on her way to meet Piper. Mr. Davis had already given her the afternoon off. He had babbled on about too much overtime. Normally she would have ignored him and worked anyway, but today was going to be different. She could feel it.

Olivia slipped into her midnight blue Audi A3 sedan. Even though she had the car almost a year now, she loved the fact that it still looked new. Extensive research had gone into the purchase of this safe and fuel efficient machine. Olivia liked every detail of her life controlled and precise. She didn’t leave anything to chance. She paused at the light on City Hall Avenue and realized that this whole weekend was taking a chance. She hadn’t seen Piper in ten years. Who was she fooling, they weren’t kids anymore. The last carefree thing Olivia did was during that crazy summer with Piper and Grace in Miami. She didn’t even know that girl anymore. That girl died right alongside Grace.

At least she could escape to her own room if she needed to. Olivia had called earlier in the week and booked a room on the same floor as Piper. She was not about to share a room with someone she hadn’t seen in a decade. What if we have nothing to talk about? What if all I can think about is Grace? Maybe this weekend is a mistake. Olivia gripped the wheel a little tighter than she meant to as she pulled away from the light. She blew out a slow steady breath. It was time to live a little. Her boss’ words still stung her ears. I’m not a machine. I have a life. Of course that revolves around work and . . . well . . . okay, just work. My last date was . . . well shit, that doesn’t really matter.

Olivia rounded the corner and could see the Sheraton Waterfront Hotel. Man, they are busy. Could that many people really be going to this thing? Cars lined the valet lane into the street. Olivia pulled into the lane to wait her turn. She tapped impatiently on the steering wheel. Patience had never been a virtue that she possessed. She watched groups of women clad in brightly colored leggings, load multiple boxes and totes onto overburdened valet carts. Are they moving in? Sweet Jesus, that’s a lot of stuff. She glanced in the rearview mirror at her small overnight bag in the back seat. “We might be a little underprepared,” she said to her luggage and giggled. Suddenly, she pictured Grace with her Gucci overnight bag. Grace was so proud of that damn thing. Olivia couldn’t help laughing at how she and Piper had teased her for the floral design. (Property of Grandma Petunia). It wasn’t until after Grace was gone that she found out how expensive that stupid bag was. She still didn’t understand how Grace could have afforded something like that. What secrets were you hiding, Grace? Olivia wondered for the thousandth time.

Tap, Tap, Tap. The valet tapped on the window and scared the holy bejesus out of her. Olivia snapped back to reality and rolled down the window. July in Norfolk was already as hot as Hades. The warm air slapped her in the face with instant humidity.

“Can I help you, ma’am? Are you checking in?” the pimple laden young man asked in a voice just breaking into puberty.

Olivia stifled a giggle. “Yes, sir, I am checking in for the weekend. Looks like you guys are pretty busy.” She turned off the car as he opened her door.

“Yes, ma’am. We have an author event and a boat race. Going to be a packed house this weekend.” He beamed as she stood and handed him the keys and a twenty-dollar bill.

Olivia remembered what it was like to be young and living on tips. She shook her head. Could she really be longing for those days? She grabbed her overnight bag and made her way into the lobby. Immediately she spotted Piper. Even after all this time the sweet little pixie was unmistakable. She sat in a tan leather chair, her petite frame tucked into the seat as she twirled a tiny strand of her short blond hair lost in a book. She looked like Tinker Bell, no doubt being swept off her feet by some alpha male with a shady past and a heart of gold.

Olivia’s heels clicked as she crossed the marble floor causing Piper to look up. “Olivia! Is that you?” she exclaimed jumping up and dropping her book in the seat. “Oh my God, look at you! You’re so grown up! I mean, not old, just professional like Gra . . . a grown up.” She corrected herself and blushed.

“I’m a lawyer now. I had to grow up a little,” Olivia offered. “You look beautiful. I swear you haven’t changed a bit!”

Piper stood, her deep teal oversized shirt hid her petite frame. She wore floral printed leggings and a bright yellow necklace and earrings that matched her sandals. Quite the contrast to Olivia’s dark blouse, pencil skirt and kill you in the courtroom heels. They were quite the pair. Olivia had to admit that all of her wardrobe was some variation of this dreary tribute to Anne Hathaway. The resemblance had always been a running joke.

“I’m sorry!” Piper gushed. “It’s really good to see you, Liv. I can’t believe you are really here. This weekend is going to be incredible.”

Classic Piper. She was the single most optimistic person Olivia had ever met. Just being in her presence Olivia felt a decade younger. This was going to be an incredible weekend she could feel it already. “Okay, I just need to check in. You’re in charge, what are we in for?”

Piper began her flight attendant run down of the weekend’s agenda. Olivia did her best to listen but she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching them. She glanced around the lobby. She saw women coming and going with their overstuffed carts. A woman with five children made her way through the entrance struggling with bags like a furniture mover herding cats in the rain. Smallish people swarmed her asking for everything under the sun. Olivia reaffirmed her self promise to never have children and quickly turned back to the counter. No one other than the front desk clerk was looking at her. I am probably just overdue for a drink, she thought as she stepped forward to get her room. Movement in the upper balcony caught her attention. She looked up but whoever it was had just moved away. A large potted plant swayed with the void left by the recent occupant. No one. Oh it’s way past wine thirty. Olivia stepped up to the counter and put it out of her mind. She was going to have fun this weekend no matter what.

OH, FUCK! IT COULDN’T have been. Sweat beaded up on his forehead. Dominic Kain took a deep breath and walked quickly toward the elevator. He had to get the fuck out of there. He just needed some fresh air and a fucking drink. There was no goddamn way. Everyone has a doppelganger, right? He was just tired. This was crazy. He had been walking through the upper level when her voice floated up and took his breath. Like a moth to a deadly flame he had been drawn to the balcony and there she was. So casually she just walked in as if she wasn’t ripping him apart. He could feel every move she made. Each breath she took flowed through him. What the fuck? Had she seen him? What would it matter if she had? She didn’t know him from Adam. Fuck, he really was going crazy, but he knew every move by heart. The impatient way she tapped her delicate finger on her overnight bag. The dark waves that caressed her expensive suit. The curve of her legs into those fuck you heels. He choked back the urge to run down the stairs and pull her into his arms. What he needed was a drink. He was not about to accost a complete stranger. But he knew exactly how she would taste and nothing else on earth would do to quench the thirst. He stepped into the elevator, pushed the button for the fourth floor and closed his eyes.

OLIVIA STOOD LOOKING in the mirror and waited for Piper. She didn’t even know why she felt nervous. They were going to have a ball. She didn’t know anyone. No risk, she told herself. Her dark hair was in loose waves onto her shoulders. The slate gray lace dress hugged each curve. Maybe it’s a little much. She hesitated but knew she hadn’t packed anything else dressy enough for the red-carpet dinner. The knock at the door startled her from her self-doubt.

“Oh, wow, Liv! You look fucking great!” Piper squealed when she answered the door. Piper looked like a 1920s starlet in a stunning short red dress. Her tiny dancer’s legs ended in black stilettos.

“You look hot as hell, lady! Let me grab my bag and let’s tear this carpet up.” Olivia grabbed her Kate Spade bag. Having Piper back was like getting a reprieve from a decade long sentence. Too bad there was no real escape from self-made prisons. Olivia vowed to push the demons into the shadows for the night.

As they made their way to the elevator, Piper filled Olivia in on her life. Piper had gotten her doctorate in English Literature. She was beside herself talking about enlightening young minds at Brown. No she wasn’t married yet. Olivia suspected Piper was still waiting for that perfect book boyfriend to sweep her off her feet. Unfortunately, Olivia already knew those guys didn’t really exist.

They met up with a few other readers and authors in the elevator. She looked around wowed at how glammed up everyone was. The energy in the elevator was palpable as if they were going to a real Hollywood premier.

“So how did you get involved in these events?” Olivia asked Piper as they stepped onto the red carpet. “I mean this isn’t exactly Shakespeare.”

“Indie authors are fantastic and the cover models . . . Oh my! You never know which of these stories will be the classics of tomorrow. If a book moves you, takes you to another place and time then it has something. I love coming to these events and meeting the authors and models that make it all happen. Tonight’s event has been sold out for months,” Piper said smiling up at Olivia as they approached the red carpet leading into the event. “Oh, we’re next! Now strut that red carpet!”

“God, I missed you.” Olivia put her arm around her friend as they posed for photos. The event photographer snapped away while the two women hammed it up, laughing at themselves the whole time.

“Come on let’s go get a drink!” Piper said when the photo session was over. They made their way toward the cash bar. The event was set up beautifully. The tables were trimmed in black and gold. They had perfectly captured the Hollywood theme setting the mood for a fabulous night. Olivia had to hand it to the event coordinators they were professionals. Piper thrust a vodka and cran into her hand and began talking to a couple of models in tight shirts and ripped jeans.

Olivia looked out over the sea of exquisitely dressed authors, models, and readers. Everyone was talking and laughing. Her heart suddenly pictured Grace among the sea of happy people. Feeling alone in a crowded room was nothing new. She realized she was scanning the crowd for a face that would never be there. She stared through them into a carefree and beautiful past. A presence jolted her and her gaze met a stunning set of pale green eyes staring directly into her. For a moment she couldn’t look away. His dark hair framed a chiseled face she felt she should know. His eyes were locked on hers as if they were the only people in the room. The voices surrounding them faded into the distance. Looking into the eyes of this stranger, she was looking into a soul she had known for a thousand years. A sudden warmth came over the room stealing her breath and her heart began to race.

“Liv . . . Hey . . . Olivia!” Piper’s voice broke her from the trance and she turned away.

What the fuck was that? Olivia took several deep breaths and downed the rest of her drink as she tried to make out what Piper had said.

“Earth to Liv . . . are you in there?” Piper cut into her near panic. “This is Chris and Michael. They are cover models!” She practically sang.

“Oh . . . um nice to meet you,” Olivia stammered. The two young men smiled and nodded in her direction. She returned their smiles politely while trying to figure what had just happened. Who was that? Did she know him? How could she? She turned back to the lower level but there was no sign of him.

“Would you like me to get you another drink?” The tall blond was asking her in an Australian accent. His curly hair sat playfully on top of his head. The rugged stubble on his chin framed his mouth that turned up in a mischievous smile. His blue eyes sparkled while he waited for her to respond. Olivia had to admit he was damn sexy, but she was still in shock over the man she had only seen across the crowded room.

“Thank you. Yes please that would be great,” Olivia answered only giving him half her attention. Piper began introducing her to a group of authors. Olivia smiled and shook hands but she couldn’t help but wonder about the man with the pale green eyes and who he was.

The event announcer stepped up to the microphone and began introductions. Olivia followed Piper to their seats. She sat beside a lovely couple from Washington State. They began talking with Piper about a story they had all loved. Half the world loved, Piper interjected, but Olivia had barely heard of it much less read it. She watched Piper beam with excitement. Just being here was worth it. Olivia pushed back guilt over the years she had left Piper out of her life. It had just been too painful at first. That was a long time ago she reminded herself.

The servers brought a fantastic meal. As their table settled in to eating and talking various authors and models were taking turns saying a few words about this book or that. Olivia was seated so that her back was to the stage area. She didn’t know any of the people speaking anyway so she busied herself with the chicken and rosemary potatoes. The organizers had done an excellent job choosing the food. Suddenly Piper sat up and grinned ear to ear. Olivia stifled a giggle at her friend’s total fan girl moment and reached for another bite without turning around.

A speaker came to the podium and for the first time Olivia heard his voice. The chill that spread over her skin was quickly followed by an intense warmth. Half afraid to look, but unable to stop herself, she turned her head and there he was. Dominic Kain introduced himself to the room. The smooth bass that flowed from his mouth washed over her completely. When he laughed she felt it. He talked about some book he was on the cover of and the journey of creating it. Olivia struggled to follow his words, though each syllable played through the very fiber of her being. What the hell? Why was she so affected by a complete stranger? What the hell was wrong with her? He seemed to be scanning the room as he spoke until his eyes locked on hers. She felt her breath leave and struggled not to suffocate from the intensity of the connection. He continued talking but only looking at her, into her. His pale eyes turned dark and stormy. She had a sudden flash of him cornering her in an elevator. His lips met hers and she was overwhelmed by the intensity and the taste of cinnamon.

This is stupid! You cannot have a flashback of an event that never happened. Olivia turned away and picked up her chardonnay. She chugged a bit more than she meant to and spilled a few drops on her chin and down on to her dress. She almost choked on the liquid. She had never been this affected by anyone in her life.

Ever since Grace’s death she had suffered nightmares and panic attacks. Occasionally she experienced episodes that could be described as flashbacks because they felt so real. The kicker was sometimes they were for events that never happened. Her therapist said it was part of the way her mind dealt with the stress of the unknown. There was no closure so her mind filled in the blanks. The whole first year after Grace died was a blur. A painful mix of emotions and partial memories that she had blocked out until now.

She needed to get out of this room. She needed to breathe some cool night air. She sat looking anywhere but at him and when he handed over the mic, she excused herself from the table.

“Piper, I’ll be right back. I need to go to the bathroom,” Olivia whispered as the crowd stood to applaud his speech.

“Are you okay? You look pale,” Piper responded, her eyebrows crinkled in concern.

How could she explain to the friend she hadn’t seen in a decade that a total stranger took her breath away. “I’m fine,” she choked out. “I’ll be right back, I promise.” Olivia stood and started toward the bathroom. She had only taken a few steps when she heard his voice call out.

“Grace . . .” he breathed with the intensity and desperation of a man pleading for his very life.

Olivia froze. She dared not turn around. Her breath came short and quick and she closed her eyes. An eternity passed in that moment. She heard steps right behind her and felt the heat of his presence.

“Dominic,” a woman’s voice called out and he stopped short.

Olivia didn’t wait. She bolted across the ballroom and up the steps. In a flash she was outside on the dock that led to the water. She gasped and finally allowed herself to breathe. What the actual fuck? Had he really called her Grace? Did she imagine that? Tears stung her eyes and Olivia felt like she would throw up. There is no way. Hell he was probably not even talking to her. She began walking down the boardwalk toward where all the cigarette boats were parked. Maybe a decade wasn’t long enough.

She just had to get a grip. I am an attorney. I will not let myself get rattled by a male model, Olivia repeated to herself silently as she walked in the cool air. She knew she should go back in there. She hated that she was leaving poor Piper. But she couldn’t go back just yet. She walked on in the darkness. After what felt like a mile of self-loathing, Olivia took out her cell and messaged Piper.

I’m sorry, Piper! I needed some air.

Olivia hated herself for ditching her friend. She had to go back. She knew Piper had paid a pretty penny for those tickets.

Where are you sweetie? The dinner is almost over. Are you okay?

I am a shitty friend. Olivia stopped walking and looked out over the water. She watched the boats moving in the harbor.

I’m out on the pier. I’m okay. Heading back now.

Olivia took a deep breath and willed her legs to move back toward the hotel. No matter who that guy was, he was probably talking to someone else if he even said Grace at all. Jeez, she was not going to get all paranoid and worked up over some book model. She was thankful that no one she knew saw how vulnerable she was for a moment. Olivia moved with purpose back toward the hotel. When she got close she realized the event must have let out as beautifully dressed people had moved out onto the pier chatting and carrying their cocktails.

Through the crowd, she spotted Piper. There was no sign of the model from the dinner. Olivia reached Piper and apologized. “Piper, I’m so sorry I didn’t make it back.”

“No worries, Olivia, I completely understand. It can be a little intimidating to be around all those models and authors for the first time!” Piper began telling her about a few of the authors she met and how excited she was for the next day as they moved back into the hotel and toward the bar. Olivia just nodded in agreement. She wasn’t about to admit, even to herself, that she had let a male model completely flip her out.

They sat down next to the couple they had met from Washington State and Olivia ordered a double Grey Goose with a splash of cran on the rocks. This was without a doubt Olivia’s favorite drink. She tipped the bartender and swirled the pink liquid. She tipped the cool glass to her lips and willed the contents to take her away. Just as she had so many times in the last decade Olivia felt all alone in the crowded bar. The dull roar of voices spilled all around her and filled up the air. They laughed, talked, and enjoyed each other. She couldn’t help feeling like no one really saw her. She sat like a ghost unnoticed by the living.

His voice floated across the bar and enveloped her. Each syllable that escaped his lips drowned out the rest of the bar until they just faded away. Unable to resist, Olivia looked up. Dominic Kain stood on the other side of the room. A beautiful redhead on his arm. He was nodding at something the woman was saying but his eyes were locked on Olivia. In the room full of people he was looking only at her. His pale green eyes lit up as if someone had lit a fire behind them. Olivia swallowed hard; her mouth suddenly dry as the Sahara.

“That’s Dominic Kain and bestselling author Grace Parker!” Piper interrupted breaking the spell.

“What?” Olivia asked and grabbed her drink. She was going to need another.

“Dominic Kain the cover model, he spoke tonight and that is New York Times bestselling author Grace Parker! I pre-ordered her entire Loving Me series!” Piper was gushing now but Olivia had stopped listening.

Grace Parker. She laughed and drained her drink. God, she was a fool. He had said Grace. Of course there was more than one Grace in the world. She couldn’t believe she had been so easily captivated. She had let her imagination run away with her. She looked at him surrounded by a sea of readers. He was laughing and talking to each one. Who was she kidding. He was a male model in his element nothing more.

Just then Olivia’s phone buzzed. She looked down to see a message from Mr. Davis. That was odd for a Friday night. He wanted her to call. Olivia excused herself from the group and stepped in the hall that led to the elevators.

“Mr. Davis. This is Olivia. Is everything okay?”

THE MORNING OF a book signing starts at the crack of dawn. Dominic shut off his alarm. Six fucking thirty. No time to hit snooze though. He needed to shower and head down to help Mel set up. He still wasn’t sure how he had let her talk him into this. Okay that wasn’t true, Mel was one of the most persuasive people he had ever met. Er uh, Grace that is. He still didn’t understand why she was so adamant that he call her by her pen name at the events. Grace Parker. He still liked to call her Smelly Melly but that probably wouldn’t go over too well.

He jumped out of bed and stretched his six foot two-inch frame. He reached down to scratch his balls. Fuck they were sore. His cock strained against his shorts. Thoughts of the mystery brunette set him on fire. He was going to have to take care of that before he went anywhere. Smelly Melly would have to wait.

The woman was a perfect stranger but he knew every inch of her. What he wouldn’t give to have her. Taste her. The cool tile soothed his feet as he made his way to the shower. The moment she walked into the event he had sensed her. Goddamn the way the smoky lace of that dress fell over her curves gave him a chill that went to his toes. She moved effortlessly through the room talking and laughing with her friend. Dark hair fell in loose waves over her mostly exposed back. He wanted to run his fingers down her perfect skin to the small of her back and pull her to him. He almost came up out of his seat when she started talking to a couple of the other cover models. Fuck why did he even care. He didn’t even know her. But he did, and a lifetime ago she was his.

The warm water of the shower fell down around him. He grabbed a handful of soap and started rubbing it up and down his shaft thinking of her.

She looked out over the room and caught him staring. The moment their eyes met he knew he had found her. He couldn’t look away. He could see it in her face she felt it too. No one else in the world existed in that moment. He wanted to close the gap between them. He needed to touch her. He knew just how she would react.

His grip tightened around his cock and he began to move faster. The ache in his balls almost took his breath. He needed to have this woman, to kiss and lick every inch of her luscious skin. He wanted to hear her whimper in response to his touch. He wanted to make her come within an inch of her life. Dominic braced himself against the shower wall and came with the force of a storm that tears through the mountains.

He stood in the warm water for a moment to regain his composure. When he got the chance to put his hands on her, there would be no holding back. Like lightning that rips apart the sky, raw and explosive, if they survived it would be the most intense night of their lives.

DOMINIC STOOD IN the elevator holding onto a rolling cart that contained two thousand pounds of book shit. He still didn’t know why they needed all that extra stuff. Boxes and boxes of little magnets and koozies and pens. All with his half naked picture on it for fucks sake. At least she didn’t bring as much as she did to the one in Vegas a few months ago. That whole trip was brutal.

He glanced over at Author Grace Parker and rolled his eyes. She was applying the fifth coat of cherry red lipstick. Her fire engine hair was all done up in some kind of naughty teacher messy bun but she was a doll as always. The elevator doors opened. Dominic held the door for her and then pulled the massive cart out into the hallway. They stopped and said hello to a few readers who were already lining the halls and galley outside the second-floor ballroom. Are they really in line already? VIP tickets didn’t start until 10:00 a.m. but some of these ladies looked like they were waiting to see the Stones.

They grinned up at him as he passed. Dominic smiled back and said hello to each woman. He knew how important they were to Mel. Her readers were her friends and fans. No matter how awkward he felt about all the attention, it meant a lot to Mel and that’s all that mattered. They reached her table and he began unloading box after box of books and swag. He knew better than to ask where it went. His job was to unload and she would do the rest. She was so particular but that was one of the things he loved about her most.

Once the cart was empty he set up her event banners. Every time he did this he couldn’t help but blush at the giant black and white version of his exposed torso. The ladies seemed to love it though and Mel was happy so who was he to complain. With his part of set up complete, he kissed Mel on the cheek and wished her luck. He planned to stay out of her way until it was time to start. He hoped to catch a glimpse of a certain brunette.

Dominic stepped out into the hall and started toward the lobby. Whoa, he hadn’t figured on the number of fans that would already be gathering. Every few feet he was stopped by another group of eager and smiling faces. He obliged each one. Some of the women had stories to tell. Some just wanted to say hello and take a selfie with their favorite book boyfriend. By the time he made it to the lobby it was almost time to head back for the VIP signing. He stepped onto the marble floor and spotted her. He tried to cross quickly in her direction, but she was heading out toward the pier. He almost reached the door when the photographer for the event stopped him.

“Dominic, we need to do some pre-event photos with all the authors and models could you join us on the main staircase?” Snapper called out as he hustled to catch up with him.

Dominic stopped and sighed. Just before he turned around he saw the edge of her pale blue skirt disappear around the corner of the building. “Of course,” he answered. He was here to do a job not chase ghosts.

AFTER PHOTOS DOMINIC took his place beside Mel at her table. The doors opened and the VIPs began to enter the room. Mel’s table was in the center back. Some people came directly to them while others meandered through the tables and made their way over. He waited and watched for her. This is stupid. He gave out a thousand smiles and hugs. He stood and took a thousand more selfies with adoring fans and quickly downed a shot of Jameson.

As he set the glass down he saw her. She was just entering the other side of the room with her blond friend. His mouth went dry and he reached for another shot. They were talking and laughing with some other author. God, he still didn’t know her name. She had to be a professional of some kind. She stood straight and tall like she owned the fucking world. Her pale blue skirt fit snuggly over that perfect ass. It ended just above her knees in a slight ruffle that moved when she walked captivating him. He longed to pick her up and set her on the book table. Everyone else in the room be damned. He wanted to hike that skirt up over the lace panties he knew would be there and bury his head until he heard her scream.

Another group of readers came up blocking his view. He talked with each one and smiled for pictures. He could see her in the next row. Her friend was madly engaged with an author but she was staring at her phone with the most perfect frown across her lips. Oh that pouty mouth. She didn’t seem the least bit interested in the conversation. She was texting furiously. If looks could kill the phone would have melted in her hands. She gripped it like a vice. He couldn’t help but picture her taking him with that tenacity.

He would make her forget all about that damn phone. The light behind her illuminated the white blouse and outlined her silhouette exquisitely. He wanted to shove the table out of the way, cross the room, and pull her to him. He wanted to taste her sweet mouth. His eyes moved down her delicate neck to the hem of that fucking blouse. He pictured ripping it open exposing soft full breasts that he would take in . . .

“Can we take a picture?” A charming blond woman with glasses interrupted his wicked thoughts.

“I’m sorry . . . um . . . yes of course!” Dominic got a hold of himself and turned his attention to the woman in front of him. “Are you having fun today?” he asked and smiled. He hoped like hell that when he stood up, his straining cock wouldn’t be fully on display like a teenager after riding the damn school bus. He flashed back to middle school and having to walk around holding a textbook over his crotch.

“Oh, yes, thank you!” She stepped around the side of the table as he rose to meet her. Thankfully she was looking him in the eyes. He was sure she was going to have a surprise when she saw the pictures later. They posed and smiled. He could tell by her friend’s giggle when she took the picture that the secret was out. As soon as they were done, he sat as quickly as possible.

“Would you care to sign my book?” she asked hopefully. “My name’s Kathy and this is my sister Christine. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

“Absolutely. Thank you, Kathy,” Dominic answered and opened the book to personalize it. Without looking up, he felt her presence as she approached.

“Kathy!” Her angelic voice drifted over him like a cool stream after spending a lifetime in the barren desert.

“Olivia! Hi! I didn’t know you were a romance fan!” Kathy responded. Thank you, sweet Kathy. Now I know her name. Olivia.

“Well, not exactly . . .” Olivia hesitated. “This is all very exciting but I didn’t know it even existed until my friend Piper invited me.

Dominic finished writing and looked up. There she was. Just a few feet away. He could reach out and touch her. His blood boiled. She belonged to him. Heart racing he stood causing her to turn and meet his gaze. Her large almond shaped hazel eyes stared back at him. Like a sunburst over a deep emerald sea their sheer beauty and innocence pulled him in. His mouth suddenly dry again he silently handed the book back to Kathy. He couldn’t take his eyes off Olivia. She embodied the ghost of his dreams and every fantasy he dared not long for.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, THUD. Her friend plopped a stack of books fifteen thick onto the table for him to sign. The stack shook the table and his conscious back to the present.

“Hello, Dominic! It is so wonderful to see you! I have every book you have been on the cover of. Would you sign them for me? My name is Piper,” she chirped and pointed at the name tag over her left boob.

“Sure,” he said sitting back down like a deflated balloon. “Nice to meet you, Piper.” He opened the books and began signing them one by one. As he handed each book back to Piper he stole glances at Olivia. She stood talking to Kathy and Christine for a moment and was then deeply engrossed in her phone once again. She didn’t even notice he was there. He felt like a kid watching the ice cream truck drive away. He tried engaging Piper.

“This is quite a collection,” he said as he picked up another book to sign. “So where are you ladies from?” He looked back and forth from Piper to Olivia. Olivia never looked up.

“Well, Liv is from here in Virginia. I live in Rhode Island. I teach at Brown,” Piper answered waving off Olivia who was still buried in a conversation that was causing her eyebrows to furrow into a deep crease.

“Wow, that’s quite a trip, I lived up that way a long time ago. Did you fly in or did you drive?” He just needed to keep her talking. Eventually Olivia would finish her call and join Piper in the conversation.

“I flew in last week,” she blurted blushing. Piper had one of those cute faces that was oddly familiar but not particularly memorable.

“So how did you guys meet? She doesn’t seem as interested in all this as you are.” Dominic observed as he signed slowly trying to drag out time until Olivia got off that damn phone.

“She’s not, obviously.” Piper nodded in Olivia’s direction. “She’s just pissed at some guy named Vincent. It’s nothing. We’ve been friends a long time. We were roommates at Yale.”

Piper looked at Olivia wistfully. “This was supposed to be our girl’s weekend. But she’s married to her job now and stinking Vincent,” Piper huffed.

“Married?” he asked, breaking out into a sweat as he signed the last book in the stack. Before Piper could answer Olivia hung up the phone furiously. She looked at them tears brimming in her eyes through pure rage.

“Vincent Trudeau has screwed me over for the last time,” she practically yelled. Olivia took a breath and calmed herself. “Piper I need to step out in the hall for just a sec. I’m sorry.”

“Aw shit,” Piper said eyes wide. “Thank you for signing these. I better go. I know Liv, she’s gonna need a drink. Hope to see you tonight on the cruise!”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Dominic called after her and meant it. He didn’t know who this Vincent guy was but he was sure he could make her forget all about him.

Just then Kathy came back. She had forgotten part of her pre-order. “Kathy, do you know Olivia?” he blurted hopefully.

“You mean Olivia Hastings that was just here? Yes, I know her from the courthouse. She works in the prosecutor’s office,” Kathy offered. “I’m sitting with her at the dinner tonight if you like I can introduce you.” Kathy got a gleam in her eye. He could just hear the fiddler playing matchmaker.

“No that’s okay. I don’t want to . . .” Dominic started but then Grace Parker interrupted.

“What does she do for the prosecutor’s office?” Grace sounded excited. Her red hair bounced with her enthusiasm.

“Oh, she’s an attorney,” Kathy said smiling even bigger. “A Yale grad.”

“Then yes he absolutely wants you to introduce them.” Grace Parker sat back. The self-satisfied look on her face was one only a big sister could possess.

Dominic sighed but he knew it was no use. He would not cross Smelly Melly. When their parents died she had done everything for him. Even becoming his guardian to keep him out of foster care. She had only been twenty-one at the time and had worked her ass off in that stupid fucking plant to support him while taking night classes. Things were better when he went to college. She finally had an office job in an accounting firm and he got a full scholarship to Brown. The cancer was like a cruel sick joke. He remembered the day she was diagnosed like it was yesterday. He blamed himself. If she hadn’t had to work in that stupid factory maybe she wouldn’t have been exposed to so many chemicals.

He vowed then and there to help her and support her like she had done for him. When she had to quit her job for chemo he took up odd jobs in addition to school to keep the bills paid. During her chemo sessions he read to her from all her favorite romance authors. He kept telling her she should write her own. She had been an amazing story teller when they were younger.

Four years ago an author convention came to their town but Mel was in the hospital and was too sick to go. So he went and bought a book from each author and had them sign it. Mel was so excited she turned a corner with her treatment. He never had the heart to tell her he pawned the baseball card collection their dad had left him to pay for the books.

That event changed their lives. He met a photographer named Eric David Battershell. Eric offered Dominic a job modeling for book covers. At first, he had laughed. Modeling was not something he had ever considered but if it would help his sister pay for treatment he was all for it. His sister was so inspired by his “new career,” she began writing. He had never been more proud than when her series Loving Me hit the New York Times bestseller list. Unless you count the day they told her she was in remission from the cancer.

“Whatever you say, Smelly,” he said smiling over at her.

“Dominic, please when we are at an event call me Grace Parker,” she said punching him playfully in the arm. “You know I hate that nickname.

“Yes, Miss Parker,” he said in his best southern drawl. Dominic Kain could barely contain himself. Tonight he was going to meet Olivia Hastings.

“YOU JUST NEED to forget work for one night and have fun,” Piper ordered sitting on the end of Olivia’s bed while she changed and refreshed her makeup. “Remember how much fun we used to have. It’s like you have forgotten how to live.”

Olivia paused and stuck her head out of the bathroom toothbrush hanging out of her mouth. Piper was right. She didn’t know how to relax anymore. Hell this was supposed to be their wild girls weekend and she had spent half the day on the damn phone with work. Not that it mattered anyway. Vincent, that snake in the grass, pulled a fast one with the judge and had her motion thrown out. Damn him and those technicalities. She swore half the time he made them up. She had to admit he was a force to be reckoned with. That man could get Satan off for good behavior.

Despite all of her arguing, pleading and downright begging she had not made any headway with the judge. Olivia was no closer to putting Lafferty behind bars than she was when the case first crossed her desk. Maybe Piper was right.

“Okay, Piper, you are on. No more work. No more stupid work phone. She turned her cell off for the first time in four years and put it in a drawer. Tonight I am all yours. Let’s go party like it’s 2006,” she said defiantly and they both cracked up laughing.

Piper had changed into a long Hawaiian maxi dress and Isaac Mizrahi sandals. Her blond pixie cut was pinned back on the side with a little Swarovski butterfly clip. Olivia blinked back a tear. She remembered when Grace had given that to Piper. “That goes beautifully with your dress,” she said smiling and gave Piper a little hug.

Oliva adjusted the strap on her blue kerchief halter dress. They were just about ready to go to the dinner cruise. Olivia had to hand it to Lisa and Amy who put this shindig together. Everything about it was fabulous. Even if she wasn’t a romance reader like her friend, she would gladly go with her again next year. She took one last glance in the mirror and they bounced out the door. Two carefree ladies ready to take on the town. Or at least the dinner cruise anyway.

“Let’s get a pre-cruise drink at the bar,” Olivia suggested taking Piper’s arm as they left the elevator.

“All right!” Piper eagerly agreed. They weren’t the only ones with that idea. A group of ladies from the signing were already at the bar.

Olivia saw Kathy and went over to say hi while Piper ordered their drinks. Kathy looked amazing in a navy dress with a yellow sweater.

“Olivia, you look great! This is Julie she is the unofficial event photographer,” Kathy joked indicating her brunette friend with the kindest brown eyes Olivia had ever seen. Julie had a camera hanging around her neck ready to capture every moment in real time. “And this is Sherry, she is the life of the party.”

Sherry’s blond hair was cut in a bob. Her smile was contagious. Olivia was starting to see what Piper loved about this group of people.

“Very nice to meet you both. This is my first time at one of these events so I’m not sure what to expect.” Olivia extended her hand. She was aware of her own formality but didn’t know how to shut it off.

“Double Grey with a splash of cran,” Piper reported handing her a glass. She had returned from the bar with a couple other women they had met that day. “If this doesn’t get you going all hope is lost. Olivia, you remember Christine and Whynter.”

“Thanks, Piper. What did Grace used to call this?” Olivia asked determined not to let fractured memories ruin their night.

“All in,” Piper chirped up. “Because a couple glasses and you are all in for anything”

“Yeah, that’s it. Bottoms up!” Olivia took a big swig of the liquid. “That’s the dangerous thing about Grey Goose. It’s so smooth it sneaks up on you.”

The group of women laughed, joked, and told stories as they walked down the pier to the waiting ship. Olivia realized that even though she lived here she had never been on one of these dinner cruises. There were a lot of things she never took time to do. Like having friends for example.

Julie was taking about fifty pictures a minute when they approached the ship. The women posed in front of the main entrance and onboard they went. The Spirit of Norfolk was beautiful. It must have been 150 feet long. They were guided to the Harborview Deck. There was a central dance floor, a DJ, and several buffet stations. They settled on a round table with a great view.

Olivia sat back and a waiter brought her a fresh drink. She listened to Piper and the other women talk about book boyfriends as if they were real people. She didn’t dare contribute to the conversation as Olivia did not believe in love. Her years in the district attorney’s office had left her jaded. Yes, she was alone. But she knew she would be. No chance of getting her heart ripped out and ending up alone anyway.

“Hello, ladies.” The strong male voice right behind her startled her and made her choke on her drink. Olivia coughed and sputtered. Red faced she turned around to see Dominic Kain staring back at her.

“Hello!” Piper and the other women spoke up. Kathy and Christine exchanged knowing smiles. Olivia caught her breath and the redness in her cheeks deepened as she blushed.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes widened in concern. He was standing right behind her wearing a black suit and a white dress shirt. Damn. Any man can put on a suit, but very few men can really wear it.

“I’m fine . . . I . . . um. Excuse me a moment.” Olivia got up and made her way to the restroom. What the hell? Why am I running away from this person? She shut the bathroom door and took a few slow deep breaths. Seriously, I am hiding in the bathroom from a man I don’t even know.

“Get ahold of yourself, Olivia,” she whispered into the mirror. She let out a sigh and touched up her makeup. He is just a guy. A male model at that, empty headed, big muscles, nice hair, gorgeous eyes . . . Stop it! Olivia was around intelligent sexy men all the time and they were all asshats. Vincent for example was a fucking dream boat, but would throw his grandma under the bus if he thought it would help him or his career. This guy is no different. He is nothing special. Hell, he came here with that author Grace Parker anyway. Olivia straightened her dress, took one last deep breath and left the restroom.

On her way back to the table she stopped and talked to Lisa and Amy and thanked them for a wonderful time. Olivia stole a glance at her table. Thank God, he had gone. She scanned the room but didn’t see him.

“Are you okay? What happened?” Piper questioned when she returned to her seat.

“I’m sorry. I choked and I couldn’t quite catch my breath. I didn’t want to cough and sputter all over the table,” Olivia answered in half-truth.

“I’m just glad you’re okay. You missed talking with Dominic Kain!” Piper let out a dreamy sigh. “That man is the whole package. He can be my book boyfriend any day.”

Throughout dinner the group of women talked about their families and jobs. Olivia realized how little she had to add to the conversation. Not too many people want to hear about violent crime prosecution and she had no personal life. None. Except this. She thought of Grace and wondered if she would have gotten married. Would she have had children? When everyone was finished eating they got up to go to the upper deck and watch the sun set over the harbor. They were all gathered by the rail taking photos when a cigarette speed boat pulled alongside them.

Olivia looked down at the people partying on the boat. Suddenly the boat driver waved in her direction.

“Olivia!” he yelled and waved his arms overhead.

Vincent fucking Trudeau. Olivia narrowed her brows and scowled back. She gave a small polite wave.

“Nice work in court this week, sweetie,” he yelled. “Better luck next time.” And they sped off.

“Who was that, Liv?’ Piper asked and all the ladies stood waiting for an explanation.

Olivia growled. “That was Vincent Trudeau, world class jackass and defense attorney to Satan himself.” Olivia suddenly wanted another drink. Her fury and self-loathing renewed. Damn it she wanted a win this week. That guy was fucking guilty and they all knew it.

“You have to admit he’s not bad to look at,” Piper observed raising her eyebrows.

“Be my guest,” Olivia shot back. “If you like your men with a side of sadistic pig.” She shook her head and made a beeline for the bar. “I need to get a drink.”

“You’d be surprised,” Piper said laughing and went back to talking with the girls.

Olivia was still muttering under her breath when she reached the upper deck bar. Fuck it. Why did she care so much? Everyone lost sometimes, right? What she needed was just a night to forget fucking everything.

“What’ll you have?” the bartender asked

“Can I get a double Grey with a splash of cran?” Olivia asked in a huff, then wished she had ordered something a little stronger.

“Bad night?” Dominic asked in a baritone so smooth it would melt the panties off a nun.

Olivia turned stunned. He was right beside her; an electric shiver left his lips and traveled over every inch of her. “This event has been great I’m just dealing with something.”

“Boyfriend problems?” he asked leaning back against the bar. Those pale green eyes promising to make it all go away.

“No.” Olivia laughed. “It’s work. A guy I work with is getting the better of me and it’s pissing me off.” She took a long swig of the drink the bartender brought. “I guess you could say I really hate losing.” She didn’t know why she was sharing anything with this guy. Not that it mattered she guessed. She was never going to see him again anyway.

“No one likes losing. If it matters deeply you have to dig in and fight for it,” he offered seeming to understand rather than judge.

She didn’t know what a playboy model knew about loss. He probably has always gotten by on that beautiful face. “Thanks for the observation,” she replied dryly. Hell he was probably just looking to get laid.

“How much does it mean to you?” he questioned standing too close.

“Really?” she asked and rolled her eyes. “As if you actually want to know.” Who did he think he was, acting like he was all interested in her personal life. Olivia knew better. This guy was just another guy looking to get some. She finished her drink and started to step away from the bar.

“Are you always this defensive? You act like you’re fighting a war with yourself,” he asked his voice cool and challenging.

“What did you just say?” Olivia turned back and snapped.

“I’m just saying if you always act like this to guys, I know why you are having man problems.” He was grinning now. A little half grin that was playful but engaged like someone sizing up an opponent.

“You don’t know anything about my personal life. I don’t have any man problems,” she countered. “What about you sitting here at the bar all alone sulking when there is a ship full of beautiful women. Are you having man problems?”

“Touché, madam. No I’m not having any man or woman problems, except the woman I was really hoping to meet tonight turned out to be a real witch.” He took a sip of what she assumed to be whiskey.

Olivia stopped in her tracks. “You what? Aren’t you here with someone? What about Grace Parker? Remember her. Or is your fidelity as shallow as you are?”

He started laughing. “Grace Parker is actually Melanie Kain.”

Olivia gasped. “You’re wife?” This guy was a real piece of shit. She hated herself for being attracted to him. Why? After all this time. Why this guy? This lying cheating bastard was worse than Vincent.

He stood there with an amused grin and bit his lip. He seemed to be enjoying watching her fume. “Mel is my sister,” he said and laughed again. “Not my wife. I just model for her books to help her out and as a bonus I get to meet lovely people like yourself.” He cleared his throat and smirked at her.

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “Tell you what, why don’t I buy you a drink to make up for being such a witch and we call it even.”

“I can buy my own drink, and we are far from even.” His eyes darkened as he spoke. “I want to know everything about you.”

Olivia took a step back. There it was again. The warm sensation and complete loss of air, like she was being squeezed by an anaconda of excitement and anticipation. She definitely needed another drink.

“You don’t want to know about me?” she asked as she looked for an escape. “There’s nothing to tell.”

“Let’s start with something easy. What’s your name? Your friend called you Liv earlier.” He leaned in a little closer.

“It’s Olivia Hastings,” she answered. “And I already know you are Dominic Kain. All the ladies seem quite taken with you.”

“You’re not?” he asked, his eyes twinkled as if he already knew the answer.

“Not really. No offense you’re just not my type,” she lied. Could he tell? Olivia motioned to the bartender for another round for both of them.

Dominic gently bit his tongue in a devilish smile and his eyes flashed playfully. “Then what may I ask is your type? Arrogant assholes like the guy on the boat?”

“I don’t waste my time with men,” she quipped.

“Oh, God, I’m sorry I didn’t realize . . . That’s cool.” Dominic backtracked and picked up his drink.

“Oh, jeez, just because I don’t want some guy in my pants doesn’t make me a lesbian. I simply don’t have time to wait hand and foot on some giant man baby. I have a career and life goals that don’t involve walking down an aisle. I don’t need a hero to save me,” she reported and raised her eyebrows challenging him to counter. Olivia sat quite proud of her accomplishments. As much as she was affected by him she didn’t need him or any other man to feel good about herself.

“I understand. I have commitments in my life that don’t make room for someone high maintenance and full of drama,” he replied genuinely.

“Hmm . . . you mean your modeling and all your adoring fans?” she questioned.

“Something like that,” he answered pensively like there was so much more to the story than he was willing to share.

Olivia sipped her drink. She hated and loved how he looked at her like he had known her for a lifetime. The sun began to set. Olivia looked out over the colors that played over the water. Purples and pinks gave way to reds and oranges that faded to gold at the horizon. “Those colors are lovely. I have lived here for four years and this is the first time I have stopped to watch the sunset on the water.” She let out a long sigh.

“Exquisite,” he responded not looking at the water. Olivia turned and he was staring at her. She felt that warm rush envelop her.

“Why don’t you take time to live your life?” he asked staring into her with those pale eyes that said he already knew the answer.

Olivia quickly looked away. “I’m not a nice girl, Dominic. I don’t date. I’m not waiting around for someone to save me. I don’t believe in love or fate or any of that garbage.”

“I’m not here to save you.” His voice lowered. He leaned in and for the first time she inhaled his incredible scent. It was deep and full, with a hint of orange that had ripened in the sun. It was intoxicating yet familiar and she just wanted to nestle her nose and lips into his skin.

What was that? Olivia sat straight up. She was not about to hook up with a total stranger. She started trying to think of the last time she hooked up with anyone. Shit.

An announcement sounded overhead that they were heading back to dock. The cruise was over and her friends were nowhere in sight.

“I better go find my friends,” she said and turned to leave.

He took her by the arm. “Wait,” he blurted and pulled her close to him. “Don’t go. Stay with me.” The words came out dark and needy.

“The cruise is over. We all have to go.” She breathed unwilling to break from his grip. At this close proximity his cologne swirled around her and kicked every hormone into overdrive.

“Then come with me. We can take a walk or go back to the hotel bar for a while.” His eyes told her they wouldn’t do much talking. “I just want to know you better.”

“You know we aren’t going to have much to say beyond small talk and frankly I don’t really care about the weather at the moment. You are a male model and I am a professional. I went to Yale for Christ’s sake. If I go with you we are going to end up having a one-night stand and never see each other again,” she blurted. She was not about to be some groupie pining for a man who was never coming back. Yet at this moment there was nothing more she wanted than to be in his arms.

“Wow.” He took a step back and released her arm. “Are you really that jaded?” He shook his head like he was seeing her for the first time. “Come on I’ll walk you to your friends.”

Olivia was stunned. “What the hell? Are you really offended. Isn’t that your thing? Town to town, a string of one-night stands. No commitments. No disappointments.”

“Just like that?” He laughed. His eyes flashed in the disappearing light and he pulled her to him, crashing her body into his. “Baby, if I had you for the night, you wouldn’t walk away unscathed. I have dreamt of your touch, longed for you more than the dark sky yearns for the sun.” That voice stole Olivia’s heart and soul, soft but so clear it embodied the sheer essence of everything it was to be a man looking at the one love of his life.

“You don’t even know me,” she whispered.

“I’ve always known you,” he growled and put his hand in the back of her hair and pulled her lips to his.

At first Olivia resisted but the sensation of his expert mouth and the taste of cinnamon and whiskey made her knees weak. His fingertips sent electricity coursing through her. It wasn’t until he set her back down and pulled away that she even realized that she had been off the ground. Olivia was breathing hard and her lips still tingled with the taste of him.

“Liv! Hey, Liv! The cruise is over we have to go!” Piper’s voice tore her from the euphoric fog. Olivia turned to see piper ascending the steps and walking toward her. “Hey, you two, have you been standing around here this whole time? We went downstairs to find the bathroom and started dancing. I think some of us girls are going to go out dancing after this. You guys want to come? Please.”

“I need to go back to the hotel and check on my sister. Thank you for the offer,” he told Piper and then looked expectantly at Olivia like he was waiting for her to answer.

“You’re the boss this trip, Piper,” Olivia answered. Whatever just happened she had to get the hell away while she had any will power left. “It was nice to meet you, Dominic.” Olivia put her arm in Piper’s and left him standing by the bar.

HE COULD HARDLY believe he was watching her walk away again. His heart fell out of his chest and exploded into a thousand pieces on the floor. But she couldn’t possibly know what she was doing to him. Dominic took a deep breath and downed the rest of his drink. A one-night stand. He laughed. She had no idea what he wanted to do to her. Dominic looked over the railing and watched the group of women make their way down the pier. She never even looked back.

OLIVIA, SAT IN the back of the Uber car as they headed back to the hotel. Piper lay slumped over her drooling on her shoulder. Well, dancing was an absolute ball for a while anyway. Poor Piper went all in a little quicker than she planned. Olivia adjusted her head to make sure she was breathing okay. Piper had two modes when partying; life of the party and asleep. She was like a little kid that ran and played their heart out then passed out the second you picked them up for nap time. It had always been that way Olivia recalled. Though she would have expected Piper’s liver to have matured some in the last ten years.

They had been dancing hard when Piper said she wanted to sit down for a minute. Olivia knew it was time to call an Uber to come pick them up. The other women were still going strong so they bid them farewell. Piper had managed to stay awake at least until the car pulled away from the curb. Question now is how Olivia was going to get her out of the car and back up to her room. They pulled up to the front of the hotel.

“Okay, thanks,” Olivia told the driver. She exited the car and pulled Piper out with her. Olivia did her best to put Piper’s arm over her shoulder and support her weight. Piper was small but her legs were not moving so she felt like a rag doll filled with wet sand. Olivia semi-wrestled her into the lobby to the first available chair. She removed her own shoes and positioned Piper to pick her up. She could just carry Piper to bed and come back for her shoes later.

“Do you need some help?” That smooth male voice could not be mistaken.

Olivia turned to see Dominic still in his suit from the evening minus the jacket. His tie was long gone though, and the first few buttons of his dress shirt were undone. She could see a hint of just how sculpted he was and the peak of a tattoo. His dark hair was tousled as if he had just run his hand through it.

“What are you doing in the lobby this late?” Olivia asked eyeing him suspiciously. Her prosecutor mind was always set to guilty until proven innocent. “Waiting up or just finishing a midnight fling?”

“Neither. Let me help you take your friend upstairs,” he said in a tone that left no room for question.

“This isn’t going to win you any bonus points,” Olivia snipped.

“I don’t need any. But I don’t want to see you fall with her in the elevator or on this hard floor and end up giving your best friend a head bleed,” he answered deadpan. She knew he was right and as much as she hated to admit it, she needed the help.

“Okay, you win . . . thank you,” Olivia conceded and picked up her shoes and their purses. Dominic picked up sleeping Piper with ease and they walked toward the elevator. She pushed the button and they waited. He was incredibly gentle with Piper. Olivia couldn’t help but be a little moved by his kindness. As they rode up to the sixth floor she struggled for something to say.

“Have you been modeling very long?” she asked and looked over at the rugged playboy carrying her friend. Olivia pictured Piper in the morning when Olivia told her how she got upstairs. No head injury required, Piper would probably fall over dead.

“I thought you didn’t like small talk,” he countered and smiled down at her. His pale green eyes seemed softer and relaxed than when she first saw him in the lobby.

“Well we could just listen to Piper snoring in concert with the lovely elevator music.” She laughed.

“I started a few years ago, when my sister was sick. I would do anything for her. I think the excitement of all this and the love of the readers pulled her through,” he answered thoughtfully. “When we were little we fought like cats and dogs. All the time. But now . . . I couldn’t imagine losing her. She’s my best friend.”

“Funny how that works,” Olivia replied, positioning herself so she wouldn’t have to see the mirrored wall of the elevator.

“Do you have any siblings?” he asked. His eyes searched her for an answer.

“No. I’m an only child,” she answered coldly, then suddenly smiled. “Unless you count sleeping beauty there.”

The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Dominic carried Piper to her room and Olivia fished the key out of her purse. Once inside Dominic laid Piper on the bed and then stepped out to give her some privacy while Olivia got her tucked in. Olivia thought of how close Dominic was to his sister. She felt a pang of guilt for the way she had treated Piper over the last few years. She had abandoned Piper when she needed her most. She vowed to be a better friend starting now.

“Sleeping beauty is all tucked in and resting peacefully,” Olivia reported as she returned to the hall and quietly closed the door behind her. “Thanks for your help. I would have had a hell of a time getting her all the way up here. Unless I used one of those luggage things.”

He laughed. “I’m fairly certain she wouldn’t have liked that too much.” He leaned up against the wall just inches from her.

“In her current state she isn’t able to like or dislike much of anything. But I know she will appreciate it tomorrow.” Olivia struggled to answer. He was standing entirely too close. The electricity between them was making it hard to think of words to say. She wanted to run away and jump on him at the same time.

“I could walk you to your room,” he offered, the intensity in his eyes growing. The hallway became suddenly warm.

She hesitated and sucked in a breath. “I’m just down the hall here.” He was close enough for that fucking cologne to get to her again. Damn that stuff must be full of pheromones. It swirled all over her like a seductive Latin beat and pulled her to him.

“It’s a short walk then.” His voice was husky with need. He slid his hand down her back and rested it in the small curve just above her ass and they started to walk.

“I’m never going to see you again,” she said into the silence.

“Doesn’t have to be that way,” he answered pulling her closer as they walked toward her room.

“Yes it does. My life doesn’t have time for complications,” she answered but didn’t pull away. She had no desire to be anywhere but wrapped up with him.

“Is that what you think I am? A complication to your perfect plans?” He spoke low his lips brushing her ear. “Baby, I would be a fucking disaster to your glass world.”

She stopped walking. “This is my room.”

“So I guess this is good night,” he said pulling her tight up against him, like two planets colliding, with his hand on the small of her back. The impact jolted the breath from her lips.

Olivia threw all caution into the wind. She was never going to see him again. For this one night she wanted to experience unrestrained ecstasy. She wanted to lose herself in the high of the passion and forget all the pain and guilt. “Stay with me. Just one night.” She tilted her forehead to his. “Stay.”

That one word acted like a spark in a room that had been slowly filling with nitroglycerin since the moment they first laid eyes on each other. His lips closed onto hers tender at first as he savored every second and then became ravenous. He let out the groan of a man who had just crossed the barren desert and now the cool waters crossed his lips. The hand on her back slid down to her ass and picked her up to him. His other hand clasped around the back of her neck and into her hair. Olivia liked to have her hair pulled. How could he possibly know that? But he seemed to know everything about her body. Dominic began kissing down the side of her neck drinking her in. He settled in that perfect spot where her neck met her shoulder. Electric currents shot in waves down her body electrifying every erogenous zone on her body. Olivia moaned and they collapsed against the outside of the room door. Frantically she began to dig for the room key. Here they were in the hallway of the hotel, her legs wrapped around a man she barely knew. He was not letting up. Mercifully, she found the key and swiped it behind her in the door lock. Several frustrating tries later it clicked. Dominic had that door open in a split second. They crashed into the room and were ripping off clothes as fast as they could get their hands on them. Her dress fell by the bathroom. He undid his belt while she grabbed his collar. Motherfucker. When she ripped off his white shirt there was the chest of a chiseled god. Oh, sweet baby Jesus and that tattoo. She stepped back and stumbled back over the chair. She could barely breathe. Those eyes. Her eyes. What the fuck. He had a tattoo on the right side of his chest. Angel wings over a pair of eyes. Her eyes.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” he asked panicked and picked her up.

“What . . . What is that?” she screamed breathlessly and pointed at his chest.

“What are you talking about?” He looked down, his eyes wild. “My tattoo? I have a lot of tattoos.”

“The one on your chest, who is that?” she asked her heart still racing.

“A friend of mine died when we were young. I got that for her a few years ago. Why are you so freaked out? It’s just some eyes and wings. Olivia, are you okay? What’s going on?” He sat on the arm of the chair and tenderly stroked her hair.

“I’m sorry. Wow way to kill the moment.” She laughed nervously. “They kinda look like me. It just really freaked me out. I know that sounds completely stupid.”

“No, not stupid. If I was making out with some guy and he had a tattoo of what looked like my face on his chest I would be freaked the fuck out.” He laughed.

“I’m just being stupid. I haven’t done this in a while,” she answered looking at the floor.

“What freak out or be with a guy?” he teased and sat on the bed. “I could go if you want.” She could tell he meant the words but his face looked pained like he might actually die if she kicked him out now.

Sitting on her bed was this beautiful fucking playboy, hers for the night. There is no harm in living a little she reminded herself. “Don’t go,” she answered flatly and opened the mini fridge. Her buzz was way gone. He had to think she was a psycho at this point. She reached in and pulled out the Grey Goose and cran-orange she had brought with her. “Wanna have a drink on the balcony?”

“Sure. Do you really want me to stay?” he asked

“Do you want to stay?” she asked. Please say yes. She wanted this one night.

“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known, I never want to be anywhere else.” He stood up and walked over to her. “I want to explore your soft skin and feel you tremble with my touch. To taste the sweetness of your desire and feel you lose control. I’m going to take you to the brink of ecstasy and jump into the abyss with you.” His voice danced and delved in highs and lows as if he played host to angels and demons.

“You’ve been reading too many romance books.” She laughed but couldn’t help biting her lip. He took the drink from her hands and set it on the desk.

“You don’t need alcohol to get drunk with me.” He picked her up and swung her around burying his mouth into her neck and laid her on the bed. He began moving down her neck to her chest. His touch was like fire on her skin. He burned her up but she was ready to be consumed by the flame. In the past Olivia never let herself go, but Dominic commanded it with each sensuous touch. He pulled her out of herself and into a realm of pure bliss. He raked his fingernails gently over her chest following with hot kisses in their path. When he reached her bra a wicked smile crossed his lips. He bent down and undid the front clasp with his teeth. His eyes never leaving hers he took his tongue across her chest and gently teased each firm nipple before taking it in his mouth.

Olivia lay exposed before him yet she was not the least bit cold. The heat of the moment enveloped her. He laced his fingers in hers and placed her hands over her head. His perfect mouth met hers in a gentle kiss that she wanted to drink in forever. The heat grew as they explored each other. Keeping her hands pinned he moved down her chin and neck. His grip tightened as he reached her breast. The sensation of his hot mouth closing in around her nipple caused a moan to escape her. He used his knee to spread her legs and pressed his hips against her. The pressure of his straining cock rubbed through his shorts against the lace of her panties.

He let go of her fingers and continued to work his way down her body. He kissed slowly but deliberately over her abdomen and blew hot air through the lace that covered her sex. Olivia gritted her teeth. She wanted nothing more than to feel that mouth on her clit. She gripped the sheets with anticipation as he slowly began to remove the obstructive fabric. He looked up at her with a devilish grin.

“Beautiful.” He growled and his mouth found her most sensitive flesh. The initial contact was more than her body could bare and she squirmed beneath him but he held her in place. “I will never let you go,” he murmured between her thighs and began to massage her electric nub with his tongue and ingenious mouth.

“Sweet Lord,” Olivia cried out. She didn’t know it could even feel like that. She pressed her head back into the pillow and arched her back. Every contact sent waves of pleasure like repeated mini orgasms that wound her like a clock increasing the tension with each stroke. He held her thigh in place so that she could not wiggle away no matter how intense the sensation. Her body tensed and she gripped the sheets. The waves of pleasure built and crashed over and over. Olivia was tossed like a vessel on a stormy sea. At once she cried out unable to withstand anymore and collapsed into the bed.

“Mmm, more exquisite than I dared to dream. Olivia, you have consumed my every waking and sleeping thought from the moment I first saw you.” He crawled up her discarding his shorts as he moved. He took her chin and kissed her intimately. She could taste the salty sweetness of her fervor on his lips. She felt closer to him in that moment than any other man in her life. His hard flesh pressed against her now slick entrance. Olivia struggled to breathe. She wanted him inside her so badly it hurt. He paused and stared her in the eyes, resting just on the edge of taking her completely.

“Dominic . . . Please . . .” She could hear herself begging. There was no room for walls or restraint. Olivia wanted him. She wanted him inside her this very minute. Her chest heaved with anticipation and her heart pounded in desperation. There was no going back. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held on to his back.

“Do you feel that?” he asked staring directly into her soul.

“What?” She was suddenly puzzled she was waiting, dying to feel him inside her.

“The ache . . . I have suffered the corrosive pain of your absence for a lifetime. Just when I thought it would consume me, there you were. Now my love, you are mine.” He entered her in one slow deep motion, taking her fully as his own. Olivia closed her eyes and let her heart explode with her body. With all the beauty and rage of a hurricane he claimed her. Every touch a lightning flash. Each thrust a wave that crashed over her and threatened to rip her apart. Closer to the abyss she sailed. Fully aware of the danger ahead she dug her nails into his back. The waves grew to twenty foot swells that tossed her tiny vessel to the brink of existence. Unable to hold on any longer she let go and crashed into bliss. Her ship would be lost at sea.

THE ROOM WAS still dark when Olivia awoke. What the hell had she done. She looked over at the man sleeping beside her. His beautiful face was so peaceful, his body warm and comforting. She had never felt this connected with a man in her life. She could tell last night he felt it too. Fuck, but this was a one-night stand. She made that crystal clear last night. He had readily agreed. But now what?

Just like any other man in her life now that the conquest was over he would be gone eventually. What did it matter? He was some manwhore book model. Book boyfriend to thousands of women. She was fucking kidding herself if she thought for one second it was anything more.

She took another look and panic set in. She had to get out of there before he woke up and she couldn’t leave. There was nothing between them. Anything she thought she felt last night was just a fantasy. She just needed to check on Piper and get back to her life. I am a lawyer damn it. It’s not like she would ever see him again anyway. Olivia took one last look and slipped out of the bed.

Quietly she dressed and collected her things and left the room. She still had Piper’s key so she peeked in on her and left the key and a note on the dresser before slipping out. She caught a look at herself with her disheveled hair and wrinkled blouse. At least her jeans didn’t look so bad she lied to herself and set out for the inevitable morning after walk of shame.

While she waited for valet to bring her car she sipped a cup of coffee from the lobby and couldn’t help thinking about the beautiful man sleeping on the sixth floor. Part of her, the stupid vulnerable side, just wanted to run back up there and crawl into his warm arms. What did it matter if he was a male model? The rational part of her realized he was a player and not someone she could trust. He could wrap any woman around his finger. Like the spider to the fly if she stayed he would overtake her and she would never leave.

The car pulled up and Olivia was thankful to see her Audi. It was like a gateway back to her normal life. Fuck the rabbit hole, she was going home and not looking back. She slid into the familiar seat and adjusted it. Before she could fasten the belt her phone rang. Olivia panicked. Who was calling at five a.m. on a Sunday? Piper had been out cold. She glanced down at her phone and it was Mr. Davis. What the hell? She snatched it up and answered quickly.

“This is Olivia,” she answered.

“Hey, Olivia, glad you’re up. The police located a woman you may have been trying to work with. Does Gwen Robertson ring a bell?” Mr. Davis’ tone was grave.

“Yes, she is a witness and a domestic violence victim. I have been trying to reach her. She missed two appointments to meet with me. Did the police pick her up? Is she okay?” Olivia set the audio to the car and put it in gear. She figured that she would be going to the police station.

“The police need you to go identify her at the morgue,” he answered. “Sorry, Olivia, they found her this morning. The only thing she had on her besides her driver’s license was your card. They haven’t been able to locate any family yet. If you can make a positive ID it will really help.”

Olivia hit the brakes. “She’s what?” Olivia couldn’t believe her ears. That poor woman was lying on a cold metal table in the morgue. The guilt hit her like a ton of bricks. Maybe if she had been more diligent she could have saved her.

“She’s dead, Olivia. I’m sorry. Detective Shaver is going to meet you over there. A chill ran over her as she turned her car around and began to drive toward the city morgue. Olivia hated that place. Yet as a prosecutor for the violent crimes division, she spent her fair share of time inside those grim walls.

“I am already downtown I’ll be there in less than ten minutes,” she reported as the knot in her stomach grew. The two-mile drive would only take about seven minutes at this time of the morning but Olivia knew she would need a minute to collect herself before she walked in.

“Oh, great, he will meet you there,” he answered. “Hey Olivia, don’t beat yourself up over this. You can’t save them all.”

“Sure, boss.” Olivia let out a big sigh as she hung up. She could see Gwen sitting in her office. Her chestnut hair slightly disheveled. The dark circles under her haunting eyes told the story of a hard life. Olivia’s heart hurt for her. So tragic to suffer and fight all that time just to end up losing in the end.

Life was too short to spend it unhappy and alone. She pulled her Audi into the morgue lot and sat staring at the door. There was no sign of the detective yet. She knew she could go on in. Most likely Andy would be working the desk this morning but she couldn’t bring herself to get out of the seat. The sun was just starting to think of coming up. A sunrise Gwen Robertson would never see.

Olivia steadied herself and prepared to go in and face her. The tap on the window startled her and she jumped. Detective Shaver stood waiting. His scowl permanently etched on his face. Olivia opened the door and jumped out. He was not a patient man. He was only about five inches taller than Oliva and his rotund frame added to the bulldog illusion. Only in this case Olivia suspected his bite was actually worse than his bark.

“Good morning,” he huffed in a voice that told her he would rather be doing literally anything else.

“Could be better,” she said with a half-smile and tried to take her mind off what she was about to do. They walked side by side to the door of the concrete block building. Olivia willed her feet to keep walking. They stopped at the desk and Andy checked them in.

“Hey, Olivia,” Andy greeted her. “Detective Shaver. How are you both this morning?”

“Well, we are at the morgue before the butt crack of dawn. How the hell do you think we are doing?” the detective barked and Andy jumped.

“Dr. Mattis is already waiting for you,” Andy replied nervously.

Little man syndrome. Olivia thought and rolled her eyes. They trudged down the hallway like pirates to the gallows. Each room they passed led them closer to the inevitable. This was a part of her job, but it never got easier. Dr. Mattis was already hard at work cataloging every mark when they arrived.

Olivia swallowed hard and entered the room. The odor of ammonia slammed her in the face. Instinctively Olivia raised her hand to cover her mouth and nose. Gwen’s lifeless form lay exposed on the metal table. Stringy chocolate waves lay in a matted mess around her dirty and partially decayed head. The green hue to her skin indicated that she had been submerged for a period of time. Dark brown ligature marks with red bands on either side were present around her neck. Her hands were covered in scratches and small cuts. A dark substance and dirt were present on her hands and nails. In a futile last ditch effort to save herself, she had fought back.

Bile rose up in Olivia’s throat and her heart began to race, not from the horror that had befallen her witness but from how blind she had been. How was she just now seeing the resemblance? The hair, the almond shaped hazel eyes that stared lifelessly into the abyss, the frame of her nose and chin, and now the manor of death were all the same. Olivia began to tremble.

Dr. Mattis turned and looked her over with sympathetic eyes. “Are you okay? Olivia if you could just identify her you can go. I understand you may have known this girl.”

Known her . . . Known her . . . She had been her best friend, her worst enemy, her partner in life. Grace was everything to her.

“That girl kinda looks like you,” Detective Shaver blurted with the tact and grace of a discombobulated mule.

She is me, or was. Olivia no longer saw the cold and broken body of her witness. She was transported by shock back to the heartache of that cold and lonely morgue ten years ago where she stood with detectives and identified what remained of her twin sister Grace Melody Wilson.

She took a slow deep breath. It was all the same. The ligature marks, the submersion, the defensive wounds. Was she just too sensitive? No the detective saw the resemblance too. Olivia leaned in to get a better look. Suddenly Gwen’s arm began to move and Olivia let out a bloodcurdling scream.

“Bloody fucking hell! What is that shit?” the detective yelled and Dr. Mattis leaned in for closer inspection.

It wasn’t her arm as much as the skin on her arm that began to move. “You two might want to step back,” she instructed. She took a scalpel and opened the moving skin. Fat larvae crawled out of the wound.

Olivia stepped back, the room became dark and began to spin. The last thing she saw was Detective Shaver vomiting in the trash can.

OLIVIA AWOKE ON the cool tile floor. Dr. Mattis waived an ammonia stick under her nose. She coughed and sputtered. The last thing she wanted to smell was more ammonia. Olivia sat up and waved Dr. Mattis away. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” She rubbed her forehead with her hands. “I’m usually fine with these situations. This is my witness, Gwen Robertson.”

“Don’t feel embarrassed it’s much harder when you know the person,” Dr. Mattis offered and helped her stand up. “I just want to make sure you are okay.”

If you only knew. “I’ll be okay. What was her cause of death? Olivia dusted herself off and looked around for Detective Shaver. He was nowhere to be seen. “Where did Shaver go?”

Dr. Mattis began to laugh. “He needed some fresh air,” she answered with a smirk. The tough as nails detective must not be a bug fan. “If you are up for it we can continue but if you’re not that’s okay. We could wait till later.”

“No, I’m good we need to do this.” Olivia squared her shoulders and mentally prepared herself for what she feared would be an ugly trip down memory lane.

Dr. Mattis picked up a clipboard and started going over her findings. “The victim is a Caucasian female in her late twenties. Cause of death appears to be strangulation. She has ligature marks around her neck approximately seven millimeters thick. Petechiae in her sclera and mucous membranes are consistent with strangulation. She has defensive wounds noted on her hands and forearms as well as contusions on her knees and lower legs. There are also two very curious circular burns on her mid back that occurred ante mortem. This could have been caused by a cigarette or a branding iron of some type.”

The burns had always plagued Olivia. It was bad enough that someone had murdered her sister with such callous disregard to the spectacular person that she was but to have burned her, to torture her made Olivia’s blood boil. The police had worked for months on Grace’s murder. They had arrested a drifter with a prior record but the evidence was circumstantial and they were never able to make it stick. He was killed in an armed robbery a few years later. For Olivia there was no closure. He had Grace’s ring on when he was killed and the police called it case closed but he never paid for what he did to Grace. Olivia became obsessed with the law after that. She was determined to get justice. But no matter how many people and families she helped, nothing could fill the void left by Grace. Her twin, the other half of her life, gone.

Dr. Mattis continued talking but Olivia couldn’t stop staring at the body. There were too many coincidences with Grace’s murder. After all this time. Why? What did it mean?

“The variety of decomposers are what puzzle me the most.” Dr. Mattis paused collecting another specimen and placing it in a jar.

“Why is that? You see bugs on bodies all the time. Isn’t that part of how you guys quantify the amount of time a body has been dead?” Olivia looked at her puzzled. Her sister had been filled with and partially devoured by something . . . Olivia racked her brain trying to remember what it was. Some kind of weird . . .

“Soldier flies,” Dr. Mattis said unwittingly completing Olivia’s thought. Dr. Mattis held up a large wiggling grub. “You see, the thing is, soldier flies are not usually present until the later stages of decomposition. You typically start to see them around twenty days’ post mortem. I thought Mr. Davis indicated she was in your office two weeks ago.”

Soldier flies. Olivia stared at the fat little larvae. It wiggled in its little glass prison. For months after Grace’s death she had seen them in her sleep. The little wiggling army of destruction had devoured a great deal of her beautiful sister. Olivia had a serious insect phobia ever since. She gagged and looked away. Dr. Mattis was still talking. Joining Detective Shaver for some air sounded really good.

“The thing is these look odd. I called in a favor at Langley just before you guys got here. They are going to send someone to help,” she said as she tagged another specimen.

The room was getting really warm. Olivia did not want to take another spill. She needed to get some air and fast. “I’m just going to go check on Shaver,” she interrupted and took off down the hall. There were too many parallels. She had to get outside. Olivia pictured the ligature marks on the two women and felt the air slip out of the building. The hall seemed to stretch on forever. The defensive marks. Both women had fought back. The dirt under their nails. Images flashed through her mind. A decade of nightmares came flooding back.

She had failed Grace. She was not going to fail Gwen. Olivia was determined to find out who did this. She approached the glass doors and saw her reflection walking toward the light. For the last ten years Olivia avoided looking at her reflection as much as possible because she never saw herself, only Grace. Those dark eyes haunted her like a soul trapped on the other side of the looking glass. Today she did not look away.

Olivia pushed the door open and stepped into the sunshine. The warm July sun caressed her face. She took a few deep breaths and looked around for the detective. He was pacing back and forth talking on his phone. The scowl on his face deepening by the minute.

“Fucking feds,” he said hanging up and shoving his phone in his pocket.

“What’s going on now?” She hustled to catch up as he was already storming toward his car. Could this day really get any worse? “Hey, wait. Where are you going?”

“Back to the unit for a team meeting. They’ll be calling you in a minute too. Dr. Creepy in there called in the feds. They fucking take over everything. What I want to know is what is so special about this dead tramp that the feds are getting involved.” He got in the truck and slammed the door. She could see him through the glass as he pulled out still cursing the feds.

Olivia went back inside and got the preliminary report to take to the meeting. In this case she was thankful for all the help they could get. She knew that Detective Shaver was going to be unbearable though. The little man syndrome would be in full effect with someone stepping on his toes throughout the investigation. Whoever they sent couldn’t be that bad. Hopefully they would be a big help.

When she got back to the car, she looked in the rearview mirror. Shit. She still looked like hell. She did her best to fix her hair into a presentable bun. Straightened her white blouse and jeans. She really wished she had taken time for a shower. Certain ways she moved she could still smell Dominic on her skin.

Back at the office, Olivia hustled to the sixth-floor conference room. Detective Shaver was already there arguing with his captain and another officer on the case. The violent crimes division worked in investigative teams. She was the prosecutor assigned to this team. Olivia was perhaps more involved with the investigative side than some of her colleagues. But her track record proved her methods. No surprises when you are involved from square one. Her brain began wrapping around the mystery of the case the moment she laid eyes on the victim.

This case was different though. It was personal in a way she wasn’t ready to share with any of the people on her team. The specialist was not there yet so they got started with what they had. Olivia detailed the preliminary forensic report and the interview she had with Ms. Robertson two weeks ago.

Gwen Robertson had been a domestic violence victim from her longtime boyfriend Jake Ramirez. The police had arrested Ramirez two weeks ago on charges related to a prostitution ring and tried to get Robertson to testify. Olivia had conducted an interview with her and tried to persuade her to go to the women’s shelter.

Detective Shaver took over explaining the prostitution ring and that it had ties with several organizations.

“We are investigating ties to a charter flight that takes high rollers to Harrah’s in Vegas. It appears they are offering more than just transportation,” he began. The flights went from several cities in Virginia to Las Vegas and Atlantic City. They mainly transported Harrah’s gamblers who had comped trips. The ring was suspected of prostitution and drug trafficking along these routes as well.

“Before she was killed, we believe Gwen was a stewardess/escort on one of these flights. Ramirez is a small-time dealer here in Norfolk. We believe she was bringing drugs back with her on the flights.” As he spoke everyone took notes. “We are working closely with narcotics on this as well.”

Mr. Davis spoke up. “Okay, Shaver and Michaels you two are the lead detectives on this case. Let’s establish a timeline. Olivia I’m sorry I missed the approximate timeframe of death in that preliminary report.”

“Dr. Mattis didn’t issue one yet,” Olivia answered. “There were some odd findings with relation to the insects present in the corpse. She called in a specialist to help. In light of the details so far I think we can use all the help we can get.”

“I don’t know why we need some glorified bug catcher coming down here and sticking his little dick in our business.” Shaver huffed like a three-year-old who had been told he would have to share.

“I’m actually a forensic entomologist. Nice to meet you.” His voice came through the door and swirled around Olivia exciting and terrifying her at the same time. Every nerve ending tingled and the little hairs on the back of her neck stood up. “I’m special agent Dominic Kain.”

JUST LIKE THAT the roller coaster crested the top of the hill and plummeted over the other side taking her stomach with it. Olivia’s head spun, sudden nausea rose up and threatened to return the bad coffee she had just consumed. This had to be a joke, somebody in this room was punking her. She looked around but no one was laughing. They were all staring at the incredibly handsome man standing in the doorway with the black suit and tie. A tie that she had ripped off him just six blazing hours ago. Fuck, her mouth went dry.

He stepped into the room and scanned their faces until he locked on hers. The bastard smirked. It was supposed to be a one-night stand. She was never going to see him again. Why didn’t he tell her who he really was? Some fucking secret identity. Was he undercover there or was he really also a male model? He didn’t look surprised to see her. No, that smirk. He knew she would be here.

Surprise turned into anger. Olivia was pissed at him for lying and fucking embarrassed for not knowing. She liked being in control. The one night she gave that over to someone she was never going to have to look at again and here he was. He moved to the front of the room like he fucking owned the place. Olivia turned away but the movement caused her to smell his cologne where his hands had just been on her. She could still feel him on her skin. The heat still radiated from his touch. She couldn’t do this. They did not need him on this case. She had to find a way to send him packing back to Langley.

Mr. Davis introduced himself and brought Dominic up to speed. Olivia wrung her hands and looked anywhere but at the incredible specimen of a man in that suit. Had he looked that good the night before? She knew he had. The dark suit had to be tailored just for him concealing the exquisitely cut muscles of his shoulders and abs. God that tattoo, she could see it staring back at her through his clothes.

“May I look at the preliminary autopsy report?” Dominic asked and looked around the room. No one answered. Olivia forgot for a moment that she was holding it.

“Olivia.” Mr. Davis spoke up. “Do you still have that report? Agent Kain this is Olivia Hastings she is one of our top prosecutors.”

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Hastings,” he offered and extended his hand. Reluctantly Olivia took it. His touch was just as electric as it had been the night before. He shook her hand and gave it a little squeeze. Olivia drew back.

“Olivia likes to be involved with the investigative side of her cases. I would like for the two of you to work together,” Mr. Davis said patting Olivia on the back.

“I don’t know if that—” Olivia started but Dominic cut her off.

“It would be my pleasure, Mr. Davis,” he answered professionally but the word pleasure rolled off his tongue and caressed Olivia. She remained as calm as possible and handed over the report.

“This is just the preliminary, Dr. Mattis was hoping to talk with you before she finalized anything,” Olivia reported. She absolutely could not work with him. Someone else was going to have to do it. “Detective Shaver usually handles the field work. You may rather work with him. Most of my work is done alone researching.” Olivia did her best to sound authoritative and distant. She wanted to put as much distance between herself and Special Agent Kain as possible.

“I love research,” he said with a wicked smile. “I’m here to help however you need me.”

Detective Shaver spoke up. “You’re always trying to get into the investigation, Olivia, here’s your chance,” he answered with the sarcasm of a hateful older brother. She knew he had never been fond of her asking questions at the crime scene. This was his chance to kill two birds with one stone.

Olivia gritted her teeth; as much as this investigation meant to her she was not about to spend the next month working side by side with Dominic Kain. She couldn’t. He stood there looking at her like a Greek god in a dress suit and a badge. That smile was the same one he gave her when he undid her bra with his teeth. The sudden memory sent a jolt of electricity through her clit and Olivia jumped bumping the table.

“Are you all right, Olivia?” Mr. Davis asked her arching his eyebrows in concern.

“Yes, I’m sorry. I really work best alone. Agent Kain is from the FBI, I’m sure he doesn’t need an attorney tagging along,” Olivia blurted. She knew her argument sounded weak but she was getting desperate.

“I think you could be just what I need,” Dominic countered. His eyes lit up and he stared only at her. Olivia felt her chest heave involuntarily. “You are familiar with the case and have a working knowledge of the victim.”

“That settles it.” Mr. Davis killed any chance of escape. “Olivia, you and Agent Kain will work together on this. Keep me informed.”

This was going to be impossible. She had to put last night out of her mind. It never happened. She had been reckless and stupid. She would not let it happen again. Olivia’s head was in the game but her body and heart had already left the stadium.

“Let’s head over to the morgue I would like to take a look at the victim and the larvae that Dr. Mattis obtained,” Dominic said, his tone all business.

Olivia looked around the room in one last ditch effort for help. There was none to be found. “Okay, I need to get a few things from my office first.” Olivia conceded and started toward the door. She needed to stall just for a moment to get herself together.

“I’ll walk with you,” Dominic offered and followed her into the hallway. Once in the hall Olivia picked up the pace. She needed to get to her office. She needed space but he stayed right with her.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were an FBI agent?” Olivia spat as soon as they were behind her office door. It was Sunday and mercifully this part of the building was empty.

“You didn’t seem to care what I did last night. As I recall you didn’t want to know anything about me,” he shot back eyebrows raised, ready for whatever challenge she threw at him.

“It was supposed to be a one-night stand,” Olivia grumbled and found the aspirin in her desk and chugged two with a bottle of water. The small hangover headache she woke up with was turning into a full-blown tension migraine. “You weren’t supposed to show up in my professional life.”

“So just a piece of meat to use and throw away huh?” he asked. This guy would probably poke a snake until it struck.

“Oh don’t give me that bullshit,” she hissed. “You are a male model on romance covers for God sake. You probably have one-night stands all over this damn country. I’m just not naïve enough to believe you are some kind of prince charming.”

“I am actually a forensic entomologist. The modeling is just something I do to help my sister. But you would know that if you took time to learn more than my name,” he countered.

“Last night will not be repeated. It was simply a one-night stand between two strangers. End of story,” Olivia snapped. She needed to draw a line between what happened last night and their professional lives if she was ever going to be able to work with this man.

“Whatever you say,” he said with a smirk and put his tongue to his upper lip. “Care to grab some coffee and a bagel on the way? It’s been hours since I ate anything besides you.” He raised his eyebrow and popped a piece of cinnamon gum in his mouth.

Olivia cursed the excited chill that ran over her at the memory of that cinnamon mouth on her most tender flesh. Fucking fireball whiskey, that shit was from the devil, or maybe the god of pleasure. She pushed it out of her mind and grabbed her bag. “There’s a coffee shop around the corner if you must eat before going to the morgue,” she said dryly.

“We’ll since there’s no chance of repeating my earlier meal that will have to do,” he quipped back and held the door for her.

Olivia huffed. The sooner they finished this case the better. Who was this man? A part of her longed to know him better. He was the first man she had ever felt this connected to and it scared the hell out of her. She knew better than to let her guard down. When the case was over he would be gone. She would not set herself up for heartbreak.

They went into Java Surf Café and Espresso Bar. Olivia loved this place, it was only three blocks from the courthouse and had killer breakfast burritos. The blue swirl tile floor and ocean city walls gave the feeling of walking into Atlantis. She recognized the young blonde behind the counter. She had been working there about six months.

“Your usual, Ms. Hastings?” The girl asked never taking her eyes off Dominic. The girl’s cheeks flushed and she fumbled with the cup.

Oh for heaven’s sake. “Yes, thank you.” She turned to Dominic who seemed to be mesmerized watching her tap her fingers impatiently on her purse. “Hello . . . what kind of coffee did you want?”

“Black is fine, and a bagel please,” he told the girl behind the counter who nearly tripped jumping to get it for him. Olivia wondered if he had this effect on all women. He didn’t even seem to notice. He was staring at her hands again.

“Is there something wrong with my hands?” she asked eyeing him.

“No, they’re beautiful. Why?” he asked as if he hadn’t been staring at them for the last five minutes.

“You are staring and starting to creep me out,” she responded.

“Sorry I guess I was just remembering . . .” he said with a smile and raised his eyebrows at her.

“We have a job to do,” she corrected. “There is no time for that.” They grabbed their coffee and started back out to the street. “Do you want to follow me to the morgue?”

“We could ride together and go over details on the way,” he offered.

Olivia looked at him and sighed. With anyone else she would have just assumed they would go together. He was different. She didn’t know if she could stand being confined in a car with him without wanting to touch him. “Fine but we are taking my car and I am driving.”

“Do you always have to be in control?” he asked her, his eyes dancing.

“I like things as controlled as possible, yes. There is nothing wrong with that,” she answered back defensively. They both knew she hadn’t had any trouble giving up control last night. In fact she had loved it when he took control.

“Makes sense. You don’t seem like much of a risk taker.” He observed.

“I sometimes take risks. Well calculated ones anyway.” Olivia didn’t know why she felt the need to defend herself. His opinion had no bearing on her life or career.

He smiled. “Placing a safe bet is not the same as gambling.” He paused and leaned closer to her. “Kinda like preferring a one-night stand to taking a chance on love. To really live you have to be willing to go all in.”

“I’m not afraid to live,” she blurted and double clicked the button on her key fob to unlock her Audi.

He laughed, a loud full chuckle that echoed in the parking garage. “Then prove it,” he said and pointed at his bike. “Ride with me.”

Olivia stood wide-eyed staring at him like he had grown a second head. Ride on that death trap in place of her five-star safety rated Audi, he must be smoking crack. She was not about to get on that thing. “You must be joking. There is no way on God’s green earth that I am going to place my life in your hands.”

“The Ducati XDiavel is a safe bike and I am a good driver. For once, let go and trust me.” His voice lowered.

Olivia took a deep breath. She did not give into peer pressure. This was not an after school special, this was real fucking life and she was not about to piss it away. “You’re fucking crazier than I thought,” she snipped and started to climb into her car.

“You’ll never get her on anything like that. Liv doesn’t color outside the lines.” Vincent Trudeau’s voice snaked its way across the garage.

Olivia turned around scowl plastered on her face. “What are you doing here on a Sunday?”

“Working, same as you. Who’s your friend?” Vincent stepped forward into the space between Olivia and Dominic and extended his hand.

Dominic’s eyes darkened like a raging sea. He took Vincent’s hand and they exchanged a very firm handshake. Olivia almost snickered. They looked like two bucks clashing over a doe.

“Special Agent Dominic Kain.” She heard Dominic say as she rolled her eyes and climbed in her car leaving the two men to their pissing contest.

As she exited the garage she heard Dominic’s bike fire up. He was behind her in seconds. Safe my ass. She couldn’t help stealing glances at him in the rearview mirror. She had never pictured a suit on a motorcycle but he looked pretty badass. Uncontrollably her mind flashed back to his hand around her ankles pulling her back for more. She had never felt so free and full at the same time. Every ounce of energy was focused on her pleasure. Olivia had never experienced that before. She couldn’t get over how he knew her body better that she did. When he . . .

Olivia was jolted out of her fantasy by the sudden realization of the taillights in front of her. The light had turned red. She slammed on her breaks and stopped just short of hitting the car in front of her. Dominic easily changed lanes to avoid hitting her and pulled up beside her at the light. He tipped his visor and grinned at her.

“Not a word.” She mouthed without rolling her window down. She had to get this guy out of her head and focus on this case. This was perhaps, the biggest case of her career so far and the similarities to Grace’s death made it personal. She needed everything about this investigation to be spot on. She didn’t have time for distractions like Dominic Kain.

They made it to the morgue without further incident. Olivia got out and Dominic was on her in a second. He was standing entirely too close. She wanted to push him away but he felt incredible against her. “What was going on back there? Are you okay?” He looked down at her, his forehead crinkled with concern.

Olivia mustered all the will power she could manage and pushed him away. “I’m fine. The car in front of me stopped suddenly and so did I,” she answered haughtily and started toward the door. She could tell by the look on his face they both knew she was lying. She was not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing why she was so distracted. “Let’s just get inside we have a job to do.”

Once inside Olivia introduced Dominic to Dr. Mattis. Was Dr. Mattis beaming? Was that makeup? Olivia couldn’t believe her eyes.

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Dr. Mattis gushed. “I’ve heard so much about you.” She shook Dominic’s hand a little longer than what Olivia thought was even close to professional. Dominic just smiled and graciously talked with the older woman. Olivia started to do the math. Dr. Mattis wasn’t that much older, maybe early fifties. The way her cheeks were flushed she was actually quite pretty. Olivia felt a slight pang of jealousy. It caught her by surprise as she didn’t ever care enough about anyone or anything to be jealous.

They entered the morgue and Dr. Mattis brought Gwen back out on the table. Dominic looked shocked for a moment like he was seeing a ghost. Olivia was impressed how quickly he composed himself and got to work. He examined the larval colonies in her body and then asked to use the microscope. Watching him in his element was something to behold. He pulled out a pair of dark rimmed glasses and tidied each specimen. Olivia watched as he studied, stopping only to make notes and occasionally ask Dr. Mattis a question.

“The size of this larval soldier fly suggests that it’s close to twenty days old.” He paused and jotted down the measurements. “And soldier flies are not usually attracted to a corpse until it has been exposed for around two weeks. Yet you spoke with this woman two weeks ago in your office correct?” he asked turning toward Olivia

“Correct. Interviewed her in connection with a case we have been working on and tried to get her to file a domestic violence complaint against her boyfriend that we had taken into custody at the time.” Olivia closed her eyes. She could still hear the fear in Gwen’s voice. She opened them back up and stared at Gwen’s cold battered form. Olivia bit her lower lip. She felt pangs of guilt rising up to get her. Had she caused this woman’s death by trying to get her to talk?

“Then I need to see the location where the body was found,” Dominic noted. “It’s possible that there was a nest of soldier fly larvae under where the body was found that might indicate why the mature larvae is already on the deceased. If not then we need to consider other options.” Dominic gathered his notes. “Can you take me to the scene where she was found.”

“You know detective Shaver was on scene when she was found. He could—” Olivia tried to offer but he didn’t let her finish.

“I would rather you take me if it’s all the same to you,” he interjected his eyes piercing her.

Olivia wanted to argue. She should just tell him she couldn’t do it. But she knew she would go wherever he asked and she hated herself for it. She had a job to do. She told herself she was not going to let lust or infatuation get the best of her. “We can take my car,” she offered shortly.

Gwen Robertson’s body was found partially submerged, in the Owl Creek Marsh area. Olivia got directions. She had a vague idea where it was but she didn’t want to look like a complete idiot in front of Dominic. She was already thinking of the car wash her spotless Audi was going to need when they got back. Dominic Kain climbed into the passenger seat and shut the door. Immediately the erotic notes of his cologne began to make their way to her side of the vehicle. Damn that man smells good. It was a hell of a lot more than she could say for herself. She wished like hell that she had taken more time to get cleaned up. Olivia took a deep breath and started the car.

“What can you tell me about the last time you saw the victim,” Dominic the FBI agent began in a professional tone as if the night before never existed.

“We already went over this,” Olivia answered confused.

“Yes but doing it again may help jog your memory, bring up something you may have forgotten.” He studied her as he spoke like he was examining a rare specimen.

“They had just arrested her boyfriend and her on charges of drug trafficking and prostitution. Gwen was pretty battered, her hair a tangled mess. Her lace dress had a small rip on the bottom seam which hung a strand of lace down her leg.” Olivia paused, she remembered the lost look on Gwen’s face the first time she saw her like a small child searching for their mother. “Our goal was to find out more about the prostitution ring and the drug trafficking as we suspected Gwen was deeply involved. I hoped to offer a plea deal in exchange for information that might lead us to her boyfriend’s bosses. I guess I was naïve thinking we could help her.” Olivia stared at the road ahead. She had never wanted to hurt Gwen, but their involvement had most likely caused her death.

“I really thought we could help her, I guess I was just naïve.”

“She got herself into that mess.” Dominic turned to her very seriously. “You didn’t talk her into trafficking drugs. You and I both know those situations never end well. You tried to help her, that’s all you can do.” He put a hand on hers and squeezed. He turned away suddenly and stared out the window. Reflexively he reached up and placed his hand on his chest. To anyone else the gesture would have gone unnoticed but Olivia knew that under that crisp white shirt lay a tattoo of his lost love. Had he tried to help her? Did she break his heart?

They pulled onto a small gravel road that led down to the marsh area. Olivia found a place to park alongside the road. Police caution tape indicated they were in the right place. Was this the site where Gwen took her last breath or had she been moved? Carefully Olivia and Dominic got out of the car and made their way down to the actual sight of discovery. Caution tape and little red flags dotted the serene landscape. They were a stark contrast to the peaceful water, gently flowing reeds and grasses. The outline of Gwen’s small frame had been spray painted onto the soggy ground. The rest of her had been in the water.

“Be careful,” he instructed.

“This is not my first crime scene,” Olivia snapped back. Special agent hot pants could keep his advice to himself. She took a step closer to get a better look and sunk up to her knee.

“What the hell?” she exclaimed unable to get her foot loose. Olivia thrashed around and tried to pull her foot out. Under a cloud of cursing she managed to get her foot out but lost her shoe and got her other foot stuck in the process. Olivia yelled in frustration and threw her hands up in the air.

Dominic almost fell over from laughing so hard. “Need a hand?” he asked, barely containing himself. Olivia narrowed her eyes to slits. Fucker. Dominic reached into help pull her out. He took a step forward and wrapped an arm around her waist. He pulled her a little closer than he needed to. Pulling her tight against him Olivia couldn’t help thinking of the night before. She let out a short gasp. She hated that he affected her so.

Her face was almost touching his. She could feel his breath and smell the cinnamon. He hoisted her out and his foot slipped, throwing them off balance and they both went sideways into the muck.

“Ugh, gross.” She spat mud and plant life. “Oh this smells like dead fish and rotten plants. God, this is awful!”

“At your service,” he said laughing loudly into the swamp. He got a serious look on his face and leaned toward Olivia.

Oh, God. Olivia felt her cheeks flush. “Dominic not—” But he didn’t lean into her. It took her a moment to realize he was reaching past her into the mud they had just disturbed at the edge of the caution tape. Thank God forensics had already been here and collected everything, she was tearing their crime scene to shit. “What is that?” she asked horrified as he pulled a huge looking grub up out of the mud.

“Hermetia illucens,” he said looking puzzled. “Similar to the ones found on the victim.” He stood and began examining the area and digging through the dirt collecting every manner of creepy crawly that he found. Olivia shivered. Bugs were not her thing. All she could think of was the cave filled with bugs in Indiana Jones and she wanted to run screaming out of the swamp.

He was oblivious to her disgust and their mess. He was collecting specimens like a man on a mission. He collected water and mud samples also. Olivia forced herself into action and helped him tag the samples and place them in a collection bag.

“The science behind this is really fascinating. You see we use multi organism identification to determine PMI.” He sounded like a kid playing with a fantastic new toy.

“Lovely, now once again in English, I am a lawyer not a bug scientist,” Olivia answered and wrinkled her nose as she sealed another wiggling specimen.

“Okay,” he said laughing at her expression. “So insect activity on a corpse gives insight about the post mortem interval or PMI. That’s the time that has passed since the victim died.

“Dr. Mattis has talked about that before. Certain bugs come at certain times. What’s so special about this that they called you in?” Olivia raised the little baggy to eye level and stared at the occupant.

“Right, so the first to come are usually carrion. He captured a blue green fly and held it up to show her. They would have arrived first and started to lay their eggs. As time passes various flies, beetles and mites come and go. Bacteria is at work also. You see this guy?” he said holding up another one of the fat little grubs. “It’s Hermetia illucens. Black soldier fly larvae. What is so interesting here is that they don’t usually show up until the levels of bacteria reach a certain point to attract them in. Based on the other insects present I would predict the PMI to be around ten days. But there are soldier fly larvae of varying sizes and stages like you would find on a corpse with a PMI of thirty to forty days. I want to take these back to the lab and compare them to the ones found on the body. I have a feeling that this was not our crime scene. I think she was killed and stored somewhere else. Then for some reason they decided to dump the body here.”

“You can tell all that from bugs?” Olivia asked feeling a little perplexed. “I need more than a hunch. I need something I can prove in court.”

“How about DNA evidence?” he asked with a grin.

“Hell yes, I’ll take that . . . Wait they hadn’t identified any DNA evidence on the victim.” She narrowed her eyes and stared at him. “Are you messing with me?”

“Not human DNA, I am talking about a PCR test for the bacteria and the gut contents of the soldier flies,” he answered triumphantly.

Olivia gasped. “You are going to do DNA tests on the stomach contents of a bug?” Great, the first guy she actually liked in years and he was some kind of deranged bug nut. Not that it mattered after the way she had treated him last night and this morning.

“Exactly, and I want you to help me. I think we have everything I need here. Let’s get out of this swamp shall we.” Dominic helped her to her feet and together they trudged back to solid ground.

Olivia was more than ready to go home for a bit and get a much-needed shower. They walked up the path toward her car. As soon as it was in sight Olivia stopped short. She looked over at Dominic panicked.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, concern growing in his eyes.

“We are not getting in my car like this.” Olivia waved her arms like Vanna White at their swamp soaked, mud caked appearance. “We have to change or something.”

“Well I don’t know about you but I didn’t exactly bring along a change of clothes.” He chuckled.

“This is not funny.” She huffed. We have to contain this mud somehow. This is ridiculous. The muck is everywhere.” Olivia delicately opened her car door and with the precision of a surgeon opened the glove box and extracted hand sanitizer and a small pack of Handi Wipes.

Dominic almost fell he was laughing so hard. Olivia unfolded the small square of disposable cloth and attempted to wipe some of the mud off her face and arms. Her unsuccessful venture ended up smearing mud rather than removing it.

Olivia spat and cursed and wiped again. Each round with the tiny towelettes only slightly more successful than the time before. Dominic walked over and picked up a fresh wipe and opened it calmly.

“Mind if I help?” he offered holding the cloth out like a peace offering.

“I guess it can’t be any worse.” Olivia dropped the most recent attempt into the pile on the ground. She didn’t want him to help her but at this point what choice did she have? She stood still and closed her eyes as he approached and gently brushed from her forehead down to her chin in slow deliberate strokes. Even in this circumstance his touch was exhilarating. Each contact followed by tingles. Her body begged his hands to move lower. She breathed slow and deliberate, desperate for him not to see how affected she was by his touch. Flashbacks of the night before flooded her memory. She could still hear his moans and throbbed to have his hands on her again.

“There ya go,” he said stepping away far too soon. Olivia was suddenly chilled by his absence. Her skin screamed at the vacancy.

She opened her eyes. Before her stood the sexiest man she had ever been with. Get a hold of yourself. “Thanks.” Olivia managed to get out. She had to get last night out of her head.

“So what’s the plan here?” he asked, his suit still dripping wet.

“I still have my suitcase in my car from the Sheraton. I am going to change before I get in the car. Maybe I have something you can wear just until you get to where ever you are staying,” she answered pathetically. Olivia knew how crazy she sounded but she was desperate not to get all this filth in her car.

“Do you really think your tiny clothes are going to fit me?” he asked laughing and then started to strip his suit. He kept his eyes locked on her as he took off his jacket and slowly unbuttoned his shirt.

“What are you doing? I haven’t even found you anything to wear yet!” she squealed and looked around to see if anyone was watching. No one was in sight. They were beside a gravel road in the middle of nowhere.

“It’s nothing you haven’t already seen,” he answered, the look in his eyes set her on fire.

“What if someone drove by?” she retorted and opened the trunk and began rifling through the suitcase. She had to look away from those abs. God he was cut. She heard his belt unfasten and her breath hitched. She searched frantically for something he could put on. She froze as she heard his pants hit the ground. Oh sweet Jesus. In desperation she pulled out a pair of pink sleep shorts that were a little big and a white V-neck sleep shirt.

“Here!” she said holding the garments around the side of the car trying not to look at the glorious specimen of a man standing only in boxer shorts a few feet away. She stayed behind the trunk even as she heard his boxers hit the ground.

The sound of his laughter killed her curiosity and she couldn’t help but look. The sight of his bare ass trying to squeeze into her pink shorts caused her to bust out laughing with him. They looked like little pink hot pants stretched over his muscular thighs and ass. Olivia bit her lip and couldn’t begin to hide her laughter. He made a show of stretching the little white T-shirt over his arms and chest.

“Thanks for this,” he said sarcastically. “I’m going to be a sight walking into the Sheraton in these Barbie shorts and this Baby Gap T-shirt.”

“Oh, God. I’m sorry,” she said still laughing. Quickly Olivia slipped out of her wet clothes and pulled on a pair of jeans and a tank she had in her bag. She put all their wet clothes in her reusable grocery bag and tossed it in the trunk.

Dominic had already climbed in the car. Olivia climbed in and looked at him. She still couldn’t help laughing at his get up. “You look like a Ken Doll in Skipper’s clothes,” she said still laughing.

“Thanks. You are laughing now but my bike is at your office. Maybe I’ll just come up for a cup of coffee when we get back,” he said with a wicked grin across his face.

“You wouldn’t dare.” She seethed. “What if the officers see you?”

“I don’t care what they think,” he said laughing and turned up her stereo. Katy Perry’s song “Roulette” came blasting back. He started dancing in the seat of her car as she drove, taunting her.

“You are certifiably crazy,” she snapped and turned the radio back down.

“Do you ever take a chance, Olivia?” He leaned in closer to her. “Or do you always play by the rules? Don’t you ever want to just let go?”

Olivia took a deep breath. “We are professionals, Dominic. We have a job to do.” Her voice cracked as she spoke, her throat suddenly dry. She looked at him and knew she couldn’t possibly take him to the office or the hotel like that. “My apartment is not too far away. We can go there and get cleaned up while I wash your clothes. Strictly business.” She did her best to sound professional, but all she really wanted was to lose control.

OLIVIA GLANCED AT the clock as they drove, it was almost two in the afternoon. She hadn’t heard from Piper yet. At a stoplight she dialed her cell. Poor Piper probably had a hangover from hell.

“Hello.” A sleepy voice came across the car speakers.

“Piper, honey, are you okay?” Olivia asked and shot a concerned look to Dominic. “Are you still in bed?”

“My head is killing me.” Piper groaned. “Sorry I guess I just need to sleep it off. What time do you need to check out?” Olivia pictured her in the bed with her silk PJs and sleeping mask still on. Her head wrapped in a nest of drool and matted hair.

“It’s two in the afternoon, sweetie. I got called to a case. I’m sorry I had to leave. When is your flight?” Olivia suddenly felt like the worst friend in history. Piper flew all this way to spend time with her.

“Not till tomorrow. Thank goodness.” Piper yawned and whined as she stretched. “What are you doing for dinner.”

“Whatever you would like, love,” Olivia answered. She could finish her work for the day and take Piper out for one last really nice dinner before she had to head out.

“This is your town. Surprise me,” Piper answered sounding groggy again. She must have laid back down.

“Okay, get your beauty sleep. I’ll pick you up at seven.” Olivia shook her head as Piper mumbled bye and they hung up. She turned to Dominic who was smiling thoughtfully at her.

“You’re a good friend.” He noted.

“Not really,” Olivia answered and stared out the window. “I wasn’t for a really long time . . . too long.” She pinched her lips together. Olivia looked up and caught a glimpse of Grace judging her in the rearview mirror and looked away. “We’re here.”

They pulled through the gate. Olivia was thankful it was just a key code gate and not an actual guard to see the state of her passenger. They pulled into Olivia’s reserved space behind her first-floor apartment. She had lucked into this place. The upgraded one bedroom apartment had a spacious study that allowed her to set up an office at home as well. Olivia was able to work on cases into the wee hours if she wanted to. Even ten years later working was still preferable to sleeping.

“Nice place,” Dominic observed as they got out and walked up the manicured walkway. He carried the shopping tote with their dirty clothes. As Olivia unlocked the door a couple of guys that lived in the next building jogged by.

“Olivia. Love. Who is your friend?” Derrick asked with all the sass of a true drag queen. Olivia bit her lip to stifle a laugh.

“Hey, Derrick! Hey, Michael! This is Dominic. He’s a model and I think he’s single,” Olivia called back and giggled devilishly as she opened the door.

“You didn’t,” Dominic said quietly and smiled and waved at the two men. “Oh, you are going to pay for that when we get inside.” He scooped her up and carried her in the apartment shutting the door behind him.

“We have to do dinner sometime!” Michael called as the door shut.

“Was that really necessary?” he asked setting her down trapping her against the door.

“What?” she asked playfully. “I’m not the one in the Barbie shorts. You look like a seventies disco queen.”

“Not for long,” he answered and in one motion had the shirt off over his head and went for the shorts.

“Stop! My windows are open!” Olivia commanded as she ran for the shades. “Go to the bathroom and get your shower!”

“Oh no, darling, you wanted to put me on display. Just a piece of meat you could discard remember.” He slid the shorts off his hips and let them slide to the floor.

Olivia stood open mouthed at the stunning man before her. Fuck he was beautiful. The room became unbearably warm. “The . . . the bathroom . . . is this way.” She struggled to say and led him through the living room around to the bathroom. He winked at her as he went in but did not shut the door. Olivia looked up at the ceiling and prayed for strength. She turned on her heels and put their clothes in the washer. She heard the water running. She stood there for what felt like an eternity but could not walk away. The only thing she wanted was to walk in that bathroom.

“Olivia,” he called from the steamy room. “Are you just going to stand there or are you going to give in to the temptation?”

“I’m not tempted by anything, including you,” Olivia lied and gripped the molding on the edge of the bathroom door. She should just walk away. This was a dangerous game. One she was sure to lose. She could see his silhouette through the curtain, steaming water cascading over every rock hard muscle. Fuck. She closed her eyes and stepped into the room. “This will not end well.”

She took a step forward and then hesitated. Last night she didn’t know who he was. That could be forgiven. But now she had no excuses. If she crossed this line there was no going back. She was flirting with fire and there was no doubt she was going to get burned. She turned to run and a soapy but chiseled arm reached out of the shower and caught her wrist. He pulled her close water dripped down her arm and onto her chest.

“Not so fast.” He pulled back the curtain exposing his full glory. Olivia took a deep breath and closed her eyes but didn’t try to pull away. The steam enveloped her. “Let yourself go, Olivia. Don’t fight it. Give in to me.”

She opened her eyes and looked directly into his. The hunger in his wild green eyes devoured any restraint she had left. “You’re going to be the death of me.” She breathed and stepped into the tiled double shower fully clothed.

He spun her around putting her back up against the wall. “You have no idea,” he growled. The hot water poured over her drenching every scrap of fabric. His hands cupped her neck and chin and tilted her mouth to his. He closed in on her with the fury of a desperate man. “I’ve waited all day to taste you again.” He separated her feet with his and pushed her legs apart.

His kiss stole her breath and transported her into a state of bliss she couldn’t explain. There was a sort of sweet sensual familiarity to his touch like the intimacy of an old lover who knows just what to do. He laced his fingers in hers and raised her hands above her head and pinned them there.

“Do not move,” he commanded. “You are one dirty girl, Olivia Hastings.” He grabbed her body wash and squirted it on her, clothes and all. “I’m going to wash away everything before me. I want to be the first man to kiss you, to hold you. You are mine. You were always mine.”

The strong tropical smell of flowers and coconut filled the shower and rose on the steam. He massaged her into a lather of sultry bubbles; her neck, her breasts, her abdomen and tilted the water to rinse away her past. Olivia was only too willing to comply. She closed her eyes and angled her face up into the spray of the water. He was on her again kissing delicately and then hungrily at the buffet of her mouth. She let herself go in his control and just enjoyed every second of his lips on her wanton body. He kissed down her neck and chest until he reached the tank top.

“This has to go,” he said unforgivingly and ripped it off over her head. “You are here again and I am drunk on the perfection of your magnificent body. I will tolerate nothing between us.”

Olivia gasped at the sudden exposure and then the hot sensation of his mouth on her breast. Her breathing heaved with pleasure. Every part of her body reacted to the thrill of his tongue and the pressure of his mouth.

He raked his fingers down her abdomen to the waist of her jeans and dropped to his knees before her. “I worship every exquisite move you make. Olivia, when you walk in a room you exude elegance like a fine perfume,” he said quietly in that clear sultry voice that had the power to reach into your very soul. He unbuttoned her jeans slowly and let the zipper down.

Olivia braced herself against the shower wall. The sensuality of the moment had her clit throbbing and burning to be touched. Her body ached for him and he was only inches away.

“But now . . .” His voice took on the low growl of an evil Norse god. “I will possess you, taste you, claim you as mine . . . Do you understand?” The last words he whispered but they echoed in the shower and sent an uncontrollable ripple of pleasure exploding through her. She was desperate for him to take her. The need was so intense it was painful. He pulled her jeans free and took her panties between his teeth. He laughed wickedly and his hot breath invigorated her sex.

“Fuck, Dominic! I can’t take it anymore. I need you to fuck me. Goddamn!” She pleaded, and unable to restrain and keep her hands back another second Olivia wrapped her arms around his neck digging her nails into the back of his head.

He removed her panties and buried his face between her legs. Olivia let out a moan that shook the mirror. The pure fucking bliss tore through her.

“Not yet, my love.” He picked her up and pinned against the shower wall sinking fully into her as they collapsed into the tile. He groaned like a lion claiming his prize. Olivia almost screamed the sensation was unfucking believable. He filled and stretched her so that her body felt it would willingly rip apart and be remade again. She held tight to him as he moved in and out finding the perfect rhythm of the unspoken music that played between them each time they met.

“You . . . are . . . maddening . . . and . . . I . . . love . . . it.” He grunted as he thrust into her. His fingers held tight to the flesh of her ass pulling her deeper with each collision of their wet bodies. Olivia felt the delicious warm tingle building from her toes and moving up her legs like an erotic wave swelling as it reached her sex in an explosion that could shake Chernobyl. Olivia began to spasm around him and she felt him tense, gripping her with the power to move mountains. In one final motion he let go and crashed into her with all that he was as a man. The sound that erupted from his lips tore fucking space. They collapsed like sand onto the shower floor, sated in a timeless embrace.

OLIVIA WATCHED DOMINIC drive away on his bike. She couldn’t believe herself, sleeping with the FBI agent working on the case. If her office crew found out she would never live this down. Of all the fucking luck. A freaking one-night stand ended up being the one man she connected with in years and he just happened to be called in to help with her big case. Olivia glanced in the rearview mirror before driving. Keep your judgy eyes to yourself, Grace. What would Grace have said? Olivia knew Grace would have said go for it. She was always the wild one. Where Olivia stuck to the rules and avoided dangerous situations, Grace embraced them. Growing up Grace had always been the life of the party. People were just drawn to her. Olivia quietly admired her courage and magnetic personality. If she had to admit it she rode on her sister’s coattails through most of their childhood. Whatever sport or party Grace did she tagged along. Whatever mess or trouble Grace found herself in Olivia cleaned it up and bailed her out.

Until the end that is. Olivia stopped at the light and wiped a tear out of her eye. She had failed her in the end. She should have been there. The never-ending reel of what ifs began to play for the millionth time in her mind. College was supposed to be the greatest time of their lives. She should have gone to Brown with Grace. They had both been accepted to Brown, but Olivia had her eye on Yale since middle school. When Grace didn’t get in everyone assumed they would just go to Brown, together. Olivia gripped the steering wheel. If she had only gone to school with Grace maybe . . . The familiar ache in her heart and chest came back with a vengeance. The car felt very small and she struggled to breathe. Her selfishness killed her sister and she knew it. Her heart raced in time with her short spastic gasps.

At the next light Olivia closed her eyes and forced several long slow breaths. Panic attacks, the doctor had called them, a psychosomatic reaction to stress. She told herself again. Consciously Olivia knew that no amount of regret or anxiety would bring her sister back. That knowledge did nothing to make the pain go away. A car behind her blared its horn. The light had turned green. She glanced in the rearview and saw Grace’s dark eyes staring back at her. Fight it, Olivia. You are stronger than this. Slowly Olivia pushed the accelerator and continued on her way. She rolled down the windows for some fresh air. Thankfully the hotel was only one more block up the street.

She couldn’t have been more relieved to see Piper waiting for her on a little bench under the breezeway. She looked adorable in a purple sundress and matching sandals. Her bohemian necklace and bangles complimented it perfectly. Olivia wondered how she always managed to look so put together. She glanced down at her own printed Athleta anywhere dress and Jambu sandals. Her style was decidedly more casual but that was nothing new. She pulled up and left the car with the valet. Saltine was only a five-minute walk and Olivia needed some fresh air. As soon as she exited the car, Piper bounced over talking a mile a minute.

“You will never guess who just rode up on a motorcycle!” Piper squealed looking behind her as if she was going to get another look.

Betcha I can. “Who?” Olivia asked innocently. Please say anyone else. A Hemsworth maybe? Olivia nervously tapped her purse as they walked toward the street.

“Dominic Kain! Can you believe it. He is still here!” Piper was gushing. “I thought he would have checked out with everyone else today but he is staying for a bit for official business! He’s in the FBI you know. He even posed for a selfie with me want to see!” She started flipping through apps on her phone.

“Wait you knew he was in the FBI?” Olivia stopped suddenly and Piper crashed into the back of her.

“Hey, watch it!” Piper giggled. “Of course I know he’s in the FBI. Everyone knows that,” she answered as if it was as common as the sky is blue or a stop sign means stop.

“I didn’t know that! Why didn’t someone tell me that?” Olivia raised her voice without meaning to. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t picked up on that? The light turned green and they crossed the street.

“You never asked. I’m sure the girls talked about it at dinner. Of course you were a little preoccupied with your phone,” Piper scolded with one eyebrow arched like the teacher she was.

“Okay, you’ve got me there.” Olivia sighed. For a prosecuting attorney she was pretty blind to the obvious when it came to Dominic. He flustered her in a way she had never experienced before. It was as if in his presence all reason and rational thought jumped out the window. How was she ever going to be able to be productive on the case with him around?

Piper pulled up the picture on her phone. “Look at this!” She held it proudly. Olivia swallowed the lump in her throat and smiled at the picture of her friend next to the demi god in a suit that she had reluctantly buttoned back up just an hour before.

“That’s a great pic,” Olivia said her skin already tingling for his touch.

“Besides what does it matter?” Piper asked smiling wickedly. “It’s not like you are a serial killer or on the run from the law.”

“He was assigned to my case this morning,” Olivia answered. “I felt like a complete idiot. Last night I thought he was just some muscle-bound model. Then this morning I find out he is some kind of forensic genius.” Olivia shook her head. She never dreamed she was going to see him again let alone work with him.

As they approached Saltine, Olivia could already smell the seafood. She loved this place. It had a great atmosphere, and even better calamari.

“Wow! You get to work with him?” Piper asked, her eyes lighting up like a Christmas tree. She walked through the door Olivia held for her. She looked around the modern space lit by great orb lights. “This place is great, Liv!” The walls were covered in galvanized steel panels and trimmed with dark wood. One wall was crushed white stone and tile. The entire space had an urban industrial feel and centered around an upscale bar.

As the maître d’ led them to their booth Piper stopped. “Wait . . . last night . . . You mean on the boat?” she asked, the inspector brow returning.

Olivia waited until they were at their seat to answer. “No. When we came back from our little dancescapade you were passed out cold and I was trying to carry you up to your room. Dominic saw us in the lobby and carried you,” Olivia answered. Oh boy. Here we go.

“Shut the front door! You mean Dominic Kain carried me upstairs to my room?” Piper was practically bouncing in the seat. “How did I miss that? Please for the love of God tell me you got a picture.”

“No. I’m sorry, Piper. I was more worried about you being okay.” Olivia cringed. She had to tell Piper what happened with Dominic. They were all adults still she felt like she was betraying her crush somehow. Olivia watched Piper look over the menu. Would she be mad when she found out about Dominic?

“It’s so exciting that he will be staying in town and working with you! I wish I could stay down for a while. What’s the case about? Why did they have to call in the FBI? Oh this is just like an episode of Bones but sexier.” Piper’s mouth raced as fast as her imagination.

The waiter arrived and they ordered Green Tea Brambles in copper cups. The Apothecary Bar at Saltine was quickly becoming a Norfolk favorite. Olivia could already taste the Tanqueray London Dry, lemon, green tea syrup, and black currant.

As soon as the waiter left Olivia answered. “I can’t comment on an active investigation, Piper, I’m sorry.” Olivia sidestepped her friend’s questions. She had to tell Piper what happened with Dominic. She wasn’t even sure why it mattered so much. “About last night, Piper. After we left your room . . . um . . . Dominic came back to my room and stayed the night.”

“He what?” Piper gasped, her chin nearly hit the floor. “You slept with Dominic?”

“It was a mistake, Piper. I had no clue he was FBI. Now we are working on the same case and it’s a big cluster,” Olivia blurted in one breath. “I can’t believe I let this happen. You probably think I’m a big slut.”

Piper was quiet for a moment. “We have been friends forever, I already know you are a big slut,” she said laughing and swatted her with the napkin.

“Hey! It’s been forever, thank you.” Olivia swatted her back.

“Of that I have no doubt. I’m just giving you shit. Good for you! Do you even like him?” she asked leaning toward Olivia.

“That’s the problem. I really do. He’s like no man I have ever known. But now it’s too late. We are working on this case and I can’t let my personal feelings ruin our chances for a conviction,” Olivia answered just as the waiter arrived with their drinks. Olivia picked it up, thankful for the soothing liquid. Perfection.

“Does your job always have to come first?” Piper sank back into her seat like a child who just found out about the big jolly farce. “Can’t you ever just live a little?”

“I can’t risk it, Piper. What if I mess up and the murderer goes free? I can’t live with anymore guilt.” Olivia began tapping the copper mug to a nonexistent beat.

“When are you going to forgive yourself? It’s been ten years since she died. Honey, nothing you can do will bring her back.” Piper offered and reached across the table to pat her hand.

“I should have been there,” Olivia said quietly and crinkled her napkin. “I let her down. She’s gone and there’s nothing I can do to bring her back.”

“It wouldn’t have mattered,” Piper said quietly. “There wasn’t anything you could have done to save her.”

“If I was with her then—” Olivia started but Piper cut her off.

“You know better than that.” Piper shook her head. “When you just disappeared, it was like I lost you both.” She took a sip of her drink and looked down at the table.

“I’m sorry, Piper. The guilt was so bad. “I just couldn’t face you or my parents. At first there was just this big black hole where she used to be. Then the guilt set in.” Olivia fought back tears and took another drink. She forced herself back to the present when the waiter arrived to take their order. “Calamari and the catch of the day with citrus oregano sauce please,” she choked out hoping the waiter wouldn’t notice her red eyes.

“Everything looks so good!” Piper said suddenly chipper again. “I want the jumbo lump crab cakes with the orange and fennel salad please.” Olivia was amazed at Piper’s ability to just be okay in an instant.

When the waiter walked away Piper turned back to Olivia. “You didn’t let anyone down. You can’t beat yourself up for following your own dreams. Besides if you hadn’t come to Yale we would have never met. No one faulted you for going to the school you had always dreamed of.” Piper spoke with expertise. Her tone was firm but soothing.

Olivia wished she could believe her. She would give anything to believe that. But she knew better. She could still hear Grace’s tantrum the day Olivia told her she accepted Yale instead of Brown. They were seventeen. Grace had stormed through the house ranting about how Olivia was abandoning her. “Grace did. You know she hated that I chose Yale over her. She never forgave me.” Olivia knew that was true, she saw it every time she looked in Grace’s eyes.

“You are being too hard on yourself. This hole you have crawled in is going to kill you,” Piper answered sternly then paused and grinned like a Cheshire cat. “Now tell me about last night. I want every juicy detail.”

“I’m not going to dish my dirty deeds,” Olivia retorted, eyes wide with amusement.

“The hell you aren’t. I haven’t seen you in ten years. We have a shit ton of gossip to catch up on so start talking,” Piper demanded.

“We are going to need more drinks,” Olivia said laughing. It felt so good to have her friend back. She ordered another round and started to tell Piper about her night, when a group walked into the restaurant that caught her eye. Olivia needed to get a closer look. She had never actually talked to him in person but she had seen him through the one-way glass at the station.

“I need to go over to the bar for a sec.” Olivia paused mid story.

“What for? You were just getting to the good part! You are killing me, woman. I don’t like cliffhangers,” Piper pleaded.

“I just need to change my drink order. Sorry, give me just a sec.” Olivia got up and walked casually past the group of people and went up to the bar. It was definitely him. Jake Ramirez was wasting no time stepping out on the town with a lovely lady under each arm. Olivia wondered if they were prostitutes too. Poor Gwen replaced before she was even cold in the ground. Olivia gritted her teeth. She knew this bastard had something to do with Gwen’s death and she was going to nail his ass to the wall. She stood close enough to listen to at least part of their conversation.

Though she could only get part of the conversation she guessed that the gray-haired man was the owner of the airline that took customers back and forth to Vegas. Was he involved with the drug trafficking? She had to know more. She ordered drinks and tried to stand with her back to the group. They chattered on but nothing that would help her case. She tried not to be frustrated. The bartender was unfortunately quick with her drinks, which she took as a sign she was getting in over her head. She decided to go back to the table and text Detective Shaver. As she turned Jake scooted his seat back to stand up. Olivia collided with him spilling her drink all down his dress shirt.

“I am so very sorry.” Olivia gasped as her mojito dripped onto the floor. He looked horrified and furious. The girls at the table cackled with laughter but the gray-haired man said nothing. He sat completely silent staring at Olivia. Both girls wore diamond and ruby sorority pins nestled just above their left breast. Olivia cringed; she hated that fucking sorority.

“You stupid bitch!” Jake yelled at her, “Look what you did to my three-hundred-dollar shirt you clumsy c—”

The older gentleman silenced him with a wave of his hand. His eyes bore into Olivia. “Grace? he asked quietly. “Is that you?”

Olivia froze and immediately broke into a sweat. How did he know Grace? The little hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Suddenly the similarities in Gwen and Grace’s deaths were all too coincidental. Her heart pounded as she tried to figure out what to say.

“It’s been a long time,” she said coolly. Years of hiding her panic attacks had prepared her to keep the storm on the inside.

He stood, never taking his eyes off her. His face paled as he walked around the table. Before she realized what was happening he took her in his arms and hugged her. Olivia stiffened. Hugs from strangers were on her all time no thank you list along with things like pickled eggs and root canals.

“Still not a hugger are you, love?” He smiled and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank heavens you have other talents,” he said and winked. “What brings you to Norfolk? Where have you been? You graduated and fell off the face of the earth.”

“Almost like I died,” she answered deadpan. Keep your cool, Olivia.

“Always dark and twisty. That’s what I love about you. So what brings you to our little neck of the woods? You looking for work?” A sinister smile spread across his face revealing perfect teeth.

She turned to the girls. “Lambda Sigma Delta?” she asked dryly.

“You know it,” they chimed in brainwashed unison.

“Is there any other?” the man asked and leaned in to whisper, “Of course you were always my favorite drug.”

What the fuck had Grace been involved in? There was no way she was one of this guy’s whores or a fucking drug mule. No fucking way. Goddamn it, Grace! The man slid his arm around her waist and turned to the group. Before he could say anything. A strong set of arms pulled her away from him. Olivia stepped back startled as Dominic stepped between them.

“Darling, it’s time to go,” he interjected with a voice that could move mountains, staring the man down.

Olivia stood opened mouthed for a second. Where the hell had he come from? Quickly she regained her composure. “Sorry, my dear, I was just catching up with an old friend. Until next time,” she said rubbing her hand across the older man’s shoulder and tipped her head the way she had seen Grace do a thousand times. Dominic possessively placed his hand on the small of her back as they walked out of the restaurant.

“Wait what about Piper?” She glanced over at their table but Piper was nowhere to be seen. “Dominic, what the hell is going on?”

“She’s waiting in the parking lot,” he said quietly. “She texted me with your phone that you were in trouble?” His voice was dark and angry.

“Okay, first of all,” she said when they reached the street, “I have known you for three days. I don’t need you to run around saving me. And second how the hell did you get here so fast? Did you follow us from the hotel?”

“I was taking a walk to find a place to eat. I am an FBI agent and your partner for this investigation. It’s my job to protect you.” He was still talking in hushed tones so that only she could hear him. Piper was standing just outside the building almost in the shadows.

“Piper, why did you leave and why did you call him?” Olivia stood arms crossed, still angry for being escorted out of the restaurant like a child. A chill ran over her. The night air was starting to cool down.

“Don’t be mad. That guy started yelling at you and I panicked. Your phone was on the table. When I picked it up the top number was Dominic, I just hit send.” Piper stood wide-eyed. “Who was that, Liv? Do you know him?”

“That was the main suspect in our case,” Olivia said quietly. “Let’s get out of here.” The trio started down the street. Once they crossed to the pier she spoke up again. I was trying so hard to listen to their conversation and accidentally bumped into him spilling our drinks. I was just heading back to the table to message Detective Shaver.

“We need to get you girls back to the hotel. Where is your car?” He turned to Olivia.

“Back at the hotel,” Olivia answered sarcastically, flustered that she may have just put the case at risk.

They walked swiftly down the boardwalk toward the Marriott. Dominic scanned the area to see if they were being followed. Satisfied that they were secure, he led the girls inside and straight to the elevators. “Piper, head back to your room and don’t open the door. Olivia, you are coming with me.”

“Oh no. I’m staying with Piper,” Olivia fired back. She linked her arm with Piper’s.

“She will be fine in her room. We need to discuss everything that happened and what you heard with Detective Shaver. Since this is an open investigation we can’t do that in front of your friend. You know the rules, Olivia.” His voice was grave. She wondered how much he had heard.

Olivia did know the rules and the parallels with Grace’s death were mounting. She feared that they would take her off the case if her sister was one of the victims. On the other hand if there was any chance to bring justice for her sister she had to take it. Olivia needed to know more about what Grace had been up to. How did that man know Grace? First Olivia needed to find out for sure who he was. “You’re right. We need to get to the bottom of all this.”

“Woah! What? Did you just say I was right? How many of those drinks did you have?” he joked as the elevator reached Piper’s floor and they dropped her at her room.

“Stay in and stay safe. Call me if you need anything,” Olivia said and gave Piper a hug.

“I have missed you so much,” Piper said. “Life is definitely an adventure with you. It’s like living one of my books for real. Go get ’em, Liv. I’m rooting for you,” Piper said as she hugged her back. “My flight is at the butt crack of dawn, but I already have a car arranged to pick me up. Let’s stay in touch, okay. Maybe you could come see me next time.”

They told her goodbye and Olivia followed Dominic back to his room. It was the mirror image of the room they had spent the previous night in. Olivia couldn’t believe how much had happened in twenty-four hours. As soon as he closed the door he pulled her to him.

He kissed her hard. She knew she should be appalled but she welcomed his touch like life-saving water in the desert. In the midst of all the turmoil his touch felt right. “What happened in there tonight?” He kissed her again. “Why didn’t you just call it in? Damn it, Olivia, you are a lawyer not a cop.” He held her to him as if he was afraid to let go.

“I was just trying to hear what they were saying. I thought I could help. Shit, I know I messed up.” Olivia tried to back away.

“I just want you to be okay. I need you to be okay.” His voice was tight and raspy. One massive arm was around her waist the other hand clasped the back of her hair. He showed no signs of letting her go now or ever. He leaned in to kiss her again and Olivia’s cell phone sprang to life. It danced across the dresser waiting to be acknowledged.

“I have to get that,” she told him and tried again to put distance between them. He hesitated for a moment and then let her go with a heavy sigh. Olivia grabbed her phone. “Olivia Hastings, may I help you?

“This is Detective Shaver. What the hell were you and bug boy doing in the middle of my stakeout?” Came the stern voice on the other end of the phone. This could not be good. Shaver sounded pissed.

“I was eating dinner with my friend at Saltine and I saw Jake Ramirez meeting with a man that I think is the owner of the airline to Vegas,” Olivia reported.

She heard the detective laughing though the phone. “Nice work, Nancy Drew. We have a tail on Ramirez and they saw your little scene. Leave the police work to the big boys, okay. If we need to throw drinks at anyone we’ll call you.”

Olivia gritted her teeth. She hated being treated like a little girl. She understood that she was a prosecutor and not a detective but she was invested in this case. “Copy that,” she growled into the phone, and hung up. She turned to Dominic. “They already had a tail on Ramirez. Now I am probably the laughing stock of the force.”

Dominic stifled a laugh and pulled her to him. “Sounds like it’s time to call it a night. Will you stay?” he said standing too close for her to think clearly.

“I can’t, I have to work on a motion for the morning. This isn’t my only case,” she mumbled into his chest and inhaled him.

“I don’t want to let you go, but I do still have specimens that I need to work on tonight.” As he spoke his left hand trailed down her back. “Olivia, when this case is over . . .”

“We’ll both be going our separate ways,” she finished for him. “Whatever craziness went on between us in the last twenty-four hours was reckless.”

Dominic took her hands as though they were a delicate Fabergé egg and brought them up to his lips. He kissed them gently and looked her in the eyes. “When I look at you I forget all the rules. I want every piece of you no limits, no holding back. I couldn’t give two fucks about the consequences. I would risk it all for one more taste of those lips.” He tilted her chin up and parted her lips with his tongue. “You might not see it yet, baby, but I’m not going anywhere.” His lips brushed hers as he spoke.

Olivia felt her knees go weak. “We . . . We have to go.” She summoned the will power of Zeus to leave and not jump in that bed.

“This conversation is not over,” Dominic informed her in a tone that didn’t leave room for question. He held the door and they headed back out into the night.

THEY REACHED THE parking lot and Dominic insisted on walking her to her car. “I will be fine,” she argued. “I’m just going home to get some work done.”

“That’s great. I’m just going to make sure you make it safely. That guy at the restaurant was not playing around and I’m not taking any chances.” His voice was as firm as the grip he had with his arm around her waist.

They have valet parking. I’ll just wait here while they bring it around,” she countered.

“I’ll wait with you then.” He showed no signs of letting her go even as she handed her ticket to the valet.

They stood together in the darkness under the canopy and waited. Dominic looked down at her and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Do you have any idea how exquisitely beautiful you are?”

“Laying this on a little thick, aren’t you?” she asked raising her eyebrow. “We both know this little fling is over when the—”

“Ma’am.” The valet came running back up without her car. “I’m afraid we have a problem.”

“What do you mean? Where’s my car?” Olivia asked, alarm raising her voice a full octave. Olivia didn’t have any close family, she didn’t even have a cat. What she did have was a spotless midnight blue Audi.

“Ma’am, calm down. Your tires are flat. We can call a tow truck for you if you would like,” he offered.

“Wait, you’re saying more than one tire is flat?” Dominic asked his tone darkened. “Olivia, that sounds intentional. We need to call the police and file a report.”

“Or I ran over something on our little trip to the swamp.” She couldn’t believe that anyone would deliberately try to destroy her car.

They called a tow truck and followed the attendant to her poor car. The Audi reminded her of a seventy-year-old boob tattoo all sad and deflated. All four tires were completely flat.

“Unless you were driving in a parking lot full of razor blades I would say someone slashed your tires.” Dominic was seething. “Do you have cameras for this lot?” he demanded. “We are going to need to see the tapes.”

“I’m sorry, sir, this part of the lot doesn’t have cameras.” The attendant took a step back.

“We better call this in.” Olivia shook her head. She had never been the victim of vandalism before. She wondered if it had to do with a case or if it was random. Dominic waited with her while until the police and the tow truck arrived.

“Let me take you home,” he offered when she had finished the paperwork.

“On that?” she said motioning to his bike. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding. I can just call a taxi or fucking Uber.” Olivia pulled out her cell to make the call. Dominic put his hand over hers and pushed the phone down.

“Trust me, Olivia,” he said low and pulled her close. “For once just let go of all that pain you hold inside and trust me.”

Olivia had never been on a motorcycle. Until that moment she had no desire to ever be on one. But now, as she stood next to this chiseled mystery all she wanted was to pull back another layer and see what lie beneath. “Okay,” she whispered barely able to believe the words as she said them.

The grin that spread across his face would have lit up Manhattan. “Come,” he said before she had a chance to change her mind and he secured her purse and keys in the small compartment on the back. Carefully he fitted his helmet on her head and secured it. He climbed onto the bike and started the engine. The roar caused Olivia to jump. He backed out of the space and then held his hand out for her to take.

Olivia hesitated she should go back inside and call a cab or stay with Piper but the look in his eyes was more than she could resist. She trembled as she reached out and took his hand. Her head spun with fear and excitement. He helped her climb on behind him and they were off.

They rode through town but instead of going to her apartment he turned toward the coast. The moon shone on the Atlantic and sparkled like a million diamonds on the waves. The cool breeze off the ocean was magnified by the speed of the bike and Olivia felt like she was flying. She held tightly to his back and closed her eyes. In that moment the world was perfect.

OLIVIA WOKE WITH a start. She was a little disoriented at first by the blaring sound that jarred her from sleep. What the hell was that? It was still too dark to be her alarm. After a few foggy moments she realized it was her phone.

“Olivia Hastings here,” she mumbled into the phone.

“Olivia, this is Detective Shaver. They found another body that may be linked to our case. Dr. Mattis requested you and bug boy to come to the scene. We need to meet at her office first for debriefing.”

“I’ll call agent Kain and be right there.” Olivia hung up. She was wide awake now and glanced at the clock. 6:12 a.m. Nothing like getting the day started early. One of the beautiful things about living so close to her office was that Olivia could easily get up at seven and still be to work by eight. Of course her low maintenance morning routine didn’t hurt either.

She called Dominic but got his voicemail so she left a message to meet her at the coroner’s office. She dressed quickly and grabbed her bag. She tried Dominic again and still went straight to voicemail so she left to go to the debriefing.

As she pulled into the parking lot of the morgue, Olivia immediately knew something was wrong. Two uniformed officers, Detective Shaver, Mr. Davis, and Dr. Mattis were waiting. She looked around but there was no sign of Dominic’s bike.

“Another body was discovered but we need to wear protective gear to go to the scene. Two officers have already been taken to the hospital. Olivia, have you ever trained on wearing a hazmat suit or using a respirator? If not, honey, you need to stay at the staging area,” Dr. Mattis instructed.

Everyone else seemed to be completely comfortable with what was about to happen. Olivia was not about to sit and wait. She looked from Dr. Mattis to Detective Shaver. “I am experienced with a respirator, I am a certified scuba diver,” she said, slightly exaggerating the truth. It had been a very long time since she had even seen one. In college Grace, Piper and Olivia had gotten certified during their summer on the beach. Surely it was like riding a bike once she got it on everything would come back to her.

“Where is bug boy . . .” Detective Shaver started to ask and Dr. Mattis shot him a glaring look. “Er . . . Ugh . . . I mean Special Agent Kain.”

“I called him twice on the way here,” Olivia remarked but I haven’t heard from him.

“Well where is he staying? He is definitely going to need to see this first hand,” Dr. Mattis questioned. “Try him again.”

Olivia dialed again. Where was he? She left another message and then tried the front desk. They rang his room. Still no answer. “Last night he said he was coming here to process some more of the samples. That’s the last time I saw him,” she told them and tried not to be worried. Maybe he just went for some breakfast and left his phone in the room.

Just then Detective Shaver got a call. He was pacing back and forth as he talked. His eyebrows knitted into a worried row. “One of the officers from the scene reported that the victim was on the surveillance footage from the Saltine last night. That’s why they alerted me. The officer was one of my guys on that detail.”

Olivia’s heart stopped. “Man or woman?” she asked. A deep chill set over her skin.

“They didn’t say,” Shaver answered his eyes wide. He took his phone back out and called his team at the hospital back. Every second that passed felt like a fear drenched hour. Olivia took out her cell. She started to call Dominic again but stopped. Piper! She hadn’t heard from her since last night either. Her fingers felt like lead balloons as she tried to dial. God, Piper had to be okay. Olivia knew she should have stayed with her until she was on that plane. The phone rang and rang. Please, God let her be safely on that plane.

They loaded their equipment and multiple cameras. Olivia rode with Detective Shaver and Dr. Mattis who filled her in on the way. The body was spotted in a large agricultural field about twenty minutes away. The problem was, that it was spotted by a plane that was dumping pesticide over the field. The first two officers who responded began having respiratory difficulty as soon as they reached the body. They left the scene immediately but were already in significant distress by the time they made it back to their cruiser. They had been rushed to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and were in critical condition at this point.

“Pretty amazing that you can eat food that has a chemical that strong sprayed on it,” Olivia observed as they drove. She kept checking her phone. Nothing from Dominic or Piper. Though they were driving with lights and sirens, the twenty-minute drive felt like two days. Rows of corn and soybeans stretched out as far as the eye could see. The detective’s sedan finally turned off the highway and bounced along a secondary road. They left a cloud of dust in their wake. Olivia’s cell service was starting to falter. With two bars left she called Dominic again and gave him directions to the staging area. Up ahead Olivia could already spot the decon tents being set up at the staging area beside a large corn field. Other officers were already on site taking pictures of tire tracks along the edge of the dirt road. Another team was setting up drones to scan the field.

They parked and walked up to the staging area. Olivia’s cell service showed no bars at all now. Her heart raced and ached at the same time. Who were they going to find in the middle of all that godforsaken corn. Mental images of her sister and Gwen kept flashing through her mind. Would Piper or Dominic be added to the collection? Olivia stood in the debriefing and watched them demonstrate the DuPont Tychem 10000 Commander EX Level A suit that was fully encapsulating. The suit was rear entry with gas tight zippers and two exhaust valves. They were encouraged to maintain slow relaxed breathing to maximize the amount of time an oxygen tank would last. Olivia’s tank weighed about fifty pounds and would last forty-five minutes to an hour. The suit would alarm when she had five minutes of oxygen left. The instructor stressed the importance of being at the staging area for decon at that time. They would have to undergo a series of showers before the suit could be removed. Since it was air tight without the respirator they could suffocate in the suit. Once in the suit they would not be able to hear each other so they had to learn basic hand signals for the field.

Each team member dressing had an officer helping them get dressed. Olivia stood still while Officer Johnson strapped the tank on her back. She glanced around and looked for Dominic. She would have given anything to see that motorcycle roaring up the road. She took one last breath of fresh air and placed the respirator in her mouth. Once situated Johnson began to zip her up. It was like being sealed in a plastic bag. She looked around at the team. Detective Shaver’s brows were set in a determined line but his eyes had a hint of fear in them. Each one was armed with a camera and the tools they needed to process the scene. Olivia was not a crime scene investigator so she would only be there to take pictures and stay out of the way. As they started into the field Olivia took one last look toward the road and then at the empty suit that sat waiting for Dominic. Please, God, don’t let him already be here.

The suit was heavy and restrictive. Olivia felt like an astronaut on a planet where the gravity was ten times our own. They walked single file down one of the aisles created by the corn. Every step a colossal effort that took her closer to finding the truth. Someone she had been with last night was lying dead in this field. She hoped it was Jake or one of his colleagues. Ahead they were approaching an area where there seemed to be a clearing in the corn. Dr. Mattis and the crime scene team signaled them to stop. She took photographs at every angle. Olivia was last in the line and could not see. Dr. Mattis moved to the right and the crime scene officers entered the space to the left. The closer she moved to the clearing the more her heart began to race. Slow your breathing. She reminded herself. The last thing she wanted to do was run out of air and suffocate in this field. Detective Shaver moved into the edge of the clearing and for the first time, she could see part of the victim. Her heart leapt in her chest and she broke out into a sweat. She brought her camera up to take a picture of the slender foot of a woman lying next to a purple sandal.

Olivia forced several slow breaths through the respirator. She could not compromise the crime scene. You can do this. She tried to calm herself. Two more steps and she would know for sure. Just then she heard a commotion behind her and turned to see the missing yellow suit walking toward her. Dominic. She didn’t know where he had been but she was fucking thankful to see him now. She waited until he caught up to move. When he reached her she stepped back and let him go in first. He would actually be collecting samples. She was just an observer and she was afraid to move forward. Once she saw the victim’s face it would be final. It would be real and she knew there was no going back.

Please, God. She prayed as Dominic passed her and she had no choice but to move the last few steps. One step. She took a deep breath from the regulator. Two. Oh. My. God. The body of one of the Lambda Sigma Delta girls lay mangled in a pile of dead bugs. Olivia noted the same ligature marks and defensive wounds that she had seen on Gwen. But the bugs. She was covered in them. Fat little grubs like Dominic had retrieved from the other scene. The kind he said didn’t show up until day twenty. They were everywhere on day one but they all seemed to be dead. Was someone playing games with them? The girl’s pale blue eyes stared lifelessly into the sky. Olivia hated that she had never even asked her name. She was wearing the same lavender printed dress from the night before and one purple sandal. Just above her left breast was the sorority pin that Olivia had noticed at Saltine. Wait. She looked closer. The small gold shield was surrounded by tiny pearls and rubies. But the ruby on the top right was missing.

Olivia remembered the day it had disappeared. Grace had talked her into coming to Rhode Island to go horseback riding. Fucking horses. Olivia was more of a turtle or goldfish person. They had gone on a trail ride to the beach with Morning Star Horse Farm. Olivia still remembered freaking out while Grace loved it. She said she loved the freedom. They rode until the sun was setting and stood together in the waves to watch it disappear. On the way back something had spooked Grace’s horse and she fell off. A ruby in the sand, gone forever.

It couldn’t be. Anyone could have lost a ruby. Olivia took another step and bumped into Dominic almost knocking him into the area they had roped off for the initial phase. Everyone stopped and looked at her. She couldn’t stop staring at the date on the pin. 2006, the year her sister should have graduated. The year she died.

This girl would have been ten years old then. She tried to point at the pin. But no one seemed to understand what she was trying to say. Dominic was busy collecting bugs and taking pictures. She tried to motion again and Detective Shaver stared at her like she was a dancing monkey. Fuck they hadn’t made hand signals for this corpse is wearing your murdered twin sister’s fucking sorority pin. Olivia started to hyperventilate. Each breath she sucked in from the respirator burned in her lungs. She needed to get out of there. What the fuck was she thinking coming out here in the first place? Her breaths got shorter and her heart raced right out of her chest. She had to get out of here.

Her head tried to tell her that it could be someone else’s. This could all be a big coincidence. But her heart knew better. That pin belonged to Grace, and the same hands that stole the life of her beautiful sister had killed this poor girl too. Olivia shuddered as she realized the killer had stood in this very spot. Had he held on to this little piece of her beloved sister all this time? Olivia’s heart broke all over again. Why? Why now?

All of a sudden, a very loud alarm echoed throughout her suit. She had used too much oxygen! Olivia began to full on panic. She only had five minutes of air left in this plastic coffin. Ripping it off now would expose her to the chemicals in the field; she had to get back and go through decontamination before it was too late. She turned and started trying to run back down the row but she was still over a hundred yards from the decon area. Her legs felt like massive anchors making each step a monumental chore. The harder she tried the more air she sucked in and the suit began to expand and contract with each breath. She trudged on closer to the staging area but her fingers and toes began to tingle. Do not pass out! She was running out of air. She could see a group of people in suits waiting for her at the end of the row to start the decontamination process. They were still so far away. She wanted to rip off that fucking suit. It closed in around her like an anaconda threatening to squeeze the life out of her.

She was still about twenty yard away when she stumbled. Olivia’s head swam. She felt herself falling and grasped at corn stalks. This was it. With the force of a freight train someone hit her from behind and scooped her up. Olivia’s body crumpled in his arms. Through the thick plastic she could see Dominic in his yellow suit. He was looking straight ahead and running at full speed. The alarm continued to blare as Olivia began to fade in and out of consciousness. Her lungs were on fire and her eyes felt like they were going to pop out of her head. Her mind flashed to Grace. With the ligature marks and petechiae in her lifeless eyes. This is how Grace felt as the life was choked out of her.

The world started to fade just as they reached the decon area. Olivia felt water hitting the suit. Dominic was shaking her and trying to say something but all she could hear was that damn alarm and the pounding of her heart.

“Stay. With. Me.” He mouthed as Olivia collapsed in the darkness.

THE DAMN ALARM was still blaring as Olivia’s eyes began to open. Where the hell was she? Her vision began to clear and she tried to take in her surroundings. She was no longer in the suit. But lying on a cot that was jostling around with a white blanket over her. What the hell happened to her clothes? It wasn’t the suit alarm. What was that sound?

“Ma’am . . . Ma’am can you hear me?” A man asked.

She squinted her eyes? Why couldn’t she see better? He seemed to be in a blue uniform. Why was that alarm still going off?

“My name is Eric. You are in an ambulance. Can you understand what I am saying?” the uniformed man was babbling.

“Dominic . . .” She managed to squeak out of her burning throat.

“Mr. Kain is in the other ambulance but don’t worry other than a few minor burns he’s fine. It’s just a precaution. The two of you doffed your suits before the decon procedure was complete,” Eric explained

“I don’t . . . understand.” Olivia struggled with each word. She felt like she had inhaled razor blades.

“Your suit ran out of oxygen and he literally carried you and your gear to the decon station. When you passed out he panicked and tried to rip you out of the suit. He couldn’t do it with his on so he shed his too. They were spraying you guys the whole time to help reduce the damage.” Eric reached over and adjusted her mask. “I need you to keep that oxygen on, okay. You inhaled some of the fumes and your throat is starting to show signs of a chemical burn.

Olivia was no doctor but she had been working in violent crimes long enough to know that could mean her airway swelling and shutting off.

“Is that why my throat burns so bad? Will they have to intubate me?” You have to get a hold of yourself. She could hear Grace scolding her as she had when they were kids. Calm down. Grace had always taken things in stride while Olivia tended to worry about everything. Grace was strong and brave . . . and dead. That carefree sense of adventure left her six feet under.

“Just lie back and try to relax. We are giving you oxygen through the mask and I can give you something to help the pain if you need it.” Eric sounded like a calm and collected librarian. His soothing baritone urged her to remain calm and breathe slowly.

Olivia conserved her voice and throat for the rest of the ride. Dominic had risked himself to save her. Of course he wouldn’t have had to if she hadn’t completely flaked out at the crime scene. She would never forgive herself if he was hurt. She kept thinking of the wild look in his eyes as he pleaded with her to stay. How was it possible to feel that connected to someone after just a few days? The thought scared the hell out of her.

They pulled into the emergency bay at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and a medical team was waiting for her. Olivia was whisked into the trauma bay. The bright lights overhead seemed to blind her blurry eyes. She tried to talk but the razor blades in her throat had intensified. People were all around her but their voices were lost in a fog. The tall preppy doctor spoke to her with the same nonchalant baritone that the EMS driver had used until he looked in her throat. Then his whole demeanor changed.

His eyes widened and the little vein in his forehead began to stick up as he began shouting orders that didn’t make any sense. Nurses and various people in uniforms began filling the room. Olivia’s heart was pounding like a piston in a race car. The sweat that broke out over her kept making the little monitor slip off her finger. Oh sweet Jesus, I am going to die!

She could make out them telling her to calm down and breathe easy. Slim fucking chance. Another team in gray scrubs arrived with a machine that beeped like the Jetsons. What the fuck was that for? Her skin burned and itched intensely. They poked her like a pincushion and established new IVs.

The tall doctor barked an order at a dark-haired nurse who pulled out several vials and laid them out. He stood before a tray of equipment. Wait! Stop! She tried to scream. This was supposed to be just for precaution. She was fine! The dark-haired nurse started putting one vial after the other into her IV. Her skin no longer burned. Her throat felt smooth as glass and everyone in the room floated away.

“Miss Hastings . . .” She heard him say.

My name’s not Olivia Hastings.

DOMINIC TRIED TO jump out of the ambulance when they pulled up to the hospital. He had to find her.

“Sir!” the paramedic yelled. “You have to wait. We have to take you in. You still need to be treated for your burns.”

Two security guards were at his side in seconds as he tried to get through the doors. They set him down hard on a cart and the paramedics were at his side once more.

“I am fine goddamn it! I need to get to Olivia. I have to see her,” he yelled at everyone who tried to talk to him but no one would listen. They wheeled him into a room and a young doctor rushed in to examine him. She seemed to be in a hurry as all hell was breaking loose in a room across the way.

“My name is Doctor Windmiller, I’m going to check you out, okay?” The reddish brunette smiled at him with reassuring eyes. Her hands were very gentle and would have put him at ease if he just knew that Olivia was okay.

“I feel fine. Have you seen Olivia Hastings? She came in by ambulance too? We were working on a crime scene and were exposed to chemicals in a field,” he asked, desperation ripping through his voice. Goddamn it he couldn’t watch her die again. He couldn’t do it.

“I can’t talk about other patients,” she answered uneasily. She looked him over quickly and examined his ears and nose and throat then moved to his arms. “It looks like you didn’t inhale any of the chemical but your arms are another story. You have second degree chemical burns on a large percentage of both forearms. We are going to have to send you up to the burn unit to have this further evaluated.

“The hell you are. Listen, ma’am, I am sorry to be rude but I am not leaving this ER till I know that she is okay. Please. I don’t care if my arms fall off. If she doesn’t make it I don’t need them anyway.” He barked louder than he meant to.

Her eyes widened and she swallowed hard. “I . . . she’s . . .” The doctor stepped back and pointed at the room with all the commotion. People were moving in and out. A doctor was barking urgent orders and everyone was moving about quickly. He couldn’t see for the damned curtain. What the hell was going on in there?

“Olivia?” he questioned and Dr. Windmiller nodded hesitantly. Before she could say anything, he jumped up out of the bed and ripped the leads off. He stormed across the large walkway to the trauma room and ripped open the curtain. What he saw nearly killed him.

Olivia lay on the table hoses and tubes coming from everywhere. She looked dead. A woman in gray scrubs was handing intubation tools to a blond doctor who was doing his best to establish an ET tube in her throat. She must have inhaled some of the chemical. Goddamn it!

“Someone get him out of here!” the doctor yelled and went back to his attempt. The two orderlies returned with force and dragged him back to his room.

“Don’t worry,” the young doctor was saying. “Dr. Holt is amazing. He will take good care of her.” Her eyes sparkled when she mentioned his name.

“He better,” Dominic answered deadpan. All he could think of was the look on Olivia’s face when she was trying to tell him something in that stupid corn field. She kept pointing at something. A game of charades that he may never solve. Fuck! She had to be okay. He had bent over to collect the samples. That fucking spray. It killed all the larvae on contact. At that size they could have devoured the corpse in a week to fourteen days. The next thing he knew, Olivia was gone. He had finished with the current sample and then stood up and realized her suit alarm was going off. The sound was greatly muffled through his own suit and sounded far away. He turned and watched her going toward the decon tent.

When he saw her stumble his heart lurched. He dropped everything in his hands and took off running down the aisle of corn at full speed. As she fell she reached out and grasped at a corn stalk she must have gotten that shit all over her suit then. Time was running out. He hit her without slowing down and scooped her up tank and all and sprinted the last twenty yards. The fear in her eyes. Fuck, he had seen that before. Jesus. He couldn’t lose her again. He pleaded with her to stay calm. To stay with him. It took so long to find her. He couldn’t lose her, not now. They were being sprayed. If she could just hold on for a few more rinses they would be free.

Her eyes widened then closed and her body went limp in his arms. His heart shattered into a million pieces and he didn’t know what came over him. No one was helping and she was dying right in his arms. He started ripping her out of that damn suit. He got it open to get air in but couldn’t get it all the way off so he ripped his own off and finished cutting her loose. From the moment he broke his own seal until the spray of the hoses hit him he had held his breath. She had been unconscious and didn’t know any better.

Fuck what if he had killed her? The fact that this was all his fault was not lost on him. He wanted to hold her like it never happened. He wanted to rewind the clock and have her with him again. He couldn’t bear this again. A transport tech arrived with the two security guards who seemed to like him so much, to wheel him to the burn unit. He watched helplessly as they passed her room.

Would he ever get to see her again? The aching pit in his chest returned to consume any hope and life that had returned to his veins.

OLIVIA AWOKE AND looked around her room. The laminate woodgrain floor and pale blue walls looked more like a cabin on a cruise ship than a hospital room. A bedside table contained a pitcher of ice water and a little pink plastic cup. Aside from the beeping of the monitor and her own breathing the room was quiet. Where was everyone? She searched around her bed, found the nurse call button and pressed it.

“Hello? Can I help you?” a chipper voice called back from a speaker on the side of her bed.

“Hello . . .” Olivia answered cautiously. The burning in her throat had mostly subsided. She was relieved to hear her own voice again. “Hello this is Olivia. I was just wondering what’s going on?”

“Oh, honey, I’ll send your nurse right in,” the chipper voice replied. Within moments a nurse with bright red hair came with a portable vital sign machine.

“Hey, glad to see you are awake. Feeling better?” a redhead in navy scrubs asked. “My name is Amanda, I’m your nurse. You had quite a reaction to those chemicals huh?” she asked as if Olivia had a little rash, not came within inches of losing her life.

Olivia stared at Strawberry Shortcake blankly for a moment. “The last I remember was being poked and prodded in the ER. What happened?

“You had a reaction to a chemical you inhaled at a crime scene. Are you guys like the people on CSI?” Amanda moved through the room as she spoke examining Olivia like a specimen in a side show. “They said your airway was closing off so Dr. Holt had to do an emergency intubation. You did great though. You were only on the vent for about twenty-four hours. Once they gave you IV steroids, you started improving. Crazy, huh?”

Olivia swatted her away. “That’s fucking awful. What the hell did they spray on that corn?”

Amanda stared at her like a deer in the headlights. “Gosh, I don’t know about that. They moved you down here to step down last night but you were still groggy from the sedatives, so you probably don’t remember much of that. She moved over to the standing cabinets. “Your belongings are in the cupboard here. Do you want me to get you anything?”

Olivia sat in disbelief and looked at the empty visitor chair. She felt more alone than she had since Grace died. “There was a man that was brought in with me. Dominic Kain did you hear anything about him? How is he doing?”

“Do you mean that super hunky FBI agent?” Amanda stopped hovering and her face lit up like a Macy’s One Day Sale.

Olivia just laughed. “Yeah him. How’s he doing?”

Amanda blushed. “They discharged him last night but he wouldn’t leave without you so we let him sleep in that chair. I hope that’s okay?” She pointed to the empty visitor’s chair. “He stepped out just a little bit ago and asked to be called as soon as you woke up. He was talking on his cell when he left and it sounded official.” She raised her eyebrows with the word official like she was in on top secret information.

Olivia envisioned that Amanda and Piper would be fast friends. She couldn’t believe he had stayed the night. The thought warmed her but she quickly chased it away. He was her partner and she was hurt in the line of duty. Of course he stayed but when the case was over she knew he would be gone.

Suddenly she thought of the case. The pin! The victim in the field was wearing a pin that bore a striking resemblance to the one her sister had and this victim was killed in the same way. That’s what triggered the panic attack. “Did they bring my bag or my cell phone? I need to make a call,” Olivia blurted with an urgency that made Amanda jump.

She hustled over to the cupboard and retrieved Olivia’s work bag that contained a change of clothes, her credentials and her phone. Olivia dug out the phone. She couldn’t dial fast enough. She had to tell Dominic and Dr. Mattis about the pin. The phone began to ring and her heart froze. That would mean telling them about Grace. She would have to tell them everything.

Olivia sat back in the bed. Each ring twisted her stomach in knots. She pulled the blankets over her trying to quench the sudden chill.

“Hello . . . Hello . . . Olivia is that you? Are you okay?” Dominic’s voice got louder and more urgent with each phrase.

“I’m here,” she said reassuring herself as much as him. How was he going to take what she had to say?

“It’s good to hear your voice. You scared the shit out of me yesterday. How are you feeling?” As he spoke relief filled his voice.

“Like I was nearly killed and had a cheese grater shoved down my throat but other than that pretty good.” Olivia paused. She knew she had let the team down. “About yesterday, I’m sorry I panicked and destroyed your crime scene. Something I saw on the body really freaked me out then that alarm started going off.”

“You didn’t tear anything up except yourself. I’m sorry we weren’t more help? Is that what you were trying to signal to us before your suit went off?” he asked. Olivia could hear a crowd of people in the background.

“Yes, but I would rather talk to you and Dr. Mattis about it in person. Where are you? It sounds like Grand Central Station?” she asked

“Close. I’m at the airport. I’m checking out a lead on the larvae we found at the scene. I think it was farmed. I should be back by tonight or tomorrow hopefully with more information. Do you have someone to pick you up and take you home?”

“Yes, of course,” she lied. “We can talk about the case more when you get back. Have a safe flight.” She felt as empty as the chair in the corner.

“Okay. Be back soon and I . . . I’m glad you’re okay,” he finished and hung up.

She was still holding her phone when the doctor came in. “Ms. Hastings. How are you feeling this morning? My name is Dr. Keyes. He stood with his lab coat and clipboard and offered her a friendly smile. Olivia wondered why everyone in this damn hospital was so cheerful?

“I’d be feeling better if I could go home and get back to work on my case,” Olivia answered. She needed to get to the morgue and talk with Dr. Mattis.

“Well let’s get you checked out and see if that will be possible today,” he offered. As he examined her nose and throat Olivia realized it had been twenty-four hours since she last saw her toothbrush and cringed. “Swelling has gone down nicely. You suffered an anaphylactic reaction to one of the pesticides used in the spray used for that field. The ER contacted the manufacturer and it contains four different chemicals so it’s difficult to tell which one caused the reaction. You may need to have allergy testing in the future. In the meantime I would like you to keep an epi-pen.”

“Well I don’t plan on going into any poison corn fields again any time soon,” Olivia replied. She would be staying far away from that craziness. Once this case was solved she was going to stick to trying cases in a nice safe courtroom.

“I don’t imagine so but since it was on food there is a chance you could encounter it again.” He looked over her chart. “Vital signs are great and your condition has improved to the point I think it’s safe to let you go home. Do you have someone to pick you up?”

Why was everyone so concerned about who was coming to pick her up? “Yes, I just need to make a call,” she answered and hoped she wasn’t lying again.

“All right then. You can go ahead and get dressed and I’ll go start the paperwork.” He started to leave the room and stopped. “I can’t stress how serious this event was.” He pressed and then turned and left.

Olivia grabbed her phone. There were about twenty missed calls from Piper. Oh, jeez. Olivia remembered that she had called Piper and left several worried messages on the way to the field yesterday. Poor Piper was probably a wreck wondering what was wrong. She needed a ride but decided to call Piper first.

“Hello.” Piper answered on the first ring.

“Hey, girly, how was your flight?” Olivia tried to sound as casual as possible.

“My flight? Are you serious? You leave those creepy worried messages on my phone, then don’t answer your phone for forever. I didn’t know what the hell happened. I was about to lose my effing mind by the time Dominic called and said that you were in the hospital. Are you okay? What happened out there?” Piper was in hysterics.

“I’m okay. I promise. Really, I’m fine now. It was just an allergic reaction to a chemical I was exposed to on a case.” Olivia reassured her friend. She pulled clothes out of her bag as she spoke.

“I finally have you back in my life, you are not allowed to go getting yourself killed! Do you hear me?” Piper scolded. Olivia could hear Piper pacing on a hard surface.

“I hear you. Loud and clear, lady, trust me.” Olivia promised. As much as she wanted to play it safe, she knew she wouldn’t rest until this case was solved. They were getting closer she could feel it. “Say, do you remember the sorority pin that Grace wore?”

“I think so . . .” Piper paused. “Gosh, honey, it’s been ten years. I think I do. I could look back through some pictures if you like. Why?”

“I can’t go into details but I think it might be relevant to the case,” Olivia confided. She had to be careful, as much as she wanted to spill the beans to Piper, a press leak at this point could be disastrous. “Any pictures you can find would be great. Could you email them to me?”

“No problem. Anything else I can do just let me know.” Piper was quiet for a moment. “Liv, you know if you need to talk I’m here.”

“Thanks, Piper, I know.” Olivia hung up and looked at the sunshine pouring through the window. Somewhere out there was the sick bastard that killed her sister and she was going to find him. She checked in with Mr. Davis and let him know she was okay. He assured her that her other cases were okay for the time being and that she should take a day to recover. Olivia was not about to take a day off. She tried Detective Shaver next.

“Hey there, girl. You scared us all half to death. Listen I’m on the way to see you. We’ve got a problem. The press got a hold of the story and the mayor is coming down hard for an arrest. Are they letting you out anytime soon?” His gruff voice barreled through the phone.

“I’m being released in just a few minutes, think you could come pick me up?” Olivia asked hopefully. She had finished getting dressed and sat impatiently on the edge of her bed. The smell of pasty eggs and dry toast was trickling down the hallway. She needed to get out of here before someone expected her to eat hospital breakfast.

“Sure, but where’s bug boy?” he said with the annoyance of a dad for a deadbeat teenager. She could hear him take a long draw of his cigarette.

“He’s following a lead on the larvae he found at the scene. He said he would check in with us later.” She did her best not to sound disappointed. His reaction let her know she failed miserably.

“Ah hell, at least he’s working on the case. I’ll be right there. You okay, girl?” His gruff voice softened just a little. This she imagined is what John Wayne must’ve been like with his grandchildren.

“I’m good, thanks. See you soon.” Olivia hung up just as the nurse came in with her discharge papers.

“That was quick,” Olivia said and jumped up.

“Don’t get too excited yet.” The nurse walked over to the window and looked down toward the parking lot. “There is a sea of media out there hoping to get a piece of you or one of the officers that were injured.” She shut the curtain quickly. “Dr. Keyes got your paperwork done as quickly as possible. Is your ride on the way? While the director is making a statement to the press we are going to let you leave through the surgery area.

“Thank you.” The last thing Olivia wanted was to have her face plastered all over the news. She notified Detective Shaver where to go and left with Amanda. Olivia kept her head down in the hallway and they moved quickly to the exit. Reporters were like sharks once they caught a whiff of blood in the water they worked into a frenzy. They descended the steps and reached the main floor. Her heart began to race as they approached the entrance. Light flooded through the massive glass doors. Olivia stopped short and broke into a sweat. She had sudden déjà vu of being led out of a hospital into a sea of media. Nausea swept over her. She felt them grabbing at her asking questions. Desperate fingers on her flesh, demanding a piece of her. A hundred voices shouting at her at once. There was no escape they were going to swallow her whole. Was she losing her mind?

Olivia forced several slow breaths. She was not going to get stuck in here another day for losing her shit. Come on mind don’t fail me now. I’ve got to solve this case.

“You look pale. Are you okay? Amanda asked stepping in front of her.

“I’m fine. The media craziness just makes me nervous,” Olivia answered through clenched teeth. She just needed to get out of here and into Shaver’s car. Relief flooded over her when she saw him coming through the sliding doors. “Boy, am I glad to see you,” she blurted and grabbed onto his arm.

“Are you feverish? You look like you’ve been in a sauna.” He wrapped his arm through hers as if he was about to walk her down the aisle. “Did something happen? You sounded good on the phone.”

“Let’s just get out of here and we can talk in the car,” she urged, the need to escape overwhelmed her. They moved quickly down the ramp and into the unmarked Ford Interceptor while all the media attention was on the hospital director in the courtyard by the main entrance. The midnight blue sedan smelled heavily of cigarette smoke and Old Spice. Olivia cracked her window to let in a little fresh air. The dark windows let her see out without being seen. As they drove by Olivia scanned the faces of the crowd that had gathered. Was one of them the killer?

Once he pulled onto the highway Shaver turned to her. “You gonna tell me what was going on back there?”

Olivia picked at the stitching of the leather seat and bit her lip. “Have you ever had déjà vu?” she asked hoping like hell she didn’t sound like a nut case.

“Sure, I guess. I think everybody feels that way sometimes. Doesn’t freak me out like that though. You looked like you saw a ghost or something.” He glanced at her and drove on. “Speaking of Dr. Mattis, she wanted us to stop by. She has some information for us.”

“I guess I’m still a little shook up from that reaction. I’ll get over it.” She twisted her hair up into a ponytail and forced a collected breath. “In the restaurant there was another girl with the victim. Have you guys located her? Is she okay?” That poor girl couldn’t have been more than twenty-one or twenty-two. What a waste. Just like Grace.

“Jake and the other girl were picked up this morning in Vegas. The flew on one of those charters that we’ve been investigating. The LVMPD is questioning them now. I may have to fly out there.” He lit a cigarette and rolled his eyes.

Olivia recalled how much he hated flying. He was going to need a horse tranquilizer to make it there without taking out a few airline employees. She leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. She knew she had just slept for twenty hours but she felt like she hadn’t slept in weeks.

The sudden silence left in the engines absence woke her with a start. Olivia looked around and tried to get her bearings. They were at the morgue. Anxious to ask Dr. Mattis about the pin Olivia unbuckled quickly. Could it really have belonged to Grace? She hustled into the building and down the hall leaving Shaver behind.

“Slow down there, speedy. I promise the victim isn’t going anywhere.” She could hear him wheezing behind her.

Olivia couldn’t wait. She reached Dr. Mattis’ office and burst in without knocking. Dr. Mattis was sitting at her desk engrossed in her computer. She wore a set of red scrubs with navy trim. Her light brown hair was pinned neatly up in a bun. The smell of formaldehyde permeated every square inch of the building but something in this office hinted of crème brûlée.

“Olivia!” Dr. Mattis looked up in surprise. I’m so happy to see you are okay. Is Detective Shaver with you?”

“Yeah, he’s still making his way up the—” Before she could finish, Detective Shaver walked into the room behind her.

“Good, you are both here.” Dr. Mattis continued. “I have some interesting findings for you. Have a seat.” She motioned to the red upholstered chairs before them. Files and labeled containers covered her desk. Olivia glanced at the various diplomas on the wall and was impressed to see that Dr. Mattis had graduated from Cornell.

Once they were seated the doctor continued. “The victim’s name is Rebecca Tate. She was a twenty-one-year-old student and a member of the Lambda Sigma Delta Sorority. We were able to identify her using dental records. Her parents will be here soon to identify the body.”

Olivia shuddered. She did not want to be anywhere around when the parents arrived. She couldn’t bear to see them go through that pain. The sound a mother makes when she sees her deceased child for the first time is unforgettable. It’s the same sound she made when she gave birth to that child. The heart wrenching pain erupts out of her in a guttural scream like a part of her soul is being ripped from her body. Olivia closed her eyes. She remembered her mother collapsing to the floor afterward in heaping sobs.

“Agent Kain is following up on the larvae we found at the scene. It looks like they were placed there by the killer. Our perp has extensive knowledge of entomology. Kain was able to retrieve traces of a bacterial substance that was sprayed on the body post mortem that attracts black soldier flies to the body. When the crop duster sprayed the field it killed the larvae and the few flies that had already come.”

“So, you are saying the murderer brought their own bugs?” Detective Shaver looked at her as if she was suddenly speaking Russian. “Why the hell would he do that?”

“It may have been an attempt to dispose of the body quicker. We are still working on that.” Dr. Mattis pulled out a clear plastic bag and held it up. “Do you recognize this, Olivia.

The pin! The room suddenly felt arctic. Olivia gasped. “I think so. It’s not the one the victim was wearing at the restaurant. I know because I commented on the one she had on. At the crime scene I noticed it was different. That’s the reason I started freaking out.” Olivia took a shaky breath. She began tapping nervously on the desk. “This pin is older. I think it belonged to my sister.” She watched Shaver’s mouth fall open in disbelief. Dr. Mattis sat quietly and waited for her to finish.

“Hell, I didn’t even know you had a sister,” Shaver exclaimed in disbelief. “How could you be sure that’s the same pin?”

“My sister was murdered during her senior year of college. Her body was found in the same way as this victim and Gwen Robertson. Her name was Grace Wilson and she was in the Lambda Delta Sigmas too. I know that is her pin. It’s missing the same ruby.” She briefly told them about the riding trip when the ruby was lost. “The date is the same as hers too. 2006. It’s the year she should have graduated.” Olivia paused and placed her fingertips to her mouth to keep from crying. She needed to keep her composure now more than ever. “Grace wore that thing everywhere. She was so proud of that stupid sorority. Police said it might have been motive for a robbery as it had real stones.”

“That was ten years ago,” Shaver insisted. “There have to be hundreds of pins like that around the country.” She could see in his eyes he didn’t believe her. She had to make them believe her. This was related to her sister somehow. She knew it.

“I know you think I’m crazy,” Olivia answered but Dr. Mattis interrupted.

“Actually what you are saying makes sense.” She looked from Shaver to Olivia.

“Are you fucking serious?” Shaver blurted and slapped his notebook down on the desk.

“Quite.” She began arching a disapproving brow at the hotheaded detective. “I found a partial print on the pin.”

“Do you have a match?” Shaver asked impatiently.

“This isn’t TV, Danny. There are over fifty-three million files in that database and as I said this is only a partial print, so we still have some work to do. However I do have two potential matches that stood out.” She turned the computer screen around so they could see. Shaver and Olivia sat back, their jaws nearly hit the desk. There on the split screen was a background clearance photo of Olivia Wilson Hastings for the Norfolk DAs office and on the other side what looked like the exact same girl just a tad younger in a mug shot from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

“Holy. Shit.” Shaver stared at the screen for a moment and then turned to Olivia. “Where did you go after the restaurant last night?”

OLIVIA COULDN’T BELIEVE Mr. Davis had taken her off the case. She had waited ten years for this chance and now she had to sit on the sidelines. This was exactly why she didn’t want them to know about Grace. Damn it! She smashed the accelerator with her foot lurching the Audi forward. Hell with that finger print she was a fucking suspect. She should have stayed with Dominic or Piper that night, then at least she would have an alibi. I am never giving up. She fought back tears.

Jesus, what the hell was going on? The pin definitely belonged to her sister. There was no question about that now. If the killer really held onto it all this time why give it up now? Was someone trying to frame her or send a message?

Olivia tried to reach Dominic again as she drove. Where was he at? Maybe he wasn’t supposed to talk to her anymore now that she wasn’t involved with the case. She gripped the steering wheel and let out the loudest yell she could manage. This was some kind of fucking nightmare. How could her sister have been involved with these people? How could she have been so blind to her sister’s activities? Olivia kept picturing the mug shot. She must’ve blocked out that Grace had been arrested! Fuck, and in Vegas. What the hell was she doing in Vegas? The arrest record was for a misdemeanor drug possession and public intoxication but the charges had been dropped. Shaver had promised to do some more digging and keep her informed the best he could. Olivia couldn’t wait for them, she needed more information. She hadn’t worked her ass off her entire career to give up now.

She made it home and pulled into her assigned space. Olivia let herself into the apartment. The darkness startled her. She felt the walls closing in. Ever since her sister’s murder Olivia had a fear of the dark. She needed to see what was around her. Quickly she turned on the light and scanned the room. Nothing was out of place. Stop this. You are going to drive yourself insane. She willed her heart to slow to a human pace. Fear had no place here. Olivia went straight to the kitchen and pulled out the biggest bottle of merlot she could find and grabbed the painted SaSS wine glass she had just bought with Piper. Hell she was off duty now. She poured the glass as far to the top as she could. She was going to need it for this.

She took the bottle and the glass to her study and opened the large closet. Olivia paused, she hadn’t looked in here since she moved in. The final resting place for all things Grace. Six plastic totes were all that remained to show her beautiful sister had ever existed. She sat cross legged on the berber carpet and opened the first box. Olivia laughed as she saw her sister’s room decor, various posters of Marilyn Monroe, Bob Marley, and The Cult, a folded world map on which Grace had pinned all the places she dreamed of going. Olivia traced her fingers over the pin marks. So many dreams cut short. They were living their adventure. What happened to you Grace? She pulled out another Bob Marley poster with a cigarette and an old black light. Oh shit she had forgotten how they had written on the walls with a tide pen. A Hello Kitty alarm clock with one broken ear came out next. Why hadn’t she thrown any of this stuff away. Piper had gotten wasted on fireball and nearly assaulted the boy down the hall with poor Kitty when she thought he stole her Playgirl mags. She pulled out a picture of Grace with her bat shit crazy roommate Amy on that stupid purple saucer chair from Target. That thing was fucking uncomfortable. An empty bottle of White Diamonds. She opened it up. Whew, it was still potent enough to induce a headache. In the bottom of the box was the stupid green beer bong Grace had almost drowned her with. It was like opening a time capsule on her life. Her sister had been so happy and vibrant. She was the rainbow at the end of a downpour and now she was gone.

She moved the tote aside, no time for a trip down memory lane, Olivia was on a mission. The next tote was almost all pictures. Maybe this would shed some light onto Grace’s secret life. That smile. Olivia picked up a picture of her sister wearing a white tank top and Guess denim shorts, standing between two hunky guys in the quad. That smile lit up the whole campus. Everywhere Grace went she was the center of the universe. She was the sunshine in a crazy world. Olivia held the picture close for a moment and closed her eyes. I miss you Grace.

There were pictures from sorority events, formals, football games and in her dorm room but nothing to do with Vegas. Olivia flipped through pictures like watching a heartbreaking old movie, one that she knew would end tragically but she couldn’t bring herself to turn it off. Maybe she should take these to the lab and ask one of the techs to take a look. They might see something she was overlooking. Olivia knew she was officially off the case but she still had friends who were on it. She wanted to do everything that could possibly help. She sent a text to Julie from the lab and asked to meet her in the morning to turn over potential evidence.

The next three totes were just filled with clothes. She pulled out sorority shirts, and her puffy North Face jacket. Olivia dumped the clothes out into a pile. It was time to wash these up and take them to the Salvation Army. A dark green fraternity T-shirt landed on the top of the pile. Olivia couldn’t remember seeing her sister wear it. She giggled. It probably belonged to some poor guy who was madly in love with her sister. She picked it up. Kappa Alpha. When she got it close to her face she could still smell some cologne on it. Olivia put it up to her face and inhaled. It was faint, hell it was ten years old but very familiar. Something about it stirred her. If she had known him she definitely would have crushed on this boy.

She refilled her wine glass and pulled the last tote over. Olivia said a silent prayer this one would hold something that would be helpful. Carefully she removed the lid as if valuable evidence might spill out. This one was all sorority related. Piper had done a great job of packing everything up. After Grace’s funeral Olivia had been unable to help with any of the tasks of cleaning out her dorm. She hadn’t even been able to set foot on that campus. She knew Piper had stepped up and helped her mother. Guilt came swimming back up the river of regret. She had let them all down. It was easier to just pull away than to face them. It was cowardly and she was not proud of it. What she wouldn’t give to be able to talk to her mother and tell her how sorry she was.

But that would never happen. Her mother and father were buried next to Grace in Brighton Cemetery. Years of heartache and loneliness had been too much on her mother. The girl’s dad had died of cancer when Olivia was too little to remember. Her mom always said they were all she had. Losing Grace ripped her mother apart. Olivia knew that if she hadn’t been so wrapped up in her own self-pity and guilt she could have been there for her mom. She would solve this for them both. This was her chance to make up for every selfish move she had made. The sorority box contained her Lambda Sigma Delta paddle, flask, clothes, endless pics and her pin box. There were three shoe boxes each containing a killer pair of designer shoes and matching mini bag. Olivia knew she had never seen her sister wear these. How had she afforded these?

There was no way her sister could have bought a Dolce and Gabbana or Gucci purse. Yet here they were. She set the shoe boxes aside and pulled out a small wooden box painted Tiffany blue. The sorority pin box, her sister was so proud of that thing. Olivia opened the box slowly as if she expected it to be there. She stared at the vacancy. She no longer had to wonder where it was. Downtown in a drawer, it lay bagged and tagged in a murder investigation. She started to put it away when a car backfired on the street and scared the holy pee out of her. Olivia dropped the box on the floor. Idiot. She scolded herself and picked it back up. She started to put it away but the lid wouldn’t close right. She opened it again and saw the edge of a piece of paper sticking out of the false bottom. Olivia pried the bottom loose and retrieved a folded piece of paper wrapped around a black and white Harrah’s poker chip and a hotel room key and a folded stack of cash. The paper read simply. 702-555-1212 Forever yours, D. Who the hell was D? The money was in a silver clip with the monogram GW. She opened the clip. Holy. Fuck. They were all thousands. Fucking thousands. There were ten of them folded neat as you please. Were they real? She turned them over and inspected both sides. They looked fucking real. If she searched her whole apartment she would be lucky to come up with three hundred dollars. God Grace. She wanted to yell at her sister and shake her for ever getting mixed up in this.

She stared at the evidence. Well, there it was, her sister had gotten herself into some deep shit. However at the moment she couldn’t say too much for herself either. In the course of a week she had gone from prosecuting attorney to a person of interest in a murder investigation. There was only one thing to do, she needed to go to Vegas and find out exactly what Grace had been up to. Olivia knew that under no circumstances would they approve of her leaving town. She should call Shaver. The safe bet would be to turn over everything she had found, sit tight and let the police do their jobs. That was the smart move. She was an attorney. Her job was to make the safe calculated bet.

She picked up the chip and turned it over in her fingers. An image of standing in a casino tapping nervously on the Roulette table hit her like a brick. In front of her was a stack of hundred dollar chips like the one in her hand. Her heart was racing. There was no turning away now. She fought the nausea and pushed the stack to seven red. All in. She closed her eyes as the wheel began to spin.

Playing by the rules hadn’t gotten her very far. She was sitting alone on the floor of her apartment digging through the life of her sister whose life had lit up the sky like a comet. Something inside her snapped. Years of pain and regret came crashing down and released a fury that she had never let herself experience before. Olivia stood up and threw her wine glass at the faux hearth. She was done playing the victim and living on the defensive. Tonight she was going to take the safety off. She was jumping in with both feet no holding back. Olivia went to the closet and picked out a black lace dress that accentuated each curve. She opened the shoe boxes and selected the bright red strappy Vince Camuto heels and Gucci purse.

She jumped in the shower and embraced the hot water. The excitement of what she was about to do coursed through her. For the first time in a decade she wasn’t letting fear drive every move. She pushed aside the fact that she was scared shitless. No matter what happened in Vegas she was going to get the answers she had spent the last decade looking for. No one was going to stand in her way.

She thought of Dominic. Even the hottest water couldn’t match his touch. She closed her eyes and moaned remembering him standing in this very shower with her. Fuck that man knew her body better than she did. She let her hands move over her breast and squeezed the nipple, thinking of his teeth. She leaned against the cool tile wall and let her other hand move in the soapy water down to her throbbing clit. She remembered him flicking with his tongue and taking her sensitive flesh in his mouth. She rubbed furious circles working herself into a frenzy. She wanted to lose control with him all over again. She could still see his rock hard body wrapped around hers. Fuck, when he picked her up with those muscular arms . . . the wave of orgasm crashed over her so hard she almost didn’t hear her phone ring. Olivia tried to jump out of the shower and slid hopped across the bathroom floor. She grabbed a towel on the way and made it to her phone just before voicemail kicked in.

“Hello . . . Hello . . .” she said breathlessly.

“Wow don’t tell me you were actually exercising Piper mocked. “No, wait, is Dominic there? Did I interrupt you and your super-hot book boyfriend?”

“No.” Olivia laughed. “I was just getting a shower. Alone.” She stressed even though it was only a half truth.

“How did your day go? Did you catch the bad guys?” Piper asked eagerly. Olivia knew Piper just couldn’t help her curiosity.

“Not yet. Actually, Piper, can you keep a secret?” Olivia needed to let someone know where she was going in case something happened. If she failed they would need to know where to look for the body. “I’m going to Vegas to follow a lead. You can’t tell anyone not even Dominic. I just wanted someone to know where I was in case.”

“You’re what?” Piper yelled into the phone. “You shouldn’t go out there by yourself. Who’s going to have your back if something happens.”

“I’ll be fine, Piper. I’m just following up on a lead. I need answers,” Olivia blurted

“Forgive me for saying this, Liv.” Piper began hesitantly as you would talk to someone standing on a ledge. “But isn’t that a job for the police?” Piper was right of course but Olivia couldn’t tell her about being removed from the case. She had to get to Vegas.

“I have this covered. Have a little faith, Piper.” Olivia half laughed to hide her anxiety.

After she hung up with Piper, Olivia slipped on the black dress. Carefully she opened the shoebox with the red strappy heels and put them on.

Olivia stood and looked at her reflection in the full length mirror. They say you can’t judge someone until you walk a mile in their shoes. At least she was damn lucky Grace had some killer shoes. If she could live a day in the secret life of Grace Wilson perhaps she could unravel the mystery of her death. She knew this plan was crazy but she was running out of options and with the new developments in the case, she was running out of time.

No more playing the game by the killer’s rules, it was time to take matters into her own hands. She put on lipstick as deep red as her shoes. Grace Wilson. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Knock them fucking dead.

OLIVIA KNEW THAT the silver haired man in the restaurant was the owner of the charter group they had been investigating. Shaver said his name was David Michaelson. Could he be the “D” from the note? There was only one way to find out. If nothing else, he might be able to help her get a flight to Vegas. At the restaurant he thought she was Grace maybe she could use that to her advantage. She was aware this might prove to be a suicide mission but that was a risk she was willing to take. Grace would never have backed down from this.

She was going to have to move fast to get out of town. Olivia was quite sure that Shaver had put a tail on her partially because she was now a suspect and to keep her from doing anything stupid. He warned her when she left the morgue to stay close and forget the Nancy Drew bullshit. She laughed loudly to her empty apartment. He had no idea just how far she was willing to go. None of them did, but they would soon find out.

Olivia couldn’t go out like this if she was being followed, so she put a lightweight trench style jacket over her dress. She needed to blend in. Then she slipped off the red shoes and put them in her gym bag and put on a pair of sandals. She packed all the cash, the key card, the note, and the poker chip into her purse. For the first time Olivia wished she had taken some kind of weapons training. In the years since Grace’s death she had considered it but felt with the episodes she had it wouldn’t be safe. Now she was walking into the lion’s den unarmed. What ever happened she wanted answers and to put an end to this nightmare.

Before she left Olivia picked up her phone. She started to dial Dominic but hung up. Fuck she wished she met him at a different point in her life. He really was everything she would have asked for in a man and the connection she felt with him was undeniable. She squeezed the phone. Fuck! She couldn’t call. He would try to stop her and no matter how much she wanted him, she wouldn’t drag him into this. He needed to stay safely on his side of the law and she was about to cross every line she had sworn to protect. She tossed the phone in her bag and walked out into the Virginia evening.

One of her neighbors was grilling on their balcony. The smell of steaks permeated the air and made her stomach growl. No time to think about food. For everyone else this was a typical Wednesday evening. While they passed the potatoes or did their laundry she was about to step through the looking glass to the dark secret world of Grace Wilson. If she did come back would she ever be the same?

Olivia climbed into her Audi and backed out of her assigned space. As she pulled through the gate onto Duke Street, she saw the headlights turn on from a dark sedan in the space closest to the gate. The space belonged to Julie, who Olivia knew was away on a cruise. Game on. She didn’t know if it was one of Shaver’s cars or someone else, either way they were playing her game now. No more kid gloves. She reached the stoplight and the car stopped two behind her. There was no way to see who it was. She turned left and the car followed. She needed to stay in public areas in case this wasn’t a police tail. Whoever killed Gwen and Rebecca was here in Norfolk. She thought of the pin. Whoever it was sent her a message with that pin. Every turn she made they followed, always staying two car lengths or so behind her. Olivia felt like a new recruit marching off to war not knowing what to expect except the tall tales of the broken men who had returned home. Now she could hear and feel the battle up ahead. False hope and bravado gave way to fear and anticipation of the very real danger that lie just out of sight.

Olivia drove casually to the third floor of the North Parking Deck of the MacArthur Center Mall and found a single space near a door. She smiled when she realized there were no other open spaces she could see in that area. She locked her cell inside the Audi and entered the mall. It would take her tail a few minutes to park and follow her in. If they came in at all. They might just park by her car and wait. Olivia walked quickly to the Sprint store on that level and bought a prepaid phone with cash and put the phone in her bag. She left and walked directly into Dillard’s. Olivia walked with purpose to the elevator and pushed the buttons for the second and first floor.

As the doors closed she caught a glimpse of two men watching her as they walked down the aisle and pretended to look at housewares. They could be officers as they looked vaguely familiar but Olivia couldn’t tell for sure. Were they tailing her or were they after her? She wasn’t going to stick around to find out. Once the elevator began to move she let out a slow calming breath.

And there she was. Why were elevators always mirrored? She looked at Grace. What the hell did you get yourself into? Olivia loved her sister and would have done anything for her. Whatever Grace had been involved in Olivia would have helped her or at least tried. Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you trust me?

She exited the elevator on the second floor of the department store and slipped into the bathroom of the Aveda Salon. She ditched the rain jacket and sandals in exchange for the heels and Gucci purse. Now what the hell was she going to do with the gym bag? She looked up at the ceiling tiles. Fuck it, she was not Jackie Chan. There was no way she was climbing on a toilet seat without falling in. She stuffed her bag in the large trash bin. She could buy another if she made it back.

Olivia caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and Grace smiled approvingly. She took out the prepaid cell and made the call. “David, this is Grace.”

“Grace.” He drew the word out as if the dark sweetness of its sound revived his soul. “It’s been far too long, love. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Did he really not know that Grace had died ten years ago? Every warning bell in her mind was going off like a six-alarm fire but she wasn’t turning back now. She stilled herself and took a deep breath. “I need you to pick me up.”

“Just name the place.” He encouraged like a spider welcoming the fly.

“Monticello entrance to MacArthur Place,” she answered in Grace’s short cool way. Olivia had watched her work every football player and businessman they had ever crossed paths with. Her heart was racing but she would not let it show. She had to be in control. One wrong move and she would end up buried next to her sister.

“I’ll have a car there in fifteen. Welcome back, baby.” His smooth voice darkened like the sky before a storm.

Olivia hung up and let out a long slow breath. She looked at herself in the mirror. Grace stared back determined. Her eyes were wild and alive. She was always so brave while all Olivia had ever felt was fear. You can do this. She had fifteen minutes to lose her followers and make it to the exit. Olivia reapplied her lipstick and let her dark hair fall down around her shoulders. Showtime.

She glanced out of the bathroom and didn’t see anyone out of the ordinary. She walked calmly through the salon and followed a woman who had just had her hair done to the escalator. The dark haired woman was dressed to the nines in a slate gray dress and black heels. Olivia struck up a conversation with her on the way down. Lady luck was on her side, the woman was going to the same exit to meet her ride. As they walked the woman told her about her anniversary plans. Olivia listened while keeping an eye out for her tail. She hoped that this new look would throw them off. They were looking for one woman wearing casual clothes with a gym bag, not two women dressed for a black-tie affair. When they reached the first floor Olivia saw two uniformed officers standing at the entrance. Fuck! Where they there for her? She stiffened but kept moving. She was going to have to walk right by them. The little red purse almost slipped out of her hand as a fine sheen of sweat broke out. Each step led them closer to the two officers. Stay Calm. Olivia positioned herself so that the woman was between her and the officers. When they got close she kept her head down and slightly turned away like she was digging for something in her purse.

“Hold on a sec,” one of the men said.

Sweet Jesus. Olivia’s heart stopped. She kept her head turned away and gave a silent prayer. She could barely hear his next words over the pounding of her heart.

“Ma’am, you dropped this,” he said bending over to pick something up.

“Oh, thank you so much. You are too kind,” the woman replied. Olivia held her breath. Every second it took the woman to reach out and retrieve her fallen item felt like an hour in the rack. Her heart raced like a rocket toward the sun. At any moment they could see her and it would all be over.

“No problem, ma’am,” he called and by some miracle they were walking again. Relief flooded her and her head swam from holding her breath. Once in the hall, Olivia never looked back. She walked in step with her unwitting conspirator toward the exit.

“It was really nice to meet you, Grace. Have fun on your date night!” The woman said as they reached the glass doors.

“Nice to meet you too, Stephanie. Happy anniversary,” Olivia replied as they parted ways. Once she set foot out those doors there was no going back. She took a breath and pressed the metal lever.

The warm salty air enveloped her on contact. A black town car was sitting by the curb. The rabbit hole awaits, Alice. Despite the torturous sea of emotion that raged on the inside, Olivia walked toward her fate without hesitation. As she got close the tinted window rolled down a crack but not enough to see inside.

“I’ve been expecting you.” The words crawled over Olivia with the familiarity of a recurrent nightmare and caused her body to freeze. Any pretense of calm she possessed melted like a popsicle in June. Before she could say or do anything the door opened.

Turn back. Do not do this. Please for the love of God turn around. It took the power of a Greco-Roman wrestler to squash her inner voice and step into the car.

“Venus,” Olivia breathed as she sat back in the dark leather seat and the car pulled away from the curb. She somehow remembered the silver haired woman. Images from a lifetime ago flooded her mind. She remembered being in a limo with this woman on the way to the casino. Two huge men that looked like gorillas in suits sat opposite them. Venus was laughing and Olivia knew she was about to die. There was no way out of the car . . . no way out.

“Grace,” she began coldly and startled Olivia out of her episode, “I don’t know if you are brave or incredibly fucking stupid. Either way it won’t do you much good.” She slowly drummed long metallic purple nails on the leather armrest. Olivia stared at the black streak in her silver hair for a moment and imagined that the trunk must be full of dead Dalmatian puppies.

Olivia’s mind raced. She was sure she had never met this woman before, yet she knew exactly who she was. Venus Murphy worked for Mr. Michaelson, she was in charge of the girls that worked on the flights. She had come up in part of their investigations but Olivia knew more than her name, it was like she actually remembered her. These are not real flashbacks she reminded herself. This was too important for her to let her overactive imagination and panic episodes take over. Before Olivia could answer Venus continued.

“When David said he saw you at the restaurant I knew it was only a matter of time before you came crawling back. What happened? Did you run out of money?” Venus sneered and opened a silver compact. She took out a tube of deep crimson lipstick and started to apply it.

“I need to get to Vegas,” Olivia replied. This was going to be fucking hard. She might look exactly like Grace but, unfortunately, she didn’t know anything about this part of her life. How the hell was she going to pull off being Grace when she had no fucking clue what was going on.

“You’re crazier than I thought.” She laughed. “The plane is already waiting, David had them get it ready the moment you called, but if I were you I wouldn’t set foot in Vegas.” Venus narrowed her gazed and leaned in. “Did you really think you could steal from the devil without unleashing all the powers of hell?

OLIVIA LOOKED OUT the window as the plane taxied the runway. Would she ever see Norfolk again? The more involved with this she became the less likely that seemed. Her sister’s secret world was a sadistic onion, each layer a little more fucked up than the last. The plane reached the end of the runway and the wheels lifted off the ground. The charter contained several high rollers all headed to Vegas on the plush plane to gamble away their lives. A short five-hour flight to paradise or hell depending on how you looked at it.

Olivia’s body lurched into weightlessness briefly. She had an image of herself under the water, weightless, looking up. Someone was holding her under, their hands around her neck. Olivia struggled as she had so many times before. She fought back, desperate to get free. She cried out and water flooded her mouth and scorched her lungs.

“Your chardonnay.” A young woman in a black stewardess uniform with a gold sash around her neck interrupted her thoughts. Olivia looked around the plane startled and unaware of how much time had passed. The episodes were becoming more frequent and intense. She had to get a hold of herself. Whatever was waiting for her in Vegas was going to require every ounce of concentration and luck she could get.

“Thank you.” Olivia took the glass and held it. Venus said she had been expecting her. For the first time Olivia realized she may be walking into a trap. She looked at the other patrons on the plane. None of them looked familiar.

Venus had brought her directly to the tarmac and dropped her off at the hangar. She cursed herself for leaving her phone behind. Maybe she should have called Dominic before she came out here. There was no going back now. Venus had made her hand over the prepaid phone in the car. Fuck that was stupid. She had jumped into the rabbit hole and was in free fall.

“Can I get you anything else?” the young woman asked and Olivia noticed the gold pin over her left breast. Her blond hair was pulled back in a professional updo.

“No, thank you,” Olivia said. Then nodded at her pin and asked, “Lambda Sigma Delta?”

“Absolutely!” The perky naïve girl answered back with a smile her clueless parents had paid thousands for. How would they feel if they knew their princess was a paid escort running drugs for the fucking devil?

“Nice,” Olivia replied. “My . . . er um . . . I, was a Lambda Sigma Delta at Brown.”

“Get out!” She squealed. “I go to Brown! My name is Cammie I’m just down here for the summer. This job is too good to pass up, you know.”

Just then the pilot announced that there would be some turbulence and everyone should remain seated with their seat belts fastened. The stewardess looked at her with wide eyes. “Do you mind if I sit in this seat?” She pointed at the empty one next to Olivia.

“Sure why not,” Olivia said and downed her chardonnay. Cammie sat down and buckled her belt as tightly as possible. Maybe lady luck was on her side again. “I worked on this same crew ten years ago.” Olivia tested the water. Maybe Cammie could give her some insight on just what the fuck was going on.

“Oh, wow. That’s about the time they started The Roulette Dolls isn’t it?” Cammie asked suddenly beaming. “Were you in one of the first groups?”

Shit, Olivia didn’t fucking know. “Yeah, it was around that time. I’m sure things have gotten a lot more organized though. You girls probably have this down to a science by now.”

The plane began to bounce around the sky like a five-year-old on a trampoline. The pilot’s voice came back over the speaker reassuring them that it was just turbulence and everything would be okay. Olivia looked at the couple across the aisle. The man seemed to be praying, his wife was taking a Xanax and swallowing it down with a martini. Cammie looked like she was about to cry. “Are you okay?” Olivia asked the young girl. “You look scared to death. You guys experience stuff like this all the time up here, right?”

“I don’t know,” she answered her lip trembling. “This is only my second flight. The last one went really smooth. I just got recruited.”

“I see. So how does the program work now?” Olivia tried again.

“You know you hear rumors when you first go through selection but no one ever really talks about it. Then last month I was recruited by my big when she found out I didn’t have any plans for the summer. She said she thought I had what it took to become one of The Roulette Dolls.”

A sudden image of fighting with Grace in a hotel room flooded her conscious. They were both yelling. Olivia called her a whore and a liar. Grace was screaming right back. The plane jerked hard to the right and Olivia caught her breath. She couldn’t ever remember fighting with her sister like that. What the hell was going on? Olivia hoped like hell she would be able to find out before it was too late.

“So how do you like being a Doll so far?” she asked Cammie and forced a smile.

“Other than this,” she motioned at the shaking plane, “it’s been great! I mean you party with college boys anyway for nothing other than maybe a few free drinks. With this we get paid to be stewardesses on the plane then when we get to Vegas we hang out with high rollers, get free food, drinks, and a room. We’re not hookers. You can do anything you want with whoever you want. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and if one of the high rollers gives us money, it’s ours to keep. Then we are stewardesses again on the way home. Venus is amazing. She has a car waiting for us at the airport both ways. We don’t even have to mess with our own bags. They take care of everything.” She gushed and the plane settled back down.

I bet they do, Olivia thought. She needed to let Shaver know about the luggage. These girls could be trafficking drugs and not even know it. “Sounds like The Dolls have come a long way,” Olivia observed as Cammie stood up to get back to work.

Only an hour until she landed. Olivia needed a game plan. She had to play along until she found out who was involved with her sister’s murder and why. Had her sister found out what they were up to with the drugs? Maybe like Cammie her sister thought that this was just a fun innocent summer job and got caught up with the money. Olivia racked her brain with every possibility though she could hear the psychiatrist telling her the what if game brought on her episodes. She had to think about something else for the duration of this flight.

Her thoughts drifted back to Dominic. Would she ever see him again? Olivia closed her eyes. She could taste his sweet cinnamon mouth. She wondered how he was doing on the lead he was following and how he would react when he found out she was gone?

THE PLANE LANDED at McCarran International Airport at seven thirty Vegas time. Olivia had drifted off to sleep.

“Grace . . . Grace.” Cammie shook her shoulder to wake her up.

“Grace is dead,” Olivia mumbled and tried to go back to sleep. She pulled the small airline blanket up over her head.

“Nice try, Grace, but we have to get off this plane. The driver is waiting to take us to the hotel,” Cammie urged a little louder.

Olivia picked up her head suddenly aware of what she had just said. The plane was empty except for Cammie and another stewardess. They were both laughing.

“I’m sorry,” Olivia said quickly. “I guess I fell asleep.”

“Yeah, you did,” Cammie exclaimed laughing. “And did you know you talk in your sleep? I don’t know who Dominic is but I’d like to,” she said and raised her eyebrows.

“Oh, jeez.” Olivia planted her face in her palm and hoped that’s all she talked about.

“Come on, sleeping beauty, it’s time for a reunion Dolls style.” She giggled and escorted Olivia off the plane. A jet black limo party bus awaited them on the tarmac. They walked over and climbed inside the rolling club. Holy fuck. All the high rollers were already seated down the sides on plush black leather benches. The music was pumping and a third Doll was helping the bartender serve them drinks. The floor was illuminated fluorescent purple and the mirrored ceiling projected a light show. She counted twenty-three patrons not including the Dolls. Two couples but the rest were men. The Dolls started doing shots with the guys as they drove. Olivia could tell this was going to get out of hand quick but what the hell was she going to do?

Cammie brought her a shot. “Here, Grace! Join the party!” She thrust the drink in Olivia’s hand. Shit. Olivia needed to stay focused.

“I can’t. Not right now,” Olivia protested.

“Come on, Grace!” Cammie squealed. “You’re in Vegas! Live a little! Come on everybody Grace was one of the original Dolls but I think she forgot how to party!”

“Grace . . . Grace . . . Grace . . .” The increasingly rowdy crowd chanted.

“One shot.” Olivia consented. She had to stay in character. Hell Grace would have drained the bottle by now but that was ten years ago. This Grace was more grown up she told herself. Olivia took the shot and downed it. Fuck. Tequila. Oh it burned every millimeter of her recently intubated throat.

One of the Dolls started dancing and swung around one of the two floor to ceiling stripper poles. Olivia had never in her life seen a bus like this. As the party rolled on toward The Strip and Harrah’s Cammie handed her another shot. “This one’s a little smoother,” she cooed.

This time Olivia didn’t protest. It was smoother. The sweet familiar liquid took her back in time. “Mmmm now that’s good.”

“It’s a Doll favorite!” Cammie exclaimed. “We call it . . .”

“All In.” Olivia finished. Grace’s drink. Was this demented party her sister’s legacy? Olivia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Yeah you know it? Wait of course you do! You were probably there back when it was invented. Shit this is amazing!” Cammie cheered and poured her another.

And you were probably wearing pigtails and playing with Barbie’s. Olivia felt suddenly old and downed the next drink without thinking twice. It was just getting dark when the party bus pulled onto The Strip. The entire place was lit up like Christmas on acid. Olivia wondered what this place looked like from space and if the sun ever got jealous. Every manor of human and questionably human walked down the packed street. It was like one giant night club where the party never ended.

They pulled into the grand entrance of Harrah’s which looked like a great swan Mardi Gras float with the King of Mardi Gras beckoning her to enter. The party bus stopped and everyone got out. Immediately, valet workers descended upon the vehicle and started unloading luggage.

“Whatever bags you have will be delivered to your room,” Cammie instructed as she ushered the patrons to a special VIP desk to register and get their room keys. “Grace, do you have a reservation? They can get you here at the VIP desk as well.”

“No, I don’t have a reservation. This was a last-minute trip,” Olivia replied. She stepped up to the desk. “I need a room for one.”

“Any preferences?” the woman in a dark suit jacket and white blouse asked.

“No any room will be fine.” Olivia tapped nervously on her purse. If she had to pay for the room with her credit card she would have to give her real name. Shit, she hadn’t thought this through.

“Name?” the clerk asked poised in front of the computer ready to key in her information.

“Grace Wilson.” Olivia answered hesitantly.

The woman typed her name in the computer. “I’ll just need your ID,” she said and hit enter. Olivia started to sweat. Shit what was she going to do? Almost immediately the phone at the desk rang.

“Yes, sir,” the woman said and her eyes widened. “Yes, yes, sir . . . I will, sir.” She hung up the phone and promptly started processing room keys. “Your favorite suite is ready, Ms. Wilson. I’m very sorry for any inconvenience. Here are your keys.”

Olivia looked from the woman to Cammie puzzled, as she took the keys. “Thank you, no problem at all,” she answered. The alcohol was starting to swim through her bloodstream. Olivia wanted to get to her room and figure out her next step. She walked with Cammie toward the bank of elevators. As soon as they stepped in the elevator Olivia opened the key card envelope praying the woman wrote down the room number to her “favorite” suite.

“All of the suites in the Valley Tower have been remodeled,” Cammie instructed, “So don’t freak out if you don’t recognize it. They are absolutely beautiful now! The girls and I stay in them with high rollers as often as possible.”

Olivia wanted to caution her about using protection but stopped. Tonight she was Grace Wilson, carefree explorer of all things dark and dirty. While Cammie was rambling on about the modifications to the hotel Olivia closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall. This was her first trip to Vegas but she couldn’t help feeling like she had been here before. They reached the twenty-fourth floor on the express elevator in a little over a minute. Olivia opened her eyes as the doors opened. She stepped into the long hallway. Whew. Either the speed of the elevator or the vodka made the swirl pattern in the hall carpet swim. She reached her room, there were small nameplates outside the room on either side. One read 24012 the other read Grace Amore Executive Suite.

“Whoa,” Cammie said quietly. “It’s actually named after you. Can I come in and see it?”

“Sure, why not. Knock yourself out.” Olivia swiped the key and held the door for Cammie. “Since they have remodeled it probably looks like all the others.” Olivia walked into the room and her heart shattered into a million pieces. Everything about the room screamed Grace. The whole room from the gold drapes and stark white walls to the GW pattern in the white carpet were a tribute to her sister.

The room had been redecorated but Olivia knew she had been here before. She had stood in this very room. She had fought with Grace in this spot. The words still hung thick in the air and cut her to ribbons. How could she have forgotten being here? The exquisite room spun around her and transported her back to that fateful night. Olivia had found out about Grace’s double life and followed her out here. Grace was working as a roulette dealer here in Vegas. She was a fucking escort. All that money. Shit, Olivia remembered calling her a whore. Grace had slapped her. Olivia stepped back and told her she hated her and wished she was fucking dead.

“Wow!” Cammie was almost reverent as she slowly walked through the space like a tourist at Madame Tussauds. Her words pulled Olivia back to the posh suite. “None of the other suites look like this.” Olivia followed her. No this was all Grace. The living area contained a bright red Persian style couch with gold accents and pillows. There were two contrasting chairs equally as exquisite and over the top. The couch legs, the coffee tables and even the bar were all done in mahogany so dark it was almost black. A large filigree mirror and side table were a brilliant gold that must have come straight from a castle in France. Fresh red roses were everywhere. There was one deep red accent wall that contained a white wooden fireplace with black onyx inset and gold trim. Above it was a huge black and white photo of Grace laughing, holding a vivid red rose.

Olivia couldn’t take her eyes off her. God, what she would give to see her again, to hear that laugh. Cammie was still walking through the suite oohing and ahhing over the crystal chandelier in the red bathroom but Olivia couldn’t move, standing here in this space was too much. Her sister was all around her. It was as if whoever created this shrine transformed parts of her sister into each element. It couldn’t be more Grace if she had designed it herself. Olivia brought trembling fingers up to her face and started to cry. Grace, I’m so sorry.

The phone began to ring but Olivia ignored it. Cammie came in from the bathroom and picked it up. “Grace Wilson’s room!” she answered with the excitement of a star struck teenager. Then her voice dropped. “Yes, sir.”

“Grace, it’s for you. It’s Luca.” Cammie held out the vintage French Victorian rotary phone. Olivia turned and almost laughed. Her sister had wanted one of those for most of their childhood. Olivia wiped tears that would not stop and picked up the phone.

“Where have you been, love?” he asked in a British baritone that was smooth and clear and rolled through her like a breeze through the mountaintops.

“What is all this?” Olivia fought back the tears. There was something so familiar about his voice, something she couldn’t place. Olivia was sure she didn’t know anyone from Britain. At least not anyone who sounded like that.

“I knew you would return to me. I kept everything just as you left it.” His eagerness for her approval poured through every word.

“I . . .” Olivia struggled for words. How could she tell him, she wasn’t who he thought she was. She wasn’t the love he longed for.

“Come to me, Grace. Meet me by the roulette table where we first met,” he implored her and though she didn’t know him in the least his longing and emptiness mirrored her own. He knew the painful silence without Grace’s laughter in the room.

A shiver ran through her. Was he toying with her? Did he know her sister had died? If he loved her so much how could he not know? They called him the Devil. Would she really walk into his lair? Is that not what she came for? Olivia had left everything of herself behind and walked in unarmed. What else had she forgotten? Perhaps she knew all along on some unconscious level this was where she was going.

“I’m on my way.” She hung up the phone before he could say another word and turned to Cammie. She realized he could see everything she did. She wondered if he could hear her too?

“Cammie, would you like to take a walk with me?” Olivia asked. Before she walked blindly into the darkness she had a few things she needed to do.

“Sure. Grace this room is amazing. I had no idea you knew Luca Carlisle. I mean look at this room! You’re the girl who broke his heart aren’t you? You are a legend. You started The Dolls.” Cammie was as wide-eyed as a child. “Here I was explaining how it all works to you. I feel so stupid.”

“Not at all. I’ve been gone so long it’s all foreign to me,” Olivia answered as they walked back to the elevator. She didn’t have any idea where this was going and it scared the hell out of her. Why couldn’t she remember more? She knew fighting with her sister wasn’t a hallucination. It was a dream she had too many times in the last ten years. Walking into that room she knew it was real. Going down the elevator Olivia stared at Grace and searched for answers. I miss you more than any breath I take. What happened to us?

When they reached the ground floor and stepped into the noisy lobby she turned to Cammie and asked, “May I use your phone? I must have left mine on the plane.”

“Sure,” Cammie replied and handed it to her and pointed to a group of Dolls by the casino entrance. “I’ll be right over there.”

“Thanks,” Olivia answered and looked at the phone. She had to have answers. Piper had been her best friend at the time. There had to be more than what she could remember.

“Piper,” Olivia started and her voice broke. “Did you know about Vegas?”

“Oh, honey.” The fall in Piper’s voice said more than her words ever could. “Hang tight. I’m on my way, okay.”

“To Vegas? What the hell?” Olivia struggled to breath. What the fuck was going on?

“I got a flight when I talked to you before. I’m just about to board the plane. I’ll be there soon. Where are you?” The concern in Piper’s voice frightened her.

“I’m staying at Harrah’s. What aren’t you telling me, Piper? What the fuck don’t I remember? What the hell happened here?” Olivia was trying not to yell. She felt like she was losing her mind.

“Oh, Jesus. Just stay in your room and don’t talk to anyone. There is a lot about your sister you just blocked out. When your mom was alive she said the doctor called it selective amnesia. Just stay put, okay. I’ll be there in just a few hours. Try to take a nap and I’ll be there when you wake up,” Piper instructed. “You need to call and check in with Dominic. He is losing his mind looking for you.”

“Not now. There are some things I have to do,” she told Piper. “My room is 24012.”

“Fuck, Olivia. Don’t stay there. Just . . . listen to me.” Piper was still talking when Olivia hung up. She needed to know what the hell was going on. What were they protecting her from? Olivia was done hiding behind her kid gloves. She was about to walk into hell and dine with the devil himself but she needed to know everything.

OLIVIA DECIDED TO try Dominic. She only reached his voicemail. She started to hang up but decided to leave a message. She walked over to the group of girls and handed Cammie back her phone. “I’ll check in with you ladies a little later. I have some business to take care of.”

“Good luck,” Cammie said smiling. She knew nothing of the dark side of the business she was involved in. Olivia wanted to send Cammie home to the protected world of her family but she knew better. Looking at Cammie she saw her sister. Ten years ago, the young and beautiful girl was still carefree and embraced every opportunity. Now Grace lay six feet under along with Gwen and Rebecca. How many more women were involved?

“Thanks, you too,” Olivia replied knowing the girl would need it.

She turned and walked into the lively casino. The bells and whistles of gaming machines along with the voices of the crowd created an excited rumble. The room was well ventilated but still smelled of smoke and whiskey. She wandered through the players until she found the table games. There it was, the roulette table. She stood frozen watching the movie play from her twisted memories. She saw her sister running the table. A broad man in a dark suit stood watching her with a brandy in his hand. He moved a giant stack of chips on to lucky seven. When all the bets were in her delicate hand spun the wheel. The little bouncing ball flung through the air, rolled and then bounced from one spot to the next. When it came to rest on seven the crowd gave a cheer. The man pulled Grace to him and kissed her hard on the mouth. To Olivia’s horror her sister had kissed him back.

“Grace.” The heavy British voice startled her. The broad man was standing behind her. She turned around to face the giant of a man. The Devil. “My darling,” he said taking her in his arms and kissed her deeply. Olivia sputtered shocked by the sudden taste of cigars and brandy. He set her down and stared at her quizzically. “Grace?” He stepped back staring at her searching for an answer. “You’re not her, are you? What’s going on here?”

Olivia’s heart stopped. How did he know from just one kiss? She looked up at him helplessly. “No, I’m not.”

“But you look . . . just like her,” he said softly and then pain and anger flashed across his face. His eyes darkened and he looked at her as if she had betrayed him in the most cruel way. “Who are you then and what are you doing here? Where is Grace?”

“My name is Olivia. Grace was my sister. She died and I am trying to piece together what happened to her.” She realized there was no point in lying now. If he knew her sister well enough to tell them apart by one kiss lying wasn’t going to help her. “I don’t want to cause any trouble. I’m just looking for answers.”

“She what?” He paled and took a step back. “Come with me.” He took her by the arm and half drug her to a private room off the side of the main casino floor. Once they were alone he asked again. “What happened to Grace?”

Olivia looked around. She was alone with the gorilla of a man. She swallowed hard. “Grace died, she was murdered.” As she spoke the color fully drained from his face and he slumped into a chair.

“When . . .” He was staring at the ceiling. “How?”

“Ten years ago,” Olivia blurted. “She was brutally murdered when we were in college. She’s been gone ten years.” How could he have loved her as much as he seemed to and not know.

“That’s impossible.” He cocked his head and looked at her as if she was either completely crazy or trying to pull something over on him. “Grace is mine. We have an arrangement of sorts but she went missing four months ago and I would give anything to get her back.”

“You are lying. I saw my sister’s body ten years ago. She was murdered,” Olivia cried and stepped back. “I still see it every time I close my eyes.” Olivia was shaking. He was lying. He had to be lying. There was some kind of mistake.

“I never knew Grace even had a sister let alone an identical twin. My God you could be the same girl. Your skin is clammy are you sure you are okay? Did you hit your head or something? Maybe I should call the doctor.” His brows knitted in concern. His look reminded her of Shaver’s when she was doing something foolish.

“I don’t need a doctor I need to find out what happened to my sister. I think she was involved with a group that transported high rollers here via charter plane.” Olivia was careful not to mention the drugs or the prostitution. If he was involved the last thing she wanted to do was to make him think he was under investigation.

“The Dolls,” he said laughing “I don’t think she’s been directly involved with them in years. That’s how I met your sister.” He sat back lit a cigar and motioned for her to have a seat. Olivia pulled up a chair. She knew better than to believe anything this man told her but maybe he would say something that could help her figure out what happened.

“I was thirty-one at the time,” he began, “and I had just taken over here at Harrah’s. The first time I saw Grace, she was operating the roulette table. I was compelled to play. Now as an owner I couldn’t keep anything I won, nor did I need to. I just wanted to be near her. The way she moved. Her subtle knowing smile.” He took a deep breath. “You are so much like her. Looking at you I can’t help feeling I am talking to her. She was the most beautiful girl that ever walked into my life. The sun shone for her alone. The moon worshiped her jealously. I fell hopelessly in love with her.”

Olivia closed her eyes. She recalled his voice. She could see the roulette wheel spin and hear her sister’s laughter. For a brief moment Olivia had a memory of working the table. She remembered calling that all bets were in and spinning the wheel. That was so long ago. She shook her head. Was she just imagining that?

“Night after night I came to watch her work. The magical way she pulled every player at her table under her spell has never been matched. They were drawn back no matter how much they lost. Like moths to her flame she was the most addictive drug. Over time my jealousy became a monster that I could not control. I didn’t want her out on the floor for all to see. I wanted her to be only mine, to love only me. I begged her to love me. I took her around the world. I gave her a thousand sunrises and a thousand sunsets. She was a perfect light and all the darkness wrapped up in one.” He closed his eyes and tilted his head up as if he could still feel the warm light of her presence on his face. When he opened his eyes Olivia could see him fighting back tears. “No matter how I tried to keep her she was a flame that I couldn’t hold onto. She could never be happy with just one man, one life.”

Olivia smiled. “That’s Grace. She was always the center of every room without even trying. I was more than happy to admire her from my quiet place in her shadow.”

He looked her up and down. “You don’t look like a shadow now. You look as vibrant and beautiful as your sister. I believe I bought her those shoes and that purse. When I first met her.” He swallowed and tears filled his eyes. “God it’s been forever ago but I cherish every moment like it was yesterday.”

“Ten years ago.” Olivia finished accusingly. “Did you know she was still in college then? She was just a girl.”

“She was. But she already ruled the world. That first year she was still in college going back and forth to campus. She drove me mad. I hated not seeing her, not knowing what she was up to. Who she was with. Then that boy came here after her and I nearly lost my mind.” Anger flashed like wildfire in his dark eyes. “There have been other men who came and went over the years but that boy was so fucking determined to take her back home. He stormed in here all junior detective, ranting accusations.”

“That was ten years ago?” Olivia sat up suddenly interested. “Maybe a college boyfriend sick with jealousy?” She didn’t believe for one minute that her sister had been hiding here all these years. She had seen her body with her own eyes. It had fucking haunted her for a decade. She knew every intimate detail by broken heart. But if this boy came here looking for her. Maybe he was involved with her death or at least knew something about it.

“He was desperate. Stormed through the casino looking for her. You had to admire his passion misplaced as it was. But the green-eyed monster in me could not tolerate him for a minute. I threw him out and banned him from the casino for life.” His eyes flew open wide. ““Fuck. He was here.” He stood up and walked over to the phone on the wall like he was going to put out a fire. He jerked the phone off its cradle. “Get Mickey on the phone. Now,” he growled.

“When was he here? Who? The boy?” Olivia asked puzzled.

“He’s not a boy anymore,” Luca said darkly. “He was here maybe six months ago. Maybe a little more. When he tried to get in it triggered the lifetime ban and security alerted me.”

Luca began to talk to someone on the phone. If she could get a name of the young suitor Olivia could track him down. That is if Luca didn’t get to him first. She suspected Luca had a very dark side. You don’t get a nickname like the Devil without some element of evil. She could see how her sister had been mad for him. He was broad and tall but not obese. Grace never could resist a bad boy but this was a very bad man. Olivia imagined her sister would have been as in love with him as he was with her. What had happened? Had he become so jealous he killed her with those massive hands? Or had her young lover desperate and crazy knowing he was losing her to this man taken drastic measures to keep her for himself, in death if not in life.

“Thank you,” he said and hung up. “I’ve got it. Let’s see if you can recognize the fucker. Maybe you have seen him before.” He pulled up a screen on the wall with the push of a button and then used a control panel to pop the images onto the screen. At first Olivia sat speechless then she struggled to find air. She felt like she had been thrown into outer space. Airless and weightless her head began to spin. It couldn’t be. This was some kind of sick joke.

“You are a sick bastard,” she spat. “This isn’t funny. I don’t know what kind of sick fucking game you are playing. Did you kill her and now what, you’re going to toy with me like a cat with a mouse?”

“What the hell are you talking about? You don’t know anything about me. I love your sister and I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.” His voice boomed through the room. “We need to talk to this guy.” He waved his hand toward the screen. There on the wall were two drivers licenses one from 2006 one from 2016 both belonged to Dominic Kain. Olivia slumped back into the chair. All the love she had felt in her life, all the hope she had finally begun to feel again hung in catastrophic destruction on the wall. Dominic was in love with her sister.

“This has to be wrong. Please.” She tried to fight the tears but couldn’t fight them another fucking minute. Suddenly Olivia flashed back to the fight with her sister.

THEY WERE IN Grace’s hotel room. Olivia had come to Vegas to bail Grace out of jail for suspected prostitution and possession of drug paraphernalia. Grace didn’t want their mother to know. Once they got back to the hotel. Olivia saw Grace working the roulette table and kissing Luca.

“You are in way over your head,” Olivia yelled at her twin. “That man is twice your age and now you’re doing drugs. What the hell Grace? What has gotten into you?”

“Oh go back to your preppy little school and stick your nose back in a fucking book,” Grace spat and poured herself an obscene amount of Grey Goose. She hardly bothered with the pretense of cran. “You don’t get to come down here to my life and fucking judge me.”

“What about school?” Olivia shot back. “What about your dreams? You are going to get kicked out if you don’t get back on track.”

Grace laughed wildly. “Shows how fucking attentive you are. I already did. They fucking kicked me out last month.”

Olivia couldn’t believe her ears. “What? Why? What happened, Grace.” Olivia tried to reach out and put her hand on her twin’s shoulder but Grace pushed her away.

“You are a fucking joke, Liv. What do you think I got kicked out for, drinking, drugs, you name it. You weren’t exactly a princess yourself last summer.”

“That was summer break and no one got arrested. Besides we were drinking and waiting tables not doing drugs,” Olivia shot back

“Speak for yourself, cupcake. I learned a great deal about the business last summer. I’m a lot fucking smarter than that school gives me credit for. Well, fuck them I have my own business and I’m doing just fine.” She sneered and waved her hands around the suite.

“So dealing drugs and being some guys whore is your idea of—” Olivia felt the crack of Grace’s hand on her face before she could even finish her words. Hot tears stung her eyes and she stepped back.

“You’ve always been jealous of me,” Grace yelled coming toward her. “Always. Every party every fucking boy. They were all about me not you. Hell you wouldn’t have even been invited if it wasn’t for me.”

“You’re nothing but a selfish bitch.” Olivia stood her ground. “You lied to Mom. You lied to me. All you care about is your own fucking happiness. That’s all you’ve ever cared about.”

Grace lunged at Olivia and began trying to choke her. Their arms being the same length Olivia reached up and grabbed Grace by the throat also. The two girls fought until Grace tripped over the edge of the glass coffee table and they fell into it sending glass shards everywhere.

“Get out!” Grace screamed before Olivia could collect herself. “Get the fuck out of my life!”

Olivia was stunned. Grace was bleeding, she had hit the table first. Grace pushed Olivia off onto the floor.

“Grace, you’re hurt,” Olivia started.

“I said get the fuck out.” Grace stood up, stumbled then made it to the door. Holding on for support she opened it for Olivia. “Go, Liv, and don’t come back.”

Olivia made it to the elevator and then collapsed back against the wall. In a heap of tears she slid to the floor and waited for it to open. Her heart broke like a supernova, a great star shattering in one final titanic explosion sending millions of fragments out into space.

“OLIVIA . . . OLIVIA . . .” Luca stood over her. He held a damp cloth to her forehead. “Come on, sweet girl.”

Slowly Olivia got her bearings. What the hell? She looked around the room confused at first. Luca knelt beside her. He had laid her down on the couch. Gently he wiped her forehead with a cool cloth.

“I was here,” she whispered.

“When? Just rest.” He soothed and smoothed her hair.

“Ten years ago. The day Grace died. I bailed her out of jail and we had a fight in her room and she threw me out. I was here.”

“Olivia, Grace didn’t die that day. I promise you,” Luca insisted

Olivia pulled away. Luca, we had her funeral. She was buried. She died.”

“Where is she buried?” he asked shaking his head as if she had lost her mind.

“She’s . . . I . . .” Olivia searched her consciousness for an answer. “I . . . don’t . . .” Why the hell couldn’t she think where the fuck her sister was buried. What the hell was going on? Olivia began to breathe hard. Not now. She didn’t have time for this now.

“Olivia let’s call that doctor, shall we,” he offered, sympathy filling his eyes.

“Wait no. I’m not lying. I have a sister. Her name was Grace. She died ten years ago.” Olivia started to rock back and forth.

“My darling. It’s going to be okay.

WHEN OLIVIA AWOKE she was in the softest four poster bed she had ever slept in. It was like a pile of pillows resting on a cloud. Piper, Luca and a man in a dress shirt and dark pants stood just outside the room talking in low voices. Through the open doorway Olivia could see the man was wearing a stethoscope around his neck. They had called a doctor. She wondered when Piper had arrived and how long she had been out.

“Piper,” Olivia called out weakly and tried to sit up. Wow she was woozy. What the hell? Her head hurt like crazy. Piper rushed into the room.

“Hey, Liv. Quite the day huh?” Piper sat in the chair beside the bed. “The doctor says you are going to be okay but they may need to admit you for a few days.”

Olivia tried again to sit up. She swayed and back down she went. “Something’s wrong,” she protested.

“Don’t worry. The doctor gave you a little sedative to help you calm down and rest. Just lay back, sweetheart. Everything is going to be okay.” Piper gently soothed and held her hand.

“Is this the hospital? I don’t want to be admitted. I have to finish this case. Luca said that Grace—” Olivia blurted but Piper interrupted.

“Shhhh . . . calm down . . . We are in Mr. Carlisle’s suite here at the hotel. He called Dr. Ferguson, to come check on you. You were hysterical downstairs and they had to give you some medication. He will come talk with you in a minute but he said with your history he would like to transfer you to the hospital until they can be sure you are stable.”

“My history? What are you talking about?” Olivia wrestled with the sheets and forced herself to focus. “I have panic attacks but I’ve been dealing with those since Grace’s death.”

“Sweetheart, I’m not trying to upset you.” Piper spoke as you would to a three-year-old on the verge of a tantrum. “They took such good care of you at Rawson before.”

“Rawson? What is that?” Olivia questioned as she racked her memory for some clue to what Piper was talking about.

“Darling, you spent some time there almost ten years ago. Don’t you remember any of it? I understand though that was a hard time for all of us. Everyone was so worried about you.” Piper squeezed her hand. “I will never forget the day they pulled you out of the water . . .” Piper’s voice broke.

“Piper, you know I don’t swim. I wouldn’t go anywhere near the water,” Olivia protested. As she spoke the sensation of being weightless in the depths of Lake Mead enveloped her. Lost in the darkness with only shreds of moonlight escaping through the clouds, she was screaming for help but none came. “Damn it! I am a lawyer. Why can’t I make sense of these dreams or memories, or whatever the hell they are.”

“Ok . . . No need to get upset . . .” Piper tried again.

“I could not possibly be more upset.” Olivia reached out and grabbed Piper’s arm to steady herself. Piper backed up as if Olivia was trying to hurt her. Olivia continued, “Someone’s potentially framing me for murder, my dead sister may not be dead, and my boyfriend was madly in love with my twin fucking sister before she died . . . or didn’t die. Fuck! I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on and you all think I’m fucking crazy!”

Luca and Dr. Ferguson rushed into the room. Luca pried Piper from her grip and held her hand. Dr. Ferguson reached in his bag and pulled out another vial. “No!” she yelled and tried to get away. “Please don’t give me anymore medication. I need to have a clear head. Please! I’ll calm down I promise.” Olivia tried to wriggle out of Luca’s monstrous grip. The doctor stuck a syringe in the vial and pulled up the medication.

“Please . . . Piper . . . Luca . . . Don’t do this. Please!” Olivia begged. Piper looked away and started to cry.

“I can’t bear to see her like this again.” Piper sniffled and walked toward the door.

“Piper! Wait!” Olivia started to hyperventilate. Not now. She had to stay in control. She felt the room getting smaller. “Luca.” She turned and met his eyes. “Please Luca. Don’t put me in the hospital. Tell him I don’t need any more medicine. Could someone call Detective Shaver or the Norfolk, Virginia District Attorney’s office.”

Luca’s face was pinched into a sad grimace as he held her in a firm but tender grip. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, darling. Everything is going to be all right now. Dr. Ferguson is just trying to help you get some sleep. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Olivia’s mouth went dry and her heart felt like it was beating all over the place making the room spin. Her feet and fingertips began to tingle. Her breaths came in short labored gasps. Dr. Ferguson wiped her skin with a cool alcohol pad. The sting of the needle was followed by a burning sensation that started in her arm and became a warming that spread throughout her body like plunging into a pool of warm bourbon. Her body and breathing relaxed. Olivia knew all this was wrong. She knew she had to get . . . out . . . of . . .

THE ROOM WAS dark when she came to. She looked around cautiously. She was still in the room with the four-poster bed. She didn’t know what was going on but she knew she had to get out of here. She was not about to get locked in some mental hospital. She needed to get out of this hotel and get a hold of her boss and Detective Shaver. They would be able to help her figure out what the hell was going on. She knew that she was going to be in some serious shit for leaving town but she would take that over this any day of the week. Olivia quietly sat up. Her head swam and she held onto one of the bed posts. Each movement felt like she was walking on the deck of a boat in rough seas.

She was thankful that they hadn’t already transferred her to the hospital. Now she just had to figure a way out before they came back. She stood holding firm to the post. Each move she made, Olivia paused and listened for the phone to ring as it had earlier when Luca was watching her. So far so good. She arranged the pillows in her bed to look like her form and covered them with the blanket. Her shoes were sitting beside the dresser on floor. She slid along the wall for support, grabbed her shoes and moved to the door of her room. She could hear the TV in the next room. Olivia moved silently to where she could see the living area. Piper was asleep on the couch with a chenille throw over her legs. A half empty bottle of wine and an empty room service container sat on the coffee table. The single Waterford glass was still a quarter full. She prayed Piper had drank enough to be in a deep sleep. Olivia moved one step at a time through the dim living room. She could see the door just fifteen feet away. She held onto furniture and the walls to keep from falling. When she was about three feet from the door she stumbled over a small statue of a Yorkshire terrier. She flew forward and grabbed onto the doorframe. Her heart pounded so loud she could barely hear Piper snort and then return to mouth breathing. Olivia stayed perfectly still for several tense moments listening. Piper’s breathing evened out and Olivia grabbed the handle of the door, unlocked the deadbolt and prayed as she turned the handle. She eased the door open in a slow steady motion that allowed a stream of light from the hallway to filter into the dark space. She stopped just short of the light reaching the sleeping figure of her friend. Piper never moved. Carefully Olivia looked out into the hall. Other than a discarded room service cart the hall was empty.

She slipped into the hall and eased the door closed behind her. She knew she wouldn’t have much time before she was discovered. Still using the wall for support she moved in the direction of the elevators. She contemplated the stairs but decided she wasn’t steady enough and she had no idea how many floors up she was. She pressed the button for the elevator. The knot in her stomach grew with each floor the car climbed. What if Luca or Dr. Ferguson were in the car? There was nowhere to run. Closer and closer it climbed. She reconsidered the stairs. The hand holding the wall was sweating and made it difficult to hold on. She could not let herself start hyperventilating. She heard the ding and the doors started to open. Please, God, let it be empty.

“Olivia?” The familiar low voice escaped the elevator like an arctic breeze that chilled her to the bone. It took her a moment in her foggy state to realize who it was.

The doors opened fully and there stood Dominic Kain. “Olivia, what the hell is going on? What’s wrong with you?” He started to step out but Olivia lunged into the elevator and fell into his arms.

“We have to get out of here. Hurry please,” she begged as she held onto him for dear life.

He didn’t question, he just pressed the button for the first floor and the door close button with the fervor of a telegraph operator. Once the car began to move he did his best to stand Olivia up on her Jell-O legs. “What happened to you? Are you on drugs? Why the hell did you come out here?” He threw questions out as fast as they descended floors in the high-speed elevator.

Olivia heard him talking but her mind had already moved to an elevator ride a decade ago.

WHEN THE DOORS had opened Olivia sat in the hall outside the elevator crying. She had never fought with her sister like that before. She looked up and there he was. His pale green eyes, like a jade sea, beckoned to her. In that moment she wanted nothing more than to sail away in them. He stepped out, scooped her up, and helped her onto the elevator.

“What happened? Did someone hurt you.” His voice moved her like a warm breeze across a cool glassy sea. It wrapped her up, carried her to a safe place. She was captivated in an instant. They began their descent his arms still wrapped around her. “I’ve been looking all over this place for you. I would tear the world apart to get to you.”

“I was in an argument. I’m better now.” She looked at the floor and then back up into his eyes. In her nineteen years she had never met another man like him.

He pushed a strand of dark hair out of her eyes and tucked it gently behind her ear. His face leaned close to hers. Her hand was on his chest and she could feel his heart pounding with every ounce of desire that flashed in his exquisite eyes.

“You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met. I’ve waited so long for a chance to hold you.” Then he laughed sheepishly and bit his lower lip. “But In all the nights I lay awake dreaming of this moment, I never pictured it like this.” His young face and eyes burned with all the innocence and passion of a first love. He tilted her face tenderly toward his and kissed her. In her time at college other boys had come and gone. But Olivia had never been kissed like this before.

It was the first kiss of fairy tales and young girl daydreams. The kind of kiss that built up every part of her heart and soul and made them swell until she burst with the joy of the grand finale fireworks over a crystal sea. She closed her eyes and surrendered completely to his touch. Her breath left her and her knees weakened. She lived and died a thousand lives in that moment and would have given a thousand more to hold on for one more minute in his arms.

Suddenly the elevator doors opened and two security guards ripped him away.

“Stop! What the hell are you doing?” Olivia yelled as she stepped out into the lobby and watched them take him away.

THE ELEVATOR LURCHED and jolted Olivia back into the present. Dominic was staring at her with a knowing look. She could finally see what he had known all along. She looked up at Dominic, her eyes wide. “It was you,” she seethed. “Here in the elevator, ten years ago. You kissed me. I remember now. God I’m so stupid. That’s why you seemed so familiar at SaSS.” Tears in her eyes she pushed him away. He wrapped his hands tenderly around her wrists and pulled her back to him.

“It was always you.” He breathed and leaned his head to hers, lips and noses barely touching he continued, “That kiss haunted me every day for the last ten years. My soul has been searching for you ever since. I couldn’t bear to let you go.” His eyes brimmed as if he was seeing her for the first time.

She cried and pulled away from him bracing herself against the wall. “But you weren’t even kissing me, were you?” You didn’t know me. You were here for Grace. All that love and searching was for her, not me.” Olivia felt as if the floor of the elevator had fallen away and she was in free fall.

Dominic ran his fingers through his dark hair and looked away for a moment. “Olivia. I—” Before he could answer the elevator reached the lobby and the doors opened. “Come with me,” he ordered and grabbed her by the hand.

“I’m not going anywhere with you. Why should I trust anything you say?” Olivia stopped dead in the lobby. “You’ve been lying to me since the moment I met you.”

The pale sea in his wild eyes raged desperately. “Because you want to get out of here, and I trust you. I don’t know what’s going on here but I know that I left your sister here ten years ago and never saw her again. I’m not about to let something happen to you too.” He stood holding her hand tightly in his. “I’m not leaving you.”

Olivia hesitated. She wasn’t sure who to believe. She looked back at the casino. Luca would be there somewhere, but he and Piper wanted to send her with Dr. Ferguson. Were they trying to hurt her or protect her? They treated her like she was crazy. The more flashbacks she had the less sure she was of anything she thought to be true.

She looked back at Dominic. He stood ready to fight. He looked at her as if she was the only girl in the world. “Olivia,” he implored her. “You can yell at me later. You can hate me until the end of time but do it away from here. We have to go now . . .” The urgency in his voice stirred her from her stronghold. She took one last look toward the casino floor and the last traces of her sister.

“Okay.” She consented and squeezed his hand. He turned and led her quickly through the crowd toward the exit. As they reached the doors she heard Cammie behind them.

“Grace! Grace!” she yelled. “Where are you going?”

“Keep moving,” Dominic growled never letting loose of her hand. “Don’t look back.” He pulled Olivia through the large brass doors out into the desert night.

“Where’s your . . .” she started and then spotted it. “Oh, hell no…”

“Come on, Olivia. I won’t let anything happen to you.” They reached the Silver Ducati. He handed money to the valet who had been standing guard then took his helmet and quickly but carefully placed it on her head. He climbed on the bike and reached back for her. “Get. On,” he commanded. Though every fiber of her body was screaming no, Olivia swung her leg over the bike just as Luca and Piper burst out of the door.

“Stop, Liv! Don’t go!” Piper yelled. “Stop! Sweetie, please!” Olivia turned to see her friend running toward her.

“Hold on,” Dominic yelled as he revved the engine and tore out of the drive like a bat escaping the depths of hell.

THE BIKE SCREAMED across the desert. Olivia held onto him for dear life. She hated and cherished the closeness. She never wanted to let him go, but knowing he loved Grace ripped her soul to shreds. The memory of that kiss played over and over in her head like an old black and white movie. She could still feel him, taste him.

Now she understood the reaction she had to him at the event in Virginia. Though her mind had blocked that whole part of her life out, when she was close to him her body remembered. The chemistry of their connection could not be ignored. He wasn’t kissing you. She reminded herself. The thought cut her like a knife.

The bike slowed and Dominic pulled onto a narrow gravel path. He parked the bike and helped her off. Gently he took her hand and led her toward the small footpath. Olivia still stumbled from the effects of the medication. On her own she would never be able to navigate the rocky trail.

“Where are you taking me?” Olivia pulled back. She had no desire to go into the woods in such a desolate location.

“This is Lake Mead it’s a quiet place where we can talk. I owe you an explanation.” He stood in the moonlight. Every ounce of pain in the last decade played on his beautiful face and begged her to come with him.

“I can think of a hundred more populated places we could go to talk,” she countered. Olivia planted her feet firmly in the ground.

He laughed. “I’m on your side remember. I brought you here for a reason. There’s something I think you need to see.” The laughter fell away. “Olivia this is going to be hard but I’ll be with you.”

The airport, her office, the coffee shop down the street, even the stupid Pilates gym, Olivia went through a mental list of places she would rather be. It was too late to turn back now. What happened to the safe, by the book life she had created for herself. Was it all a mirage in her sick and twisted world? “You lied to me all this time. Why didn’t you tell me about Grace?”

“When I first saw you at SaSS I felt like the world stopped spinning. I thought I lost her a decade ago. Yet there you were like a heartbreaking dream finally real before my eyes.” He coaxed her down the path as he talked. “It was enough to make me go crazy. I had to have you.”

“Me? You mean Grace . . .” She shook her head in frustration. “You were looking at Grace. You made love to the ghost of the girl tattooed on your fucking chest. Why didn’t you tell me then? When I asked you about your tattoo? You lied!” Olivia yelled and pushed him away from her.

“I didn’t know how I had been granted this second chance. God knows I didn’t fucking deserve it. But there you were. In my arms . . . In my bed. I didn’t want to do anything to risk losing you again,” he admitted and reached for her but she turned away.

“While you were loving her, you were killing me.” Olivia fought back hot tears that threatened to escape. She pushed past him and moved down the moonlit trail.

“Wait! Olivia. Listen. You’re right. In college, I had a massive crush on your sister. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. We dated off and on our sophomore and junior years.” He caught up beside her and tried to reach out for her arm but Olivia pulled away. Every word he uttered caused her to die a little more inside.

“I get it. You loved her. Congratulations. Take a fucking number. She had half the male population falling at her feet,” Olivia answered with green eyed bitterness. “A lot of good it did her.”

“Our senior year something changed. Grace changed.” He wrung his hands as he spoke. “I think it had to do with that sorority she joined. She stopped coming to class and was using drugs almost every day. When I tried confronting her she told me I was being controlling. I tried giving her space but she just got worse.” His voice fell like a stone into self-loathing.

Olivia could hear the guilt in his voice. She knew it all too well. She had watched her sister burn out like a shooting star and just stood by and let it happen. She studied the subtle creases in his face, a decade of regret was beginning to define him. “I don’t think there was anything you or anyone else could have done to stop her at that point,” Olivia offered. “God knows I tried, but she wouldn’t listen to me either.” She paused, something he said didn’t sit quite right with her. “Wait how did you date Grace for more than a year and not know she had a twin sister?” Olivia blurted suddenly.

“She never mentioned you. Trust me I would remember if she had. But then talking wasn’t exactly what brought us together. Maybe I should have said we slept together off and on and I helped her with some of her classes.” He laughed and shook his head. “I was young and stupid and head over heels for a girl who cared more about getting credit on my research than she did me.” He walked toward the edge of the cliff.

Olivia watched him move in the silver light. How much of what he was saying could she believe? Luca said she was still alive but then he tried to trap her in a hospital. Shaver thought she was off the deep end with her crazy theories. She didn’t know what to believe, even herself.

Dominic continued, “When she got kicked out of school I got desperate. I loved her. I would have done anything to save her . . . to get her help.” He stopped walking and turned to face Olivia. They had reached the end of the path. The large moon illuminated the cliffside and the ripples of the lake far below. “At first I went crazy wondering where she was. She didn’t answer my calls; the members of her sorority wouldn’t tell me anything. It was like she just cut me out of her life.” He sat down on a large rock and looked out over the silver lined water into the darkness.

“So you flew to Vegas?” Olivia asked. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

“I just had to see her. I thought if I could convince her to come back home everything would be okay. One of the dolls, Bethany, was in my parasitology class. After a few tense weeks she gave me a letter from Grace asking for help. She had gotten herself into some trouble with a casino and the owner was keeping her there. Bethany told me where Grace was and how to find her.” He shook his head. “I wanted nothing more than to see her but I was nervous as hell and drank one too many on the plane. By the time I got to Vegas I was half lit. They said she was working on the roulette wheel so I stormed through the Casino like a punk but couldn’t find her. Someone called security and they were chasing me like a criminal. I couldn’t leave without seeing her and making sure she was okay. I ducked in the elevator and pushed the button for her floor. When the doors opened there you were.” He reached out and pulled her close to him.

Olivia couldn’t bring herself to pull away. “Dominic . . .” she started but he put a finger to her lips.

“You looked like a battered angel that had fallen from heaven. I couldn’t resist you.” His lips brushed her forehead as he spoke. That dulcet voice mixed like a perfect cocktail with the sedatives that still swam in her system and offered to carry her away from the misery of her reality.

“I looked like Grace,” she corrected breaking the spell. “You couldn’t resist, her.”

“I did think you were Grace right up to the moment when our lips met. When I kissed you I knew you weren’t the Grace I had known,” he whispered and his lips moved closer to hers.

“What is it about her kissing? That’s the second time today I have been told how amazing it was compared to mine.” Olivia huffed and threw her hands up in the air.

“Who else have you been kissing?” Dominic growled, dark clouds of jealousy formed in his eyes.

“At the casino, tonight, when Luca first saw me he thought I was Grace. He kissed me and knew instantly that I wasn’t her. What the hell did her kisses have that mine don’t?” Olivia questioned folding her arms across her chest. Sibling rivalry never dies.

Dominic laughed. “You still don’t get it, do you? All the times that I was with Grace pale in comparison to that one kiss, with you.” He pulled her close again and kissed her hard before she had a chance to respond. Olivia’s knees went weak. The fire between them was a bond that time could not break. Dominic pulled off his shirt exposing every ripple of his bare chest. The eyes and wings of his tattoo were illuminated like an angel.

“Grace,” she said quietly and swallowed hard. She traced her fingers across the inked memorial.

“I got this after her memorial, Olivia. When I had this done, I sketched the face that had haunted me. But, Olivia, when I had this done I drew it from the memory that haunted my dreams. This is the look you gave me right after I kissed you in the elevator. Don’t you see, it was you. It was always you.

A breeze blew across the lake carrying with it the odor of cow manure. Olivia pulled back. “God, what is that smell? It’s horrible.”

Dominic gave her a sideways grin. “That’s Lake Mead for you. The heat and humidity create the perfect recipe for a certain type of algae that . . .” Dominic continued with the science lesson but Olivia was drawn to the edge of the cliff. She had been here before. Her heart began its familiar racing as she reached the edge and looked down to the rocks and water below. Her breathing became short pants. The body she had seen so many times in her dreams lay face down on the rocky shore. Grace! The horrible scene played over in her mind.

“You ruined everything, you stupid bitch. Why did you even come here?” Grace was yelling.

“Grace, I’m sorry. I came here for you. I love you, just come home and we can get past it. One lousy arrest isn’t the end of the world! When I’m a lawyer I can . . .” Olivia pleaded as Grace paced back and forth along the cliff's edge like a tiger trapped in a cage.

“You can what expunge my record? Get me out of prison? I don’t think so, miss smarty pants. “Maybe I would be better off dead.” Grace hissed and turned toward the cliff.

“NO! NO, GOD, No!” Olivia was screaming. Dominic grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back before she went over the edge. Olivia broke down in hysterical sobs. “Why did you bring me here? Why?”

“Because this was the sight of the first murder,” he said quietly.

“Are you saying I killed my sister?” Olivia gasped for air. She rocked back and forth. Was this the horror her mind had been trying to shield her from? Olivia’s stomach lurched and she vomited in the grass. She struggled to catch her breath but it would not come.

“No,” he said looking puzzled by her reaction.

“But I saw her body. It was at the bottom of this cliff. She was lying in the moonlight.” She looked over the edge as if it were still there. “I could see the bugs all over her and the circular burns on her back. I’ve seen that image in my sleep every night for the past ten years.” She turned back around to face him as he slowly lit a cigarette.

“I . . . I didn’t know you smoked,” she said slowly mesmerized by the small circular collection of embers at the end.

“I try not to. That’s why I am always chewing that damn cinnamon gum. But in stressful situations it’s hard to resist,” he said coldly.

Olivia’s breathing slowed. She felt as if ice water had been poured through her veins. All the pieces began to fall into place. “Dominic where did you go after security threw you out of the casino?” she asked quietly, afraid to even ask the question.

“Olivia,” he began slowly and took a step toward her. “You have to understand. I was a desperate man. She threw me out of her life.” He took another step.

He stood between her and the only way out. On either side of her were large rocks. Behind her was a sheer cliff. She could hear the water down below lapping at rocks that held her sister in her final moments. Rocks that may carry her into the next world as well. She needed to reason with him. “She left you no choice,” Olivia choked out.

“Exactly.” He took a long draw off the cigarette. The red glow against his skin cast demonic shadows across his beautiful features. Her stomach twisted in knots. How had she not seen it before? Even if this was her last move Olivia needed to hear him say it. She needed to hear once and for all what exactly happened to her sister.

“What did you do, Dominic?” she asked deadpan.

He took another step toward her and Olivia prepared herself to fight back. “After I left the casino I . . .”

Before he could finish the words Olivia saw his body stiffen then contort in a wicked seizure and fall to the ground.

“What the hell?” Olivia yelled.

Piper stepped forward holding the control end of a police issue Taser gun. “Oh, thank God, Liv,” she said trembling and dropped the machine to the ground. “I was scared to death!” She ran over his limp body and hugged Olivia.

“I’m so glad to see you. How did you find us?” Olivia sobbed holding her friend. She couldn’t believe this was all over.

“The police are looking everywhere. We need to let them know you are okay,” Piper babbled.

“But how did you know to look here?” Olivia asked again.

“Your poor brain won’t let you remember a thing about that night, will it?” She reached up and tousled Olivia’s messy hair. “This is where they found the body. It’s where they think you went into the water too. Though how in the hell you washed all the way to where they found you alive I will never know.”

“I wish I could remember exactly what happened.” Olivia put her head in her hands. “Did Dominic try to kill us both?” She struggled to make sense of all the details. He was so beautiful. How could he have killed her sister. Olivia thought of the tattoo on his chest and began to shake uncontrollably. He had walked around all this time with her face on his chest. This man who possessed her in such a deep way had taken her sister’s life. Oh, my sweet Grace. I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry. She looked down at his lifeless form. If Piper hadn’t shown up would she be the one lying face down in the dirt.

Olivia took several deep breaths and tried to concentrate on that night. “I remember being here with Grace. I remember arguing with her. She was so mad and I don’t remember why. She said I messed everything up.” Olivia closed her eyes and tried for the life of her to replay the image. “I don’t remember him being here though,” she said puzzled. “I just remember Grace pacing around looking for something.”

“The money,” Piper said, her face lighting up?

“What money?” Olivia was completely confused now. Then she remembered the money clip. “Grace had ten thousand dollars in a money clip I found it in her things. Could that be it?” Olivia asked hopefully.

Piper laughed. “No, darling, that was probably just a tip from a high roller. Think more . . . much more than that. I’m talking about the money she stole from Luca and the casino,” Piper answered point blank.

“Why would she want to steal from Luca? He seems to worship her,” Olivia mumbled trying to make the round pegs fit into square holes.

“I have no idea why, but in the original police report from ten years ago it said your sister took off with over twenty-four million dollars,” Piper said, the sparkle in her eyes caught the moonlight. She looked like a gold rusher who finally found the jackpot.

“Oh, God. Why? Why would she do that?” Olivia stood horrified. “That’s so much money wouldn’t that be pretty hard to transport and shouldn’t it be pretty easy to find? This doesn’t make any sense.”

“Just try to remember,” Piper encouraged.

“We need to get the police and an ambulance,” Olivia said nodding at Dominic.

“The police should already be on their way,” Piper assured her. “I called them when I saw the motorcycle parked at the head of the path and he doesn’t deserve an ambulance. He just tried to kill you.”

“We can’t just let him suffer,” Olivia insisted. “He has the right to a trial just like anyone else.”

“Stockholm much?” Piper asked and stared at her like she had broccoli coming out her nose. “Fine we’ll call an ambulance too but, let’s go over this again before the police get here. You came up here with Grace after Dominic was kicked out of the casino. Grace must have used his distraction to walk right out of the front door with twenty-four million in chips.”

“That’s a lot of fucking chips. She was my size how the hell did she carry all those?” Olivia scoffed. Grace was a lot of things but athletic was not one of them.

“I think they were high roller chips that she was supposed to be transporting for a high stakes game to a private room. Anyway in the midst of the chaos between you and Dominic she just walked right out the front door.”

“Okay, even if she had say twenty-five-thousand-dollar chips which is the highest I have ever heard of, we are still talking almost a thousand chips. How heavy are poker chips?” Olivia wondered out loud. She still couldn’t picture Grace manhandling a suitcase and being allowed to just walk out of the casino. “Luca mentioned that Grace belonged to him. Do you think he made up the theft for the insurance money?”

“Poker chips are about ten grams.” Piper started figuring.” That’s only ten thousand grams. Think back to chemistry class. Which I know you hated. But there are around four hundred grams in a pound. So that’s less than twenty-two pounds.”

“Oh, hell. Her makeup bag weighed more than that. All she would need was a small overnight bag. Shit.” Olivia put her hand over her mouth.

“What?” Piper asked barely controlling her excitement.

“Like the kind airline stewardesses use,” Olivia finished. “I think Luca said she was one of those Dolls when he met her. On the flight here I noticed they all had matching luggage. Maybe she could have snuck it out in that.”

Olivia checked on Dominic. He was breathing okay just looked like he had been given a horse tranquilizer. She listened for sirens but heard nothing except the gentle breeze through the rock formations. Where were the police? “It doesn’t make sense for there to be a case of money or chips up here.”

“What do you mean?” Piper was getting so into this case. While Olivia was barely hanging on Piper seemed to be on an adrenaline rush.

“Well, I remember Grace searching for something up here like a tigress for her cub but if Dominic had brought us up here to kill us wouldn’t he have taken the case with him when he left? Unless, somehow, she stashed it on the way here. I don’t know something just doesn’t add up.”

“Try to retrace your steps that day,” Piper offered.

“I wish it was that easy.” Olivia began to tap her fingers in the nervous pattern that helped her think. “Until today I didn’t even remember ever coming to Vegas. I can’t control the flashbacks they just happen. It’s all patchy. I remember standing on the casino floor and watching my sister interact with Luca. Sometime after that I think Grace and I argued upstairs. It’s all a big blur. I remember Dominic kissing me in the elevator. He thought I was Grace.” Olivia paused and looked down at him. Would she ever be able to forget the tenderness of his kiss?

Olivia leaned against a rock and a large insect crawled across her hand making her jump. “Something else that never made sense, what about the bugs, her body was crawling with them.” Olivia shivered.

“Oh, God I hate those fucking things,” Piper chimed in. “Whoever thought of raising and selling black soldier flies should be shot. Isn’t he some kind of bug specialist?” She kicked at the button and gave the unconscious Dominic another jolt. Olivia stared at the blood soaking through his white shirt where the two metal probes had burnt through his shirt and pierced his skin. Two perfect circles. It had been a Taser all along. Olivia’s mouth went dry.

“Piper.” Olivia approached with the caution one gives a rattle snake. “How long have you had that Taser? It looks like an antique.”

“I bought it used in college,” Piper quickly answered, “but it still works great.”

Keeping an eye on Piper, Olivia walked over to the edge again. She looked out for anyone who might be fishing on the lake. She wished like anything to see police lights coming but she knew better now. “I still can’t believe I ended up going over this cliff?” She shook her head in disbelief. “How could anyone survive that?

“That’s what I’d like to know.” Grace’s cold voice frosted even the night air. She stepped out of the darkness and walked toward Olivia.

“Grace!” Olivia screamed. “Oh my God! Grace!” Olivia couldn’t help but cry. “I thought you were dead. Where have you been all this time.” Olivia ran forward to hug her sister but Grace pushed her away.

“I’ll tell you where I’ve been. I spent the last decade locked up with Jabba the Hutt in that damn casino. But none of that matters now because you are going to remember what the hell you did with my money or spend the rest of your life in my place.” Grace’s tone was flat and lifeless. She was completely void of the vibrant love that used to define her.

Olivia turned to Piper who did not seem a bit surprised, then back to Grace. “You . . . you died. I . . . I saw your body,” Olivia stammered as she tried to wrap her mind around what was happening.

“Oh, Jesus, you and that stupid body again. That’s all you fucking talked about in therapy for a year. For the love of Christ that was Bethany, one of the Dolls. Her big mouth was a loose end I was not about to leave flapping in the wind. She’s the one that got me arrested in the first fucking place. She had to go.” Grace rolled her eyes and went on. “Everything was going just fucking fine until you had to go and make out with bug boy in the elevator. No one in my private life even knew you existed. You see how fucking brilliant that is?”

“I don’t understand. You killed Bethany and faked your death?” Olivia held onto the rocks. Nausea swept over her like a tidal wave. “Why? What on God’s green earth would possess you to do that?”

“Olivia, sweet naïve little Olivia, I pulled off one of the greatest casino heists in history. Do you not understand.” Grace scoffed and waved her hands like a magician. “Let me paint a very simple picture for you. Life was swell when I was in control of The Dolls. I was building an empire from the ground up. Piper and I were recruiting girls from my sorority and we worked with a guy I met who was based in Virginia to set up the flights. Then freaking Luca had to go all caveman and try to make me his little possession. It took me almost a year to plan but it was perfect.”

“All of this for a robbery?” Olivia gritted her teeth. She wanted to punch her twin in the face. “You destroyed so many lives.”

“You make it sound like I shot granny knocking off the 7-Eleven. This was a detailed heist that raked in over twenty-four million dollars.” Grace put her hands on her hips and bragged.

“No offense, but it didn’t work very well,” Olivia shot back.

“It would have worked just fine if you could have stuck to the plan. All I asked you to do was work the roulette wheel for me until seven thirty. Then you were to take your carry-on bag from the coat closet outside the high roller lounge and meet me at the airport.” Grace looked at her as if she was a complete imbecile. “Pretty fucking simple. I was going to go home with you and Piper back to Yale.”

“Grace, I don’t remember any of that,” Olivia protested.

“Of course you couldn’t do it. Instead you end up making out with a total stranger on the elevator. Unfortunately that stranger was Dominic Kain. Everything was a cluster fuck from that point on. Dominic was so flustered by your little escapade that instead of causing the distraction that I had planned and getting kicked out, he kept trying to fight and got himself fucking arrested. Arrested!” she yelled at Olivia. “Do you know how bad that was? With him spending the night in jail, I had no one help tie up the loose ends. Then to make matters worse you walk right through the lobby adding to the scene yelling for them to let him go. My plan would only work if you and I were never on the same camera at the same time. Yet there you stood right in my fucking way.”

Grace pulled a nine millimeter pistol out of her Louis Vuitton handbag. She waved it around like a church fan as she talked. Olivia watched her with wide eyes. Grace could easily kill them all. “I had a travel bag containing twenty-four million dollars, I just needed to get across the lobby and out the fucking door. After waiting what felt like an obscene amount of time for you to go back to the casino I decided to chance it. I moved quickly through the crowded lobby and almost made it to the exit when your clumsy ass collided with another patron and knocked them into me. I dropped my bag, my purse, everything. At this point nothing was going to stop me I grabbed my things and walked right out the front door. I jumped in a waiting taxi and was home free.” She paused and smiled appreciating her own accomplishment. Then her face darkened. Grace narrowed her eyes and stepped closer to Olivia. She pointed the gun at her head.

“Grace . . . What are you—” Olivia started but Grace silenced her by pulling back the slide of the gun.

“Imagine my surprise when I opened my bag and found your fucking shoes. When we collided the bags must have gotten switched.” The next words out of Grace’s mouth were so low church mice would have struggled to hear it. “In the course of one hour you had completely fucked up a plan that took a year to put together.”

Olivia looked around for something, anything she could use as a weapon. She had to

help Dominic. He was an FBI agent, he had to be armed. If she could get to his weapon they might stand a chance. She looked at his lifeless form slumped in the dirt. He had been unconscious far too long. Olivia was desperate. She looked at Grace. How had this amazing beautiful girl who was the sunshine for so many people have turned into the hateful creature before her. Her sister held the gun only inches from her face.

“Are you getting bored, Liv?” Grace spat at her sister. “Don’t want to hear the rest of the story? Well too fucking bad. And you better damn well pay attention because it’s the last one you’re ever going to get.”

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Dominic starting to move. She had to keep Grace and Piper busy. “I understand why you killed Bethany but why kill Gwen and Rebecca? Didn’t they work for you?”

“To finish what we started” Piper chimed in. “After you came here to meet Grace and saw Bethany’s body you completely freaked out and ended up falling over the cliff.” She waved her hands in a grand motion toward the edge. “You somehow fucking lived but were left with selective amnesia. After you got out of the hospital you changed your name but the record was sealed and we lost track of you.”

Olivia racked her brain, “I… l changed my name to start over, the therapist thought a fresh start would be for the best.”

“And you became a fucking lawyer. Figures smarty pants. You always did walk the straight and fucking narrow that’s why we couldn’t let you in on our plan front he beginning you would have turned us all in,” Grace said as disgusted as if she had just drunk sour milk.

Piper took a step toward Olivia. “We just want the fucking money, Liv. Gwen saw Grace in Vegas and mistakenly called her Olivia. That’s how we found you. The rest we set in place to try to kickstart your memory. God knows therapy never worked. Then fucking Rebecca recognized me in that restaurant and I had to get rid of her too but that turned out to be our chance to bring you to Vegas.”

“So where is it Liv? I’m tired of all the fucking games. It’s time to end this,” Grace spat.

“You somehow fucking lived but were left with selective amnesia. We just want the fucking money, Liv. Gwen saw Grace in Vegas and mistakenly called her Olivia. That’s how we found you. The rest we set in place to try to kick-start your memory. God knows therapy never worked.”

Olivia started to answer but Grace turned away suddenly as she caught sight of Dominic reaching for her ankle. She saw Grace turn the gun on Dominic. It was now or never. Olivia charged Grace and threw her body into her twin knocking her to the ground as the gun went off. She heard Piper scream when the bullet tore through her abdomen and knocked her backwards. Dominic tried to catch her but it was too late she fell over the cliff and landed on the rocks where she had left Bethany so many years before. Grace and Olivia were still fighting for the gun. “I will never give up, Grace,” Olivia yelled at her through tears. “I love you but I will never give up.” The gun waved wildly back and forth as the two women grappled for control. Another shot went off and bounced off the rock.

“Fuck!” Dominic yelled as it struck him in the thigh. He came down hard on the rock and pulled out his sig sauer pistol. He aimed carefully over Olivia’s shoulder at Grace’s head. He tried to gauge their erratic movements to get a good shot. Just then a third shot went off and both girls lay still.

“Olivia!” he yelled and crawled frantically across the rock. A large pool of blood was already forming on the ground beneath them. He kicked the gun away and scooped Olivia up. She was limp as a rag doll in his arms. He held her to him and looked at Grace. She was lying on the ground with a hole through her shoulder smiling.

“PLEASE, GOD. DON’T let me lose her now.” Dominic cried out to the star filled sky. He collapsed to the ground with Olivia in his arms. He had spent a lifetime dreaming of holding her just one more time. Now that he had found her, he couldn’t bear to let her go. He leaned close so that his lips brushed her cheek. “Forgive me, darling, for every night I wasn’t there to kiss you good night. For every morning I didn’t welcome the sunrise curled up with the warmth of your magnificent body. I love you beyond all words. I will die every day I am not with you. I have loved you for a lifetime and will love you into the next.”

Dominic held Olivia close to him while he called for police and paramedics. Her breathing was shallow but her heart continued to beat. He held pressure to the wound but blood seeped around his fingers. “Don’t give up, Olivia. Hang in there. Please. You have come so far and fought so hard. Don’t give up now.”

He heard Grace cough and looked over. Blood was coming from her mouth but she made no other sounds. Her slender hand fell from her chest to the ground and landed so close to Olivia’s that their fingers almost touched. As her hand uncurled a single chip rolled out onto the rock between them. Dominic picked it up. They came into this world together and now as they circled the abyss they seemed to hang by a single thread.

The blur of police and ambulances blended into colors and sirens that filled the dark sky. The quiet scene was now a chaos of emergency responders and police attending to the three gunshot victims and to locate the fourth. Dominic watched them load Olivia, the crew worked furiously to bring her back. As they drove away he knew that no matter what happened he would be forever grateful for the chance to love her.

HE HEARD HER voice before he even opened his eyes. “Dominic. Oh my God! What happened to you?” Smelly Melly exclaimed through tears.

Dominic opened his eyes to see his beautiful sister at his bedside. “Hey, beautiful. I’m okay. Barely nicked me.” He was so happy to see that incredible red hair and those green eyes even if they were filled with tears at the moment.

“You just had surgery. It was bad enough,” she scolded. “I’m just glad you’re okay now.” She held his hand and leaned against his shoulder. He messed her hair and just held her for a few minutes. He loved his sister beyond words. The thought made his heart ache for Olivia. She and Grace were both in the ICU. Even though Grace turned out to be a fucking evil bitch he knew that Olivia loved her.

“So, are you going to tell me what happened or are the details top secret FBI stuff?” Melly asked still tucked in his arm.

“This will probably be all over the news at some point so I’ll tell you what I can. You met both women at SaSS in Norfolk,” he explained. Mel sat up like a shot.

“I did? Wow! Okay tell me everything you can.” Mel pulled out her leather-bound notebook, tattered and worn on the edges.

“Hey, is that the one I got you?” he asked and smiled.

“Yup. The one you gave me after that first signing you went to and bought me all those books. You have always been the sweetest kid. Okay so get cracking before you forget any details,” she said and got her pen ready.

Dominic leaned back in the hospital bed and began to tell her the whole sordid tale. “It started while the girls were still in college. Olivia had gone to Yale and Grace went to Brown.”

“You went to Brown. I remember you talking about Grace. Oh.” She paused and tears filled her eyes again. “This is that Grace. The one who died . . . The girl on your chest . . . That’s where we got Grace Parker. That Grace?”

“That’s the one. Only she didn’t die and though I didn’t know it at the time she had an identical twin named Olivia.”

“I remember her from SaSS. She is beautiful. How did you not recognize her?” Mel asked narrowing her eyes.

“I did, immediately. I had to be with her. I couldn’t think of anything but her. I never knew Grace had a sister. And ten years later when I met Olivia she said she was an only child. The night I slept with her I knew she wasn’t Grace. But the connection . . . the electricity between us I had felt before. When I kissed Grace that last time in the elevator in Vegas.” He closed his eyes and remembered the way she felt in his arms.

“That’s the night you got arrested, right? Man, that has fucking haunted you with every stinking background check you have had since.” Mel shook her head in aggravation.

“It also saved my life,” he said with a sly smile and explained Grace’s original plan and how his reaction to kissing Olivia set off a chain of events that ruined the whole thing.

“So where’s the money? Olivia left with the chips, right?” she asked and leaned in intrigued.

“No one knows. That’s why Grace and Piper set up this whole elaborate scheme ten years later to lure Olivia and me to try to recreate that night as much as possible in hope to trigger her to remember what happened in the timeframe from when their bags got switched to when she showed up to the cliffs where they tried to kill her.” He finished and reached for a drink of water. It was still so unbelievable. “Once they had the money they could finally kill Olivia and frame me as they had tried to do ten years ago. The thing is Olivia still can’t remember. She’s blocked most of the events of that time in her life out of her memory. Twenty-four million dollars is out there somewhere.”

“How is she, Olivia I mean,” Mel asked. “I can see it in your face how much you care about her.”

“She’s hanging in there. It’s going to be a long road but I’m going to be there for every minute of it.” He paused and looked at his sister. “I love her. I’ve never been able to care about anyone else since that first time I saw her in the elevator in Vegas. Now that I know her, she is so much more than I ever dreamed.”

“You know I’m going to have to write this story. It’s too amazing not to.” She smiled and tapped her pen against her notebook. “Hmm what to call it . . .”

“I know.” Dominic reached into the bedside stand and pulled out the single poker chip and placed it in his sister’s hand. “Call it Roulette.”

GRACE SAT IMPATIENTLY tapping her fingers on the metal desk. The only thing worse than those awful hospital gowns was this pathetic jumpsuit. Her lawyer had better hurry the fuck up. She didn’t want to spend another minute in this hell hole. She picked at some of the layers of peeling paint that covered the surface. All shades of the same drab green. She was not going to be here long enough to see it get a new one.

The large metal door opened allowing fresh air into the windowless room. In walked the most handsome man Grace had ever seen. He was tall with hair black as night. His chiseled features were strong and unforgiving. His eyes were dark as the soul they restrained.

He met her gaze and his eyes widened in surprise but then an appreciative smile spread across his face. “Wow, they said you look just like her but . . . I’ve seen twins before, but you two are like looking at the same exact person.” He cleared his throat. “Forgive me, let me introduce myself. My name Is Vincent Trudeau, I’ve been hired to be your lawyer.”

I would like to thank all of the wonderful Sassy people that I met at SASS 2016. Lisa Sproat and Amy Murray really know how to throw together one hell of a shindig.

Eric Battershell and Johnny Kane thank you for your wonderful pictures and inspiration.

Cassy Roop of Pink Ink Designs thank you for your amazing artistry and talent and for being willing to work last minute to help put this together.

Marla thank you for all your hard work and wonderful ideas and for working with me last-minute under a deadline.

Angie and Melissa, my ride or die girls, you inspire me every day.

As always my husband and children for your patience and support throughout the creative process.

And finally the Sassy people of SASS 2017 I hope you’re feeling lucky. I can’t wait to spend time speaking with you passing around ideas. Who knows you just might find yourself in next year’s book!