by Maggie Cole
The Crime
All In Series - Book Three
Maggie Cole
Pulse Press
This book is fiction. Any reference to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. All names, characters, plots, and events are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2019 by Maggie Cole
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Free Gift For You
PSST - I have a short story that you’re going to love and I want to give it to you for free! It’s The Rule 1.5!
This short story sequel is a follow up to Tom and Liv’s story, so don’t read it until you have finished reading Book One of the All In Series, The Rule!
Grab it now so you have it!
www.authormaggiecole.com/therulesequel
From time to time, I’ll email you juicy new freebie stories and let you know about my new books. But don’t worry, I’ll keep your email safe and won’t share it with anyone or abuse it.
Promise!
Don’t forget to check out The Lie, Book Four of the All In Series. The blurb, prologue and part of chapter one are included at the end of this book for a sneak peek!
Also, I have a huge favor to ask you! If you enjoyed reading this book, please leave me a nice rating and review on the platform you bought this novel.
Thanks so much for all your support!
Maggie Cole
For D.M.
Thanks for always being honest!
And knowing your S’s!
XOXO
Contents
Prologue
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
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Epilogue
Also by Maggie Cole
The Lie - Prologue
The LIE - Chapter One Sneak Peak
Coming Soon By Maggie Cole
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Covered in sweat, filled with terror, I woke up as the visions of what I had seen were still fresh in my mind.
Women and children wept; tears streamed out of their fear-filled eyes. My ears rang with the echo of their cries and the sinister laughs that mocked them.
Nausea overcame me, and I ran to the bathroom and violently threw up. As I hugged the toilet, a cold sweat rushed through my body. I closed my eyes as the tears flowed out, and I began to sob.
I had wanted to help them, I really did, but the gun pointed at them suggested that if I tried, I would have been shot. So I chose the coward's way out.
After telling the men in charge, that it wasn't my scene, I left as fast as I could.
Those sick assholes are my business partners. The thought sent my stomach pitching again.
I must have been in shock because my mind was a black hole. Somehow, I had arrived back at the hotel even though I didn’t remember the drive. When the valet opened my car door, it had snapped me back into reality.
I had felt like a zombie as I walked to the elevator and pushed the button to my penthouse suite. I'm not sure how long I sat on the chair and stared out into the black night. My body shook (probably from shock), as their faces played on repeat in my mind.
At some point, I must have dozed off. When I woke up from the nightmare, the sun peeked out over the bay. The water sparkled and glistened with different-colored blues as if everything was right in the world.
Would anything ever be right again?
In the morning light, it became clear what I needed to do. It didn't matter if they were connected to me. If I was held responsible for their crime then so be it, but they needed to be stopped.
I picked up my phone and googled the number.
The phone rang a few times. "FBI," a woman's voice answered.
"I need to report a crime..."
1
Maddie
“One key or two?” The front desk clerk didn’t even look up.
The hotel lobby was buzzing and packed with guests checking in. Several big conferences were in town and hundreds of people wore lanyards with nameplates.
My immediate response was to say two, when I remembered that I no longer, as of this past weekend, was a package deal. “Just one,” I told her, as I felt the independence of the words roll off my tongue.
Mike and I were together for six years, and it was strange to suddenly be alone. I left him only a few days earlier, but if I was honest, I should have left him years before. Surprise hit me, as, once again, relief washed over me that we were done.
Why couldn’t I have been strong enough to break up with him years ago?
It would be a long time before I even dated again, I told myself. I needed to be by myself for a bit.
The front desk woman quickly wrote my room number on the back of the card envelope. There were two wings to the hotel: east and west. My room was in the east wing.
“If you want to eat in any of our restaurants, I suggest you get a reservation now, as we are full this week. Otherwise, Coastal has some appetizers and drinks if you don’t require anything extensive.” She pointed to the bar area.
I thanked her, quickly grabbed my room key, and headed toward the elevators.
It didn’t take long for me to reach my room. I entered the room, surprised by my view of Tampa Bay. The water glistened with multi-colored blues and sparkled from the bright sun.
I happily flipped off my shoes and climbed into bed. The cheap ticket I booked required several layovers, and my day had begun pretty early. It was nearly 4:00 p.m., and a nap sounded pretty good.
I quickly fell asleep, and woke up when it was dark. The skyline was mostly black with stars, and I could no longer see the bay. The clock on the nightstand read 7:23 p.m. I debated whether or not to stay in my room, but my stomach rumbled, and I decided to head to Coastal.
After I looked in the mirror, I decided to jump in the shower. I freshened up my long black hair with some dry shampoo and put on some makeup.
A new pink sundress sat inside the top of my suitcase. I grabbed it, threw it on and slid my feet into a pair of flip-flops. My laptop bag was next to my purse, and I slung it over my shoulder, thinking that I could get some work done while I waited for my food.
I double-checked that I had my room key and made my way through the hotel. It didn’t take me long to get to Coastal, and I was escorted to a quiet table for two at the back of the dark bar. A piano player strummed keys to a slow melody. Candles were lit on each table, and gave off a romantic glow.
I grunted to myself at the thought of ‘romance'. Had I ever had any romance with Mike? I tried to throw that thought out of my head and reminded myself that I needed to stop beating m
yself up for staying—it wouldn’t change the situation.
It wasn’t super busy yet, but I assumed it would be as the night progressed. I opened my laptop, ordered a glass of Chardonnay, and looked at the menu. I tossed the menu aside, no longer really hungry and not sure if I even wanted to order any food.
A glass in, I needed to use the restroom. The people at the table next to me agreed to watch my laptop, and I took the chance that they weren’t thieves.
The waiter pointed me in the direction of the bathroom. No one else was there. I washed my hands, freshened up my lipstick and headed out.
As I stepped out, I bumped right into a man's chest, and nearly fell backward, but he put his arm around my back and embraced me tightly, so I wouldn't slip.
My nostrils filled with his scent, and my heart started to thump in my chest. I could feel his tight biceps around me and his hand around my waist. I slowly gazed up, and discovered his dark hair and piercing dark brown eyes.
His rugged good looks screamed he was high-powered, and I could tell his suit was expensive. Is he a GQ cover model? I felt the outline of his chest muscles through his suit, and I immediately wondered what it would be like to feel his bare skin against mine.
“Are you all right?” His deep, sexy, and commanding voice asked, and as his smile grew, a set of dimples appeared on his cheeks.
God gave him dimples too?
I tried to find words. My eyes locked into his, as currents of hot electricity pumped through my body. I managed to mumble a yes.
Someone needed us to move so they could get through. He stepped aside but still held onto me. My heart wasn’t the only one that raced—I could feel his beating through his suit.
I licked my lips. He intently stared at me and his smile grew bigger. I couldn’t help it and grinned back at him.
I’m not sure how long we gazed at each other, but several people tried to get past us. He reluctantly released me. Disappointment at the lack of his touch coursed through my body.
“Thanks for keeping me from falling; I’ll let you pass now,” I somehow squeaked out.
“My pleasure.” He winked at me and walked into the men’s room.
* * *
Jack
I walked into the men’s room as my mind reeled. My senses registered high alert—she was the most stunning girl I had ever laid eyes on. When she stared at me with her big blue eyes, and her jet black hair brushed softly against my hands, I had held myself back from leaning into her and kissing her.
I studied my reflection in the mirror. I wondered if she would still be in the bar.
Was she here by herself or with someone?
Please, let her be by herself.
I only went to the bar to use the restroom. There was a long line of people in the lobby, who waited for the elevators. The plan was to use the bathroom and go up to my room. Over a year ago, I stopped using women for my pleasure, and the bar no longer served me.
A shock had pulsed through my system when I held her. She felt perfect in my arms. I wanted to pull her closer. The only reason I let her go was because people needed to get past us.
I wondered where she was from and what her name was. Was she here on business or pleasure?
God, the things I want to do to pleasure her.
Stop it! I told my reflection in the mirror. She could have any guy in the place, and I was sure they were better guys than me. I didn’t deserve a girl like that.
She wasn’t only the most beautiful girl I had ever seen, but she seemed sweet and innocent. Every fiber of my body wanted to find out more about her.
I tried to talk myself out of it. It wasn’t a good idea. If she knew what I had been a part of, she would definitely run.
If only I could have met her after my dealings with the FBI were over. Maybe then we could have had a chance. Surely, it wasn’t right to get involved with her while I was still dealing with this crap.
Jack, walk straight out of the bar and up to your room.
It was decided. I would not pursue her.
I walked out of the restroom. My brain told me not to look for her and to go straight to my room. But my dick won. I glanced around to see if she was still in the bar. I spotted her, in the back, by herself with her laptop open. She had her perfect legs crossed and a glass of wine in her hand.
She was eloquent, classy, and drop-dead gorgeous. When I gazed at her, I couldn’t walk away.
Before I knew it, I was at the bar, ordering from the bartender. This was not in the plan, but I had to get to know more about her.
* * *
Maddie
I debated waiting in the hall for him to come out, but my common sense returned. I scurried back to my table. My mind raced, as I stared at my blank computer screen, not sure how a stranger could make me feel so excited.
I had booked the trip to Tampa to spend a week by myself. I wanted to detox men from my life, and here I was, with jelly insides at the first gorgeous guy I saw. “Damn it, Maddie,” I cursed myself. “You aren’t here for men.”
I took some deep breaths and tried to regulate my heartbeat. I had never felt a jolt like that—with any man. I tried to convince myself it must have been because things were so bad with Mike for so many years.
Why did you stay so long? Once again, the question I couldn’t answer flew through my mind. I sighed. I was a doormat for so many years. I had tried to do whatever I could to make him love me when he never would and put his happiness over mine.
But why did I stay?
The waiter came over and put a bucket with ice next to the table, which snapped me out of my thoughts. I shot him a confused glance.
He proceeded to open a bottle of Cristal Champagne. He filled a glass then handed it to me.
“I didn’t order this.”
“Madam, Jack Stevens ordered this for you and would like to know if he could join you?”
“Jack Stevens?”
The waiter nodded toward the bar. The jolt once again shot through me as our eyes met. My heart rate skyrocketed up again as I tried to comprehend the situation.
Jack lifted his eyebrows at me, as if in question about whether he should come over. My brain reminded me that I had sworn off men and that I needed to be by myself and figure out who I was first...but my body betrayed me.
I managed to point to the chair opposite mine.
Crap. What am I doing? My insides started quivering. Where could this possibly lead? I’m several states from home and in a resort hotel bar.
The waiter smiled and filled another champagne glass before he set it down across from me and left. I had little time to compose myself before Jack arrived.
“Jack Stevens.” He held out his hand.
“Maddie Burns.” I grabbed his hand and shook it.
“I hoped you weren’t here with anyone.” He sat across from me, dimples popping out as he grinned, and his eyes shined from the flicker of the candles.
I blushed, not sure what to say, and finally grabbed my glass and held it up. “Cheers then, I guess.”
He clinked my glass and took a sip. “Maddie,” He enunciated my name into a sentence, and let it hang in the air. “Are you here for business or pleasure?”
“Pleasure,” I replied, a little too quickly, then blushed again at the thought of pleasure with him.
His smile deepened. “Pleasure is good.”
My flush swept across my cheeks and heated up so much I wanted to go hide.
This was so out of character for me. I didn’t go to bars alone. I didn’t get picked up by men who could be cover models and oozed power and confidence. I wasn’t sure how to play this cool.
The thought of pleasure with him made my insides pulse.
I continued to sip my champagne. Somehow I managed to get out, “And what are you here for, Jack Stevens?”
He laughed a bit. “Business...and maybe some pleasure.”
My face was officially in flames as images of our naked bodies filled my mind. I tried to concentra
te on breathing calmly. As I sipped my champagne, I realized that I was halfway through my glass.
Setting my glass on the table, I asked, “What do you do…for business.”
“I guess you could call me an entrepreneur. I’m in town assessing a few businesses to buy. What about you, Maddie? Where are you from?”
I sized him up, wanting to know everything about him. He felt mysterious, and I was drawn to him, almost like a magnetic pull I couldn’t control. My eyes wouldn’t leave his. “From California, but I live in New York City now.”
I didn’t think his smile could get any bigger, but it did. “Well I guess we both have that in common. What part of the city?”
My stomach did a happy flip. He lives in New York City, too?
“Right now I’m in the Meatpacking District. I’ll be moving...just not sure where yet.” I regretted the words that came out of my mouth the minute they left.
“Oh?” His brows lifted in question.
The last thing I wanted to do was talk about my breakup. I quickly decided on a different route: “Roommate issues.”
“Boyfriend or friend?” He drilled me. “And I’m hoping if it’s a boyfriend that it’s an ex...no offense.”
“Ex and no offense taken.”
He sat back in his chair, cool and in control, and watched me with the same intensity and huge grin.
“What?” I shifted in my chair.
“Dumb guy to let you go,” he stated matter-of-factly.