No Quarter: Wenches – The Complete Series by MJL Evans and GM O’Connor

About the Book

Title: No Quarter: Wenches – The Complete Series

Author: MJL Evans and GM O’Connor

Genre: Historical Romance

Behind every successful pirate is a cunning wench! In 1689, Atia Crisp finds herself imprisoned in the
wickedest city on earth, Port Royal, Jamaica, while the refugees from Strangewayes’s plantation in the
Blue Mountains are on the run and seeking a new home, deep in the Caribbean. Captain Jean-Paul la
Roche must get them to safety and find a way to liberate the woman he loves while waging a war against
the English with the pirate Laurens de Graaf.

While besieged people suffer and starve, a group of women form a secret and illegal society deep from
within the bowels of the city called: WENCH. A network that deals with smugglers, merchants, cutthroats
and thieves. Dragged into the struggle for supremacy of the Caribbean, the women are divided and find
themselves engulfed in bloodshed. The pirates of Port Royal and former enemies may be their only hope
of escape.

Contains Volume 1-5

Excerpt 1

Inside the Four Feathers Tavern, Bleedin Art studied a game of strategy, but his mind was on the ships and men
he was now responsible for protecting. A three-dimensional tower of checked boards sat with finely carved
figurines placed in defensive positions. Art eyed his opponent and knew victory was at hand.

“Knight takes rook,” said Art.

Captain White sighed. “Aye, that he did. How come I’m always white?”

“It avoids confusion.” Art took a mouthful of ale. “Take yer time.”

“I’d like to.”

“Sweet British sackers!” Chuck Talbot examined the game. “He’s got your king trapped in the tower!”

“Thanks, Chuck,” White said. “What do you want?”

Commodore Chuck Talbot ran his fingers through his thick blond locks. He strutted to the table, donning a
yellow suit of slashed and braided satin complete with a frilled cape. “The convoy is ready to go. I’ll escort
them through the channel to the Bahamas. When I see our cousins from the Tongue of the Ocean, I’ll cut ’em
loose and get back here before you can say: Roger the mermaid’s kraken!”

White sneered. “Very good.”

“Nothing my navy boys can’t handle. Not to step on your toes, Captain Valentine, I know it’s a private
enterprise and all. Just till yer fleet’s back on her keel.” Talbot gave a pleasant smile.

“Just a slight setback,” Art said.

White slowly moved a pawn. “England appreciates both your sacrifices. I’m sure our ships will be protected.”

“More than your king.” Art took the pawn.

“This one or the one with the wig?”

Art took another turn.

“Tactful move.” Talbot patted Art’s back. “He didn’t see that one coming.”

“Captain White,” a woman called.

Art hadn’t seen Lady Anne Beeston in a while. Her auburn hair was pinned up, and her dark blue gown was
trimmed with white lace. She approached determinedly.

“Captain White, our ships will be ready to sail in a fortnight, and we still have no protection. Where’s our
privateers?”

“They’re coming,” Art assured.

“I can’t insure the contents until I know we are secure.”

Talbot bowed and winked. “Not to worry, Lady B, I’ve got ya abaft. Just load yer boats on time.”

“What a charming rogue,” Lady Beeston swooned and fanned her face.

Author Bios

MJL EVANS wanted to be a writer since she was ten years old and in 2014 she finally got her act
together and pursued her dream. Author of No Quarter: Dominium and No Quarter: Wenches, she
is a huge fan of Monty Python, Red Dwarf, and other BBC shows, her time is devoted to acrylic, oil
and watercolor painting, catering to her two senior cats and of course, writing.

You can connect with MJL Evans on Twitter at @artistmjlevans or noquarterseries@gmail.com GM O’CONNOR is a huge movie fan, writer and visual artist. A lover of sci-fi and history, half his
brain lives in the 17th century while the other half sails perpetually through space. Author of
No Quarter: Dominium and No Quarter: Wenches, he hopes to one day bring the No Quarter Series to
film and/or graphic novel format. You can connect with GM O’Connor on Twitter at @gm_oconnor or noquarterseries@gmail.com

Links

http://www.thenoquarterseries.com/
https://www.facebook.com/noquarterseries/
https://twitter.com/noquarterseries

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Wolf of the Tesseract by Christopher D. Schmitz

Wolf
of the Tesseract

by
Christopher D. Schmitz

Genre:
SciFi Fantasy

227
pages

While
investigating a series of strange murders in her neighborhood,
college student Claire Jones is kidnapped by a handsome werewolf who
claims he’s rescuing her from the clutches of an evil sorcerer. But
she can’t run forever and if Claire and her companion can’t
reclaim an arcane artifact to end the warlock’s reign of terror, he
will unleash the dark god Sh’logath’s cataclysmic power upon the
universe, shattering dimensional barriers, and devouring all reality.

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on Amazon Dec 28th- 30th!**

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it HERE! * Add
to Goodreads

Christopher
D. Schmitz is the traditionally published and self-published author
of both fiction and nonfiction. When he is not writing or working
with teenagers he might be found at comic conventions as a panelist
or guest. He has been featured on cable access television broadcasts,
metro area podcasts, and runs a blog for indie authors.

Always
interested in stories, media such as comic books, movies, 80s
cartoons, and books called to him at a young age—especially sci-fi
and fantasy. He lives in rural Minnesota with his family where he
drinks unsafe amounts of coffee. The caffeine shakes keeps the cold
from killing them. His entire family is musically gifted, although he
is, sadly, their only bagpiper.

Education:
Schmitz also holds a Master’s Degree in Religion and freelances for
local newspapers. He is available for speaking engagements,
interviews, etc. via the contact form and links on his website or via
social media.

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Goddess of the Wild Thing by Paul DeBlassie III

Goddess
of the Wild Thing

by
Paul DeBlassie III

Genre:
Paranormal Thriller

Goddess
of the Wild Thing is a dramatic tale of one woman’s spiritual
journey where magical happenings, unexpected turns of fate, and
unseen forces influence her ability to love and be loved. Eve
Sanchez, a middle-aged woman and scholar of esoteric studies,
encounters a seductive but frightening man who introduces her to a
supernatural world in which the wicked powers of a surrogate mother’s
twisted affection threaten love and life. In the mystic realm of
Aztlan del Sur, Eve and three friends struggle with whether bad love
is better than no love and discover that love is a wild thing.

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Paul
DeBlassie III, Ph.D. is a depth psychologist and award-winning writer
living in his native New Mexico. He specializes in treating
individuals in emotional and spiritual crisis. His novels, visionary
thrillers, delve deep into archetypal realities as they play out
dramatically in the lives of everyday people. Memberships include the
Author’s Guild, the Depth Psychology Alliance, the International
Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, and the
International Association for Jungian Studies.

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cover reveal for Worth the Risk by J.B. Heller

Worth the Risk
J.B. Heller
Publication date: January 4th 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

It was meant to be a one-time thing. One night they could let go of the restrictive chains their everyday lives bound them in.

When a new client file turns out to belong to the woman Abe slept with three months ago, he does something he has never done before. He goes against company policy, one he created, and places himself on the case as her full-time bodyguard.

It’s not bad enough her father’s political aspirations have landed Kalista in hot water, she’s about to have a twenty-four/seven shadow too. Far from happy about the added protection, she hates the idea of constantly being watched. But then she meets her new bodyguard.

Now that Abe has Kalista so close again he knows he wants to keep her in his life. When the threats against her escalate, he’s forced to act. But will his new-found attachment to Kalista make him a liability or their greatest asset?

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Author Bio:

JB Heller is an average Aussie housewife in her late 20’s with a wicked sexy imagination. She and her super sexy husband are the parents of three minions, two Great Danes and a Cat who thinks she’s a person.

She spends her days running around after her wildling children and jotting down stories in her flower embossed leather notebook (She is very particular about her stationary.). She’s a self-confessed Stationary Junky who’s constantly on the lookout for more.

Most day’s JB can be found glued to her laptop, taking advantage of school hours- writing as fast as she can while she can. Or trolling Pinterest for her next potential muse. And when she needs a break from the voices in her head she indulges in her favourite past time, reading.

Want to know more about JB? Check her out, you’ll be guaranteed a good laugh if nothing else.

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cover reveal for Blackwater Savior: Mia and Spooky by Inger Iversen

Blackwater Savior: Mia and Spooky
Inger Iversen
Publication date: December 28th 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Want to read exclusive content, hear audiobooks available exclusively only to members, join members only giveaways, and more? Join the Insiders Club and become a member. It is free, sign up is fast, and comes with a free book from my library of your choice. The first free short story features Mia and Spooky from the Blackwater Renegades releasing in December. Join to today!
Two years ago, Mia Sheridan’s face lay plastered on missing person flyers, CNN, and other various news outlets. She was one among six other missing women from the Clearwater area, neither a trace nor a hair left behind. Abducted and beaten, Mia has finally come to terms with the fact that she will die … her only concern is when that time will come.
Road Captain and eight-year vet with the Blackwater Renegades, Spooky is tasked with convincing a monster to sign divorce papers. He expected blood and mayhem, but what he got instead was Mia Sheridan, who was like an innocent angel. He never believed in love at first sight―lust at first taste was more like it―but the honey-eyed woman with a glint of defiance in her eyes is a fighter, and that he can respect. When Spooky takes a solemn vow to protect her, he finds himself in over his head, but right where he belongs.
Blackwater Savior is a short story, a prelude to Mia and Spooky.
>>Insiders Club | Members Only<<

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Author Bio:
Inger Iversen is the bestselling author of several novels including her New Adult Series, In the Dark: Running in the Dark, Sinners in the Dark, Confessions in the Dark, and coming soon, Absolution in the Dark. She is also the author of the bestselling Few Are Angels series, a paranormal romance told from the heroine’s perspective that builds in intensity and intrigue to a finale you won’t see coming. Heart pounding action mixed with heartwarming friendships and heartbreaking romance will leave you breathless and begging for more.

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8PCS JYGIRL It’s a great fidget toy

Super cute animal fidget toys. This is an 8 pc set. Mine has 2 pigs, a cat, a seal, a panda bear, a mouse, a bunny, and a chick. They are very soft and stretchy. Great for those minutes when you just need something to play with to de-stress or if you are like me, when in deep thought. There are so many different ways you can play with these. You can stretch them, squish them, roll them in you fingers or fist and more.

They do tend get dirty easy as they are a soft sticky like rubber,they collect dirt and hair but  just run them under water to clean. They are very stretchy and fun to play with. The kids love them as much as I do. they are so adorably cute to look at.

These toys are quite small so keep away from little children and babies. The largest one in the set, the cat,  is about 2 inches long, the smallest one is the chick, it is about an inch tall.

This adorable set can be split up between family members or kept as a set. They would make a really cute gift for kids above the chewing stage or adults even.

Check this out on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073WV8HNZ

I received this product for free or  at a discounted price in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A Harmless Little Game by Meli Raine blitz

A Harmless Little Game
Meli Raine
(Harmless, #1)
Publication date: October 18th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Four years ago I lost my virginity on live, streaming television.

Too bad I wasn’t awake for it.

The video went viral. Of course it would. A Senator’s daughter on camera? Wouldn’t you click “share”? Besides, that’s what three of the four guys in the video did.

Share.

They shared me.

But that fourth guy? The nondescript one in the background in the upper left corner of the screen, just sitting on the couch? The only one who did nothing?

Not one single thing.

That was my boyfriend, Drew.

And that was the last time I saw him.

Until today, when my father—now on a path to the White House—hired him as head of security for my new team as I return home after four years of “recovering” in an undisclosed location that involved white lab coats, needles, pills and damage control.

You see, the other three guys never went to jail. Never had charges pressed.

Never faced consequences.

Until today.

Game on.

* * *

A Harmless Little Game is the first in this political thriller/romantic suspense trilogy by USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine.

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—

EXCERPT:

Short, clipped chestnut hair. Brown eyes the color of well-worn leather, eyes that blaze with intelligence and a guardedness no one could ever breach. He’s bigger than the last time I saw him, four years ago. Broader. More muscular. He’s a controlled, contained man who has a James Bond air to him.

And he’s looking at me right now with eyes so cold they might as well be icebergs.

“Lindsay, let me introduce you to Andrew,” Stacia starts.

Drew. Oh, God, it’s true.

“Andrew Foster will be your new security specialist. He and his team will keep you safe.”

I snort.

He stares.

Stacia’s eyes leap from Drew to me and back. “Is there a problem?” she asks, brows turning down. That’s more emotion than I’ve seen in her for four years. Her gaze darts between me and Drew, assessing the situation. No matter what, I lose if she decides something’s going sour here.

Even if Drew is the one gone bad.

“No.” Drew and I say the word at the exact same moment, in the same tone of voice. It sounds like a sharp clap, a single sound that shatters noise.

“You two know each other?” Stacia asks, her fingers caressing the paper. Without that discharge form, I can’t leave. If Drew ruins this for me, it will be the second time in my life he’s fucked up.

The first time was four years ago when he let three of our friends rape me.

Author Bio:

Meli Raine writes romantic suspense with hot bikers, intense undercover DEA agents, bad boys turned good, and Special Ops heroes — and the women who love them.

Meli rode her first motorcycle when she was five years old, but she played in the ocean long before that. She lives in New England with her family.

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Love on the Edge by Kerry Evelyn

Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Date Published:  December 5, 2017

Publisher:  LLC: Swan Press

Lanie Owens has just survived a horrific attack by a stalker. Her grandfather, a retired army colonel, drives her to a resort in Maine where she can heal in peace while the authorities track down the man who almost killed her. To Lanie’s dismay, he hires a bodyguard to protect her. Lanie’s nightmares are debilitating, but giving up control of her life is unacceptable.

Former Army Ranger Matt Saunders knows all about nightmares. He’s spent the last year recovering from an injury he sustained during his last tour and the hellish events that caused it. Anxious to prove that he is fit to go back overseas, he accepts the bodyguard job. The resort is everything they imagined - tranquil, safe, and a place to heal. Gradually, they open up to each other and realize they have a lot in common – except their future plans. When a resort video goes viral, Lanie's stalker knows just where to find her.

About the Author

Kerry Evelyn has always been fascinated by people and the backstories that drive them to do what they do. She graduated from Bridgewater State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education and Sociology. A native of the Massachusetts South Coast, she taught in an inner city elementary school before moving to Florida to teach in a rural setting, and then in her own neighborhood. Fast forward a few years, and she's now a crazy blessed wife and homeschooling mom to the two sweetest kids you'll ever meet (she's also super biased). When she's not homeschooling or writing, she's mentoring moms through Mom Mastery University, sharing essential oils, and planning super fun events for her kids and their friends (although her own kids have yet to be impressed, being that every event has some sort of learning snuck in to it). She loves God, books of all kinds, traveling, taking selfies, and escaping into her imagination, where every child is happy and healthy, every house has a library, and her hubby wears coattails and a top hat 24/7.

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Enter Here

The One Apart by Justine Avery

Paranormal

Date Published: 12/4/17

Only one obstacle stands in his way of enjoying a normal life. He remembers—every life he's lived before.

Tres is about to be born... with the biggest burden any has ever had to bear. He is beginning again—as an ageless adult trapped in an infant body.

He and his teenage mother face life filled with extraordinary challenges as they strive to protect, nurture, and hide how truly different he is. But Tres alone must solve the greatest mystery of all: who is he? The answer is linked to the one question he's too afraid to ask: why am I?

In his quest, Tres discovers that all is considerably more interconnected and dynamic than he could ever imagine—and fraught with far more danger. He cannot hide from the unseen threat stalking him since his birth.

Life as he knows it—as all know it—is in peril. And Tres is the only one aware.

About the Author

Justine Avery is an award-winning author of stories large and small for all. Born in the American Midwest and raised all over the world, she is inherently an explorer, duly fascinated by everything around her and excitedly noting the stories that abound all around. As an avid reader of all genres, she weaves her own stories among them all. She has a predilection for writing speculative fiction and story twists and surprises she can’t even predict herself.

Avery has either lived in or explored all 50 states of the union, over 36 countries, and all but one continent; she lost count after moving 30-some times before the age of 20. She’s intentionally jumped out of airplanes and off the highest bungee jump in New Zealand, scuba dived unintentionally with sharks, designed websites, intranets, and technical manuals, bartered with indigenous Panamanians, welded automobile frames, observed at the Bujinkan Hombu Dojo in Noba, Japan, and masterminded prosperous internet businesses—to name a few adventures. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree that life has never required, and at age 28, she sold everything she owned and quit corporate life—and her final “job”—to freelance and travel the world as she always dreamed of. And she’s never looked back.

Aside from her native English, Avery speaks a bit of Japanese and a bit more Spanish, her accent is an ever-evolving mixture of Midwestern American with notes of the Deep South and indiscriminate British vocabulary and rhythm, and she says “eh”—like the Kiwis, not the Canadians. She currently lives near Los Angeles with her husband, British film director Devon Avery, and their three adopted children: Becks, Sam, and Lia. She writes from wherever her curiosity takes her.

Avery loves to connect with fellow readers and creatives, explorers and imaginers, and cordially invites you to say “hello”—or konnichiwa.

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cover reveal for Night Shift by Carey Decevito

Night Shift
Carey Decevito
(Nightshade, #2)
Publication date: January 9th 2018
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

A serial killer…

A past that haunts no matter how much the distance…

Which one will strike first?

Eighteen deaths over eight years has left Shane Peters itching to find his mark. The death that started it all ensured his obsession with the murderer who had turned his life into a living hell, leaving him to raise a newborn daughter on his own.

Starting over wasn’t the easiest thing, but Emberlyn Roth had managed by shear grit and the skin of her teeth. It’s too bad one can’t outrun their past.

A protector of the wronged, Shane is torn between his duty as a detective for the Jacksonville PD and a quest to find himself some peace. Red tape binds his capabilities and moonlighting as an investigator for Nightshade Securities has him feeling stretched thin. Late nights on the streets and his sense of duty keeps him from being the father he wants to be. Throw onto his already rickety house of cards, an attraction to the mysterious Emberlyn, the lead he’s got on the murderer he’s been hunting for nearly a decade, and threats his woman is receiving by an unsavory character from her past, and he’s seriously tempted to take Dalton Kipper’s offer to join his team in a permanent basis.

Rules have a place, but when you’re faced with losing the one that means most to you, lines can become blurred. With the fate of his family’s future hanging in the balance, he’s ready to risk it all.

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Author Bio:

Born and raised in small town Northern Ontario, Canada, Carey Decevito has always had a penchant for reading and writing.

More than a decade later, with weeks of sleepless nights, where exhaustion settled into her everyday existence, she finally gave in and put pen to paper (more like fingers to keyboard!) She submitted to the dreams that plagued her. And the rest, as they say, is history!

A member of the RWA, Carey Decevito enjoys spending time with family and friends, the outdoors, travelling, and playing tourist in Canada’s National Capital region. When life gets crazy, she seeks respite through her writing and reading. If all else fails, she knows there’s never a dull moment with her two daughters, her goofy husband, and cat who she swears is out to get her.

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Power Struggle by Carolyn Arnold

About the Book

Title: Power Struggle

Author: Carolyn Arnold

Genre: Mystery

One hit man who’s back for revenge.

One detective who’s not going down without a fight.

It’s been ten months since Detective Madison Knight almost died at the hands of Russian Mafia hit man Constantine Romanov. She hasn’t seen hide nor hair of him since he escaped police custody and fled to Russia soon after his arrest, except now her latest murder investigation gives her reason to believe he’s back in town. Seeing as the victim is the man who killed her grandfather, her perspective may be a little skewed, but with the MO smacking of Constantine and the victim’s connections to the mob, she finds it hard to be objective. Still, she’s doing her best to consider all the evidence.

When she receives a threatening letter from Constantine, however, her suspicions are confirmed. And he’s made it abundantly clear that not only does he plan to finish what he started but he has her family and loved ones in the crosshairs, too. Madison vows to do whatever it takes to save them, but as the hours race by, the body count rises. And the stakes only get higher when Madison’s sister, Chelsea, goes missing.

Now, Madison’s only play is to take Chelsea’s disappearance for what it really means: Constantine is calling Madison out for one final showdown. And they won’t both survive…

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Series Information

What to expect from the Detective Madison Knight series:

Murder. Investigation. The pursuit of justice. Do you love trying to figure out whodunit? How about investigating alongside police detectives from the crime scene to the forensics lab and everywhere in between? Do you love a strong female lead? Then I invite you to meet Detective Madison Knight as she solves murders with her male partner, utilizing good old-fashioned investigative work aided by modern technology.

This is the perfect book series for fans of Law & Order, CSI, Blue Bloods, Rizzoli & Isles, Women’s Murder Club, and Hawaii Five-O.

Read in any order or follow the series from the beginning.

Author Bio

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives just west of Toronto with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:

Website - http://carolynarnold.net/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Carolyn_Arnold

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynArnold

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at http://carolynarnold.net/newsletters.

Book Excerpts

Excerpt #1

Excerpt from Chapter 1 of Power Struggle (Detective Madison Knight series)

Death was not discriminatory, but murder was certainly selective. At least that’s what Major Crimes detective Madison Knight had learned in her twelve years with the Stiles PD.

She looked down at the male victim. He was single, fifty-nine, and lying on the king-size mattress in his master bedroom. Silver sheets were covering him to his hips, leaving his upper body bare and exposing multiple stab wounds to his chest and abdomen. Blood was everywhere, staining the bedding and spattered on the walls and ceiling.

Normally, being immersed in such a messy murder scene would make Madison’s stomach churn. She’d most certainly feel a burning drive to get justice for the victim. But this time, she was devoid of emotion, flatlined like the man on the bed. If anything, there was lingering bitterness and underlying anger. Because she knew the victim. Jimmy Bates. The man who had killed her grandfather.

Because of Bates, her mother had lost her father as a teenager and her grandmother had to bury the love of her life before Madison was even born. And all this because Bates’s father had been the numbers man for the branch of the Russian Mafia that operated out of Stiles, and Madison’s grandfather, a police sergeant, had put him away.

Madison pinched her eyes shut briefly. A darker part of her was finding some sort of redemption in the fact that Bates had exited the world not of his own volition. Just as he had snuffed out her grandfather’s life, someone had taken Bates’s. A working out of Karma as it were…

“Are you all right?” asked her partner of seven years, Terry Grant. He had a light complexion and never had a blond hair out of place, always ran before breakfast, was a loving husband and father to a baby girl named Danielle. He was three years younger than Madison’s thirty-six.

She turned to see that he hadn’t come into the room alone. Higgins, the first officer on scene and her former training officer, stood next to him. Both men had given her time to be alone with the scene and Bates after learning the vic’s identity.

“I’m fine.” Her response had come out way too quickly to be believable.

She looked back at the body. Both his arms were over his head and tied to the barred, wooden headboard with zip ties. She let her gaze trail down to his ankles, to see if those were also restrained, but they were still covered. She’d have to wait until the scene was processed to find out.

Given the number of stab wounds he had, though, it was likely that both his arms and legs had been bound, which indicated that the killer knew where to strike to delay death and invoke torture. While the former indicated a professional, the latter suggested the killer may have been after something.

Madison scanned the room. A television was mounted on the wall at the end of the bed, and it was on at a low volume and tuned into a popular crime drama.

Odd how reality can mimic fiction.

“Winston should have sent someone else.” Higgins sounded apologetic for the Major Crimes sergeant’s decision to include her in the case.

She met his gaze and dismissed his comment with a wave. “He probably didn’t even know the ID on the vic when he made the call.” She returned her gaze to Bates, analyzing whether he’d paid and suffered enough for his wrongdoings. In life, he’d served a full twenty-five-year sentence, but when he’d gotten released nineteen years ago, it hardly seemed like enough punishment. Was his murder finally enough to satisfy her personal scales of justice?

As her mind relaxed, and she took in the scene, she sensed a familiarity about it. The numerous stab wounds, the bound wrists…  

The woman was laid out on the couch, her arms open wide, one resting against the back of the sofa, the other raised in the air, its wrist twisted back at an unnatural angle. Her torso was stained red with blood, which extended to the sofa and the floor. It was as if a can of red paint had been dumped on top of her.

“It looks like she was stabbed dozens of times. The killer must be a professional, too.”

At the time, bile had risen in Madison’s throat. The odor, the sight—it had been all-encompassing.

The woman’s name had been Lillian Norton, and the man who’d killed her had been a Russian Mafia hit man by the name of Constantine Romanov—the same hit man who had almost succeeded in raping and killing Madison ten months prior. Lillian’s longtime boyfriend had worked as an attorney for the mob, and she’d been tortured for information.

With Bates’s father’s involvement with the Russian mob, as well, it didn’t seem like it could be a coincidence that Bates’s murder resembled Lillian’s. And all the stab wounds, the bondage, the time it would have taken, and the seeming lack of concern over getting caught fit with Constantine’s personality. But if Madison was going to entertain the idea that Bates was killed by the hit man, that meant—

God, no, please don’t tell me he’s back.