Framed, p.18
Framed, page 18
“I was coming in here next. Right after you.”
“Fuck!” Juarez shouted. “We had him. We had the killer. And instead of being able to tell the city he’s behind bars, we have to tell the city he’s dead. Someone’s ass is on the line for this. We need to find out who got to him and how.”
“Damon,” Jessica breathed. She didn’t know how he did it, but she had no doubt he did. She stepped forward. “Someone was after him. When I got to his apartment, he thought I was there to kill him. Damon was after him. He’s the one who hired him.”
“Who the hell is Damon?” Juarez asked.
“My CI’s ex. I’ll talk to her. See if I can get her to sit down with a sketch artist. He seems to be the one behind all of this.” Marcus leveled Juarez with a look that said he was on it.
“Thank you, sir. I apologize for losing my temper.” Juarez glanced at Jessica and nodded.
“What happened?” Braden asked from behind her.
“What are you doing here?” Jessica blurted.
“I came to get you. What’s going on?”
“Silver’s dead,” Jessica told him.
“What?”
“He’s dead. He won’t sit in jail for the rest of his life and think about all the people he hurt. Of course, the bigger punishment for him might have been not being able to hurt more people. The world is a better place without him in it.”
“You can’t say things like that here,” Braden whispered.
Jessica rubbed her hands up and down her arms and nodded. She stepped to the side while the officers in the room with Silver taped off the door and called the medical examiner.
“Are you ready to leave?”
Jessica nodded. “I am. I’m free. I just need to figure out where I’m going to go from here.”
“For tonight, Taylor wants us to come to her place. And after that, I’m hoping I can talk you into staying in Niagara Falls. Maybe even staying with me.”
“I don’t know Braden—”
“I love you,” he blurted. “I should have said it when you did before, but I kind of panicked. You surprised me, and I felt the same thing, but I wasn’t expecting you to say it when you did. And I wanted to tell you when there were a few less witnesses. And when you weren’t in handcuffs. But I love you. I want you with me. In my life, in my house, in my bed. Forever, Jessica. I don’t want you to leave Niagara Falls.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks as he spoke. She nodded, unable to push the words out.
“Yes? You’ll stay?”
“All of it,” she breathed.
Braden wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in close. “So, I’ll get you at work and at home?”
“At work? What are you talking about?”
“I quit my job today,” Braden said.
“What? You can’t do that.”
“I already did.”
“Why? Why would you quit your job?”
“Because I had to leave you today. You were hurt and getting arrested, and I had to go back to work instead of having the freedom to go with you.”
“I can’t let you do that, Braden. I can’t let you give up something you love so much.”
“I’m not. I’m choosing someone I love more. I’ve always seen the world as black and white. Good and bad. Right and wrong. I couldn’t see the messy middle. The gray that most people lived in. Not until these last two weeks with you. There is no more black and white for me. There’s only you. And I know you are always going to be on the side of good.”
“Braden…”
“Leaving that job was the right choice. So many times over the last two weeks I’ve wanted to walk away, but I didn’t have the courage to do it. You’ve shown me courage isn’t something we have. It’s something we have to fight for. Backing down to toe a line isn’t the answer. Standing up and fighting for the people who can’t fight for themselves is what we all need to do more of.”
“God, I love you. You’re amazing. Even if I think it’s going to cost you more than you think.”
He leaned down and kissed her. “It won’t cost me you. That’s what matters to me. If I have you, I’m good. Besides, Taylor has been asking me to work security for her for years.”
“That’s what you meant by that?” Jessica asked with a laugh.
Braden nodded. “I think it’s a great plan. She can’t say no to me.”
“Who could?”
Taylor hugged Jessica so tight she almost cracked a rib. “I’m so happy you’re safe. And free. And that my brother finally realized how amazing you are.”
Taylor winked at Braden, who had yet to let Jessica get farther away than an arm’s length. They were in Taylor’s backyard, surrounded by Dex and his team and their families, but Braden wasn’t straying far.
“Me, too. On all of it,” Jessica said.
Taylor smiled brightly. Jessica could see the worry and the exhaustion on her friend’s face and hated that she put Taylor through so much over the last few weeks.
“How are you? Are you doing okay?”
Taylor snorted. “I’m fine. Just terrified. I thought someone would find you or something would happen. I was so mad at Dex for not telling me where you were all the time. He said they were on it, but he knew if I knew, I’d go see you and put you at risk.”
“Thank you for having them watch out for me. It was scary to be out there alone. And to not know if I’d ever be able to come back.”
“I would have dragged you back here if you tried to leave. I can’t do all of this without you.”
“You would have figured it out. You didn’t stop everything while I was gone.”
“I almost did. I never realized how much you keep running for me. I owe you a big raise.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I do. But we can argue about that another time. Can I ask how things are with my brother?” Taylor dropped her voice low.
“No, you can not,” Braden said, stepping forward and wrapping his arm around Jessica.
Jessica chuckled, but she was not going to complain. “I guess we’ll have to talk at work.”
“Where I’ll also be. All the time.”
“You’re not going to let me have any girl talk with my friend?” Taylor pouted.
“I will. As long as it’s not about me,” Braden argued.
“You’re no fun.”
“I know. Now, I think Jessica and I need to go. It’s been a long few weeks for her.”
Taylor stepped forward and hugged Jessica tight. “I am so happy you’re safe.”
“Me, too.”
They said their goodbyes and Braden drove them back to his place. Her apartment was no longer under the control of the police, but Jessica wasn’t ready to go back there yet. She wasn’t sure when she would be. Braden offered to move all her stuff out and into his place, but Jessica was still deciding what she wanted to do. Moving in with Braden after only a few weeks and one official date felt way too fast. Even if it also felt way too right.
They curled up on the couch together, like a regular couple who hadn’t been through hell over the last few weeks. Braden stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head.
“You know, I really do want you to move in. I know it’s fast, but you’re it for me.”
“I’m it for you?” she asked.
He nodded, shifting to look at her. Jessica sat up and turned toward him. “The first day I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful woman in the world. You ran into the glass door, and I thought you were adorable. And a little clumsy.”
“You saw that?” Jessica buried her face in her hands.
He pulled her hands apart. When she looked up at him, he nodded. “I did. And I still thought you were beautiful. But I wouldn’t let myself see you as a possibility. I put you in a Do Not Touch box and taped it shut. Taylor kept saying things about you over the years and picking at that tape until she pried the box open, and I found myself unable to resist you. Our date… I’ve never enjoyed a date that much in my life. And I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t invite you back here. It wasn’t pre-planned, but I couldn’t stop myself from wanting more of you once I had a little taste. And I still feel that way. I know it’s only been a few weeks, but you mean everything to me. I want you here day and night with me. Whenever you’re ready.”
“It feels soon,” Jessica admitted.
Braden nodded. “It does, but it feels right.”
She breathed a laugh. “It does.”
“So, you’ll move in with me. Stay here?”
Jessica nodded. “Yes. I will.”
“Good. Then I think it’s time for bed.”
He bent over and scooped her up and carried her to bed.
Jessica was still smiling the next morning when she rang Stacey’s doorbell. They were meeting with Raina and Frannie to talk about Damon and Karli and everything that had happened. Frannie didn’t want to meet at the shelter and risk scaring any of the other women, so they chose Stacey’s house.
Stacey hugged Jessica when she let her in and asked how she was doing.
“Good,” Jessica said, once again unable to hide her smile.
Stacey snorted. “I know that grin. That’s the grin of a woman who’s in love.”
“That’s the grin of a woman who had a lot of sex,” Frannie added.
“Both,” Jessica admitted.
“Good for you,” Raina said. “I’m so happy you and Braden were able to be okay through all of this. I hope one day we can have that girl talk we were supposed to have with Karli.”
Jessica nodded, her joy fading slightly at the reminder of everything they’d all been through and everything they were still going through. Raina wasn’t safe. Her ex was still out there, and he’d already killed at least two people to try to get to her.
“How are you holding up?” Jessica asked Raina.
Raina shrugged. “As well as I can expect. I wish Damon would go away. I’ll never go back to him. But he’s sick and doesn’t understand that.”
“You’re strong,” Frannie said. “Keep that spirit. You’re going to need it with a man like him.”
Raina nodded. “I know. I just wish I never moved in with Karli. I hate that she paid the price for my poor choice in men.”
“You didn’t know he was going to turn out to be so horrible,” Jessica defended. “Karli wanted you to be safe. She wanted you to have a life. We have to choose to go on living and fighting for what’s right. That’s what she would have wanted.”
Raina reached across the table and squeezed Jessica’s hand. “You’re right. That’s exactly what she would have wanted. I was so scared that day when I got to the building and saw all the police cars. I just kept going, not slowing down to look. I knew it didn’t matter what had happened, it was bad. I’ve been hiding since, but Damon still found me. The only way this is all going to end is if he’s dead or in jail.”
“Let’s go for jail,” Frannie said with a twinkle in her eye and a wink.
“Okay, we’ll go for that,” Raina said. She smiled.
“So, how are we going to find him?” Stacey asked. “He seems to be the one behind all of this. Even if the police are looking, they don’t have much to go on.”
The doorbell rang before anyone could say anything else. Stacey looked at the others, her brows pulled together.
“Are you expecting anyone else?” Frannie asked.
Stacey shook her head and left to answer the door.
Jessica and the others watched the front, waiting for Stacey and not wanting to say anything without her there. They heard the door open and Stacey gasp.
“Oh, my God. How are you here?”
Jessica looked at the others, but none of them moved.
The person answered, but their voice was too soft for Jessica to hear what they said.
“Come back here. Now. Jessica, Raina, and Frannie are here.”
“I know,” the voice said, closer now. A voice Jessica never thought she’d hear again. “That’s why I came.”
“Karli?” Jessica and Raina said at the same time.
Karli stepped into the kitchen. Alive. Upright.
“How are you here?” Frannie asked. “We thought you were dead.”
“So did whoever thought they killed me. That’s why I’ve been hiding.”
“He’s dead. Jessica found him. Damon was behind it all.”
“I know. What I don’t know is who it was that they killed. But she wasn’t supposed to be there. She broke in.”
“What?” Jessica asked.
“You saw her?” Raina asked.
Karli nodded. “I saw her. And she looked just like me. I have no idea who she was or why she was in my apartment, but I need to find out.”
FEIGN is available now…
Everyone thinks Karli Sloane is dead. In order to stay alive, she has to keep it that way. But someone is dead. The woman who broke into Karli’s apartment took her place unintentionally. Karli needs to know who she was and why she was there. And Cade might be the only one with the answers. If he can get her to trust him.
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* * *
Everyone deserves justice. Even when they’re no one.
Witnessing a murder was not on Frannie’s bucket list. Marcus had to find out what the curvy dancer knew.
They made a deal. She would help him, and he would find the murderers. No one would know she was involved. She hoped.
Frannie and Marcus’s story is available only to subscribers.
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* * *
Turn the page to read chapter one of FEIGN.
FEIGN
Chapter 1
Karli Sloane knew the minute someone broke into her apartment. It was a feeling, like she was being watched, but deeper, like someone whispered she wasn’t safe.
She was in her bedroom, taking off her jewelry after a quick trip out. Her best friend was coming over to share the dirty details of her first date with the guy she’d been lusting over forever. But whoever was in Karli’s apartment was definitely not Jessica. Or Karli’s roommate, Raina. It was someone else. Someone who was trying not to be heard.
Karli tiptoed to her bedroom door and peeked through the crack. She sucked in a silent breath. The woman could have been her twin. Especially at first glance. Same natural, shoulder-length dark curls. Same brown skin. Same full lips and wide nose. Even the woman’s clothes were things Karli could have seen herself wearing.
For all her similarities, Karli had no idea who the woman was. She definitely would have recognized her if they’d met before, which brought back the question of why the hell she was in Karli’s apartment and sneaking around like she was looking for something.
Stay or go? Fight or flee? Karli debated with herself for a few seconds as panic overwhelmed her and the need to run away consumed her. Then the woman walked into the kitchen, where Karli couldn’t see her.
Adrenaline pumped in her veins, but not the good kind that made you fearless and fight. It was the bad kind that made Karli want to vomit and cry. The kind of adrenaline that would have her in a puddle if the woman discovered her.
Karli had to get the hell out of there. Now.
The fire escape outside her window was the only option. She didn’t know why the woman was there, but Karli would get out and find a way to call the police.
She crept to the window and eased it open. Thankfully, she used it enough that it slid quietly. When she had just enough space to fit through, Karli squeezed her body out and closed the window so the woman wouldn’t realize Karli had left.
She resisted the urge to race down the fire escape, knowing the metal stairs would be loud and draw attention. She was just out for a casual stroll down the fire escape. In the fall. No big deal. There wasn’t any reason to be freaking out.
Besides the woman in her apartment.
Karli finally reached the ground and let out a heavy sigh of relief. She didn’t want Jessica or Raina to arrive and encounter the woman, but her phone and purse were by the front door, and she had no way of letting her friends know what was going on. If she was lucky, she would catch them outside the building.
And if she wasn’t, she’d catch the woman who broke into her apartment.
Karli leaned against the brick exterior near the front of the building. She tried to blend in and look like she was waiting for someone. Her adrenaline was sky high, pulsing through her system and making her hyperaware of everything around her. The smell of exhaust when a truck went down the street. The blast of a horn when someone was cut off. The rumble of an engine, voices shouting, food from the burger place a block away.
It all yanked her attention, making it impossible to focus on one thing. She did her best, until she heard a siren.
It came closer, the rhythmic whoop echoing louder and louder until she saw the lights. Red and blue flashing, synchronized to the sounds. It was enough to make Karli take a step away from the door.
The cops ignored Karli and everyone else on the street and rushed inside. An ambulance pulled up a minute later. The paramedics didn’t rush.
Karli watched the scene with a strange sense of detachment. Like she was witnessing it through a TV screen or someone else’s eyes. She was numb, her fear making it hard for her to understand what was going on. Not that she knew what was going on. Someone else must have seen the woman and called the police.
“What happened?” someone asked a police officer as they walked out of the building.
“A woman was killed,” the cop said. “We have to lockdown the building. Do you live here?”
The officer came toward the man who asked what happened. His hand rested on his hip, like he was getting ready to draw a weapon.
Karli backed away slowly so they didn’t notice her. The officer and the man on the street talked. When Karli made it to the corner, she turned it and took off.
She didn’t know where to go. Her purse with her phone and wallet were inside the apartment. She had no way of reaching out to anyone. She didn’t know what happened in the building and really didn’t want to become a suspect for anything. Especially not for murder.
