Collision Force Read online

  A Total-E-Bound Publication

  www.total-e-bound.com

  Collision Force

  ISBN # 978-1-78184-359-8

  ©Copyright C.A. Szarek 2013

  Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright May 2013

  Edited by Rebecca Douglas

  Total-E-Bound Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

  Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

  Published in 2013 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

  Warning:

  This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Total-e-burning and a sexometer of 2.

  This story contains 209 pages, additionally there is also a free excerpt at the end of the book containing 10 pages.

  Crossing Forces

  COLLISION FORCE

  C.A. Szarek

  Book one in the Crossing Forces series

  Bad boy FBI agent and feisty widowed police detective collide pursuing a human trafficker in small town Texas on their way to true love.

  Bad boy, married to his job FBI agent Cole Lucas always gets his man. So when the unthinkable happens and one gets away, Cole grits his teeth and hunts human trafficker Carlo Maldonado all the way to Antioch, Texas, where he collides with Detective Andi MacLaren.

  Cole doesn’t do small towns and doesn’t get involved with women he works with, but Andi tempts him in ways he doesn’t want to acknowledge.

  Two murders, her partner shot and leading the investigation on her own, the last thing Andi needs is a cocky FBI agent who sees her as no more than a tagalong.

  Widow and single mother Andi is used to being on her own. When Cole gets stuck without a place to stay, crashing on her couch puts them in dangerous territory.

  Attraction and passion bring Andi to a place she’d left behind when her husband died. Her three-year-old son quickly wiggles his way into Cole’s heart, and he starts contemplating things—family, love—that he’d never planned for himself.

  Can being forced to work together make them stronger or will their differences jeopardise their case and their hearts?

  Dedication

  For my husband, Shane. Looks like I finally came up with a story you’re interested in.

  Thanks to my cop buddy Jason for answering all my police questions, and former FBI agent Holly for helping me any time I needed it.

  Thanks Amee for your enthusiasm for this story and for loving Cole as much as I do.

  Thanks to Nicole for naming my town when I couldn’t think of one.

  Thanks Susie for telling me I was born to write this genre when I couldn’t have disagreed more. Also for dropping your own writing to critique for me when I needed it.

  Thanks to my critique partners Clover, Michelle, Jen and Gina for your suggestions, brainstorming and help when I was writing this book.

  Thanks Michelle, Jo-Anna, Alanna and Kerry for always being there for me.

  RIP Detective Tom Barnett. I miss you tremendously.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Dodge Challenger: Chrysler Group LLC

  Hamburger Helper: General Mills, Inc.

  Jack Daniel’s: Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow Prop, Inc.

  Tylenol: McNeil Consumer Healthcare

  Glock: Glock Ges.m.b.H.

  Green Bay Packers: Green Bay Packers, NFL

  Escalade: Cadillac Escalade, General Motors Company

  BMW: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

  Chevy: General Motors Company

  Magnum: Magnum

  Styrofoam: The Dow Chemical Company

  Sig: SIG Sauer GmbH

  Disney’s Cars: Walt Disney Pictures

  Ford Crown Victoria: Ford Motor Company

  Cavalier: Chevrolet, General Motors Company

  Dallas Cowboys: Dallas Cowboys, NFL

  Camry: Toyota Motor Corporation

  Honda Civic: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.

  Mercedes: Mercedes-Benz, Daimler AG

  Beretta: Fabbrica D’ Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A

  Skype: Microsoft Corporation

  Starbucks: Starbucks Corporation

  Wal-Mart: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

  Chapter One

  Cole cursed. He stared into the rear-view mirror in the busy parking lot, but saw nothing. He’d been so close this time.

  The damn local police were breathing down his neck, and that was the last thing he wanted…or needed.

  Cooperation, my ass. They needed to get the hell out of his case. He’d been too involved for too long, and he wasn’t about to let some Podunk police chief tell him what to do.

  Not to mention that dumbass detective getting himself shot. Cole didn’t need the locals piecing it all together. He had to wrap up a few things before letting them in on his case. Full disclosure wasn’t on his list at all.

  That bastard Maldonado had got away from him. Even two months later, that still chapped. But he’d tracked him here and been in town a few weeks with no clues. Until the shooting. Two goons dead and a police detective shot twice. And Maldonado had slipped back into the shadows. Cole’s gut told him the coward was still in town… He hadn’t—or couldn’t—move on. But where the hell was he?

  Cole’s cell phone rang, yanking him from his thoughts.

  “Lucas,” he said.

  “Where the hell are you?” Olivia Barnes, his supervisor, barked at him. “Chief Martin called screaming at me. He said you told him to kiss your ass? What the hell, Cole? I told you to cooperate with them.”

  Cole snorted. Chief Martin had misquoted him, but not by much.

  “I don’t need them, Olivia.”

  “Oh, don’t Olivia me. This was an order from higher up. Get that through your thick skull, dammit. Get to that station and make nice. Now.”

  Cole sighed. His boss didn’t respond. Though her tone had brooked no argument, he’d been tempted to tell her to kiss his ass. It wasn’t like his record wasn’t tainted, and it wouldn’t have been the first time he’d told her off. But he held his tongue. He was damn good at his job, and Olivia knew it. Cole would play along, for now.

  “All right,” he answered. Olivia was silent on the other end of the phone. Too silent.

  “All right?”

  “You’ve ordered me, correct?” Cole said dryly. He could almost hear her eyes narrow.

  “Just like that?”

  “Just like that. C’mon, Liv, I can be a good boy.”

  She harrumphed. “Okay. Go kiss Chief Martin’s ass.”

  “Can’t promise that, but I will go to the station.”

  “Good. I can’t afford any more damage control, Agent Lucas.”

  Uh oh, Agent Lucas? “Sounds like a warning.”

  “It is.” Olivia lowered her voice. “I don’t want to have to yank you off the case, Cole.”

&n
bsp; Like that would happen. “I’ll call you later.”

  She started to say something, but he ended the call imagining her outraged expression—one he was quite familiar with. He smirked. Yes, he would play along…for now.

  The drive to the station was short, but didn’t alleviate his irritation with the whole damn situation. He slammed the car door and winced, berating himself. He loved this car. Cole patted the hood in apology, admiring the brand new, deep metallic blue Dodge Challenger. It looked mean as hell. Like it was made for him. He’d even contemplated keeping it when this was all over.

  He groaned when he took in the smallish Antioch, Texas police station, but headed inside. The asshole desk sergeant practically growled when he introduced himself, as did Chief Martin over the intercom. He ran into the female, literally, right after Sergeant Asshole-of-the-year had finally acknowledged his existence and buzzed him into the back. And although his head smarted, seeing a beautiful woman was the highlight of his morning.

  “Whoa, sorry,” she said, smiling. Her chestnut hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she had the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. She was tall and slender, and he liked what he saw. She was wearing a white button-down dress shirt and snug khaki pants, and the outfit was somehow incredibly sexy.

  Cole almost missed the paddle holster at her waist, but when he saw it, he couldn’t help but admire her subtly rounded hips. Her badge was on a chain around her neck, swaying gently with her movements. A detective.

  “No, I’m sorry. You all right?” he answered, trying to tear his eyes away.

  “Sure. You?”

  He nodded. Cole bent and helped her retrieve the scattered case file contents. He latched onto a crime scene photo. Not only was she a detective, she was working his case—the pictures were all-too-familiar evidence. No doubt the local case was tied to his. He bit back a cringe.

  “Ah, I don’t think we’ve met.”

  They both straightened and she thanked him for his help. He tried not to stare at the items in her arms.

  “Oh, I guess not. Detective Andi MacLaren. Nice to meet you.” She held out her right hand, but he couldn’t help but glance at her left before accepting her shake. No wedding ring. Good.

  “Andi, huh?” He met her eyes.

  “Well, it’s Andrea, but not even my mother calls me that.” She smiled.

  Instinct told him she was a no muss, no fuss, hard-working kind of girl. Not overly feminine, but extremely appealing. A smattering of freckles spread across her high cheekbones and trailed over her nose. She wore little or no makeup—that drew him as well. Not his normal type at all, but gorgeous.

  “And you are?” she prompted.

  Cole jolted to attention. He’d been staring. And she looked as if she was oblivious. Should that bother him? Yes. Women always noticed him.

  “Special Agent Cole Lucas, FBI.”

  Her eyes widened, then she flashed a grin that could have only been called impish. It rivalled one he was known to give from time to time. “You’re Agent Lucas? You’ve had Chief in a tizzy all morning.” Was that admiration in her tone?

  He smiled back. “Guilty,” he admitted, winking at her.

  “Agent Lucas,” Chief Martin shouted from the doorway to his office.

  Cole caught Detective MacLaren’s eye and shrugged. “Guess I’m being summoned.”

  She chuckled.

  “Hope to catch you later…Andi.” He flashed a grin, then trotted towards the angry police chief before she could answer.

  Andi watched the FBI agent head towards certain doom and shook her head. He exuded cockiness. It took a great deal to rile Chief, but when Paul Martin lost it, look out. The whole force would avoid him for days.

  She tried not to stare at Special Agent Cole Lucas’ fine form as he jogged down the hall, but found it hard to avert her eyes. God, he’s hot.

  Tight jeans and a black T-shirt that clung to every muscle—and he wasn’t lacking any. He was tall, probably three or four inches over six feet, and he had eyes the colour of steel. His hair was coal black and neatly trimmed. She grinned, remembering his name was Cole. And damn if he didn’t have dimples when he smiled. He’d destroyed her image of proper suit-wearing FBI agents.

  Unfortunately, he reeked of bad boy and he definitely knew how good-looking he was.

  A man to avoid.

  She didn’t consider herself available anyway. Noticing him meant she wasn’t dead, right?

  Glancing down at the fat case file, she sighed. She’d have to make sure it was all back in order. Andi headed to her desk. She had a few calls to make, and she was planning on stopping by the hospital to see Pete. Her partner had been shot twice a few weeks ago, but was recovering well and itching to go home.

  They had no clue as to who had shot him…yet. But Andi was determined to catch the bastards. Working the case alone had been a challenge, though she was up to it. Pete would never blame her for the lack of progress, but she did. She couldn’t wait until he was back at her side. She missed him.

  She scanned his too-empty desk, then her own. A picture of Iain and a tiny newborn Ethan caught her eye and she smiled, her heart thumping hard. She still ached for her husband, who’d been killed in the line of duty just over three years before. She’d loved him and always would. Their son Ethan had only been six weeks old. Now three, he got her through each day. Andi was looking forward to getting home to him that evening.

  The case file caught her attention and she scowled. Duty called. She opened it, biting back another sigh.

  After signing into her computer, she opened her confidential informant database and scrolled down, scrunching her nose even though she found the phone number she needed. Calling CIs was her least favourite thing—Pete usually handled it.

  About five minutes later, Andi hung up the phone, frustrated because she’d got nowhere with a lousy CI. She jumped when it rang again, then groaned when the caller ID flashed Chief’s direct extension. She, like everyone else, was on avoidance mode with him.

  “What’s up, Chief?” she asked, keeping her tone light.

  “My office, MacLaren,” Chief Martin barked. Andi winced. What the hell? She’d done nothing to incur his wrath.

  “Coming,” she said, cringing as she heard the click.

  Andi slipped into Chief Martin’s office, smiling at his administrative assistant, Nikki. Her desk was right inside the door of the smaller room of the chief’s large, two-room executive space.

  “You can go right in. Beware…” the redhead said in a conspiratorial tone.

  “I know it,” Andi said, winking.

  Nikki grinned, her brown eyes sparkling. Andi had liked her since she’d been hired about a year earlier. She was young and open, but she was skilled at keeping Chief Martin in line and everyone admired her ability to do so. But, evidently, the buck stopped at far-too-handsome-for-their-own-good FBI agents.

  Swallowing hard, she headed into her boss’s office. A scowl marred Agent Lucas’ handsome face. What the heck? Their initial meeting had been light and friendly. What had she done to warrant that particular expression?

  She looked away from him, meeting Chief’s hazel eyes. His moustache twitched. He ran a hand through his thick, greying brown hair, and motioned for her to sit with the other. Andi slid onto the chair next to the FBI agent.

  “MacLaren, this is Special Agent Cole Lucas.”

  “We’ve already met,” Agent Lucas cut in, earning a glare from Chief Martin.

  She glanced between him and her boss, nodding.

  “It just so happens that your case may coincide with his,” the chief continued.

  The FBI agent made a low growling sound, and Andi ignored him as she met Chief Martin’s eyes for the second time. “The guy who shot Pete?”

  “Tip of the iceberg,” Agent Lucas muttered.

  Chief Martin scowled. “I want you to work with Agent Lucas.”

  Agent Lucas leant forward, his fists clenched. “I work alone.”

  “Not in
my city, you don’t. And not according to Special Agent Barnes.” The two men stared at each other.

  Andi had the urge to roll her eyes but forced herself to sit still. If it wouldn’t have pressed her luck with Chief Martin’s mood, she’d tell them both they could call her when their pissing contest was over. Although concerning her boss’s order, she was with Agent Lucas. She was better off without him.

  “I have a partner,” Andi said.

  “Detective Crane is unavailable, MacLaren. You’re sitting next to your new partner. So get acquainted.” Chief Martin intertwined his fingers and rested his hands on his desktop. “I have been assured that Special Agent Lucas will fully cooperate with your already on-going investigation.”

  “We’ll see about that,” the FBI agent said under his breath, earning yet another glare from her boss.

  Great, not only did he not want to work with her, he was planning on being tight-lipped. Andi really didn’t want to be stuck with him. “Chief, I don’t think—”

  “MacLaren, shut up. I didn’t ask what you thought. You’ll work with Lucas, no matter what either of you say. He will not roam around my city unchecked.”

  Agent Lucas rushed to his feet while Andi gaped. Chief Martin had never spoken to her in such a manner.

  “Unchecked?” Agent Lucas growled, his fists tight to his sides.

  Was he restraining himself from physically harming her boss? At another time, she might have been amused.

  “I don’t need a babysitter.”

  “I’m not a babysitter, dammit.” Andi’s words were out of her mouth before she could censor the statement. She glared. Both men looked at her.

  “Lucas, sit down. MacLaren, I meant no insult,” Chief Martin said. That was as close to an apology as she would ever get. “Lucas, MacLaren is my best detective. Second to her is her partner, Peter Crane, who is in the hospital recovering from his wounds. I am putting you with her because of her skills, not merely to keep you busy.”