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Blurb:

Living as a survivor, Detective Grace Martin is following her father's example, embracing an innate ability to track down killers. From undercover work in Vegas Metro P.D. to homicide investigation in the NYPD, Grace can handle anything…. Until a number of women go missing, and she determines the connection between the cases.

Lieutenant Max Mathews, the lead investigator on the task force, needs Grace Martin's expertise. While working undercover, Grace comes face to face with a man, known as ‘The Master’ who identifies her through her disguise. After the botched undercover operation, Lieutenant Mathew’s concern and feelings for Grace grow beyond professional.

The Master has a plan. Grace Martin will not destroy his illegal sex slave business. Targeting Grace as his very own sex slave, he uncovers Grace’s weakness, manipulating events to elicit the nightmares of her past, playing on her every fear.

Grace knows some of the missing women are still alive, being held against their will, and despite her cop’s training, she herself falls prey to the Master’s trap.

Grace’s father died because of the ‘job.’ Will history repeat itself?

Excerpt:

There was so much to take in all at once as Mary led Grace to a large bar. Billy was tending bar as Mary counted on and the place was wall to wall with people.

Grace tried not to make eye contact with anyone and she felt completely on display as if she were a large side of beef at some meat market. Her thoughts were validated with rolls of tongues and disgusting remarks from strange men in odd get-ups.

Mary just pushed her way through the crowd holding Grace’s hand. She appeared to be smirking at Grace’s reaction. However, Grace did not find any of this humorous.

They stood near the end of the bar, Grace taking the corner spot to ensure her backside’s safety. There were numerous places to stand, sit, and dance and a small crowd gathered near a dark hallway.

Grace leaned closer to Mary. “What’s down there?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“Sure I do. This is why I’m here.”

“The peep show.” Grace stared at Mary while the small bit of info registered in Grace’s head.

Mary whispered to Grace, “They’re going through a long hallway to watch. There’s all types of people out there, Jane, and some of them get off watching while others like to be watched.”

Grace felt sick to her stomach.

“Find out what you can about Celina, and then let’s get the hell out of here,” Grace told Mary.

Grace remained in one place. She watched the bartender, carefully hoping and praying she wasn’t slipped something in her drink. She heard of this happening before and panic set in. She watched Mary do her thing, flirting with the bartender around the other side of the bar. She was good and obviously had a lot of practice at it.

“Hey, red, what’s your pleasure?”

Grace swung her head around to the short guy dressed as if he just had a hard day at the office in some stuffy firm downtown. The nerve of him to approach her. Obviously, he didn’t know the rules. Grace kept her cool recalling Mary’s advice.

“Take a walk,” she told him firmly, then took another pretend sip of her wine, being sure not to make eye contact with him.

“What if I say no?”

Pretty gutsy for a short guy. His head barely made it level with her chest.

She ignored him, then turned her back to him and faced the bar. Not surprisingly, Mary was no longer there and Grace tried to play it cool, keep in her role, but the twerp wouldn’t leave.

When an arm went around her waist, she made a fist and prepared to let loose, but strong arms took hold of her, then a man stepped between the two of them.

The stranger was taller than Grace and she couldn’t see his face since his back was toward her as he whispered to the shrimp who ran with his tail between his legs.

All Grace could see was black hair, the sides of a mask, and large stocky shoulders. He wore a tux, shiny black shoes, and black gloves covered his hands. Slowly, he turned toward her. His eyes were dark and mesmerizing, his lips moist, seductive as he spoke to her.

“I’m sorry about that. It seems some people don’t know the rules.”

He spoke with a fake English accent, but she was more interested in his eyes. There was something familiar about them. She stayed silent, wondering where the hell Mary was and what terrible luck she was having.

First an elf, now a wannabe Zorro.

“What is your name?” he asked.

She stayed silent. She was supposed to be in control. Who was this guy?

“Maybe you don’t know all the rules, either?”

He teased, then snapped his fingers and the bartender was immediately handing the masked man a drink.

“I am the Master and I know everyone who comes here. You are new, are you not?” The English accent was bold but weak on certain syllables. She was good at detecting fakes.

“Jane.” She assumed the man was some kind of master of the club. She didn’t want to make a scene. Where the hell was Mary?

He leaned in closer to Grace and in half a second, she was pinned helplessly against the wall. His hands held her wrists tight, his body wedged up against hers. She didn’t want to appear frightened or frantic, but his bold move was intimidating and scary.

He stared intently at her. Their gazes locked.

“Let go of me,” she demanded in a whisper.

His face was next to hers, his cologne strangely familiar. His stare held her own. “Jane does not suit you.”

Grace tried to stay calm and waited for her chance to escape.

“You don’t think so?” She tried to sound more confident and remain calm. What were the chances that assault or even rape weren’t against the rules?

She swallowed hard, fully aware of her dry mouth and in need of something way stronger than the full glass of white wine that remained untouched on the bar.

“Too plain for such a seductive beauty as yourself.” The words rolled off his tongue, the exotic music played, the lights flashed red, blue, then green, and she was somewhat eager to challenge the masked man.

He was frightening, spooky, and wicked. It was strange, but she sensed the evil within him. She tried to make light of the current situation. It was an attempt to still feel somewhat in control even though she knew better. This was bad.

“It’s Bond. Jane Bond,” she whispered back at him then smiled. Her voice held steady but she was losing it.

As he stared deeper into her eyes, she closed her mouth. He again moved his lips closer to Grace’s, but there was no contact. He inhaled her perfume, then his lips lingered above her neck before moving to her ear and he whispered, “A more suitable name for you would be Goddess, perfection … Grace.”

She nearly fainted and she was certain her eyes revealed her fear, shock, and surprise. How does he know my name?

“Who are you?” she asked, her voice shaking now despite the control she tried to maintain.

“The Master,” he replied, then gently released his hold but brought her hand to his lips. He softly kissed her hand and released it.

“I have business to attend to, but I’m glad to have met you.”

He walked away through the crowd and she stood speechless, wondering who he was.

About the author:

Laura Marie Henion is an imaginative, dynamic author of suspense and romance fiction. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and EPIC Authors, and has obtained many of her ideas and accurate information from family members, friends, and law enforcement personnel. She has always had an interest in the law enforcement field and enjoys creative writing.

As a young adult, she created short stories and poetry to share with her family and friends. Laura integrated her creative writing skills in her professional career as both a sales center manager and a social worker. Laura is also the office manager for her husband’s business and a mom of three. She loves working with people and believes this stems from both her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work as well as her strong law enforcement family background.

These factors add to the authenticity of her stories and the true to life qualities of her characters. She continues to work on multiple manuscripts including the new series Cop’s Daughter. Laura Marie presently resides in Historic Hudson Valley, New York with her husband and three small children.