When I looked at my phone I saw a missed call from Marc, my failed milk-toast relationship.

Shit.

I'd called him on Monday after I arrived at my mom's house, intent on starting the detachment process. I wasn't the kind of girl to text every five minutes, but I assumed he would've gotten the clue when frequent became even less so. Leaving him at the graduation should've been a huge clue, but apparently not. I felt bad for leaving him that way, and normally, I wouldn't have behaved like that, but all of this shit with Charlie had me behaving out of the ordinary. I apologized to Marc over the phone but still...I'd left the poor guy standing there.

I grimaced as I remembered the conversation. I tried to keep things short, let him down easy. He said he wanted to help me through my grief and all, but I gave him the old line about needing to be alone. When that didn't help, I ended the call with a lie about needing to go help my mom with something, putting him off yet again, nothing resolved.

A fresh surge of guilt washed over me.

Was I stalling, hoping the relationship could work? So much had happened lately, it was hard to focus on what I really felt for Marc, on what our future could possibly be. And then there was Raz.

I touched my cheek again, spurred by the memory of Raz' soft kiss. It was just a friendly kiss on the cheek, twice, but I still remembered what the brush of his lips felt like against mine, and it made me wonder what a real kiss would feel like.

I shook my head. I needed to call Agent Gutierrez, but I knew there'd have to be one more call, one bad one, where I'd have to be firm with Marc. Cut things off completely. Being soft on him would do him no favors.

I sighed. Shit. I'll call Marc after Gutierrez.

After a couple minutes, I got Gutierrez on the phone. Before I could start with my request, he started talking.

"Goodwin, I'm glad you called. I was about to call you with your first office of assignment."

Fuck.

I kept my voice even. "Thank you, sir. But before we get to that, I was wondering...you see, my family really needs me right now. With the circumstances surrounding my sister's death...well, it'd be different if she was older or died in an accident...well, you know what I mean. Is there anything in the rules about leave that would allow for an extension on time?" It wasn't a complete lie, my parents did need me, but more importantly, I needed to find out the truth about Charlie's death.

There was a long moment of silence before he spoke, "You do realize you just finished training, and you're scheduled to be sent to your first station of assignment, don't you?"

"Yes, sir, but I thought that maybe since I haven't been assigned yet, it'd be better to do this now, before I have my placement, rather than have something happen with my parents after I start. Or are there any rules about extenuating circumstances around bereavement leave?" I chose each word carefully.

"Not that I know of, off the top of my head, but I'd have to check with another office..."

Shit. My heart sank. The other graduates went to their assignments right after graduation. It was too much for me to ask for an exception in my case. I was disappointed, but understood.

"Well, thank you, sir."

"Where did you say your family lives again? I seem to recall on your application paperwork, it's somewhere in Arizona, right?"

I was confused, but answered, "Um, well, yes. Drexel Heights, just outside Tucson. Fairly close to Mexico."

He was quiet for a minute, but I waited.

Finally, he spoke, "Something came across my desk just this morning about our Phoenix division. An ongoing investigation into illegal drug running has gone dry in that very location. Their drug enforcement unit is looking into starting that up again. Maybe you could help."

I sat up straighter on the edge of the bed. This might work out even better than an extended leave. "Yes, sir, I'd be happy to help with an investigation."

"This could be a good fit for both of us, then. There's just one thing..."

I heard shuffling papers, and then he came back.

"Ah, yes, here it is. A small, easy job, try to get some intel on the drug running business, if it still exists, including connections to local gangs. The case has been stagnant for quite a while, so there might be nothing there. Do you think you could do that? Of course, you can't reveal that you're FBI...to anyone."

My mind was already racing with ideas, but the one I was thinking about back at the funeral stood out in my mind the most. "I think I can get a job at a local bar, the one my sister used to work at, actually. I know the owner, he's an old...friend from when I lived here. We went to school together. I'm sure he'd at least give me a part-time job."

I withheld the name of the bar on purpose, and the fact that the Saints of Sin were one of the gangs rumored to be involved with the very criminal activity he was describing. I didn't want him to know I had a personal connection that went beyond my sister. For a moment I wondered if I was crazy. This was my boss, my mentor, a new job, yet something inside me made me hold my tongue, reluctant to give him the information until I knew for sure what was going on. I just needed to be one hundred percent, before I ratted out Raz to the FBI. Plus, who said he would hire me anyway? All this worry could be for nothing.

"A bar would be good," Gutierrez agreed. "It's a place people go to talk and socialize. It'd be a good place to get some intel. Maybe you'd hear something." He paused, and then added, "Did you say your sister worked there? The one who passed away? Because, if it's too soon for you to be in the place where your sister spent her days, another place could work just as well."

"It's fine, sir. I want this assignment. I'll do a good job, I'll make you proud." I glanced at a picture of Charlie and me pinned to her bulletin board, taken at my graduation.

I'll make you proud, too, little sister.

The call ended after Gutierrez told me a few more details about being officially assigned to the drug unit of the Phoenix Division. The field office in Tucson was headed by Assistant Special Agent Shatner I was sure he got a lot of shit about that last name and it just so happened that Drexel Heights was an unincorporated area of Tucson.

Dammit. It looked like Mom got her wish. I was stuck in Drexel Heights after all.

The story continues in the stand-alone 350 pages novel, Saints of Sin, release October 21st as ebook and paperback.

Bonus 2: Flirting With Destiny.

Eve Carter.

Book Description.

"Damn my father and damn this trip. He died and left his affairs in a mess for me to settle. If I return to my hometown, I know the inevitable will happen. I'll run into Lauren Mitchell! When someone blasts a hole on your heart, like Lauren did to me, it tends to stay open and seeing her again will not ease the pain."

Aedyn Dell Cumberland left his small hometown after watching his mother pass away in the hospital the night of his high school graduation. In the years to follow he distanced himself completely from the small town and was transformed from a member of the geek squad to a handsome and successful businessman.

When he finally returns to attend his father's funeral, he runs into his high school crush, Lauren Mitchel. Old feelings he'd wanted to be left buried are stirred up until he learns about Lauren's short-tempered boyfriend.

Can a couple miss their destiny the first time, and then get another chance at it? Or will Aedyn's heart remain a puppet for which Lauren holds the strings?.

Chapter One.

Aedyn.

"That's it baby, keep going."

My finger jammed the electric button on the side of the leather car seat. It buzzed quietly as it slid back, giving the girl between my legs more room to work. Seeing a girl's head bobbing up and down and hearing the slurping sounds as her wet lips pulled around my hard cock-the visual alone sent my blood skyrocketing. Yea, this was the dream and I was living it. The seat hummed and so did she as the two of us glided backward in unison. She didn't miss a stroke.

"Great god almighty, babe." I sucked in air through my teeth and fumbled for another button to recline the seat a bit too, just for good measure. I pushed the girl's head down farther. I wanted to get the most out of her gargling my balls.

The girl-Rachel or Rhonda-whatever the hell her name was. She told me. I couldn't remember. Formalities, such as names, went out the window at a time like this. All I knew was that I had a monumental hard-on buried deep in her throat and an uncontrollable, and barbaric urge to call her, "bitch"-"Yea, take that bitch; let me fuck your mouth, bitch." I didn't even know where that came from. God, I was a dog and with a dirty mind to prove it. Only a bikini car wash could cleanse my soul now. Maybe.

The girl shifted her body in the cramped space of the front seats, arching over the center console of my BMW, maneuvering for a better grip on my massive hard-on. I had just recently purchased my sleek black Beamer and this was the best way to break it in, in my estimation.

"Fuck yea. Take all of it, baby. Suck it."

I tossed my head against the red leather headrest and closed my eyes, tuning out all thoughts except the glorious one of me exploding a load into this girl's mouth. The two of us had been headed to my place from the club for some serious pussy pounding, but damn, the girl couldn't wait. I was down for that.

Then two things happened at the same time. I heard the dull click of high heels scraping across the black asphalt parking lot and felt the car give a jerk, followed by a thud.

"Raquel!"

Oh, that was her name. The word came out sharp and quick as a female voice broke through my blissful concentration. To my disappointment, the head between my legs stopped moving, her lips became unattached to my hard cock, and her long curls were lifted in the direction of her name.

"What's up?" said the woman hovering above us with an eagle's eye view of my cock.

I opened my eyes to Raquel's upturned face. Her eyes were trailing the movement of my convertible top, which was magically recoiling itself, inch by inch, leaving an unobstructed view of the stars in the sky. With her eyes still glued to the movement of the top, which was now folding itself down into the trunk space, we were completely exposed-me with my zipper opened and her with wet lips-to the sight of the girl standing next to the car staring down at my now night-air cooled hard-on. The girl looking down on us wore a typical red club-style dress, clinging so tightly to her curvaceous body that it looked like she had been sealed in shrink-wrap. I wasn't complaining.

I turned my head and talked to the girl over my shoulder. "Hello."

"Nice cock." The girl said matter-of-factly, peering over the passenger side of the now expansive openness of my hardtop convertible.

"Hey, Lisa." Raquel said to our voyeur.

"Glad you noticed." I replied, unfazed by her close examination.

The girl furrowed her brow, now intent on berating her friend for leaving and launched into a fervent attack on my newly found delight of the evening. "Why did you just leave me back there? I don't have a ride home. You didn't even give me the signal that you were taking off with a guy..."

Her words poured out rapid fire as Raquel moved onto her knees, one of which must have hit the button to retract the top and make it fold down. It was located strategically on the center console, a position I hadn't considered when we started this whole adventure.

"I did give you the signal. You were too busy with tattoo guy to notice." She tossed her hair, pouting. "I always have to watch out for you. I'm tired of it. I want to have fun too. It's not my fault..."

"Ladies, ladies. Let's not argue." I sat up in my seat and tucked my now shrinking junk back into my pants. "There's room for-what's your name, sweetie?"

"Lisa." She was a smoking hot blonde with a really nice ass and big tits, who I was hoping would assist in making my day.

"Well, Lisa-who-needs-a-ride-home, get in. I'll give you a ride."

She raised an eyebrow and licked her plump glossy lips. Mmm, what big lips you have Little Red Shrink Wrap. The kind I'd like to have join us back at my apartment.

She shot a glance to her friend, as if asking permission, and Raquel responded, "Sure, hon, come on. We're going to Aedyn's place first, for a little party. You can join us if you want."

"Yes, please do." I gave the sexy blonde my best encouraging look. "Two's company and three's not a crowd-just more fun." I could see she wasn't convinced.

"Um, I don't know. I just want a ride home."

"I can sweeten the pot. I have a little of the devil's dandruff to snort. Up for it?" The idea of a three-way with these two babes was prickling my cock. I knew it was divisive of me, but I needed something to sway Lisa and get her into the idea of partying with us before I blew a wad in my pants just thinking about it.

Lisa took one more look at my now clothed crotch and swung a leg over the passenger side in order to climb into the back seat. As I watched the spikey heel of her shoe digging into my new red leather seats, I cringed. "Watch the seats." I warned.

"Sorry." She giggled and I twisted around to watch those long legs, hoping for a glimpse under her short wisp of a dress. I wasn't disappointed. As she moved to clear the door, the fabric stretched and rode up her thighs, giving me a peek of the heaven between her legs. Bare. Just my style.

Raquel had returned to the passenger seat and I reached across her, unlatching the glove box.

"This looks old. What songs are on it?" Raquel asked as she turned a plastic music CD case in her hands, trying to read the titles.

"Don't know," I replied as I shifted to pull my wallet and the small plastic bag of cocaine from my pocket. "I just use it for a smooth surface. Set in flat on your lap. I'll cut." I flipped a credit card out of my wallet and used it to pulverize the crystals into as fine a powder as I could manage under the current circumstances. Lisa scooted to the edge of her seat and leaned between ours, watching as I divided the white powder into three neat lines. As she leaned in, I caught a whiff of her perfume, heightening my anticipation of what I had in mind for these two.

When I finished, I leaned back and looked at Raquel. She had expertly rolled a dollar bill into a tiny tube.

I glanced at Lisa and then Raquel. "Are you up for it?"

"Is the Pope Catholic?"

I grimaced and gave her a mock look of concern. "Ooh, should we really be mentioning the big guy's name at a time like this?"

Raquel laughed, took the rolled bill and blew the entire length of a line up her nose.

Turning to Lisa, I said, "And for you, hot sweetness... take a hit." I passed the CD case with the two remaining lines. Raquel sniffed hard and handed the rolled dollar bill over her shoulder to Lisa. Lisa then blew her line in a way that told me she was no stranger to this either. I took the CD case as Lisa reclined against the red leather seat, then snorted the last narrow line of white hedonism up my nose.

My head lolled back, hitting the headrest and I said, "Fuck, what a great night."

I rolled it to my right when suddenly, there was Lisa's face again, poking between the two front seats. She was so freaking beautiful and that mouth. Damn, she looked so fuckable. Her hand slid down my shoulder as she reached over from the back seat. Her lips were drawing closer now. She was pulling my chin toward her, running her tongue along her lower lip. I was transfixed. Staring at their perfect roundness, their moist fleshiness. Once I got her to my place, I was gonna hit it hard with her. Some like it soft, but ooh baby, I wanted to shove my cock in her sweet mouth right now.

She leaned in further and covered my mouth with hers in a hot slow kiss. Fuuuck. That was the hottest kiss ever. I swore it felt like she was rubbing on my cock. Then I realized Raquel-not wanting to be left out of the action-had been rubbing her hand on my crotch the entire time. Shit, this was fucking awesome. But it was going to get even better once we got to my place. I let out a low laugh as Lisa melted into the back seat again.

Raquel pulled back her hand and said, "Let's move this party to a place where I have room to work." She smiled at me with half-hooded eyes and a promise of more excitement to come.

I straightened in my seat. "Your wish is my command." I started the engine and said, "All right, ladies. To my place."

I threw the car into reverse and barreled out of the T-Bone Club parking lot. Luckily, I lived in downtown Chicago, not far from the nightlife and all the great spots. Tonight was a typical Saturday night out for me, filled with drinking, clubbing, young hot girls and fucking. Not that a three-way wasn't special-hell it was the creme de la creme in my book any day-although tonight wasn't the first of these soirees I'd participated in. Tonight was going to be off the charts, these two chicks were especially fine.

Back at my apartment, the three of us got the party started as soon as we came in the door. The girls flung their purses aside as if this routine was old hat, ready to get down to business. They immediately found my music system and pumped the atmosphere with a deep bass dance beat driven by a pounding rhythm. I went to my kitchen junk drawer and pulled out a small square mirror I used to cut cocaine and set it on the bar that opened into the living area. I cut and lined the rest of the white powder and announced, "Girls, it's snowing in the kitchen. Help yourself."

I poured a Scotch on the rocks for myself and pulled a bottle of champagne from the fridge for my two, now dancing dates. After they'd done their lines, I did mine, then watched them return to their sensual dancing, the effects of the drug skyrocketing my perceptions of their lovely bodies. I had to get some of that.

"Here you go, ladies." I stepped between their writhing bodies and handed them each a drink. It was more of a strategic move on my part than politeness. I wanted to get in the middle of this pair of double D's and it worked. True to form, the two of them danced their bodies into mine until they were pressed against me, front and back.

Lisa, the blonde, was in front of me and Raquel, a dark brunette with a smooth Latina, olive complexion, was in the back. I slipped my arm around the waist of Lisa, pulling her in, grinding my rising cock into her hips.

"You look delicious," Lisa said as she shoved her hand through my dark hair. When she pulled it away, it was left tousled and out of place. Holding their drinks in the air, both girls used their free hand and worked together to pull my suit jacket off my shoulders. It was flung to the side, landing half on my black leather couch and half on the polished cement floor.

I felt Raquel's hands wrapping around me, grazing up and down my thighs from behind. She had set her drink on the glass-top coffee table and was now running her hands up my legs, squeezing my balls through my dress pants. I always wore a dark casual suit-no tie-when I went out clubbing.