Confer, Lorelei - Deadly Revenge (BookStrand Publishing Romance) Read online

  Deadly Revenge

  Tory Richards returns to North Carolina to help her mother set up a B&B, never expecting to stumble across several murder victims, fall in love, or get abducted by human traffickers.

  Fortunately, when she’s run off the road on her way into town, Dave Miller, who is working undercover on the task force for human trafficking, comes to her aid. She blows off the near fatal accident as just that—an accident—but she rethinks her position once events escalate.

  Someone is trying to kill Tory. Failing that, she’s being set up as a suspect in four murders. As Dave falls more deeply for Tory, how will he tell her who he is and what he does? Will she ever trust him?

  Trust becomes a moot point when Tory is abducted and everything points to the group of human traffickers Dave’s had under surveillance. He calls in the task force, but will they reach Tory before she’s used as a sex slave?

  Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Suspense

  Length: 54,429 words

  DEADLY REVENGE

  Lorelei Confer

  ROMANCE

  www.BookStrand.com

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  A SIREN-BOOKSTRAND TITLE

  IMPRINT: Romance

  DEADLY REVENGE

  Copyright © 2011 by Lorelei Confer

  E-book ISBN: 1-61034-471-5

  First E-book Publication: June 2011

  Cover design by Jinger Heaston

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  My special thanks go to my husband and family members for allowing me the freedom to pursue my dreams.

  I would like to acknowledge and thank the local task force of human trafficking for providing invaluable research information as well as continuing their hard work in the community. Also, many thanks to the International Advocacy Council for the awareness programs they provide.

  Also, my local Chapter of Romance Writers of America (TARA), whose classes are invaluable and vital to learning the craft of writing.

  Please take note of all Editors, Cover Artists, and people at Siren-BookStrand who work behind the scenes to make this book possible, and I’d like to acknowledge them as well.

  And as always, thank YOU, the reader. As much as I love writing these stories, it’s always nice to know someone is enjoying them.

  DEADLY REVENGE

  LORELEI CONFER

  Copyright © 2011

  Chapter 1

  At the usual morning briefing, Richard Mullins, agent in charge of the two task forces assigned to Human Sex Trafficking, asked partners Dave Miller and Wyatt Bowman to stay behind.

  “Come on in,” Mullins said as he moved piles of papers around on his desk. His office was small and lined with filled book cases, just the way he liked it.

  Wyatt and Dave sat in the two chairs made available for them while Mullins remained standing.

  “Let’s get right to the point. As you both know we’ve been able to completely dismantle a number of human trafficking organizations. And that’s what we have to do with this next case, not just rescue the victims.”

  Mullins began pacing in the small space. “Dave, you can take your six-month leave of absence in North Carolina as long as you’re willing to be on call and do some undercover surveillance. It’s our understanding that there may be a trafficking trail through the mountains into the Washington, D.C. area. We understand that North Carolina is the eighth largest state for trafficking because of easy access from Hwy 95 north and south and Hwy 38 east and west. That also leads a direct trail into D.C. We don’t want to catch the traffickers as much as we need to catch the leaders of their organization. A team here will be on standby, just make the call. Wyatt, I’d like you to handle the team going from here to there when or if it gets to that, understood?” Mullins asked as he looked back and forth between the two, first Dave and then Wyatt.

  Wyatt drummed his lips with his fingers and ran his hand through his thick hair.

  “Isabella’s due this month, so I can’t promise anything except to brief the agent-in-charge, when they’re ready to make their move.”

  “That will be Sam Brower,” Mullins said as he pulled his earlobe and ran his hand across his face.

  “Dave, how’s that sound to you?” Mullins asked as he sat in his chair behind the desk.

  “Sure, I can leave in the morning. I’m actually looking forward to it but I’m not sure why.” Dave rubbed his chin as if thinking.

  “Great! I’ll contact Chief Michael Carr in Hickoryville, North Carolina that you’ll be there, working undercover trying to locate the rendezvous location so he can assist you. Keep up the good work. It’s a small town with lots of interesting people. The locals are generally reliable, and we’ve worked with Carr before.”

  Chapter 2

  Well, well, well, Tory Richards coming back to town after all these years. I wonder what she wants. Or better yet “who?” This can’t be good.

  Twenty-six-year-old Tory Richards’s white-knuckled fingers gripped the car’s steering wheel, as she drove around the sweeping mountain curves and switchbacks. Out of practice driving on narrow curvy roads in the North Carolina Mountains, she dreaded the trip home, and approached the challenge with caution. I could do without any additional tension. But when she partially rolled down her car window and took a deep breath of the fresh, woodsy, pine-scented air, she remembered how much she loved these mountains.

  On this cool spring day, the age-old trees swayed in the light breeze, some just budding, others in full bloom. Blossoming Dogwood, Mountain Laurel, and apple trees peaked in all their glory among the majestic pines and oaks.

  She dreaded the inevitability of running into Matt. The fear of facing the truth, the past humiliation, and deceit wouldn’t go away. Explaining her reasons for leaving Matt at the altar two years ago would mean closure for her. She’d face her demon and finally move on. The thought of seeing him again brought back familiar panic. Her heart pounded in her chest, constricting her breathing, and the lingering ache became almost un
controllable.

  Suddenly, a large black car with dark, tinted windows sped from behind, passed her, pushing into her lane of the road. Tory slammed on the brakes and jerked the steering wheel to the right to avoid being sideswiped. Her car bounced over and onto the berm, slammed into the side wall of a drainage canal running along the side of the road, finally coming to a stop in the shallow ditch.

  The force of the crash whipped her head left, hitting the edge of the open window and then backward, hard against the headrest. Stars filled her eyes. A slow stream of something warm and wet trickled down her left cheek from somewhere above her left eye dropping onto her blouse. The pain started high on her forehead and radiated down the whole left side of her face.

  Laying her head back against the headrest, she drifted down a dark tunnel. When she heard someone talking to her from a distance, she turned to the open window and looked into a man’s fuzzy, fish-bowl-like face. She blinked once or twice, and the man’s concerned expression came into focus.

  She didn’t know him, but she’d like to. He had an attractive face, a strong jaw. He looked dependable, a take-charge kind of guy. He must have pulled off the road behind her to help, she thought.

  “Do you need an ambulance?”

  She shook her head and winced when a wave of dizziness along with nausea washed through her.

  He punched numbers on the cell phone in his hand. “Hold on. I’ve got the police on the line.” He held the phone to his ear as she watched him glance around. “Whoever pushed you off the road is long gone by now. Do you know where we are?” he asked her as he held his handkerchief against her forehead to stop the bleeding.

  He seemed like a man used to being in charge and looked so frustrated and out of his element without anyone around to issue orders to except those on the phone.

  She would have laughed, but her body trembled as the trauma began working its way through her.

  “Just hang in there,” he encouraged her. “The police will be here any minute. They were finally able to triangulate our location.”

  Tory reached across the seat to make sure her camera and bag were still intact. As her hand curled around the camera case, she closed her eyes in relief. The graduation gift from her father was fine.

  “Shh, try not to move,” he said softly.

  She let out a deep breath. His voice soothed her. She reached her hand to her eyebrow, but he stopped her. Fresh blood dropped onto her fingers. She needed something more to stop the bleeding. Blood had already dripped onto the front of her blouse.

  “I need to get out of here,” Tory insisted. She gulped air. “I feel trapped...need to stand up.”

  “Okay, look at me. Do you hurt anywhere other than your head?” he asked her as he rearranged his handkerchief over her cut.

  ”No, it’s just my head. My legs and arms are fine. My neck is fine, too.”

  “Let me help you. Go slowly.” He helped her out of the car. First one leg and then the other, he held her elbow and half lifted her out of the car. After standing on wobbly legs she finally got her balance. They walked slowly to a soft, grassy area on the bank behind the car and sat down.

  He wrapped a protective arm around Tory’s shoulders, enveloping her with warmth and security.

  “I’m Dave Miller,” Dave said as he offered her his hand.

  “I’m Victoria Richards, but just about everyone calls me Tory.” She shook his hand and an electric tingle ran up her arm and through her body, settling in her core. She looked into his eyes and was transfixed. She wanted this man as only a woman could. She thought about what it would be like to lay with him, to have sex with him, and to have his children. She slowly looked down at their still held hands and began to pull apart.

  She held his handkerchief against her eyebrow. With so much blood, she figured she’d need stitches and have a nasty scar to show for it.

  Echoes of the approaching siren and flashing lights announced a police car. The tall man got out of the car with his radio in hand. “What’s the EMTs’ ETA?” he asked into a two-way radio. A muffled response echoed in the cool breeze, indecipherable to those even a short distance away.

  As the officer neared, she recognized him. Michael Carr. Rumor said he had been elected Police Chief last year. He came directly over to Tory with a wrinkled forehead and dark circles under his eyes. She remembered him from high school. He was a few years older than her.

  Chief Carr asked, with a little astonishment in his voice, “Victoria Richards? Is that you?” When she nodded, he continued. “It’s always nice to see you, but geez, this is no way to make an entrance into town.” He grinned. He had always called her Victoria, never Tory, as all her other friends had who had a crush on her at one time.

  “The uniform suits you, Michael.”

  “Thanks, I worked my way into it.” Michael looked at the man who held the handkerchief against her forehead.

  Dave introduced himself. “I’m Dave Miller. I was behind her when it happened.”

  Michael looked around and said, “The EMTs should be here any minute.” Michael pushed his hat back on his head. “In the meantime, Mr. Miller, can you tell me what happened?”

  Dave and Michael stepped a short distance away from Tory. Dave identified himself further to Chief Carr. “I’m a former officer on the Suffolk, Virginia force. Now I’m a detective assigned to the federal human trafficking task force. I was on my way to Hickoryville to visit my parents. I’m also working as a possible trafficking interceptor.”

  “Do you have any identification on you?” Michael Carr asked.

  “Sure, here’s my ID and badge.” Dave flipped open his badge case for Chief Carr.

  “Nice to meet you, Dave.” He offered a hand to shake and Dave took it. “I’ve known your parents for years and they’ve spoken of your work with great pride. Good for you. Now, can you tell me exactly what happened to Victoria, what you saw?”

  “This car came barreling around the turn from behind and crowded her off the road. No, forced would be a better word for it. I was following her, and she had to move out of the way or get T-boned.”

  “This might answer some unsolved mysteries we’ve been having in the area. We’re a straight shot from I85 or I95 and straight into Washington.”

  Sirens blared, and red and yellow lights flashed from a fire truck and an ambulance as she saw them pull up nearby.

  Chief Carr directed the EMTs to Tory. As the two EMTs carried orange cases in each hand, Tory recognized them from high school. They had all graduated together.

  “Tory, is that you? Good to see you again. What happened to you?” Walt asked, looking at the wound on her eyebrow while Tim put a blood pressure cuff on her right arm.

  “I was forced off the road and my head hit the edge of the open window.”

  “Your blood pressure’s a little elevated,” Tim said as he continued to check her vital signs.

  “Is that bad?” Tory asked.

  “Naw. It’s within normal limits considering the circumstances.”

  Tory glanced at Walt who cleaned her cut. “Am I going to need stitches?”

  Walt briefly scowled. “A couple of butterfly bandages should do the job.” His fingers lightly pressed her forehead. “You’ll probably have a headache for a few days. You should see your family physician as soon as possible to make sure you have no lasting effects.”

  Tory heard Dave answering Chief Carr’s questions about the offending car. “It was a newer model Lincoln Town Car, black with tinted windows. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to get the tag number.”

  Chief Carr immediately spoke on the radio, be on the lookout “BOLO” for a newer model Lincoln Town Car, black with tinted windows, heading south southeast on Old Route 53.” Then he turned to Tory for her side of the story. When she reiterated everything Dave had told Chief Carr, he said, “Let me warn you. There are tons of locations and places a car or person can hide in these mountains for an indefinite period of time, but we’ll keep the case
open.”

  Tory, up and about after the EMTs left, retrieved her purse and camera bag from the front seat of the car while Chief Carr made arrangements with a local towing company to get her car out of the ditch.

  “They’ll tow it to the dealership in Hickory since it’s the closest.”

  She watched as her car was pulled out of the ditch to be loaded on the tow truck. She was amazed at the amount of damage to her car. The entire right side of the car was smashed in from front to back. All the windows were broken. She was very lucky she wasn’t hurt more seriously and was glad she didn’t have a passenger in the car. They could have been killed. She quickly snapped a few photos of her car for further evidence if needed for the insurance company.

  Now all she needed was a way to get home.

  “I’ll tell you what,” Dave said. “How about a trade? I’ll take you the rest of the way to Hickoryville as long as you give me the directions to my parents’ house.”

  Tory agreed, “Sounds like a plan.” She grinned at him while her head began to throb. She just wanted to get to her mother’s house to lie down. Dave seemed like a nice guy, really cute and all, and his parents lived in Hickoryville, too.

  After Dave opened the trunk of Tory’s car amid more breaking glass and a loud creaking, he began transferring her luggage and other belongings to his SUV while she talked to Chief Carr.

  “Thanks, Michael, er, Chief. Is it okay if I call you Michael?”

  “Of course, Victoria. We’ve been good friends for way too long for it to be any other way.”

  “I appreciate your help, Michael.” Michael nodded in agreement, tipped his hat, and went to his cruiser parked a short distance away.