Acts of Manipulation, page 1
Acts of Manipulation
Brooks Family Saga
Book Three
Maggie Cole
Pulse Press Inc
This book is fiction. Any reference to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. All names, characters, plots, and events are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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Copyright © 2020 by Maggie Cole
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All rights reserved.
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No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Please note. May contain situations that may be sensitive for some readers.
TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains information about sexual manipulation which may be triggering to survivors.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Epilogue
Web of Betrayal
WEB OF BETRAYAL
CAN I ASK YOU A HUGE FAVOR?
More by Maggie Cole
About the Author
Prologue
Agent Javier Lòpez
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Retribution comes in many forms. It might be an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Some people believe that makes it justified, but the time I spent in Afghanistan with the military taught me retribution isn’t a level playing field.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth doesn’t exist in my world.
In the Marines, my mission was to annihilate the target.
In the FBI, my job is to capture them.
Over four years of working on Twisted Hearts cases, and no takedown has ever been more critical.
Two years plus, I spent trying to take down Skates, the mastermind and head of the vicious gang. But his retribution didn’t come from me. I wanted it to. He issued the order to kill my friend and fellow FBI officer, Peter Carter.
Someone else took him down and ended Skates’ life and created more significant problems.
When Skates was alive, there was order within the Twisted Hearts. Now, there is a new way of doing things, and it’s more sinister than ever.
Sid Triker, recently paroled from a thirty-year murder sentence, stepped into the role. He gives the orders, and thousands of members across the country follow.
And he’s issued an order to deliver a woman to him, and offered a one hundred thousand dollar reward to whomever can bring him this woman so she can become his.
She’s my woman.
And his retribution will be death. As soon as we bust into this old building intel told us he’s having a meeting in, I’m shooting him—directly in the head.
There will be no mercy, no warning, no hesitation.
My partner, Chloe, and I have our guns out. The safeties are off. She nods and, with adrenaline coursing through my veins, I turn the handle and shove the door open while we both stay on opposite sides of the entryway.
There is no noise. The fluorescent lights are on. I cautiously peek inside, and my heart sinks.
It’s empty. Not one piece of furniture or other item remains. No one is present.
“Damn it!”
“You have to be kidding me,” Chloe mutters.
“We’ve been set up. Our intel is compromised. This is the third—” My phone vibrates in my pocket.
I retrieve my cell, and a cold sweat breaks out on my skin.
“Oh my God,” Chloe mumbles, staring at hers.
A picture of my beautiful Gabriella, gagged, tears shining in her eyes pops up in a text message.
I run for the car, and Chloe follows. The drive to my place, where Gabriella is supposed to be, feels like slow motion, even though I’m driving fast.
I pull up to the building and throw the car in park, leave the keys in it, and take two steps at a time up the stairs. When I get to the third floor, I sprint down the hallway and punch in the code to my condo unit.
“Gabriella!” I holler in panic.
Please be here.
My heart is racing, and I run from room to room, opening doors, but she’s nowhere.
“Gabriella!”
“Javier, she isn’t here.” Chloe puts her hand on my arm.
“Ah!” I tug at my hair. “We have to find her.”
Think, Javier.
“Oh shit.” Chloe crouches by the entrance.
“What?”
I hadn’t noticed it when I came in. I was only praying Gabriella would be here even though I knew in my gut she wouldn’t be.
Blood on the tile. I swallow the bile in my throat then crouch, swiping my finger over a drop. My pulse beats faster. “It’s dry. They could have had her for hours by now.”
“Where is she?” Hudson storms in.
“They took her,” Chloe says.
“No!” He hits his hand on my wall so hard the drywall crashes in.
Ryland and Beckett fly in behind him.
I stand. “I’m going to kill them. All of them. When I’m done, Triker and anyone else who ever touched Gabriella will be dead.”
1
Gabriella Brooks
Seven Months Prior
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Acid lies in the back of my throat, and I slowly open my eyes, but it’s so bright I shut them again.
Where am I?
Why is my head pounding?
“I’ll take her home.”
Why is Ryland talking about taking me home?
“No. Let her sleep. I’ll bring her home when she wakes up and isn’t puking anymore.”
Oh no. Please tell me I didn’t.
Ugh. You’re such an idiot.
Flashbacks of the previous night race to my head.
Javier stood at my front door, with his dimples and cocky grin. I made him remove his shirt, which he did with one hand. My insides throbbed as I stared at his rock-hard torso. And I would have happily licked every inch all night.
Then a Twisted Heart gangster called Triker showed up. I had never seen him before. He knew my brother Beckett from prison and somehow, got into my parents room and was screwing two women. My oldest brother Hudson pulled out a gun, which I didn’t even know he owned. After the incident, a true Brooks style fight with all my siblings erupted, which led me to guzzle Connor’s fishbowl. Since Ryland wouldn’t shut up, I left, already buzzing. Javier drove Connor, Gracie, and I to the bar.
Once I got there, I downed several shots with Connor and Gracie while Javier was in the restroom, since he said multiple times I wasn’t allowed to have any more alcohol.
The true kicker came next. The hole in the wall bar we were in was dark. I made Javier dance with me and proceeded to molest his cock as he repeatedly gripped my hands to stop me.
They don’t even have a dance floor there. Ugh. I cringe and bury my head into the pillow, inhaling the delicious, manly scent of Javier.
Wait. Why am I in his bed?
Oh God. Did I sleep with him?
Think, Gabriella.
I peek under the covers. I’m wearing his T-shirt and nothing else.
The pounding of my brain against my skull continues as I make my way down memory lane.
He was standing in line outside the bathroom door at my party. I placed my hand on his arm. “My room won’t have a line. I locked my door. Come on.”
He reluctantly followed me upstairs.
I unlocked the door to my dimly lit room and pointed to my private en suite. “There you go.”
When he came back out, he said, “Thanks,” and started to leave.
“I don’t buy the story Ryland told.”
He spun toward me and said nothing.
Not sure what he’s covering up, but I’ll find out.
I decided to change tactics. “You live here?”
“Yes. I have for several years.”
“Where are you from?”
“All over. I was a military brat and then joined up right out of high school.”
“What branch?”
“Marines.”
I licked my lips slowly. “My favorite.”
He checked me out. “Is that right?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Why is that?”
I dragged my finger across the stars tattoo on his biceps before gripping it. “I don’t know. It just is.”
He shifted then cleared his throat. “Let me guess—lots of
“Nope. I don’t really have boyfriends.”
“So, you’re the no-relationship girl? Wouldn’t have assumed that, but hey, that’s cool.”
I squeezed his arm before I examined his other biceps. “I didn’t say that.”
“Guess I’m not following you. If you aren’t the no-relationship girl, then why don’t you have boyfriends?”
I took my hand off his arm. “Because I want a real man and not a boy.”
Heat blazed in his eyes. “How old are you?”
“How old do you think I am?”
“I heard you were twenty-four.”
“That’s correct. How old are you?”
“Twenty-nine.”
“Hmm.” I tilted my head up.
“You’re only twenty-four?” He checks me out again as if in disbelief.
“Yes. Why do you make it sound like it’s a big deal?”
“I don’t normally hang out with women your age.”
I laughed. “Women my age? You aren’t even thirty yet. Five years isn’t that big a gap.” I stepped closer to him and traced his lips. “I’m pretty sure you have me pegged wrong.”
“How’s that?” he murmured as I dragged my finger down his pecs and stopped right at the band of his swim trunks.
I stood on my tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “Anything an older woman can do, I can do better.”
He froze.
I brushed my lips on his neck then moved across his clenched jaw, stopping right next to his mouth. “But, I also don’t beg.” I turned to walk away, and he spun me back, grasping my cheeks and sliding his tongue in my mouth so greedily, it stole my breath.
He held me taut to his body as his erection dug into my stomach, and he palmed my ass.
That didn’t happen drunk. That was in my bedroom.
Thank God. Score one for Gabriella.
How did you end up in his bed? Think.
Visions of me puking while Javier rubbed my back and held my hair come racing to my mind.
Oh crap. How embarrassing.
I groan and slap the pillow next to my head.
“You’re awake?” Javier quietly asks, and I freeze.
Time to face the music.
I slowly roll over, wincing at the extra pounding in my head.
“Go slow,” he says.
I sit up, and he joins me on the edge of the bed.
How can a man be so gorgeous? Javier’s chiseled face, deep golden-brown eyes, and thick, black hair send my panties into a twist, and that’s before I take into consideration his body or to-die-for dimples.
Oh jeez. I’m not wearing any panties.
At least I have a T-shirt on.
He strokes my cheek. “How are you feeling?”
“Embarrassed.”
“Don’t be.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t normally drink.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“You didn’t drink at your party until the fight happened. Also, Ryland told me before we left for the bar.”
I cringe. “Is he here?”
“No. I made him leave.”
Thank God. I don’t need to be dealing with Ryland or any of my other brothers’ lectures today.
“Thank you.”
He softly chuckles. “You’ve got quite the protection squad.”
“I’m sorry,” I apologize again. “They mean well but—”
“You’re their baby sister.”
“I’m not a baby.”
His smile falls. “No, you definitely aren’t.”
“I also apologize if they gave you a hard time.”
“I can handle them. And you can stop apologizing.”
He can handle my brothers? That would be a first.
“I don’t remember leaving the bar. Did Connor and Gracie come with us?”
“Yes. They left a little bit ago.”
“Did I get sick as soon as I got here or after we...” Heat creeps up my neck.
His lips twitch. “We didn’t do anything, Gabriella.”
“No?”
“No. I don’t sleep with women who are intoxicated.”
I drop my gaze to the floor, embarrassed again.
“Gabriella.”
“Hmm?” I lift my head.
“That wasn’t meant to sound judgmental.”
“I appreciate you taking care of me. I’ll get out of your hair.” I start to get up.
He puts his hand on my shoulder so I can’t move. “Stay. Rest. I’ll take you home later. Just relax.”
“Don’t you have things to do today?”
“Nothing important.”
I hate to ask. “Did you get any sleep, or was I sick the entire night?”
Silence.
I put my hand over my face. “I’m sorry.”
“Gabriella.”
“Hmm?”
“Not a big deal. I’ll take a nap.”
“Don’t you want your bed back?”
He glances at the bed then back at me. “The bed’s pretty big. I don’t mind sharing. Unless you do?”
I pat the mattress. “Nope.”
“Good. It’s settled. I’ll get you some crackers and a drink.”
“By any chance, do you have an extra toothbrush?”
He points to the bathroom door. “Top drawer. Help yourself to whatever you need.”
“Thanks.” I slowly stand, run my hand in my hair, and freeze. It’s wet. “Did I shower?”
“You were covered in vomit.”
Figures. First guy you actually like, and you ruined it. Way to go, Gabriella.
Moaning, I go into the bathroom. As I’m brushing my teeth at the sink, I look in the mirror. The blue towel hangs on its hook in the reflection.
The image of Javier drying my naked body off with a towel makes heat rush to my cheeks.
I’m horrified at my bloodshot eyes. Another round of nausea flares, but I manage to keep it down. There can’t be anything left anyway. Javier knocks. I face the door. “C-come in.”
He’s holding a glass full of bubbly liquid. “Drink this. It should help your stomach.”
I take a sip and make a face.
“Yeah, not the best tasting thing, but it’ll help.”
“I’m really—”
He puts his finger on my lips. “Shh. No more I’m sorries. We’ve all had too much to drink.”
“But I like you.” My cheeks blaze.
“I like you, too.”
“I ruined your night.”
“Mmm, I wouldn’t call the entire evening a flop.”
“You wouldn’t?”
“Nope.” He takes my hand. “Come rest. Bring your drink.”
I get back in bed.
Javier lies next to me then pulls me into his arm so my head is resting on his chest. “Comfy?”
My heart beats harder, and his sexy scent flares in my nostrils. “Yes.”
He kisses the top of my head. “Good. Close your eyes.”
I fall back asleep for a few hours. When I wake up, my leg is pretzeled around Javier’s, and his palm is on my naked ass cheek. I tilt my head up. His eyes flutter open from sleeping and quickly fill with heat.
“You okay?” he murmurs and brushes my hair behind my ear.
“Mm-hmm.” I slide my hand under his T-shirt and keep it flat against his heart.
Several of his fingers trace the curve of my ass.
His heart beats faster.
I lean into him, and he pulls me to his lips. It’s a slow, lazy kiss, different from the previous night. Butterflies erupt in my stomach, and tingles race through my cells.
“We shouldn’t do this,” he mumbles but keeps kissing me.
“Why? You don’t like me?” I flick my tongue quicker in his mouth.
