body lying sprawled on the dirty pavement at his feet. The Silver Fox strikes again. The smile spread across his face. He loved the nickname the press had dubbed him after the police spoke of the elusive killer who’d staged eight deaths. Who knew how many more? He did. He remembered every one of them in minute detail.
He kicked the dead guy in the ribs. Sonofabitch almost ruined everything, but you didn’t get to be in his position by leaving the details in a partnership to chance. They had a deal, but the idiot had gotten greedy, making him sloppy. He’d set up a meeting for tonight for a new hit, but hadn’t done the proper background investigation. His death was a direct result of his stupidity.
“You set me up with a cop!” he yelled at the corpse.
He dragged the body by the foot into the steel container, heedless of the man’s face scraping across the rough road. He dropped the guy’s leg. The loud thud echoed through the cavernous interior. He locked the door and walked through the deserted shipyard indifferent.
Maybe he’d let his fury get the best of him, but anything, or anyone, who threatened to expose him or end his most enjoyable hobby needed to be eliminated. He had too much to lose, and he never lost.
Only one more loose end to tie up.
About the Author
* * *
JENNIFER RYAN lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, three children, her dog, Bella, and cat, Shadow.
When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession for both is often revealed in the state of her home and how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head until she puts them on paper.
Please visit her website at www.jennifer-ryan.com.
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Give in to your impulses . . .
Read on for a sneak peek at a brand-new
e-book original tale of romance from Avon Books.
Available now wherever e-books are sold.
SEDUCED BY THE GLADIATOR
By Lauren Hawkeye
An Excerpt from
SEDUCED BY THE GLADIATOR
by Lauren Hawkeye
In Lauren Hawkeye’s second erotic romance featuring the fierce gladiators of Ancient Rome, Lilia is the rarest of commodities—a champion female gladiator. When Christus, a warrior with the body of a god, is sold to the ludus that owns Lilia, she finds herself forced to defend her position and guard her body against the erotic sensations only he can bring. But beneath the tantalizing flesh of the gladiator, Lilia finds a man determined to protect her—and to love her—no matter the cost.
AN AVON RED NOVEL
“What are you doing?” My words were a hiss as I looked frantically around the room. We were alone for the moment, thank the gods, but someone could come in at any moment.
Weak was the least of the things that I would appear to be if someone were to come upon this scene, me flushed from the steam, Christus’ sure fingers lightly massaging the purpling skin of my ankle.
Every touch of his fingers sent a lick of fire straight between my legs. Though I tried to swallow it down, a groan escaped my lips.
His touch felt so incredibly good.
“I cannot let myself be seen like this.” There was no point in denying that I found his touch pleasurable. Against my better judgment, I closed my eyes for a moment—just a moment—and let sensation wash over me.
When I again opened my eyes, Christus’ fingers had trailed upward to my calf. His eyes burned brightly and were fixed on my own.
“I told the men that anyone who bothered you while you bathed would find himself without a cock.” My mouth fell open at the words, and inexplicably a giggle bubbled up from my throat.
I clapped a hand over my mouth as it escaped. I never giggled. I rarely even laughed.
Sobering myself, I tried to tug my leg from Christus’ reach. “That does not mean they will listen.”
“I assure you they will.” Christus did not allow me to pull my flesh away, instead trailing his fingers ever higher. My breath caught in my throat as he stroked the tender skin beneath my knee.
“If it eases you, Darius is keeping watch. No one will disturb you. No one will disturb us.”
I heard the double meaning in his words, and though I felt as though I should run, I found myself doing nothing of the sort. Instead