Tough Justice: Burned

Tough Justice: Burned (Part 3 of 8)

Carol Ericson

TOUGH JUSTICE: Justice is worth every sacrifice.

Episode Three: Burned

What do you do when the mistake from your past returns? Lara Grant is finding out quickly. Two innocent women died because they had her name, all in an attempt to unhinge Lara. But she’s stronger than that. Moretti can play his little games...but he should know Lara only ever plays to win.

Justice is worth every sacrifice.

A brand-new 8-part reading experience starting January 12, 2016!

FBI agent Lara Grant has finally put her life as an undercover operative behind her and started a new assignment in New York City. But her past and present collide and become ever more twisted as a spate of murders sends a message that is cruelly, chillingly personal...

Tough Justice: Exposed (Part 1 of 8) by New York Times bestselling author Carla Cassidy

Tough Justice: Watched (Part 2 of 8) by Tyler Anne Snell

Tough Justice: Burned (Part 3 of 8) by Carol Ericson

Tough Justice: Trapped (Part 4 of 8) by Gail Barrett

Tough Justice: Twisted (Part 5 of 8) by Gail Barrett

Tough Justice: Ambushed (Part 6 of 8) by Carol Ericson

Tough Justice: Betrayed (Part 7 of 8) by Tyler Anne Snell

Tough Justice: Hunted (Part 8 of 8) by New York Times bestselling author Carla Cassidy

CAROL ERICSON is a bestselling, award-winning author of more than forty books. She has an eerie fascination for true crime stories, a love of film noir and a weakness for reality TV, all of which fuel her imagination to create her own tales of murder, mayhem and mystery. To find out more about Carol and her current projects, please visit her website at www.carolericson.com, “where romance flirts with danger.”

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Back Cover Text

About Tough Justice

About the Author

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“It’s your boss’s daughter’s name, too, right?”

A chill zipped down Lara’s spine, and she clenched her teeth, refusing to give Moretti the satisfaction of witnessing her fear. Her eyes never leaving Moretti’s, she circled one finger in the air to call the guard.

The door buzzed, and she addressed the guard, his body tense and alert—ready for anything. “Keep him here. I’ll be back in five.”

She had to warn Victoria, had to tell her Moretti knew the name of Victoria’s daughter. Anna was in the city, a sophomore at Columbia, nineteen, just a child. Weren’t they all, all the women he victimized?

As soon as Lara cleared the thick walls of the building, she snatched her cell phone from the pocket of her jeans, almost dropping it on the concrete walkway. With trembling fingers she tapped her phone for Victoria’s number.

Victoria jumped right in before Lara could get out one word. “Are you done interviewing Moretti already?”

Lara closed her eyes and squared her shoulders. “Moretti knows your daughter’s name, Victoria, and he made some kind of veiled threat.”

Victoria gasped, and the uncharacteristic sound from her boss spiked Lara’s fear. “That son of a bitch.”

“Where is she? Where’s Anna?” Lara gripped her phone so tightly, the edges cut into her hand, but she welcomed the discomfort as a way to keep her focused, alert.

“She’s at school, probably in class.” The customary steel had returned to Victoria’s voice. “I’ll text her to hang tight, and I’ll go get her myself. The Bureau can settle Anna in a safe house until we figure out if this threat has any bite to it.”

“Moretti could be bluffing. He’s probably just yanking our chains. He’s good at that.” Lara held her breath. She didn’t know if she was trying to convince Victoria or herself.

Victoria paused and then cleared her throat. “Maybe, but this is my baby girl, and I’m not taking any chances.”

“I understand that.”

“I know you do.” Victoria’s voice recovered its take-charge tone. “See if you can get anything else out of the sneaky bastard...for me.”

“Of course.”

With all her senses on high alert, Lara returned to the visitors room, the heels of her boots tapping on the linoleum as she strode toward Moretti, still sitting with the phone in his hand, his dark eyes glinting with secret amusement.

She adjusted her suede jacket before taking her seat. She wished she would’ve taken the time to change into something more professional. She needed that extra layer of confidence about now. She’d have to bluff it. She picked up the phone on her side.

“Start talking.” She yanked out the metal chair with a clang that reverberated in the small room, and perched on the edge, hunching forward. “Is Anna a target?”

Moretti chuckled deep in his throat, a dark, rumbling sound that had Lara grinding her back teeth. She didn’t blink one eyelash, holding his stare until he shifted in his seat.