Tough Justice: Burned. Carol Ericson

      

      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.

      A thrill of triumph zipped through her veins at the petty victory. When dealing with this monster, she had to take what she could get.

      “I’ve got a deal for you... Lara.” He studied his fingernails. “Tell me what I want to know, and I’ll tell you what you need to know.”

      His words seemed to suck all the air out of the room, and her nostrils flared in an attempt to moderate her breathing. A few seconds passed before she thought she could speak without gasping for air.

      “What is it you want to know?” Knots formed in her gut, but she allowed one corner of her mouth