The only daughter in a family of cops, Cyn Malva found her calling as a homicide detective and her skill in antipersonnel battle magics also earned her a place in the city’s Tactical Unit. Frustrated by men who are intimidated by her accomplishments, Cyn enjoys the ease and acceptance offered by Rio, her sometimes lover.Special-ops sniper Rio Rafael is accustomed to being underestimated because of his good looks and is well aware of his lack of suitability in the eyes of Cyn’s friends and family. But while he’s always thought of their no-strings–attached relationship as ideal Rio is ready to change the rules in favor of a commitment he knows Cyn can’t handle.
But while tracking down a gang using illegal magic, the police discover three bodies—the victims of a serial killer. The case is assigned to Cyn, which brings her to the killer’s attention. Cyn matches the physical profile of his victims and she becomes his next target . . . which makes Rio an obstacle. Now, Cyn and Rio are bound by something stronger than animal attraction — and love could be the only thing to save them.
Excerpt
A soft
growl of delectation sounded from the next desk where Sharyn Ellis was leaning
out of her chair, her neck craned, dark green eyes rounded as she stared
through the department’s glass door and out the corridor’s glass outer wall.
“Eye candy at ten o’clock. Dang, what I’d give to get my hands on some of
that.”
Cyn
checked the indicated direction to see broad shoulders clad in a dark red polo
shirt tapering to a lean waist and long, strong legs, an erect carriage, and
confident stride. His police business apparently concluded, Rio crossed the
parking lot swiftly, sport coat in hand, looking neither left nor right, the
fluid motion of a hunting cat in every step. The late morning light showed his
sculpted features in utmost favor. The epitome of masculine beauty.
Mine. Unrealistic of her to think so, and
it couldn’t last, but for now it was only the truth.
She took
a moment to savor the view and her visceral response. “Hands off. He’s taken.”
Her back was starting to stiffen, the growing ache adding a snap to her words.
The blond
detective leaned farther forward, practically drooling, and she wasn’t the only
one; a flock of females were gathered in the hallway, noses pressed to glass
like kids outside a candy shop. “No way. A guy who looks like that? It’s open
season all the time.” She purred the words predatorily. The large bloodstone
clipped on an earlobe glinted, a blatant advertisement of availability.
Quashing
her annoyance at the insinuation, Cyn returned her attention to the case file
in front of her and its meager contents. That was just Ellis being herself.
“I’m serious. He’s taken.” She might not expect anything permanent to come of
her relationship with Rio, but while they were lovers, she refused to share.
“Can’t
blame a girl for dreaming.”
“So long
as that’s all you do.” She continued down the forensics report with its listing
of negative results. Small wonder the process was referred to as
sanitization; the corpses were so clean it was almost as though the vics had
never been born, much less lived more than a score of years. She made a note to
double-check that their stats had been forwarded to Missing Persons.
“Why?”
The lilting question suggested that the detective wasn’t taking her hints
seriously.
“Otherwise”—Cyn canted her head to make eye
contact—“I’ll have to go tactical on your ass.”
