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  BROKEN HEARTED

  Book One

  Chicago Hearts Series

  Copyright 2014

  Carter Hill Publishing

  Smashwords Edition

  All rights reserved.

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places are fictitious.

  Cover Photography Toski Covey Photography

  Cover Design by Sommer Stein of Perfect Pear Creative

  Cover Model Michelle Hickman

  Editing by Anna Gorman Coy

  Formatting by Max Henry of Max Effect

  CONTENTS

  Dedication

  Prologue

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  Twenty-Seven

  Twenty-Eight

  Twenty-Nine

  About the Author

  DEDICATION

  To my husband of thirty-three-years.

  You are my rock. Thank you for always being here for me. When I need a soft spoken

  “ I love you”,

  or a simple kiss on my forehead you’re there.

  To my beautiful daughters Jessica and Sara.

  Without your love and encouraging words this novel would still be sitting on my desk gathering dust.

  Then to my wonderful grand children

  Nana loves you all.

  A special thanks to my family and friends who have made this novel possible.

  There are far too many of you to name.

  To my faithful Beta Readers Susie Brock Lewis, Sarah Webster and Jeanie Scheider

  you ladies are wonderful.

  And to a P.A. I could call day or night in a panic

  and hear on the other end,

  “I have everything in control.”

  Thanks Jessica Carter.

  PROLOGUE

  Detective Faith Julies exhaustedly drove down her winding drive to her enormous forty-six hundred square foot house. Her day had started at four a.m. after receiving an ear-piercing phone call from her new partner of six months, Jason Manning. He’d became a new detective a few months earlier. Faith remembered the day she met Jason. She had noticed his features were strikingly handsome; his black hair and gorgeous green eyes made him easy to gaze upon. But the moment he opened his mouth, Faith realized it would be relatively hard to work with him. He gave everyone, including her, the impression he knew everything. He came across as a smart ass.

  The longer she worked with him, the more she realized he knew how to interrogate suspects. He convinced them to give her the information they needed to solve their cases quickly. She tossed her hair with a half-grin as she gazed at the house, she purchased for her twenty-third birthday three years ago. Her ex-boyfriend Trey Branson’s sister, Eve, was a realtor and she helped her find it. Trey and Faith both fell in love with it the moment they saw it. Of course Trey couldn’t believe she would buy a house costing as much as it does. Oh, well, he’s not here now to worry about how she spends her money.

  She pushed the button to the garage doors, watching them open was like a welcome home. Faith groaned to herself, “I wish I were already safe and sound in my bed snuggling under my satin sheets.” She parked her 2012 Chevy truck in the massive three car garage. Glancing over at the red 1965 Mustang that her father left her, she thought to herself, “Tomorrow you and I have a date to going cruising.” Closing the doors to the garage, she grabbed her purse and keys and moaned a sigh of relief. “Home at last.”

  Faith walked through the door of her beautiful house. She closed the door, leaned her back against it, and soaked in the comforting environment she had made for herself. She hung her keys up, threw her purse on the stand beside the door, and took her shoes off, kicking them across her living room.

  It was a day from Hell! She finally cracked the Malone case, and couldn’t help imagining the hurt the Malone family must be experiencing for Tiffany right now. A homeless man found her in the dumpster three months ago. Today finalized Tiffany’s death for her wonderful family. Faith and Jason had finished the job by chasing and catching the douche bag who murdered her. They chased him by car and then tiredly on foot. He ran like a deer. Faith smiled as she recalled putting him to the ground. Jason grabbed his handcuffs, rolled him over as she accidentally, on purpose, kicked him in the balls for Tiffany.

  Faith groaned, whispering to herself, “I need a release.” She had been contemplating the life she had with Trey Branson all day. His brownish-blond hair and blue eyes have haunted her several times throughout her working day. His muscled body showed he lifted weights. She adored watching the sweat run down his rippled stomach and had treasured embracing him next to her wanting body. They had lived together for two beautiful, passionate years. However, they had known each other for years, through mutual friends, and they had adored each other with a love Faith understands will never escape her mind.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Trey and Faith had a beautiful relationship. They enjoyed working together then coming home to relax and enjoy Trey’s large family. His mother was Italian and his father was from Georgia. He traveled to Italy on vacation when he met Trey’s mother. It was love at first sight. Trey had two brothers, Ty the oldest and Cody who is two years younger than Trey. He had a twin sister, Eve, who takes after her mother. She has dark beautiful long hair and big gorgeous brown eyes. Faith found it hard to believe they were twins because they were complete opposites. Trey liked to cook and was a neat freak. Eve eats take out and loved it. She was a real estate agent, while her brothers, all except Trey, were all detectives for a Special Forces Unit. However, Trey worked with Faith in Indianapolis in the S.V.U. as a lead detective.

  They were happy until Faith was captured by Mr. Moore’s men and took her to an abandoned warehouse. Where they tortured and beat her for information about her father. She didn’t know what Mr. Moore was looking for. However, she felt Trey, somehow, had the answers. Trey and his brothers finally found her. Storming the warehouse, they caught all of the men except Mr. Moore, they couldn’t tie him to anything.

  Trey wouldn’t tell her what Mr. Moore’s men wanted. He only knew they believed she had the information that would keep Mr. Moore from going to prison. Her father had worked the case years ago, however, Faith was too young to remember or know anything about it. So when Trey came to the hospital after she had been rescued, she couldn’t look at him because she was still hurting from earlier that morning when she found him in the arms of another woman. She lay in the hospital room hurt and confused. He pleaded with her to believe him, he swore he didn’t have an affair, however, she knew better.

  She recalled the detestable day Trey turned around to stalk out of the hospital room, leaving her devastated. Though she realized it was his frustration and not anger that made him leave that day. Earlier that day, Faith had decided she was tired of wondering if Trey was having an affair. She recalled borrowing a car from one of the men at the police station. Telling him
her car was being serviced and in the garage, she tailed Trey to a hotel on the opposite side of town. Faith gave him fifteen minutes before she marched into the hotel lobby.

  Flashing her badge and received the key to his room straightway. It’s still agonizing to her, to reflect back on that day. She sighed recalling the walk down the hallway to his room. She had opened the door to find him in bed with another woman. As her heart descended in her chest, she turned, walking away from the love of her life.

  Faith scarcely made it to the borrowed car before collapsing in the seat. She placed her head on the steering wheel and cried, her heart shredded. Faith thought the horrendous pain would never go away. Somehow, it became a dull agonizing memory of their joined hearts. The pain had eased some now, although Faith still longed for his sensual touch on her body. She rationalized her longing as a release from her stressful day. If she and Trey were still together, they would definitely be celebrating putting that douche bag behind bars. They would’ve enjoyed the victory by having a glass of wine, soft music, then loving and tasting each other’s body for the rest of the night.

  Her thoughts of him overwhelmingly came flooding back, and with them, came her desire for him. She remembered all the teasing and passionate lovemaking. How they soared to heights she had never been before. She could still smell the scent of his cologne as if she were kissing and nipping at his neck.

  Faith gazed at her old patrol hat she used when she first started out on the police force. That’s when she first met Trey, who was to be her partner. When she gazed into his eyes, she melted into a sea of sensual blue. He had moved her, and he was altogether beautiful. Faith knew they were destined to be together. He had been so cocky and full of himself. How could she have been so attracted to his sexy, muscular form? She reminisced now. They were like fire and ice. They loved hot and wild. Now she could only wonder how thing could have gone so wrong between the two of them?

  She reached for the remote as she turned the music up. She adored the sultry, sexy blues that flowed through her living room. She slowly started to unbutton her detective suit jacket, letting it slide off her shoulders to the sexy beat, revealing her silk white top. Conventional, Faith wasn’t. The music heated up and Faith unbuttoned her top, revealing a suggestive white laced bra. She loved to dance and when she danced for Trey everything seemed natural to her. She moved her hips enticingly to the music; she caressed her flat muscular stomach as she took off her top. She swung the top over her head slowly in the air and gave it a toss.

  “What detective wears silk and lace?” she whispered to the empty room. She unbuckled her holster, letting the 9mm Glock slide down her leg until the gun reaches the floor. The soft singing in the background moved Faith’s desires to a higher level. She unbuttoned her dress blacks as she slid them down her dark long tanned legs. She left only her thong on and mournfully recalled how hot and hard this dance always made Trey for her body. Her desire for him grew with every memory. She danced now imagining him touching her. She sighed and softly whispered, “I need the touch of a man and not just any man. I need Trey. No one else will ever do.”

  The song continued while Faith envisioned him watching her dance only for him. She reached to undo the front of her bra, holding it out slowly swinging the lacy bra around over her head, then letting go. She could envision Trey touching his nose to her bra savoring the scent of her body. Her movements to the music would’ve enthralled him. She slowly bent over as if he could appreciate her bottom with only her thong on now. She rose up and shook her dark brown hair, letting it fall sensually down her back. She used special care taking off her thong, throwing it on the couch. Faith moaned wishing Trey were there, so he would know she were his without saying a word.

  The music ended. Faith realized all of this were only a beautiful daydream. She would never be able to make love to him again. She had lost the love of her life forever. She moved deeper inside herself, reflecting on the touch of his body moving on top of her as they made love. She mournfully recalled putting her legs around his waist, pushing him deeper inside her. Trey would take her with a passion she would never feel again. She slipped on his shirt. She wore it every night and she didn’t even care she hadn’t buttoned up the front opening. Faith walked to the door, pressing her body against the glass. She sensed the coolness on her hot, perspiring body. She moaned as she gazes out the window at her Olympic size pool, thinking a cool dip might help her forget Trey. Deep in her soul, she understood there’s never going to be a day she won’t remember his handsome face. Everywhere she glanced, she realized Trey’s memories are still there.

  He couldn’t get used to the fact she had money and always brought up the fact she lived way beyond her means. Of course she did. When Faith was twelve years old, someone murdered both her parents, and she watched as the gunmen shot them. He turned the gun on her, but shook his head running out of the house leaving Faith devastated.

  She didn’t understand why he didn’t kill her too. She made the decision to live comfortably while she worked to find the man who murdered her parents.

  Faith’s grandfather owned a multi-million dollar oil company. All of her father’s friends couldn’t understand why he didn’t run the company after his father passed away. However, he would only say, “I have the money I need from the company and I love being a detective with the Special Forces Unit.”

  Faith was only three-years-old when her grandfather Julies died. She always grew up knowing about the Julies Oil Company. She realized young that money would never be a problem for her family because her father was an only child. She is the only heir to her grandfather’s fortune. Now the money and the company are all Faith’s and she didn’t care anymore about it than her father used to.

  Faith turned to face her desolate living room, knowing her life was altered from the moment the first gun shot rang out that night, leaving her absolutely lost and broken forever. The buzzer at the rear entrance of her house brought her out of her thoughts. Startled, Faith expressed aloud, “Who in the world would be here this time of night? It’s almost eleven o’clock.” She pushed the button. “May I help you?”

  “Faith, let me in, I need to talk to you—police business.” She recognized the voice she hadn’t heard for six months.

  Faith held her breath for a second, knowing she had to let him in. She sighed. “You don’t work in this city anymore, Trey, remember? You moved to Chicago.”

  He continued, telling her, “Faith, please let me in and put some clothes on, I saw you through the window. I loved the strip tease, but so would anyone pulling up to your house.”

  Faith couldn’t believe he viewed the entire dance. She buzzed him in while she ran to put some sweats on and buttons up his shirt. A quick glance in the mirror let her realize she needed a cold shower before she met him.

  She walked out of the bathroom, finding Trey already comfortably waiting for her in the bedroom. Clearly, he had no problem letting himself into her house. She glared at him in fury.

  “Good thing I didn’t pull my gun or you might be lying in the floor right now in a pool of your own sweet blood.”

  He laughed as he walked closer to her and touched her face tenderly. She noticed her body wanting more of him. Damn it! She wanted all of him, knowing she would never be able to hold him in her arms again. She told him, “I’m not going anywhere with you, Trey. I work here in Indianapolis. I can’t help you whatever case you’re working on isn’t in my jurisdiction.”

  He said, “I already approved it by the Chief, Faith, so you are already on the case. We’re leaving tonight, so pack a bag and let’s get moving.”

  “We can’t leave tonight. I have loose ends to tie up with the Malone case.” Faith stubbornly told him.

  However, Trey answered that problem too. “The Chief is already, as we speak, having your new partner do the paperwork. So hurry up and grab some things. We need to return to Chicago as soon as possible.” He went to her closet, grabbing her suitcase throwing it on the bed. He kne
w where all her things are, but when he made no move to pack for her, she decided to pack for herself.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Trey

  She had a body like an Egyptian Goddess!

  Driving to Faith Julies, Trey wondered if she would even let him in. He had missed her dreadfully the last six months. After she was released from the hospital, they talked a couple times, but nothing was the same. He couldn’t make her understand that he wasn’t having an affair with another woman. She saw him in bed with Dawn, but it wasn’t as she believed. He wasn’t making love to her. He was trying to keep her from killing him. He still longed for Faith's touch and needed to see that sexy come and get me look on her face.

  He knew he needed her help on this murder case. He had already approved it by the Chief, which would make her furious. Her parents were murdered the same way this couple died. The police found a four-year-old little girl behind the couch. What made this case so crazy is the woman living in the house was Faith Tallberg. She was a twenty-six-years old, the identical age as Faith.

  Then again, the most bizarre part is she moved in the house Faith sold about a year ago. She couldn’t live in the house where her parents were murdered, but she kept it all these years. The victim had long dark brown hair with the same build as Faith. Trey didn’t want to get Faith involved, but perhaps, she could help catch this man. He hoped that she would remember something as a child she believed didn’t mean anything. Even if she couldn’t help him, he could at least try to keep her safe. She had no family to safeguard her and he thought the murderer believed he killed Faith Julies. If he found out it wasn’t the right woman, he’d be back and Trey would be there to protect Faith this time.

  He pulled into the rear entrance to her house. Just as he started to buzz her to let him in, he saw her reach for her old police hat. He knew he should buzz her, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her gorgeous physique. She was still in her detective blacks. Oh, wow. She was slowly unbuttoning her jacket. Letting it slip off her shoulders with a sultry sway. She let it fall to the ground and he’s aware his body was already responding to her dance. He watched as she slipped off her silk top swaying to the music, swinging the top over her head, giving it a toss. He imagined touching her as she took her bra off. Trey envisioned cupping both her breasts in his hands, bringing them to his mouth to suckle each one. He thought she was the perfect woman, a woman of spirit and intelligence. She had a body most women would love to possess, and any man would want to embrace forever. He sensed the knots in his stomach, remembering holding her body to his own. All she had on now was her thong. She bent over as if someone was on the couch watching her dance.