If you love romantic suspense, try this new mafia romance from my fellow romance critter, Krys Rayne. Forget Me Not is available for pre-order now!
Blurb:
Forget. Me. Not.
Finding those words highlighted in old newspaper articles at two grisly murder scenes sent shivers of unease prickling down criminal analyst Autumn Taylor’s spine. That seemingly simple sentiment allowed memories buried in the past to claw their way to the surface, reminding her of when a vile individual held her life in his hands. Now, a fire is awakened within her to find the killer before the body count rises.
“Promise you’ll never join the life, Nico.”
The past has reared its ugly head for defense attorney Nico Scala as his uncle, the head of an Italian syndicate, turns to Nico to find answers about his daughter’s brutal murder. Forced to straddle the moral line between law enforcement and the mob, Nico delves into the high-profile investigation. Hunting for the killer with Autumn, an unexpected attraction begins to develop between them.
As the past and present meld into a deadly threat, Autumn finds herself the target of a deranged sociopath once more. With danger closing in, her only choice is to rely on Nico for help. Still, she can’t help but be suspicious of his true intentions. Can Autumn allow herself to trust Nico long enough to capture the Forget Me Not Killer? Or will the passion between them cause them to play into the murderer’s twisted plans?
Author’s Note: Please be advised this book is not appropriate for those under the age of 18. It is not for the faint of heart due to the nature of bloody crime scenes. There are also steamy sexy times, especially a hot Italian lesson. Read at your own discretion.
Available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBD92C1X
Excerpt
“Hi Nico.”
“Back so soon, Mr. Scala?”
“My, don’t you look like a shark today, Counselor. Who’s for dinner?”
“Who does Uncle Art want to kill this time, Nico?”
His white teeth are shown in the faded light overhead. Dressed to kill in his pressed Armani suit, Nico Scala nodded to the female officers who stood talking amongst themselves. If they didn’t know him by reputation, they knew him in other ways.
“Ladies.” As he walked by, Nico heard their girlish sighs. He couldn’t help it if his nickname were Lady Killer. Figuratively speaking, of course.
Nico stood in front of the desk at the NYPD station. He looked at the formidable clerk. She was not a happy woman. Her rosy cheeks showed, and the circles under her eyes let him know she had long hours at this desk.
Clearing his throat, he smiled at the woman. “Buongiorno, Signora Bernadette.”
Bernadette looked up from the screen she was typing at. One eyebrow rose at his white smile. “What can I do for you today, Nico?”
Nico’s smile dimmed, “I’m here to pick up the Casale police and medical reports.” He showed her the written request.
Bernadette took the paper from him. Her eyes skimmed over the paper with pursed lips. Glancing up, she looked at him with burnt-amber-colored eyes. “Why does that man need to act like an overgrown child? I swear someone should lock him up and throw away the keys.”
Nico gave her a bland smile instead of answering. “The records clerk should have the file ready for me, Bernadette.”
With a mutter and a heavy sigh, the officer shuffled down the hall to an office marked Records.
Nico leaned against the desk and crossed one heel over the other. He watched as officers brought handcuffed people through the bullpen. A couple of prostitutes sat petulantly in chairs as officers wrote their reports. Some hulking men were in the back Nico recognized.
And then, a woman dressed all in black with strawberry blonde hair walked with a tall, muscled African American man into an office on the other side of the bullpen.
It was as if he had tunnel vision as he stared at her. It was the first time he’d seen her in this police station. Was she a recruit? She couldn’t be. She’d had a special badge hooked onto the bottom of her shirt.
FBI?
“Here we go.” Bernadette set a thin file folder before Nico. “Not much yet. It’s only the beginning of the case. Mr. Casale should realize that being a criminal and all himself.”
Nico blinked back at Bernadette. He looked down at the file and opened it. He skimmed all the technical bullshit and frowned. “Is this accurate?”
The media had not given details of his younger cousin’s death, and now he knew why. A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Is this accurate?”
The officer let go of her stern expression. She leaned over the desk and spoke in a hushed tone. “It’s supposed to be on the down low. I heard it was terrible. There’s a rumor one of the criminal analysts had a freak out. Poor thing.”
He scanned the report more thoroughly. He stopped at the end. “It’s an ongoing investigation.” He slapped the cover. “I don’t know how good these criminal analysts can be when they can’t even find their suspect.”
“It’s a little more complicated than apprehending a known suspect.”
Nico glanced to the right, noticing the woman in black was now standing next to him. Her chin lifted, and he saw a scar down the side of her nose.
“Do you mind telling me how hard it is?” Nico’s smile was all teeth.
“There’s paperwork involved. Searching through similar cases and finding similarities. It’s not an open textbook kind of case.” If possible, the woman tried looking down her nose at Nico when he was a good head taller than she was.
“I’m assuming you’re one of these criminal analysts?”
“As a matter of fact, I am.” She eyed him up and down, then moved back to his face. “Who are you to question my expertise?”
“I’m Nico Scala.” His eyes moved to her mouth. As if he was watching her lips move, the woman licked her lips. Nico’s eyes moved to hers. Bright color stained her cheeks. “And your name would be…?”
“Check the report, I’m sure you know how to read, correct?”
One of Nico’s lips hitched up. Damn, this woman had a sharp tongue. He opened the file, his eyes still on her. He looked at the page where it gave the names of everyone involved in the case. “You must be Autumn Taylor.”
Autumn’s eyebrow rose, “So, the Lady Killer can read. Impressive.”
Nico gave her a full-fledged smile, “Among other things,” he murmured back to her.
Amber’s eyes widened, then her eyelashes fluttered. Color pinched her cheeks again, and she looked away as she cleared her throat. “I’ll be back in a while, Bernie. Hererra has my number if he needs something.”
Nico had been so in tune with the woman in black- Autumn Taylor- that he forgot where he was.
“I’ll let him know, honey.”
Autumn didn’t give a backward glance.
Nico watched her hips sway. He could tell it was a natural movement and didn’t even realize she was doing it.
“I’ve seen that look before.”
Nico looked back at Bernadette, blinking back at the woman. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He smoothed the papers in the file, tapped it on the desk and held it in the crook of his arms.
Bernadette raised an eyebrow, “Mhm. You have that look in your eye, Mr. Scala.”
“What look?”
Bernadette rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched. “That look that says when you want something, you get it.”
“Where did you hear such a thing, Bernie?”
“Oh honey, I wasn’t born yesterday.” She chuckled; a sound Nico had never heard from the woman before. “I’ve heard of your shenanigans, Mr. Lothario. You love‘em and leave‘em.”
He put his free hand over his heart, “Bernadette, you wound me.”
Bernadette rolled her eyes, “Uh-huh. Now get out of here before I have someone arrest you for being an ambulance chaser.”
Nico chuckled and waved back, “Grazie signora.”
Author Bio and Linktree
Krys Rayne lives in New England with her two cats, Chassity and Peanut. She has a degree in Anthropology and a degree in Paralegal Studies. Krys is an avid movie fanatic in addition to writing romance and is also an animal rights activist. She enjoys hearing from other writers and readers, you can reach out to her on Facebook, Goodreads, TikTok and her website, www.krysrayne.com.
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