Seduced by the Badge Read online

  Sworn to protect, tempted by desire

  Book One in the thrilling series: To Serve and Seduce

  Chicago detective Armstrong Black follows the rules—his rules. When he’s assigned to partner with an Atlanta detective who’s hell-bent on bringing down criminals who targeted her sister, he’s determined to stay in control. But stunning Danni Winstead is all blazing temper and sweet temptation. Working with her tests Armstrong’s restraint; trusting her could put them both in fatal jeopardy...

  “Are you okay?” Armstrong asked, his voice a loud whisper. “How is your head?”

  Cradled in the curve of his arm, Danni nodded. “I’m good,” she answered. “I just needed to be near you.”

  He gave her a gentle squeeze and shifted his body against her as he placed a damp kiss against her forehead. Danni eased her body up and over his. She captured his mouth, kissing him eagerly, her lips dancing easily with his lips.

  Danni winced, a hint of pain shooting through her.

  “Sorry! Baby, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said as he snatched his hands from her.

  She shook her head. “Just not so tight. I’m a little more banged up than I realized.”

  Armstrong nodded as he resumed his ministrations. His hands gently caressed her, sliding beneath her T-shirt so that his fingers heated her skin.

  “You know what you’re doing to me, right?” Armstrong whispered.

  She gave him a seductive smile. “I know. I’m doing it on purpose.”

  * * *

  Don’t miss future installments in the To Serve and Seduce miniseries, coming soon...

  * * *

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  Dear Reader,

  SUSPENSE! Fast-paced, heart-wrenching, nail-biting SUSPENSE! I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about all of this. It has been such an amazing journey! And, it brings me much pleasure to introduce you to the family of Jerome and Judith Black. This family embraces every value I hold near and dear to my heart. I hope you’ll grow to love them as much as I do.

  I had a wonderful time writing Armstrong Black and Danni Winstead’s story. These two together just make my heart sing! Detective Black is all kinds of delicious! He is flawed perfection with his serious demeanor, slight arrogance and passion for the law. When he falls head over heels for Danni, he falls hard, his heart landing on everything good about the petite beauty. Danni challenges his sensibilities, and her fierce independence and take-charge personality make them a pairing of magnanimous proportions!

  I really love this story! I hope you will, too!

  Thank you so much for your support. I am humbled by all the love you keep showing me, my characters and our stories. I know that none of this would be possible without you.

  Until the next time, please take care and may God’s blessings be with you always.

  With much love,

  Deborah Fletcher Mello

  www.deborahmello.blogspot.com

  SEDUCED BY THE BADGE

  Deborah Fletcher Mello

  Writing since forever, Deborah Fletcher Mello can’t imagine herself doing anything else. Her first novel, Take Me to Heart, earned her a 2004 Romance Slam Jam nomination for Best New Author. In 2008, Deborah won the RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award for Best Series Romance for her ninth novel, Tame a Wild Stallion. Deborah received a BRAB 2015 Reading Warrior Award for Best Series for her Stallion family series. Deborah was also named the 2016 Romance Slam Jam Author of the Year. She has also received accolades from several publications, including Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and RT Book Reviews. With each new book, Deborah continues to create unique story lines and memorable characters. Born and raised in Connecticut, Deborah now considers home to be wherever the moment moves her.

  Books by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  Harlequin Romantic Suspense

  To Serve and Seduce

  Seduced by the Badge

  Harlequin Kimani Romance

  Lost in a Stallion’s Arms

  Promises to a Stallion

  Seduced by a Stallion

  Forever a Stallion

  Passionate Premiere

  Truly Yours

  Hearts Afire

  Twelve Days of Pleasure

  My Stallion Heart

  Stallion Magic

  Tuscan Heat

  A Stallion’s Touch

  A Pleasing Temptation

  Sweet Stallion

  To Tempt a Stallion

  Visit the Author Page at Harlequin.com for more titles.

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  To Nanette Kelley

  Thank you for your kindness!

  Your buoyant spirit is absolutely everything!

  I value your opinion and trust your intuition.

  You are much loved and

  It is an honor to call you my friend.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Excerpt from The Colton Cowboy by Carla Cassidy

  Chapter 1

  Chicago Detective Armstrong Black pulled his car into an empty parking spot behind police headquarters. It was early, the new day just getting started. The morning sun sat hidden behind a cluster of thick clouds, and the smell of rain was in the air. Shutting down the vehicle, he took a deep breath and then a second before throwing open the door and pulling his large frame out of the black-on-black Ford Expedition. He slammed the car door closed, set the alarm and headed toward the employee entrance.

  Inside, the West Harrison Street building was bustling with activity. He was reporting for duty on what should have been his day off and he wasn’t happy about it. Working a case that was taking all his energy had him needing all the rest he could get to clear his head. The criminals hadn’t gotten the memo. The early-morning call commanding his presence had set the tone for his not-so-good mood, and he noticed the scowl on his face had others eyeing him warily.

  Despite his disposition, the Bureau of Detectives was like his second home and a place he liked. He was comfortable there. As he moved through the narrow halls, past his own office and desk, toward the other end of the building, he felt his bad mood beginning to lighten, despite knowing that whatever had necessitated his presence couldn’t be good. A commotion at another desk stalled his steps and pulled at his attention. A young man in ill-fitting jeans that hung too low on his narrow hips and an army green military jacket had become combative, thrashing about angrily. Armstrong felt his body tense as three other officers reacted swiftly. He stood staring until he was satisfied that everything was under control, the man in handcuffs now behaving like he had some sense.

  Resuming his trek, he came to a stop at the end of the hallway and the corner office with a perfect view of the I-290 highway. Armstrong knocked on the door of his lieutenant’s office.
There was just a brief moment of pause before the other man’s voice beckoned him inside. Pushing the door open, Armstrong stepped through the entrance and closed it behind him. He greeted his older brother warmly.

  “Good morning, Lieutenant.”

  Parker Black lifted his eyes from the papers he was reviewing. He gave his brother a nod. “Detective. How goes it?”

  Armstrong shrugged his broad shoulders. “I’m tired and I was supposed to sleep in. Until you called bright and early. So, what’s this emergency?”

  Parker stood and moved from behind his large oak desk. He grabbed a manila folder from the desktop as he gestured for his brother to take a seat. He joined him in the leather wingback chairs that decorated his office. Armstrong knew that side by side they looked like bookends, their familial resemblance marked by chiseled features and solid frames. Both wore meticulously tailored wool suits, one in black and the other in navy blue, with bright white dress shirts and complementing neckties. Black dress shoes polished to high shines completed both their looks.

  “Last night the body of a young woman was discovered in a Dumpster down by Montrose Beach. Her name was Crystal Moore. She was a student at DePaul University, and then her parents reported her missing after she didn’t show for classes. That was about six months ago. It appears she flew back from the Czech Republic just a few days ago. However, we can’t find where she exited the country. According to Interpol, she was in the company of a known Czech gang member who has ties to a European prostitution ring. We believe he also has ties to the Balducci crime family here in Chicago. We have him in custody, but it looks like he has an airtight alibi. We can only hold him for a few more hours, and then he’ll be back on a plane before the week is out.”

  Armstrong nodded. “Who picked up the case?”

  “The Forty-First Precinct. Every indication says it’s related to the others you’ve been investigating, so the commander dropped it on my desk for your joint task force. They want you to solve these murders and shut down this trafficking ring, and they want it done now. The press is starting to run with this story, and we’re not looking good.” He passed him the folder he’d been holding. “Do what you do best, please.”

  “I appreciate the trust, big brother!” And Armstrong did. Theirs was the First Family of law enforcement in Chicago, he and his siblings following their parents into law enforcement. They had big shoes to fill and failure wasn’t an option. He had worked hard to earn his spot in the Detectives Bureau, nothing but an opportunity given to him. Most assumed his family name had made things easier, but such had hardly been the case. He and Parker both had been made to fight twice as hard for their respective positions; needing to do far more than their counterparts to prove themselves capable. This case was proving to be a thorn in both their sides and despite his best efforts, Armstrong was no closer to solving it than when the first few bodies had landed on their doorstep and he’d been tasked with the case.

  Parker seemed to read his mind. “I know you won’t embarrass your parents.”

  Armstrong laughed.

  Parker moved back to his desk and tore the top sheet from a notepad. He passed the page, and his scribblings, to his brother as he continued. “They’re expecting you down at the Twenty-Fifth Precinct to meet up with the newest addition to your team. You’re being partnered with a Detective Daniel Winstead from Atlanta, who’s joining the task force this morning. They call him Danny or Dan. I think that’s what they said. He’s meeting you there. I’m still waiting for his paperwork to come over, so I can’t tell you anything about him. I’ll send you his file when I get my hands on it.”

  “Partner?” Armstrong came to an abrupt halt. “I don’t do partners, you know that.” His gaze narrowed, his stance tensing. Even as a child Armstrong hadn’t played well with others. He was a loner by nature and didn’t trust anyone easily. His last partner, a rookie transferred from another division, had almost gotten him shot, the guy’s smart mouth pissing off the wrong person. He preferred to do things on his own and this was no exception. The look on his face expressed his displeasure but his brother wasn’t moved.

  “You’ll do this one. They say this guy’s a bit of a wild card, but that’s all I know. The commander wants someone who can keep him in line. We can’t risk his becoming a casualty on these streets. You’re the best man for the job, and you know it.”

  Armstrong blew a heavy sigh, warm breath blowing hotly over his lips. His first instinct was to balk at the request, but he would never challenge his brother’s authority, nor did he want to be a disappointment to him. His success or failure reflected back on his family, so he bit back the snarky comment on the tip of his tongue. He moved toward the door, shaking his head from side to side. “You owe me,” he said instead.

  “Put it on my tab.”

  As Armstrong made his exit, his brother called after him. He paused, turning around to look directly at his family member.

  “Make us proud,” Parker said. “And keep your head down, please. Our mother will hurt me if anything happens to you. That’s an order, Detective.”

  Armstrong nodded. “Yes, sir, Lieutenant!”

  * * *

  Danni Winstead paced the conference room floor. She’d spent the last hour studying the images pasted to the wall. Pictures of young girls and women who’d either disappeared and were still missing, or had not been found alive. One woman was one too many lost to a black-market business that traded bodies like children used to trade Pokémon cards. Blowing a soft sigh, she trailed a finger across one of the glossy images. It infuriated her and she was anxious to get to work, desperate to be busy with the case.

  Her eyes darted back and forth at the flood of activity on the other side of the large glass wall. It had taken collecting on a half dozen favors and promising a dozen more to get assigned to this task force. Her superiors in Atlanta hadn’t been overly supportive, but then that was her own fault. Although great at her job, Danni was known to sometimes ignore procedure to accomplish her tasks. She knew she had a brilliant analytical mind, and people often underestimated her. She brought a skill set to the table that intimidated most men, and her brash mannerisms sometimes threw people off guard. When their expectations didn’t mesh with her actions, they were surprised more times than not. Even though her tactics most always got the criminals, they had also gotten her in trouble more times than she cared to count. When people looked at her, they saw sugar and spice, her petite frame and youthful appearance belying her strength. But she couldn’t afford to not be taken seriously. Sometimes nice wasn’t an option, so she didn’t waste her time. She was a black woman in a field dominated by white males, so she was forever proving herself worthy of the badge she’d earned.

  Her commanding officer had sent her off with a lengthy lecture, reminding her of protocols and admonishing her not to embarrass the Atlanta Police Department. Now all she wanted was to get to work, to bring down the cartel that was responsible for all those pictures being posted on the wall. She paced to the other side of the room and then to the door to peer out for the umpteenth time.

  A uniformed police officer tossed her a look, gesturing with his head. He moved to where she stood.

  “Detective, is everything okay?” the man asked.

  “I’m sorry, you are?”

  “Officer Lankford.”

  “Officer Lankford, do you know what’s taking so long?” she questioned, her arms crossed over her chest in frustration. An air of attitude simmered just beneath her skin, and she took a breath to stall the wave of emotion that threatened to spew.

  “Your partner hasn’t gotten here yet. He’s expected any minute now.”

  “Partner?”

  “Yeah, they’ve partnered you with one of our senior detectives. He’ll hold your hand until you get acclimated.”

  Danni felt herself bristle. “I don’t need hand-holding!” she snapped, that attitude weighing d
own every word. Her emotions were running slightly high. Knowing that many questioned her abilities because she was a woman had her feeling a tad sensitive. That, and a lack of serious sleep.

  “He’s just going to show you the ropes until you get acclimated.”

  Danni suddenly felt bad about the outburst. She apologized. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap.”

  The man shrugged. “Whatever. Do you want coffee?”

  She shook her head, gesturing toward the empty foam cups that littered the tabletop. She didn’t need coffee. She needed to get to work. She was just about to snap a second time when there was a rumble from the other side of the room, the noise level rising a decibel. She and the officer both turned to stare at the same time.

  Across the way a new face had moved room center. Looking through the glass, Danni eyed the handsome man curiously. The stranger was clearly popular, everyone greeting him warmly. He had a dynamic presence, and it had nothing at all to do with his good looks. Because he was extremely handsome, a delectable version of tall, dark and delicious. Although he wasn’t dark, his complexion more of a coffee and cream, with much cream and barely a hint of coffee. His eyes were round and bright, expressive orbs the color of warm honey. And his mouth was sheer perfection, full lips that stretched into the most beautiful smile.

  He wore a tailored suit that fit his broad shoulders and large frame nicely. His GQ styling was polished and his tastes clearly expensive. The dark blue fabric complemented his warm complexion and the hint of facial hair made him look quite distinguished. Danni had no doubt that he was a fan favorite among the women, the few in the room fawning over him. But he commanded attention that was more about how he took full and total control without any effort at all. He was tall in stature, with a very majestic air, and it was totally captivating. It was obvious from everyone’s reactions that others readily deferred to him. He was all that, the chips and the dip.

  “Who is that?” Danni asked, the words slipping past her lips before she could catch them. She felt herself blush, color heating her cheeks as if she’d been caught with her hands in the cookie jar. But it was only a question, she thought to herself, purposely ignoring the smug look the other man was giving her.