Identity Crisis

By Shelly Connors

This is the third book in a series about restaurant owners who become romantically involved with two detectives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hillcrest Media Group
• Release date: Aug 24, 2016
• ISBN: 9781635052527

Book preview

2

THANK YOU!

I can not say thank you enough to the people who have made this book what it is. Tam, you have always been there with ideas and feedback. Who knew six years ago, our discussions would turn into a trilogy. Erin, for being my GW and helping me with my grammatical errors. What a difference from first to third book because of your help. To the C.L. squareds, I can’t even begin to explain how much I appreciate your time, effort, and constructive criticism. To Scotty and Dan for your time, feedback, and support. To my family who has shown nothing but love and encouragement no matter how much swearing I keep in the books. Last, to all the people who have actually read the books. I hope these characters at least made you laugh and smile.

CHAPTER 1

Dom, get in here!! The high pitched yell came from the living room. A young man sat on a beat-up couch looking intently at the 57 flat-screen TV. I’m serious. Get in here, now!"

Dominick groused slightly as he made his way from the kitchen to the living room of the small apartment. What do you want, Billy? The young man was easily excitable and sometimes it got under Dominick’s skin. He didn’t like being beckoned anywhere.

Look at the TV.

I fuckin’ hate hockey, you know that. Why on Earth would I want to watch a hockey game? Dominick started to turn around and head back into the kitchen.

Not the game, Dom, the crowd. Focus on the people, just behind the players box, in the first two rows.

Would you just fucking tell me what I’m looking at? You know I hate it when you're vague. Spit it out! Dominick kept his eyes on the TV. Very rarely did Billy waste his time because he knew the shit storm it would bring.

Right... Billy stood at the screen getting ready to point, there.

Dominick got closer to the TV. Clear as day, in front of him, on the screen was the man who’d put him behind bars. You recording this?

Yep, started it when I first saw him.

Play it back! Billy took it off live TV and went back to the beginning when he first saw the familiar man. How could he forget his face? Dominick had kept the man’s picture on his cell wall the whole five years he was in there. Billy was lucky enough to get Dominick as his cellmate for the three years he was incarcerated. If you can call that luck. Pause it! I’ll be damned. You son of a bitch. As Dominick watched he noticed a tall, well-built man trying to shield the SOB and his twin sister from the cameras. He knows.

Who knows? Billy asked confused.

Rewind it and go through it again. Watch the guy with the dark hair and slight beard. Dominick examined the man on the screen closely. Something about him was familiar.

Billy watched the screen intently. He’s trying to hide them. Who’s the girl?

Pulled from his reminiscing, Dominick said, That’s the fucker’s sister. Smart she skipped town and went with him or else I would’ve already had her telling me where he was, and she’d be dead.

Wasn’t she married to that cop who would come an’ see you every once in awhile when you first got locked up?

Yep, that’d be her. Haven’t talked to him in a while. Bet he’d be curious to find out where she went. Her husband was pissed and as dirty as they get. Could smell it a mile away. Dominick went up and touched the screen. Keep taping this game. I’m gonna find out where they are and then...I’m gonna put a fucking bullet in both their heads.

Dominick pulled his phone from his pocket and pressed it a few times before he placed it to his ear. I have information for Mr. G.

The phone went silent for a few moments before he heard, Mr. G. The voice was curt.

Yes, sir. Sorry to bother you, but I may have some information for you. Dominick went on to explain what Billy had shown him. Yes, sir. He hit the end button and placed his phone in his back pocket. Mr. G. may have still been in prison but the man was still extremely well connected. Dominick had worked for the man for over thirty years and was among the men who had been put away when the man he just saw on the TV had testified against them for embezzlement.

Billy turned to look at him. What’d he say?

We’ve got a job to do and he expects us to do it right. When this game’s over, we’ll go through it and get all the information we can. Dominick would be thorough. He wasn’t about to end up in jail again.

When the game finished, Dominick went back into the living room and made himself comfortable next to Billy. Start from the beginning. If I ask you to pause, rewind, fast forward, you do it. Got it?

Yeah, Boss, got it.

They spent the next four hours going through every part of the game. Looks like we’ll be making a trip to New York. Billy gave Dominick a confused look. Not too bright are ya, kid? Good thing you’re pretty. Dominick pointed at the screen. The hockey jerseys they’re wearing. Rockville Renegades. They live in New York. Dominick thought for a moment. The name of the city struck a cord. In his early twenties, he had traveled all over the east coast for his boss, Mr. G., and something clicked with Rockville.

He would have to figure out later why the tall slender man and the city were drudging up old memories. Dominick opened up his laptop and Googled the Rockville Renegades, went to their website and sure enough, a picture of the owner came up. He picked up the remote and fast forwarded through the beginning of the game, then paused. See that woman right there? Dominick pointed towards a short, stout woman. Victoria Michaels, owner of the Renegades. Somehow Reese has gotten himself involved with some influential people.

Dominick got up from the couch and stepped closer to the TV. Looks as though he’s got himself a man. The crease that formed in between Dominick’s eyes was not one of concern. His hands balled up in fists and his jaw clenched as he looked at the linked hands on the screen. Get your ass in the bedroom.

Billy grinned slightly. He makes you angry, doesn’t he, Boss?

What the fuck did I say? Dominick bellowed as he turned around.

Now Billy had a full on smile. This man is gonna be good for my sex life. He got up from the couch and started taking off clothes as he made his way to the bedroom. Don’t worry, Boss, I’ll get myself ready.

Dominick had one more phone call to make before he’d go pound Billy until the kid couldn’t stand straight.

Robert Prince, the man answered unceremoniously.

Mr. Prince. Dominick Futaro here.

What do you want, Futaro?

Wow, I know it’s been a few years, but I’d have thought you’d be happy to hear from me. Guess not. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of that hot wife of yours. Dominick hung up his phone. He made sure to open up the call block before he’d made the call and knew Robert would be calling him back in less than a minute.

Sure enough, thirty seconds later, Dominick’s phone chirped. You know where she is?

Not exactly, but I have a general location. You want in?

Damn straight. Robert’s voice now had a hint of excitement in it.

Meet me in about two hours at Cowboy’s and we’ll make plans from there. He knew it wouldn’t take long with Billy, and he’d make sure the kid was out for the rest of the night.

Dean walked up the steps of the Rockville Police Station. His body ached and shoulder still hurt from where the bullet went through a couple months ago. It was going to take him a while to forget the beating and being shot while he was being held by dirty Atlanta Cops. Thank God for his friends and his lover or he never would have made it out of there alive.

This was the first day he was allowed back to work. He’d be on desk duty for the next two weeks, but that was better than nothing. His boyfriend, Kaleb, had stayed with him for the first two weeks, but then Dean kicked him out and told him to help his sister and Jason at the restaurant they owned together. It wasn’t that he didn’t love his boyfriend, he just needed to do some things on his own.

Kaleb had been incredible nursing him back to health in every form fathomable. Dean smiled as he thought about the way Kaleb had gone down on him that morning to help him forget about the throbbing in his shoulder.

When he opened the door and walked into the main lobby, Dean was greeted with a rousing cheer of Welcome Back. His partner, R.J. Kennedy, was standing front and center with a shit eating grin on his face.

I told you I didn’t want anything. No one was supposed to know I was coming in today.

R.J. laughed, This wasn’t for you. We’ve been doing this every day for the past two weeks waiting for O’Leary to get his brains back. Every time the wind blows, they get knocked out.

Ha, Ha, Kennedy. You’re fucking hysterical. Detective John O’Leary hissed back. The other detective and R.J. were like oil and water and always at each other’s throats. Dean knew O’Leary had been friends with R.J.’s former partner Craig, who’d been dirty till the day R.J. killed him. Davis, good to see you finally got some teeth back. Tell your boyfriend not to be so physical next time you suck his dick.

Dean smiled, his teeth gleaming once again after a few had been knocked out in Atlanta. Don’t worry, O’Leary; when Kaleb’s done, I’ll use your dick to floss.

R.J. spit out the water he’d been drinking. O’Leary glared at him. Looks like you may have some competition when it comes to being an asshole, Kennedy.

R.J. was about to retort when their Captain came into the room. Having the physical size of LeBron James and the voice of James Earl Jones, he was the only man who could make R.J. shut up. Davis, the big man bellowed, good to have you back. Kennedy’s gone through more men than a hooker in Vegas.

I’m on desk duty, sir. They haven’t released me yet.

Really? the captain asked, raising his eyebrow. Because I have a note on my desk saying different. He hoped Dean didn’t ask for the note.

Oh, thank God, R.J. sighed. I couldn’t handle another greenhorn.

Think you two can work together and not get shot or beaten up? The captain was only slightly joking.

R.J. pointed at Dean. He started it.

The captain shook his head at his detective’s childish antics. Something’s going down at the old elementary school on 7th. I need you two to go and check it out.

The extra large man started walking back towards his office, then turned around and added, Don’t get yourselves killed.

Both men went to their desks before they ventured to their first assignment together in almost two months. You alright? Dean asked as he watched R.J. absently go through the motions of grabbing a set of car keys and his suit coat.

Yeah, perfect. R.J. tucked the keys to the SUV in his pants pocket. Don’t forget about your present from O’Leary in the bottom of your desk. R.J. winked as he started to leave. Dean pulled open his bottom desk drawer to find an economy sized bottle of Jergens.

Wow, who’d have guessed the man could be so thoughtful?

R.J. pulled into a parking spot at the deserted school. It had been shut down about ten years earlier and now was a hot spot for drug deals and runaways. The water and electricity had been shut off long ago, but the rooms made it an ideal hideaway for all sorts of hoodlums. The police did their best trying to keep it closed off and locked up, but only so much could be done.

R.J. looked off into the distance as if he was watching something play out. Dean snapped his fingers in front of his partner’s face. Hey, I’m the one just coming back from medical disability. What’s going on?

When R.J. turned towards Dean his eyes were slightly cloudy. He quickly wiped away a rogue tear that had made its way down his cheek. Kaleb give you new cologne? Or is that just your gas? Whatever it is, shit’s making me tear up.

Dean raised his eyebrows at his partner before he reached for the door handle. You get me shot because you aren’t telling me something, and I’ll break your nose. Dean had done some investigating on his partner during his time off. He knew R.J. had been married at one time, but Dean had recently learned that R.J.’s wife, a former elementary teacher, had been murdered. Now they sat in the same parking lot where it had happened twenty years ago, and R.J. was struggling.

R.J. knew Dean had just let him off the hook on that one. Some day he’d have to tell him what happened to his wife, if the man didn’t already know, but now was not the time. You wouldn’t, he grumbled, remembering the statement about his nose, as he got out of the SUV. I think it may be straighter than it was before.

Dean walked around the front of the car and placed a hand on each side of R.J.’s head to hold it still. The two detectives were the same height at an even six feet, and both had a long lean build. Dean turned R.J.’s head to the right and then to the left. Nope, still as crooked as me. Dean slapped R.J.’s cheek and then winked at him.

I think O’Leary’s right. You may have taken the title role of asshole. Let’s see what’s going on, shall we?

Dean went back to the SUV and reached into the back seat. He came back to R.J. carrying two vests. "I think we’ve been shot enough this year. Let’s be