Deadly Games: Detective Thornton Series, #1

By Andrew Hess

Detective James Thornton has always had a way with women. Some say he’s a player. Others call him a man whore. But he’s mostly known as the best detective the Dutchess County P.D. has. For years he swore off relationships, fearing his career would put them in danger. That all changed the moment he met Alexa. In one night, she won him over, but in one weekend his world will shatter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Phoenix Entertainment and Development
• Release date: Aug 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781535256049

Andrew Hess

Andrew Hess, New York’s King of Cliffhangers, found his love of writing while studying psychology at SUNY New Paltz. His debut book, Chamber of Souls (2011), depicted the life of a broken man wallowing in self pity. Using free verse poetry, he brought his character to life while journeying to find himself. Hess picked up his first cliffhanger credit in 2013 with The Phoenix Blade Series (winner of Best Series Award in 2014 by Indie Author Books). The Phoenix Blade showcased a group of vigilante 20 year olds hired by the government to rid the country of the men and women who have evaded justice. Hess continued his route down the path of mystery and suspense with the Detective Ryan Series, the Detective Thornton Series, and #1 Fan, which earned him the moniker King of Cliffhangers by several readers including the Fire & Ice Book Reviews. Andrew won Indie Author Books: Best Mystery Thriller Author (2015), and Indie Author Books Series of the Year (2014) for The Phoenix Blade. Andrew has been nominated for Best Male Author, Best Mystery Suspense Author, Book of the Year, and Best Mystery Book (2015) for Campus Killer/ By Wickedly Devine Divas, The Three Bookateers, & SNSBAH Promotions He was also nominated for Book of the year, and Best Mystery Book of 2015 for Campus Killer In 2016, he was nominated for the Summer Indie Awards in the Contemporary (#1 Fan), Crime ( Conviction, and Deadly Games), Mystery (Campus Killer, Scorned, and Conviction), Romance (#1 Fan), and Anthology (Detours in Our Destinations) Hess is also an avid blogger at The Writers Revolution (http://thewritersrevolution13.blogspot.com) and Between the Coverz (https://www.facebook.com/betweenthecoverz) where he promotes and interviews other authors, as well as reviewing books of all genres.

Book preview

Deadly Games

Detective Thornton Series, Volume 1

Andrew Hess

Published by Phoenix Entertainment and Development, 2016.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

DEADLY GAMES

First edition. August 1, 2016.

Copyright © 2016 Andrew Hess.

ISBN: 978-1535256049

Written by Andrew Hess.

I would like to thank my rock and source of sanity in this world, my wife. She is always there to support me and everything I do. I would also like to thank my models Lindsey and Clinton for bringing the characters of Detective Thornton and Alexa Wright to life.

A huge thank you to the Twisted Shamrock in Babylon, NY (located at the Babylon Train Station) for allowing us to use their bar for the photoshoot.

Deadly Games

By Andrew Hess

Published by Phoenix Entertainment and Development 2016

Copyright ©Andrew Hess, Phoenix Entertainment and Development

Cover design by Stephanie Littlefield of Trident Book Promotions

Photography by Andrew Hess of Trident Book Promotions.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual event is purely coincidental.

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

Table of 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

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my rock and source of sanity in this world, my wife. She is always there to support me and everything I do. I would also like to thank my models Lindsey and Clinton for bringing the characters of Detective Thornton and Alexa Wright to life.

A huge thank you to the Twisted Shamrock in Babylon, NY (located at the Babylon Train Station) for allowing us to use their bar for the photoshoot.

Chapter 1

I’ve never been one for the limelight. I hate being in front of the cameras, being asked fifty million questions by the press, and given assignments based on how high profile they are. But the perks were far too enticing. I glanced down at the bed and smiled. Seeing the hot blond wrapped in my bed sheets reminded me of our fun from the night before.

Damn, I love the perks.

Hey, the woman said in a sleepy yet sexy voice. She pulled the white sheet to her bare chest. Seeing it tighten around her mounds made me rise to attention.

Hey yourself, I replied. Normally, my first instinct was to come up with an excuse to hurry the girl out before they thought it was anything more than a one-time thing.

I know; most think I’m an asshole. In reality, I’m trying to be a good guy. In my line of work, it’s dangerous to form attachments. If I’m undercover or chasing down a bad guy, I don’t need to be thinking about getting back home to a girlfriend or a wife. I need to be focused on getting the job done.

So why did I let this one stay? Chalk it up to me thinking with the wrong head, or maybe it was a momentary lapse in judgement. One look at her long tan legs, her nice tight ass, those gorgeous green eyes, or that beautiful smile and I lost all focus.

Damn, what was her name again? She looked up at me with a smile that warmed my heart. Oh yeah, Alexa.

I slid into the bed, scooping an arm behind her back. I knew last night was a drunken one-night stand, but seeing her barely covered body lying in my bed made me want a second crack at her. Pulling her close to me, I crushed my lips against hers. I could feel her sucking my bottom lip into her mouth.

Suddenly, she pulled away. Although the look in her eyes told me she didn’t want to. I thought this was a one-time thing.

I was trapped in her hypnotic gaze, fumbling for something to tell her. Maybe you’re too damn irresistible to pass up.

I glanced down at the thin sheet covering her body. It was the only thing separating us. I slowly peeled it away from her, as my eyes drank in her gorgeous athletic body. I knew right then I had to have her again, and there was nothing holding me back.

My hand caressed the silky smooth skin on Alexa’s back, as my mouth left a trail of kisses from her lips down to her neck. I could feel the excitement pooling between us. Damn, it was increasingly painful not to be in her.

It was only supposed to be one night, I reminded myself. Yeah screw that thought. I wanted to spend the whole morning enjoying every bit of her.

Mm, James, she moaned. I ignored her as I pressed my lips on her stomach. James. This time it was a little less moan and a little more attention grabbing. James, your phone’s ringing.

And here I thought she was having flashbacks of the night before. Let it ring, I groaned. There was nothing but silence, giving me the chance to drop lower.

Then the ringing began again. Just do us both a favor, and answer it already.

I slammed my palms on the bed and lifted myself into a crawl. Moving towards the top of the bed, I picked up the ringing phone and saw it was the station.

Thornton here.

Hey, the lieutenant wants to see A.S.A.P

Fuck! He knows I’m off today. Can’t it wait till tomorrow?

I don’t think so. He’s been snapping at people all morning.

Alright, I’ll be there in about an hour. I hung up the phone and looked at the hot blond laying in my bed. The only thing I wanted more than her at that moment, was to punch my lieutenant in the face for making me walk away from such a beautiful woman.

She rolled onto her stomach and looked up at me with disappointment written all over her face. I guess, that’s my cue to leave?

It’s not like that. My lieutenant is on the warpath about something and wants to see me.

It’s okay. I knew what this was before jumping in bed with you.

I grabbed her hand before she could jump off the bed. Don’t think you’re getting off that easy. I want to see you again. Maybe tonight?

James, we both know you’re not the type of guy that does the relationship thing. Her fingers trailed from my hand, but I held tightly.

I never said anything about a relationship. I just think we can have a lot of fun together.

I’m all for fun, but I’m going away for the weekend. She took a deep breath and sighed.Maybe we can get together when I get back.

I didn’t know if she was testing how much I wanted her, but something in me wanted to push for the second chance. You going anywhere interesting or fun?

She scooted to the edge of the bed, but looked back with the Cheshire grin. I’m actually going to a murder mystery weekend with a friend of mine.

The moment she mentioned a friend, a pang of jealousy made me wonder if her friend was another date, or her way of blowing me off.

I’ve actually never been to one of those before.

She let out a chuckle, probably thinking it was my way of asking for an invite. Given your reputation as the great Detective Thornton, I’m sure you’d have it all figured out before we sat down for dinner.

Wiggling my eyebrows, I tried to telepathically send her thoughts of what we would do with the rest of the time. I bet I could make it worth your wild if I did.

I’ll keep that in mind. She slowly slipped on her black panties and matching bra. As much as I love watching a woman strip out of her clothes, I find it almost as sexy to watch them seductively put them back on.

Damn this girl is going to be the death of me.

Chapter 2

The tension in the station was at an all-time high. Officers were rushing to get their paperwork in order before they left for the field. Everyone wanted to get out, yet I was the one walking into the lair of the beast, knowing full well what I was walking into.

The narrow space between the cluttered, close-nit desks made me feel like a crowd gathered to watch my execution. Maybe it was. I still had no clue what sent the lieutenant on the warpath or why I was summoned to his office on my day off. If he knew about the party I went to last weekend and who I was with, he wouldn’t hesitate to put a bullet in me.

The door to his office was open, but the lieutenant’s focus seemed to be on the paperwork on his desk. I took a deep breath and wrapped my knuckles against the wooden door. The lieutenant never looked up. He merely motioned me to enter with two fingers.

Close the door, the lieutenant said. I did as instructed and took a seat across from him. A list ran through my mind, wondering what he found out about and wanted to punish me for. He finally looked up from his desk. Thornton, you know why I called you in here?

Sir, if this about last weekend, I can explain.

He raised an eyebrow. What happened last weekend?

Shit, I knew I shouldn’t have said anything. Nothing, sir. Nothing happened. Yeah, like that was an answer he’d accept. I decided to rely my quick wit to get me out of the mess I created.

Out with it, Thornton.

Okay. I was at a bar last weekend and broke up a fight. I knew that wasn’t going to be enough to get the lieutenant off my back."The bouncer