Prison

By Toni V. Lee

SONJA GR EY, a narcotics detective, and her nemesis, Max Trent, are handpicked to go undercover to capture a thugJohnny Stone, aka Rockwhos dealing drugs at Sonjas church. Their operation is unwittingly aided by the interference of Sonjas eccentric aunties.

Max is in love with Sonja, but shes kept him at a distance by staying entrenched behind a wall of antagonism. For Max, this assignment has two objectives: get their villain and capture Sonjas heart.

The drug dealer, Rock, is a product of choices made by others when he was a child. Hes emotionally damaged and holds a deep-rooted anger at God. He lives a dark, violent life. Could prison be his path to freedom?

Will Sonja break free of the shackles of her past and embrace Maxs love, or will they be destroyed by danger?

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449748517

Toni V. Lee

TONI V. LEE is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Association. She has a BSBA degree in business administration from the University of Central Florida. She’s an IT professional and serves as a teacher in the Christian education ministry at her church.

Book preview

Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Epilogue

Praise for

Prison

"Prison is filled with intrigue and charm—a great mixture of suspense, playfulness and romance!"

–Lynn Zuk-Lloyd

Author of Miracle on Swordfish Dock

www.promisegarden.com

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to my sister, Vera Bolden, for believing in me and for your consistent encouragement.

Thank you, Deputy Sheriff Anthony Coleman and Silas Green, Jr., for sharing your insights about law enforcement and the drug culture.

Jasper Green, thanks for the impromptu karate lesson.

Chapter One

Friday morning, Sonja Grey walked into the conference room and quickly surveyed the faces of the people sitting around the table. She hesitated when her eyes halted on the occupant sitting next to the only vacant seat—Max Trent. Why did it have to be him? She sighed her irritation as she sat down.

The group—with the exception of Max—greeted her with nods and smiles.

He leaned over with amusement glittering in his dark eyes. You don’t look too pleased to see me. Why’s that?

You know why. You’re a pest.

Max tsked and wagged his index finger at her. That’s not nice.

Their sergeant interrupted the banter. As you know, we’ve had Johnny Stone, a.k.a. Rock, under surveillance for the past three weeks. We haven’t been able to get anything on him. We know from our informant that he’s still pushing. He’s either become nervous, or he’s been tipped off. A heavy scowl settled on the sergeant’s face. He’s pushing bad stuff to the users he wants to punish. He’s killed at least one person with this stuff, and there have been a few close calls. I want this menace off the streets.

His scowl cleared. I believe our luck’s changing. We picked up a suspect yesterday, who’s trying to bargain his way out of a lengthy sentence. He ‘volunteered’ some information that makes us believe Stone has relocated some of his business to Prayer Tabernacle.

Sonja gasped. He’s dealing drugs out of my church?

Max whistled softly. "He’s either very bold or very, very stupid. If we don’t get to him first, the Man upstairs will."

Sonja flushed with outrage. "Oh, he’s both and deserves whatever’s comin’ to him.

I could save the tax payers some money and just take him fishin’, offered Officer Stevens. He’d make great fish food.

Despite her anger, Sonja chuckled with her colleagues. Stevens was a six-four softy who was a stickler about doing things by the book. The only time she’d ever seen him get tough was when he’d had to stop a perp who was assaulting an old lady. He’d brought the assailant down hard and showed no mercy.

I’ve decided to plant some undercover detectives in Prayer Tabernacle’s congregation. Those detectives will be Trent and Grey. Grey, I understand you’re already a member of that church. I’ll leave it up to the two of you to decide how to integrate Trent unobtrusively into the congregation. You’re undercover as of the conclusion of this briefing. He paused for a few seconds. Don’t take any unnecessary risks with this guy. I want you two and the people of that church to stay safe.

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Sonja was gathering her things from her desk when Max walked over and leaned against it.

Why did this man needle her so much? She got along fine with the other officers, but this guy seemed to go out of his way to push her buttons. Sometimes, just a look from him had her hackles on the rise.

Don’t come bothering me, Max. I’m not in the mood for any of your nonsense right now. She slammed her desk drawer shut. I can’t believe it! That thug has the audacity to sell drugs in the Lord’s house—in my church—of all places. She shook her head in disgust and dumped a file into her tote bag.

It does boggle the mind. The sad thing is it’s not a new or unique concept. This kind of thing has been going on since the Bible days.

She sat back in her chair and gave Max her full attention. What do you mean?

Remember the financial corruption at the temple in Jerusalem, and how the people were cheated when they went to offer sacrifices? Max ran his hand over his beard. How many reports have you heard through the years about preachers swindling their congregations out of money?

Sonja pursed her lips. "There’s sin, and then there’s sin. How can Rock possibly believe he can get away with selling drugs at Prayer Tabernacle? She thumped her desk with her index finger. That’s just downright disrespectful."

Max nodded. But Grey, wrong is wrong. Sin is sin. We put degrees on sin, God doesn’t.

Why am I even humoring this man? Since when did you become an expert on church and biblical matters?

Max smiled. You think you have me all figured out, but you don’t. His smile widened, and he gave her a slow wink. I’m a man of many depths.

Sonja rolled her eyes. You’re about as deep as an inch of water.

Max crossed his arms, causing his muscles to bulge.

She wished she could ignore his smug look. I’ve never heard you talk about attending church. For someone who doesn’t normally go, our assignment may be a bit taxing.

Max shook his head and made that annoying tsking sound again, then picked up a pen and started clicking it There you go again, judging me all wrong. When I’m not working a case, I attend Sunday services and Bible study on a regular basis.

While he spoke, her eyes traveled over his low-cut, neatly trimmed black hair, down to his medium-brown face. The muscles in his arms flexed as his thumb worked the pen’s clicker. Flashes of appreciative interest danced . . . Nah, that can’t be right. Something was dancing around in his dark eyes. The man was just too good looking for his own good. Her eyes continued their journey down to his mustache. He was an impressive package when you threw in his air of self-assuredness and self-confidence, his muscular build, his . . .

I wish he’d stop clicking that pen! It’s . . . It’s . . . Well, it’s distracting! Just look at him, sittin’ there looking like Blair Underwood!

She mentally shook herself and refocused on what Max was saying. Seriousness had crept into his voice. Grey, when are you going to accept that you don’t know me? When you look at me, you see only what you choose to see.

Well . . . she began, but trailed off because she had no idea what to say.

Mm-hmm, exactly. So tell me, why’d you agree to work with me on this case?

Sonja folded her arms across her chest. I’ll probably regret telling you this, but I agreed to work with you because you’re very good at what you do. You’re one of the best.

He gave her a satisfied grin. I’m going to remember this day for the rest of my life. I actually received a compliment from Sonja Grey.

"Man, sometimes you just pluck my last nerve. See, you’re already gettin’ started."

Max laughed. I’ve been thinking about how I should be integrated into your congregation, and I’ve come up with a plan that’ll work.

She leaned forward, placing her folded arms on the desk. Okay, let’s hear it.

His twinkling eyes warned her she wouldn’t like what he was about to say. Ms. Grey, you just got yourself a boyfriend.

Her eyes widened. No. No way. Absolutely not, she sputtered.

C’mon. You know it’ll work. It’s the quickest and easiest approach.

Uh-uh. She shook her head for emphasis. Nooo, Max. There’s got to be another way.

Max’s demeanor became serious, and he pinioned her with his eyes. What’re you really afraid of Grey? Are you afraid you might grow to like me for real?

For reasons that Sonja couldn’t fathom, butterflies started fluttering like crazy in her stomach. Keep it together, Detective Grey. I’m not afraid of anything.

Max smiled and straightened from her desk. Good. Then we have a plan. See you at church on Sunday, sweetums. He gave her a two-fingered salute and walked off before she could respond. His trailing chuckles sent fear and apprehension pulsing through her.

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Saturday night, Max thought about the upcoming weeks as he rummaged through his closet looking for the perfect uniform for Sunday.

A lot was riding on the outcome of this undercover operation. Yes, he wanted to gather enough evidence to put Rock out of commission permanently, but there was also something of even greater importance at stake here—his future.

He’d been attracted to Sonja Grey since the moment he’d laid eyes on her a year ago when he’d joined the Undercover Drug Unit of the Orlando Police Department Drug Enforcement Division.

There was just something about her that called to him.

He enjoyed their verbal sparring matches and had learned all of the right buttons to push to get an argument going.

He chuckled as he tossed a shirt onto the bed.

Three months ago, he’d realized that he’d fallen in love with her. He hadn’t approached her about it or attempted to change their relationship. He’d prayed about it. After much praying and fasting, he’d become unshakably certain she was the one.

Even though he’d been convinced and eager, he’d felt that the Spirit had checked him and told him to wait—until this morning. Everything would fall into place during this operation. The Lord was finally giving him a green light.

Sonja.

He closed his eyes for a moment and visualized her stylishly short, highlighted hairstyle that attractively complimented her light-brown skin tone, her slightly almond-shaped, hazel eyes, her well-defined lips, and her athletic—yet very feminine—physique.

She was five feet nothing, but she carried herself with such an air of confidence it seemed to add to her stature.

Oh, yeah. He had to play this right. She was going to be his wife, and he was ready to claim her.

Max finished collecting the pieces for his uniform and laid everything out on the bed. She’s going to go through the roof, and I’m going to love every minute of it. His delighted laughter ricocheted off the walls.

Chapter Two

Sunday morning, Sonja stood sandwiched between two tall display cases in the church foyer. She’d been so anxious about attending the service today with Max, that she’d arrived twenty minutes early.

No way was she going to bake in the sun, waiting for Max to arrive. Instead, she’d made her way into the church and found this unobtrusive spot near the end of the ninety foot vestibule—away from foot traffic—to watch and wait.

Ten minutes later, Rock and another man appeared at the glass doors at the end of the hall. If they entered the lobby through those doors, they would be twenty-five feet away from Sonja’s position.

A few minutes later, she heard voices and the soft thud of footsteps on the carpet coming toward her. She pressed back against the wall and grimaced when she saw two of her good friends, Craig Adams and Michael Greer, walk past.

Where is he? Craig asked Michael.

Straight ahead, Michael answered, talking to that guy.

Those doors are so far from the entrance into the main sanctuary they are hardly ever used, Craig said.

Please tell me they aren’t going after Rock.

Sonja peeked out and saw that Craig and Michael had stopped a short distance away from her hiding place, facing the doors. They would have seen her if they hadn’t been watching Rock so intently.

She switched her gaze back to Rock in time to see his companion hand him some money. Rock stuffed the money in his front pants pocket. Before leaving each other, Rock and his companion exchanged a handshake by first tapping the top of each other’s fists with the thumb side facing up, and then ending with the tapping of their knuckles.

Did you see that? Craig hissed.

"Yeah. I don’t even want to think about what it means. Rock can’t be that much of a reprobate."

Rock turned and entered the foyer, but his companion walked away into the church parking lot.

Rock was wearing a black trench coat over blue jeans and a white oxford shirt. Three thick, long gold chains hung around his neck. A dark scar slashed across his left cheek. Dreadlocks covered his head.

To Sonja’s dismay, Craig and Michael approached Rock.

Hey, man, I’m Craig Adams. Craig extended his hand to Rock and slightly inclined his head toward Michael. And this here’s Michael Greer. We want to welcome you to Prayer Tabernacle.

Okay . . . so far so good.

Hey. Uh . . . Thanks. Rock shook their hands and moved to walk around them.

I believe you’ve already met my Aunties—Euvinia and Lenore, Michael added.

Yeah, I’ve met them ol’. . . Rock cut short whatever he’d been about to say when both Craig and Michael took a step closer to him. He studied Craig’s face and then Michael’s. Yeah, I’ve met ‘em.

Oh boy, this is not good.

Michael worked with the teens at Prayer Tabernacle on Sundays. He’d shared with her how hard and belligerent some of them were. His approach was honesty and firmness. He’d learned to never show fear in a confrontation, or the kids would take control and escalate the situation. But Rock was out of his sphere of experience.

When my Aunties take an interest in someone, they can be a little overwhelming. I’d really hate for them to be misunderstood and hurt in any way because they do mean well. Michael’s warning dropped like a ton of bricks.

Lenore and Euvinia aren’t really my relatives, but they’re my people nonetheless. There’s just something about families. Craig stepped a little closer to Rock. When somebody hurts one of yours, it makes you want to break something—or someone.

The confrontation really shouldn’t have been a surprise. The aunties had naively made Rock a project, and of course, Michael and Craig were going to try to protect them. The surprising thing was that it had taken them this long to drop a warning in Rock’s ear.

Sonja didn’t think Craig and Michael would harm Rock, but then again, she knew they wouldn’t hesitate to do whatever they thought necessary to shield the Aunties.

Look, I ain’t lookin’ for no trouble. But if you bring it, I’ll handle it. Ain’t nobody done nothin’ to those ol’ . . . Rock stopped and took a quick step back because Craig and Michael moved closer.

You were saying? Craig asked.

Sonja tensed to step out of her hiding place and diffuse the situation. There was so much testosterone dripping from those guys, they were bound to do something stupid.

Rock took a step back and his gaze darted back and forth between Craig and Michael. Ladies. I was just gonna say ladies. He shot Craig a nasty look. You don’t scare me, pretty boy.

Craig smirked. Humph, you wouldn’t be the first person to make the mistake of underestimating me.

Michael stepped away slightly, creating an opening wide enough for Rock to walk through.

Sonja’s tension seeped away at Michael’s action.

Enjoy the service, brother, Michael called after him as Rock walked away.

Did you see his eyes? Craig asked Michael when Rock exited the foyer through the nearest door.

There’s something crucial missing in that boy.

Yeah, his eyes are . . . I don’t know quite how to describe them.

Dead. Man, his eyes are dead.

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I should have known he’d be late. Sonja’s stiletto heels clicked on the pavement as she paced back and forth beside her car.

After the testosterone had cleared the foyer, Sonja headed back out to her car to wait for Max.

She looked at her watch. "I told him I didn’t like to be late for church," she huffed.

She stopped in mid-stride when she saw Max’s car turn into the parking lot. It’s about time.

She reached into her car to retrieve her purse and Bible. When she straightened, she heard a car door slam near by.

She looked in the direction of the sound and dropped her purse—and her jaw—to the pavement. Oh! No, he didn’t!

A huge smile split Max’s face. Hi, beautiful.

Sonja couldn’t believe her eyes. He was wearing glasses. Not just glasses, but thick, soda-bottle glasses. He’d cut off his beard and trimmed his mustache to a thin line. His suit . . . It was too short and small! His muscles bulged in the jacket. A good two inches of ankle hung past the end of his hem. Just as much of his wrists flashed below the end of his sleeve. She knew he