In the Crossfire

By L.P. Dover

Secrets.
Lies.
Betrayal.
Murder.
I’ve gotten away with it all, but that won’t last forever.

I’m Bryce Chandler, FBI agent and member of the Circle of Justice, a covert organization that metes out retribution to those who’ve escaped the system without punishment. For the last year I’ve been deep undercover, doing unspeakable things to secure my place in the mafia world. These days I barely recognize the man in the mirror, but Anthony Corsino is finally in my crosshairs.

He’s entrusted me with the one thing he loves most—his daughter, Layla. She was just another detail of the mission, until she was suddenly so much more. I never meant to fall for the enemy, but I couldn’t resist. I’m in too deep. My brothers are determined to get me out, but I can’t let them interfere. It’s my job to put down the target. However, when I do, I’ll lose the only woman I’ve ever loved and the only good thing left in my life. If I don’t, I’ll lose myself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: L.P. Dover
• Release date: Jun 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463601013

L.P. Dover

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Everything’s sweeter in the South has always been her mantra and she lives by it, whether it’s with her writing or in her everyday life. Maybe that’s why she’s seriously addicted to chocolate.Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a children’s book with her daughter. Her favorite to write is romantic suspense, but she’s also found a passion in romantic comedy. She loves to make people laugh which is why you’ll never see her without a smile on her face.

Book preview

1

BRYCE

Blood.

I was accustomed to the smell, and the way it ran dark on the ground after a kill. It was satisfying to see the life fade out of the eyes of someone who deserved to die. My mark tonight was Brock Trainor, a serial rapist who escaped conviction because of his piece of shit father who had the money to pay off anyone and everyone involved. If I could add that cocksucker to the list, I would—in a fucking heartbeat.

Holstering my gun, I buttoned my suit jacket to hide it from view. The alley was rank with the smell of piss and shit, mainly from Brock’s lifeless body mixed with the August summer heat. Brock cried like a fucking baby when he realized death had come for him. There was no remorse in those soulless eyes of his when I pulled the trigger—only fear. He was never going to hurt anyone else again.

It just so happened he was in New York, visiting some of his old fraternity brothers. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to knock him off the list. Turning on my heel, I walked out of the alley to the dark streets of Brooklyn. There were people here and there, but they kept to themselves. No one ever bothered me when I roamed the streets.

There were so many people on the list here in New York that there was always something to do. Unfortunately, the one target I needed to hit was the one I couldn’t get close to. No one from the Circle of Justice had gotten inside the Corsinos’ domain and lived to tell the tale. It was dangerous territory. My brothers thought I was fucked up in the head for taking on the mission by myself, but I knew there was no other way. Someone had to do it, and luckily, my name had already reached the infamous Anthony Corsino’s ears. His men followed me on occasion, but they haven’t approached me…yet.

I’d been living undercover in New York for three months under the name of Bryce Collman. The name was going to get me on the inside; I was sure of it. I’d researched every member of Corsino’s main inner group, every detail about them, and found a connection to the Collman family from many years ago. The Collman clan had dispersed and moved to Canada, never be heard from again. The FBI was able to track down the existing members, and all that was left from the original mafia ties was a man named Danny Holton, who lived in a nursing home, ravaged by dementia, and his son, who owned a wood-carving shop on Prince Edward Island. From the timeline on my files, Danny’s son was too young at the time the Collmans moved to Canada to know anything of their family’s past, and still didn’t. He was married, with three little girls, and had never been out of Canada since his family moved there. However, the Collmans ruthlessness in the mafia world was widely known, and I was going to use it to my advantage.

The sound of jazz echoed up ahead, along with the drunken laughs of Brooklyn’s Saturday-night partygoers. My twin brother, Ian, and I used to go out on the town all the time in our early twenties, before we joined the Circle of Justice. Those days seemed like a distant memory.

I turned the corner and saw a group of people sitting outside on the back patio of the large, brick building, drinking and having a good time. From the inside, I could hear a haunting piano melody, the sound drawing me closer. I walked in and went straight to the bar. There was an open seat at the corner, right beside two men who were probably a couple years younger than me, both dressed in skintight sweaters, trying their best to hit on the women next to them to no avail. It was obvious the women wanted nothing to do with them.

When I walked up, the guy in the gray sweater tensed and his smile faded when he got a good look at me. I rested my elbow on the bar, allowing my suit jacket to slide open so he could see my gun. His friend eyed me, and they casually took their drinks and walked away.

The women watched the men walk away, and the one closest to me breathed a sigh of relief. There was no denying how sexy she was, in a low-cut red dress and heels, with her dark brown hair hanging down her back.

Thank you, she breathed, gently placing a hand over her chest. I think you scared them away. They wouldn’t leave us alone.

I looked back at the men, who had already moved on to hounding other women. Glad I could help.

If you want, you can join me and my friend tonight? I’m sure we can figure out a way to show you our appreciation. I turned my attention to the woman and her friend. The thought would definitely make my cock happy. However, at that moment, there was something else that caught my attention. Someone was watching me…I could feel it. Turning away from the women, I slowly scanned the club.

Sorry, ladies. Not tonight. Their disgruntled sighs didn’t go unheard, and they snatched up their drinks and hurried off, their heels clacking against the floor. I searched the crowd again, and that was when I recognized Marco Corsino, the brother and right hand of the mob leader I was searching for, staring right at me. Hardening my gaze, I stared right back.

Can I get you something to drink? the bartender called out, his voice a little on the feminine side. I turned away from Marco and looked at him. He had long, light brown hair that he had pulled back in a low ponytail. If it wasn’t for the facial hair, I would’ve thought he was a female.

Whiskey. Make it a double, I said, turning my attention back to Marco.

He laughed. Rough night?

I glanced at him over my shoulder. Not yet, but I have a feeling it will be. When I tried to find Marco again, he was gone, or at least left my line of sight.

I’d been followed before by Corsino’s men, but something about tonight felt different. I knew they were behind me the whole cab ride back to my apartment. They had no beef with me, so I knew I wasn’t on their hit list, but my recent kills were surely going to catch their attention. It just so happened that some of their enemies were also targets on the Circle of Justice’s list. Killing their enemies made their jobs easier. I knew it would draw their interest.

Once in my apartment, I kept the lights off and draped my suit jacket over the kitchen bar. My apartment was one of the priciest in SoHo. When you entered, the kitchen was to your left while the living room was to your right, where I had my black leather couch and chair and big-screen TV. Past the living room there was a hallway that led to my bedroom. If I was ever going to gain Anthony Corsino’s attention, he had to see I came from money. That was the way it worked with people like him. He wasn’t going to let some lowlife gutter rat into his ranks. I’d traded in my usual jeans and cowboy boots for expensive three-piece suits.

Manhattan was completely different from my hometown in Wyoming, but I was getting used to it. One thing I missed most about my home was my brothers, and the vastness of the land. It wasn’t dirty and crowded like the big city.

I walked over to the windows and peered out at the bustling city below. It’d been a week since I’d talked to my twin brother, so I pulled out my phone and waited for him to answer. I had two other brothers in addition to Ian, but I was closest to him. My oldest brother, Wade, was married to the former first daughter of the United States, and my youngest brother, Reed, still lived in Wyoming at my and Ian’s ranch. We were all FBI agents and assassins, including our father, who was now retired.

Hey, cocksucker, Ian answered. Haven’t talked to you in a while.

I watched the people moving about on the streets. Been busy.

He chuckled. Yeah, I know. I see you knocked off Brock tonight. Good job.

I happened to be in the right place at the right time. Soon they’d find his body in the dank alley where he belonged. Brock lived in Minnesota, but he fucked up by coming to New York. I couldn’t pass up the chance to give him what he deserved.

Have you gotten any closer to getting in with Corsino? Ian asked.

I walked over to my desk, flipping open my laptop as I sat down. They’re following me more openly now. Marco was at the club watching me tonight, and then I noticed one of their black sedans behind my cab as I was coming to the apartment.

Hmm…interesting. Are you still pretending you don’t know they’re there?

Once my laptop was booted up, I typed in my government security code. Not anymore, I replied. Marco knows I’m onto them. The screen came to life with different video feeds. Before Corsino’s men started following me, I had cameras strategically placed all over my apartment building. That way, I could see when trouble was coming. So far, so good.

Ian sighed. When do you think they’ll make their move?

It just so happened that one of the camera feeds showed a black sedan pulling into the parking deck through one of the cameras. Looks like now, brother.

Fuck, are you serious?

Marco and two other men walked inside the apartment building and got in the elevator. Yep. They’ll be at my door in less than a minute. I slammed my laptop shut and hurried to grab my suit jacket off the kitchen chair.

Be safe, Ian said. These men are powerful.

A deep, thunderous knock sounded on the door. Taking a deep breath, I let it out slow. So are we. I hung up the phone and shrugged into my jacket. Anthony Corsino and his men might be powerful, but I wasn’t afraid of them.

Another knock blasted on the door, and I swung it open. Marco stood there, dressed in his custom-fit gray suit with his polished gun shining right at me from his holster. He was in his early fifties, with a bald head and a scar right above his left eye. I was a little over six feet tall, but Marco was a couple inches taller than me, and with a lot more weight. From the file I had on him, he’d played football up until college. He could’ve gone pro, but he chose the mafia life instead.

Marco puffed out his chest and sized me up. Bryce Collman?

I stared right back, refusing to be intimidated. Yeah.

He took a step away from the door. My brother would like a word with you.

And who the fuck is that? I asked.

Marco’s gaze narrowed. We both know you already know the answer to that.

We stared each other down, but I didn’t get any indication that he meant me any harm. I was about to go into the lion’s den alone. I had to be on my guard. What exactly are your orders? I said, making sure to sound disinterested. Maybe I don’t give a flying fuck about talking to your brother.

Marco’s lips tilted slightly, clearly amused. That’s your choice, but I was told to bring you safely to him. My men and I aren’t here to cause any trouble. All my brother wants is to ask you a few questions, and then you’re free to go.

It was stupid to believe anything that came out of his mouth, but it was my chance to finally meet Anthony Corsino. I had to take it.

Fine, I huffed. Let’s go.

I stepped out the door, and the other two men came into view. I knew exactly who they were. They were Anthony’s cousins, James and Roger Corsino. Identical twins, with salt and pepper hair and a permanent scowl. Both around their mid-fifties, they were smaller than me as far as build, but they were responsible for some of Anthony’s most heinous crimes, one being a bomb they planted in a restaurant that killed not only their enemy and their family but a slew of innocents as well. It was in the news as a terrorist attack, and not a vendetta between two mafia families. James and Roger have been on the Circle of Justice’s list for over a decade for their experience in making weapons of mass destruction and selling them. Before my time was done, I was going to kill them.

Holding out his hand, Marco’s gaze shifted to my jacket and then right back to my face. Before we go, I’ll need your gun.

Without hesitation, I pulled it out of my holster and handed it to him. He flourished a hand toward the hall so I followed James and Roger to the elevator while Marco walked behind me. There was no turning back.

2

BRYCE

There were two black sedans in the parking deck. James and Roger got into the back of one while Marco and I hopped into the other one. There was a driver for both vehicles, but I knew them to not have any ties to the mafia other than driving them around. For the past three months, all I’d done was research anyone and everyone associated with the Corsinos.

Once Marco was situated across from me, he tapped the privacy window, and we were on our way. Where exactly are we going? I asked.

Marco spread his arms across the back of the seat. The Chateaux Hotel. I knew Anthony Corsino owned a lot of hotels in Manhattan, so that didn’t surprise me. Marco stared at me curiously, as if he had his own questions he wanted to ask, but he held back. My guess was that Anthony wanted to be the one to ask them all. Unfortunately, it was going to be difficult to make my move with all of his cronies around.

The driver pulled up to the front of the hotel and got out to open the door. Marco exited first, and I followed him inside the lobby, with Roger and James at my back. They moved with formality, like clockwork, but I knew what kind of monsters lay within all too well. Hell, I’d killed more people than they have. We were all fucked in the head, but they didn’t know what kind of man they were letting inside their ranks. I was going to end them or die trying.

Marco swiped a card through a reader on the gate which gave us access to a private elevator. Once inside, it took us straight to the top floor. When the doors opened, there was a single long hallway with gold carpets and walls, with two separate penthouses. We passed the princess suite and went down to the presidential suite at the far end of the hall. Marco opened the door, and one of Anthony’s bodyguards, Isaiah Burns, stood outside of what had to be Anthony’s study. The other bodyguard Anthony used wasn’t anywhere in sight. Just like Marco, Isaiah was fucking huge. A simple kick to the back of the knee would take him down in a heartbeat, though. I’d killed dozens of men just like them.

There were two other men in the Corsino family I hadn’t seen yet: Dominic and Michael. Michael was Anthony’s brother, who was about a year younger than Marco. Through my research, I knew he was the one who watched over Anthony’s twenty-eight-year-old daughter, Layla. All the pictures I had of her, he was somewhere close by. She was a lawyer, and no doubt at the Corsinos’ disposal if she was ever needed in court.

Then finally, there was Dominic, Anthony’s one and only son, thirty years old. As far as I knew, he didn’t do any of the killing for his father. He was the one who negotiated with the other mafia families in the city.

Isaiah nodded at Marco and stepped to the side. Marco rapped on the door twice, and that was when I heard Anthony’s voice, beckoning us in. Marco opened the door, and I followed him in. The study was huge, with shelves of books on one side and a couch and two leather chairs on the other, a bar stocked with liquor settled off to one side. Anthony was at his desk, facing the wall of windows, with his back to us. The only thing I could see was the top of his gray head.

Welcome, Mr. Collman. Glad you decided to come see me. It was hard to believe I was so close to him and there was nothing I could do. He swiveled around in his chair, and our eyes met.

Was there really a choice? I countered.

Anthony burst out laughing. His teeth were perfectly straight and white. Looking at him, you’d think he was in politics. It was clear he was a man with power—he exuded it. He stood and walked around his desk, dressed in a crisp dark blue button down and khaki slacks, holding out his hand. There’s always a choice, young man. I mean you no harm.

I scoffed and shook his hand. I’ll be the judge of that.

Anthony chuckled again, clearly taken by surprise. I like you. I wasn’t sure you were who I thought you were, but after watching you the past few weeks, I have no doubt. He backed up toward his desk and crossed his arms over his chest, studying me. After all these years, I’m just wondering why your family decided to come back.

Who exactly do you think I am? I asked.

If his men were to look me up, they’d see what I wanted them to see, that I was one of Sonny Collman’s sons. Sonny did have two sons, but they both died in the same car accident. Overwrought with grief, Sonny took his own life a month later. Those records were only privy to the FBI. There was no way Anthony or his men could find out that information. Sonny’s father, George Collman, was known for his many bank robberies. It was that money that helped the Collmans escape to Canada and disappear without a trace.

Anthony nodded for Marco to close the door, and I heard the door click shut behind me. He walked over to the small bar in the corner, and poured two glass tumblers full of whiskey. When he offered one to me, I accepted it.

Have a seat, he said, motioning to one of the leather seats by the bar. Marco stood by the door, and I sat down while Anthony took the chair across from me, keeping his gaze directly on mine. I always wondered what happened to the Collman family. My father had great respect for them and vice versa. He told me stories that would make even the strongest men shudder. Unfortunately, I never had the privilege of meeting any of your kin. You wouldn’t have been born at the time they disappeared.

I had no choice but to go along with it all. It was the only way to get in on the inside. You’re right. I wasn’t, I said, gauging his reaction.

He smiled as if he’d just won the lottery. "So, it is true. I knew it. Why after all this time has your family decided to come back?"

I took a sip of the whiskey. They haven’t.

His brows furrowed. Is it just you, or are there others?

Right now, just me. My family’s been keeping tabs on everyone and everything. I figured while I was here, I’d take care of some business.

Still grinning, he tossed back his whiskey. It appears some of that business has helped me out tremendously.

I already knew what he was talking about. How’s that? I asked.

He shrugged and set his glass down on the table in front of us. There are two men who stole money from me. They disappeared and took the money with them. Imagine my surprise when Marco finds you putting a bullet through their skulls.

Those two men worked in Anthony’s underground casino just below the hotel we were in. What he didn’t know was that those two men loved to drug women and rape them. One was also charged with selling child pornography, and the system let him go. I often wondered if Anthony had a part in letting them go free. If so, it only added to one of the many reasons I wanted him dead.

Setting my glass of whiskey down on the table, I leaned back in my chair. What do you want with me, Mr. Corsino?

Anthony’s eyes narrowed. I want to know why you killed them.

I shrugged. My family wanted them dead. It wasn’t exactly a lie. The Circle of Justice was my family; he just didn’t know which family I was referring to.

How did you find them? I had every resource available and still never managed to.

If he only knew who he was talking to. My computer skills, along with my brother’s, were something we learned through special FBI training and access. I have my ways, I replied with a smug grin. Just like I knew each and every time your men followed me. A look of shock passed across his face, but he tried to hide it. I needed him to know how good I was.

Who else do they want dead? he asked. Me?

I shook my head. No. Like you said, our families respected each other. I’m only here to scout out the territories, and then I’ll be gone.

A commotion sounded just outside the door, and a woman’s frantic voice called out for her father. The study door slammed open, and there she was…Layla Corsino. She had long, bright blonde hair, and was wearing a dark green cocktail dress that hugged every square inch of her body. My eyes were transfixed on her, and for the briefest of seconds, I was caught in her spell. She looked at me and froze, almost as if she was afraid of me. She wasn’t my target, but she was still the enemy. They should all be afraid of me.

Anthony jumped up and rushed over to her. Isaiah stood in the doorway while Marco watched with concern. There was a hint of terror on Layla’s face, and confusion as she handed a cell phone to her father.

He’s gone, she gasped, sounding out of breath. Michael’s gone.

Anthony took the phone, his eyes blazing. "What do you mean, my brother’s gone?"

Layla’s voice shook as she spoke. He went with me to the Blue Diamond so I could meet Faith for dinner, and when he went out to get the car, he never came back. I got worried and went out to the parking lot. She nodded at the phone. His car door was open with the keys in the ignition, and his phone on the ground. I got right in and came here.

Anthony squeezed the phone in his hand and turned away from her. I could see the fury on his face as he contemplated his next move. Isaiah, take Layla to the princess suite and call Sheriff Moneta. Just as I’d suspected, he had the police in his pocket.

Layla’s eyes widened. Dad, what’s going on? I have a right to know.

Hell, I wanted to know what happened. Michael Corsino wasn’t on my list, so it definitely wasn’t anyone associated with me or the Circle of Justice. Anthony took a deep breath and faced her, the look of anger completely gone.

"I’ll tell you everything once I know something, cara mia. Go with Isaiah, please."

Layla sighed and glanced at me once more before following Isaiah out the door. Marco shut the door behind them and pulled out his phone. I’m calling the others. We need a meeting.

He walked over to the edge of the room while Anthony paced the floor, looking tense. Fuck, fuck, fuck, he hissed, his voice low.

If your brother disappeared, it’s obvious whoever has him hasn’t killed him yet.

Anthony froze mid-step and flashed his rage-filled gaze my way. They better hope they don’t.

Marco finished up with his calls, and joined us. Going after Michael is an act of war. I don’t know of anyone who has the man power to take our brother down, he said to Anthony.

Anthony threw his arms angrily up in the air. Any of the other families could. We have enemies everywhere. They cross the line by going after my daughter.

"You think they were after her?" I asked. He was damn right he had enemies, but it was a dick move to go after his daughter. That was the way it was in their world, though. They went after what would hurt their enemies the most. Whereas I would go right after the main target.

Anthony and Marco glanced at each other, and Anthony nodded at me, sighing heavily as he sat down across from me. "Layla doesn’t know this, but over the past two years, she’s had three bodyguards turn up dead. She thinks I fired them, and I’ve let her believe it so she wouldn’t worry. That’s why I had my own brother keep watch over