In the Flesh

By HK Carlton

Working undercover, nothing is ever as it seems...

Assigned the unenviable task of taking down the untouchable Travino crime family, undercover ATF Agent Kate Benson and her veteran partner Mike Pennington are thrown into the seedy underworld of organized crime.

Kate is asked to draw on her past experience as a dancer and infiltrate one of Travino's skin clubs, In the Flesh.

Posing as Vivienne, Kate meets exotic dancer Carly. From the moment they first dance together, she can't seem to keep her mind or her greedy hands off the dynamic dancer. Together they sizzle on stage and off. She soon realizes she's falling for Carly but knows from past experience that beginning a relationship built on half-truths is a recipe for failure.

As Kate attempts to straddle the line between doing her job and being as honest as she can be with Carly, while still maintaining her cover, Kate and Mike are caught snooping around the club after hours by none other than the mob boss himself.

And Kate knows there's not a two-step in the world that can save them now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Dec 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781786514912

HK Carlton

H-K lives in Canada with her hard-working hubby. She has two very handsome grown sons and a beautiful teenage daughter. She has been an avid reader all her life. Her first love is historical romance so it would come as no surprise that her favourite book of all time is Jane Eyre. But she'll read almost anything that captures her attention and imagination. She loves nothing more than to find a good book that she can't put down. She is a hopeless romantic and prefers happy endings.

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In the Flesh

ISBN # 978-1-78651-491-2

©Copyright H.K. Carlton 2016

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright November 2016

Edited by Shannon Combs

Pride Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2016 by Pride Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Pride Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

IN THE FLESH

H.K. Carlton

Working undercover, nothing is ever as it seems…

Assigned the unenviable task of taking down the untouchable Travino crime family, undercover ATF Agent Kate Benson and her veteran partner Mike Pennington are thrown into the seedy underworld of organized crime.

Kate is asked to draw on her past experience as a dancer and infiltrate one of Travino’s skin clubs, In the Flesh.

Posing as Vivienne, Kate meets exotic dancer Carly. From the moment they first dance together, she can’t seem to keep her mind or her greedy hands off the dynamic dancer. Together they sizzle on stage and off. She soon realizes she’s falling for Carly but knows from past experience that beginning a relationship built on half-truths is a recipe for failure.

As Kate attempts to straddle the line between doing her job and being as honest as she can be with Carly, while still maintaining her cover, Kate and Mike are caught snooping around the club after hours by none other than the mob boss himself.

And Kate knows there’s not a two-step in the world that can save them now.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Blue Label: Johnnie Walker & Sons Limited Company

West Side Story: Arthur Laurents

Glock: Glock, Inc.

Chapter One

ATF Agents Kathrin Benson and Mike Pennington sat opposite their shared desk when Special Agent Roger Morrison popped his head into the cubicle. My office in five. Without waiting for acknowledgment, he strode down the hall.

Minutes later, they eagerly entered Morrison’s office. Before sitting, the boss hefted an evidence box onto the desk, Travino scrawled across the top.

Omar ‘Vino’ Travino? Mike leaned forward and lifted the lid.

The mob boss? Kate peered over Mike’s shoulder.

"This is your next assignment."

A ripple of anxious excitement shot through Kate’s belly.

This is big. Travino crime-family big.

He had her attention.

Read up on the family history. We have little time to prepare.

How much time, Cap?

Tomorrow morning.

Mike and Kate exchanged glances.

In a joint-effort task force, several agencies have already been integrated into Travino family businesses. The DEA, Vice Squad, fellow ATF agents, plus Guns and Gangs, all headed up by the Organized Crime Unit. We’re talking long-term investigation. Some undercovers have been in for years. They’ve got people on the inside. I’m talking inner sanctum.

He pushed another folder toward Kate. I’m aware you two have been wrapping the Levinson case and it’s difficult to keep up on what’s going on in the real world, but as of this moment, we have two agents unaccounted for.

A shiver traveled Kate’s spine. The fear of being made was a real-and-present danger. Were these agents MIA or DOA? With Travino’s history, the latter seemed imminent.

From all reports, Travino’s about to receive a massive shipping container of drugs, arms, maybe even human cargo between now and next month.

There’s some specific intel, Mike commented, sarcastically.

It’s all we’ve got.

What do you need from us, Cap? Kate asked.

We need replacement agents, asap. Travino’s only son has a club called In the Flesh.

A…uhhh, gentlemen’s club, I assume? Kate mused.

Booze, gambling, strippers—

Dancers, Kate automatically corrected.

Mike snorted.

Without skipping a beat, Morrison continued, Whatever. Obviously, it’s a front. A perfect set-up for drugs, human trafficking, prostitution and any other nefarious transgression, including tobacco and alcohol offenses. Because of your teamwork on the Levinson case, and your unique talents, the higher-ups are comfortable putting you right back undercover.

Unique talents? Kate repeated, unaware she’d honed any.

We want you two to get hired on. So, Penn, brush up on your bartending skills. He tossed a mixology book at Mike.

And, Benson, I hope you still own diamond-studded thongs and pasties.

Her cheeks warmed and her stomach tightened. Oh, no.