Fourth, Lust (An Alex Quinn Suspense Thriller—Book Four)

By Rylie Dark

Interpol agent Alex Quinn, 29, born to Italian-Turkish parents, is a multi-lingual genius. With an advanced degree in Criminal Psychology from a university in France and a PHD from a Germany university, Alex was recruited by Interpol at the age of 25—their youngest recruit—because of her encyclopedic knowledge of serial killers. When a string of victims are found in ancient outdoor theaters in Greece, Alex is needed urgently to decode the killer’s cryptic signature—and save the next victim before it’s too late.

“A brilliant book. I couldn’t put it down and I never guessed who the murderer was!”
—Reader review for Only Murder
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FOURTH, LUST is book #4 in a new series by #1 bestselling and critically acclaimed mystery and suspense author Rylie Dark, whose books have received over 2,000 five-star reviews and ratings.

With killers preying in high-trafficked historic sites, Interpol convenes a special task force to hunt them down before panic spreads—and finds no one better to head up this new force than Alex Quinn.

Beautiful in an exotic way, with a mixture of her Mediterranean heritage, Alex, with her olive complexion and startling green eyes, bears a pencil thin scar along one hand from the palm to the tip of a finger—a scar that keeps her single-mindedly focused on avenging her parents.

Able to solve cases in record time, Alex has been all over Europe for nearly a decade. Yet one killer still eludes her.

The man who killed her parents.

The darkness of past propels her—yet it also threatens to swallow her whole…

A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured Interpol agent, the Alex Quinn series is a riveting mystery, a cat-and-mouse thriller packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Rachel Caine, Teresa Driscoll and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love.
More books in the series are also available!

“I loved this thriller, read it in one sitting. Lots of twists and turns and I didn’t guess the
culprit at all… Already pre-ordered the second!”
—Reader review for Only Murder
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This book takes off with a bang… An excellent read, and I'm looking forward to the next book!”
—Reader review for SEE HER RUN
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“Fantastic book! It was hard to put down. I can’t wait to see what happens next!”
—Reader review for SEE HER RUN
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“The twists and turns kept coming. Can't wait to read the next book!”
—Reader review for SEE HER RUN
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A must-read if you enjoy action-packed stories with good plots!”
—Reader review for SEE HER RUN
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I really like this author and this series starts with a bang. It will keep you turning the pages till the end of the book and wanting more.”
—Reader review for SEE HER RUN
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I can't say enough about this author! How about ‘out of this world’! This author is going to go far!”
—Reader review for ONLY MURDER
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“I really enjoyed this book… The characters were alive, and the twists and turns were great. It will keep you reading till the end and leave you wanting more.”
—Reader review for NO WAY OUT
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This is an author that I highly recommend. Her books will have you begging for more.”
—Reader review for NO WAY OUT
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• Language: English
• Publisher: Rylie Dark
• Release date: Oct 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094381572

Book preview

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F O U R T H,   L U S T

(An Alex Quinn Mystery—Book 4)

R y l i e   D a r k

Rylie Dark

Bestselling author Rylie Dark is author of the SADIE PRICE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books; of the CARLY SEE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books; of the MIA NORTH FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the MORGAN STARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books; of the HAILEY ROCK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the TARA STRONG MYSTERY series, comprising six books (and counting); of the ALEX QUINN FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books (and counting); of the MAEVE SHARP FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER, comprising five books (and counting); and of the KELLY CRUZ MYSTERY series, comprising five books (and counting).

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Rylie loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.ryliedark.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Copyright © 2023 by Rylie Dark. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright Egor Mayer, used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY RYLIE DARK

KELLY CRUZ MYSTERY

WHERE YOU GO (Book #1)

WHERE YOU HIDE (Book #2)

WHERE YOU SLEEP (Book #3)

WHERE YOU RUN (Book #4)

WHERE YOU FEAR (Book #5)

MAEVE SHARP FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

WITH MALICE (Book #1)

WITH ENVY (Book #2)

WITH VENGEANCE (Book #3)

WITH RAGE (Book #4)

WITH YOU (Book #5)

ALEX QUINN SUSPENSE THRILLER

FIRST, MURDER (Book #1)

SECOND, DEATH (Book #2)

THIRD, ENVY (Book #3)

FOURTH, LUST (Book #4)

FIFTH, WRATH (Book #5)

TARA STRONG MYSTERY

GIRL WITHOUT A CHANCE (Book #1)

GIRL WITHOUT A HOME (Book #2)

GIRL WITHOUT A TRACE (Book #3)

GIRL WITHOUT A NAME (Book #4)

GIRL WITHOUT A PRAYER (Book #5)

GIRL WITHOUT A PAST (Book #6)

HAILEY ROCK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

BEHIND YOU (Book #1)

BESIDE YOU (Book #2)

AFTER YOU (Book #3)

WATCHING YOU (Book #4)

JUDGING YOU (Book #5)

FOLLOWING YOU (Book #6)

SADIE PRICE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

ONLY MURDER (Book #1)

ONLY RAGE (Book #2)

ONLY HIS (Book #3)

ONLY ONCE (Book #4)

ONLY SPITE (Book #5)

ONLY MADNESS (Book #6)

MIA NORTH FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

SEE HER RUN (Book #1)

SEE HER HIDE (Book #2)

SEE HER SCREAM (Book #3)

SEE HER VANISH (Book #4)

SEE HER GONE (Book #5)

SEE HER DEAD (Book #6)

CARLY SEE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

NO WAY OUT (Book #1)

NO WAY BACK (Book #2)

NO WAY HOME (Book #3)

NO WAY LEFT (Book #4)

NO WAY UP (Book #5)

NO WAY TO DIE (Book #6)

MORGAN STARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

TOO LATE (Book #1)

TOO CLOSE (Book #2)

TOO FAR GONE (Book #3)

TOO LOST (Book #4)

TOO BROKEN (Book #5)

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

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

EPILOGUE

PROLOGUE

The child of morning, rosy-fingered dawn, was creeping over the eastern Mediterranean. The hiking trail commanded an impressive view of the little archipelago and sea beyond as it wound up the hill. Island of Delphos was tiny – little more than a grassy rock among the arid Aegean archipelago. The bleached stone ruins of the old amphitheater stuck out like ragged bones from the rises of the earth.

Richard puffed, hoisting his hiker’s daypack a little higher on his back as he led the way up the hill. Before the sun came up, the grey darkness of dawn had been cool and breezy, almost chilly against his sweat-soaked back as he hiked. Now, however, the golden rays of morning were cutting boldly across the water and warming up the hillside. The cloudless sky promised sunburn all day long.

Richard came to a stop, swinging the pack off his back and setting it down with a sigh at his feet. He took a long drink of water from the Nalgene water bottle in the side pocket of his daypack, then began digging around in the main pocket of the bag, looking for his sunscreen. Richard wore a special, high-SPF lotion with UV protection that left an opaque white film over his skin. In the mirror, he thought it made him look like a French mime. Gianna only teased him about it lightly. She herself never wore sunscreen, and her dark caramel complexion only seemed to deepen and glow with brighter health and vibrance when she sunbathed.

Why are you stopping? she asked, not slowing her pace in the slightest. Gianna was a short but powerfully built woman with strong legs and endurance like a distance runner. She steam-rolled right by him on the trial, turning her head to look back at him. We’re almost to the top of the hill. Can’t you make it the rest of the way before you take a break?

Sunscreen! he called back, It’s going to be a scorcher today. I don’t want to get burned. I’ll be no fun to be around if all my skin starts peeling off, trust me.

Gianna waved in a well, hurry up then! sort of gesture and continued up the hill without slackening her clip. Richard found the tube of sunscreen, quickly uncapping it and squirting a dollop out into his palm. He brushed the lotion quickly over his cheeks and forehead, down the bridge of his nose and around the back of his ears and neck.

At least I’m not bald, he thought grimly as he slapped more of the sunscreen into his hand and dabbed it on his face. Then I’d have to cover my whole head. I’d look like Voldemort.

Richard finished applying the sunscreen to the back of his neck, re-capped the bottle and shoved it back down into the daypack, zippering the pocket shut. Ahead, he could see Gianna pushing her way stolidly up the hill, her head and shoulders becoming visible against the skyline as she crested the rocky peak. He shouldered the pack again and set out at a quickened pace, hastening to catch up.

Richard was only a few stretches behind when Gianna reached the top of the hill. She came to a halt, her hands on her hips as she caught her breath and looked down the far side of the slope into the amphitheater. Richard grinned as he caught up, his chest heaving from the light jog he’d made up the last leg of the hill.

Wow, he puffed, squinting through his sunglasses at the massive bowl of ancient, stone carved seats that staggered down in even steps to the stage in the center of the natural basin. The sunlight shone brighter and broader than any manufactured spotlight over the clearing. That’s some view, huh?

What’s down there? Gianna asked, taking a step towards the nearest of the old stone aisle staircases and peering intently down into the basin.

That’s the stage, Richard replied immediately, still somewhat out of breath. The ancient Greeks put on all kinds of dramas on down there thousands of years ago. They built these stadium-style seats so that everybody could see and hear.

I know what an amphitheater is, Richard, Gianna said peevishly. I mean, what's that on the stage?

On the stage? Richard said, a little balked. He held up his hand to shield his eyes from the sun and peered down the long rows and columns of stone seats to the slab in the center of the clearing below. The amphitheater was massive, rivaling most mid-size baseball stadiums, while the stage itself was roughly the size of a tennis court.

Those shapes on the stage, Gianna said, her voice wavering as she took an uncertain step towards her boyfriend and held up a pointing finger, They look like…people, right?

People? Richard asked. He’d left his prescription sunglasses at home and had to settle for a cheap pair of non-scrips he picked up at the airport. Everything further than two meters in front of his face was a vague blur of shapes and motion. Are you sure?

It looks like there’s three people down there, Gianna said.

I didn’t see anybody on the trail ahead of us, Richard said, We were practically the only people on the ferry, and the trailhead didn’t open until fifteen minutes after we got there.

Richard, Gianna said, It looks like there’s weapons on the ground and three people just laying there. I don’t like it, Richard. Let’s go back.

Oh, come on, Richard waved her off, starting down the stairs with brassy confidence, It’s probably props and actors. Maybe they do re-enactments down here for the hikers.

I didn’t see that on the website anywhere, Gianna said, but Richard was starting blindly down the steps and there was nothing to do but follow him.

Richard, Gianna hissed, grabbing her boyfriend’s shoulder as she caught up and pointing to the stage ahead of them, There is a spear sticking out of that man’s chest. Don’t you see it?

A spear? Richard asked and laughed, Come on, don’t take advantage of the visually impaired, it isn’t kind. You’re joking, right? What, you’re saying there’s ancient Trojans skewered by ancient Greek weapons just laying out on the stage? Very funny.

No, Richard, Gianna's voice became rigid. Her feet froze, and her grip on the young man’s shoulder became iron-tight. They’re not ancient.

What are you talking about? Richard asked, becoming irritated as her hand dug into his shoulder. He reached back to pry her hand off, and noticed that Gianna looked unusually pale. Her dark eyes were fixed on the stage, now only about ten meters ahead. Richard turned to look. From this range, he could see the shapes that she meant, although they were still mostly a blur.

Let go of me, he said, prying himself free and last. He took the last few steps at a frustrated jog, slowing to a walk as he reached the stage. He came to a stop.

There was something wet under his feet.

He was close enough to see now, and he understood why Gianna had frozen.

They weren’t actors. The weapons weren’t props. No stage magic on earth, modern or ancient, could make people look like that.

There were three bodies sprawled out at unnatural angles with archaic-looking weapons protruding from them. A long javelin protruded from the chest of one; the other two appeared to have been slain by swords. The bronze weapons still lay where they’d fallen from the rotting hands of the soldiers.

The faces behind the masked Spartan helmets were glazed with unmistakable impassivity of death. The stage was smeared with blood. The scent followed, increasing as the sun rose. He hadn’t noticed until now because he could only smell the sunscreen smeared under his nose.

Richard clapped his hand over his mouth. He didn’t know if he was trying not to scream or vomit. He turned and ran back up the stairs, only to find that Gianna was already halfway gone at a dead sprint.

Their screams echoed throughout the amphitheater. 

CHAPTER ONE

Dr. Alexandria Quinn sighed, leaning her forehead against her fingertips as she worked the mouse around the screen. She’d been stuck on desk duty for nearly a week, filling out paperwork and analyzing the language of witness statements while she waited for another case to roll in.

Despite the prolonged purgatory of the waiting period, Lexi kept herself occupied beyond her dull assignments, tracking down a hot lead. It was case she hadn’t been assigned, one that nobody knew – at least, not officially – that she was investigating. She could only work on her private affairs after hours when the building was empty except for the skeleton night crew and janitors. She didn't want to be interrupted.

She sat alone in her office, staring intently at the screen of her computer. A late night of research was slowly turning into dawn outside the window of her office in the Interpol Headquarters building in Lyon, France. A cup of coffee had long since gone cold at her elbow while she worked. Others sat empty in an orderly row along the edge of the desk. It had been a long session.

The lead Lexi was following was not related to a case she’d been assigned. The name in her search bar – Lucian Solgrave – was a suspect in her own private investigation. It was a case that had been eluding her for over a decade: her own parents’ murders.

The double homicide had taken place in a hotel room. Lexi, as well as her sister Izel, had been no more than teenagers the night that tragedy struck. The memory lived in horrifically vivid clarity in Lexi’s mind. She’d opened the door of the hotel room to find her parents laid out on the floor, their hands nearly touching, stone dead. Their forearms had each been tattooed with mysterious words – Oro, Gold on her mother’s arm and Verita, Truth on her father’s.

For years after the terrible event, little was known. The police didn’t surface any suspects, and the orphaned girls were left to grow up into hardened, cunning, and vengeance-bent women. Lexi dedicated herself to the pursuit of truth through language, education, and criminal justice, landing her a position of high regard with Interpol’s Global Policing Division.

Izel, on the other hand, pursued gold. Her wayward twenties had placed Izel into a position of power and influence as an international smuggler – allegedly, of course. Legally, she ran an international shipping logistics firm. Izel knew how to grease palms in loading docks and foreign embassies alike, trading goods, services, and information without restriction and apparently without consequence, always to her own ends and profit.

Izel did Lexi the courtesy of sparing the legal details from her stories, although Lexi wondered deep down if she would be able to arrest her own sister, if push came to shove.

Now, after roughly fifteen years with no further details, Izel had once again surfaced in Lexi’s life – this time with a hot tip. There was a mysterious bellhop in the hotel where their mother and father were murdered, a man that the young Izel had noticed but never mentioned because she was too embarrassed by her own adolescent escapades that night. The memory had been long repressed, but finally, something had jarred