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  CAPTURED

  (Book 2 in the Stripped Series)

  By

  Stacy-Deanne

  Copyright © 2017 Stacy-Deanne

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  Readers: Thanks so much for choosing my book! I would be very appreciative if you would leave reviews when you are done. Much love!

  Email: [email protected]

  Website: Stacy's Website

  Facebook: Stacy's Facebook Profile

  Twitter: Stacy's Twitter

  Other titles by Stacy-Deanne Include:

  Bruised Series

  Tate Valley Sexy Suspense Series

  The Seventh District

  Dead Weight

  You’re the One

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  Want recommendations on great BWWM books and authors? Stop by BWWM Romance Books on Facebook and find some great reads!

  BWWM Romance Books

  Author’s Note:

  The Stripped Series is a spinoff of the Bruised Series featuring Dee, Winston, Lisa, Connie, Grayson, and Jake. The Bruised Series focused on Jake and Lisa while the Stripped Series focuses on Dee and Winston.

  If you haven’t read the Bruised Series and would like to check it out, the entire series is available on all retailers.

  Enjoy!

  CHAPTER ONE

  Broadville Port, Maryland

  “Welcome all,” Jonathan Wild bellowed from the platform of the stage in his crowded mansion ballroom. “Ladies and gentleman I promised you a night you’d never forget!”

  Men and women waved wands and rods, howling with their faces covered in decorative, masquerade masks.

  Baltimore Detective Dee Quarter giggled, her bosom confined by the velvet bodice of her sequined, lavender baroness dress.

  “Now we play a game only fit for this evening!” Jonathan stomped along in his gothic vampire costume, suede cape sweeping the stage. “A treasure hunt.”

  The audience celebrated.

  “Here are the rules of the game.” Jonathan pulled at his purple vest that matched the inside of his cape. “You all will be trapped in my home forever as my servants if you cannot find the magical key.” He whipped a picture of a gold key from his pocket. “Feast your eyes upon it for this is what you must look for.”

  Guests chuckled and mocked while slurping fruity drinks.

  “He or she who finds the key is free.” Jonathan raised his black and purple mask that covered his deep-set, silver-gray eyes. “But those who do not will stay here forever and do what I want.”

  “Promise?” a woman flirted, her breasts flowing from her bodice.

  Everyone laughed and whistled.

  “Seems like some of you might like the punishment,” Jonathan joked.

  Dee laughed, straightening her brown mask outlined in gold.

  “I’ll give you a clue,” Jonathan announced. “The key is on the first floor in five marked rooms. You must search the rooms to find the key.” He threw his hand up, moving his fingers. “Ready?”

  “Ready,” the guests yelled.

  “Ladies, you do the honors.” Jonathan beckoned for the women of The Circle and they rushed to the stage in shimmering white dresses and white, silvery masks covering their eyes.

  “Ready?” the women asked the guests in unison. “Go!”

  The guests stormed out the room, screaming.

  “Jesus.” Dee stumbled as a man pushed her aside.

  “You too, girls.” Jonathan hopped off the stage, shooing his women.

  “But we want to stay,” Rena kidded, holding her dress at the sides.

  “Go on.” He slapped her backside; his gaze back on Dee.

  The women scrambled from the room with Mistress Shauna taking her sweet time to leave Jonathan and Dee alone.

  Jonathan waited until Shauna left and approached Dee, stepping on party debris and masks.

  “Umm.” Dee flattened her hand to her bosom, her brown skin sparkling under the chandeliers. “Guess I’d better get going to find the key.”

  “No.” He took her hand, his mask wiggling on his aquiline nose. “That game’s not for us.”

  “Please.” She pulled her hand back, trembling. “I didn’t come here to see you.”

  “Then why did you come, Deidra?” He smelled of the vanilla cake served earlier. “Why are you once again on my compound if you didn’t wanna see me?”

  “It’s hard to explain.” She wiggled her feet, the gold pumps compressing her pinky toes.

  “It doesn’t have to be hard.” He swung her around. “You like to dance?”

  She grinned, a chill crawling through her spine. “There’s no music.”

  “Who needs music?” His full lips flattened as he clutched her waist tighter. “You look so beautiful in this dress. Do you like my outfit?”

  She exhaled, avoiding his stare through the mask. “Yes.”

  His mouth lifted in one corner. “Does it excite you?”

  “Everything excites me.” She whirled around in his arms, growing more comfortable by the moment. “I don’t know what it is about this place but it makes me forget my worries.”

  “I knew you’d come back and you’ll keep coming back.”

  She turned when he tried to kiss her. “Me being here doesn’t change that I’m with another man who I love very much.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Did you and Winston argue?”

  “What?”

  “I heard you tell Rena you and Winston had a fight.”

  “It wasn’t a fight.” She scratched her through her thick, wavy extensions wrapped in a graceful updo. “Just a disagreement. All couples have them. Don’t you and Shauna?”

  He smirked, rubbing his black buzz cut.

  “What is it with you two, anyway? She claims your heart is with her but I don’t see evidence of that.”

  “I could say the same about you and Winston.”

  “I love Winston more than you’ll ever know.” She released his shoulders. “I shouldn’t have come here.”

  “Yet you keep doing it.”

  “Not anymore.”

  “You nor I have control over this, Deidra.” He laid his fingertip on her mouth. “You’ll keep coming here because it’s what your heart wants.”

  She moved his hand. “Winston is the most important thing in my life.”

  He pulled her close and whispered in her ear, “You’re the most important thing in mine.”

  She pushed him away and left the ballroom.

  ****

  “Hey.”

  Dee turned her attention from the breathtaking waterfall in Jonathan’s garden as Rena made her way over. “Hey there.”

  Rena smiled, her mask perched on her head. “Having fun?”

  “Yeah.” Dee took her mask off and sat on the railing that separated the waterfall from the lawn.

  “Hm.” Rena’s white heels sunk in the ivy-green grass. “You don’t look like you’re having fun. Is it Jonathan?” She rested her buxom bottom on the railing, her blonde ringlets blowing in her face. “Not just anyone can become a member of The Circle. You belong here, Dee.”

  She closed her eyes. “Stop saying that.”

  Rena patted Dee’s hand. “It’s normal to be scared, but why do you think you keep coming back if it’s not fate?”

  “This place has a hold on me.”

  “That’s how it starts.” Rena batted her large brown eyes. �
��You can’t stop yourself from coming back and soon the outside world isn’t familiar to you.” She smiled. “We understand you here, and Jonathan can make you so happy.”

  “I love Winston.”

  “That’s not the spiritual love you find here.”

  “No.” Dee shook her head, her chandelier earrings hitting her neck. “I love Winston.”

  “You’re angry with him and you’re jealous of his relationship with Lisa.”

  “God, I’ve told you too much.”

  “But, it’s the truth isn’t it?” Rena stared at the water flowing over the stone rocks that mounted the waterfall. “Seems like Winston brings out negative feelings while Jonathan gives you peace. Do you trust Winston?”

  Dee winced. “Yes, but his relationship with Lisa threatens me.” She shrugged. “I can’t deny that.”

  “In The Circle we don’t get jealous toward one another. We cherish the love Jonathan gives and we want to share it. You won’t understand that unless you reject the outside world.”

  “I don’t want to reject it.” She fought the urge. “I want to be with Winston.”

  “Yet, when it comes to Lisa, you’ll always feel like the substitute. Am I right?”

  “It’s just the way he looks at her sometimes.” She squeezed her fingers into a fist. “Like if he could be with her maybe he would.”

  “Jonathan thinks of only you,” Rena whispered. “He’d treat you like the only woman in the world. He loves you.” She touched Dee’s cheek. “We all do.”

  “I have to go.” Dee jumped up and started down the pathway. “Goodnight, Rena.”

  “Dee?”

  She stopped. “Yes?”

  “There’s a world of passion, excitement, and more love than you can imagine just waiting for you here.” Rena stood with glassy eyes. “Nothing comes from fear. Remember that.”

  Dee nodded, leaving the garden.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “Bravo.” Jonathan walked from behind the waterfall, clapping.

  “Jonathan.” Rena’s bosom heaved. “I didn’t know you were listening.” She knelt, dropping her head. “Did I please you?”

  He caressed her chin, lifting her head. “You’ve done well.”

  She smiled, redness stroking her cheeks.

  “You know how much Deidra means to me.” He sandwiched her hands in his. “We must bring her in.”

  She nodded.

  “You like her a lot.” He touched her chubby cheek. “Don’t you?”

  “She’s easy to talk to. I think we’ll be good friends.”

  “She likes you too. That’s why I need you. Without you I’m not sure I can persuade her to join us.”

  “You can convince anyone of anything.”

  “Not Deidra.” He lifted his chin. “She’s different. Instead of me charming her I find her charming me.” He chuckled. “It’s a novel experience but I enjoy it.”

  “I’ll do anything for you, Jonathan.”

  “Get her to join us.” He pressed his hands to her cheeks. “I need her here with me.”

  ****

  “Ah, there she is.” Detective Winston Lewis sat behind Dee’s desk when she arrived at the police station the next morning. “It’s the most beautiful woman in the world.” He held a rose. “Isn’t it, Connie?”

  Detective Connie Wilks grinned from her desk beside Dee’s with blonde strands falling out the rubber band on her ponytail.

  “What is this?” Dee took her purse off her shoulder and set the soda she’d gotten from the lounge on her desk.

  Winston moved his feet, standing with a sly smile. “This is for you.”

  Dee took the rose and passed him to get to her chair.

  He swerved around, stabbing her with those stunning blue eyes. “Isn’t it romantic I got you a rose?” He gestured at Connie as Dee sat at her desk. “Isn’t it, Connie?”

  “If you say so, Winston.” She took the lid off her plastic coffee cup.

  “Come on, Dee.” He leaned over, planting his hands on the desk. “You’re not still mad about that silly argument we had, are you?”

  “It’s not silly.” She pushed her chair against the desk and turned on her computer.

  “Lisa and I are only friends.” He rose, dropping his shoulders. “You know that.”

  “How come every time she needs something she calls you?”

  “Because I’m her friend, Dee.” He sighed, blowing his cream cheese and bagel breath her way. “You want me to cut her off? She’s your best friend, remember?”

  “Yeah.” She stared at her black and white Clark Gable screen-saver.

  “So.” He put his hands in the pockets of his black slacks, rocking on his heels. “I called you last night. Your cell and your house phone.”

  “Yeah, I ah, didn’t realize until late.”

  “That’s interesting.” He lifted a sheet of paper off her desk. “Did you go to bed early?”

  “No, I was out.”

  “Out?” He moved his lips in and out.

  “I had an errand to run.” She shrugged. “You have a problem with that?”

  “This errand wouldn’t have anything to do with Jonathan Wild, would it?”

  She sighed, shaking her head. “I stopped going over there after we finished the Autumn Stuart case.”

  “That’s only been two weeks. Besides, when you disappeared those times before, you were sneaking over there.”

  “I didn’t sneak anywhere.” Dee rolled her eyes. “If I was trying to be sneaky; I wouldn’t have ever told you I’d gone over there.”

  “I’m supposed to believe your curiosity for him went away that fast?”

  She moved papers around. “Why do you keep bringing Jonathan up?”

  “The same reason you keep bringing Lisa up.”

  “Lisa is a part of our lives and always will be.” Dee logged onto the Internet. “Jonathan means nothing.”

  “You haven’t seen him since he kissed you then?”

  “No.” She cursed herself for lying, afraid at how it came so easy these days. “Are you trying to cheer me up or get me more upset?”

  “I got a great idea.” Winston snapped his fingers, his curly brown hair shimmering from mousse. “How about we go to that classic movie theater tonight and go see Strangers on a Train? Huh? Nothing like a good old Hitchcock flick, right?”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  He zipped behind her desk and kissed her nose. “I love you, baby.”

  She giggled, rubbing his slick curls. “You better.”

  “You love me too, right?” He kissed her, nibbling on her cheek.

  Dee cut her eyes to Connie who held in a grin.

  “Stop.” Dee chuckled, pushing Winston away. “I didn’t say you were out of the doghouse yet.”

  “I plan to be after work though.” He strutted from behind her desk, pulling the collar of his sky-blue shirt. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look today?”

  “Yes.” She got pencils out the drawer. “Don’t you have a murder case to solve?”

  He walked backwards, pointing at her. “Have a good day.” He bumped into a petite, heavy-set woman around her late 50’s or early 60’s. “Oh, sorry.” He smiled at the woman and left.

  “Are you Detective Dee Quarter?” The woman rushed to Dee’s desk.

  “Yes.”

  “No one else will help me so they sent me to you.” She held her liver-spotted hands out to Dee. “I’m about to lose it and no one cares.”

  “Please, sit down.” Connie walked from her desk and helped the woman in the chair. “I’m Detective Connie Wilks.” She batted her green eyes. “I’m Detective Quarter’s partner.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Her hands shivered. “I’m Hattie Vickers.” She stroked her silver hair, which she wore in short, chin-length layers. “I’m a mess.”

  “What’s wrong?” Dee moved from her chair and sat on the edge of the desk to be closer to the shaken woman. “Are you in trouble?”

  “My son is
missing, and I did a report but no one’s doing anything about it.” Hattie scanned the detectives with her sharp, black eyes. “I know something’s happened to him because he hasn’t called me in days and he never goes three days without calling me.”

  “Okay, hold on.” Connie got on her computer. “I’m gonna check the report. What is your son’s name?”

  “Boyce Vickers.” Hattie swallowed. “He’s thirty-five.” She said his address and phone number.

  “You sound parched.” Dee passed Hattie the soda she’d just gotten from the lounge. “Take it if you want.”

  “Thanks so much.” Hattie opened the can and took a loud sip. “Ah. I’m all worked up and I try not to be because I have a heart condition.”

  “Then please relax.” Dee sat behind her desk and got her large notepad. “We’ll figure this out.”

  Hattie’s face relaxed.

  “Now what’s going on?” Dee asked.

  “Boyce has been missing for at least a week. I have no idea where he is. No one’s seen him. I’ve talked to friends and everything.”

  “Has your son ever disappeared like this before?” Connie asked.

  “He’s never gone this long without contacting me no matter where he is. We’re very close.”

  Dee touched her chin. “What kind of vehicle does he drive?”

  “A black Toyota Tacoma pickup.” Hattie settled her purse on her lap.

  Connie cleared her throat. “Have you tried to contact him?”

  “His phone goes straight to voice mail, and he’s not answering emails. I gave his phone number and email address to the officer who wrote the report.”

  Dee tangled her fingers in her hair. “Any strange behavior from Boyce lately?”

  “He kept saying he had a surprise for me and that he’d have a new beginning.” Hattie shrugged. “He’d been depressed because he lost his job. He was a welder for Big Blue Construction. He had that job for about fifteen years.”

  “I’m printing out his picture from the report.” Connie turned on her printer. “We’ll ask around for you and see if anyone’s seen him.”

  “Thank you so much.” Hattie put her hands together. “I have a list of people closest to him with their numbers and addresses.” She took the paper from her purse and handed it to Dee.