Chapter 1

Chloe Madden

The news of Carter Gray's arrest spread like wildfire through the police station, igniting a frenzy of activity. Whispers buzzed in the air, mingling with the sound of ringing phones and hurried footsteps. Carter Gray, the cold blooded mob kingpin, had finally been ‘caught’, sending shockwaves through the law enforcement community.

Amidst the chaos, one name echoed louder than the rest: Detective Madden. Gray had demanded to speak with me and me alone. As I rushed towards the interrogation room, my mind raced with questions. Why would Carter Gray, a man of immense power and influence, want to meet with a lowly detective like me?

I adjusted my badge and smoothed down my hair, attempting to compose myself before entering the lion's den. The weight of Gray's reputation bore down on me, threatening to crush any confidence that I had left.

How did he even know who I was?

As I stepped into the interrogation room, I was met with a sight that took my breath away. There, sitting before me, was the most strikingly handsome man I had ever seen. His features were chiseled, his gaze piercing, and an air of danger surrounded him like a cloak. Carter Gray exuded a magnetism that drew me in, even as a chill ran down my spine.

Despite my earlier pep talk, I felt a knot form in my stomach, and my throat went dry as I gulped nervously. The bravado I had mustered outside the door dissipated in an instant.

Gray lounged in his chair with an effortless ease, exuding an aura of authority that was both captivating and intimidating. Every movement he made seemed calculated.

In that moment, all the training and experience I had as a detective seemed to evaporate, leaving me feeling like a mere mortal in the presence of a god.

It was as if Carter Gray held the power to unravel me with a single glance, leaving me defenseless.

He was beautiful in a way that was both mesmerizing and terrifying.

But despite the apprehension that coursed through my veins, I found myself unable to tear my gaze away from him. There was a haunting allure to his presence, a darkness that summoned me like a moth to a flame.

It was as if he held the secrets of the universe in his gaze.

As my captain, who was already in the room, pulled me aside, breaking the trance Carter Gray had cast over me, I couldn't help but notice the tension crackling in the air between us. His gaze remained fixed on me, a mixture of confusion and something else I couldn't quite place flickering in his steel grey eyes.

"Chloe, I don't know why he wants you here, but the commissioner is very happy with the arrest and I need you to only ask these written questions to him. Don't go off script. This is a direct order. We need to finish this before his lawyer arrives," My captain barked, his tone harsh and commanding. I nodded obediently, my mind still reeling from the intensity of Carter's stare.

I longed for a captain like Captain Holt, someone who exuded calm authority rather than the abrasive demeanor of my superior.

"Did I just hear the name Chloe? You are not Jessica?" Carter's voice was low, my throat dried up as he studied my features with unnerving intensity. Relief flooded through me at the realization that he had mistaken me for my sister, Jessica, a sergeant in the force.

"Oh, my sister just got promoted last week. I'll send her," I replied eagerly, eager to escape the gaze of a man who could easily manipulate me. I didn't trust men like Carter Gray, and I certainly didn't want to be alone in a room with him.

But Carter had other plans. "No, Chloe, sit. I will talk to Chloe," he declared with authority, his tone tolerating no argument.

"Well, alright," My captain said, reluctantly conceding. "But I will be here, monitoring the situation. I am not leaving Detective Madden alone with scum like you," He threatened, his voice laced with a steely determination that barely concealed his disdain.

A deep, rumbling laugh escaped Carter Gray's chest at the captain's words, sending a shiver down my spine. I glanced nervously at my boss, silently hoping he’d let me get my sister, but his stern gaze remained fixed on Carter.

"Oh, don't worry," Carter responded smoothly, his tone dripping with an unsettling charm. "I will be very nice to your detective. I can see how her hands are shaking. I won’t make her more nervous." His words sent a surge of heat rushing to my cheeks as I instinctively clasped my trembling hands together, trying to steady my nerves.

As I settled into the interrogation chair, my nerves betrayed me, refusing to be tamed by even the deepest breaths. My father's disappointment loomed over me like a dark cloud. He would disown me if he saw how nervous I was.

He always wanted sons, but instead, he got two daughters. One who had managed to embody his ideals of strength and determination, and then there was me, too "girly" for his liking.

I glanced up from the file, feeling Carter Gray's intense gaze boring into me like a laser. His presence was overwhelming, his aura commanding attention without uttering a single word. I knew I was out of my depth, facing a man whose cunning surpassed any criminal I had encountered before.

"What were you doing at Ms. Green's house where we caught you? Is she an accomplice or an informant of yours?" I recited mechanically from the file, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes at the futile questions.

Of course, we knew she was his mistress.

"No, I won't answer these questions. Ask your own questions," Carter interrupted, his voice low and commanding, sending a jolt of adrenaline coursing through my veins as our eyes locked.

“She is sticking to the-“ My captain started, only to be immediately cut off by Carter's next words.

"These would be the last words I speak if what I ask is not followed. Also, you... Get out," Carter's voice dripped with authority, I gulped nervously, realizing the gravity of the situation.

I couldn't help but wonder what was more surreal: the audacity with which Carter Gray had threatened a police captain, or the fact that my own captain had surrendered to his demands without hesitation. It was as if the balance of power had shifted in an instant, with Carter asserting his dominance over everyone in the room.

It was as if he was saying that the only reason we could order him around was because he was letting us.

“See, I don’t like talking a lot, so if you want your commissioner to be happy, just leave me here, ALONE, with his daughter,” Carter's words sent a shockwave of realization through me as he looked at me with a small smile playing on his handsome face.

He knew who I was.

Panic surged within me, my mind racing with the possibilities of what he was up to.

Oh god. Something really terrible is going to happen.

My captain stood up abruptly, taking the file from my hands before leaving the room. "Do as he says, God knows how we caught him, but we need him to talk. Don't screw this up," he whispered urgently before disappearing, leaving me alone with the dangerous hot criminal handcuffed to the table.

I couldn't shake the feeling of unease, even with Carter Gray securely handcuffed to the table. His towering, muscular stature seemed to challenge the restraints, and a single glance at him was enough to convince me that he could break free in a heartbeat if he wanted to.

"Please, Chloe, continue," Carter urged, his voice smooth as I grabbed his file, which was as thick as a book, and started leafing through it.

"Alright, why did you let us arrest you?" I asked, noting the flicker of surprise that crossed his face briefly. It was rare to catch someone like Carter Gray off guard, and that realization bolstered my confidence.

"Why do you ask that?" His tone was almost sweet, yet there was an underlying edge to his deep voice that sent my heart into a frenzy.

"Because it was too easy to catch you. This arrest was handed to us on a platter, while other departments have spent years using crazy tactics to catch you, and they have always failed. Why now? I need an answer!" I pressed, my voice growing more assertive as I challenged him.

Carter's laughter rang out, filling the room with its rich timbre, "Ah, our sweet little kitty has claws," he remarked, his eyes sparkling with amusement making me shoot him a glare as a smirk played at the corners of his lips. I felt a flush rise to my cheeks, a mixture of shame and frustration at his teasing.

"Because I needed to give your father a final warning," Carter's voice carried a chilling edge, his words dripping with a sense of foreboding. "I came here to deliver it in person so your father doesn’t take it lightly. A real warning. I am going to walk out of here in five minutes after my lawyer arrives," he continued, his tone devoid of emotion, as if discussing the weather rather than issuing a threat of such a magnitude.

The nonchalant manner in which he revealed his intentions only added to the unsettling atmosphere, leaving me feeling utterly bewildered and powerless in the face of his menacing presence.

"What warning? Why?" I demanded, my mind racing as I tried to make sense of his cryptic message.

My father's investigations into the mob had been fruitless for years, The Lancasters were undefeatable.

"Oh, come on, doll," Carter's voice took on a sinister edge, "I am sure if you think about it with your pretty little head, you can figure out what I will do to your father if he doesn’t stop," he taunted, his words dripping with malice.

Suddenly, my breath caught in my throat as I watched in horror and fright. With a swift, fluid motion, Carter broke free from the handcuffs as if they were mere toys. My heart pounded against my chest as I immediately got up from my seat and staggered backward, feeling a rush of adrenaline flood my veins.

Carter massaged his wrists, his face contorting in a grimace of pain as he removed the handcuffs.

"Get out now," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument as with a chilling calmness, he ordered the police officers who stood by, armed and ready, to leave the room. The officers exchanged uneasy glances before reluctantly obeying, leaving me alone with the dangerous criminal who now stood before me, unrestrained and intimidating.

"Carter, I got your bail," a man in his sixties entered the room, his exasperation evident as he observed the broken handcuffs. "Come on, let's leave," he urged Carter, who raised a hand to stop him.

"Give me a minute alone with Detective Madden, please. I want her to deliver a message to her father personally," Carter ordered as he smiled sweetly at me. The lawyer reluctantly complied, closing the door behind him.

I stood against the wall, feeling a mixture of fear and anticipation as Carter approached. His presence was both intoxicating and terrifying, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from him.

"You are a pretty little thing, aren’t you?" Carter's voice was smooth, but there was a dangerous undercurrent that made my heart race.

"Why the hell are you doing this?" I demanded, my voice trembling slightly with a mix of fear and defiance.

"I thought there was an understanding between the mob and the police that women and children are off limits, right?" he remarked, his tone laced with sarcasm. As Carter stood close to me, his presence enveloped me like a shroud, his intoxicating aroma filling my nose. I didn’t know if I was scared or turned on or both. I had never seen such a beautiful man ever in my life.

Carter's touch was surprisingly gentle as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers sending a jolt of electricity through me. His fingers trailed down to my throat, down to my neck. I felt pressure building in my stomach as I tried to ignore whatever I felt and pushed against his chest, not making him move even an inch.

“So how do you think I would react if your father and his officers arrest and assault the women that are married to the men in our mob? We are all like a family, you know,” he says as his finger stops right above my breasts, making my chest heave harder.

"He didn't know what his officers did," I protested, though I doubted the truth of my own words.

Carter's gaze held mine, intense and penetrating. With each step he took closer, I felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through me, the proximity between us overwhelming.

"Oh, but that's where you are wrong, doll. I know exactly what happened and I am angry. Do you understand me?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing as he pressed me against the wall, making me realize that I was completely at his mercy.

“Yes I do. I will tell him.” I breathe out as I slapped his hand away, but it was on my waist all of a sudden making my eyes widen as I stared at him in disbelief as Carter leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear, I knew that I was teetering on the edge of something dangerous and exhilarating.

“Good girl. I need you to tell him about everything that happened in here. Exactly the way it happened. Alright?” his deep voice blurred the line between fear and desire, I found myself helplessly drawn to him.

"Yes," I replied, mentally face palming myself as I realized how breathless and aroused my voice sounded. The smirk that crept onto Carter's lips confirmed that he was well aware of the effect he had on me.

"It was nice to meet you. You remind me of a wild kitten, you know," he remarked, his words sending a surge of heat to my cheeks. I narrowed my eyes at him, attempting to mask the flush that spread across my face.

I gasped as Carter leaned in, his lips brushing against the sensitive nerve on my neck, eliciting a shiver that ran down my spine. Goosebumps erupted across my skin as he patted me twice on the hips before stepping away.

"I'll see you soon, doll," he said with a smirk, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before he turned and left the room. As the door closed behind him, I couldn't shake the electric thrill that coursed through me.

What the fuck just happened?