Outside the Law Read online

  Outside the Law

  When law school sweethearts Tanner Cohen and Sydney Braswell witness their perfect plans for career and family fall apart, they vow never to look back. Now, years later, they’re both assigned to the same federal task force—Tanner as an FBI agent and Sydney as a special prosecutor—and they must work together if they want justice to be served. The obstacles that forced them apart still exist, but their strong connection cannot be denied. Will they embrace their second chance to be soul mates, or will their dedication to duty deny them happiness forever?

  In this final installment of the Lone Star Law Series, the federal task force encounters their biggest challenges yet as they confront enemies on both sides of the law.

  Reviewers Love the Lone Star Law Series

  Letter of the Law

  “Fiery clashes and lots of chemistry, you betcha!”—The Romantic Reader Blog

  Above the Law

  “[R]eaders who enjoyed the first installment will find this a worthy second act.”—Publishers Weekly

  “Ms Taite delivered and then some, all the while adding more questions, Tease! I like the mystery and intrigue in this story. It has many ‘sit on the edge of your seat’ scenes of excitement and dread (like watch out kind of thing) and drama…well done indeed!”—Prism Book Alliance

  Lay Down the Law

  “Recognized for the pithy realism of her characters and settings drawn from a Texas legal milieu, Taite pays homage to the prime-time soap opera Dallas in pairing a cartel-busting U.S. attorney, Peyton Davis, with a charity-minded oil heiress, Lily Gantry.”—Publishers Weekly

  “Suspenseful, intriguingly tense, and with a great developing love story, this book is delightfully solid on all fronts. This gets my A-1 recommendation!”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  Praise for the Luca Bennett Mystery Series

  Switchblade

  “I enjoyed the book and it was a fun read—mystery, action, humor, and a bit of romance. Who could ask for more? If you’ve read and enjoyed Taite’s legal novels, you’ll like this. If you’ve read and enjoyed the two other books in this series, this one will definitely satisfy your Luca fix and I highly recommend picking it up. Highly recommended.”—C-spot Reviews

  “Dallas’s intrepid female bounty hunter, Luca Bennett, is back in another adventure. Fantastic! Between her many friends and lovers, her interesting family, her fly by the seat of her pants lifestyle, and a whole host of detractors there is rarely a dull moment.”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  Battle Axe

  “This second book is satisfying, substantial, and slick. Plus, it has heart and love coupled with Luca’s array of weapons and a badass verbal repertoire…I cannot imagine anyone not having a great time riding shotgun through all of Luca’s escapades. I recommend hopping on Luca’s bandwagon and having a blast.”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  “Taite breathes life into her characters with elemental finesse…A great read, told in the vein of a good old detective-type novel filled with criminal elements, thugs, and mobsters that will entertain and amuse.”—Lambda Literary

  Slingshot

  “The mean streets of lesbian literature finally have the hardboiled bounty hunter they deserve. It’s a slingshot of a ride, bad guys and hot women rolled into one page turning package. I’m looking forward to Luca Bennett’s next adventure.”—J. M. Redmann, author of the Micky Knight mystery series

  Praise for Carsen Taite

  A More Perfect Union

  “Readers looking for a mix of intrigue and romance set against a political backdrop will want to pick up Taite’s latest novel.”—Romantic Times Book Review

  “This is a fabulously written tightly woven political/military intrigue with a large helping of romance. I enjoyed every minute and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. This one is a great read! Carsen Taite never disappoints!”—The Romantic Reader Blog

  Sidebar

  “Sidebar is a love story with a refreshing twist. It’s a mystery and a bit of a thriller, with an ethical dilemma and some subterfuge thrown in for good measure. The combination gives us a fast-paced read, which includes courtroom and personal drama, an appealing love story, and a more than satisfying ending.”—Lambda Literary

  “Sidebar is a sexy, fun, interesting book that’s sure to delight, whether you’re a longtime fan or this is your first time reading something by Carsen Taite. I definitely recommend it!”—The Lesbian Review

  “This book has it all: two fantastic lead characters, an interesting plot, and that sizzling chemistry that great authors can make jump off the page. While all of Taite’s books are fantastic, this one is on the next level. No critiques, no criticism, you only need to know one thing…this is a damn good book.”—The Romantic Reader Blog

  Without Justice

  “Carsen Taite tells a great story. She is consistent in giving her readers a good if not great legal drama with characters who are insightful, well thought out and have good chemistry. You know when you pick up one of her books you are getting your money’s worth time and time again. Consistency with a great legal drama is all but guaranteed.”—The Romantic Reader Blog

  “All in all a fantastic novel…Unequivocally 5 Stars…”—Les Reveur

  “This is a great read, fast-paced, interesting and takes a slightly different tack from the normal crime/courtroom drama having a lawyer in the witness protection system whose case becomes the hidden centre of another crime.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  Reasonable Doubt

  “I was drawn into the mystery plot line and quickly became enthralled with the book. It was suspenseful without being too intense but there were some great twists to keep me guessing. It’s a very good book. I cannot wait to read the next in line that Ms. Taite has to offer.”—Prism Book Alliance

  Courtship

  “The political drama is just top-notch. The emotional and sexual tensions are intertwined with great timing and flair. I truly adored this book from beginning to end. Fantabulous!” – Rainbow Book Reviews

  “Carsen Taite throws the reader head-on into the murky world of the political system where there are no rights or wrongs, just players attempting to broker the best deals regardless of who gets hurt in the process. The book is extremely well written and makes compelling reading. With twist and turns throughout, the reader doesn’t know how the story will end.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  “Taite keeps the stakes high as two beautiful and brilliant women fueled by professional ambitions face daunting emotional choices…As backroom politics, secrets, betrayals, and threats race to be resolved without political damage to the president, the cat-and-mouse relationship game between Addison and Julia has the reader rooting for them. Taite prolongs the fever-pitch tension to the final pages. This pleasant read with intelligent heroines, snappy dialogue, and political suspense will satisfy Taite’s devoted fans and new readers alike.”—Publishers Weekly

  Rush

  “A simply beautiful interplay of police procedural magic, murder, FBI presence, misguided protective cover-ups, and a superheated love affair…a Gold Star from me and major encouragement for all readers to dive right in and consume this story with gusto!”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  Beyond Innocence

  “As you would expect, sparks and legal writs fly. What I liked about this book were the shades of grey (no, not the smutty Shades of Grey)—both in the relationship as well as the cases.”—C-spot Reviews

  “Taite keeps you guessing with delicious delay until the very last minute…Taite’s time in the courtroom lends Beyond Innocence a terrific verisimilitude someone not in the profession couldn’t impart. And damned if she doesn’t make practicing law interesting.”—Out in Print

  The Best Defense

  “Real life defe
nse attorney Carsen Taite polishes her fifth work of lesbian fiction…with the realism she daily encounters in the office and in the courts. And that polish is something that makes The Best Defense shine as an excellent read.”—Out & About Newspaper

  Nothing but the Truth

  “Author Taite is really a Dallas defense attorney herself, and it’s obvious her viewpoint adds considerable realism to her story, making it especially riveting as a mystery. I give it four stars out of five.”—Bob Lind, Echo Magazine

  “Taite has written an excellent courtroom drama with two interesting women leading the cast of characters. Taite herself is a practicing defense attorney, and her courtroom scenes are clearly based on real knowledge. This should be another winner for Taite.”—Lambda Literary

  Do Not Disturb

  “Taite’s tale of sexual tension is entertaining in itself, but a number of secondary characters…add substantial color to romantic inevitability”—Richard Labonte, Book Marks

  It Should Be a Crime

  “Law professor Morgan Bradley and her student Parker Casey are potential love interests, but throw in a high-profile murder trial, and you’ve got an entertaining book that can be read in one sitting. Taite also practices criminal law and she weaves her insider knowledge of the criminal justice system into the love story seamlessly and with excellent timing. I find romances lacking when the characters change completely upon falling in love, but this was not the case here. I look forward to reading more from Taite.”—Curve Magazine

  “This is just Taite’s second novel…but it’s as if she has bookshelves full of bestsellers under her belt.”—Gay List Daily

  Outside the Law

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  Outside the Law

  © 2018 By Carsen Taite. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13:978-1-63555-040-5

  This Electronic Book is published by

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 12185

  First Edition: May 2018

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Cindy Cresap

  Production Design: Stacia Seaman

  Cover Design by Sheri ([email protected])

  By the Author

  Truelesbianlove.com

  It Should Be a Crime

  Do Not Disturb

  Nothing but the Truth

  The Best Defense

  Beyond Innocence

  Rush

  Courtship

  Reasonable Doubt

  Without Justice

  Sidebar

  A More Perfect Union

  The Luca Bennett Mystery Series:

  Slingshot

  Battle Axe

  Switchblade

  Bow and Arrow (novella in Girls with Guns)

  Lone Star Law Series:

  Lay Down the Law

  Above the Law

  Letter of the Law

  Outside the Law

  Acknowledgments

  Tackling a series is a big undertaking for both the author and the reader. While the author works behind the scenes to weave several sets of plotlines and join lovers looking for mates, the reader is forced to wait upwards of a year for their questions to be answered and mysteries to be solved. A Texas-sized THANK YOU to all of my loyal readers who made the commitment to these characters and their stories. I hope you enjoy this, the finale of the Lone Star Law series.

  When it comes to the finished product, a whole bunch of other folks make me look good. Thanks to:

  Sheri for another amazing cover design.

  Cindy Cresap for fierce edits delivered with a side of humor.

  Len Barot and Sandy Lowe for making Bold Strokes Books a nurturing home where authors can thrive.

  VK Powell and Ashley Bartlett for their steadfast friendship and keen editorial eyes.

  Love and thanks to my wife, Lainey, who takes care of all the things while I’m holed up in my office writing or traveling to literary events around the country. None of my success would be possible without you.

  And to all of my readers—your support fuels my inspiration and daily word counts. Thanks for taking this journey with me.

  To Lainey. I love you—beginning, middle, and end

  Chapter One

  Special Agent Tanner Cohen blinked several times, but her eyes weren’t the problem. Sydney Braswell, the love of her life—make that former love, former life—had just strolled into the briefing and slipped into a seat at the back of the room.

  Ducking her head to keep from staring, Tanner stole a few glances at Syd, drinking in the sight of her long legs, trim figure, and the waves of auburn hair that used to fan out on the pillow next to hers. Damn, she’d aged well. Tanner shook her head to scatter the memories bubbling to the surface. She hadn’t seen Syd in forever, but staring at her now, the years slipped away.

  Tanner felt a sharp jab in her side and Assistant US Attorney Bianca Cruz shot her a quizzical expression. She looked from Bianca to the front of the room at AUSA Peyton Davis, who was running the briefing, and back again, slowly realizing everyone was waiting on her, but she didn’t have a clue why. “I’m sorry, can you repeat that?”

  Peyton looked deferentially at her boss, US Attorney Herschel Gellar, and then at Syd. “Agent Cohen, would you like to fill us in on the recovery of Queen’s Ransom?”

  Tanner felt like she’d missed something. She and the rest of the rogue task force had been contacted by Gellar’s secretary over the weekend and told to meet at the US attorney’s office first thing Monday. Tanner had reached out to Bianca, who didn’t know much more than she did about the purpose for the meeting, but the consensus was that their activities the week before, although putting them within striking distance of arresting the fugitive drug lord Sergio Vargas, had also exposed that they’d been running an operation they’d been told to shut down weeks ago.

  She figured they’d been called in for a dressing down, but that didn’t explain what Syd was doing here and why had no one said anything when Syd, a total stranger to everyone but her, had walked into the room acting like she owned the place.

  Filing away the slew of questions for later, Tanner cleared her throat and focused on a bare-bones recitation of the facts. “The horse, Queen’s Ransom, was exactly where Razor, uh, Enrique Garza, said he’d be, in a stable on a piece of property about an hour west of Denton. Like the barn where Lindsey Ryan was held when she was kidnapped, the property was listed for sale and the owners haven’t been there in months.” She paused before offering up the piece of information she knew everyone wanted to know. “There was no sign of Sergio Vargas anywhere on the property.”

  Gellar pushed up from his seat and strode over to edge Peyton from the podium. “And I’m hearing you people offered Mr. Garza witness protection in exchange for Sergio Vargas’s location? Looks like you screwed us over.”

  Tanner started to object, but Peyton beat her to it. “Giving us the location of the horse was his good faith overture. The next step is ours. We give him immunity and protection, and he delivers Sergio.”

  “Except the deal is off.”

  Tanner whipped her head around at the eerily familiar sound of Syd’s voice, and watched her stand and walk toward the front of the room. All these years later, but it was like no time had passed between them. Syd was as beautiful as ever and her confidence was
one of the sexiest things about her. Except it was completely out of place here, in this room. She watched in disbelief as Syd took Peyton’s place next to Gellar, and she found a spot on the wall to keep from making eye contact.

  Herschel Gellar practically drooled as he introduced Syd to the rest of the group. “I’d like you all to meet Sydney Braswell,” he said, licking his lips. “She’s here from Main Justice, appointed by the attorney general to oversee this task force.” He stopped to wag his finger at the assembled group of agents and attorneys. “Everything you’ve done so far is being called into question because of various conflicts of interest, and don’t think I don’t know about them.”