Twisted, page 1
TWISTED
(BRUISED SERIES BOOK 5)
BY
STACY-DEANNE
Table of Contents
Title Page
Twisted (Bruised Series, #5)
Note to Readers:
Note: | Twisted takes place six months after Entangled left off.
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
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
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Copyright © 2016 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: stacydeanne1@aol.com
Website: Stacy's Website
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Twitter: Stacy's Twitter
Other titles by Stacy-Deanne Include:
Bruised Series
Stripped Series
Tate Valley Sexy Suspense Series
The Seventh District
Dead Weight
You’re the One
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Note to Readers:
Wow. It’s been a fun ride. I loved writing this series, and I cherish these characters. Unfortunately, even good things must come to an end. The ending is now, and I hope you enjoy the final installment. I appreciate all your support through this journey.
But, all is not lost! Guess what? Dee and Winston will be getting their own series and the first book will release soon! So while Jake and Lisa’s story has come to an end you can partake in exciting new adventures with lovers Dee and Winston. I have a lot in store for this duo so stay tuned!
Happy Reading!
Other Books in the Bruised Series Available Now:
Bruised (Book 1)
Captivated (Book 2)
Disturbed (Book 3)
Entangled (Book 4)
Bruised Set (features books 1-4)
Note:
Twisted takes place six months after Entangled left off.
CHAPTER ONE
“Ugh olives?” Baltimore Detective Dee Quarter grimaced. “How can people eat those nasty things?”
“Well, they’re not for you are they?” Her best friend, Detective Lisa Swanson, grabbed a jar of olives from the grocery store shelf. “Jake loves olives so I’m gonna put them in the meatloaf.” She read the nutrition label and set the jar in the cart on a package of ground meat.
“Jake won’t know what hit him with this dinner, huh?” Dee scoffed, laying a container of dill pickles in her handbasket. “You’ve been talking about cooking for him for a week.” She flicked her long, wavy brown weave off her shoulder. “I don’t see what the big deal is.”
“It means a lot because I get to pamper him.” Lisa strutted through the aisle, patting the side of her Halle Berry haircut. “He’s always doing so much for me that cooking him a romantic dinner is the least I can do.” She stopped the cart in front of the seasoning section. “We haven’t had much time together in weeks due to the Gilbert case.”
“Oh, god.” Dee rolled her eyes. “Thank goodness that’s over with. I didn’t feel like myself when we were on it.”
“I know.”
They went to the next aisle.
“That’s the first murder case I ever worked with where I thought everyone involved was guilty.” Dee huffed. “Shit, for a while there I thought you were the killer.”
Lisa nudged her, grinning. “And what about your boyfriend?”
Dee stopped and glared at her. “Who?”
“Armando.” Lisa teased.
“Girl, don’t even play like that.”
“But he likes you.” Lisa grinned. “Since the case is over why don’t you give him a chance?”
“Lisa.” Dee raised her hand. “Don’t play.”
She laughed. “You’re single again so why not?”
“Maybe because he’s only twenty-two, and I’m thirty-seven. What do I want a boy for?”
Lisa cackled. “So you can teach him how to be a real man.”
“I don’t have time to be teaching nobody nothing. I need a man who already knows what he’s doing. Besides, I quit Grayson barely a month ago. Dating someone is the last thing on my mind and even if it wasn’t I wouldn’t be interested in Armando Urena.” Her cellphone rang, and she checked the screen. “Unknown number,” she mumbled, answering.
Lisa stopped the cart in front of the peanut butter section.
“Hello?” Dee spoke into the phone.
Someone cackled and hung up.
“I tell you.” Dee shook her head as she put her phone back in her purse. “Some folks have nothing better to do.”
“What was that about?”
“I don’t know.” Dee twirled her finger in her hair. “Some fool’s been calling my phone and hanging up.”
Lisa scanned the different brands of peanut butter. “How often?”
Dee shrugged. “I haven’t paid attention. Probably four or five times.”
“Four or five times and you hadn’t mentioned it?” Lisa got a container of nutty peanut butter. “Doesn’t it alarm you at all?”
Dee popped in chewing gum. “It’s just a prank caller.”
“How do you know that?” Lisa rearranged the items in her cart to make room. “This person could be some lunatic.”
“Don’t go making this a big deal. Prank calls happen all the time. Probably some teenager.”
“How did he get your number?” Lisa raised an eyebrow as they walked out the aisle. “This doesn’t concern you at all? You’re a cop.”
“You never got a prank call in your life?”
“Not four of five by the same person. You don’t care how this person got your number?”
“In this day and age anyone can get anyone’s number.” Dee dropped her shoulders, sighing. “Just let it go, Leece. You always make a mountain out of a molehill.”
“You’re my girl.” Lisa’s auburn lipstick complimented her smooth, brown skin. “I wanna make sure you’re okay.”
“I can take care of myself.” Dee pointed as they passed the bread aisle. “I guess I’ll make tacos tonight.” They went to the Mexican food section, and Dee got a package of whole-wheat flour tortillas. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Lisa shrieked, customers jerking around to look.
Dee covered her ears. “What in the world’s wrong with you?”
“You know my weakness.” Lisa zoomed the cart passed Dee and ended up in the pastry section.
“Oh, no.” Dee walked toward her, waving her finger. “You get enough cinnamon rolls at work. I swear you need rehab.”
“You might be right.” Lisa grabbed a box of the glazed treats. “I have withdrawals if I go one day without one. You can have one.”
“No thanks.” Dee caressed her curves. “I gotta make sure I stay tight and right and scarfing down cinnamon rolls doesn’t fit in with the plan.”
“I eat cinnamon rolls every day.” Lisa straightened up. “I’m tight and right.”
“But that caboose though.” Dee peeked at her ample backside. “Your butt gets any bigger, and it’s gonna need its own zip code.”
Lisa hit her arm. “Go to hell.”
Dee laughed. “You through?”
“Yeah.” Lisa wheeled her cart behind a line of four people at the register. “Thanks for helping me pick something to cook.”
Dee switched her basket to her other hand. “Speaking of you and Jake, things are super serious now, huh?”
Lisa grinned, avoiding eye contact.
“Man, I can’t believe you and Jake have been together almost a year.” Dee whistled, moving closer to the man in front of them. “It seems like only yesterday you guys met.”
Lisa cocked her head with a dazed expression. “After Mason I never thought I’d find a man so wonderful. Jake’s so considerate. He makes me feel like the luckiest woman in the world. I can’t imagine my life without him.”
“Well, the way things are you won’t have to.” Dee winked. “How serious you think this is gonna get? Marriage?”
“Marriage?” Lisa chuckled. “I never thought about it. That’s another thing Mason made me question. I wanted to marry him.”
&
“Not right now because I’m not ready.”
“Hm.” Dee poked out her lips. “You got a wonderful man that any woman would kill for and you’re not ready?”
Lisa shrugged, inching her cart up when the line moved.
“Something doesn’t make sense,” Dee said. “How could you not be ready? What are you waiting for?”
“It’s too soon that’s all.” Lisa laid groceries on the counter.
“Winston Lewis wouldn’t have anything to do with that would he?”
Lisa exhaled, pressing her lips together. “There’s nothing going on with Winston.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
“I spelled it out to Winston a long time ago. He knows nothing will happen between us and he’s accepted that.”
“Yeah but you told him that many times, but you still got tempted.”
“But nothing ever happened,” Lisa snapped. “Jake’s the man I want. Yes, I’m attracted to Winston, but I’m not letting anything ruin my relationship with Jake. I love him.”
Dee watched from the corner of her eyes. “It’s not that easy.”
“Look who’s talking.” Lisa sighed. “Aren’t you the one who’s in love with Winston but too afraid to admit it? It’s been months, Dee. When are you gonna make a move?”
“On Winston?” She batted her eyes. “Since when does Dee Quarter run after a man? Especially one pining over another woman? That’s not my style.”
“Have a nice day,” the male cashier said to the man in front of Dee and Lisa. His wide smile returned when he looked at Dee. “Well, hello.”
“Hel...” Dee glanced at Lisa. “Hello.” She set her basket on the counter.
“Will this be all for you?” he asked, staring.
“Yes.” Dee looked at Lisa again.
Lisa shrugged as if she found the man’s behavior odd too.
He rang the items up but instead of giving Dee a total, he stared at her.
She got out her debit card. “How much do I owe you?”
“Tell you what.” He took her hand. “It’s on the house if you let me take you out after I get off.”
“What?” Lisa grimaced.
“What the hell?” Dee snatched her hand back. “What’s your problem?”
“Just wanna give you a break, sweet thing.” He dragged his tongue across his teeth. “I get off in about an hour. How about you and me get together?”
“How about your ass back up and tell me how much money I owe you? I don’t need this shit.”
He smirked. “From what I hear you need something else.”
Dee tilted her head. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“We don’t have all day, okay?” Lisa said. “Whatever you’re selling she’s not interested.”
The man mumbled, “That’s not what her profile said.”
“What?” Dee leaned forward. “What did you say?”
“Never mind.” He told Dee the total, and afterwards she waited aside while he checked Lisa out.
“That was strange as hell,” Lisa whispered.
Dee observed the man. “You’re telling me.”
“And what’s this about a profile?”
“I don’t know.” Dee scratched the side of her neck. “Maybe he’s a Facebook friend or something.”
“Whatever it is it’s strange,” Lisa muttered.
CHAPTER TWO
“Just a minute!” Jake Jenson wheeled himself to his front door the next morning. “Who is it?”
“Mr. Jenson? It’s Rayne Jessup from the Therapeutic Massage Clinic.”
“Hold on.” He did another glance around his living room even though he kept it spotless then answered the door.
A thin blonde around six feet displayed her perfect teeth through an enchanting smile. “Hello.”
“Eh...” Jake batted his eyes to confirm she was there. It had comforted him more to expect a big, burly chick with an accent instead of this goddess.
She had long, thick hair that flowed past her shoulders.
“Um.” He gripped the arms of his wheelchair; his hands entrenched in palm sweat.
“Is everything okay?” She squinted her lime-green eyes, her high cheekbones spreading.
“Yes.” He shook his head, growing warm from embarrassment. “I apologize. I’m Jake Jenson.” He held out his sweaty hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
She wore her hair in that loose curl style that made it appear as if it were blowing in the wind, exaggerating her elegant, angular jawline.
“Rayne Jessup.” She pointed to her badge on her chest then gripped his hand like a football player. “Nice to meet you too.”
“Wow.” He wiggled his fingers after she let go. “Some grip you got there.”
“I’ve always had powerful hands.” She held them up, and they were almost as big as his were. “Guess that’s what makes me a good massage therapist.”
“Guess so.” Jake pulled at his shirt.
“You’re nervous, huh?” Her forehead puckered, moving her hairline. “Please relax.” She stood behind him and rubbed his shoulders.
“Ooh.” Jake’s skin turned to butter under her touch. “The minute you touched me the anxiety eased.”
“That’s just a sample of my talents.” She giggled as she walked to the front of the wheelchair. “I have a schedule to keep so we should get started.”
He straightened up, clearing his throat.
“First let’s go over the basics.” She clasped her hands, smelling of honey-roasted almonds. “I have the forms you filled out such as your medical history and your doctor’s instructions. You’ve been having shoulder and foot pain. Am I right?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “The doctor said the shoulder pain comes from wear and tear of being in a wheelchair and the foot pain comes from just being in the chair.”
“Right.” She nodded. “Pain in the shoulder area, wrist and elbow is normal for many wheelchair patients because many don’t keep proper posture or navigate their wheelchairs in a way to keep pressure off those areas.” She went on the porch and brought in a large, black case and a smaller bag.
“You need help?”
“I got it.” She set down the bigger case and opened the other. “It’s the massage table. It’s not heavy at all. Probably around fifty or sixty pounds but holds up to six hundred.”
“Six hundred?” Jake wheeled over to the case. “And it’s folded up?”
“Yep.” She got a piece of paper and a pen from her other bag. “This is the contract for the clinic. Please sign it.”
Jake took the contract and read over it.
“It’s just a basic contract to make sure you know we’re not employed by the hospital but we provide services on the hospital’s behalf.”
“You mean you’re a contracted business.”
“Right.” She unzipped the big bag and pulled out the table.
“That’s how it is these days, huh?” Jake signed the sheet in his lap. “Seems like businesses never do the work themselves anymore.”
“Any way a company can save on money and paying people they’re gonna take that route.” She unfolded the table and set it up.
“You’re good at that.”
She smiled. “You ever had a massage before?”
“Yeah, when I first had my accident.”
She nodded, getting bottles of oil out the bag. “And you’ve been in a wheelchair since two thousand eight?”
“Yes.” He jiggled his foot. “I can walk a little but my legs give out. I lost the strength after the accident.”
“Car accident, right?” She got two thick towels out of her other bag.
Jake exhaled.
“Hey.” She abandoned the towels and approached him. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No.” He fidgeted. “I hate thinking about it. It’s not about just me becoming handicapped but...” He lowered his head. “Never mind.”
She knelt in front of him. “I’m sorry if I made you feel bad.”
He looked into her kind eyes, getting a warm sensation. “You didn’t. I appreciate you caring.”
She stood, winking. “I like to know as much about my clients as possible.”
“That’s good.” Jake swallowed.
“Now for the oils.” She held four bottles in front of him. “I have sweet almond, apricot kernel, jojoba and coconut. Which would you prefer?”
