Dare - Uncuffed

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE INFORMATION

UNCUFFED
Copyright 2017 Michelle Dare
2017 Edition
Cover art: Dana Leah at Designs by Dana
Photography by Darren Birks Inc.
Editing by Barren Acres Editing
Proofreading by Landers Editorial Services, Tiffany Landers
Formatting: Deena Rae E-BookBuilders

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2017 Edition License

What started out as a necessity, soon turned into an addiction. Hope craved the high stealing gave her. She put her childhood dreams aside and embraced her life as a thief. Target after target, she took their money before moving on to the next unsuspecting victim. Then she met a man in a bar who flipped her world upside down.

The blood in Rowes family ran blue. Following in his fathers footsteps, he became a detective, vowing to protect and serve his community. By day, Rowe went after criminals and by night his only pursuit was women. He had no time for dating; his only commitment was to his job. But Hope stole something of his that was worth more than money.

The last person a detective should desire was a career criminal. Although, something about her made Rowe need to keep Hope uncuffed. All she wanted was to protect a good man from going down with her when the inevitable happened. Following their hearts led them down a dangerous road, especially since they lived on opposite sides of the law.

T his book wouldnt have been born if A.D. Justice didnt have the idea for this anthology. First and foremost, my thanks go to her. Not only is she a wonderful woman, but shes one of my best friends.

My husband and kids have to put up with a lot when I write. I couldnt do this without them.

Laura, Stephanie, and Amber, thank you for all you do. Youre all amazing!

Victoria, Kate, Laura, Stephanie, Mandy, Catherine, and Kendra, thank you for reading this for me and providing me with feedback. I love you all so much.

Karen, Deena, Dana, Darren, and Tiffany, thank you for making my book so pretty. Youre all so talented, and Im very fortunate to have you work on my book.

To all the authors in The Vault, Im so happy were on this journey together.

Thank you to every person who has shared, read, and supported me. It means more to me than youll ever know.

Hope

W hen I was little, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I loved our dog and at the time, taking care of animals sounded great. That idea lasted all through elementary and middle school. Then high school happened. I found a new group of friends and suddenly college went on the back burner. My parents didnt say much since I was still getting good grades. They hoped Id eventually find my way.

At the age of nineteen, I decided to start researching colleges. My friends had moved away and were no longer bad influences on me. I was back on course. That is, until one November night when a police officer showed up on my doorstep. I knew from the way his sympathetic eyes looked at me that something bad had happened. Plus, its not like cops show up at your house to tell you good news. My parents had been killed in a car accident, and he was there to deliver the horrible news. I was their only child. Ill never forget that police officer, or that day.

I didnt cry or scream. I didnt go into denial or do some of the other things I hear people do when they lose loved ones. No, I went numb. I felt nothing. Not when the attorney told me Id be inheriting their house, money, and a check from their life insurance company. Not when I had to pick out the clothes they would be buried in, nor when their caskets were lowered into the ground. Everyone kept asking me how I was. Id say I was fine, but I couldnt muster up the energy to mean it.

The money was placed in the bank. Well, half of the money. I would receive the other half when I turned thirty. With the help of a financial advisor, I invested some of the money and paid off the house. My parents didnt have any other debts. They were both doctors who had very profitable careers.

The money I was left with, I spent. I was still numb and didnt care about blowing it on whatever I wanted. My parents were gone, and there was no one to tell me I shouldnt be doing what I did. It was how I was coping, or not coping, as it were. Suddenly, all I had left was the house, my parents possessions, and enough money to buy food. The investments remained untouched. In truth, I forgot about them.

By the age of twenty, I was broke. It was less than a year since their deaths, and I didnt have any cash left. Sure, I could have called the financial advisor and asked for some money from the investment, but then Id have to admit I blew through everything I had. I had a roof over my head, but there was no food. All the utilities were shut off when the bills became overdue.

I didnt start to gain feeling again until I was lying on the living room couch, staring at the ceiling with my stomach cramping from lack of food. I felt. I felt it all at once. It might have taken almost a year, but that pain finally caught up with me. The sorrow and grief were more than I could bear. The stomach cramping from hunger turned into sourness and nausea. Then a thought occurred to me. Maybe if I had more money, I could numb the pain again. Maybe the two were connected. And maybe, just maybe, I could go back to not giving a fuck about anything. Well, that and having electricity.

Most people would get a job. Not me. I stole a car and robbed a convenience store. I laughed as I ran from the building with a wad of cash in my bag and a man chasing me with a bat. I smiled like a fool by the time I was in the car and pulling out of the parking lot.