Tiffany Aaron - Fallen: Celeste

Liquid Silver Books

www.liquidsilverbooks.com

Copyright 2004 Tiffany Aaron

First Published by Liquid Silver Books, Imprint ofAtlantic Bridge, September 2004

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Published by LiquidSilver Books, Imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass Dr,Indianapolis, Indiana. Copyright 2004, Tiffany Aaron. All rights reserved. Nopart of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, ortransmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording orotherwise, without the prior written permission of the authors.

This is a work offiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of theauthor's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance toactual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

Dedication

Chris, you are the hero all others are compared to. Mom, you aremy definition of survivor. Dad, you've always been on my case about sending mystories to someone. Jody, you've taught me how to live life with courage. Jenn,you encouraged me and pushed me to finish it. Then you gave me advice on whatto do with it once I got it done. Thanks. To Char and Tina, your input helpedbring Celeste and Adam to life. Shelby and all the ladies on RRR, your laughterand comfort have always brightened my day. Even though I can't list you all,you are all in my thoughts.

Thanks to all of you and this one is dedicated to you.

CHAPTER ONE

Celeste stared at the skyline of Detroit. She was bone-tired. Whenwas the torment going to end? She didn't expect an answer since God had turnedHis back on her a long, long time ago. The moment she had chosen to forsakeHeaven and rebel against Him, she'd condemned herself to living without Histouch in her life.

Just once, she thought, leaning her head against the window, she'dlike to know there was someone out there thinking about her. Tapping herforehead against the glass, she grimaced, knowing it would never happen.

She brought her thoughts back to the problem facing her. For twoweeks, a cunning hunter had stalked the city of Detroit preying on young women.The third body had been found twenty-four hours ago and while the police hadsearched for clues, none had been found. They were now desperate to findsomething that would reveal who the killer was. Celeste knew who had committedthe crimes. Tomas was the reason she had moved to Detroit ten years ago.

At that time she had tried to connect with him, but the fallenangel had become wary down through the centuries and had learned ways to hidefrom humans and Enforcers alike. Now, he was finally beginning his game, a gameshe hoped to stop before he killed too many.

Stalking into the office, one of her best agents growled,"It's like he fucking vanished, Celeste. Not one damn clue." Al Risenslumped in his chair and glared at her. He had joined Celeste's investigationand security company seven years ago. The company had become known for gettingthe impossible done and keeping order in the Motor City with his expertise.

"Of course he vanished." She didn't turn to look at him."We have a serial killer on our hands."

Al groaned. "Do we have to deal with him?"

"You don't. I will."

"Hell, Montgomery has been trying to fuck you for months now.You're playing right into his fantasies, Celeste. How do we know he isn'tcommitting these murders?"

"Why would he, Al? So I would have to beg for help?"Celeste laughed. "He doesn't want me that badly."

Al snorted in disbelief. "Honey, he would do anything to haveyou. Trust me. I've seen it in his eyes."

Celeste had met Adam Montgomery at the Mayor's office severalmonths ago. Before even walking into the office she had smelled the musky scentof leather, power and man. Her skin had flushed and she had felt her pussy growwet. Then she saw him standing by the desk.

Adam was taller than she was. Broad shouldered and lean-hipped,his skin was tanned from hours spent in the sun. His unusual light green eyesfocused on her. His lips were thin and slightly cruel. His light brown hair,streaked with golden highlights, barely brushed his shoulders. He wore histhree-piece dark blue suit like he had been raised with money instead of on thestreets as rumored.

Her thighs had clenched and the throbbing in her clit increased asher jeans rubbed against it. She tried to stay calm, but she couldn't controlher body's reaction. Her breasts grew heavy and her nipples tightened to littlepebbles. Celeste had never been this aroused, not even after an hour offoreplay and Adam had known it. She had seen his own arousal flare in his eyes.The instant attraction scared her.

He had asked her out that day and she had turned him down. Nomatter how many times he had asked since, she had said no. There was a dangerin lusting after him. It would be suicide to love him. Celeste feared if shewere to share his bed, she would lose her heart and she couldn't afford to loseany more of it.

Celeste put the memory away when Al cleared his throat. She saidsoftly, "I've already set up a meeting."

"I'll go with you."

Celeste shook her head. "I have to go alone, Al. There havebeen three women killed. I'm willing to do whatever I have to do to catchhim." Celeste pulled her coat on and walked from the office.

"Even play the whore for a demon," Al whispered into thesilence.

As Celeste walked to her car, she reviewed all the information shehad found on Adam Montgomery. It didn't hurt to know everything she could aboutthe man who was going to be her partner on this case.

Adam Montgomery was the leader of the Demons, a gang that owned theDetroit streets. The Demons knew everything happening in the city, crimerelated or not, and they had a hand in almost every crime. Celeste had heardthe rumors that there were some things Adam wouldn't allow in his city.

Some crimes were tooterrible for even the leader of the Demons to contemplate.

Adam controlled most of Detroit by virtue of the fear that theDemons inspired. Unfortunatelyor maybe fortunatelyAdam didn't know the extentof the evil lurking in the shadows of the city. She did know the evil and itscared her.

* * * *

Adam stared at the tall blonde waiting for him at the bar. Damn,she was gorgeous. At almost six feet tall, she was still a few inches shorterthan he was. She curved in all the right places with a great set of tits and along pair of legs. Her dark blonde hair was long, reaching the middle of herback in subtle waves. She had a heart-stopping face with full lips and a strongnose. She rarely smiled or even laughed and she wore a "don't mess withme" attitude like armor.

There was something about Celeste Young that made Adam think ofdiamonds. She was tough but brilliant and her facets gleamed brightly in thedull world she occupied. Looking deep into her eyes, Adam could see there wasan icy fire burning deep in her. Whether it was righteous anger or plainmadness, he didn't want to know.

Every day for a month after he'd first met her, he had called herfor a date. He wasn't used to being turned down. Usually if a woman said no, hewould back off and move on to the next but there was something about Celestethat haunted him. She was never far from his thoughts.

When he realized his fascination with the leggy blonde wasn'tgoing away, he had Jakar, his assistant, look into her past. Oddly enough, shedidn't seem to exist before ten years ago when she showed up in Detroit. Herbusiness had opened up one day in an office building downtown. Before that day,Jakar couldn't find anything. His right hand man thought he was an idiot tochase after a woman who didn't want him but the mystery surrounding her drew himlike a moth to a flame. Finally tired of getting turned down, he told her tocall him when she was ready.