Love Kills (Lilah Love Book 4)

Book 4: Love Kills

DEAR READERS

Love Kills picks up right where ~Love Me Dead~ left off. Lilah Love, our resident bad-mouthed FBI profiler, is in a faceoff with the Umbrella Man. A serial killer who is wreaking havoc in New York, killing women, and getting Lilah’s attention in all the wrong ways. There are parts of this case that just can’t be ignored and are pointedly for Lilah herself. This is no ordinary serial killer, but when has Lilah ever attracted an ordinary serial killer?

This case first opens up with Lilah’s current boss, Director Murphy, calling Lilah to inform her that her former mentor Roger Griffin asked for her assistance on three murders. But when Lilah turns up at the current case, she soon learns Roger never called for her, he’s not even involved in the case, which is singular, not triplicate, but this case is too gruesome, and her happenstance upon it is too peculiar to let go. So, soon, Lilah has taken jurisdiction over not just the one victim, but another who died in her arms. Both poisoned. Both with pristine homes, which was unlike them. Both holding umbrellas forced in their hands. And now, loved ones of theirs are dead too. The local detective on the case, Lori Williams, who doesn’t match the victim appearances at all, soon goes missing, causing another wrinkle in this case, which worsens when her boyfriend kills himself in court. A mark of the serial killer, which is to force the loved ones to kill themselves.

While Lilah is navigating her first case back in New York City, she’s also navigating her relationship with the infamous Kane Mendez. They toe a fine line between her badge and his family’s cartel involvement. They’re the worst match on paper, but in the real world, they’re made for each other. And while this case is reminding Lilah why she does what she does for a living, Kane is reminding her how good they are by welcoming her back into the home they once shared—her clothes right where she left them. But Lilah and Kane aren’t the roses and unicorn type of couple. No, amidst this insane case she’s working, and his missing uncle who runs the cartel, Kane has assigned one of his men to closely watch over Lilah much to her absolute refusal, but Jay isn’t going anywhere, despite her best efforts to threaten him away. Though shockingly, as the case progresses, he proves himself helpful and loyal time and time again.

Eventually, Kane and Lilah end up at a high-society event in “support” of her father (as much support as she could ever give that man), to make a statement that they’re back and a force to be reckoned with. But soon, this event leads right back to Lilah’s case with a dead pig making an appearance which relates back to the massive amounts of pig’s blood found at the first crime scene. Just as the case is heating up, Kane has to leave, and Lilah is left trying to figure out which way is up and which way is down with this case. Does it relate to her? Is this just some sick and twisted individual? But the scene at her father’s event, the victims’ likeness to her old friend, Beth Smith, who was also mysteriously called to the first crime scene as the medical examiner, and then subsequently shipped off to Europe because of said likeness to the victims, all of it just doesn’t sit right with Lilah.

So she sets off to do what she was trying to avoid, she sits down with her old mentor Roger, who has inserted himself into the case, to work through it how they used to. But on the tail end of that brainstorming session, when Lilah is on her way home, she knows this is the night Umbrella Man will strike again. And so he does. In an alleyway, she’s at a standoff with Umbrella Man, a victim, and Detective Williams. Just as bullets begin to fly, Jay leaps in front of her to save her and gets shot, and she’s now walking toward the figure she believes is the killer and all the answers right along with him…

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INDEX

Lilah Love (28)—dark-brown hair, brown eyes, curvy figure. An FBI profiler working in Los Angeles, she grew up in the Hamptons. Her mother was a famous movie star who died tragically in a plane crash, which caused Lilah to leave law school prematurely and eventually pursue a career in law enforcement. Lilah’s father is the mayor in East Hampton; her brother is the Hamptons’ chief of police. She dated Kane Mendez against her father’s wishes. She was brutally attacked one night, and Kane came to her rescue, somewhat, and what unfolded that night created a secret between the two they can never share with anyone else. This eventually causes Lilah to leave and take the job in LA, away from her family, Kane, and that secret.

Kane Mendez (32)—brown hair, dark-brown eyes, leanly muscled body. He’s the CEO of Mendez Enterprises and thought to be the leader of the cartel that his father left behind when he was killed. But Kane claims his uncle runs the operations, while he runs the legitimate side of the business. Lilah’s ex from before she left for LA. He found her the night of her attack and shares that secret with her.

Director Murphy (50s)—gray hair, perfectly groomed. Former military. Lilah’s boss. The head of the LA branch of the FBI. Sent Lilah to the Hamptons to follow the assassin case.

Rich Moore—blond surfer-dude looks, blue eyes. Works with Lilah. He and Lilah were sleeping together until Rich wanted more and Lilah called it off.

Jeff “Tic Tac” Landers—Lilah’s go-to tech guy at the FBI.

Grant Love (57)—blue eyes, graying hair. Lilah’s father, the mayor, and retired police chief of East Hampton. A perfect politician. Charming. He’s being groomed by Ted Pocher to run for New York governor.

Andrew Love (34)—blond hair, blue eyes. Lilah’s brother and the East Hampton police chief. Andrew is protective and seems to be the perfect brother. The problem is that he’s perfect at everything, including being as macho and as bossy as their father. There’s more to Andrew than meets the eye.

Lucas Davenport—tall, looks like a preppy version of Tarzan. A very successful and good-looking investment banker, he has taken to hacking in his spare time. He is a cousin of sorts to Lilah and Andrew. His father was the stepbrother to Lilah’s father. His father was also known to be with Lilah’s mother, Laura, on the night they both disappeared in the plane crash. He flirts mercilessly with Lilah, seeing as they’re not blood-related, but she always shoots him down.

Greg Harrison—Lilah’s old partner from the New York Police Department. Currently in a lot of hot water with Internal Affairs over an incident that may or may not be of his own making. He was partnered with Nelson Moser prior to being put on leave by IA pending further investigation but has been working independent security with Moser in the meantime.

Nelson Moser—a lowlife police detective who offended Lilah on numerous occasions before she moved to Los Angeles. She is not very fond of him, and the rumor circulating about him is that he’s a dirty cop.

Laura Love—Lilah’s mother. Famous actress. Died four years ago in a horrific plane crash. She infamously portrayed Marilyn Monroe in an Oscar-winning performance. Much mystery still surrounds her death and will be a recurring issue throughout the series.

Ted Pocher—billionaire CEO of the world’s fifth-largest privately held conglomerate, Pocher Industries. Has taken a liking to Lilah’s father in hopes of furthering her father’s political career. He tried to do business with Kane and Mendez Enterprises but was turned down because of his rep for shady business deals.

Beth Smith—blonde, tall, thin. The new medical examiner in Suffolk County. Lilah’s friend from back in the day. Beth is working one of the assassin murder cases.

Lori Williams (40s)—detective in charge of the first crime scene in Love Me Dead. Went missing shortly after and is connected to the Umbrella Man case. When we left off, she was in the alleyway with Lilah, Jay, and the Umbrella Man.

Ralph Redman—Williams’ boyfriend, criminal attorney. He killed himself while in court. A victim of Umbrella Man.

Jay—Kane’s man sent to watch over Lilah. Was shot in the final scene of Love Me Dead.

Thomas Miller (30s)—redhead from the forensics portion of the investigation.

Sally (50s)—gruff, wild brown curls, works at the station.

Lily (25)—petite, brunette, research girl.

Chief Houston (30s)—Lilah knows him from back in the day. Is currently working with her on the Umbrella Man case. They butt heads, but they’re amiable.

Kit—tall, brooding, fit Mexican man who smiles big and kills easily. Security guard for Kane’s apartment.

Melanie Carmichael—new medical examiner dealing with the case while Beth is overseas.