Circle of Steel: Ian Coulter's Amethyst Cove, #4
By KC Kendricks
3/5
()
About this ebook
Private investigator Ian Coulter and his FBI partner Rick Mohr work hard and play harder. Making their relationship a priority is a challenge they willingly embrace. Life is better together, and when their cases overlap, it gets pretty interesting.
An evening stroll turns deadly when a sniper targets Rick. Needing to be with his lover, Ian has to trust Rick's team with the hunt for the shooter. As Rick heals tensions between the men escalate and some uncomfortable truths are revealed.
Ian gets a break in the case but the sniper proves to be elusive. With the FBI conducting a manhunt in Amethyst Cove, Ian has to deal with his own man. It'll take patience and some tough love to heal recent fractures and secure the future he wants with Rick.
* * * * *
Becoming "us" hadn't been part of any original plan but we had become "us" in ways I couldn't imagine ending.
I picked up my cell phone. Rick answered before the first ring ended.
"Ian. Darling, what's really wrong? Are you going to be okay?"
Was I? A tenuous connection opened between us, powered by wireless magic.
"I'm better for hearing your voice. I feel like a real ass saying this to you, Rick, but it's been a rough couple of weeks."
"Believe me, I know. Please come back so we can talk."
I downed the remainder of the bourbon in the glass.
"Can't. I shouldn't drive. I've had a drink."
I heard him take a deep breath.
"Okay. You're right, of course. And you're right about the other things. Listen, Ian. We need to stop being stupid with each other and I'll start. I love you. I hurt bad enough I can't rest, and I'm miserable being off my feet. I'm taking it out on you, and that's not fair."
My throat tightened. "Rick. I almost lost you." My voice broke. I couldn't breathe. The city lights blurred in my vision. His voice was soft in my ear.
"It's okay, my darling. You've been my rock, Ian. I forgot even diamonds crack under enough pressure."
I managed a deep breath. "We're still gonna talk, big guy."
"I know. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Ian, but I can't promise it's always going to be easy living with me."
"Well, I guess I can't make that promise, either. We just have to remember life is better when we're together."
"How about we have a safe word to tell each other to back off?"
"What? Like 'screw you, Rick'?"
He chuckled softly. "No, babe. That's foreplay. I live to hear you say those words."
I laughed in spite of myself. "Yeah. I know what you mean. I need to go to bed. Get some sleep. I've got a bunch of installations to finish tomorrow and God only knows how big a job Sheldon's going to sell next."
"Can I call you?"
"Yeah. That would be great. I love you, Rick. I guess maybe I'm a little afraid you'll leave me."
"Never, Ian. Not gonna happen. Are we good?"
"We're good. 'Night, Rick."
"Goodnight, Ian."
The call disconnected and left me staring at my phone, exhausted. Were we really good? Sometimes when something cracked, it stayed that way,
And sometimes, when mended, it was stronger than before.
I twisted the wide silver band on my right ring finger around, then took it off and slipped it onto my left hand. It glittered, a circle of steel reflecting the city lights.
KC Kendricks
KC Kendricks calls herself an accidental writer. After completing her first novel writing as Rayne Forrest, she was urged to submit it to a publisher, and everything snowballed from there. Today, the author has had over seventy books published. In July of 2021, she tried to retire but her employer offered her a deal to work at home. She accepted. Now she balances work, writing, and hearth and home in a controlled chaos. A native of scenic western Maryland, the author enjoys most activities that don’t include snow. In warm weather she might be found walking the dog, biking on the C&O Canal towpath, planting delicacies in her garden for the deer to munch on at night, playing in the creek, or lazing on the patio with her Kindle reader or laptop. She recently began to research her family history and can't drive past a cemetery without stopping to search for family sites. Her mission is to photograph old tombstones before the elements erode the stones and the names are lost to time. For more about KC Kendricks and Rayne Forrest’s writing life, please visit the Between the Keys blog at http:kckendricks.blogspot.com . If you’d like to know more about the author’s country lifestyle and her daily activities full of simple country pleasures (and a lot of work), please visit the Holly Tree Manor blog at http://hollytreemanor.blogspot.com . KC can be reached through her blog, Between the Keys. All comments are strictly moderated by the author and personal messages are treated as such. Follow the author on Twitter for up-to-date announcements at Twitter.com/KCKendricks.
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Double Deuce: Ian Coulter's Amethyst Cove, #1 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Deuce of Diamonds: Ian Coulter's Amethyst Cove, #2 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Ace, Deuce, Trey: Ian Coulter's Amethyst Cove, #3 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Circle of Steel: Ian Coulter's Amethyst Cove, #4 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Steel Wheels: Ian Coulter's Amethyst Cove, #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
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Reviews for Circle of Steel
1 rating1 review
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I enjoyed the story. This one focuses on the main characters' relationship development. Although the ending was neat and tidy, I still feel like it's a bit unfinished.
Book preview
Circle of Steel - KC Kendricks
Circle of Steel
––––––––
by
––––––––
KC Kendricks
––––––––
This book is a work of fiction. While references to actual places or events may occur, The names, characters, incidents, and locations are from the author’s imagination and any resemblance to anyone, living or dead, is coincidental.
Circle of Steel
Copyright © 2015, 2019 KC Kendricks
Cover art © 2019 KC Kendricks
All Rights Reserved
––––––––
Reproduction of this digital e-book for file sharing or selling, regardless of whether any type of currency is exchanged, other than what the author grants, is strictly prohibited by law. Piracy is a crime.
Table of Contents
Ian Coulter’s Amethyst Cove by KC Kendricks
Praise for Ian Coulter’s Amethyst Cove series by KC Kendricks
About Circle of Steel
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
Bonus read from September Morning
About the Author
Books by KC Kendricks
Dear Readers,
re
Ian Coulter’s Amethyst Cove by KC Kendricks
Double Deuce
Deuce of Diamonds
Ace, Deuce, Trey
Circle of Steel
Steel Wheels
This series is enjoyed best when read in this order.
Praise for Ian Coulter’s Amethyst Cove series by KC Kendricks
Double Deuce
*A 2011 Best Of
Nominee for Mystery at Love Romances Café
I recommend this to those that love hot men, hot sex, mystery, a good storyline...it leaves you with a warm feeling. – MMGood Book Reviews
Deuce of Diamonds
KC Kendricks has created a splendid as well as an exceptionally enjoyable follow-up to Double Deuce. – Literary Nymphs Reviews
Ace, Deuce, Trey
KC Kendricks has created an impressive saga. The romantic portion of the storyline gives the background of how Rick and Ian progressed into their current scorching relationship together. I very much enjoyed Ace, Deuce, Trey. – Literary Nymphs Reviews
Circle of Steel
KC Kendricks has created another intriguing and enjoyable episode to the series – Literary Nymphs Reviews
It was a great read. – MMGood Book Reviews
About Circle of Steel
Private investigator Ian Coulter and his FBI partner Rick Mohr work hard and play harder. Making their relationship a priority is a challenge they willingly embrace. Life is better together, and when their cases overlap, it also gets pretty interesting.
An evening stroll turns deadly when a sniper targets Rick. Needing to be with his lover, Ian has to trust Rick’s team with the hunt for the shooter. As Rick heals tensions between the men escalate and some uncomfortable truths are revealed.
Ian gets a break in the case but the sniper proves to be elusive. With the FBI conducting a manhunt in Amethyst Cove, Ian has to deal with his own man. It’ll take patience and some tough love to heal recent fractures and secure the future he wants with Rick.
CHAPTER 1
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
I stared through the glass at my lover as the doctors worked to save his life. Never had I felt so helpless. I pressed my palm to the window and left a bloody print.
His blood. My fault.
There was a commotion behind me, but I was too scared to look away, to turn and see what it was. I had to stay focused on Rick. I had to hold him here by the sheer force of my will.
An arm came around my shoulders and tried to move me a step back from the window. I pushed away. I didn’t want to be comforted. I wanted Rick to open his eyes and look at me.
No! I’m not leaving.
Ian. Please. Come sit with me.
I realized who had dared to put his hands on me. Danny Weller. I’d served on the police force with him. He was a good guy. He’d been there on the street with me. He’d gotten me into the ambulance with Rick. I tried to be civil.
I said no. There’s nothing you can do here, Danny. Go back to work. Go home.
I’m not leaving you here alone right now. Come away from the window before they close the curtains on you.
I couldn’t have that happen. I had to be able to see Rick, so I allowed Danny to lead me to the other side of the corridor. He leaned against the wall, but I knew if I did I’d slide to the floor. I was having trouble standing now.
The frantic activity inside the emergency treatment room had stopped. The doctors and nurses talked back and forth. A nurse picked up a phone. One of the physicians looked at me and nodded.
What did that mean? He exited the room and walked our way. Danny had a good grip on me.
Mr. Coulter. I’m Doctor Fouke. Agent Mohr has stabilized, but we need to get him into surgery immediately. Is there a family member we can contact?
I shook my head. No. I’m his partner. I’ll sign whatever needs to be signed.
Then I have to ask this. Are you and he legal?
I lifted my right hand so he could see the wide silver band I wore. Rick and I hadn’t made it legal, but we wore each other’s ring. We planned to marry, sooner or later. It would be sooner now. If he lived.
That’s not exactly an answer, Mr. Coulter, but I’m going to take it for a ‘yes’ and let it slide.
I glanced at him and saw the understanding in his eyes. He nodded.
When he’s back on his feet, don’t wait. I did, and I’ve had years to regret it. We’re taking Agent Mohr to surgery. You can go in for a few minutes. He might hear you, so be positive.
Danny let go of me and said Jim had arrived. He was sorry, but he had to get back on his beat and then get a report filed. Jim would take care of me.
Jim Heeley. One of Rick’s team members. I didn’t have time for him right now.
I nodded, thanked Danny, and darted into the room. Rick was strapped to a bed, his chest rising and falling as a ventilator did the work of breathing for him. I understood it was so he didn’t need to struggle for air, but it made my throat hurt to look at it. I took his ice-cold hand between mine.
Hey, big guy. The next time you tell me you can dodge bullets, I’m going to remind you of tonight. I’m gonna tell the doc to give me the slug so I can hang it on my keychain to keep the proof handy.
I looked at the monitor. His blood pressure was low but steady. I doubted he heard me.
He needed to hear this even though he already knew it. And I needed to say it. I stroked his bristly cheek, then kissed his forehead.
I love you, Rick. I’ll be waiting for you when you wake up.
Please, God. Let him wake up.
* * *
Unknown medical personnel ushered me out of the room and wheeled Rick away. I signed a bunch of forms giving them permission to operate. I was a bloody mess, so a nurse kindly stood guard while I cleaned up in an empty patient room. She brought me a hospital scrub shirt and a bag for what was left of my T-shirt and then escorted me to a private waiting area outside the chapel. I’m not a religious man, but the chapel seemed like the place I needed to be. I went inside and sat in the darkest corner.
The unflappable Agent Jim Heeley found me there. For the first time since I’d met him, I thought he looked frazzled. He was Rick’s second-in-command and an all-around good guy. He walked in and scanned the room.
Jim.
He did a one-eighty, spotted me, and landed on the cushioned pew beside me.
Ian. No one will tell me a fucking thing. They all look at each other like idiots.
He’d stabilized when they took him to surgery.
Thank God. He’s strong, Ian. You know that. They’ll get the bullet, and he’ll be fine in a few weeks.
It’s close to his spine, Jim. Large caliber, I’m sure.
I closed my eyes and tried to remember everything. As