In the Nick of Time Read online

  In the Nick of Time

  Written By: Tiana Laveen

  Edited by: Natalie G. Owens

  Cover Design: Travis Pennington

  Cover Model: Nicholas Simoes

  Photographer: William Geran

  Synopsis/Blurb

  Tick tock…

  Officer Nick Vitale has worked his way up to becoming one of the most-respected and talented cops in Brooklyn, New York. Yet, for many years, he has harbored a destructive secret. When he witnesses a horrific murder-suicide that rattles him to the core, he finally realizes he has reached rock bottom. In a last ditch effort to help himself and turn his life around, he seeks professional assistance, fully aware his time is running out.

  A doll with a beating heart…

  Taryn Jones is a mystery who wastes no time with putting Nick in his place during their awkward first meeting. The world-renowned supermodel is battling her own demons, yet, in healing herself, she also finds time to be a bright ray of sunshine for others in need. She dives headfirst into her therapy, determined to succeed, and reaches deep within to find the inner strength required to start afresh and pursue her new dreams.

  When Beauty meets Beast, the unthinkable happens…

  Nick and Taryn forge a strong friendship built on respect and restraint, until their control slips and sparks fly. Through the challenges of their respective addictions and the dark shadows of their past, they find the joy of nourishing the seeds of a love they can no longer deny.

  Time is running out…

  Nick works hard to gain the trust of his colleagues, while Taryn strives to find her own way in the beginning stages of a new endeavor. This is the time of reckoning, when temptation and doubt rear their ugly heads to awaken old pain and fears. In this race toward redemption, will Nick and Taryn’s hearts and lives be saved in the nick of time?

  PLEASE NOTE: This is a two-part book. Part 1 and Part 2 are included in this one book. There is no additional book to purchase or wait for, no worries regarding cliffhangers. (Hence, the reason for the total length of this novel.)

  Copyright © 2015 by Tiana Laveen

  Kindle Edition

  All rights reserved.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  IN OTHER WORDS: If you do any of the above, the karma bus is waiting for you. If you steal this author’s work and illegally loan and/or share it, request illegal/free copies online and/or in printed version, you are no better than a burglar that breaks into someone’s house while you think they are away. You are a criminal. A thief. A cheat. You don’t work for free, so why should authors?! WE WORK HARD. SHOW SOME APPRECIATION.

  Warning

  This book contains topics that are adult in nature. There is a gratuitous amount of profanity. There are adult themes/topics that cover a gamut of subjects, including but not limited to: heavy drug usage, narcotic dependency/chemical addiction, graphic depictions of sexual acts/sexual intimacy, mental illness, sexual deviancy, physical violence, illness, and rampant illegal activities.

  Please be advised.

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to the caring men and women who fight on the front line to protect civilians and ‘common folk’, such as myself, during our day-to-day lives. I am speaking about our military, EMS, police and fire personnel. There is an abundance of abuse of power going on globally in regards to the people that are in a position of power, people that we are supposed to be able to trust. Much of it stems from/ pertains directly to racial and economic profiling and discrimination, as well as a systematic lack of understanding and compassion for human life. It has caused severe damage in day-to-day relationships, fueled by a lack of trust, thus, creating a hostile environment for all involved.

  However, there are some excellent police officers who treat the people they encounter like human beings, with deference, regardless of their race and/or socio-economic status, and these men and women deserve respect. They have earned the public’s confidence due to their abilities and empathy towards others and should not be judged based on those who have shown otherwise. These men and women continue to uphold their job—which is to protect and serve. To the Nick Vitales of the world, the cops who love their job, do it well and with respect and integrity—I salute you.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Synopsis/Blurb

  Copyright Page

  Warning

  Dedication

  Love Letter to my Readers

  Part I

  A Word from Our Hero

  Prelude

  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

  Part II

  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

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Epilogue

  Music Directory

  Thank You to the Readers

  A Little Police Trivia

  Book Club Questions

  Charities and Research

  Drug Dependency Help

  Author Biography

  Love Letter to my Readers

  Greetings. My name is Tiana Laveen and like the Hero in this book, I too have a problem. You see, I am addicted to writing. I thought I would begin there, since addiction—the how, when and why of it all—is a pretty significant part of this book. Nevertheless, this is still a love story, and the focus is on two people who life gave up on, but they didn’t give up on life. They’ve been given a sizeable helping of misery atop a splintered wooden spoon, and they must now find a way to make that stuff taste good going down…

  As in all my love letters to readers/fans and newbies to my work, I want to preface this by saying, first and foremost, thank you for purchasing this book, ‘In the Nick of Time’, and giving it a chance.

  I do not take anyone who has purchased a book of mine for granted, for each and every reader of my work is a blessing, in more ways than one. Now, for those of yo
u not familiar with my work, I like to typically go over my style of writing, and so on and so forth, because I don’t want anyone lambasted, bamboozled, misled, or hoodwinked. Pleasure reading should be a satisfying experience, and that is what I personally try to provide, but just in case my creative delivery doesn’t fit into your expectations of how you like a story to be conveyed, I prefer to provide these cautionary signs before we jump onto the main road and begin our journey. Please, don’t read too much into this (no pun intended lol). It is just my way of trying to be courteous and considerate. Now, here are a few pointers (for those of you not familiar with my work) on how I tend to tell a tale. (Please feel free to skip this portion if you are already familiar with my work or simply not concerned.)

  1. I like to paint pictures with words. I want you to be right there, as the reader, in the center of it all. Therefore, my storytelling tends to be highly detailed.

  2. I typically write characters and plots that may make some people uncomfortable, even squirm a bit in their seats. In other words, my characters are flawed and imperfect, just like, well… all of us, in varying degrees. At times, however, they may have a bit more dysfunction than your ‘average Joe.’

  3. I let my characters live their lives with little interference from me. What that means is, I start with a basic, loose outline, and then typically deviate from most of it before all is said and done. I let my characters do what they need to do, when they need to do it. (i.e., sex scenes may not come right away if it doesn’t fit the characters or circumstances, etc. Nothing is forced.)

  4. I regard writing (romance fiction) as an art form, thus, it’s a personal expression. Personal expressions are not easily gradable. All I can do is promise to give you the best I can with each and every story I write, and I mean that. I’m simply doing the best I can, and giving it my all. It’s not perfect or imperfect. It simply ‘is.’

  5. I typically write from the male perspective. Why? It is my comfortable ‘natural’ voice. It was not a conscious decision; I just found it to be befitting for me personally. It is my ‘default’ setting if you will. I do show various perspectives of all the main characters in my novels and give all of them their due time, but most of my novels show more introspection from the Hero.

  6. I do not shy away from difficult, uncomfortable, or taboo topics, even in a romance novel. I try to do so in a respectful manner by conducting research, reading, and interviewing people that are well versed in whatever it is that I am discussing. My mission is not to shock, overwhelm or insult anyone. My self-appointed assignment is to create a love story, one that has been trapped in my mind and needs to get out.

  7. I love my readers and fans. You make this writing expedition all worth it with your written and verbal encouragement, beautifully penned emails regarding previous works I’ve written, and kind social media engagements regarding my novels. I appreciate all that you do for a myriad of reasons and words can’t properly express my gratitude. Writing is a form of air for me. I need it to breathe, so thank you to all of you that open the window a bit wider, allowing me a place to exhale and get much needed fresh air…

  Okay, now, let’s get into a few details about this book (why I wrote it, etc.), and then jump right in.

  Many full, blue moons ago, and bloody red suns too, I worked in a drug rehabilitation facility. It was outpatient, but I did cover inpatient treatment from time to time as well. During this time frame, right after college, I was debating on becoming a drug rehabilitation counselor. I danced with the notion of going into social work for a split second after I’d already obtained my Bachelor degree in Business Communications (Please don’t try to understand my line of logic – yes, they are vastly different fields of expertise but for whatever reason, I gravitated towards both.)

  In any regard, my heart was in the right place. I had seen some things in my lifetime and wanted to assist humankind in some way. I had seen people I loved and cared about under the influence, manipulated by an outside source that caused them to be a bit less of their true selves. It is almost a surreal experience to see a person literally fall apart from the inside out due to a terrible drug/alcohol addiction that refuses to shake them loose. Not only did I wish to assist in matters such as this, I honestly also had very real bills to pay and this particular non-profit agency called me back after I’d interviewed for front desk and assistant personnel in order to get my foot in the door. I was hired less than a day later and full of silly optimism that I, Tiana Laveen, would fling my vibrant Superwoman cape over my shoulder and single handedly change everyone’s lives for the better…

  So there you have it. While I was employed there, I of course got a crash course in reality and was forced to wake the hell up. In this process, I got to talk to and meet all sorts of people. I was at the front desk, helping with assessments and intakes, and even doing urinalysis at one point in time—the only woman in an all male staff. The male counselors weren’t allowed to give the female patients/clients urinalysis because the process had to be visually monitored to ensure no ‘fuddy duddy’ stuff was going on. You know, the ol’ switch-a-roo. During this process, I saw for the first time a colorful feather clitoris piercing (being christened by a stream of piss I might add), but I digress.

  Now, those suffering from addiction are at times interesting people to observe. Some of the patients were in complete and utter denial. You could see it in their body language, their tone of voice, and their attitude. They’d look at me and snub me, the lowly young lady that I was, and act as if their mere presence was a gift to all that were privileged enough to witness them walking about in the flesh. Some patients, however, were floating somewhere in between, on the fence of denial and ‘wait a damn minute’, I just may be an addict.

  Some were court mandated, thus, quite resentful. They brought along buckets of anger, and poured them onto anyone that would listen. Some came of their own free will—no one forced them into treatment; they’d simply hit their own rock bottom and it was far too prickly and uncomfortable for their liking. Some believed that they’d in some way been framed and their mission was to clear their name, regardless of the footage of them in the act of purchasing illegal narcotics from an undercover officer. Some realized, in the middle or almost at the end of treatment, that yes, there was a problem, and they were at the center of it all. Some had chips on their shoulders, and readily admitted that they rather enjoyed crack (or whatever their drug of choice), and insisted their actions weren’t hurting anyone; therefore, it was none of anyone’s business. However, one thing was for certain: Each and every single one of them was different, despite their commonality of having a drug addiction; and each and every one of them had hurt someone due to their behavior and illegal activities, whether they realized it or not.

  They were from various socio economic statuses, races, and religious/spiritual beliefs. This was many, many years ago, and I am convinced some of them are now deceased due to their drug dependency or other related issues, or in prison, not getting out any time soon. Others went on to keep their sobriety, while yet others still struggle to keep their heads above water and remember that loving and caring about themselves is an investment, not a one-time purchase. So… these people are flawed, dysfunctional, in need of help. Damaged, emotionally broken people do the same things most other people do, though, as well. They have to eat, they need to sleep, they laugh, they get angry, and yes, they fall in love…

  As seen in many of my other novels, I sometimes delve into subject matters that, like this one entails, are a bit risqué. I’ve written love stories about a myriad of people, from pimps to priests. There are some things in this world we have little control over, and how we feel about someone is often times one of those things. How we decide to express that sentiment, if at all, is a choice—but the actual feeling, the core of it all is, more times than not, is unable to be turned off, manipulated or denied. In this book, you meet the hero, Nick Vitale, and he is in such a predicament.

  Nick grew up in Brookly
n, New York, the neighborhood of Brownsville to be exact. Those of you not familiar with Brownsville may be unaware of the history as well as the modern day plight of this area. It is one of the few places in New York that was not adversely affected, “blessed” by large doses of gentrification. There are many places in the five boroughs that did not receive the same level of care as, say, Manhattan in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. However, Brownsville is one of the least discussed, though it is quite evident that poverty, joblessness, and a bit of hopelessness are alive and well there.

  With that said however, there is an interesting duality to this neighborhood. There are areas that are the complete opposite—it truly depends on where you look and where you are going and even, believe it or not, what time of day it is. As in many neighborhoods with these sort of challenges, you will find pockets of people working hard, not involved in any criminal activity, and making their living quarters a better place. It is a neighborhood where you can literally walk down one street and see nothing but public housing, and then go to another block and see small, albeit well maintained homes.

  It is located in east Brooklyn, and is noted as a place many people do not wish to explore in the daytime, let alone the evening, but again, one must be careful about over-generalizing this part of Brooklyn. I keep jumping back and forth because this neighborhood jumps back and forth. It is literally as if one portion was highlighted with a promise of success and the other forgotten, with a proverbial tombstone set upon it; and most disturbing of all, there appears to be no rhyme or reason to it.

  Not every block is filled with gang and drug activity, and not every area is ripe for vitalization. I am simply saying that it has not received the same level of care and financial backing to turn it around and be an upward moving, thriving community to the level of some of the surrounding areas in the same borough or adjacent neighborhoods, period. Carelessness…