Killer's Prey
After escaping an attacker who wanted her dead, Nora Loftis is forced to return to Conard County. She needs to heal; she just didn't expect to do it on Jake Madison's Wyoming ranch.The full-time cowboy and part-time police chief was her first love, her only love. And now, with her attacker on the loose, he's her only hope of survival.Like a vigilant sentry, Jake vows to protect her. Like a tender lover, his arms provide a haven, his kisses a promise. But Nora is a psychologist, and she knows the mind of her attacker.She knows he's coming for her… to finish what he started.
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Revisit Conard County for heart-stopping suspense from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Lee
After escaping an attacker who wanted her dead, Nora Loftis is forced to return to Conard County. She needs to heal; she just didnât expect to do it on Jake Madisonâs Wyoming ranch. The full-time cowboy and part-time police chief was her first love, her only love. And now, with her attacker on the loose, heâs her only hope of survival.
Like a vigilant sentry, Jake vows to protect her. Like a tender lover, his arms provide a haven, his kisses a promise. But Nora is a psychologist, and she knows the mind of her attacker. She knows heâs coming for herâ¦to finish what he started.
âYouâre scared, arenât you?â
Nora nodded. âSometimes it swamps me.â
Jake held her, as if his arms were a defense against the terrifying world beyond them. If only.
âI wish I could promise that heâll be caught. That youâll be safe forever.â
But he couldnât. She was still trapped in the web, and she could still feel it vibrating with threat. She knew her attacker was getting closer.
Jake touched his lips to hers.
Instantly all concern flew from her head. That a kiss could have the power to fill her with heat, to expand the need deep inside her into an aching pool of fire, amazed her.
âYouâre not alone,â he said. âAnd as long as I breathe you wonât be until this is over for good.â
She wasnât sure how he could keep that vow, but for one moment she almost believed it.
Conard County: The Next Generation
Dear Reader,
Writing Killerâs Prey proved a very difficult emotional journey for me. While Iâm grateful to say Iâve never been stalked by a killer, I have experienced many of the abusive kinds of experiences Nora endured. I reached into some painful places to bring her to life. It was, in many ways, a cathartic journey for me and a great reminder of how wonderful my life has grown as the years have passed.
But her fears, her tendency to revert, are what I knew from my own experience. Watching her grow and blossom in this book was like watching a birthing. She took the reins from me early in the story and told it in her own way. It may have started with things Iâve known, but this is definitely Noraâs story.
Itâs also Jakeâs. Young people often act in ways they canât explain and have trouble understanding even in hindsight. Those are the things that often keep us from sleeping at night as we recall them and wish we had never done them. Jakeâs own struggle to figure himself out held me transfixed.
But with time comes understanding. If weâre lucky, with time also comes self-forgiveness.
And if weâre really lucky, we find the perfect love.
I hope all of you are as lucky as Jake and Nora become.
Hugs,
Rachel
RACHEL LEE
was hooked on writing by the age of twelve and practiced her craft as she moved from place to place all over the United States. This New York Times bestselling author now resides in Florida and has the joy of writing full-time.
To all the Ugly Ducklings: I know there is a swan inside you.
Contents
Prologue
Cranston Langdon sat in the chair in his den, pant leg pulled up so he could study the tracking bracelet that had been attached to him when heâd been released on bail. Just the sight of it made him furious. He was an upstanding member of this community, a business owner. They should have released him without this damn bracelet.
Hell, he wasnât even being charged with murder. Rape, yes. Aggravated assault, yes. But guys whoâd done a lot more than take a knife to a woman had been allowed to walk out of court on bail alone.
But not him. He blamed his soon-to-be ex-wife for that. Sheâd gone into that hearing and claimed he was a violent man, that the whole reason their child was receiving counseling from Nora Loftis was because of his violence. She had even said she was afraid of him.
He would never forgive her for that. Just as he would never forgive Nora Loftis for surviving. Heâd dragged her to a ditch in the woods and she should have rotted away before anyone found her body.
Instead, she had managed to climb out of that ditch hours later and flag down help. So now here he was.
He knew he could cut that bracelet. Heâd read about it online. It could be done. He could set himself free. He just had to be sure he did it right, because he wouldnât have much time.
Ten or fifteen seconds before the alarm sounded at the police station. Five to ten minutes before the cops managed to respond.
So he had to plan it carefully. Very carefully.
Then, one way or another, he was going to take care of that cheating wife of his and finish off the Loftis woman. Two birds. Then off to Canada and parts unknown. Heâd already moved his money. Heâd taken care of that a long time ago, stocking away most of it in the Caymans.
