Gunning for Trouble
When he was recruited by the Recovery Project, Caleb Mattern found a new lease on life. Tracking missing persons. Protecting witnesses. But even after stretching his muscles and becoming one of the company's elite agents, he couldn't leave his past behind. Avery Walters wouldn't let him.His former boss had also been his onetime lover, and now she's burst back into his life with dangerous consequences. But settling old scores won't be on the agenda–not yet! With the nation's security depending on them to act appropriately, Caleb must pull off the most impossible assignment of his career. Now that Avery's put her life in his hands, what will Caleb do with it?
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He shoved the door open to survey the damage and check for any sign of life.
Nothing.
He blew out a long breath, trying to drag enough oxygen into his lungs to breathe. It took Caleb another second to realize Avery had never let go of his shirt.
âWeâre okay,â Caleb said.
âI canât believeâ¦â Her voice shook as hard as her body.
Reality came roaring back. This was his life, not hers. Sheâd held it together, helped him. When everything fell apart around her, she held it together. In that moment, their history didnât matter.
Knowing it was stupid he leaned down and placed a quick kiss on her lips. Once his lips met her soft mouth, the temptation to linger and relearn the taste of her grabbed him, but he pushed it out of his head. This was about providing comfort only. About giving them a moment to celebrate being alive.
To my mom, Joan Dimon, who loves reading mysteries,
thrillers and romantic suspense as much as I do.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author HelenKay Dimon spent twelve years in the most unromantic career everâdivorce lawyer. After dedicating all that effort to helping people terminate relationships, she is thrilled to deal in happy endings and write romance novels for a living. Now her days are filled with gardening, writing, reading and spending time with her family in and around San Diego. HelenKay loves hearing from readers, so stop by her website at www.helenkaydimon.com and say hello.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Caleb Mattern âThis undercover Recovery Project agent is trying to adjust to involuntary retirement. Having his ex-girlfriend and former boss break into his house changes everything.
Avery Walker âShe once made a tough decision she thought was right but ended up losing Caleb. Now she needs his helpâ¦and wants another chance to win him back.
Trevor Walters âA highly regarded and very powerful businessman. On the surface he is well connected and plays by the rules. But looks can be deceiving.
Rod Lehman âThe missing head of the Recovery Project. His off-the-books investigation into missing women in the Witness Security Program could cost all the Recovery agents their lives.
Russell Ambrose âOne of the few people with inside information about the workings of witness protection. So why doesnât he know whatâs happening on his watch?
John Tate âAn administrator in the Office of Enforcement Operations at the Justice Department. He decides who gets into witness protection and who doesnât. The question is about what else he knows.
Vince Ritter âRodâs former partner. Vince shows up, offering his help to the Recovery agents, but can he be trusted?
Luke Hathaway âThe interim head of the Recovery Project. He has vowed to keep his team together, even if it means sending Avery away.
Contents
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
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter One
Caleb Matternâs watch vibrated against his nightstand. The second after the warning alarm went off and the green backlight flashed, he rolled off the mattress fully awake with his hand grabbing for the gun tucked between the bottom of the headboard and his stack of pillows.
Dressed only in a pair of gray boxer briefs, he reached for the watch and stalked in a crouch through his dark bedroom. The curtains were drawn tight, not letting any light seep in and ruin his nightly four hours of sleep. Any brightness and he wouldnât even get that much.
So, this is how the end would come. Trapped in a one-bedroom condo in his underwear. He smiled at the thought. Or he did until his fingers tightened on the weapon, causing his mind to snap to attention.
Being armed felt right. He could shoot, attack, roll. Do whatever was necessary to stay alive. Heâd learned those skills long ago, and being on involuntary leave from the job he loved didnât change the adrenaline rush.
He stalked around the end of the bed, his feet quiet as they fell against the soft beige carpet. Opening the door to the hall would be more of a challenge. He rigged it every night. If someone got into the place without triggering the alarm, he had backup plans: a loose floorboard just outside the bedroom; a window that opened only two inches before the sirens of hell rang out; a hinge rigged to squeak if the door opened.
And those were just the obvious tricks.
As fast as his fingers could move, he tightened the screw at the top of the door. At the right pressure it would remain silent and he could pull off a stealth maneuver into the hall. But too long in this position and any bullet traveling through the door would hit him right in the gut. Not exactly the way he wanted to go out of this world.
He pulled the door open enough to slip through. Quiet echoed all around him. Other than the low hum of the refrigerator down the hall, nothing else made a sound.
