Hunted

The chase is on in New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden’s latest installment in the Killer Instinct series!

Josh Duvane’s SEAL training not only hardened his body, but also his mind. Though his latest investigation as part of the FBI’s Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team is pushing him to his limits. The Sandy Shore killer taunts local police as Josh recovers his victims off the coast of Florida. Of all the women taken, only Casey Quinn has survived. As this unrelenting psychopath stalks her every move, Josh is all that stands between her and certain death. Now it’s time for him to turn the tables and use every ounce of training to stop the killer from having the last laugh...

Killer Instinct

“He said...he won’t stop. He will kill me.”

The siren was louder. Closer.

Another tear slid down her cheek. “He said he’d been waiting for me...that the waiting was over.”

His body brushed against hers. “He’s not going to ever touch you again.” Josh intended to make sure of that. “You’re safe.”

But she shook her head, and Josh didn’t think she believed him.

The sheriff’s patrol car whipped around the corner. The lights flashed from the top of the car.

Casey’s hold tightened on Josh even more.

“You’re safe,” he said again, but Josh knew that she didn’t believe him.

Hunted

Cynthia Eden

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CYNTHIA EDEN is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes dark tales of romantic suspense and paranormal romance. Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, and one was named a 2013 RITA® Award finalist for best romantic suspense. Cynthia lives in the Deep South, loves horror movies and has an addiction to chocolate. More information about Cynthia may be found at www.cynthiaeden.com.

I want to thank the wonderful staff at Harlequin—

Denise, Kayla, EVERYONE at Harlequin Intrigue. It is truly a pleasure working with you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Josh Duvane broke from the surface of the water, pulling the regulator out of his mouth and then shoving back his mask. “We found her,” he called to the team up on the boat.

He heard someone swear. Probably the local sheriff. Josh knew the guy had been hoping to find the victim alive. No such luck. Josh swam to the boat. The ocean water lapped against him, dark and rough because a storm was coming. If they were lucky, they’d be able to get the victim up before the storm hit.

A big if.

He grabbed for the ladder on the back of the boat and pulled himself up.

“Are you sure it’s Tonya?” Sheriff Hayden Black asked as he reached out a hand to Josh.

Tonya. Tonya Myers. The twenty-two-year-old college coed who’d vanished a week ago. And, yes, unfortunately, he was sure. “It’s her.”

He glanced back at the water. The waves rocked against the boat. As one of the FBI’s elite USERT members—Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team—his job routinely took him to the deepest depths. He searched for clues, he searched for evidence and, on damn unfortunate days—days like today—he searched for the dead.

“That makes three bodies,” Hayden gritted out. The waning light glinted off his blond hair. “Three bodies in the last three weeks.”

And that was why Josh was there. The FBI knew they had a serial hunting in the quiet coastal town, and Josh had been sent to provide backup to the local Bureau team—and to the sheriff.

Josh and Hayden had crossed paths in the past. Once upon a time, they’d trained together as SEALs. They’d worked together on a few missions years ago, then had gone their separate ways. Josh had joined the FBI and Hayden—hell, Josh never would have figured the guy for a small-town sheriff.

I would have figured wrong.

“This town has already had enough heartache,” Hayden muttered. “The people need peace, not more fear.”

More divers went into the water. Josh had done his job and located the body. His team would work to bring the victim to the surface.

“We just put one killer behind bars.” Hayden raked a hand over his face. The sheriff’s star on his uniform gleamed. “Theodore Anderson’s trial is barely over. Now some other jerk is terrorizing my Hope.”

Not just terrorizing the town of Hope, but killing mercilessly. The victims taken were all women in their twenties, attractive, fit. And they weren’t locals. Hope was a beach town along the Florida Gulf Coast—popular in the early summer for its pristine white beaches. The victims had been tourists.

The killer had a twisted MO. He took the women, then he immediately called the sheriff’s station, taunting the authorities. Telling them to hurry and find the victim before it was too late.

But so far, they’d always been too late. Each victim had been stabbed to death. The first two victims had each been stabbed five times, and then their throats had been slit. Josh was betting that when the ME had a chance to check the body of Tonya Myers, he’d find the same wounds on her.