Protected Hearts
Her world shattered by tragedy, Emma Perry thought she'd never survive the murder of her husband and child, let alone regain her faith and ability to trust. But the Witness Security program took her to Rosewood, Texas, where a caring community and belief in God gave her the strength to rebuild her life. And the compassion to reach out to others - wounded souls like Seth McAllister, Emma's embittered neighbor, who was struggling with the death of his own child.Together, Seth and Emma began to open their hearts to love. But when the still-obsessed killer picked up Emma's trail, would Seth's prayers be enough to pull them through?
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The night was dark and Emma shivered despite the warmth of the evening.
Sundance was nowhere in sight. Emma glanced next door at the empty house. No telling what the attraction was, but the dog was always lured by places he shouldnât explore.
Hearing a scratching noise from the far side of the vacant house, she ventured toward the sound.
But as she walked deeper into the yard, it seemed to get darker, the tall trees blotting out any trace of moonlight. Telling herself not to be silly, she rounded the corner.
Then stopped suddenly.
Lights flicked in the supposedly vacant home. And not normal lights. This looked more like candlelight, shimmering and uneven. Emma swallowed an unexpected taste of fear. Where was Sundance?
Twigs cracked as she shifted her feet, making her jerk around. Her heart pounding, Emma told herself to get a grip. There was no point coming unglued over nothing.
Turning back around, she slammed into something hard, something warm, something alive. The scream in her throat emerged as somthing between a shriek and a croak.
âItâs you!â Seth McAllister spoke in disbelief.
BONNIE K. WINN
is a hopeless romantic whoâs written incessantly since the third grade. So it seemed only natural that she turn to romance writing. A seasoned author of historical and contemporary romance, her bestselling books have won numerous awards. Affaire de Coeur chose her as one of the Top Ten Romance Writers in America.
Bonnie loves writing contemporary romance because she can set her stories in the modern cities close to her heart and explore the endlessly fascinating strengths of todayâs woman.
Protected Hearts
Bonnie K. Winn
My Beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
âSong of Solomon 2:10â11
For Marita. What would I have done without you after moving to this alien planet? You are friend, family, cohort in criminally delicious humor.
I miss you, Montana girl.
Contents
Prologue
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 Twenty
Letter to Reader
Prologue
Los Angeles
Rage made the wait tolerable. As Randy watched, assistant district attorney Emily Perry finally arrived home. But the long summer day still held too much light. He needed the cover of darkness.
Heâd warned her. His brother was only eighteenâtoo young to spend the next decade in prison. But A.D.A. Perry hadnât let up, instead suggesting Kenny needed to be locked away. âFor his own good.â
What did she know about it? With her perfect job, house and family⦠Sure, Ken had pulled a job with a gun, but he was just a kid. Up till then nothing on his rap sheet was felony stuff. But Perry insisted it was only a matter of time before armed robbery escalated to murder. And she didnât care that Ken was too young to be housed with violent cons. She claimed it was the only way to turn his life around. Since Ken was too old to be sent to juvenile, she said she would recommend the safest prison possible. As though Ken could be safe in any prison. But the D.A. wouldnât agree to probation, said Ken could be paroled in two years if he kept his nose clean. As long as D.A. Perry was around, his brother wouldnât stand a chance.
Minutes turned to hours as night set in. Finally, the lights went out in the windows at the front of the house. Only an hour more and then he could be sure. He checked the time every few minutes, the indigo glow of his watch dial the solitary light in the car. Finally he was sure.
Emily Perry left her neighborâs home by the back door, entering her own yard by the gate at the back that connected the two houses. She felt the lateness of the hour in the inky darkness and the fatigue that played between her shoulder blades.
Emily ran a hand through her short, dark hair. Sheâd stayed longer than sheâd expected, but she didnât mind donating her time to the neighborhood alliance. As legal counsel, she saved them fees that could instead be used to improve the park-and-rec center.
She rounded the garage, then headed toward the back door, hoping Tom hadnât locked her out. She glanced at the kitchen window and paused, wondering at the brilliance of the light. It took a few moments for her senses to register the pungent, unexpected smell of smoke.
Tom! Rachel! If they were asleepâ¦
Panicked, she ran. As she neared the house she felt the heat. Before she could reach the door, the bedroom windows exploded, spraying shards of glass. Flames belched out as the sudden supply of air fed the fire.
Screaming for Tom and Rachel, Emily grabbed the doorknob. She ignored the searing burn the hot metal pressed into her hand as she frantically tried to turn the knob. To her horror, it was locked. She spun around and raced toward the front of the house.
As Emily shouted, JoAnn and Paul Morris, her next-door neighbors, ran outside.
