Eve had risked her life to ensure he got out first.
Why would she put his life before hers? Was it possible she did have feelings for him?
He scrubbed a hand over his face. He was borrowing trouble. When this was over, she would be gone.
Just like before.
There were no words to accurately explain how heâd felt that day in the chapel when she hadnât shown. His whole world had felt as if it were ending. Then heâd diverted all that pain into anger and the need to find the truth.
Had he found it?
He still didnât even know her name. Just Eve. And yet he knew more about her after the past seventy-two hours than he had in two monthsâ¦before.
Available in April 2010 from Mills & Boon® Intrigue
Secret Delivery
by Delores Fossen & Her 24-Hour Protector by Loreth Anne White
Backstreet Hero by Justine Davis & Becoming a Cavanaugh by Marie Ferrarella
The Rancher Bodyguard by Carla Cassidy & Kincaidâs Dangerous Game by Kathleen Creighton
The Brideâs Secrets by Debra Webb
Cry of the Wolf by Karen Whiddon
Sentinels: Lion Heart by Doranna Durgin
Debra Webb was born in Scottsboro, Alabama, to parents who taught her that anything is possible if you want it badly enough. She began writing at the age of nine. Eventually, she met and married the man of her dreams and tried some other occupations, including selling vacuum cleaners, working in a factory, a daycare centre, a hospital and a department store. When her husband joined the military, they moved to Berlin and Debra became a secretary in the commanding generalâs office. By 1985 they were back in the States and finally moved to Tennessee, to a small town where everyone knows everyone else. With the support of her husband and two beautiful daughters, Debra took up writing again, looking to mysteries and movies for inspiration. In 1998, her dream of writing came true. You can write to Debra with your comments at PO Box 64, Huntland, Tennessee 37345, USA, or visit her website at www.debrawebb.com to find out exciting news about her next book.
Chicago, 9:30 a.m.
The Colby Agencyâs conference room overflowed with staff members. All were present for this morningâs meeting, except the newest investigator on staff. Well, the newest member until their recent hire of Merrilee Walters. J.T. Baxley had taken a bullet last night while serving on Victoriaâs personal security detail.
Victoria Colby-Camp sat at the head of the long Mahogany table, listening as Ian Michaels reviewed the tightened security measures. Last nightâs attack had confirmed the worst.
The risk to her granddaughterâs safety was no longer mere theory or rumor. It was real.
Too real.
Increasing fear pumped through Victoriaâs veins with every frantic beat of her heart. Nothing she or her people had done so far had given them the answers for which they searched.
Every lead turned into a dead end.
Yet, someone out there continued to attempt to get to her granddaughter.
Her loyal staff began filing out of the room. Victoria blinked, dragged her focus back to the present. She hadnât realized Ian had concluded his briefing.
Ian settled in a chair to her right; Simon Ruhl did the same on her left.
These two men were Victoriaâs most trusted associates, professional and personal. Yet, like her, they could only react to the threat. Whoever was behind this had burrowed so deeply beneath multiple ambiguous layers of disinformation that it would take timeâprecious timeâto ferret them out.
This was the first occasion in the Colby Agencyâs prestigious history that Victoria had no choice but to admit they were mystified.
âLast nightââ Simon kicked off the overview of the few known facts ââan attempt was made to abduct Jamie.â
The sound of a bullet shattering the windshield, killing the driver, echoed through Victoriaâs mind. Three were dead, including two unidentified males involved in the abduction attempt. Two others had fled the scene. Though J.T. Baxley had taken a bullet; heâd been treated and released at the E.R. Still, the risk to his lifeâto her granddaughterâsâhad shaken Victoria to the core.
âHave we learned anything new?â Otherwise she saw no need to go over those horrendous details yet again. Another image, this one of her pulling the trigger, ending the life of the man with the gun aimed at her face, erupted in her mind.
Sheâd had no choice⦠And still, the realization deeply disturbed her.
Rather than answering her question, Ian and Simon exchanged a long look. Now she understood.
âYou believe itâs an inside job.â It pained Victoria to say the words.
âYes,â Ian confirmed.
âThatâs the only way anyone could have known your schedule for last evening,â Simon clarified. âNone of us want to believe thatâs possible.â
âAt this pointââ Ian picked up where Simon left off ââwe have to face that undeniable possibility.â
Victoria took a breath, her chest tightening with the emotions charging through her. âDo you have a suspect?â