The Heart of a Killer
Before the Special Forces hero has even unpacked his bags from twelve years of active duty, he's embroiled in murder—corpses bearing the brutal trademark he's seen only once before—on the worst night of his life.The last time Detective Anna Pallino saw Dante Renaldi, they were in love. Now, he's part of the connection to a string of fresh homicides and a horrible assault Anna only survived thanks to him. More than anything, Anna wants to trust Dante.But as the bodies and the coincidences stack up, Anna will have to decide, and fast: Is the man she owes her life to the very same one who wants her dead?
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No one said coming home would be easy. But for Dante Renaldi, it’s murder.
Before the Special Forces hero has even unpacked his bags from twelve years of active duty, he’s embroiled in murder—corpses bearing the brutal trademark he’s seen only once before—on the worst night of his life.
The last time Detective Anna Pallino saw Dante Renaldi, they were in love. Now, he’s part of the connection to a string of fresh homicides and a horrible assault that Anna only survived thanks to him.
More than anything, Anna wants to trust Dante. But as the bodies and the coincidences stack up, Anna will have to decide, and fast: Is the man she owes her life to the very same one who wants her dead?
Praise for the novels of Jaci Burton
“Sexy, smart, edge-of-the-seat romance… Jaci Burton always delivers a great read.”
—New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian
“In the hands of the talented Burton, the characters leap off the page and the romance sparkles as the sex sizzles.”
—RT Book Reviews on The Perfect Play, Top pick!
“Hot, sexy, romantic suspense at its best!”
—New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh on Riding on Instinct
“Burton continues to display a deft hand as she combines emotional drama with plenty of sizzling sex and dangerous action.”
—RT Book Reviews on Taken by Sin
“Burton brings the heat, jazzing her otherworldly suspense plot with numerous passionate interludes, without letting the explosive good vs. evil saga flag. Hot sex, fierce battles and an impending sequel make this title worth hunting down.”
—Publishers Weekly on Hunting the Demon
For Charlie, a man whose support is limitless, whose patience is endless and whose love keeps me going every day.
Thank you for helping me live this dream.
Contents
Prologue
St. Louis, Missouri
Twelve Years Ago
Five minutes till closing time. Anna Pallino scrubbed down the counters at the ice-cream shop while keeping her eye on the clock. They’d be walking in any minute, hoping for free ice cream while she closed up. They always showed. They were predictable. She loved that about them. Her guys. The brothers, though not by blood.
She bent down to put away the cones, when she heard the bell tinkle above the door. She smiled as she stood.
Yup. Always predictable. There they were—Dante, Gabe, Roman and Jeff.
Her heart tripped a beat when she settled her gaze on Dante. He was hers. Her boyfriend, the first guy she’d ever fallen in love with. Tall, with dark brown hair, blue eyes, everything she’d ever dreamed of in a boyfriend.
He grinned and swung into his seat at the counter.
“Rocky Road, please, Miss Pallino.”
She gave him a stern look. “I’m sorry, sir, but we’re closing.”
He rose, leaned over the counter and batted those dark, sinfully too-long lashes at her. “Aw, come on, baby. Not even for me and my guys?”
She laughed, went around the counter and locked the door, closed the blinds and turned the sign to Closed. “So what kind of mayhem did you guys get into tonight?”
“Best behavior, Anna,” Gabe said, leaning his elbow against the counter.
If Anna hadn’t fallen madly in love with Dante, she would have with Gabe. What girl wouldn’t, with his jet-black hair and mesmerizing sea-green eyes. He was broader than Dante and nearly as tall. He and Dante were the same age, and at nearly eighteen, they were the oldest of all the guys.
But she’d fallen hard for Dante, and after that she’d never even thought about another guy. And with her being just sixteen, Anna was jazzed about having an older boyfriend. She was the envy of all her friends. Though her father wasn’t totally thrilled about her choice of boyfriends. But Dante was always on his best behavior around her dad. And with Dante living at George and Ellen Clemons’s house, there wasn’t much her dad could say. It was a good foster home and they were a stern but loving family who’d raised a lot of great kids. Even her dad thought so. He was thawing on Dante.
“Yeah, Ellen would have our asses if we got into any trouble,” Dante added.
“Isn’t that the truth?” Jeff nodded. “We have to behave or Momma will kick our butts.”
“She isn’t our mother,” Roman said, his head down, his expression sullen. “She and George are our foster parents.”
“Oh, can it, Roman.” Dante shoved an elbow into Roman’s ribs. “They’re the best parents we’ve ever had in all our shitty lives and you know it. Why don’t you give up the poor-lost-boy act?”
“Yeah,” Jeff said. “We’re together. We don’t get in trouble. We eat three squares and they’re nice to us. They’re good parents.”
Roman shrugged. “I guess.”
“No ‘I guess’ about it,” Gabe said. “You’re just pissed off because you lost the race over here.” Gabe nudged him. Roman nudged back, and soon the two of them were tangled in arms and elbows and laughing, which made Anna exhale as the tension receded.
