The Marshal's Runaway Witness
THE RELUCTANT WITNESSAngelina Baroni was about to testify against her mafia kingpin father until she received a threat to her life—despite the protection of US Marshal Dylan McKnight. Deciding she's safer on her own, she leaves witness protection and goes into hiding. Three years later, the duty-dedicated marshal is the last man she expects to see when she wakes up in a hospital after someone attempts to kill her. Dylan knows he can't afford to trust Angelina. Still, he'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe from the mobsters on her trail. But Dylan has only a few days to accomplish his most difficult mission: defuse Angelina's doubts about testifying and win her heart before their time runs out.
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THE RELUCTANT WITNESS
Angelina Baroni was about to testify against her mafia kingpin father until she received a threat to her lifeâdespite the protection of US Marshal Dylan McKnight. Deciding sheâs safer on her own, she leaves witness protection and goes into hiding. Three years later, the duty-dedicated marshal is the last man she expects to see when she wakes up in a hospital after someone attempts to kill her. Dylan knows he canât afford to trust Angelina. Still, heâll do whatever it takes to keep her safe from the mobsters on her trail. But Dylan has only a few days to accomplish his most difficult mission: defuse Angelinaâs doubts about testifying and win her heart before their time runs out.
âDo you have any idea who might want you dead?â
He chuckled, but there was no humor in his tone. âLet me rephrase that. Do you have any idea which one of the many people your father has hired to kill you may have actually tried to do it?â
She shook her head, and the sudden movement flashed pain through her head and made her nauseated.
âMy father didnât put a contract out on me.â
Dylan stared at her, disbelief written all over his face.
âHe wouldnât,â she insisted. âIf I had remained with you and testified against him, then he would have felt he had no choice. I understand that. But when I left witness protection and disappeared, he knew I was no longer a threat.â
âAfter everything that has happened, do you really believe that?â
âYes, I do. But donât you see? Youâve changed all that. If he finds out that I am in your custody again, he will believe I have accepted witness protection. Now I will be a danger to him. Now he probably will put out a contract on me. You have to let me go. You have to let me get out of here.â
âThatâs not happening.â They locked gazes. âWe are still getting you to that trial and putting you on the stand.â
DIANE BURKE is an award-winning author who has had six books published with Love Inspired Suspense. She is a voracious reader and loves movies, crime shows, travel and eating out! She has never met a stranger, only people she hasnât had the pleasure of talking to yet. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached at [email protected]. She can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
May you be able to feel and understand, as all Godâs children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it.
âEphesians 3:18â19
Thank you with all my heart to the Volusia County Romance Writers group for helping me brainstorm this story. They were great at helping me fill in the Swiss cheese holes in my plot. Youâre a great group of writers and I donât know what Iâd do without you!
I also wish to thank Nancy Orlandi, who suffered through every revision, every author doubt, and came up with some pretty good ideas when I needed them. I appreciate it more than you know.
Contents
Unease crept up Angelina Baroniâs spine. The kind of unease a person feels when she thinks sheâs being watched but doesnât see anyone.
The tinkling of laughter and the sound of distant voices drifting on the Atlantic City ocean breeze couldnât pull her out of her funk. Not even the incessant chattering and giggles of her best friend and business partner, Maria Lopez, could calm her dark mood as they strolled the beach.
Something was wrong.
She couldnât put her finger on it but her senses flashed warning signs. She wouldnât be alive today if she hadnât paid attention to those inner warnings over the past three years. It unsettled her to have them crop up again.
Nothing unusual had happened during their marketing meeting tonight. On the contrary, Maria had given an excellent presentation. Theyâd signed a lucrative advertising contract with one of the larger casinos. This was a huge milestone for their tiny firm. First time theyâd gone up against the corporate advertising giants and won.
Theyâd celebrated with dinner in the swanky dining room they would now promote and were walking off the huge calorie overload at the edge of the surf. Maria had worked hard for this account. Her enthusiasm was contagious and Angelina couldnât be happier for her, for them.
Still.
A sense of foreboding crawled up her body like a bug sheâd been unable to swipe away.
She glanced over her shoulder.
Nothing.
No one.
But someone was there. In the darkness. Watching them. Waiting. She could feel it.
The pale glow from a full moon provided extra illumination. Except for the two of them, the beach was deserted. She glanced at the boardwalk. People walked back and forth in a continuous motion. No one stopped to stare at them over the rails.
