White Heat
A dangerous cult has recently taken over the desert ghost town of Paradise, Arizona. Members worship at the feet–and in the bed–of its charismatic leader, Ethan Wycliff, and obey his orders blindly. They've already tried to murder one woman and they're implicated in the disappearance of another.Nate Ferrentino, who works for private security contractor Department 6, has been assigned to infiltrate this group. It's a challenge he welcomes–until he learns that colleague Rachel Jessop will be going undercover with him. Thanks to their shared history, he'd much rather go alone….The problem is, only married couples can participate in cult rituals. So, like it or not–and they don't–Rachel and Nate must pretend to be husband and wife. There's no choice. Because if Wycliff isn't exposed, if he isn't stopped, more people will die. And Rachel might be one of them.
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Praise for the novels of Brenda Novak
âNovak delivers another expertly crafted work of suspenseful intrigue heightened by white-knuckle danger and realistically complicated romance.â
âBooklist on The Perfect Couple
âI guarantee The Perfect Couple will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Each character is completely developed, from Tiffany and Colin to Zoe and Jonathan. The story line sizzles.â
âRomance Reviews Today
âRealistic and gritty, this story grabs the reader by the throat on the first page and never lets go.â
âRT Book Reviews on Watch Me
âGripping, frightening, and intenseâ¦a compelling romance as well as a riveting and suspenseful mysteryâ¦Novak delivers another winner.â
âLibrary Journal on The Perfect Liar
âTwo emotionally damaged protagonists find much-needed healing and unexpected love in a chilling, sensual tale that features a host of skillfully developed characters and intricate, multilayered plotting. Sacramento-based Novak (The Perfect Liar) writes gripping romantic thrillers. This is the latest in her Last Stand series.â
âLibrary Journal on The Perfect Murder
âAs always, Novakâs plotting is flawless, and her characterizations are rich and multilayered. What sets this story apart from the rest is the intensity of the romance between the two wounded protagonistsâit simply sizzles. A keeper.â (4.5 stars, Top Pick)
âRT Book Reviews on The Perfect Murder
âStrong characters bring the escalating suspense to life, and the mystery is skillfully played out. Novakâs smooth plotting makes for a great read.â
âPublishers Weekly
To Dara Faveroâ¦
Someone as sweet as she is beautiful.
Dear Reader,
Itâs time to turn up the heat! Iâm really looking forward to sharing my three âHeatâ titles with you (White Heat, Body Heat and Killer Heat). Although each book stands alone, they all revolve around a private security company called Department 6 and the retired special forces personnel, private investigators and police officers who make their living working as âhired guns.â These men and women face some diverse and unusual circumstancesâand some very frightening challenges.
Another common thread is that all three books are set in Arizona, a place I find fascinating. While growing up, I lived in Chandler for eight years, back when it was still a farming community and not the sprawling metropolis it has since become. I miss those days, especially the long days of summer, which is probably why Iâve chosen to set each of these titles in a small town during the hot months. If youâve never experienced an Arizona summer or one of the infamous monsoons, youâre really missing somethingâ¦.
Arizona has more than its share of ghost towns. Paradise, the setting of this book, is one of them. I took a little (or a lot) of artistic liberty when I settled my fictional cult in Paradise, but itâs a unique place that really exists. With such a perfect name, I couldnât resist.
I love to hear from my readers. Please feel free to contact me via www.brendanovak.com. There you can also enter my monthly draws (I give away all kinds of things), learn more about my annual online auction for diabetes research (weâve raised over $1 million so far!), download a free 3D screensaver, get the latest info on my annual FAN convention (which I do with #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan), or check out any new books on the horizon (you can even read a sample). If you donât have a computer, you can write to me at P.O. Box 3781, Citrus Heights, CA 95611.
Hereâs wishing you many hours of reading pleasure!
Brenda Novak
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Epilogue
1
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheepâs clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
âKing James Bible, Matthew 7:15
âThis guy is dangerous?â Rachel Jessop studied the glossy black-and-white photograph her manager slid across the table.
Nate Ferrentinoâs leather chair squeaked as he leaned back and locked his hands behind his head. âHe doesnât look dangerous to you?â One eyebrow arched, telling her he found her reaction amusing, but she couldnât begin to guess why, and sheâd worked with him long enough to know he wouldnât explain even if she asked. With short dark hair and green, gold-flecked eyes, he had the face of a sensitive man whoâd become cynical and the body of a soldier. Nate was a tempting physical specimen. But he wasnât one to reveal much about his thoughts.
Rachel wished that was all she knew about her boss. When sheâd first started working at Department 6 eight months ago, sheâd been so convinced sheâd met the one man she could love with all her heart, sheâd made a humiliating miscalculation. The embarrassment of that incident still burned so intensely she could barely look at him.
