An FBI agent in the crosshairs...
with a bounty on her head.
An assignment turns deadly when FBI agent Goldie Simmons is forced to kill to protect her witness...and has a hit placed on her in retaliation. Now instead of working the case, she’s under the protection of fellow agent Zeke Miller, her long-lost childhood sweetheart. And learning to trust him again is her only hope of staying alive.
New York Times Bestselling Author Elisabeth Rees
“My life is over.
“I only just fully realized it. The Mafia hit on me won’t ever expire. It’ll just run and run until I’m found. And then someone will pocket two million dollars and I’ll be dead,” Goldie said quietly.
Zeke wasn’t sure what to say. It was true that most people caught in the crosshairs of the Mafia disappeared, either into the witness-protection program or a shallow grave.
“The FBI can help you,” he said, going to sit next to her. “They’ll relocate you, give you a new life. You’ll be safe.”
She stood, bathed in the light of the overhead bulb, her hair shining like copper wire, lustrous and glossy. But something else was glinting on her head, something red and skittish, a dot that bounced across her hair and came to rest on her forehead.
“Goldie!” he yelled, springing from the couch. “Get down.”
Elisabeth Rees was raised in the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye, where her father was the parish vicar. She attended Cardiff University and gained a degree in politics. After meeting her husband, they moved to the wild rolling hills of Carmarthenshire, and Elisabeth took up writing. She is now a full-time wife, mother and author. Find out more about Elisabeth at elisabethrees.com.
Books by Elisabeth Rees
Love Inspired Suspense
Caught in the Crosshairs
Innocent Target
Safe House Under Fire
Hunted by the Mob
Navy SEAL Defenders
Lethal Exposure
Foul Play
Covert Cargo
Unraveling the Past
The SEAL’s Secret Child
Hunted by the Mob
Elisabeth Rees
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
—Matthew 11:28
For my wonderful friend Suzanne, a woman of pure and steadfast faith.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Dear Reader
Excerpt from Following the Evidence by Lynn Shannon
ONE
The heat of summer hung in the air, moist and heavy under a midday sun. Agent Goldie Simmons stepped from her vehicle into the humidity, wishing she had worn something other than jeans and sneakers that day. Standing in the driveway of a beautiful stone mansion in the exclusive suburb of Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, she could smell chlorine from a pool in the backyard and closed her eyes to imagine slipping into the freshness of clear water.
“Oh boy,” she muttered to herself. “This assignment might be my best one yet.”
Retrieving her case from the trunk, she waved at a female police officer standing guard at the front door of the palatial home.
“You must be Agent Simmons,” the officer called. “I was told to expect you and you’re right on time.”
Goldie laughed. “I have many flaws, but time management is not one of them.” Wheeling her suitcase along the path, she held up her ID badge for the officer to scrutinize. “Did my partner, David McQueen, arrive already?”
“Yes, ma’am. He got here two hours ago.”
Goldie read the name tag attached to the woman’s shirt. “You look a little hot, Officer Diaz. I hope you’re keeping hydrated.”
The officer smiled. “Actually, ma’am, I could do with some water. The force doesn’t supply us with a bottle, and I’ve been on guard duty for three hours without a drink.”
“That’s not right,” Goldie said, shielding her eyes against the blazing sun. “Come inside and get some water.”
“I’d appreciate that. The house is so secure. It’s kept locked at all times. This place is like Fort Knox.”
Goldie retrieved a key, which she’d been issued beforehand, from her jeans pocket. “It’s no surprise that this house is on lockdown, right? The lady who lives here has the power to bring down one of the biggest Mafia families in America.”
Mrs. Louisa Volto was the wife of the infamous Leonardo Volto, a ruthless Mafia boss, who, alongside his brother, Joseph, was facing multiple criminal charges, ranging from money laundering to murder. Mrs. Volto had cut a deal with the prosecutor in exchange for immunity and a sizable chunk of assets, but that betrayal had put her in potential danger. Despite being seven months pregnant with her husband’s child, she was still a potential target, the star witness in a trial currently taking place in a Philadelphia courthouse where she was due to give her testimony in just two days.
Goldie unlocked the door and entered the wonderfully cool interior where polished floors, large paintings and an aroma of lilies reminded her of an upmarket art gallery. Officer Diaz followed her inside and Goldie locked the door behind them and pocketed the key. “It’s quiet in here, huh?”
“Yes, ma’am. I guess Mrs. Volto is resting, what with being pregnant in this awful heat.”
Goldie walked along the wooden boards in the hallway, a faint scent of polish rising to her nose. This home was remarkable, likely more than one hundred years old but perhaps still as beautiful as the day it was built, with many of its original features well preserved.
“I’ll go find David while you get yourself a drink,” she said, admiring the intricate molding on the high ceiling. The kitchen was clearly visible directly ahead, so she pointed the way. “There’s bound to be some ice in the freezer to cool you down.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
As the officer left her side, Goldie walked through the living room and raised her eyebrows at the overt display of wealth. Sculptures, gilded mirrors, vast white sofas and Persian rugs all combined to create an opulence that she had never seen before. Coming from a dirt-poor and unhappy childhood home, luxury was completely alien to Goldie, and she could only imagine the kind of privilege that Mrs. Volto’s baby would soon be born into.
Hearing Officer Diaz running the faucet in the kitchen, she continued her tour of the first floor, noticing an open door to the patio out back and heading that way. Just as she stepped onto the brightly colored tiles, she stopped in her tracks. A man was standing next to the pool, his back to her, staring over the endless rolling hills beyond the perimeter fence. He wore a Hawaiian shirt and boat shoes, one hand in the pocket of his beige shorts, the other casually resting on the handle of a holstered gun. With his mousy blond, tousled hair and olive-toned skin, this certainly wasn’t David McQueen, her FBI partner of eight years. And with no sign of David, or of Mrs. Volto, this stranger’s presence could only mean one thing: danger.
Without a second to lose, she ran hard toward him, dropping her gun to the ground before knocking into his upright figure like a bowling pin, sending them both crashing into the pool. The effect was a little like being in a washing machine, spinning below the waterline, uncertain of which way was up. Goldie saw the man’s gun slip from its holster as he thrashed in the water, and she felt a sense of satisfaction watchin
g the weapon glide to the bottom of the pool. She then broke through the surface right at the edge and grabbed her own weapon from the ground. But when she tried to pull herself out of the water, her jeans and sneakers were too heavy, weighing her down, and she repeatedly slid back into the pool with a splash. Instead, she held her gun above the water, waiting for the guy to emerge, and when he did, he was spluttering and coughing, rubbing the chlorine from his eyes.
“I’m an FBI agent and you’re under arrest,” she said, desperately trying to tread water and maintain control of her weapon. “Swim for the steps and get out slowly.”
The man stared at her in confusion, watching her struggle. For a good few seconds he said nothing, narrowing his eyes, running his gaze across every part of her face.
“Marigold?” he said finally. “Is that really you?”
She kept her gun aloft, heart hammering. Nobody called her Marigold anymore. She’d left that old life behind. “Who wants to know?”
The man pushed his mousy hair from his forehead. “It’s me, Ezekiel. How long has it been? Twenty years at least.”
“Zeke?” She could scarcely believe it. “You gotta be kidding me.”
Could this tall, beefy man really be Ezekiel Miller, the sweet boy she’d once thought she’d marry when she was just seventeen years old? The same boy who’d promised to whisk her away from her horrible home life? The boy who refused to answer her letters and did nothing to try to find her when her father suddenly moved their entire family from the small town of Glenside, Pennsylvania, to Ohio after he’d been discovered embezzling money from his accounting firm to pay his gambling debts?
“What are you doing here?” she asked, finally beginning to recognize his features, the way his eyes seemed to disappear into slits when he smiled. “This house is off-limits to civilians. Strictly law enforcement only. I could’ve shot you.”
Breathless with exertion, she clung to the edge of the pool, gun still in her hand, taking no chances with this man she’d once loved with her entire being. Having been part of the same church since babyhood, Goldie and Zeke had grown up together, forming such a tight bond that they were often referred to as “Ezigold.” But just like God, Zeke had abandoned her when she needed him the most.
“I am law enforcement, Marigold,” he said, hauling himself onto the steps and reaching into his pocket to pull out an ID badge. “I’m with the Bureau in New York. They sent me here to cover for an agent whose wife went into early labor last night. Since I know Philly pretty well, they thought I’d be a good fit.”
Goldie’s partner’s wife, Lilly, was due to give birth in three weeks, but Goldie had no idea the baby had decided to make an early appearance. Nobody had told her.
Zeke clearly noticed her concerned expression. “Everything’s okay,” he reassured her. “David left a message on your cell when you didn’t pick up. The baby was born this morning. It’s a boy.”
“I noticed a missed call from him, but I didn’t think it was important.” David was something of a stickler for detail and often called to discuss minor points of a case. “He’s got a baby boy, huh? That’s great.”
But try as she might, Goldie simply couldn’t bring herself to feel the level of joy that should accompany news of a healthy newborn baby. All she could think about was Zeke and how on earth she was going to handle her sudden and jumbled mess of emotions.
“Here,” he said, wading into the water to extend a hand. “Let me help you out. You look a little shell-shocked.”
She took his hand and allowed him to pull her onto the graduated steps, where she stood with shaking legs. “I have so many questions right now, Zeke,” she said. “You are the last person I expected to see today.” She shook her head, wringing out the water from her long red curls. “Why did Officer Diaz tell me that David was here? She must’ve looked at your ID, surely?”
Zeke frowned. “Yes, he checked my ID thoroughly. Officer Diaz is a man.”
“What are you talking about? I met her a couple minutes ago. She’s petite with dark hair and...” She stopped, slapped a hand to her forehead. “Oh no! No, no, no. I let her into the house to get a drink of water.”
The shakiness in her legs dissipated in an instant as she leaped from the steps and onto the warm patio tiles. If Officer Diaz was a man, then exactly who was the woman Goldie had just admitted into the house?
“We have to find Mrs. Volto,” Zeke said, running toward the house, leaving his weapon on the bottom of the pool. “If she’s in danger, you’ll have to do the shooting.”
All thoughts of Zeke’s abrupt and shocking return to her life now had to be put aside. He was her partner for this assignment and whatever history they shared had to be forgotten, or at least buried deep. Goldie was a professional adult now, not a scared teenager who desperately needed Zeke’s support and reassuring arms around her. She was a strong and capable person.
Following his wet footprints through the patio door, she made a grab for his elbow and put a finger to her lips, encouraging him to stop and listen for a moment. From upstairs came the sounds of voices, raised and angry. Then a heavy thud sounded on the floor and a woman cried out, “No!”
Both agents went into immediate action, tearing toward the stairs and vaulting them two at a time. A specially built panic room had been installed in a corner of the upstairs hallway, but Mrs. Volto had clearly not been able to take advantage of it. The steel door was open, the reinforced chamber empty.
“Here,” Zeke called, pointing to a door that Goldie guessed must lead to Mrs. Volto’s bedroom.
With a swift kick from Zeke’s foot, the door flew open to reveal Mrs. Volto on the floor of her lavish bedroom, bleeding from a cut to her lip and clutching her belly. Meanwhile, the phony Officer Diaz was standing over her with a heavy, crystal vase in her hand, an expression of absolute hatred on her face.
“Stop right there!” Goldie held her gun aloft. “Back away and put the vase on the floor. Slowly.”
The woman’s eyes snapped up and locked on to Goldie’s as her chest rose and fell with her rapid breathing. She was highly agitated, by the look of it.
“Please, Marsha,” Mrs. Volto said in a pleading tone. “Please do as she says.”
Goldie inched her way into the room, dripping pool water onto the carpet, Zeke right behind her. “Do you know this person, Mrs. Volto?” she asked.
“This is Marsha Volto, my sister-in-law. She’s married to my husband’s brother, Joseph.”
Goldie skirted to the side of the room to get a better vantage point, her aim as steady as a rock. “Don’t make me shoot you, Marsha,” she said, addressing the suspect directly. “I don’t want to do that. You gotta back off.”
But Marsha stubbornly maintained her position, the crystal vase held high over Mrs. Volto’s head. As she was still in her fake uniform, there was a gun holstered at her waist, and Goldie wondered why Marsha hadn’t used it already. Was there a more personal score to settle here?
“Think of the baby, Marsha,” Zeke said gently, pointing to Mrs. Volto’s stomach. “That’s your niece or nephew in there, right? They’re innocent in all of this.”
Marsha narrowed her eyes at Mrs. Volto. “You deserve to die for what you’ve done, Louisa,” she spat. “The family trusted you and you betrayed us.” Her voice rose to a screech. “You’re a dirty, rotten liar.”
She lifted the vase even higher, and Mrs. Volto suddenly turned toward Marsha and kicked out with her foot, making contact with her attacker’s knee. Marsha lost her footing and dropped the vase onto the deep-pile carpet, making a grab for her gun. Goldie yelled out a final warning, but as Marsha yanked her gun from its holster, she was forced into immediate action. She fired her weapon.
As the sound of the bullet reverberated in the air, Marsha crumpled to the floor, blood oozing from a bullet hole in her chest. Zeke sprang forward, pulling a folded towel from the dresser
to press onto the wound and stem the flow.
“You go see to Mrs. Volto,” he said. “And call for backup.”
Goldie holstered her weapon, pulled out her radio and made a request for an emergency response team. Then she knelt next to Mrs. Volto and put a hand on her shoulder.
“Medical help is on the way,” she said soothingly. “Is the baby okay?”
Mrs. Volto sat up and placed her arms around her stomach protectively. “Everything is fine, and I can feel the baby moving.” She looked across at Zeke desperately working to prevent the injured woman from bleeding out. “How is Marsha?”
Zeke’s expression was contorted into a grimace, his fingers splayed and pressed onto the towel, now saturated crimson. “I can’t stop the bleeding.” He placed two fingers on Marsha’s neck as she lay supine on the carpet and rested them there for what felt like an age before shaking his head. “She’s gone.”
Goldie’s shoulders slumped. Taking a life was never an easy decision and caused her a huge amount of pain, even when she had been given no choice.
Zeke stood, lifted a clean bath towel from the dresser and shook it out to place over the body. He then knelt on the carpet, laced his fingers and looked across at Goldie. “You want to join me in a prayer?”
She jumped to her feet. “Really, Zeke? You think that’ll solve anything?”
His brow wrinkled. “It won’t bring her back, but whatever wrong she did in her life, we should ask God to have mercy on her now that she’s passed.”
Goldie rolled her eyes. She had battled with a fragile faith throughout her twenties, but some years ago it had shattered into teeny, tiny pieces, and Zeke’s legacy had played a big part in its breaking. He was the first person to prove to her that belief meant nothing, that prayer was pointless. She had asked God to help her a million times over, to show her the way back to Zeke. And now it was too late. She was too old, too cynical and too distrustful to care anymore.
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