RunningWildAmazon
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Writing as Ella Grace
Midnight Secrets, A Wildefire Novel
Midnight Lies, A Wildefire Novel
Midnight Shadows, A Wildfire Novel
Acknowledgements:
Special thanks to the following people for helping make this book possible:
My husband, for your love, support, numerous moments of comic relief, and almost always respecting my chocolate stash.
My mom for patiently listening to my ramblings about stubborn characters and frustrating plotlines.
My Aunt Billie for the loan of your home on the river to help me get to know Anna and Aidan better. And for always calling me the day you finish one of my books to tell me how much you enjoyed it.
Joyce Lamb, for your awesome copyediting skills and fabulous advice.
Marie Force’s eBook Formatting Fairies, who always answers my endless questions with endless patience.
Tricia Schmitt (Pickyme) for your wonderful cover art.
The Reece’s Readers street team, for all your support and encouragement.
Anne Woodall, my first reader, who always goes above and beyond, and then goes the extra mile, too. You’re awesome!
My beta readers, Crystal, Hope, Julie, Kris, and Alison for reading so quickly and your great suggestions.
Linda Clarkson, proofreader extraordinaire, who, as always, did an amazing job. So appreciate your eagle eye, Linda!
And to all my readers, thank you for your patience and your emails requesting Aidan’s story. Without you, this book and all the others, past and future, would not be possible.
Christy Reece is the award winning and New York Times Bestselling author of nineteen romantic suspense novels. She lives in Alabama with her husband and numerous fur-kids.
Christy loves hearing from readers and can be contacted at Christy@ChristyReece.com.
Have you met Grey Justice?
There’s more than one path to justice.
Turn the page to read excerpts from the first two books in the Grey Justice series, Nothing To Lose and Whatever It Takes.
NOTHING TO LOSE
A Grey Justice Novel
Choices Are Easy When You Have Nothing Left To Lose
Kennedy O’Connell had all the happiness she’d ever dreamed—until someone stole it away. Now on the run for her life, she has a choice to make—disappear forever or make those responsible pay. Her choice is easy.
Two men want to help her, each with their own agenda.
Detective Nick Gallagher is accustomed to pursuing killers within the law. Targeted for death, his life turned inside out, Nick vows to bring down those responsible, no matter the cost. But the beautiful and innocent Kennedy O’Connell brings out every protective instinct. Putting aside his own need for vengeance, he’ll do whatever is necessary to keep her safe and help her achieve her goals.
Billionaire philanthropist Grey Justice has a mission, too. Dubbed the ‘White Knight’ of those in need of a champion, few people are aware of his dark side. Having seen and experienced injustice—Grey knows its bitter taste. Gaining justice for those who have been wronged is a small price to pay for a man’s humanity.
With the help of a surprising accomplice, the three embark on a dangerous game of cat and mouse. The stage is set, the players are ready…the game is on. But someone is playing with another set of rules and survivors are not an option.
***
Nick opened his apartment door and headed straight to his bedroom to change into a pair of shorts and an old sweatshirt. About the only way he had to battle the hopelessness inside him was to beat the hell out of his boxing bag and work himself into exhaustion. He was halfway to the kitchen for a bottle of water when he realized he wasn’t alone. The dark figure of a man sitting in a chair in the corner caught his eye.
Cursing his inattentiveness, he grabbed the closest weapon—a bust of Sherlock Holmes—and turned toward the intruder.
“Before you allow Mr. Holmes to bash my head in, wouldn’t you like to know why I’m here?”
The crisp British voice sounded familiar, but he couldn’t place it. Nick replied coolly, “I’m more of an attack-first-and-ask-questions-later kind of guy.”
“Pity. You don’t seem the type to go off half-cocked.”
“Depends on the situation. Having some asshole break into my house is the type of thing that pisses me off.”
“Understandable, but you can often learn more things if you wait awhile.”
“Or you can get yourself killed. Now, tell me who the hell you are and why you’re here.”
“Let’s talk first. Then we’ll decide if we want to exchange personal information.”
If the man was going to shoot him, he would’ve done so by now. Nick lowered the statue to his side but held on to it just in case. He reached for the light switch on the wall.
“No lights.”
“So I’m not allowed to know your name or what you look like?”
“Not yet. Have a seat.”
Despite the aggravation of having a stranger break into his house and the man’s numerous rules, Nick was intrigued. He pulled his hand back from the light switch. “I’ll stand. Now tell me what the hell you want.”
“I want what you want—to bring Mathias Slater and his goons to justice.”
If he hadn’t captured Nick’s attention before, he sure as hell had it now. “What do you know about Slater?”
“That he’s into more shit than anyone could ever imagine.”
“And why do you care?”
“Let’s just say that seeing bad guys get what’s coming to them is a hobby of mine.”
“And how can you assist me in seeing that Slater gets what’s coming to him?”
“By giving you access to information you can’t get through your channels.”
“You mean illegal channels.”
“Semantics. What you see as illegal, I see as creative license.”
Still wary but more interested than ever, Nick returned the statue to the end table and dropped down onto the sofa. “Okay, you have my undivided attention.”
“Excellent. However, we need to come to an agreement before we go further.”
“Such as?”
“If you decline my proposal, this discussion never happened.”
“Agreed.”
“Excellent.”
“You’re just going to take my word for it?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t already know you can be trusted, Mr. Gallagher.”
Where and how he’d gotten information on Nick could wait till another time.
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“Mathias Slater and his antics hit my radar several years ago. I’ve tried penetrating his tight-knit circle. Unfortunately, I’ve gotten only so far before someone ratted out my informant.”
“And how can I help? If you know that much about me, then you already know that I’ve run into a road block in every avenue I’ve taken against Slater.”
“That’s true. However, you have an avenue you don’t even know you can take.”
“And what’s that?”
“There’s a folder on the table in front of you. Take a look inside.”
Nick didn’t move…considered what could be inside.
“I’m glad to see that my informants were correct. You have a short fuse, but it’s tempered with a deliberative cautiousness.”
“I’m assuming that I’ll be allowed to turn on the lights to look at the folder.”
“That’s correct. Another reason why your deliberation is important. You turn on those lights, you will have information that could destroy not only me, but negatively impact the lives of thousands.”
Nick reached up and flipped on the lamp beside him. Light illuminated the man sitting in the corner and he knew why the voice had sounded so familiar. This was a man known to millions. And he was right—if anyone discovered the truth, thousands of lives would be affected.
Deciding to mull over the man’s identi
ty later, Nick grabbed the folder and opened it. The instant he saw the first photograph, everything within him froze. He looked up at the man who sat so calmly across from him and whispered hoarsely, “What do I need to do?”
Purchase Nothing To Lose here!
WHATEVER IT TAKES
A Grey Justice Novel
To Save His Family, She May Be His Only Hope
Working for the shadowy division of the Grey Justice Group is the perfect job for Kathleen Callahan. Compartmentalizing and staying detached is her specialty. Get in, do the job, get out, her motto. Wealthy businessman Eli Slater is the only man to penetrate her implacable defenses and she fights to resist him at every turn.
Eli Slater has worked hard to overcome his family’s past and repair the damage they caused. A new light comes into his life in the form of security specialist Kathleen Callahan. Even though she rejects him and everything he makes her feel, Eli is relentless in his pursuit, determined to make her his own.
Darkness has a way of finding and destroying light and Eli learns his family’s troubles are far from over. Dealing with threats and attempts on his own life is one thing but when those he loves are threatened, it’s a whole new game. And he’ll stop at nothing to win.
But evil has a familiar face, along with an unimaginable goal of destruction, putting both Eli and Kathleen in the crosshairs and threatening the happiness they never believed they’d find.
***
Kathleen willed her legs to move, one step and then another. Up the stairs to her apartment. She’d shut off her emotions over the last few days. Had barely slept or eaten. Holding on by a thread, just waiting until she could finally let go. The second she entered her apartment, she was planning a meltdown of epic proportions.
The key slid into the door of her apartment, she twisted the knob, and felt the emotions swell.
“Miss Callahan?”
She jerked around. Exhaustion and emotional devastation had slowed her instincts. A man stood in the shadows. He was dressed in black, and she could see nothing of his features other than he was tall, with a muscular physique. If he was here to attack her, he would win. She was way too tired to give a damn. And if he was here to rob her, he was in for a major letdown. She had nothing worth stealing…nothing left, not anymore.
Her fuzzy brain registered that he’d called her Miss Callahan. People weren’t generally that polite right before they attacked.
“Yes?”
“I’d like to talk to you about your sister.”
Another damn reporter. The burn of hatred was strong and true, singeing and cauterizing the bleed of grief. “Haven’t you bottom-feeding reporters had enough fun? Haven’t you tortured me enough? What more do you want?”
“I’m not a reporter, Miss Callahan. I’m here to help you.”
“Help me how?” Her voice went thick as she added, “I just buried my sister. If you’d wanted to help, you’ve got piss-poor timing.”
“I know. I’m very sorry. I—” He broke off when voices came from the stairwell. Her neighbors were coming home. “Look. May I come in?”
“No, you may not. I have no idea who you are or what you want.”
He moved closer, stood in the light. Her breath hitched as she immediately recognized his famous face. This man was on the news more times in one week than Kathleen had been in a lifetime. But what was he doing here?
“My name is Grey Justice, and I’d like to help you find the person who framed your sister.”
Purchase Whatever It Takes here!
Table of Contents
Copyright
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-six
Chapter Thirty-seven
Chapter Thirty-eight
Chapter Thirty-nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-one
Chapter Forty-two
Chapter Forty-three
Chapter Forty-four
Chapter Forty-five
Epilogue
Other Titles by Christy Reece
Acknowledgements
About Christy Reece