Conceal, Protect

by Carol Ericson

  J.D. read the words in the file aloud. “The file on this laptop was a decoy. My roommate, Noelle Dupree, knows nothing about the plans or my secret life. If anything happens to me, I’ll know who to blame—both Nico Zendaris and the agents of Prospero. Keep looking, but you’ll never find it.”

  J.D. shook his head. “All this turmoil and the file isn’t even on the laptop.”

  “That’s a good thing, isn’t it? He has to believe now that I know nothing about the plans.”

  “That’s why he took off, if that was really Zendaris. Nothing left for him here.”

  “You had an opportunity to nail him.”

  “And risk your life for that?” He brushed his lips across hers. “Not worth it.”

  Ted groaned from the corner.

  “Oh my God. I forgot all about Ted.” She rushed to the fallen chair her brother was still tied to.

  J.D. crouched beside her and sliced through Ted’s restraints with a knife.

  Blinking, Ted rubbed his wrists. “What happened?”

  “I sort of knocked you out when I came through the mudroom. Good thing that floor in there was rotted clean away. Are you okay?”

  “That depends. What happened to every—?” Ted broke off, his eyes widening as they took in the mayhem of the room. “Where’s the other guy?”

  “He got away.” J.D. grabbed Noelle’s hand. “But we’ll get him...one of these days.”

  Epilogue

  Noelle joined the two spies in the Spy Museum for lunch—it seemed so right.

  And being back in D.C. seemed right, too. She’d handed the ranch over to Ted. He’d proven himself an adult, and she couldn’t control his behavior anyway.

  She placed her soup and sandwich on the table and turned to stack the red tray on top of the others. The edge of her tray hung over the stack, and she didn’t even feel the need to shove it into place.

  J.D. hopped up to pull out her chair and kissed her cheek. “Have a seat, darlin’. We were just talking about you.”

  Her gaze meandered between J.D. and another Prospero agent from Team Three, Gage Booker. The two men couldn’t be more different, but they both possessed that quality of being on the edge, tightly coiled and ready to spring.

  “Do you still have your suspicions of me?” She scooped up a spoonful of soup and blew on it.

  J.D.’s whiskey eyes tracked her every movement and darkened as he zeroed in on her lips. “I never suspected you. I was just doing my job.”

  Gage raised one brow. “Is that what you call it? Cade may have been overly involved in protecting Jenna, but he had an excuse. They were already married.”

  “And we soon will be.” J.D. ran his fingers along her arm, and the electricity she’d felt the first time he’d touched her still sizzled between them.

  This time Gage raised both eyebrows. “This is news. Does Jack know?”

  “Thanks for the congratulations.” Noelle slurped her soup and then kissed J.D. with her warm lips.

  Sliding a hand along the back of her neck, he deepened the kiss.

  Gage cleared his throat. “If Jack doesn’t know, I’m sure he’ll find out soon enough the way you two are carrying on.”

  J.D. grinned and picked up his sandwich. “Jack doesn’t know yet, but I’m handing the baton off to you, Gage. I understand we got some useful information out of Pia, the woman I dropped outside of the cabin.”

  “We sure did. We got a possible lead on one of Zendaris’s houses in South America. We have to confirm a few more pieces of information before we can get the exact location and move in.”

  “So, you’re still going after Zendaris even though nobody has the anti-drone plans?” She took a bite of the sandwich J.D. held to her lips.

  Gage rolled his eyes. “We’ll go after Zendaris anytime, anywhere. I’m amazed you were clear thinking enough to save that woman for questioning, what with all the other distractions going on.”

  “He’s jealous.” J.D. extended his long legs and crossed his arms behind his head. “He was always considered the ladies’ man of the bunch.”

  “You’re so full of it.” Gage leveled a finger at Noelle. “Don’t get taken in by that slow Texas drawl, Noelle. But I suppose it’s already too late.”

  “Way too late.” She reached for J.D. and squeezed his hand. “It was too late for me the minute he came to my rescue in the parking lot of the grocery store.”

  “He did tell you he messed with that truck first so you’d need his help?”

  She just squeezed tighter. “I’m so glad he did.”

  “Okay, you two are hopeless and kind of annoying.” He pushed back from the table. “I’m going to check out the desserts and you can make goo-goo eyes at each other all you want.”

  “Jealous.”

  When Gage left the table, J.D. scooted his chair closer to hers and curled an arm around her shoulders. “I thought he’d never leave.”

  “He’ll be coming back.” She tilted her chin at Gage surveying the desserts.

  “Then I guess I don’t have much time.”

  Her heart fluttered. Did he plan on going somewhere before the wedding? After the wedding?

  “Time for what?”

  “Time to tell you how much I love you and can’t wait to make you mine once and for all.”

  The heart flutters didn’t subside, but now happiness instead of nerves fueled them.

  “Are you ready?” She threaded her fingers through his. “Are you ready to wake up one day and find all your shirts hung up in the same direction by length and color and occasion?”

  “I should be so lucky. My closet’s a mess.”

  Her smile wavered. “I’m serious, J.D.”

  He kissed her lips to stop her words. “I’m serious, too, Noelle. There’s no other woman in the world for me. And if you start feeling anxious?” His lids fell half-mast over his eyes and a wicked smile curved his lips. “I have ways of releasing tension you can only imagine.”

  She took his face in her hands and kissed him long and hard. This man could never make her feel anxious or nervous or guilty—only loved.

  And love was the best medicine of all.

  * * * * *

  Look for more books in Carol Ericson’s

  BROTHERS IN ARMS: FULLY ENGAGED

  miniseries later in 2013. You can find them wherever Harlequin Intrigue books are sold!

  * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt of Ultimate Cowboy by Rita Herron

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  Chapter One

  “This special news report just in—an amber alert has been issued for six-year-old Hank Forte. Hank was last seen at the county fair in Amarillo.”

  Brody Bloodworth’s heart clenched as a photo of the boy appeared on screen. The little boy had blond hair, was wearing a black T-shirt, jeans and cowboy boots. He could be one of the kids on the BBL, the Bucking Bronc Lodge he had started for needy children.

  But he reminded him more of his own little brother, Will, and launched him back seven years ago to the day Will had gone missing.

  Not from a county fair but from the rodeo where he was supposed to be watching him.

  Self-loathing and guilt suffused him, once again robbing his lungs of air. He understood what the family of that little boy was going through now. Th
e panic. The fear.

  The guilt.

  If only they’d kept a better eye on him. If only they hadn’t turned their head for a minute.

  What was happening to him? Had he just wandered off? Would they find him hiding out or playing somewhere at the fair? Maybe he had fallen asleep in a stall housing one of the animals...

  Or had someone taken him? Maybe a desperate woman who’d lost a child and was out of her mind? A child predator who’d do God knows what?

  A killer?

  The reporter turned the microphone to Hank’s parents, a couple who were huddled together, teary-eyed and frightened. A second later, they began to plead for their son’s return, and the mother broke down into sobs.

  Brody hit the remote, silencing the heart-wrenching scene, but it played over and over in his head. But it wasn’t the Forte family’s cries he heard; it was his own family’s.

  His father who’d blamed him from the get-go.

  Because it was his fault.

  He glanced through the window at the sprawling acres and acres of land he’d bought, to the horse stables and pens and the boys that he’d taken in. All kids who had troubles, boys who needed homes and love and guidance.

  But no matter how much he did for them, it wouldn’t make up for losing his little brother.

  The clock in the hall struck 6:00 p.m., and he stood, pulled on his duster jacket and headed outside. One of his best men, Mason Blackpaw, and his fiancée, Cara Winchester, were getting married on the ranch in a few minutes. He’d promised he’d be there, and he was happy for his friend, but weddings always made him uncomfortable.

  And he’d attended a hell of a lot of them lately. In fact, all of his original investors had tied the knot. First Johnny Long, then Brandon Woodstock, Carter Flagstone, then Miles McGregor, and now Mason.

  Yanking at his tie to loosen the choking knot, he glanced at the field to the right where Mason had built a gazebo. Cara had rented tables and chairs and had decorated them with white linens, bows and fresh day lilies.

  Half wishing he could skip the ceremony, he started to turn and go back inside, but Mason strode up to the steps of the gazebo then glanced his way with a smile.

  Brody forced one in return. He couldn’t let his foul mood ruin his friend’s day.

  Still, it was all he could do to put on a congenial face as he took a seat in the back row. Weddings made him think of Julie Whitehead, the only girl he’d ever loved.

  The girl he’d snuck off to make out with at the rodeo, leaving his brother alone and unprotected.

  In the panicked and horrible days after Will had disappeared, he’d lashed out at Julie. He’d blamed her.

  But it was really himself he hated.

  Dammit, that news report had stirred it all up again, all the haunting memories. He needed to check the database for missing and exploited children, make sure Will’s information was still there.

  Over the years, he’d focused on making sure local law enforcement agencies as well as statewide ones didn’t give up looking. Even all these years later, he still had hope he’d find his brother.

  Although that hope was harder to hold on to every day.

  Worse, worry over what his brother had suffered ate at him constantly.

  Still, he had to know if he was dead or alive.

  * * *

  SPECIAL AGENT JULIE WHITEHEAD ran her finger over the embossed wedding invitation from Cara Winchester and Mason Blackpaw, then tossed it into the trash. She had worked with Mason on the Slasher case along with Detective Miles McGregor, tracking down a notorious serial killer who’d committed horrific crimes against women. During the case, they’d made friends, but she couldn’t bear to attend the couple’s wedding—not when it was taking place on the Bucking Bronc Lodge.

  Not when Brody Bloodworth would probably attend.

  After all, he was the founder of the ranch for troubled boys, a project she whole-heartedly admired, but he was also the man who’d broken her heart. Even after seven years, the thought of seeing him again tore her in knots.

  Of course, she hadn’t blamed him for hating her after his little brother had disappeared. If it hadn’t been for her selfishness, her eagerness to seduce him away from the rodeo, he would have been with Will, and the little boy never would have disappeared.

  She’d never forgiven herself for that.

  And she’d made it her sole mission in life to see that one day he was found.

  The very reason she’d joined the TBI.

  Agent Jay Cord, one of the agents who specialized in missing children cases, cursed as he strode over to her desk. “Dammit, did you hear that another little boy went missing?”

  Julie’s lungs tightened. “Hank Forte. I feel so bad for that family.” Memories of the torturous hours after Will’s disappearance flashed back. “Any leads?”

  “We’re still questioning all the workers at the fair, but so far nothing.”

  She squeezed the stress ball on her desk, knowing the routine all too well. The family was always suspect, a fact that appalled her on their behalf and made her sick at the same time because a large percentage of the time they were guilty.

  Next on their suspect list—their friends and relatives. The police and TBI would look into financials, search for motives, the whole time putting out feelers for pedophiles, ex-cons and mental patients. Then the wait for a ransom call. And what to do then?

  And if one didn’t come...the terrible realization that their child might be dead. “The parents check out?” she asked.

  “So far. Both seem devastated. No financial problems. No custody issues. No enemies that they know of.”

  Julie frowned, thinking of all the cases they’d seen. The first forty-eight hours were crucial. Every second after lessened the chances they would find the child alive.

  “I’m headed to Amarillo now,” Jay said. “Want to grab a bite of dinner with me on the way? There’s a great Italian place I’ve been wanting to try.”

  Julie offered him a smile and considered the offer. She knew Jay wanted more from her than friendship or to be coworkers. But even though she liked and admired him, she didn’t have it in her heart to get involved with him.

  Because your heart belongs to someone else.

  No...because her heart had been broken, and she wouldn’t take the chance on love again.

  Still, maybe she should give him a shot.

  Julie stood and reached for her jacket to go with him, but her section chief Lee Hurt, strode in. “Wait a minute, Whitehead. I’ve got another case for you.”

  Julie frowned. What could take precedence over looking for Hank Forte?

  He strode to her computer, inserted a flash drive, then a second later clicked to open the file. Jay followed, probably wondering if it had to do with the Forte case.

  “You’ve been looking for that kid William Bloodworth for years, haven’t you?”

  Julie narrowed her eyes. Was he going to reprimand her? “Yes.”

  “Take a look at this and tell me what you think.”

  Jay leaned closer and the two of them watched as feed from a security camera filled the screen. Two teenage boys wearing dark hoodies walked into a convenience store, combed the aisles until the few customers inside left, then approached the cashier. Their faces were shrouded in shadows from the hoods, but the taller one held a pistol on the clerk, then demanded all their cash.

  “Why are we watching a petty robbery?” Jay asked.

  Chief Hurt clicked an icon, and the camera closed in on the oldest boy. Julie’s heart began to pound as his face came into focus.

  “Oh, my God,” she whispered. “Is it possible?”

  Chief Hurt punched another set of keys. “Something about the face seemed familiar so I ran it through our databases, cross-referencing with photos from our missing kids’ files and the facial recognition software program that keeps them updated.”

  Julie’s stomach knotted as she watched the computer work its magic. The yearly updates of Will
’s picture as he’d progressed in age were displayed first, then a comparison shot of the boy at the convenience store and Will’s latest sketch.

  They were so similar her instincts surged to life.

  “I can’t believe it,” Julie said, stunned. “We’ve been looking for Will Bloodworth for years, and if this is him, he’s surfaced as a criminal?”

  “We think it’s a local gang,” Chief Hurt said. “A group of boys have been robbing stores across Texas.”

  “Do you think someone bigger is behind it?” Julie asked.

  Chief Hurt shrugged. “Maybe. That’s what we have to find out.”

  “I have to tell Will’s brother, Brody,” Julie said. “He...never gave up hope that Will was alive.”

  Jay arched a brow. “You’ve kept in touch?”

  Julie shook her head, a pang ripping through her. “No, but he sends an email periodically to the bureau asking for updates. He’s kept his brother’s name in front of us to make sure we don’t stop looking for him.”

  Chief Hurt crossed his arms. “Cord, take Special Agent Harmon with you to Amarillo to work on the disappearance of the Forte boy. Whitehead, you’re right. Go talk to this kid’s brother, tell him what we’ve discovered.”

  Emotions pummeled Julie. She’d waited years for this moment, to be able to tell Brody that she’d found his brother. To somehow make right the wrong she’d done years ago.

  “Maybe you can convince him to help us find his brother and bring him in,” Hurt said.

  Julie’s chest constricted.

  Brody was going to be relieved, even thrilled, to know Will was alive.

  But how would he feel when he learned the law wanted him? That once they found him, instead of coming home with him, he would probably go to jail?

  * * *

  BRODY’S CELL PHONE buzzed just as Mason kissed the bride. Laughter and cheers erupted, and the boys from the ranch shifted, anxious for the food. Miles gave his wife a big kiss, which started a chain reaction with all the happy couples in the audience—once again, a reminder that Brody was alone.

  Music echoed from the guitar, everyone cheered and clapped, but his phone buzzed again, spoiling the moment. He glanced at the number, ready to let it roll to voice mail. But then he saw the number on the caller ID.