Deadly Memories

by Mary Alford

  “What about Liz and Michael? Are they going to make it?” She needed to know those who had tried to save her wouldn’t pay with their lives.

  “They’ll make it. They were very blessed.”

  It was like they were strangers. The unbearable silence between them was all the proof of the future she needed. “It’s okay, you don’t have to say it. I know what I did before was...inexcusable. You’re better off without me, Kyle. I’m not the person I was before. I don’t know if that woman still exists anymore.”

  When he didn’t answer, she knew she had to get away before she broke down. She turned blindly toward Joseph when Kyle caught her hand.

  She didn’t look at him. “Kyle, please.”

  He tugged her hand and brought her close, forcing her to look at him.

  Kyle cupped her face and the love she thought she’d lost was shining in his eyes. “Babe, I’m so sorry. I gave in to a moment of anger and I had no right to.” A sob escaped, but he had her full attention. “I love you, Lena. With all my heart, I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  She could barely see much less speak, but it didn’t seem to matter. Kyle took her in his arms and kissed her with all his heart, and she returned his kisses with the love she’d almost forgotten existed. Lena held on to him tight, because she was so afraid she’d wake up and realize she was back in the prison.

  “I love you, Lena, and I’m so sorry I let you down.”

  She pulled away and looked into his eyes. “Oh, Kyle,” she said in a broken voice. “You didn’t let me down. I’m the one who let you down. I hurt you. Because of my foolishness, I lost our child, and I’m so sorry.”

  He shook his head. “No. You did what you thought was best for everyone in an impossible situation. It wasn’t your fault.”

  She touched his cheek. So happy to be reunited once more. But there was work to be done. “What do you think he was after?” she asked. She of all people needed to know why she and Joseph had paid so dearly.

  “I don’t know, but there is something in the team’s personnel files that he needed. Maybe someone had a connection to Sam that went beyond mere friendship.” He shook his head. “Whatever it is, we’ll find it, but I’m leaving that for someone else. I just want to be with you and...” He stopped. Kyle stared into her eyes. There was something he wanted to tell her.

  “What is it?” she asked, so afraid he’d changed his mind.

  “No, it’s nothing bad, I promise.” He smiled gently at her and then pointed to Joseph. “How old is Joseph again?”

  She didn’t understand the question. Why was Joseph’s age important? “I don’t know for sure. Alhasan told me he was around eight years old. Why?”

  Kyle shook his head. “I don’t buy it. He appears much younger than eight. I’d say he’s around six.” He waited a second and said, “Lena, have you ever really looked closely at Joseph?”

  She turned to do just that. “What do you mean?”

  “He has the same hair color as you do. And his eyes...they’re gray like mine.” She couldn’t speak. She’d never really noticed any of those things until now. She’d just been so in love with the boy.

  “Then there’s the way you protect him and love him,” Kyle continued quietly. “Just like his mother would. Babe, Joseph is our child, I’m almost positive of it. Alhasan lied to you. I noticed the resemblance the second I saw him. It was like there was a bond between us, even though I didn’t realize what it was at the time. Joseph is our son, Lena. Our child survived.”

  She stared at Joseph and finally saw what Kyle did. She’d been so focused through the years on surviving that she hadn’t seen the truth that was right there in front of her.

  She broke down, tears streaming down her face. “Our child didn’t die after all. I—I can’t believe it’s real.”

  Joseph must have sensed she was hurting, because he jumped from his perch on the back of the ambulance and ran right into her open arms.

  “It’s okay, Joseph. It’s okay. I’m not crying because I’m sad. I’m crying because I’m just so happy.” She hugged him tight. “You’re going to come home and live with us. We’re going to be a family and we’re never going to let anything bad happen to you again.”

  She was so blessed to have both her husband and the child she thought she’d lost all those years back in her life once more. She had a second chance, and with God’s help, she was going to do everything in her power to be worthy of it.

  * * * * *

  If you enjoyed this book, don’t miss these other exciting stories from Mary Alford

  FORGOTTEN PAST

  ROCKY MOUNTAIN PURSUIT

  Find this and other great reads at www.LoveInspired.com

  Keep reading for an excerpt from SPECIAL AGENT by Valerie Hansen.

  Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!

  Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003

  Dear Reader,

  Can you imagine being held prisoner for more than seven years without remembering anything about your past, your name or if there is someone out there searching for you? It would be so easy to give up. Lose hope. Turn your back on God, even. Yet it is in these dark times that God’s love can be felt the strongest. In our weakness, His strength shines like a beacon, guiding us through the difficult moments in our lives.

  This is the story behind my latest Love Inspired Suspense, Deadly Memories.

  Imprisoned for years, Ella Weiss finds herself faced with an impossible situation. Follow through with the deadly plan created by her captors, or lose the child she has grown to love like her own.

  After Ella is rescued by Scorpion Agent Kyle Jennings outside a destroyed prison compound in Afghanistan, she must decide if she will take an innocent life to save the child’s, or trust Kyle when he tells her he won’t let her down.

  When we are faced with a difficult situation such as Ella’s, we, too, have a choice to make. Trust in our own strength to get us through, or believe God will keep His promises. Letting go of our will and holding on to His can be so hard, but if we have faith in God not to let us down, He’ll be there for us just as Kyle was for Ella.

  All the best,

  Mary Alford

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.

  You enjoy a dash of danger. Love Inspired Suspense stories feature strong heroes and heroines whose faith is central in solving mysteries and saving lives.

  Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired Suspense every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

  Harlequin.com/newsletters

  Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

  Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

  HarlequinBlog.com

  Join Harlequin My Rewards & Instantly earn a FREE ebook of your choice.

  Earn points for every Harlequin print and ebook you buy, wherever & whenever you shop.

  Turn your points into FREE BOOKS.

  Don’t miss out. Reward the book lover in you!

  Register Today & Earn a FREE BOOK*

  *New members who join before December 31st, 2017 will receive 2000 points redeemable for eligible titles.

  Click here to register

  Or visit us online to register at

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010001

  Special Agent

  by Valerie Hansen

  ONE

  FBI agent Max West squared his shoulders and forced himself to walk away from the latest scene of destruction.

  His job there was done. Unfortunately, the Dupree family crime syndicate
, at least what was left of it, seemed determined to keep him and his team scrambling by randomly setting off bombs. Opal, his K-9 explosives detection partner, worked very well but it was frustrating to be called in after the fact.

  He paused in the shade of an enormous oak and phoned Dylan O’Leary, the team’s computer guru, on his cell. “I’m done with this one. Just the usual leftover components and a lot of jumpy people.” Max sighed. “At least there was no loss of life this time. That family caught in the blast zone on the last one nearly made me turn in my badge.”

  “So, what now?” Dylan asked. “You thinking of leaving Northern California and heading home to Billings?”

  “Maybe soon. I thought I’d look into the backgrounds of some of the Dupree underlings we’ve scooped up while I’m in the neighborhood. See if we missed anything on the first sweep.”

  “Little fish in a big pond,” Dylan reminded him. “We got Reginald Dupree, the real brains behind the drug operation.”

  Max nodded. “While his uncle Angus kidnapped one of our best men and escaped. Has there been any word on Agent Morrow’s whereabouts?”

  “Sorry. No.”

  “Okay.” Max opened the rear door to his black SUV to air it out before letting his brown-and-white Boxer, Opal, get in. “I checked our files last night and was on my way to the Garwood Horse Ranch when I got diverted to this call. Vern Kowalski, one of the Dupree drug runners, had ties there. When we arrested him he insisted he was working alone but it won’t hurt to check. I can use a break and so can Opal.”

  “You’re the boss, Boss.”

  Max barely chuckled. Being SAC, special agent in charge, of the Classified K-9 Unit was no picnic. A lot of responsibility rested on his shoulders, responsibility that weighed heavily. Yes, he considered this job his calling, but that didn’t mean he never felt the pain of loss, never wished he’d been more successful and had prevented every explosion, every injury. Every death.

  Closing his eyes for a moment he reminded himself that he was just a man, giving his all in terrible situations. Then he loaded his dog, climbed behind the wheel and continued his interrupted trip to the nearby ranch.

  * * *

  Katerina Garwood was halfway between one of the stables and the house, heading for her old suite, when she saw an imposing black vehicle pass beneath the ornate wrought iron arch at the foot of the drive. Unexpected company was all she needed. If her father came outside to see who it was and caught her trespassing on his precious property he’d be furious. Well, so be it. There was no way she could run and hide in time to avoid encountering the new arrival—and perhaps her irate dad, as well.

  Chin high, she paused in the wide, hard-packed drive and shaded her eyes. The SUV reminded her of one that had assisted the county sheriff on the worst day of her life. The day when all her dreams of a happy future had gone up in flames.

  Darkly tinted windows kept her from getting a good look at the driver until he stopped, opened his door and stepped partway out. Prepared to tell him to head up to the house if he needed to speak to someone in charge, she took one look and was momentarily speechless. The blond, blue-eyed man was so imposing and had such a powerful presence he sent her usually normal reactions whirling. When he spoke, his deep voice magnified those unsettling feelings.

  “Katerina Garwood?”

  “Do I know you?”

  “No, but I know you. I’m Special Agent West. I’d like to talk to you about Vern Kowalski.”

  “I have nothing to say.” She started to turn away.

  “This is not a social call, Ms. Garwood.” He flashed a badge and blocked her path. “I suggest you reconsider.”

  “FBI? You have to be kidding. I am so unexceptional that until recently people hardly noticed me.”

  “They do now, I take it.”

  She blushed and rolled her eyes. “Oh, yeah.”

  “Then you’ll understand why I need to speak with you.”

  A quick glance toward the house told her she and the hunky agent had not yet been noticed. That was too good to last. As soon as one of the hands or the foreman, Heath McCabe, spotted her, word would get to her father and he’d be on the rampage again.

  “Not here. Not now. We can meet in South Fork later. I work at the Miner’s Grub diner, on Main, near where the American River forks.”

  He quirked a brow. “What’s wrong, Ms. Garwood? You seem nervous.”

  “It’s personal.”

  “Everything is when you get right down to it.” He reached for her arm as a familiar white pickup truck pulling a matching horse trailer rounded the nearest of three identical, rectangular stables and came to a stop.

  She jerked free. Backed away. Her sky-blue eyes had widened and she was trembling. “I have to go. Now.”

  “Care to tell me why?” Max’s gaze was unwavering. “Perhaps you’d better come with me and wait in the car while I have my K-9 partner check this place.”

  “What? No. I’m not going anywhere with you. I haven’t broken any laws. All I did was believe Vern’s lies and fall in love with him. It’s not my fault I was duped. And I don’t know anything about his secret life as a crook, okay? Despite all the nasty rumors, I’m a good person.”

  “Then why are you so jumpy?” Max continued to crowd her until she was ready to literally shove him away.

  Unable to help herself, Katerina darted glances back and forth between the immense house and the complex of stables where the foreman had stopped with the horse trailer. Was he on the phone to her dad already? There was no way to tell. And no way to avoid another terrible scene once Bertrand was notified.

  There was only one sensible course of action. She had to plead her case in person, and to do that she had to reach Heath McCabe despite the determined agent. Staring into the distance on his opposite side, she used that momentary distraction to slip away.

  Max was on her in a flash, grasping her arms and holding fast. Katerina began to thrash around. If her father saw her now he’d be even more positive she was worthless. Tears of frustration filled her eyes.

  I will not cry, she insisted to herself. I’m through letting any man make me cry. Nevertheless, a few drops escaped and trickled down her flushed cheeks.

  Suddenly, she was pulled free. The middle-aged foreman had come to her rescue. His arm was drawn back, ready to deliver a punch, and the agent’s hand was reaching for his sidearm.

  Katerina intervened. “Stop!” She gestured at McCabe. “This is just a misunderstanding. I wanted to keep you from telling Dad I’m here and Agent... West? Agent West must have thought I was running away.”

  The adrenaline in her system had bolstered Katerina’s courage and she faced him as boldly as she could while her insides quaked.

  Max met her gaze head-on. “Your father? Why didn’t you just say so?”

  “I did. You weren’t listening.”

  “No, you were acting guilty, behaving like a scared kid trying to make a run for it.”

  “I’m not a child. I’m twenty-two.”

  “I know. I read your file.”

  She was thunderstruck. “There’s a file on me? An FBI file?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Why am I not surprised?” She felt the starch go out of her like a sigh lost on the wind. Her concentration moved to the foreman. “Please don’t tell Dad I’m here and make him mad all over again. It was bad enough when he threw me out the first time because of my horrible love life. I just want to pick up a few of the personal things I left behind.”

  McCabe doffed his cowboy hat. “I’d never do you that way, Miss Katerina. You know I wouldn’t.” He gestured back at the truck and trailer. “If I didn’t have to get these horses to the vet for checkups I’d stay here and help.”

  “Do you have Moonlight with you? I looked for her in the stables when I
got here and she wasn’t in her usual stall. That whole section was empty.”

  “Your horse is safe and sound with me.” The wiry foreman eyed Max. “All right if I leave or are you plannin’ to shoot me?”

  “I just came to talk to Ms. Garwood. If she had explained the reasons for her reluctance in the beginning we’d probably be done already.”

  “You gonna be okay if I go, ma’am?”

  Katerina smiled. “The horses come first with me. You know that. I’ll be fine.” She noticed both men staring at the house across the driveway. “If Dad catches me here and starts yelling again I’ll just do what I did before. I’ll leave.”

  “Okay, then. You and this cop goin’ into the house now?”

  She looked to Max for confirmation.

  “I do need to speak to Bertrand Garwood. If that’s a problem for Ms. Garwood I see no reason to confront her father while she’s present. She and I can talk out here.”

  “Now there’s a good idea,” Katerina said. “You can go, Heath. Take good care of Moonlight and the others.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Watching him drive off, Katerina turned to Max. “All right. If you want to ask me questions let’s get it over with. There’s nothing I can tell you that I haven’t already told the local police and the agents who arrested Vern, but I suppose it won’t kill me to go over it again.” She made a face. “I learned a hard lesson.”

  “Oh? Did you?”

  Her grimace grew and her eyebrows arched. “Yes, Mr. Agent, I found out that my loving father will disown me and throw me out if I make a mistake. I also learned to never trust a glib-talking man, and that includes you.”

  She would have been happier if he hadn’t seemed to find that final statement amusing.

  * * *

  “Let’s sit in my car,” Max said, gesturing with his arm. “After you.”

  “Can’t I go get my clothes and stuff first? It took a lot of courage for me to drive back out here and as long as Dad hasn’t noticed me yet, I’d like to finish what I came for.”