Cynthia Eden - Fear For Me

Her.

He bent down onto one knee. “I don’t have a ring.”

Her delicate brows climbed. “A house, but no ring?”

Was she laughing? God, he hoped so. He wanted her to spend the rest of her days smiling and laughing and banishing the ghosts and demons from the past.

“I’ll give you any ring you want,” he promised. “I’ll give you anything you want, just please, stay with me.”

Her gaze searched his. “I remember what you said to me.”

Hell, during those desperate hours in the hospital when he’d been a deranged fuck?

“Marriage,” she whispered. “Kids.”

He had to swallow the thick lump that rose in his throat. He wanted those things with her, so badly.

“I tried to tell you then…”

She had the two crosses around her slender neck. A neck that still showed the wounds Greg had given to her.

“I tried to tell you yes.”

All of the breath left his lungs. He surged up. Wrapped his arms around her and held her carefully, so carefully.

Her hold on him was tight and hard—and so perfect.

“How is this going to work?” Lauren whispered. “With your job, how?”

He pulled away, just a few inches, so he could stare down at her. “I’m not a marshal anymore.”

“What?”

“I’m officially retired.” He gave her a smile. “I’m going to open a security business in town.” Giving up the job had been easy for him.

Wherever she was, that was where he needed to be.

“What happens now?” Lauren asked.

Her eyes were shining. Her lips waiting. Love…it was right there for him to see and touch and taste.

“Now we live.” He put his mouth to hers and knew their life together was truly beginning.

“It was a beautiful service.”

Lauren turned to see FBI Special Agent Cadence Hollow heading toward her. Kyle had flown back to Virginia, but Cadence had stayed a little longer.

Cadence had been checking in on Lauren, and helping Paul find the last of the victims.

When the police had searched Greg’s home, they’d discovered journals, diaries—dozens of them. All talking about his kills.

He’d planted a tree over each body. A special tree for his special girls. Love could be twisted for some.

Anthony’s hand brushed lightly over Lauren’s arm.

And love could be dark and dangerous and perfect for others.

“Your sister’s at peace now,” Cadence continued quietly. “You got justice for her.”

Lauren glanced at the flowers on the ground, the spot that would mark her sister’s resting place. A perfect spot right next to their parents. The service had been a long time coming, and now… I still miss her just as much.

“What happened to him?” Lauren asked the profiler. “What made Greg turn out…”

Like this?

“We talked to some of his old neighbors. As a kid, he was caught killing a lady’s cat. Skinning a dog.”

Lauren shuddered.

“The behavior stopped after his parents sent him to a group therapy home, so they thought everything was back to normal for him.”

Anthony wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close against him.

Cadence’s stare moved between them. “Sometimes, it’s hard to stay what turns one man into a killer but makes another the hero. The protector. Both have the same capacity within them for good and evil.”

Some were just evil, hiding behind good.

“From his journal entries, we learned that Greg and Jon actually met at the therapy group. Their parents were trying to get them help, but it just didn’t work.” The wind lifted her hair, and Cadence brushed it back. “He helped Jon get out of prison. A week before the escape, Greg was at Angola, supposedly for a consult. We think he found a way to talk with Jon then.”

“Do you believe some people are born evil?” Lauren asked.

“Yes.” Her voice was flat. “After all I’ve seen…” There were ghosts in Cadence’s eyes, shadows of terrible memories. “I do.” Cadence straightened her shoulders and offered Lauren her hand. “I’ll be leaving tonight. Got a call about another case.”

“There’s always another one,” Anthony murmured.

Always another monster waiting in the wings.

Cadence nodded. “But at least we took two down.” She shook Anthony’s hand. “Enjoy your happiness. Few people ever get to be truly happy.” Her eyes were sincere. “I envy you that happiness.”

She turned away and walked slowly from the cemetery.

Goose bumps rose on Lauren’s arms as she watched Cadence leave. The woman spent her days in the minds of killers—why?

I prosecute to give victims their justice. I do it because of Jenny.

What had made Cadence so determined to go after real-life monsters?

“Are you ready to go?” Anthony asked as she turned to face him.

A line of stubble darkened his hard jaw, making him look even sexier than normal.

Her sexy ex- marshal. “I’m ready.”

Ready to walk away from the past and start looking toward the future.

The future that waited, with him.

Thank you so much to the wonderful Amazon Montlake team! Working with you is a pleasure!

And to my amazing readers—thank you (from the bottom of my heart!) for all of your support. Thank you for the e-mails and messages that you have sent to me. Your support is truly incredible.

Available spring 2014 on Amazon.com

His prey stumbled through the dark parking lot, teetering in her high heels, swaying as she tried to brace her body against the old sedan. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her slender shoulders were slumped.

Voices and laughter drifted in the night. The last few bar patrons slowly staggered away.

They didn’t acknowledge the woman. They were too busy trying to stay upright.

He was the only one who watched her.

She wasn’t drunk. That wasn’t why she swayed. The woman was bone tired. Lily Adams had worked a double shift, staying far later at Striker’s than she normally did. She had to be so very weary.

She shouldn’t work so hard. If she wasn’t careful, little Lily was going to work herself straight into an early grave.

She finally got the car door unlocked. Lily slid into her sedan. Cranked the engine. It sputtered, then died. Lily tried again, obviously used to this routine.

It was a routine he’d watched before.

A few minutes later, after a few more false starts, her car backed out of the lot.

He waited a beat, then followed her.

When she turned on the old, long stretch of highway that would take her back to the little ranch house she had off of County Road 12, he was close. So close. His headlights were turned off, and sweet Lily Adams had no clue she was being hunted.

The hunt was always so much fun. Not the best part, of course, but still…

He enjoyed it. The hunt built the anticipation. Let him know of the pleasures to come.

He kept track of the miles as they passed. It was important to keep track because he’d planned this so perfectly.

Up ahead, her car began to slow. To sputter. Right on time.

When the sedan stopped completely, he smiled and flashed on his lights.

The road was instantly bright, the headlights falling straight on Lily and her car. She hadn’t gotten out of the vehicle. Sometimes, they did. When their cars stopped, they would jump out. They tried to lift the hood, tried to see what was wrong.

Tried to fix what couldn’t be fixed.