Cassie Miles - The Secret She Keeps

He was a father. He had no solid reason to be proud, but he was…a father. The realization knitted through his consciousness, drawing his fragmented self back together. He accepted her statement without doubt or question. On a cellular level, he must have known. Being a father changed everything. “Eden, why did you pick this moment to tell me?”

“Because I’m afraid.” But her voice sounded strong and defiant. “I thought we might be killed, and you deserve to know before you die.”

“No more negative thoughts.” He rubbed his hands up and down her arm. “We’re going to make it.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I’ve got to meet my son.”

Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,

Yeah, it’s cold outside, but we have just the remedy to heat you up—another fantastic lineup of breathtaking romantic suspense!

Getting things started with even more excitement than usual is Debra Webb with a super spin-off of her popular COLBY AGENCY series. THE SPECIALISTS is a trilogy of ultradaring operatives the likes of which are rarely—if ever—seen. And man, are they sexy! Look for Undercover Wife this month and two more thrillers to follow in February and March. Hang on to your seats.

A triple pack of TOP SECRET BABIES also kicks off the New Year. First out: The Secret She Keeps by Cassie Miles. Can you imagine how you’d feel if you learned the father of your child was back…as were all the old emotions? This one, by a veteran Harlequin Intrigue author, is surely a keeper. Promotional titles by Mallory Kane and Ann Voss Peterson respectively follow in the months to come.

And since Cupid is once again a blip on the radar screen, we thought we’d highlight some special Valentine picks for the holiday. Harper Allen singes the sheets so to speak with McQueen’s Heat and Adrianne Lee is Sentenced To Wed this month. Next month, Amanda Stevens fans the flames with Confessions of the Heart. WARNING: You may need sunblock to read these scorchers.

Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Denise O’Sullivan

Associate Senior Editor

Harlequin Intrigue

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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For most of her life, Cassie Miles has lived in land-locked, beautiful Colorado, which is about a thousand miles from family in Chicago and an equal distance from fun in Las Vegas. She likes to travel, but has never been fond of airplanes. Her favorite way of getting from here to there is the road trip, especially the kind of leisurely ride where you can go off the highway and explore all the historical markers, roadside attractions and local eats.

It’s the very best kind of trip to take with someone you love. Writing The Secret She Keeps was an absolute joy because she had a chance to revisit the great Midwest via car, train and horseback, with a short hop to Vegas in a puddle jumper.

Payne Magnuson—Alias Peter Maggio. The undercover federal agent, supposed to be dead, was on the run, framed for murder and targeted for vengeance.

Eden Miller—Alias Candace Verone and Susan Anthony. The Denver soccer mom escaped her violent crime-family background to protect her son.

Josh Miller—The eleven-year-old son of Eden had no idea about his heritage.

Danny Oliphant—Also known as Danny-O. A traitorous federal agent whose cleverness led to disaster.

Gus Verone—The patriarch of the notorious Verone crime family.

Sophia Verone—Eden’s grandmother and Gus’s wife, she struggled with family loyalty.

Luke Borman, Chuck Sonderberg and Samuels—Federal agents, who were both good guys and bad guys.

Sister Max—A kindly old nun who occasionally worked for the FBI.

For my wise and patient editor, Patience Smith, and Denise O’Sullivan at Harlequin Intrigue.

And, as always, for Rick.

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

Epilogue

Bitter cold inhabited the last days of April like an unwanted guest who didn’t know when to leave. The vestiges of sleet had melted off the streets of Brooklyn, but a veil of ice remained, sparkling in the headlights of slow-moving traffic on the narrow streets. Payne Magnuson turned up the collar on his black overcoat and adjusted the lapels across his shoulder holster.

He seldom wore his gun anymore. A senior agent at Quantico, his regular assignment was in the classroom. Today, he was in New York for a consultation and seminar, teaching other special operation personnel how to go undercover and get out in one piece. Payne had the practical knowledge. Twelve years ago when he was twenty-four, he’d infiltrated the upper echelons of a Chicago crime family and lived among them for eighteen months. His tapes, wire taps and sequestered testimony had taken down seven minor crime bosses and toppled the Verone family. He should have been proud. In certain FBI circles, Payne was considered a legend.

Yet, he never thought of that time without regret. His efforts hadn’t ended corruption in greater Chicago. He’d barely made a dent. When the Verones stepped down, another family arose to take their place. Crime was a many-headed hydra, voracious and unstoppable. Now, a dozen years later, Gus Verone, the old patriarch, had regained supremacy. Except for two men still serving time in federal prison, it was as if Payne’s undercover operation had never happened.

“You’re going to love this restaurant,” his companion said.

“Why’s that, Danny-O?”

“It’s Italian.”

Danny Oliphant, like many of the younger agents, assumed that Payne was of Mediterranean descent. Because of his black hair and dark eyes? A superficial resemblance to Al Pacino? It wasn’t true; Payne wasn’t Italian. His surname, Magnuson, was Scotch, and he’d grown up in Wisconsin where the culinary fare was mainly meat and potatoes. His only association with Italian cooking was during his undercover assignment when he immersed himself in the culture and passed as Pete Maggio.

As a general rule, Payne avoided the Italian scene. He’d met a lot of people in Chicago he couldn’t face again. Not that they’d be expecting to see him. Payne, in his incarnation as Pete Maggio, was supposed to be dead.

Danny Oliphant—a husky redhead with an innocent, snub-nosed face—held open the door to the corner restaurant, Mama Paisan’s. They shook off the cold in the foyer and stepped inside where a pleasant warmth surrounded them. In keeping with the neighborhood location, the decor was casual with red checkered tablecloths and woven Chianti bottles used as flower vases. A long bar traversed one wall. Above the noise of conversation, Payne heard the background music of a tarantella.