Rita Herron - A Warrior's Mission

She lay on a dirty cot, sobbing. At the sight of her anguish, the anger he’d felt at her for denying him knowledge of his son dissipated. He went to her, his steps so silent that she didn’t hear him until he slid down beside her. She cried out and rolled over to fight him.

“Shh, look at me, Holly. Quiet now.”

Her green eyes widened. Then recognition dawned and she nodded. The sadness in her expression was so strong that Night couldn’t help himself—he pulled her into his arms and cradled her against him.

“Are you all right? Did they hurt you?” His words were a mere whisper in the cave of a room.

“I’m okay. I saw our baby.”

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Award-winning author Rita Herron wrote her first book when she was twelve, but didn’t think real people grew up to be writers. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job. A former kindergarten teacher and workshop leader, she traded her storytelling for kids for romance, and writes romantic comedies and romantic suspense. She lives in Georgia with her own romance hero and three kids. She loves to hear from readers, so please write her at P.O. Box 921225, Norcross, GA 30092-1225, or visit her Web site at www.ritaherron.com.

The Confidential Code

I will protect my country and its citizens.

I will stand in the line of fire between innocents and criminals.

I will back up my fellow agents without questions.

I will trust my instincts.

And most of all…

I WILL KEEP MY MISSION AND MY IDENTITY STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

Holly Langworthy—A mother who will do anything to rescue her kidnapped baby. Will she lose her life and her heart in the process?

Night Walker—This half-breed Colorado Confidential agent is a loner and the father of Holly’s baby. His mission is to save Holly and her son, but once he rescues them, will they welcome him back into their lives?

Schyler Langworthy—An innocent baby caught in the trap of a mad scientist. Will he survive in spite of the research drug he received via his birth mother?

Samuel Langworthy—The former governor of Colorado was against Night’s involvement with Holly, and has been acting suspiciously. Could he possibly have orchestrated his grandson’s kidnapping to help son Joshua’s campaign to keep Holly and Night apart?

Celia Langworthy—Does she hold some clue as to who might have kidnapped Holly’s baby?

Dr. Theodore Grace—Celia’s former husband has been conducting germ experiments on the unsuspecting public. Has he kidnapped Holly’s baby to seek revenge on Samuel for marrying Celia? And just how far will he go in his research with the baby?

Governor Forbes—He’s bitter about losing the election to Joshua Langworthy, but is he bitter enough to get revenge by conspiring in a kidnapping?

Carlton Sanders—The man Holly’s father wanted her to marry. He has political aspirations of his own—did he have a secret motive for romancing Holly?

To Tashya, for putting together a great bible and giving me my start six years ago.

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

Epilogue

Mid-July

“Holly Langworthy’s three-month-old son has been kidnapped from his crib.” Colleen Wellesley leveled her gaze at the group of operatives she’d assembled in the secret meeting room at the Royal Flush, the 6,000-acre cattle and horse ranch where the Colorado Confidential organization based its operation. The surveillance room had videos of the ranch access points and of the ICU offices in Denver, and computers that linked to the Department of Public Safety, the DMV and other government agencies on a limited basis.

Ten years ago, Colleen had founded a private investigation agency, Investigations, Confidential and Undercover, or ICU, which took on typical P.I. work—divorces, missing persons, blackmail and other cases. Six months ago, ICU had been recruited as the newest branch of the Confidential organization, Colorado Confidential. ICU’s office in Denver had become a cover for Confidential activities. The private detective business still operated on a highly selective level, but most of the work now was done for the DPS and the federal government.

Confidential agent Night Walker jerked his head toward his boss in shock.

Holly Langworthy had a child?

The beautiful, chestnut-haired, sexy and pampered daughter of Samuel Langworthy, the former governor? Holly—the woman he had shared one incredible night with before her father had run him off and ordered him never to darken the doors of the Langworthy estate again?

“Everyone, this is my brother, Michael.” Colleen continued. “I’ve asked him to join us today to offer suggestions and observations.”

Night tuned out the introductions. His mind was still reeling from the bombshell Colleen had just dropped about Holly Langworthy. Did Colleen know about his previous relationship with Holly?

How old was the baby?

Fiona Clark and Shawn Jameson, two other Confidential agents, sat across from him, their expressions unreadable.

“Although the Langworthy family had not made public the fact that they have a grandchild,” Colleen said, “the baby has been living with his mother at the Langworthy estate in Denver since his birth three months ago. Holly’s father, former governor, Samuel Langworthy, has suggested that the kidnapping is connected to the upcoming gubernatorial election.” Colleen continued, “Of course, now that the media has gotten wind of the story, it will be major news.”

Really major news, since the former governor was a millionaire and his son Joshua was firmly entrenched in the upcoming election as a prime candidate. Even more major news as Night mentally counted back the months and realized the baby might very well be his own son.

A son Holly Langworthy had not bothered to tell him existed.

NIGHT STRUGGLED with the idea that he might have a son as he drove at record-breaking speed away from the Royal Flush, located between Fairplay and Garo, toward the Langworthy mansion in Denver. All his life he had been a loner. His father had died when Night was little, leaving his white mother to raise him in a world that hadn’t wanted her Cheyenne half-breed son. She’d eventually taken him to live on one of the reservations, hoping the people there would be more welcoming, but he had felt just as alone in the midst of his native American Indian cousins as he had in his mother’s world.