Joanna Wayne - Security Measures

Images from the past became so real, Janice could almost touch and taste them. Vincent, tanned and gorgeous, just home from college for the summer. She’d become infatuated with him at first sight, mesmerized by his dark eyes and the cocky confidence that characterized his every move. He’d been so different than the boys she was used to, he could have come from another planet.

He’d kissed her that first night in the moonlight. How he’d kissed her! She’d thought she was simply going to die when he pulled away. Impulsively her fingers went to her lips. But that was all before that night fifteen years ago, before she was pregnant….

Janice Stevens/Candy Owens —Forced to change her identity after testifying in a murder trial, she will do anything to keep her daughter from ever knowing her biological father.

Vincent Magilinti —He’s a wanted man, but his only concerns are for the daughter he’s never met and the woman he can’t forget.

Kelly Stevens —At fourteen, she’s a typical adolescent—spunky, curious and wants to do everything her friends do. She can’t understand why her mother is so paranoid.

Byron Hasselbeck —A friend that Kelly met in an Internet chat room.

Ken Levine —The U.S. Sheriff in charge of protecting Janice and Kelly.

Tyrone Magilinti —Vincent Magilinti’s cousin who was recently released from prison.

Vincent Magilinti, Sr. —Head of the mob, who was murdered in a massacre in his house on St. Charles Avenue over fourteen years ago.

Joel Pinanski —The one man Vincent thinks he can trust.

Rico —An ex-mobster who worked with Vincent’s father.

Mush Face —One of the kidnappers.

Joanna Wayne lives with her husband just a few miles from steamy, exciting New Orleans, but her home is in the perfect writer’s hideaway. A lazy bayou, complete with graceful herons, colorful wood ducks and an occasional alligator, winds just below her back garden. When not creating tales of spine-tingling suspense and heart-warming romance, she enjoys reading, traveling, playing golf and spending time with family and friends.

Joanna believes that one of the special joys of writing is knowing that her stories have brought enjoyment to or somehow touched the lives of her readers. You can write Joanna at P.O. Box 2851, Harvey, LA 70059-2851.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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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

“You never want me to have any fun. Never. You’re so paranoid, you hardly let me out of your sight. If my father were living, I bet you wouldn’t be so mean to me!”

Her daughter’s words echoed through Janice Stevens’s mind, searing a path straight to her heart. She could blame a lot of Kelly’s outbursts these days on adolescence and the surge of hormones coursing through her ever-changing body, but tonight’s blowup had hit too close to home.

Janice buried her toes in the sand as the cooling night breezes kicked up her skirt, then plastered it to her thighs. She’d looked forward to this week on North Carolina’s Outer Banks for months, envisioned it as the perfect opportunity for her to spend some quality time with Kelly.

The week had gone fairly well until tonight, though occasional sparks had flown. Tonight had started out well. They’d gone out for burgers and shakes, then taken a long walk on the beach before settling in to watch a movie from the extensive collection in the rented beach house.

Kelly had capitalized on the camaraderie by pleading her case to go to New Orleans one more time. Her school swim team had done exceptionally well this year, and they’d qualified for a Super Regional Meet in New Orleans. Her coach was taking eight of the top swimmers to the meet, preceded by a five-day sightseeing visit to New Orleans and the surrounding area.

All the other parents had giving their permission. Janice would sooner have let Kelly take a trip to Hades than to have her set one foot inside the city limits of New Orleans, especially now that Tyrone Magilinti had been paroled.

Janice hugged her windbreaker tighter and studied the shimmering band of moonlight that danced across the surface of the water. The setting was peaceful; her emotions were anything but. All she had to do was think of New Orleans, and the terrifying memories started riding roughshod over her nerves.

But she couldn’t explain that to Kelly. She’d spent her life protecting her daughter from the lingering horrors of that long-ago night. She certainly wouldn’t toss her to the demons now.

She started back to the house. Her cell phone rang. The caller ID said Ken Levine. Her already low mood took a nosedive. The U.S. Marshal in charge of her protection never called with good news.

“Hello, Ken. Tell me you called to see how my vacation was going.”

“I wish. I hate to hit you with this tonight, but I knew you’d want to know.”

Dread swelled in her chest. “Is it Tyrone?”

“No. It’s Vincent Magilinti.”

Vincent. She swallowed hard, hit by a new wave of dread and a tangle of confusing emotions that all but stole her breath. “What about Vincent?”

“He broke out of Angola last night.”

She exhaled slowly and shuddered. “How did that happen?”

“He was on kitchen duty. Some guy making deliveries had a seizure. In the commotion, Vincent sneaked into the back of the guy’s panel truck and hid in a big crate of sweet potatoes. The guard didn’t miss him until it was too late.”

“What do I do?”

“Nothing yet. As far as we can tell, both Vincent and his cousin Tyrone bought the story that you and Kelly are dead. You’ve been living peacefully for twelve years. No reason to think you can’t go on that way.”

“We lived peacefully when Tyrone and Vincent were in prison. They’re out now.”

“You’re right, but like I said, we have no reason to believe they think you’re alive. Even if they did, I doubt they’d have the money or the inclination to seek revenge at this point in their lives.”

“But their cronies might do it on their behalf.”

“Not likely. When Vince Sr. died and Tyrone and Vincent went to prison, the Mob fell under new leadership, and that’s been evolving over the past few years. Word is the new kingpin doesn’t want anything to do with the Magilintis.”

“More reason for Tyrone and Vincent to nurse their grudge against me.”

“Their grudge is against Candy Owens. She’s dead.”

Ken made it sound as if the prison break was no reason for concern, but she wasn’t buying the story. “I know you too well, Ken. If you were convinced there is no chance of danger, you wouldn’t have called.”