Laura Scott - Christmas Amnesia

MISTLETOE MEMORY LOSS

Assaulted a week before a high-profile drug trafficking trial, assistant district attorney Madison Callahan narrowly escapes death...but suffers amnesia. Now, when she can’t recall the identity of her attacker, everyone is suspect—except the handsome policeman who saved her. Officer Noah Sinclair will do anything to bring the mob-connected drug trafficker to justice, including providing personal protection to Madison—the sister of the partner he nearly got killed. But helping her regain her memory may end their unlikely alliance because once she remembers him, Noah might be the last man she’ll want to rely on. As the trial looms and with the assailant dead set on ensuring that Madison doesn’t survive to see Christmas, it’ll take everything Noah’s got to keep Madison alive.

The way Noah watched the parking lot, sweeping his gaze over the area, made Maddy nervous.

Surely he didn’t think they’d be ambushed here? No, it was more likely that he was just being a cop.

The minutes ticked by with excruciating slowness, but then a large black K-9 SUV pulled into the parking lot, the twin headlights bright amid the dusky shadows.

Maddy headed for the door. Noah moved lightning-fast, grasping her arm, halting her progress.

“Hold on a minute, Maddy.” He pushed her behind him. “I’m going first, just in case.”

She didn’t want Noah in harm’s way, but he was wearing the vest that had saved his life once before. She grasped the back of his utility belt, determined to follow close on his heels.

Outside, her gaze centered on the black SUV she could see parked in a spot that was facing the bowling alley. The driver-side door opened and a man climbed out. Her brother turned and the moment she saw his face, the missing puzzle pieces clicked into place.

She let go of Noah and rushed around him in a hurry to reach her brother.

“Get down!” Noah shouted just before the boom of a gun echoed through the parking lot.

Dear Reader,

Christmas Amnesia is the third book in my Callahan Confidential miniseries. Thanks to all of you who wrote to me letting me know how much you’re enjoying the Callahans. This book revolves around Assistant District Attorney Madison “Maddy” Callahan.

When Maddy is assaulted outside the courthouse, she loses her memory, a catastrophe since she’s preparing for the biggest trial of her career. Office Noah Sinclair arrives at the hospital in time to save her life, and while he certainly knows Maddy, she doesn’t remember him. As Maddy tries to remember and flees the gunman chasing after her, she soon realizes Noah is the only man she can trust, with her life and with her heart.

I hope you enjoy Noah and Maddy’s story. I’m also hard at work on the next book in the Callahan Confidential Series. I love hearing from my readers. If you’re interested in contacting me or signing up for my newsletter, please visit my website at www.laurascottbooks.com. I’m also on Facebook at Laura Scott Books Authorand on Twitter @Laurascottbooks.

Yours in faith,

Laura Scott

LAURA SCOTT is a nurse by day and an author by night. She has always loved romance and read faith-based books by Grace Livingston Hill in her teenage years. She’s thrilled to have published over twelve books for Love Inspired Suspense. She has two adult children and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband of thirty years. Please visit Laura at laurascottbooks.com, as she loves to hear from her readers.

Christmas Amnesia

Laura Scott

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Answer me when I call to You, my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress;

have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

—Psalms 4:1

This book is dedicated to my niece Brianna Umhoefer.

Always remember you are strong and smart.

Reach for your dreams!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

ONE

Assistant district attorney Madison Callahan hesitated on the concrete steps of the Milwaukee County Courthouse, shivering in the cold breeze coming off Lake Michigan. Had she heard something? Or was she letting her imagination run wild?

Working late and leaving at nine o’clock at night wasn’t unusual, but for some undefined reason she hesitated. Giving herself a mental shake, she continued down the stairs, careful to avoid any icy patches.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she instinctively headed toward the reassuring streetlight, digging in her purse for her phone. Normally she walked the three-quarters of a mile to her condo, but since the hour was late, she decided to pull up the ride-sharing app on her phone.

She was moments from confirming her pickup location for her ride when strong arms yanked her backward, causing her to drop the phone. She sucked in a breath to scream, but the arms tightened crushingly around her. The sharp edge of a blade pressed painfully against her throat.

“Drop the case or you will all die, including the two old ladies in the house on the hill.”

Maddy froze, her mind grappling with what was happening. Two old ladies had to be referring to her mother and grandmother, but how did this guy know where her family lived?

She forced herself to speak. “Did Alexander Pietro send you?”

The blade pressed deeper, causing her to suck in a harsh breath from the sharp pain. Something warm trickled over her skin. Blood? Was this man going to slit her throat right here?

Headlights swept over the road, brightening as a vehicle approached, but before she could be relieved that help had arrived, the man holding her suddenly gave her a hard shove, causing her head to crack soundly against the solid steel of the light post.

Pain exploded in her temple and she felt herself falling, arms flailing as she sought to break her fall. Her last fleeting thought was that she needed to find a way to keep her mother and grandmother safe. If anything happened to them, she’d never be able to live with herself.

* * *

“Ma’am? Can you hear me?”

She moaned and blinked, the light overhead painfully bright. Her head was pounding so hard she thought she might throw up. “Yes,” she croaked. “I can hear you.”

“That’s good.” An older guy, with salt-and-pepper hair and thick black-rimmed glasses, filled her field of vision. He was blurry initially, but then became clear. “Can you tell me your name?”

“Huh?” Moving her head hurt too much, so she stared at the man. He was dressed in green scrubs, a stethoscope wrapped around his neck.

“Your name,” he repeated patiently. “There wasn’t any ID found at the scene.”

She opened her mouth, then shut it again. Of course she knew her name. Didn’t she? The pain in her head quadrupled and she winced, closing her eyes and swallowing hard, willing the contents of her stomach to stay put.