Diane Burke - The Marshal's Runaway Witness

THE RELUCTANT WITNESS

Angelina Baroni was about to testify against her mafia kingpin father until she received a threat to her life—despite the protection of US Marshal Dylan McKnight. Deciding she’s safer on her own, she leaves witness protection and goes into hiding. Three years later, the duty-dedicated marshal is the last man she expects to see when she wakes up in a hospital after someone attempts to kill her. Dylan knows he can’t afford to trust Angelina. Still, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe from the mobsters on her trail. But Dylan has only a few days to accomplish his most difficult mission: defuse Angelina’s doubts about testifying and win her heart before their time runs out.

“Do you have any idea who might want you dead?”

He chuckled, but there was no humor in his tone. “Let me rephrase that. Do you have any idea which one of the many people your father has hired to kill you may have actually tried to do it?”

She shook her head, and the sudden movement flashed pain through her head and made her nauseated.

“My father didn’t put a contract out on me.”

Dylan stared at her, disbelief written all over his face.

“He wouldn’t,” she insisted. “If I had remained with you and testified against him, then he would have felt he had no choice. I understand that. But when I left witness protection and disappeared, he knew I was no longer a threat.”

“After everything that has happened, do you really believe that?”

“Yes, I do. But don’t you see? You’ve changed all that. If he finds out that I am in your custody again, he will believe I have accepted witness protection. Now I will be a danger to him. Now he probably will put out a contract on me. You have to let me go. You have to let me get out of here.”

“That’s not happening.” They locked gazes. “We are still getting you to that trial and putting you on the stand.”

DIANE BURKE is an award-winning author who has had six books published with Love Inspired Suspense. She is a voracious reader and loves movies, crime shows, travel and eating out! She has never met a stranger, only people she hasn’t had the pleasure of talking to yet. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached at diane@dianeburkeauthor.com. She can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

The Marshal’s

Runaway Witness

Diane Burke

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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May you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it.

—Ephesians 3:18–19

Thank you with all my heart to the Volusia County Romance Writers group for helping me brainstorm this story. They were great at helping me fill in the Swiss cheese holes in my plot. You’re a great group of writers and I don’t know what I’d do without you!

I also wish to thank Nancy Orlandi, who suffered through every revision, every author doubt, and came up with some pretty good ideas when I needed them. I appreciate it more than you know.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text THE RELUCTANT WITNESS Angelina Baroni was about to testify against her mafia kingpin father until she received a threat to her life—despite the protection of US Marshal Dylan McKnight. Deciding she’s safer on her own, she leaves witness protection and goes into hiding. Three years later, the duty-dedicated marshal is the last man she expects to see when she wakes up in a hospital after someone attempts to kill her. Dylan knows he can’t afford to trust Angelina. Still, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe from the mobsters on her trail. But Dylan has only a few days to accomplish his most difficult mission: defuse Angelina’s doubts about testifying and win her heart before their time runs out.

Introduction “Do you have any idea who might want you dead?” He chuckled, but there was no humor in his tone. “Let me rephrase that. Do you have any idea which one of the many people your father has hired to kill you may have actually tried to do it?” She shook her head, and the sudden movement flashed pain through her head and made her nauseated. “My father didn’t put a contract out on me.” Dylan stared at her, disbelief written all over his face. “He wouldn’t,” she insisted. “If I had remained with you and testified against him, then he would have felt he had no choice. I understand that. But when I left witness protection and disappeared, he knew I was no longer a threat.” “After everything that has happened, do you really believe that?” “Yes, I do. But don’t you see? You’ve changed all that. If he finds out that I am in your custody again, he will believe I have accepted witness protection. Now I will be a danger to him. Now he probably will put out a contract on me. You have to let me go. You have to let me get out of here.” “That’s not happening.” They locked gazes. “We are still getting you to that trial and putting you on the stand.”

About the Author DIANE BURKE is an award-winning author who has had six books published with Love Inspired Suspense. She is a voracious reader and loves movies, crime shows, travel and eating out! She has never met a stranger, only people she hasn’t had the pleasure of talking to yet. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached at diane@dianeburkeauthor.com. She can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Title Page The Marshal’s Runaway Witness Diane Burke www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse May you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. —Ephesians 3:18–19

Dedication Thank you with all my heart to the Volusia County Romance Writers group for helping me brainstorm this story. They were great at helping me fill in the Swiss cheese holes in my plot. You’re a great group of writers and I don’t know what I’d do without you! I also wish to thank Nancy Orlandi, who suffered through every revision, every author doubt, and came up with some pretty good ideas when I needed them. I appreciate it more than you know.

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

EPILOGUE

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

ONE

Unease crept up Angelina Baroni’s spine. The kind of unease a person feels when she thinks she’s being watched but doesn’t see anyone.

The tinkling of laughter and the sound of distant voices drifting on the Atlantic City ocean breeze couldn’t pull her out of her funk. Not even the incessant chattering and giggles of her best friend and business partner, Maria Lopez, could calm her dark mood as they strolled the beach.