Sharon Dunn - Fatal Vendetta

DEADLY SHOWDOWN

While reporting on a fire, Montana TV journalist Elizabeth Kramer is abducted—and saved only by the heroics of rival reporter Zachery Beck. But her kidnapper returns, taunting her, luring her to danger and making her relive a past she never put to rest. Elizabeth doesn’t like asking for help, but this time she can’t stay alone and stay alive. And Zach knows how to evade danger. When tragedy thrust him into the public eye, he changed his identity to remain hidden. Protecting Elizabeth means stepping out of the shadows…but as her stalker closes in for a deadly showdown, it’s a risk Zach has to take.

She was not going to die out here.

She told herself that even as a clawlike hand grabbed her hair, rendering her immobile.

She couldn’t scream, couldn’t move. Terror embedded itself deep in her muscles. She could feel herself shutting down and the world going black as ten-year-old memories crashed in from all sides.

Help me.

As if someone heard her plea, lights shone through the broken window. A car was coming down the hill.

Her assailant pulled her close and whispered harsh words before he took off.

She drew what felt like her first breath when she felt Zach’s arms surround her and lift her off the floor.

“It’s going to be all right, Elizabeth. I’m here.” He pulled her close to his chest.

Even as she burrowed into the comfort of his arms, she recalled the departing words of her assailant and knew they were true. You will never feel safe again.

Ever since she found the Nancy Drew books with the pink covers in her country school library, SHARON DUNN has loved mystery and suspense. Most of her books take place in Montana, where she lives with three nearly grown children and a spastic border collie. She lost her beloved husband of twenty-seven years to cancer in 2014. When she isn’t writing, she loves to hike surrounded by God’s beauty.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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When justice is done it brings joy to the righteous,

but terror to evildoers.

—Proverbs 21:15

For Richard, my friend and soul mate, for bringing me back to the land of the living and teaching me to breathe again.

Contents

COVER

BACK COVER TEXT DEADLY SHOWDOWN While reporting on a fire, Montana TV journalist Elizabeth Kramer is abducted—and saved only by the heroics of rival reporter Zachery Beck. But her kidnapper returns, taunting her, luring her to danger and making her relive a past she never put to rest. Elizabeth doesn’t like asking for help, but this time she can’t stay alone and stay alive. And Zach knows how to evade danger. When tragedy thrust him into the public eye, he changed his identity to remain hidden. Protecting Elizabeth means stepping out of the shadows…but as her stalker closes in for a deadly showdown, it’s a risk Zach has to take.

INTRODUCTION She was not going to die out here. She told herself that even as a clawlike hand grabbed her hair, rendering her immobile. She couldn’t scream, couldn’t move. Terror embedded itself deep in her muscles. She could feel herself shutting down and the world going black as ten-year-old memories crashed in from all sides. Help me. As if someone heard her plea, lights shone through the broken window. A car was coming down the hill. Her assailant pulled her close and whispered harsh words before he took off. She drew what felt like her first breath when she felt Zach’s arms surround her and lift her off the floor. “It’s going to be all right, Elizabeth. I’m here.” He pulled her close to his chest. Even as she burrowed into the comfort of his arms, she recalled the departing words of her assailant and knew they were true. You will never feel safe again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ever since she found the Nancy Drew books with the pink covers in her country school library, SHARON DUNN has loved mystery and suspense. Most of her books take place in Montana, where she lives with three nearly grown children and a spastic border collie. She lost her beloved husband of twenty-seven years to cancer in 2014. When she isn’t writing, she loves to hike surrounded by God’s beauty.

TITLE PAGE Fatal Vendetta Sharon Dunn www.millsandboon.co.uk

BIBLE VERSE When justice is done it brings joy to the righteous, but terror to evildoers. —Proverbs 21:15

DEDICATION For Richard, my friend and soul mate, for bringing me back to the land of the living and teaching me to breathe again.

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

Dear Reader

EXTRACT

COPYRIGHT

ONE

Elizabeth Kramer’s heartbeat skipped into double time as the fire trucks sped around her KBLK news van. She didn’t like the idea that another tragedy had struck Badger, Montana, but knowing that she might make a difference through her news reporting created a sense of excitement in her.

“The police scanner was a good investment.” Elizabeth looked over at her cameraman, Dale, who sat behind the wheel.

“Good thing you had it on.” Dale kept his eyes focused on the flashing lights of the fire trucks as he pulled back out into traffic. “We should be the first news team there.”

The prospect gave her spirits a jolt. Since the move ten years ago back to Montana to rebuild her life and then take care of her dying father, she was determined to succeed as a reporter, to put the past behind her.

When they arrived at the warehouse, flames shot out of the upper story. Cool summer evening air surrounded Elizabeth as she exited the van. She caught sight of the gathering crowd. Even at a distance, she could see the expressions of shock and fear on the faces of the onlookers. A reminder of why she had chosen to become a reporter in the first place. Her father had been a police officer. To him, work had been about sacrifice and service. Now that he was gone, she wanted to live by his example, using her chosen vocation, the gifts God had given her, as a way to help others.

Elizabeth tugged at the hem of the blazer she’d hurriedly thrown on over her T-shirt and sweats. Dale would shoot her from the waist up. No one would see her cartoon-emblazoned pants.

Her heart raced as she scanned the crowd, recognizing the fire chief and the arson investigator from Badger PD. Interesting. Maybe the fire wasn’t an accident. “Let’s get some coverage from the eyewitnesses until the first responders can give us some info.” She turned a half circle, reading the faces of thirty or so people who had gathered to watch the warehouse burn. Most of them were probably Johnny-come-latelies who would have nothing to contribute about what had happened, but surely somewhere in the crowd was the man or woman who had been here for the early stages of the fire and made the 911 call.

A woman with her arm around a teenage boy offered a welcoming expression. Elizabeth stepped toward her but stopped short when Zachery Beck emerged from the shadows holding a tablet computer. He closed in on the woman before Elizabeth could reach her.