Elisabeth Rees - Safe House Under Fire

No matter where they hide

her pursuer always finds her...

Bank clerk Lilly Olsen’s the only witness who can identify a vicious conman—and nobody who’s seen his face has ever lived to testify. While entering protective custody with FBI agent David McQueen is necessary, the pair can’t agree on anything when it comes to managing Lilly’s teen daughter. And everywhere they go, danger follows. Is it just coincidence...or has someone betrayed them?

ELISABETH REESwas raised in the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye, where her father was the parish vicar. She attended Cardiff University and gained a degree in politics. After meeting her husband, they moved to the wild rolling hills of Carmarthenshire, and Elisabeth took up writing. She is now a full-time wife, mother and author. Find out more about Elisabeth at elisabethrees.com.

Also By Elisabeth Rees Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Note to Readers Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse Dedication ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN EPILOGUE Extract About the Publisher

Caught in the Crosshairs

Safe House Under Fire

Navy SEAL Defenders

Lethal Exposure

Foul Play

Covert Cargo

Unraveling the Past

The SEAL’s Secret Child

Innocent Target

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Safe House Under Fire

Elisabeth Rees

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90647-4

SAFE HOUSE UNDER FIRE

© 2020 Elisabeth Rees

Published in Great Britain 2020

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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“There’s a fire in the basement and we need to leave immediately…”

Lilly looked down at her robe and slippers. “Can’t we get dressed first?”

“There’s no time,” said David. “I want to be out of here before the fire department arrives, so we only have five or six minutes at the most.”

“You’re talking like they’re the bad guys.”

“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of, Lilly,” he said. “Henderson might be masquerading as a firefighter again. We have no way of knowing who to trust.” He pointed to her open bedroom door. “Go get your daughter, and let’s leave.”

David’s partner approached the front door as someone knocked. “The fire department got here really quick. It looks like they’re doing door-to-door checks.”

The locks turned just as David realized what was about to happen. “No! Don’t do it.”

It was too late. The door flew open with a bang, kicked firmly with a firefighter’s boot.

“I just want the woman and the girl,” Henderson said from behind his mask. “Give them to me…and I’ll let you live.”

Dear Reader,

Thank you for joining David and Lilly on their romantic journey. I hope you enjoyed reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Parenting teens is a subject close to my heart, as I have one teenager of my own, and one in training. It’s often hard to know how to manage teenagers’ ups and downs, coupled with their constant demands. It is the perfect subject matter for a strong conflict between two people.

David and Lilly are both stubborn when it comes to accepting criticism of their parenting. Yet none of us is perfect. There is no faultless way to raise a child, no model parent and no foolproof way to avoid the pitfalls. It took Lilly and David a little while to work this out, but once they began adhering to the principle of speaking the truth in love, they let go of the idea of perfection and focused instead on simply enjoying the ride.

God only ever speaks to us in love, even when He is reprimanding us, and if we try to do the same with our own children, we cannot go far wrong.

Please join me for Goldie’s story in my next book. I would love to welcome you as a reader again.

Blessings,

Elisabeth

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

—Ephesians 4:32

For my daughter, Alys

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text No matter where they hide her pursuer always finds her... Bank clerk Lilly Olsen’s the only witness who can identify a vicious conman—and nobody who’s seen his face has ever lived to testify. While entering protective custody with FBI agent David McQueen is necessary, the pair can’t agree on anything when it comes to managing Lilly’s teen daughter. And everywhere they go, danger follows. Is it just coincidence...or has someone betrayed them?

About the Author ELISABETH REES was raised in the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye, where her father was the parish vicar. She attended Cardiff University and gained a degree in politics. After meeting her husband, they moved to the wild rolling hills of Carmarthenshire, and Elisabeth took up writing. She is now a full-time wife, mother and author. Find out more about Elisabeth at elisabethrees.com .

Booklist Also By Elisabeth Rees Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Note to Readers Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse Dedication ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN EPILOGUE Extract About the Publisher Caught in the Crosshairs Safe House Under Fire Navy SEAL Defenders Lethal Exposure Foul Play Covert Cargo Unraveling the Past The SEAL’s Secret Child Innocent Target Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk