Mary Alford - Deadly Memories

WOMAN WITHOUT A PAST

Amnesia may be keeping Ella Weiss from remembering her past—but not from saving the little boy who’s been her fellow prisoner the last seven years. After managing to escape her cell, all she wants is to find where little Joseph is being kept. Instead she runs straight into CIA agent Kyle Jennings. Kyle isn’t sure if Ella is actually a kidnap victim or if she’s working for the gunrunner he’s been after. One thing he is certain of is her uncanny resemblance to the wife he thought he’d buried. To save a child’s life and stop a terrorist from slipping through his fingers, he’ll need to uncover the secrets of Ella’s past—and whether or not she’s really the woman he’s never stopped loving.

“It’s snowing,” she said in amazement.

Some of the worry eased from his face and he smiled. Ella couldn’t get over the feeling that she recognized that smile from...somewhere.

“It is,” Kyle said in agreement.

“I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen it snow. It must have been...” The memory disappeared and she closed her eyes trying to recapture it. In her heart she knew it was real and important, but it was gone.

“What do you remember?” he asked.

Her face creased into a frown. “I don’t know.”

“It’s getting colder out. Let’s get you warm.”

They were halfway to the SUV when the sound of tires squealing close by captured her attention. A nondescript beige car with blacked-out windows charged through the parking lot straight for them.

“Run!” he yelled and grabbed her hand, all but hauling her along with him to the vehicle. They’d just reached the cover of the SUV when the occupants of the car opened fire.

Dear Reader,

Can you imagine being held prisoner for more than seven years without remembering anything about your past, your name or if there is someone out there searching for you? It would be so easy to give up. Lose hope. Turn your back on God, even. Yet it is in these dark times that God’s love can be felt the strongest. In our weakness, His strength shines like a beacon, guiding us through the difficult moments in our lives.

This is the story behind my latest Love Inspired Suspense, Deadly Memories.

Imprisoned for years, Ella Weiss finds herself faced with an impossible situation. Follow through with the deadly plan created by her captors, or lose the child she has grown to love like her own.

After Ella is rescued by Scorpion Agent Kyle Jennings outside a destroyed prison compound in Afghanistan, she must decide if she will take an innocent life to save the child’s, or trust Kyle when he tells her he won’t let her down.

When we are faced with a difficult situation such as Ella’s, we, too, have a choice to make. Trust in our own strength to get us through, or believe God will keep His promises. Letting go of our will and holding on to His can be so hard, but if we have faith in God not to let us down, He’ll be there for us just as Kyle was for Ella.

All the best,

Mary Alford

MARY ALFORD was inspired to become a writer after reading romantic suspense greats Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney. Soon, creating characters and throwing them into dangerous situations that test their faith came naturally for Mary. In 2012 Mary entered the Speed Dating contest hosted by Love Inspired Suspense and later received “the call.” Writing for Love Inspired Suspense has been a dream come true for Mary.

Deadly Memories

Mary Alford

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:

not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

—John 14:27

To the men and women who stand on the front lines of our freedom and face down the enemy every day.

Thank you for your service.

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

Extract

Copyright

ONE

They were coming. She could hear them arguing as they neared. After all these years, they still didn’t have a clue she spoke fluent Dari.

Ella listened closely. The reality of what they said threatened to crush her. It was the last thing she expected. They were planning to kill her.

What had changed in the past twenty-four hours? Alhasan’s orders had been clear yesterday. The men were to escort her to the location. She was being transported to the United States. She had a job to do. As long as she did it, he would let her live...along with the child.

The American. He’d visited her prison cell a handful of times, and in spite of Alhasan’s bragging, Ella believed he was the real person in charge. He’d spoken like someone who wielded a lot of power when he’d made it clear to Alhasan that he didn’t believe she would follow through with her orders in spite of Alhasan’s assurances.

If he’d ordered her death, where did that leave Joseph? She couldn’t think about what might happen to the child and not go crazy, and she couldn’t lose it. Joseph’s life depended on it.

For most of the day, she’d heard them moving things from the prison. She hadn’t seen Alhasan or Joseph again and her fear for the boy’s safety mushroomed.

Now, as the young men grew near, a new uneasiness boiled in her gut. Their conversation had become increasingly agitated. Someone was coming. They were in a rush to leave. Tying up loose ends. One of Alhasan’s young flunkies had decided she wasn’t worth risking his life to save hers.

Immediately Ella’s fighting instinct kicked in. She wasn’t about to die here in this cell. Not after all she’d given up to him. She needed help. God’s help.

Please give me strength, she prayed with all her heart as the key slipped into the lock and the door to her cell flew open, slamming angrily against the stone wall.

“On your feet.” One of the young men shouted the order at her.

Ella’s heart slammed against her chest. She slowly rose to a sitting position; the effort left her struggling for breath. Despair was close and she clamped down hard on her bottom lip until she tasted blood. She wouldn’t show weakness in front of them. Wouldn’t beg for mercy. She’d go out fighting for Joseph and for herself.

The yelling one moved closer. He had a knife in his hand. They were both so young. Barely teenagers and clearly new to Alhasan’s cause.

“I said on your feet,” he snapped as if trying to rally his confidence. He grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet. A tidal wave of pain tore through her. She slumped against her captor, unable to stand on her own.

Her weakness took him by surprise. He shoved her away. “Turn around,” he demanded while slapping the knife against his leg. She was pretty certain neither of them had killed before. They didn’t have the look of hardened killers.