Mary Alford - Rocky Mountain Pursuit

IDENTITY: CONFIDENTIAL

Everyone believes agent Jase Bradford is dead—everyone but Reyna Peterson. Only he can protect her now that someone wants the information her CIA husband died to secure. As the one member of their spy team not killed, Jase must remain in the shadows. Yet when Reyna leads the enemy right to his mountain refuge and blows his cover, Jase risks his life for hers. As his best friend’s beautiful widow scales the walls around his heart, whether out of loyalty or love, he makes it his duty to secure her safety. But when their pursuers trap them in the snowy Colorado mountains, will it become his final mission?

“You’re all I have.”

Despite Reyna’s words, his patience neared the breaking point. “Tell me who they are.”

“I don’t know.” Then she slumped forward, as if she couldn’t take any more. “They came to my house and threatened me. They said my husband had taken something they wanted. Jase, I think these men killed him. And now they’re after me. We need to get out of here.”

The noise of approaching vehicles grew louder. As much as he needed to know more about the danger she’d brought to his door, if they didn’t leave soon there would be no way out.

He led her into the night. “Take my hand. We can’t risk using the flashlight. Stay quiet. Noise carries for miles up in these mountains.”

She clasped his hand. The tremors in her gave away her fear, and his heart went out to her.

It might be the worst mistake of his life, but he believed everything she’d told him. He’d do whatever it took to protect his friend’s widow…or he would die trying.

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.

Rocky Mountain Pursuit

Mary Alford

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

—Isaiah 40:31

To the men and women of our armed forces

who risk their lives daily so that we might

enjoy the freedom that we do today.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sacrifice.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text IDENTITY: CONFIDENTIAL Everyone believes agent Jase Bradford is dead—everyone but Reyna Peterson. Only he can protect her now that someone wants the information her CIA husband died to secure. As the one member of their spy team not killed, Jase must remain in the shadows. Yet when Reyna leads the enemy right to his mountain refuge and blows his cover, Jase risks his life for hers. As his best friend’s beautiful widow scales the walls around his heart, whether out of loyalty or love, he makes it his duty to secure her safety. But when their pursuers trap them in the snowy Colorado mountains, will it become his final mission?

Introduction “You’re all I have.” Despite Reyna’s words, his patience neared the breaking point. “Tell me who they are.” “I don’t know.” Then she slumped forward, as if she couldn’t take any more. “They came to my house and threatened me. They said my husband had taken something they wanted. Jase, I think these men killed him. And now they’re after me. We need to get out of here.” The noise of approaching vehicles grew louder. As much as he needed to know more about the danger she’d brought to his door, if they didn’t leave soon there would be no way out. He led her into the night. “Take my hand. We can’t risk using the flashlight. Stay quiet. Noise carries for miles up in these mountains.” She clasped his hand. The tremors in her gave away her fear, and his heart went out to her. It might be the worst mistake of his life, but he believed everything she’d told him. He’d do whatever it took to protect his friend’s widow…or he would die trying.

About the Author 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.

Title Page Rocky Mountain Pursuit Mary Alford www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. —Isaiah 40:31

Dedication To the men and women of our armed forces who risk their lives daily so that we might enjoy the freedom that we do today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sacrifice.

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

EPILOGUE

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

PROLOGUE

A thunderous rap on her front door jerked Dr. Reyna Peterson’s attention from the letter she’d been reading seconds earlier. Her heart slammed against her chest at the ominous tone of the knock. It was almost eleven at night and she wasn’t expecting company so late.

The pounding grew louder and more demanding. Whoever was out there wasn’t going away. Reyna shoved the letter into the pocket of her robe, flipped on the outside light and inched the curtains apart. Three extremely menacing-looking men dressed in suits stood on her front porch. She didn’t recognize any of them.

If it weren’t for the unsettling contents of Eddie’s letter warning her this moment might come, Reyna might not have thought anything unusual about the men on her porch. But now, coupled with the events leading up to her husband’s death, she wasn’t so sure.

She glanced around the living room as the banging was followed by an angry voice, demanding, “Open the door, Dr. Peterson. Now. Federal agents.”

Don’t trust anyone from the government, Eddie had warned in the letter.

The door rattled in someone’s grasp. Were they going to break the door down? Her chest constricted with fear. Reyna grabbed the phone to call 9-1-1, but what the man said next had her ending the call before she placed it.

“This is about your husband, Dr. Peterson, and what he stole from his country. If you don’t want to be charged as a coconspirator to treason, I suggest you open the door.”

Every instinct inside of her warned against it, but in her heart she knew she had to find out what they were accusing Eddie of stealing, because she had a feeling she knew already.