C.J. Miller - Capturing A Colton

The most lethal Colton is out for revenge in the conclusion of The Coltons of Shadow Creek!

Real-estate tycoon Declan Sinclair has a score to settle with on-the-run felon Livia Colton. He can’t change his tragic past, but he can demolish her onetime estate. But while coming to terms with his most hated enemy, Declan bumps heads with Livia’s youngest daughter, the alluring Jade Colton...

Having always felt isolated from her own family, Jade finds satisfaction in rescuing and rehabilitating Thoroughbred racehorses. And when she finds herself in Livia’s crosshairs, Jade turns to Declan for comfort and protection. Can she really trust a man who’s sworn to take down the entire Colton clan—once and for all?

Jade stumbled over her words and then cleared her throat.

“If you’d like to come by the farm, you are welcome anytime. I’d love to show you what I’m doing with my horses, and it would be great to have another person looking out for me. My family is worried about each other, but they have their lives and I’m here alone a lot.”

Declan didn’t like those odds. Being alone on the farm left her open to an attack by Livia or one of her henchmen. Though the authorities had torn down the crime ring Livia had worked for over the years, they had not rooted out every person who’d been involved with Livia or who felt loyal to her. Livia was the queen of manipulation. Nothing else explained how even after all she’d done and the hundreds of people she had ruthlessly hurt, anyone would carry their loyalty to her.

Declan had loyalty to no one except Edith. Livia Colton had torn his family apart and he had sworn no one would get the better of him the way Livia had with his father.

Yet here he was, sitting in the dark with Jade Colton, Livia’s flesh and blood, and thinking about how he wanted to protect her.

* * *

The Coltons of Shadow Creek:

Only family can keep you safe...

Capturing a Colton

C.J. Miller

www.millsandboon.co.uk

C.J. MILLER loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her website, cj-miller.com. She lives in Maryland with her husband and three children. C.J. believes in first loves, second chances and happily-ever-after.

To Brook. Without you, no books would be

written and my muse would sleep far too often.

Thank you for everything you do.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text The most lethal Colton is out for revenge in the conclusion of The Coltons of Shadow Creek! Real-estate tycoon Declan Sinclair has a score to settle with on-the-run felon Livia Colton. He can’t change his tragic past, but he can demolish her onetime estate. But while coming to terms with his most hated enemy, Declan bumps heads with Livia’s youngest daughter, the alluring Jade Colton... Having always felt isolated from her own family, Jade finds satisfaction in rescuing and rehabilitating Thoroughbred racehorses. And when she finds herself in Livia’s crosshairs, Jade turns to Declan for comfort and protection. Can she really trust a man who’s sworn to take down the entire Colton clan—once and for all?

Introduction Jade stumbled over her words and then cleared her throat. “If you’d like to come by the farm, you are welcome anytime. I’d love to show you what I’m doing with my horses, and it would be great to have another person looking out for me. My family is worried about each other, but they have their lives and I’m here alone a lot.” Declan didn’t like those odds. Being alone on the farm left her open to an attack by Livia or one of her henchmen. Though the authorities had torn down the crime ring Livia had worked for over the years, they had not rooted out every person who’d been involved with Livia or who felt loyal to her. Livia was the queen of manipulation. Nothing else explained how even after all she’d done and the hundreds of people she had ruthlessly hurt, anyone would carry their loyalty to her. Declan had loyalty to no one except Edith. Livia Colton had torn his family apart and he had sworn no one would get the better of him the way Livia had with his father. Yet here he was, sitting in the dark with Jade Colton, Livia’s flesh and blood, and thinking about how he wanted to protect her. * * * The Coltons of Shadow Creek: Only family can keep you safe...

Title Page Capturing a Colton C.J. Miller www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author C.J. MILLER loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her website, cj-miller.com . She lives in Maryland with her husband and three children. C.J. believes in first loves, second chances and happily-ever-after.

Dedication To Brook. Without you, no books would be written and my muse would sleep far too often. Thank you for everything you do.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter 1

Declan Sinclair was accustomed to the heat and humidity of an August night in Texas, but he was not accustomed to being this uncomfortable. If anyone other than Edith Beaulieu was getting married, Declan wouldn’t willingly be within a hundred yards of a Colton—and this place was crawling with Coltons.

Despite Declan’s reservations about Edith marrying the son of a criminal—a criminal who had escaped prison and was currently on the run—he had to admit that his foster sister looked happy. Her smile was bright and glowing and she seemed to almost dance as she walked. She held on to the arm of her fiancé, River Colton, as they circulated through the large gathering. The scene was something out of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. White candles in lanterns were hung on shepherd’s hooks surrounding the party. Long tables were covered in white linen cloths and the floral centerpieces provided bursts of color in pale purple, blue and pink.

Declan hadn’t been involved in the planning of this soiree. This was all Colton planned. The engagement party was being held at the horse rehabilitation facility of River’s sister Jade. From what Declan had been told, Jade ran the farm for off-track horses, but she also grew a few crops and had other barn animals, managing this almost by herself. The barn doors were open and lit, the glow of the light reflecting off the hay and wood, but the guests gathered outside beneath the pastel-colored paper lanterns strung together with Christmas lights. The air smelled of citronella and honeysuckle.

After Declan said hello to Edith, he could leave. Obligation fulfilled. It was a quick twenty-five-minute drive to the charming bed-and-breakfast where he was staying, where a comfortable bed awaited him. He wasn’t looking forward to having a stilted conversation with River and from the way the couple was hanging on to each other, tonight they were a package deal. Though he and River had discovered that they were half brothers, neither seemed to be able to overcome the awkwardness and tension. Competition over Edith or anger over what their parents had done? He couldn’t put his finger on it.

Neither he nor Edith had much biological family. Churned through the foster care system in Louisiana, they’d had each other and not much else. She’d recently connected with her uncle Mac and now Edith also had River, a fact that bothered Declan more than a little. He’d lose her to Shadow Creek and the Coltons. The thought burned through him. Wouldn’t be the first time a Colton had stolen from him; wouldn’t be the last.