Joyce Sullivan

Urgent Vows


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      Quinn’s lean, muscled body quivered with tightly reined emotion

      It took all Hope’s willpower to hold back the urge to touch him. It was her last remaining defense to his unexpected invasion. Somehow she felt if she didn’t cross that line, she could survive this encounter with her heart still intact.

      Her gaze flew instinctively to Quinn’s little niece and nephew. A drop of moisture dripped off her chin and she realized she was crying at the senseless injustice of a family being destroyed…and Quinn walking around with a price on his head and the guilt of his brother and sister-in-law’s deaths on his soul.

      Quinn.

      A hundred questions formed in her mind. But only one seemed important. “What can I do to help?”

      “Marry me.”

      Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,

      Your summer reading list just wouldn’t be complete without the special brand of romantic suspense you can only get from Harlequin Intrigue.

      This month, Joanna Wayne launches her first-ever miniseries! You loved the Randolph family when you met them in her book Family Ties (#444). So now they’re back in RANDOLPH FAMILY TIES, beginning with Branson’s story in The Second Son (#569). Flesh and blood bind these brothers to each other—and to a mystery baby girl. All are her protectors…one is her father.

      Familiar, the crime-solving black cat, is back in his thirteenth FEAR FAMILIAR title by Caroline Burnes. This time he explores New Orleans in Familiar Obsession (#570).

      It had been Hope Fancy’s dream to marry Quinn McClure, but not under a blaze of bullets! Are Urgent Vows (#571) enough to save two small children…and a lifelong love? Find out with Harlequin Intrigue author Joyce Sullivan.

      With her signature style and Native American characters and culture, Aimée Thurlo revisits the Black Raven brothers from Christmas Witness (#544). In Black Raven’s Pride (#572), Nick Black Raven would die to protect Eden Maes, the one-time and always love of his life. And he’d be damned before anyone would touch a hair on the head of their child.

      So if you can handle the heat, pull the trigger on all four Harlequin Intrigue titles!

      Sincerely,

      Denise O’Sullivan

      Associate Senior Editor Harlequin Intrigue

      Urgent Vows

      Joyce Sullivan

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Joyce credits her lawyer mother with instilling in her a love of reading and writing—and a fascination for solving mysteries. She has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and worked several years as a private investigator before turning her hand to writing romantic suspense. A transplanted American, Joyce makes her home in Aylmer, Quebec, with her handsome French-Canadian husband and two casebook-toting kid detectives.

      Books by Joyce Sullivan

      HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE

      352—THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

      436—THIS LITTLE BABY

      516—TO LANEY, WITH LOVE

      546—THE BABY SECRET

      571—URGENT VOWS

      CAST OF CHARACTERS

      Quinn McClure— This counterfeit expert is certain his identical twin was killed in his place. Can he find a mother for his brother’s children before the hit man rectifies his error?

      Hope Fancy— Always a fiancée and never a bride. Would a jinx and a hit man prevent her from marrying her first love?

      Mercy and Bernardo— Who had hired this hit man and his sidekick?

      Asian Syndicate — They feared Quinn was coming too close to identifying the principals of their credit card ring.

      Hugh Simons— The mastermind of this payday counterfeit check ring blamed Quinn for his arrest.

      Ross Linville— Quinn’s investigation into the stock certificates he’d counterfeited to use as collateral for a bank loan had tarnished his family’s sterling name. Now he’d skipped bail. Was he plotting revenge?

      Adrian Burkhold— When Quinn exposed him as the head of a rare gold coin counterfeiting operation, Burkhold swore he’d see Quinn dead.

      Dr. Juan Chavez— Was this wealthy Dominican Republic doctor trying to prevent Quinn from telling a packed courtroom about his counterfeit medical diplomas?

      For Jeannie, who found her Sha’ul. May you live happily ever after. Mazel tov.

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      A serendipitous meeting with two charming and debonair gentlemen was the inspiration for this book. I would like to extend my gratitude to Jean-Claude Doré, Forensic Counterfeit Examiner and Robert Fawcett, Forensic Document Examiner, of Counterfeit & Forgery Prevention Inc. for sharing the details of their fascinating work.

      Thanks also to Inspector Al Misner, RCMP Forensic Ident Services Ottawa; T. Lorraine Vassalo, Criminologist; Detective-Sergeant Bill Bowles, Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services; Detective-Sergeant Clyde Dyck, Chief Firearms Officer, Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services; Dee Barlow, ADT Security Systems Canada; Lawyers Robert Lewis and Glen Kealy; Jackie Oakley, Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police; Dr. Stephen W. Maclean; Karen Robertson; Kathryn Young-Davies; Pat and Linda Poitevin; and Judy McAnerin

      Any mistakes are my own.

      Contents

       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

      Prologue

      12:00 p.m. Thursday

      The electronic beeper on his wristwatch