id="u9e6b72ec-a417-5383-8134-447a5385b124">
A kidnapper with deadly intentions
...and a US marshal who must come to the rescue
The carjacking that ended with Kristen Lang running for her life—and her federal judge mother kidnapped—was a nightmare. The ransom, however, is worse: Kristen in exchange for her mother. Deputy US Marshal Nick Sandoval will do almost anything to safely recover the judge—except trade Kristen. But can he shield the woman he’s falling for and bring her mother home?
LAURIE ALICE EAKES dreamed of being a writer from the time she was a small child. Now, with her dreams fulfilled, she is the award-winning and bestselling author of over two dozen historical and contemporary novels. When she isn’t writing full-time, she enjoys long walks, live theater and being near her beloved Lake Michigan. She lives in Illinois with her husband and sundry cats and dogs.
Love Inspired Suspense
Perilous Christmas Reunion
Lethal Ransom
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.
Lethal Ransom
Laurie Alice Eakes
ISBN: 978-1-474-09635-5
LETHAL RANSOM
© 2019 Laurie Alice Eakes
Published in Great Britain 2019
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.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
Version: 2020-03-02
MILLS & BOON
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!
Or simply visit
Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.
“The woods give us plenty of places to hide.”
“Come. I found a place where you can get a little sleep.” Nick helped Kristen to her feet. “I’ll be close enough to hear you if you have trouble, but far enough away to give you privacy.”
So considerate, so thoughtful that she might need some time alone.
As if she needed to think about Nick Sandoval’s benefits. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this.”
“I think I’m the one who dived into this.”
She smiled. “I should have listened and not gone off on my own.”
“It’s done, Kristen. You can’t undo the past. You can only move on with the future.” He laughed, though she didn’t know why. “Try to sleep.”
She couldn’t deny his kindness.
Or the fact that her feelings for him weren’t exactly brotherly.
She smiled and dreamed of a Fourth of July celebration with fireworks shooting brilliant stars and flowers and flags into the air.
And awoke gasping for breath with the realization the fireworks of her dream were, in wakeful reality, gunshots.
Thank you for reading Lethal Ransom. This idea has been in my head a long time, and I am grateful to be able to write it and share it with you all.
Kristen is the kind of heroine I can relate to—caring about others, smart and courageous. Yet she doesn’t think she has strengths and abilities to survive. Nick is haunted by events in his past that rattled his self-confidence. As they fight for their very lives, they learn they work better together than separately, bringing out the best in themselves and one another.
Once again, I have made my beloved Midwest the setting. Crowded city streets and vast woods create so many lovely opportunities for danger and intrigue.
I love to hear from my readers. You can contact me through my website http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com or find me on Twitter @LaurieAEakes or Facebook.com/AuthorLaurieAliceEakes/
Laurie Alice Eakes
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
—1 John 4:18
To Red, whose friendship encouraged me through this difficult year and helped keep me writing.
Contents