When an undercover sting in Nevada at a Las Vegas Casino goes wrong, FBI Agent Noelle Farrell’s cover is blown, and someone wants revenge. Noelle is sent to Florida under the Witness Protection Program where she runs into her old partner, FBI Agent Kyle Rivers, a man she worked closely with and admired. Kyle’s mourning his father. He failed to keep him safe from a deadly stalker. Deep in hiding as a witness for the IRS, someone targets Noelle. She fears for herself and her four-year-old daughter’s safety. Noelle struggles to keep her independence. Kyle vows to protect Noelle, unaware she has a secret—one her assailants already know.
Excerpt
Las Vegas – Midnight, 1999
Stay calm. Deny everything.
FBI Agent Noelle Farrell, alias Tina Ryan, longed to be
miles away from the glitzy neon lights of Las Vegas. Instead, she rode the
express elevator of the Galaxy Hotel & Casino with its President, her
fiancé, Nick Marino. While the car lowered, she reassured herself tomorrow
night she’d be at home with Lauren, her four-year-old daughter, if she’d
survive the next few hours.
“You were the last one to handle the flash drive. How could
it just disappear?” Nick frowned in her direction, leaned back, and crossed his
forearms over his broad chest. Anger sparked in his dark brown eyes.
“Nick, I’ve already told you. I locked it in the safe, as
usual.” Noelle braced herself, the charade must go on. Her fingers fiddled with
the two carat diamond engagement ring weighing down her left hand. The
expensive piece of jewelry was as alien as their relationship but acting her
part to perfection had made her privy to Nick’s illegal betting accounts.
Mission accomplished. Almost.
The elevator halted. Soft bells chimed before the doors
hissed opened. Nick stormed out swearing. He paused, whirled around, and faced
her with his right hand curved into a fist.
“You need to understand how important this is. The casino’s
private accounting backup drive is missing. As the hotel’s CEO, I’m
responsible. That USB drive holds confidential information. If it gets into the
wrong hands…” Nick’s long fingers raked through his short, spiked black hair.
His lips tightened.
Noelle’s heart pounded against her ribs. His accusing tone
almost forced her to press the up button. She stood strong. She hadn’t come
this far to fail. “Dear God, Please watch over me, for Lauren’s sake.” Head
angled high, she ventured over the threshold and into the private lobby.
Darkness spilled in through the massive plate-glass windows filtering out the
flashing neon city displays. Not a soul stirred.
Gaining access to the flash drive had taken months longer
than she originally planned. When she’d signed the FBI waver, she knew the
assignment would be a dangerous one. Up close and personal, her supervisor had
joked. Now with the drive missing, Nick had been placed into a very
uncomfortable situation. The data storage device held all the offline illegal
bookie accounts and betting clientele the IRS needed to seize the Lucky Galaxy
Hotel & Casino for fraud and back tax evasion.
Nick glanced at the Coach purse slung over her right
shoulder. Fear gnawed at her throat. Did he think she’d hidden it inside?
Noelle wasn’t careless and knew better than to take that risk. Earlier, she’d
mailed the evidence in a padded manila envelope at the Las Vegas Post Office
addressed to a fictitious company’s P.O. Box in Virginia.
She sauntered toward Nick, smiled, and patted his arm.
“Darling, I’m sure it’s just an oversight. Maybe your brother Carl borrowed it
to find a client’s address or phone number. Why don’t you call him? It’s not
too late.” Noelle studied his face, their eyes locked. He dug into his pocket
for his cell phone.
A gunshot exploded, deafening Noelle’s ears. Her
high-pitched scream echoed against the vibrant hotel walls. Nick slumped
forward, garbled a strangled gasp, and collapsed in her arms. Together, they
tumbled to the floor. She struggled beneath him to free herself and then rolled
him aside.
She eyed the shooter. With nowhere to hide goose bumps rose
on her skin. Was she next?
“I told you I’d get you, Nick Marino,” the tall, lanky
shooter yelled out and waved his weapon. His facial features were shadowed by
his hoodie. She’d never forget the deep bass tone of his voice. Dressed in all
black, he paused in the L-shaped hallway near the restricted lobby entrance for
staff and corporate members, his gun aimed in her direction.
She flattened against the ceramic tiled floor and shut her
eyes. Is this how she would die? “Please God…no.”
The pistol fired.
A bullet struck her forearm. She winced, crouching as low as
she could.
Guitars, drums, and cymbals boomed through the hotel speaker
system. The heavy metal rock music signaled the nightclub had opened. Her
assailant swiftly darted into the corridor, his rubber-soled sneakers barely
audible.
Noelle’s limbs filled with energy. Instinct told her to follow. She stood tall, jogged a few steps forward and froze. If she searched and subdued him, it would be out of character. She paused and examined her arm, the bullet had only grazed its surface.
Amazon ~~ Magnolia Blossom Publishing
About the Author
Suzanne Baginskie retired from a law firm after twenty-nine years as an office manager/paralegal. Writing for nineteen years, she has sold thirty-four mystery and romance stories, and twenty-one non-fiction stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul, two to Cup of Comfort and Guideposts. Her work also appears in Woman’s World, Plan B Magazine, First Magazine, True Romance, Turbulence and Coffee, Futures and Cat Magazine, etc. She is a member of MWA, FMWA, Sisters-in-Crime and The Short Mystery Fiction Society.
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This sounds good.
ReplyDeletelooks mysterious
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