Ransom. Terri Reed

      

      “WE HAVE YOUR SISTER.”

      Liz Cantrell is terrified when she receives a call from a man holding her newlywed sister captive—and she’s convinced her sketchy brother-in-law’s involved. Willing to pay any price for her sister’s freedom, Liz flies to Niagara Falls with the ransom: an uncut diamond necklace worth millions. But the moment she lands, a handsome, world-weary Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent takes her into custody. Blake Fallon’s determined to catch a ruthless diamond smuggler—and the pretty antiques dealer trying to save her sister could be just the break his case needs. But as they team up to rescue Liz’s sister and trap the criminal mastermind, a desperate standoff will threaten everything they hold precious—including their lives.

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      “I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and get your sister back safely,” Blake answered.

      Liz wanted to believe him. But her natural inclination to keep people at arm’s length fought needing to depend on him. But what choice did she have?

      It was either go along with his plan or go to jail, which would be a death knell for her sister. Looked like she had only one option.

      “Fine.” She clenched her jaw. “I’ll do it your way.”

      “Good. You’ll have to follow my instructions to the letter if we are to succeed.”

      Of course he’d say that. He struck her as a man who liked to be in control, to call the shots. “I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect my sister.”

      A wave of fatigue crashed through Liz. Her shoulders drooped. She glanced at her watch. It was after midnight. She hadn’t eaten since the midmorning snack on the plane. She needed to find a hotel, but mostly she wanted to get away from this man. “Can I go now?”

      Blake rose and picked up the box, tucking the necklace back inside. “I want you where we can protect you.”

      TERRI REED’s romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on Publishers Weekly top twenty-five and Nielsen BookScan’s top one hundred lists and have been featured in USA TODAY, Christian Fiction Magazine and RT Book Reviews. Her books have finaled in the Romance Writers of America RITA® Award contest, the National Reader’s Choice Award contest and three times in the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Carol Award contest. Contact Terri at terrireed.com or PO Box 19555, Portland, OR 97224.

      Ransom

      Terri Reed

      

www.millsandboon.co.uk

      For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

      plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

      plans to give you hope and a future.

      —Jeremiah 29:11

      To my family for always believing in me.

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

       About the Author

       Title Page

       Bible Verse

       Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

       CHAPTER FOUR

       CHAPTER FIVE

       CHAPTER SIX

       CHAPTER SEVEN

       CHAPTER EIGHT

       CHAPTER NINE

       CHAPTER TEN

       CHAPTER ELEVEN

       CHAPTER TWELVE

       EPILOGUE

       Dear Reader

       Extract

       Copyright

       ONE

      A crash from her sister’s bedroom brought Liz Cantrell bolt upright on the couch. She was alone in the apartment she shared with her sister and had been seated with her feet tucked beneath her, trying hard to be interested in the movie on the television with no success. She muted the sound and listened.

      A floorboard creaked.

      No way was that from the blustery January wind outside her second-story apartment.

      Someone was definitely in Jillian’s room.

      Alarm flooded Liz’s veins.

      “Please, Lord,” she whispered as she fumbled to grab her phone from her sweatpants’ pocket.

      A thud and then a man’s deep growl jolted her into action.

      No time to call for help. She had to get out of there. Fast. She jumped to her feet and hurried to open the apartment door. The hinge squeaked as loud as a shotgun blast.

      Thunder rumbled through the apartment.

      Not thunder, but feet. A tall figure, wearing a plastic masquerade mask like those worn at Mardi Gras time and dressed all in black, rushed out of Jillian’s room. He had Jillian’s big burl-wood jewelry box—thankfully not their mother’s special jewelry box—in his gloved hands, spilling the contents of Jillian’s costume jewelry on the floor as he ran toward Liz.

      Adrenaline fueled her fear. She whirled away and ran for the stairs leading to her family’s antique shop, her slippers snagging on the old carpet. The walls of the stairwell seemed to close in on her. She hated dark, confined spaces.

      She pushed through her anxiety