Chapter One
Adam Nivolas stared at the peeling paint and broken shutters of the decrepit structure as guilt churned inside him. The ancestral plantation home, once alive with love and laughter, now stood as an infestation, an eyesore to the lake community in the North Georgia foothills. Ivy clung to the tall columns, the chimneys, the walls--everywhere--as it feasted on its prey. With the home camouflaged by the overgrown foliage surrounding the lake, it was convenient for the townspeople to just forget its existence, unless you lived on Lake Road.
The burning in his gut intensified. He had failed. He should have done more. Tried harder to find out what really happened that night seven years ago when the woman who'd been like a surrogate mother to him died. Adam was no closer to uncovering the truth behind Amelia Cartwright's death now than he was the night that altered his life forever.
"Tell me again what we're doing here?"
Adam closed his eyes at the intrusion into his thoughts. He pushed the fire inside him down to a low contained blaze, then shifted in his seat and gazed across at his companion. He'd been Marcus Crawford's partner since Marc relocated to Lake Langley and joined the force four years ago. Marc knew everything about Adam. Almost.
"We're here to make sure everything is secure," Adam said in a level tone.
Marc shook his head and opened the car door. He unfolded himself and stretched to his full six foot-four height. Despite being five inches shorter, Adam had never been intimidated. He always met Marc head-on in any debate or situation. It was why they were such good friends and better partners.
With arched brows, Marc leaned back down and met Adam's stare. "Make sure everything's secure? Have you taken a look at this place? It should've been condemned years ago."
The words stung like hell. Adam should have taken better care of things. He stepped out of the car before he answered. "Look, I told you before why I wanted to come here."
"Yeah, gut feeling. But I honestly don't think anyone is going to bother with a house this abandoned."
"You know I'm never wrong about these things." Adam reached back inside for his jacket and put it on. It was always coldest in the early morning hours. Frost covered the ground and the wind still held its winter bite despite being well into spring. The crisp scent of pine and chilled damp air wafted toward him from the direction of the lake.
Adam tugged his jacket closer as a strong gust swept past and winced at the tightness in his shoulder. A reminder his injury hadn't fully healed.
He walked around to the front of the car as he scanned the area. It had been over five years since he'd last set foot on the property, and almost as long since he'd even driven past.
The vegetation had really taken over. What was once a few pine saplings had matured into a full-fledged forest. Kudzu stretched everywhere. If he didn't know the lake resided several yards behind the house, he would never guess by the way Mother Nature had bestowed her charms so wantonly. On the surface, everything appeared undisturbed.
Another wave of guilt crashed into him as he thought of his own home a few hundred yards down the street. It wouldn't have taken him but a few minutes to stop and check around. But this place held too many reminders of things he wanted but would never obtain. Of promises made due to circumstance and obligation. His father had been right. He was weak. Too damn weak to face the harsh reality of the situation he created. It was easier to drive the long way around the lake. But the feeling something was wrong had gnawed at him for three days. No longer able to ignore it, he'd given in to it.
He raked his fingers through his dirty blonde hair in frustration. He hadn't bothered with a haircut in weeks. There hadn't been a need, but now it was beginning to curl at the ends. Yet another thing he'd neglected too long.
"You shouldn't be here," Marc said.
"What the hell does that mean?" His guilt laced his words, forcing them out harsher than he intended.
Marc turned to face him. "It means it's too damn early for you to be back on duty. You're standing there with a fucking grimace fixed on your face." He shook his head and glanced away for a moment, then in a more diplomatic tone said, "You should take a few more days."
"Like you would?"
"I know my limitations. And a--"
"I'm fine."
Marc held a hand up in surrender. "Whatever." He turned toward the house. "Since you brought us out here, we may as well inspect the place." He glanced over his shoulder at Adam. "But I still say this is a waste of time. I can tell you what we're going to find--rodents, bugs and spiders."
Something wasn't right. Adam sensed it. More than just the break-ins brought him out here. And maybe, just maybe, this time it wasn't another dead-end.
"Divide and conquer." Marc started forward. "I'll take the front."
Adam nodded. "I'll work my way around back."
As the two separated, Adam scanned the area, his eyes drawn almost immediately to the garage. It stood separate from the house and resembled everything else--neglected. He needed to secure it.
He rubbed a windowpane clean with his fist then peered inside. It took a second for his vision to adjust, but when it did his stomach clenched. He turned to call out but was too late. Marc disappeared into the house.
Adam ran across the overgrown lawn. He reached for his weapon but couldn't grasp the handle of the .38 well enough to pull it free of the holster. "Shit. Stupid, Adam." Why didn't you strap it to your other side? If he had better mobility in his shoulder, he wouldn't be going in unprotected. He ran through the open doorway in time to witness a youth withdrawing his knee from Marc's groin. It took a lot to bring a man his size down, but that did it. Adam's partner dropped to the floor with a heavy thud.
Adam forgot everything as instinct and training set in. He lunged forward to grab the kid by the shoulder. He jerked the perpetrator's upper body backward as he wrapped his other arm around the attacker's waist. He hissed as pain from his wound lacerated through him at the forced movement. "Police! Freeze!"
"Let. Me. Go." The words erupted between grunts of determination.
"I don't want to hurt you," Adam said, immediately realizing the body he held tight against his belonged to a woman, not a kid.
The tall, lean female was too intent on getting away to hear anything he said. She fought against him, pulling his arm. The baseball cap she wore fell from her head, releasing long brown curls. Her thrashing caused her hair to obstruct his vision.
He jerked his head to the side and spat out a mouthful of hair. But the minute he was free of the wild tangle, it was right back in his face.
The woman fought in a frenzy. Her determination to break free, he had to admit, was commendable. Trying to gain control, Adam spun her around in a circle. He glimpsed Marc rising to his hands and knees and reaching for his weapon. "Whoa, I got her."
She pulled harder against him and bent forward at the waist. Then the crazed girl thrust her head backward. Her body knocked against his shoulder and the stab of pain almost undid him. He stumbled back a step but refused to give up his hold.
His grip tightened. "Stop fighting me."
The woman gasped. "You're hurting me." Her voice squeaked out in a high pitch.
"Then stop." He hurt too, but training had taught him never to allow emotion to cloud his judgment. The last thing he needed was an adrenaline-based action to resurface down the road and bite him in the ass. Her struggles ceased, and she nodded her head once. Adam eased his hold. "Now, are you going to--"
His captive jerked forward and tore her teeth into his flesh. Adam cried out in pain. "Fuck that hurts." Using the arm encircling her waist, he picked her up and dropped her down hard in an attempt to break her savage grip. The tactic worked. She released him. And, as she did so, he spun her around in his arms. He shook her once, granting him a clear view of his assailant's face.
Her face.
Eve Cartwright. Amelia Cartwright's niece and heir to this dilapidated estate. And the face that haunted his nights. He released her so fast she lost her balance.
)
Eve Cartwright always believed her aunt's death hadn't been the accident the police claimed. So she's devised a plan to uncover the truth. Her first hurdle is to use the man she idolized as a child. Adam Nivolas swore an oath to always protect Eve from the danger lurking just beyond the edge of darkness. And that's what he intends to do, at all cost. However, he underestimates her strong will and the temptation of forbidden desire. Now, Adam and Eve must forgive past betrayals and learn to trust each other to catch a killer. Before he strikes again.
