Gabe nodded. “Tear into every detail of her time at St. Helen’s Hospital. Rip into her life.”
The new life that she had. The life that had begun just months ago.
The order was cruel, but it had to be done. Before they could start connecting any dots that might exist between Eve Gray and Jessica Montgomery, they had to find out as much information as they could about Eve’s “recovery” at St. Helen’s.
Gabe had seen enough families with broken hearts. He wasn’t just going to call up the Montgomerys and tell them that their missing daughter had been found.
His team would investigate Eve. Tear into her life. Learn her every secret. If she checked out, then they’d move forward.
And for Eve, that would be the time when the real danger began.
I hope you’re ready for what’s coming. Because if she truly had escaped a killer once, she might not be willing to put herself in the target zone again.
But if she turned out to be Jessica Montgomery, there wouldn’t be much of a choice for her. The media would find out about her survival. The FBI would rush in.
And the Lady Killer would know that she was still alive.
***
Eve woke, her heart racing in her chest and sweat covering her body. She grabbed the thin blanket and clutched it tightly in her hand. On the cots beside her, the other women kept sleeping. Soft snores filled the air. Faint mutters as Sue Smith talked in her sleep. Sue always talked, asleep or awake. Those mutters should have reassured Eve. I’m not alone, others are here.
Eve’s gaze searched the darkness. She couldn’t remember her dream, never could. But that was just normal … since she couldn’t remember anything.
She rose from the cot, moving quickly. She always slept in her clothes. Sweatpants and a loose top. The men were down the hall, housed separately, but …
But they made her nervous. Most of them did, anyway. Just not Pauley.
She went to Pauley, because she knew that he’d be up, too. He never could sleep at night. He said the darkness reminded him too much of his time in battle.
She wasn’t sure where or when Pauley had battled or even if he’d actually been in a war, but Eve never questioned him. He didn’t question her story about having no past, so why should she question him?
Eve found him by the front door, in his usual guard position. He looked like a big dangerous shadow, but she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. Pauley was gentle on the inside, good, but …damaged. She knew that, too.
He spoke slowly. Moved slowly.
It didn’t matter. He was her friend.
“Someone’s watching, Ms. Eve.”
Pauley’s quiet voice had her smiling at first, but then, as his words registered, her smile froze. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“I can feel the eyes. Just like I felt ’em in battle. The enemy’s out there. He’s watching.”
She looked out of the window. Saw only streetlights. Darkness. “The doors are locked, right?” And they did have a security guard at the shelter. Except James spent most of his time sleeping. Pauley was a much better guard.
“Locked. Checked ’em all.” Pauley rocked forward onto the balls of his feet. “Four times.”
Her smile spread again. “Then I’m sure we’re safe. Especially with you on duty.” She said the words easily, but a chill still seemed to be icing her skin.
“Not safe. Watching.” He put his hands against the door and leaned forward. “I should go patrol.”
He was going to open the door. Go outside. “No!” The sharp order broke from her, and Eve wasn’t sure why. She grabbed Pauley’s big hand in hers and held tight. “Stand guard in here, with me.”
He gave a hard shake of his bald head. “Need to patrol. Patrol.”
But the darkness was scaring her. Watching. What if Pauley had seen someone out there?
Her left hand rose to her throat. Brushed lightly over the raised scar. A scream echoed in her mind. “Stay in here with me,” Eve whispered.
Pauley glanced down at her, frowning.
She could confess to him, as she couldn’t to anyone else. “I’m scared, Pauley,” she said. Scared because she’d just taken a very dangerous step with her life. Eve Gray had no past. So she had no enemies. Nothing to fear.
But Jessica Montgomery? That woman had been a victim. She’d been hurt. Attacked. Left for dead?
The authorities were sure that Jessica Montgomery had been abducted by the Lady Killer, a sadistic serial killer who was still on the loose. Still hunting.
Still looking for Jessica?
She knew her hand held too tightly to Pauley’s arm. “Stay inside,” she said again. It was too dark outside. And, like a child, she was very much afraid that …
Monsters waited in the dark.
***
BROKEN will be available on 3/31/15. Thanks so much for checking out the excerpt!
A Note From the Author
I hope you enjoyed reading NEED ME. I've had so much fun writing these characters. And, just because I've been getting emails about this particular guy…I wanted to say…Ethan will be getting a book of his own. His story will be out in late spring/early summer of 2015. I'm working on his book right now! He and Carly will get their turn for a novel in BEWARE OF ME.
Thank you for taking the time to read NEED ME. If you’d like to stay updated on my releases and sales, please join my newsletter list www.cynthiaeden.com/newsletter/. You can also check out my Facebook page www.facebook.com/cynthiaedenfanpage. I love to post giveaways over at Facebook!
Best,
Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
About The Author
Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes dark tales of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Cynthia is also a two-time finalist for the RITA® award (she was a finalist both in the romantic suspense category and in the paranormal romance category). Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over fifty novels and novellas.
Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings. More information about Cynthia and her books may be found at: http://www.cynthiaeden.com or on her Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/cynthiaedenfanpage. Cynthia is also on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cynthiaeden.
Her Works
List of Cynthia Eden's romantic suspense titles:
WATCH ME (Dark Obsession, Book 1)
WANT ME (Dark Obsession, Book 2)
NEED ME (Dark Obsession, Book 3)
MINE TO TAKE (Mine, Book 1)
MINE TO KEEP (Mine, Book 2)
MINE TO HOLD (Mine, Book 3)
MINE TO CRAVE (Mine, Book 4)
MINE TO HAVE (Mine, Book 5)
FIRST TASTE OF DARKNESS
SINFUL SECRETS
DIE FOR ME (For Me, Book 1)
FEAR FOR ME (For Me, Book 2)
SCREAM FOR ME (For Me, Book 3)
DEADLY FEAR (Deadly, Book 1)
DEADLY HEAT (Deadly, Book 2)
DEADLY LIES (Deadly, Book 3)
ALPHA ONE (Shadow Agents, Book 1)
GUARDIAN RANGER (Shadow Agents, Book 2)
SHARPSHOOTER (Shadow Agents, Book 3)
GLITTER AND GUNFIRE (Shadow Agents, Book 4)
UNDERCOVER CAPTOR (Shadow Agents, Book 5)
THE GIRL NEXT DOOR (Shadow Agents, Book 6)
EVIDENCE OF PASSION (Shadow Agents, Book 7)
WAY OF THE SHADOWS (Shadow Agents, Book 8)
Paranormal romances by Cynthia Eden:
BOUND BY BLOOD (Bound, Book 1)
BOUND IN DARKNESS (Bound, Book 2)
BOUND IN SIN (Bound, Book 3)
BOUND BY THE NIGHT (Bound, Book 4)
*FOREVER BOUND - An anthology containing: BOUND BY BLOOD, BOUND IN DARKNESS, BOUND IN SIN, AND BOUND BY THE NIGHT
BOUND IN DEATH (Bound, Book 5)
THE WOLF WITHIN (Purgatory, Book 1)
MARKED
BY THE VAMPIRE (Purgatory, Book 2)
CHARMING THE BEAST (Purgatory, Book 3) - Available October 2014
Other paranormal romances by Cynthia Eden:
A VAMPIRE'S CHRISTMAS CAROL
BLEED FOR ME
BURN FOR ME (Phoenix Fire, Book 1)
ONCE BITTEN, TWICE BURNED (Phoenix Fire, Book 2)
PLAYING WITH FIRE (Phoenix Fire, Book 3)
ANGEL OF DARKNESS (Fallen, Book 1)
ANGEL BETRAYED (Fallen, Book 2)
ANGEL IN CHAINS (Fallen, Book 3)
AVENGING ANGEL (Fallen, Book 4)
IMMORTAL DANGER
NEVER CRY WOLF
A BIT OF BITE (Free Read!!)
ETERNAL HUNTER (Night Watch, Book 1)
I'LL BE SLAYING YOU (Night Watch, Book 2)
ETERNAL FLAME (Night Watch, Book 3)
HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT (Midnight, Book 1)
MIDNIGHT SINS (Midnight, Book 2)
MIDNIGHT'S MASTER (Midnight, Book 3)
WHEN HE WAS BAD (anthology)
EVERLASTING BAD BOYS (anthology)
BELONG TO THE NIGHT (anthology)
Cynthia Eden, Need Me
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