Knock, knock...

Knock, knock...

There’s no best-by date for revenge.

Wealthy and beautiful Shay Lassiter runs a prestigious foundation, but her connections and resources were worthless when her fiancé tried to murder her. Now, she’s guarding her heart and using her knack for reading people’s intentions – both good and evil – to guide her. But when the foundation’s clients start dying, she must turn to the new man in her life…one who’s giving her mixed signals.

Computer specialist and ex-cop Roman Chandler has a secret. It involves Shay and could ruin the fragile relationship he’s building with her. Though he can’t tell her the truth, he needs to convince her to trust him. He fears that whoever is behind this is about to turn his vengeance on Shay…

And vengeance can be deadly.

1.  
   
2. Chapter 1
   
    
   
    
   
3. Chapter 2
   
    
   
    
   
4. Chapter 3
   
    
   
    
   
5. Chapter 4
   
    
   
    
   
6. Chapter 5
   
    
   
    
   
7. Chapter 6
   
    
   
    
   
8. Chapter 7
   
    
   
    
   
9. Chapter 8
   
    
   
    
   
10. Chapter 9
    
     
    
     
    
11. Chapter 10
    
     
    
     
    
12. Chapter 11
    
     
    
     
    
13. Chapter 12
    
     
    
     
    
14. Chapter 13
    
     
    
     
    
15. Chapter 14
    
     
    
     
    
16. Chapter 15
    
     
    
     
    
17. Chapter 16
    
     
    
     
    
18. Chapter 17
    
     
    
     
    
19. Chapter 18
    
     
    
     
    
20. Chapter 19
    
     
    
     
    
21. Chapter 20
    
     
    
     
    
22. Chapter 21
    
     
    
     
    
23. Chapter 22
    
     
    
     
    
24. Chapter 23
    
     
    
     
    
25. Chapter 24
    
     
    
     
    
26. Chapter 25
    
     
    
     
    
27. Chapter 26
    
     
    
     
    
28. Chapter 27
    
     
    
     
    
29. Preview
    
     
    
     
    
30. About Dale Mayer
    
     
    

There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.

...Josh Billings

I
ce hit her first. Inside and out.

Shay Lassiter woke to find goosebumps marching across her cold skin in the early morning. She tugged up the chocolate brown duvet she'd thrown off sometime in the night but even that didn't account for the cold filtering slowly through her waking consciousness. The rest of her brain screamed at her to wake up all the way.
Something was off.

Morris, the ever-present ghost of her beloved childhood pet, snuggled up close. She didn't understand the miracle of his existence, but she rejoiced in it every day. The deep purr rumbled at her shoulder making her smile. She was thankful his gentle blue ball of energy sat on her bed most days. She rarely saw him in physical form, but he was always there in spirit – offering immeasurable comfort. Most times, the sound of his engine powered through the small room. That oversized orange tabby had been the size of a small car, but had a diesel truck motor for an engine.

The purr shut off.

Shit.

Her internal alarm finally kicked in as the bedding pressed down on her, confining, where moments before it had been comforting. She threw the duvet back, springing from bed, her heart pounding. A clammy film coated her skin.
What the hell was wrong?

She spun around, searching her darkened bedroom for the cause of the unease settling deep in her soul.

There was no one there with her.

Last night, she'd gone to sleep without a problem. That was surprising because she'd had an argument with her fiancé, Darren, before going to sleep. And it had been a bad one, making her doubt their relationship…again. But still, she knew that discord hadn’t created this type of response. Her psyche often chose the wee hours of the morning to wake her up and chew away at her, but she'd never woken up quite like this. Shivering, she looked down at her cami and boy shorts to see the hairs rising on her smooth skin. Her teeth chattered as she ran to check the thermostat in her room. It was normal.

Of course it was. It
should
be warm; it was summertime.

She ran back to bed and huddled against her headboard with her duvet high up on her chest.

Shay?

Stefan Kronos spoke, his familiar voice swept through her mind, calming her. He must have heard her silent distress in the night.
Stefan? Something's wrong. Only I can't see what it is.

I'll check it out.

The emptiness in her mind told her Stefan had left. God, she didn't know what she'd do without him. He didn't always respond this quickly, but her psychic friend always knew when something was wrong.

Then she heard
it
…

The click of her front door opening...then closing. Something moved across her living room floor.

She had an intruder.

Alarm swept through her.
Oh no.
The door had been locked. She'd double-checked it before going to bed. There's no way anyone could get in.

Unless they had a key.

Shay? Get out of the apartment.
Stefan's sharp voice sliced through her frozen state
. There's a rogue energy heading toward you.

Too late,
she whispered in her mind.
It's too late. He's inside already. Call for help, Stefan. Hurry!

Hide. I'm getting help.

"Shay? Oh, hi, honey. I hadn't expected you to be awake." Her fiancé stood at her bedroom doorway, a crooked smile on his face. Darren held up a key in his hand. It gleamed in the slice of moonlight creeping through her drapes. Dressed all in black, he cut an elegant figure. His handsome good looks and confidence had been part of what attracted her to him in the first place.

Relief swamped her. "Oh thank God," she murmured and closed her eyes. Her rigid spine relaxed. There was nothing to worry about after all. Feeling much better and slightly foolish, she opened her eyes and smiled warmly at him. So happy to see him after their fight and her initial panic.

It's just Darren, Stefan.

Silence in her mind.

Darren?
he asked in a flat voice.
Your fiancé?

Yes.
She gave a small deprecating laugh.

Shay? Then…why the fear?

Her eyes widened. Good question. "Darren, why are you here at this hour?" She glanced at the clock. "It's two in the morning." She stared at him, confused, as something else registered – finally. "And where did you get the key?"

He shifted away from the door, his smile widening. But there was something off about that twist to his lips. A little too tight, and an odd glow added to the toothy shine. "When you wouldn't give me a key, I decided to have one made up on my own."

She blinked. That didn't make any sense. Did it? No. It was wrong. She tossed back her long brown hair, trying to clear her head. And wished her roiling stomach would calm. She couldn't seem to think straight.

"Why? I don't understand."

His lips quirked. He tossed the key on the bed. "I know. But I figured that I had to do something. After all, we're fighting more lately. Not making up the same. It's as if we're on the verge of a break up."

"Oh, I don't think-"

"Stop." He held up his hands. "You know you don't look at our relationship quite the same anymore. Neither do I." His hands dropped and he shook his head. "You also know you've been spending more time on that damn Children's Hospital project than ever. Even when I said I didn't like it."

Oh shit.
He was breaking up with her. But then why get a key made? And of course she spent a lot of time on that project. It was special. The kids were special. He knew that.

Didn't he?

Why was nothing making any sense right now?

Stefan whispered through her mind.
Shay, something’s wrong. What's happening?

She stared at Darren.
I don't know.

To her fiancé, she said, "I don't understand."

"I know you don't. That's okay. I can explain." He walked over and sat down at the edge of her bed. "It's too bad, though. You're a beautiful lady. Inside and out."

"Thank you, I think?" Shay might be confused, but some truths were making their way inside. He'd had a key to her home made without her permission and he had let himself into her apartment in the middle of the night. Like Stefan had said, something was wrong.

And now she was starting to feel more than a little nauseous. And, she felt…slower. Her mind sluggish. As if she were in shock. Or hurt… But she wasn't. She gazed down at her arms and the rest of her body. She felt weak, faint even, but not like she was injured in any way.

"You don't get it, do you, Shay?"

She stared up at him, puzzled. "No. And I'd appreciate it if you'd explain. This isn't very funny."

"No, it isn't. You ruined all my plans."

She tilted her head and tried to focus. "Plans?"

"Yes, plans." Looking relaxed and at ease, he crossed one leg over the other and then clasped his hands over his knees. "See. I need money. Lots of money."

Feeling foolish and spaced out, she asked, "Why?"

He smiled, a knowing smile. "For lots of things." He tilted his head and looked at her steadily. "Are you feeling okay?"

She tried to swallow, her tongue thick, unwieldy. "I don't know. I feel a bit...weird, actually."

"That's all quite normal. I'm making it easy on you."

Normal. What was
normal
about any of this? "I…I don't understand."

He gave an exaggerated sigh. "No, I don't suppose you do. So let me make this simple." He stood and walked over to the window. "I need money. You have money. And, if we were together, that wouldn't be a problem. On top of your personal fortune, you control an amount that's unbelievably large. See, that's really attractive. Plus, taking you to bed isn't exactly a hardship." He leered at her. "In fact, that part has been sheer fun. I figured I was in clover. We were engaged––"

"Still are, I thought."

His smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "So you say. See, I understand the female mind. I know that you aren't as happy as you were. And once that thread of discontent starts, it only gets worse. Our fight tonight was about moving up the wedding day. But you didn't want that. You're hesitating. And that means you have doubts. And doubts are dangerous because they could mean the end of my plans – and make me very unhappy." He moved the blinds slightly. "I can't have that."