The Darkest Touch

FOR MOM. I MISS YOU.

He was assigned to find and retrieve the black diamond. Find Angie and Isabelle.

He’d found Angie, so one step accomplished. But damn, he’d just stepped into a whole hell of a lot more.

Pandora’s box had just opened, and he had a feeling he and Angie had just climbed right inside of it.

And despite his anger, his determination to keep his emotional distance, here he sat, with his arms wrapped around Angelique.

And dammit, it felt right.

Not good. Not good at all.

He pushed away and stood, looking down at her. “You okay now?”

She nodded, swung her legs over the bed. “I’ll be fine.”

“Get dressed. Pack what you can in five minutes. We’re getting out of here now before the Sons of Darkness send in round two.”

He pivoted and walked away from her, needing the distance. He’d do his job. He’d protect her and he’d bring back the black diamond.

But that’s all he was going to do with Angelique. He wasn’t going to care about her.

To Shauna Summers and Jessica Sebor at Bantam Dell, for your invaluable editorial advice on this book. Your keen insights were a bright light in the darkness. Thank you.

To the copyediting, marketing, and art staff at Bantam Dell. It really does take a village to put a book together. Thank you for finding my mistakes and making my book sound and look beautiful. I so appreciate your hard work and dedication.

To my wonderful agent, Deidre Knight, my light and my sanity. Thank you for keeping my feet on the ground and answering all my dumb questions.

To the BB’s, who put up with me daily. What would I do without you? I love you guys.

And as always, to Charlie, who stands by me even when I’m not fun (usually at deadline time). Thank you for your love, your patience, and all the fast food.