Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

" H ello, Mira."

Julie froze as a man's voice drawled the greeting from behind her.

It's not him. It can't be him.

Pulling her oversized sweater tighter across her chest, she turned to look at the man emerging from the shadows beneath one of the large oaks lining her quiet street. The early fall twilight made it hard to see many details but she could make out enough to know that it wasn't her ex-husband.

It wasn't Cliff. Thank God, it wasn't Cliff.

Cliff was tall and elegant and preferred expensive designer suits. This man was shorter and stockier, casually dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt. He could have been any one of the men who lived in Whispering Pines or the mountains surrounding the town - except for the predatory look on his face.

She realized too late that she shouldn't have reacted to her old name but she did her best to cover up her mistake, pasting a polite, confused expression on her face.

"I'm sorry. You must have me confused with someone else."

Her voice came out commendably calm but he was already shaking his head, a mocking smile curving his lips.

"Hardly. You're Mira." His eyes traveled down her body. "I recognize you, even in those boring clothes."

The look on his face made her glad she was wearing one of the loose dresses she'd chosen for her new role as a small town librarian. She'd spent enough time trying - and failing - to live up to Cliff's expectations about her appearance.

"You're mistaken," she said firmly. "My name is Julie, and I'm sure we've never met before."

"Nice try, Mira."

He smiled again and she realized with a sinking feeling that there was no trace of hesitation in the way he said her old name. She cast a quick look up the street, but it was even quieter than usual. Only a few leaves scudded along the empty sidewalks on the evening breeze, bringing the smell of woodsmoke and fried food from the booths in the town square. Most of the town was there tonight, attending the annual fall festival.

She'd thought about going as well but her nerves had been on edge the entire day, unease whispering down her spine. Even though she told herself she was being ridiculous, that she would have been alerted if Cliff had found her, she still decided against the festival. She didn't want to attract attention and, more importantly, she didn't want to be around a large group of strangers. But now she was on her own, and this man was between her and her home.

"You can't run, Mira," he said. "I'm here to take you to Cliff."

She did her best to hide her shudder at the sound of her ex-husband's name. Cliff is in jail , she reminded herself and lifted her chin.

"I'm not Mira and I don't know who you're talking about. Now please leave me alone."

"Or what?" He cast a mocking look down the empty street. "I don't see anyone rushing to your rescue."

"I'm calling the police," she said firmly, pulling her phone out of her pocket even though she suspected it was a useless gesture.

The majority of the town's small police force would be at the fall festival. Even if Irene, the dispatcher, managed to get hold of someone, she was afraid they wouldn't be a match for one of Cliff's men.

"I don't think so," he sneered. "This is a private matter."

Before she could do more than swipe the screen, he grabbed her wrist in a painful grip and tore the phone out of her hand, smashing it against the sidewalk. Her stomach lurched at the familiar pain but she refused to cower.

"What do you want?"

"Not me. Cliff wants his property back." His eyes trailed down over her body again. "I can certainly see the appeal."

Her breath quickened, but she forced herself to ignore his leer as she focused on the more important issue. "His property?"

"You're his wife."

"No, I'm not." She gave up the pretense. "I don't know who told you that, but Cliff is in jail and we've been divorced for over a year."

"He doesn't agree." He leaned towards her, his breath a nauseating mixture of stale beer and cigarettes. "And I wouldn't be too sure about the jail part either."

No! He couldn't be free.

Her heart thudded against her chest as she fought down the panic.

"He's in jail. I'd know if he was free," she said desperately.

"Oh, you'll know." He gave her another one of those leering looks. "And he's expecting you to welcome him back properly. Now come along."

"No!"

She clawed frantically at his hand, trying to free herself, but he only laughed and started to drag her down the street towards a mud-splattered SUV. She thought she caught a flash of movement in the bushes, but her attention was focused on the man dragging her along.

"I'm not going to let him hurt me again," she cried, her voice breaking on the words.

The man only laughed. "Then you'd better make damn sure you please him. You got a lot to make up for."

"Not so fast." A cold, commanding voice spoke from behind him.

"What the hell?"

The man turned, still laughing, to look over his shoulder as a huge man in a black t-shirt stepped out on the sidewalk. Oh God, now there were two of them, and this one was even more terrifying than her captor. He had to be close to seven feet tall, broad shoulders straining the tight fabric of his shirt. Dark hair was cut short around the hardest face she'd ever seen.

Her knees were shaking so hard she thought she was going to fall, but then their eyes met for a fraction of a second. That cold blue gaze had an unexpectedly calming effect, and something inside her relaxed slightly. The stranger's eyes dropped to her wrist and his mouth tightened.

"Release her."

"This ain't your business," her captor snapped. "Now get the hell out of here."

The stranger's face hardened even more.

"I won't tell you again."

"Fuck you."

Without letting go of her wrist, her captor reached for his belt.

"Look out," she cried when she saw the flash of metal, but the warning wasn't necessary.

Before she could even blink, the stranger grabbed her captor's arm. There was a distinct snap, followed by a howl of pain, and then her captor was on the ground, clutching his arm.

"Go to your house and lock the doors," the stranger ordered calmly. "Now."

Too shocked to move, she could only stare up at him. He looked away from the man moaning on the ground long enough to return her gaze and for a moment she could have sworn his eyes flashed blue.

"Go," he repeated, his voice softening the slightest fraction. "You'll be safe there."

"Thank you," she whispered, and then she ran.