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Against the Storm
Kat Martin
Redheads like Maggie O'Connell are nothing but trouble. But Trace Rawlins, a former army ranger turned private investigator, takes the case anyway. After all, he knows a thing or two about women. Trace can sense that something is wrong—Maggie isn't telling him everything. If these menacing calls and messages are real, why won't the police help her? And if they aren't real, what is she hiding?As Trace digs deeper to find the source of Maggie's threats, he discovers a secret that no one was meant to uncover. And the only puzzle left to be solved is whether the danger comes from an unknown stalker…or from the woman he's trying his hardest not to fall for.
Some women find trouble wherever they go. And some men are their only protection against it.
Redheads like Maggie O’Connell are nothing but trouble. But Trace Rawlins, a former army ranger turned private investigator, takes the case anyway. After all, he knows a thing or two about women.
Trace can sense that something is wrong—Maggie isn’t telling him everything. If these menacing calls and messages are real, why won’t the police help her? And if they aren’t real, what is she hiding?
As Trace digs deeper to find the source of Maggie’s threats, he discovers a secret that no one was meant to uncover. And the only puzzle left to be solved is whether the danger comes from an unknown stalker…or from the woman he’s trying his hardest not to fall for.
Read what people are saying about Kat Martin’s New York Times bestselling series
The Raines of Wind Canyon
Against the Wind
“This is definitely a page-turner… a ‘don’t miss’ read set in the beautiful surroundings of Wyoming. Kat Martin is a very gifted writer who takes you from the beginning to the end in total suspense.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Kat Martin has delivered yet another rockin’ romantic suspense. Stockpiled with suspense and passion, Against the Wind kept me reading, dying to find out the truth…I’ll be intently waiting for Jackson’s brothers’ upcoming stories. I can’t recommend [it] highly enough!”
—Joyfully Reviewed
“With the first novel of her new Raines of Wind Canyon trilogy, Martin brings us…a story filled with romance, grit, tension and suspense set in the Wyoming mountains. Martin definitely delivers.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Ms. Martin not only writes a highly entertaining book…she also tackles some major social issues in the process…Complete with bad guys, gun fights, and romance, this book will not disappoint. I look forward to the next in the series, and continue to hold Kat Martin’s talents in very high esteem.”
—Romance Readers Choice
“Rough, tumble, and ready to ride anytime, anywhere is Jackson Raines head to toe.… Their story heats the blood, races the heart, and makes you hungry for more.”
—Coffee Time Romance
“Writing a western romance is more than just knowing the lay of the land or the history, it is grabbing the flavor for the people and surroundings. Kat Martin has completely captured that… This story brings romance, suspense and the most wonderful feeling that reminds us we are all suckers for a romantic ending.”
—The Reading Reviewer Blog
Against the Fire
“There’s something irresistible about a bad boy.… There’s lots of sizzle and burn—and it’s not all from a mysterious arsonist—when Gabe meets the fiery and surprising Mattie. This sexy page-turner is a perfect blend of romance, mystery and action.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Right from the opening scene, readers will be pulled into the heart-stopping action…[and] hold their breath as each fire brings even more danger for Mattie and Gabe… A fascinating page-turner, one you won’t want to miss.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“I loved the integration between many of my favorite genres into one power packed novel… it’s wonderful to see a writer so openly embrace being completely realistic in her romance novels.”
—Romance Books Forum
“After reading the first book about the Raines brothers, I knew Kat Martin would have to do something pretty amazing to make her second book as much of a joy to read. As soon as I opened the book, I realized that she has succeeded…I simply loved this book. I didn’t want to put it down.”
—Suspense Romance Writers
Against the Law
“Once you start Against the Law, be prepared not to stop until you’ve reached the end. With its nonstop action, nail biting episodes mixed with some sizzling love scenes, this is one I highly recommend.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“4 ½ quills! Ms. Martin has struck the motherload…Against the Law [is] by far the most powerfully intense romantic suspense with its charismatic characters, [and] a story line that defies gravity.”
—Romantic Crush Junkies
“An amazing story line that will keep you enthralled.”
—Night Owl Romance
“…full of suspense and romance…a riveting story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.”
—RT Book Reviews
Against the Storm
Kat Martin
www.mirabooks.co.uk (http://www.mirabooks.co.uk)
To my personal assistant and friend, Rita Michell, for her many years of hard work and support.
And for making all the hard work fun.
Contents
Chapter One (#u806a9008-4530-5f72-b643-def9b452f371)
Chapter Two (#ud10e791a-01f2-5b87-8957-022df5c61822)
Chapter Three (#u3aeb1a60-06fe-5413-82bb-d0bc6d01f6cb)
Chapter Four (#ub512011a-a6a9-55e5-b4ae-b97cbdcf2ecd)
Chapter Five (#u4fef42cc-ac55-5afb-86b1-af59a3fde8be)
Chapter Six (#u0aede199-1ea8-5d26-a6e1-c78ff1df3e2f)
Chapter Seven (#u6dfbb4c9-3be1-525a-bf57-1b6749111c36)
Chapter Eight (#uf05832f4-79b0-587b-8931-fea31eb12688)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Three (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirty (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirty-One (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Author’s Note (#litres_trial_promo)
One
Houston, Texas
Snow Dogs. Trace Rawlins sat at a table in back of the Texas Café thinking of his client and her white rapper husband, Bobby Jordane, the lead singer of the wildly successful rap music group, the Snow Dogs.
It seemed the perfect name for the mangy group, who sang about decadent society yet seemed to be the root of the problem. Only Bobby was married, his beautiful wife of the last three years was a creamy cocoa-skinned African American. Why she had ever married the guy, aside from his seven-figure bank account, Trace couldn’t imagine.
Apparently, Shawna had come to the same conclusion, for she sat a few tables away next to her attorney, Evan Schofield, there for a meeting with Bobby.
Bobby Jordane was a wife beater par excellence, and he was extremely unhappy that Shawna had filed for divorce. But Schofield had managed to set up a meeting at a neutral location kept secret from the media, in the hope something could actually be accomplished.
The restaurant was old and narrow, with wooden floors and a long, varnished-wood lunch counter, a place for locals where a guy like Bobby wouldn’t even be recognized. This time of day, the lunch crowd was gone and it was too early for dinner patrons. Only two other tables were occupied, one by an older man and his wife drinking chocolate shakes, another by two young women eating hamburgers. One of them was a foxy redhead Trace tried not to notice, but his gaze wandered back to her again and again.
Unfortunately, he seemed to have a penchant for trouble where redheads were concerned.
He returned his thoughts to the meeting at hand, which was supposed to include only Bobby and his attorney, Shawna and Evan Schofield, Trace’s longtime friend.
But Bobby was a hothead, and Evan was no fool. He didn’t trust Bobby, and neither did Trace. Everyone in Houston had read about the couple’s fiery clashes and Bobby’s out-of-control behavior, which recently had landed him in jail. Shawna had threatened to file a restraining order, and Evan had hired Trace, a private detective and the owner of Atlas Security, to keep a protective eye on his client.
The bell above the café door rang, flipping the little ruffled curtain above the glass. True to form, Bobby sauntered in without his attorney, just the other two obnoxious members of the Snow Dogs.
Clyde “The Mountain” Thibodaux hailed from New Orleans. Big, bald and tattooed, he was bare-chested beneath his leather vest. A small black goatee clung to his chin.
Lenny Finks, known to his fans as Lenny the Sphinx, was the nerd of the group. Skinny and homely, with kinky auburn hair, he was the talent behind the act, the guy who wrote the music, though Trace refused to call it that. Lenny was harmless, except for the viperous tongue he used to lash at the group’s critics. He was a necessary component and the reason for the group’s unbelievable success.
Bobby himself was as tall as Trace, about six-two, and as lean and solidly built. Having taken years of martial arts, Bobby thought he was a tough guy. Trace flicked a glance at the bruises on Shawna Jordane’s beautiful face, clamped down on a surge of anger and wished he could show him ex-Ranger tough.
Instead, he tipped back his white straw cowboy hat, shifted in his chair and sipped his coffee, his gaze fixed on Bobby, who swaggered over to Shawna’s table, his friends close behind.
“Hey, babe.”
“Hello, Bobby.” Her voice held the faint edge of fear.
Bobby turned a hard look on the man beside her. “So…Evan…you wanted me to come down here so we could have a little chat. Is that right?”
The lawyer, a slender man with sandy brown hair and intelligent eyes, sat up a little straighter in his chair. “I was hoping we might be able to make some progress in the matter of your divorce,” he said.
Bobby shifted, his legs splayed in a belligerent stance. “You get my wife to file for divorce and you want me to come here so we can talk?” Reaching out, he grabbed Evan by his red-striped power tie and hauled him to his feet. Shawna screamed and Trace went into action.
Tossing Lenny out of the way like the skinny little runt he was, he reached out and grabbed hold of the back of Bobby’s black, silver dragon T-shirt. Trace spun him around, waited an instant for Bobby to throw the first punch, then ducked and nailed him solidly in the jaw. Bobby went down like a sack of wheat, his head hitting the wooden floor with a melonlike thump that had his eyes rolling back in his head.
