Reunited…by a murderer

FBI agent Luke Campbell has never been more determined to catch the serial killer who’s eluded him for two years. Because this time the monster is after Julie, the ex he walked out on when he returned from Iraq, emotionally scarred and burdened by a secret. Now Luke will do anything—even risk his life—to protect Julie and regain her trust.

But it’s a tense race against time. Defying FBI rules, Luke keeps Julie by his side throughout a harrowing chase. Once they’re finally at a safe house, it’s clear to him that the passion they once shared hasn’t cooled. Can Luke redeem himself and keep evil away from the woman he refuses to let go of again?

“I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you. That much is true. This case has been hell.”

The weariness in his eyes caused her heart to stutter.

“I need to know you’re not going to disappear on me again.”

“You have my word.”

If only she could be certain. “You know I love you.”

“Then, believe in me. This is different.”

“How? What’s different this time?”

“I know what’s at stake.”

“But you’re hiding something now.”

She steadied herself for the lie.

“You’re right.”

If she hadn’t been sitting, his admission would’ve knocked her off balance.

“I can’t tell you everything, but as soon as this is over, I will. You have no idea how much I need you. I need to know you have faith in me.”

She answered with a kiss and a silent prayer he’d come back alive.

Gut Instinct

Barb Han

www.millsandboon.co.uk

BARB HAN lives in North Texas with her husband, three beautiful children, a spunky golden retriever/poodle mix and too many books to count. When not writing, she spends much of her time on or around a basketball court. She’s passionate about travel. Many of the places she visits end up in her books. She loves interacting with readers and is grateful for their support. You can reach her at www.barbhan.com.

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CAST OF CHARACTERS

Julie Davis (formerly Julie Campbell)—She owns a landscaping business. When one of her appointments causes her to interrupt a serial killer, he’ll set his sights on her to finish the job.

Luke Campbell—Most of this FBI agent’s young career has been spent tracking a vicious serial killer. When the path leads him to the last place he expects, his ex-wife, he’ll learn exactly how much he’s willing to risk to save the woman he still loves—even if he’s left devastated a second time around.

Nick Campbell—This US marshal is a phone call away when his brother needs help. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to help track down the killer.

Reed Campbell—This Border Patrol agent will do anything to help his brother in his time of need. He has no qualms about using all his resources, either.

Detective Garcia—The detective and Luke are working together to rid North Texas of a deranged killer. But when he gets too close, his own life is put on the line.

Chad Devel—This twentysomething sous chef is a charmer who likes to party. But is he the killer known as Ravishing Rob, the murderer who captivates then decapitates?

Rick Camden—Chad’s half brother fits the profile of the serial killer, but the logistics don’t work. Could he manage to be in two states at once?

Bill Hightower—This reporter is a little too eager to score an interview with the FBI agent. Is he more involved than he’s willing to admit?

My deepest thanks to my editor, Allison Lyons, for challenging me and making me a better writer. To my agent, Jill Marsal, for her brilliant guidance and unfailing support. To Brandon, Jacob and Tori, for encouraging me to work hard and inspiring me to dream. To my husband, John, for walking this journey side by side with me—I love you. And a special thank-you to readers, and especially my girlfriend’s mom, Linda Tumino, for being so very passionate about books.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Cast of Characters

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Luke Campbell bit back a groan. Why did Julie Campbell—correction, Julie Davis—have to interrupt a killer in the middle of one of his “projects”?

His ex-wife’s landscaping business had brought her to the doorstep of one of the most devious serial murderers in Luke’s career. A knot tightened in his gut as he pulled in front of her small redbrick town house in a North Dallas suburb, the one they’d shared, and parked his truck.

An emotion he refused to acknowledge kept him from opening the door and stepping into the frigid night. How many times had he wished he still lived in that house after he’d come home from active duty a wreck? How many times had he prayed he could go back and change the past since then? How many times had he missed the feel of her long silky legs wrapped around him, welcoming him home? Too many.

Hell, he wasn’t there for a reunion. She was in jeopardy, and his job was to protect society from national-security threats and major criminals. Keeping her safe was the least he could do after the way he’d hurt her.

He stepped into the crisp evening air.

A young detective with a thick build and sun-worn face approached. “Evening, Special Agent Campbell. Not sure if you remember me, but I worked the Martin crime scene earlier.”

“Detective Wells. Thank you. I appreciate the call.” Luke shook the outstretched hand in front of him.

“I wouldn’t normally bother you with something like this. My boss thought you’d be interested.”

The young guy reported to Detective Garcia. Garcia’s judgment was dead-on. “What do you have?”

He waved another detective over. “This is Detective Reyes.”

Luke shook hands with the detective.

“Show him what was taped to Ms. Davis’s window earlier,” Detective Wells said.

The officer used tongs to hold out a standard-size piece of white paper. The words I hope you enjoy your dance with the Devil. Be in touch soon, Rob were handwritten.

“Whoever wrote this has good penmanship.” Luke noticed. He took note of the capitalization of the word Devil. The tension between his shoulder blades balled and tightened as he reread the name. His killer, Ravishing Rob, never left a clue as to whom he would target next. If this was him, why would he change his M.O.?

One reason came to mind. Anger. Rob was meticulous. Julie had interrupted his ritual killing, which he’d described as more of a turn-on than sex. That might be enough to trigger a variation.

Luke couldn’t ignore another possibility. This could be a copycat. Julie’s picture had been splashed all over the news and internet.

Then again, Julie had black hair just like all Rob’s targets.

He examined the neat print. Cursive would give more clues to Rob’s personality. With his high IQ he was smart enough to know that, too, which made the capitalization of Devil even more poignant. “Whoever wrote this took his time.”

Luke pulled an evidence bag from his glove box and pointed at the note. “I’ll send this up for analysis.”

The detectives nodded.

“Can you spare one of your uniformed men for the night? I’d like someone to keep watch on the alley behind her house.”

“Sure thing,” Detective Wells said. “I made some notes after interviewing Ms. Davis. Do you want to take a look?”

“Absolutely.” Luke studied the page. He focused on the word boyfriend. The knot tightened in his gut. The thought of another man’s arms wrapped around Julie ignited his possessive instincts. He still wanted her, needed her. Those selfish emotions had caused him to stay at the town house to be near her when he’d returned from Iraq a broken man. The front-row seat he’d had to her pain—the hell he’d caused—when he pushed her away day after day had forced him to man up and leave before he permanently damaged her. Intelligent and beautiful, she deserved so much more than him. He glanced up at the detectives who were waiting for his response to the report. Not wanting to give away his bone-deep reaction to her, he skimmed the rest and handed it back. “Good information. Send my office a copy of the report when it’s filed.”

Detective Wells gave a satisfied smile. “I’ll keep a man outside tonight. Let me know if you need anything else.”

“Will do.” Luke turned and walked toward the house. A thought stopped him at the base of the stairs. What if she wasn’t alone?

The detective’s notes said she’d been dating a dentist on and off. Was he here?

Davis had been her maiden name, which meant she was still single. Even so, she might be on with the dentist again. After the day she’d had, he might be there with her in Luke’s house. Old house, he corrected, ignoring the all-too-real tug of emotion at seeing the place again.

Taking the couple of steps to her porch in quick strides, he clenched his fists.

The thought of Ravishing Rob targeting Julie didn’t do good things to Luke’s head. He knocked on the door and his chest squeezed as he thought about seeing her again.

The solid hunk of wood swung open, and suddenly, there she was, his ideal combination of beauty and grace, staring at him with a shocked look on her face. He could see those long legs where her bathrobe split, her taut hips where the robe cinched. A hunger roared from deep within him. The reality of why he was there chased it away.

Her amber eyes stood out against pale skin. Even red-rimmed and puffy, their russet-coppery tint was every bit as beautiful as it had been the last time he’d seen her. Her shoulder-length hair was still inky black. His fingers itched to get lost in that curly abyss again. Muscle memory, he decided. Besides, the frown on her face and stress in her eyes said he was the last person she wanted to see.

Under the circumstances, he was her best bet.

She opened her mouth to speak, but her ringtone sounded. “Dammit. Hang on.”

Bad sign. She only cursed when she was hanging on by a thread.

“May I?” He motioned for permission to enter.

Her gaze narrowed, but then she nodded and turned her back to him. She spoke directly into the phone. “I’m okay. No. I promise. You don’t need to come over right now. I’ll see you when you get off work.”

Was she talking to her boyfriend? The last word stuck. Tasted bitter as hell, too.

One step inside and he almost lost his footing. A wave of nostalgia slammed into him. The furniture was in exactly the same spot as when he’d left. The coffee-colored leather sofa against the wall to his right. The flat-screen directly across from it mounted on the wall to his left. He could see all the way to the back door from where he stood. Same black pedestal dining table with avocado-green chairs tucked around it. The place looked completely untouched, except all the pictures of the two of them had been removed. She’d probably enjoyed stomping on the frames.

The town house might’ve looked the same, but it had a different air. Funny how out of place he felt in what used to be his own home.

He folded his arms, parted his feet in an athletic stance and stood next to the door. He wasn’t there for a reunion. This was business. And no matter how much Julie looked as if she’d rather crawl out of her skin than be in the same room with him, he had a job to do.

She closed the call and whirled around on him, still wearing her angry expression. There was something else in her eyes there, too. Hurt? “Why did they send you?”

“I’ve been tracking this guy for the past two years. He’s my case.” He intentionally withheld the part about Ravishing Rob being the most ruthless killer Luke had come across so far in his FBI career.

Her eyes narrowed to such slits he couldn’t figure out if she could see him anymore. Then again, she probably wanted to block him out altogether, and he couldn’t blame her. She’d pleaded with him to stay, but he couldn’t stand watching her pain when he had no way to heal either one of them.

With all the daggers shooting from her eyes, he couldn’t tell if she was using anger to mask other emotions. Hurt? Fear? Regret?

“There’s no one else they could’ve sent?” The hollow sound in her voice practically echoed.

“I’m afraid not.”

“So the note’s from him? You’re sure?”

“I need to get a little more information from you to help me decide.” Even though she’d already given her account to police and he’d read the jacket, he needed to hear her words. He needed to know what she thought she saw. Maybe she’d remember something that could help put this monster away or help Luke figure out if it was a copycat. “Tell me what happened when you arrived at the scene of the murder this morning.”

She shivered, looked lost and alone. “My client Annie Martin wanted to meet with me to discuss landscaping after her new pool was installed. I brought a rendering with me and planned to give my presentation. It was a big project that would start in the spring, so I broke all the planting down into zones.” She glanced up at him curiously as if she realized he didn’t know the first thing about plants or landscaping, or care. “Sorry, I’m babbling. I’m sure you didn’t come here to talk about the details of my business.”

“I did,” he said quickly. He covered a crime scene the same way, broke it down on a grid. “I want to hear everything even if you don’t think it’s important. You never know what might spark a memory. Something you didn’t think of before when you talked to the police.” His hopes she’d be more comfortable talking to him had diminished the second he saw her. He wanted to ask her how she was doing, but decided not to, even though he found he still really wanted to know, needed to know. He’d left things broken between them, and thoughts of the sadness in her eyes every time she’d looked at him still haunted him. Outside of this case, he had no right to know anything about her. Why was he already reminding himself of the fact?

“As soon as I pulled up to her house, I heard a noise. Like a muffled cry or something. I couldn’t make it out for sure. She’d asked me to come around back in case she was with contractors for the pool, so I ran to make sure she was okay. I thought maybe she tripped or was hurt. But there was no one out there. She screamed again and I ran to the front door. Someone bolted from around the side of the house about the same time. He killed her, didn’t he?”

He locked gazes with her and wished like anything he could protect her from the truth. He felt pained that she’d had to witness this and his heart went out to her. “Yes. You get a good look at him?”

“No.” She hugged her arms to her body. “I didn’t see anything. By then I heard an awful sound coming from inside. Sounded like an animal dying.” She shivered.

He pulled out a pad and scribbled notes. Not that he needed a piece of paper to remember the details of their conversation. His memory was sharper than a switchblade. He needed something to look at besides her fearful eyes. Old instinct kicked in and he wanted to maim the person who’d made her feel that way, offer comfort she would certainly reject. “What happened next?”

“You want to sit down?” She moved to the couch and sat on the edge. She clasped her hands together and rocked back and forth. “It was bad, Luke.”

The sound of his name rolling off her tongue was a bitter reminder of the comfort and connection he hadn’t felt in a long time. He took a seat next to her but not too close.

Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I don’t want to think about it again, let alone say the words out loud.”

“I know how hard this is.” Every muscle in his body tightened from wanting to reach out and comfort her. He didn’t want to press further, but the information he gained could mean saving her life. “It’s important you tell me everything. Do you want a cup of tea or something?” He made a move to stand.

“No. I’m fine.” The uncertainty in her words made him freeze.

“Anything else you can give me might save another woman from going through this.”

“We both know he’s going to come after me next.” Her voice shook with terror.

“I’m not certain it’s him yet. Besides, I’ll catch him first.”

The suggestion of depending on him for anything after the way he’d hurt her set her eyes to infernos. “I didn’t ask you to come.”

“This is my territory. My guy. I know him better than anyone else.”

“I didn’t even know you were FBI.” The exasperation in her voice made him clench his fists involuntarily.

“I didn’t think it was appropriate to send you Christmas cards after your lawyer sent me papers.” It was a low blow and he regretted saying the words as soon as they passed his lips. After all, he’d been the one to leave and force the divorce issue.

She looked straight through him. “I lost track of you after...”

This wasn’t the time to talk about their past. It complicated the situation. He was professional enough to look beyond shared history and concentrate on doing his job. He focused his gaze on the opened laptop on the coffee table. There was a picture of Julie at the crime scene beneath the banner Breaking News. Damn. Another reminder that she’d been placed right there for the killer or any other lunatic to see.

The last time the local newspaper printed a story with the headline The Metroplex Murderer Strikes Again, Rob went off. He’d left a message on Luke’s cell complaining about how common that made him seem. Luke still hadn’t figured out how the man got his number. The man calling himself Ravishing Rob—someone who captivated and then decapitated—had done his research. Efforts to trace the call were futile. He’d used a burn phone. Rob was thorough. He also knew how to play the media.

Reporters had their uses. In this case, they might’ve issued Julie a death warrant. “You said earlier you didn’t get a good look at him. Any idea as to general information like height? Build? Race?”

She shook her head. “I was so horrified. The whole thing shocked me. One minute I was planning to meet a client, like usual, and then I thought the worst-case scenario was that I’d walked into a robbery in progress. The next thing I know, I’m staring at a person whose throat had been slit. I’ll never forget her eyes, pleading.” She shivered again and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Luke had to grip the pencil tighter to stop himself from wiping them away. He didn’t like seeing her cry. He’d seen those tears enough for a lifetime. If it didn’t mean saving her life, he’d stop questioning. “When did you find the note?”

“This evening. I’d just gotten home from spending the day at the police station answering questions.”

“What time?” he pressed. She might not have gotten a good look at Rob. Rob didn’t know that. The reason he’d given himself the nickname Ravishing Rob churned in Luke’s thoughts as he sat next to her. Rob had said he charmed his way into his victims’ homes or cars before taking them hostage, torturing them and then beheading them with surgical precision. The bastard would never get the chance with Julie, no matter how much swagger he thought he had.

“I’m not sure. All I wanted to do when I first got home was take a shower and get out of those clothes I’d been wearing. I ate dinner alone, a bowl of soup. I decided to slip out and check the mail...and that’s when I saw it.”

He already knew she’d showered. The smell of her pineapple-and-coconut shampoo filled his senses when he breathed. That she’d eaten alone soothed a part of him it shouldn’t. He scooted back and scribbled approximate times on his notepad. “Did you see any cars?”

She shrugged noncommittally, leaning into him for support. The vulnerability in her amber eyes ripped right through him. Damned if the past didn’t come flooding back all at once, reminding him of old times they’d shared and the feelings he missed.

He had to remind himself their history wasn’t the reason she was leaning on him now. She was scared.

“I’m not sure. You know how this street is. There’s always someone parked out there. I didn’t pay attention.” She tapped her hand on her knee.

“I need you to think.”

“I said I didn’t know,” she barked in the way she did when her nerves got the best of her.

Everything about her body language said she’d just frozen up on him. Fear could paralyze victims. Once the shock wore off, she’d forget. As it was, he had very little to go on. Anything she could give him might paint a more detailed picture, save her life. The profiler had said Rob probably kept something from each of his victims and liked to hunt. A saw was his favorite weapon, but he used guns when necessary to kill them before cutting their throats. He was also a perfectionist. Rob was most likely educated, a collector, and he had weapons. “Dammit, Julie. This is important.”

“Don’t you have anything from the scene you can use to figure out who it is? Hair sample? DNA?”

“Doubt it. The house is being combed, but I’m not expecting the crew to find anything. This guy’s careful, meticulous. Even though you interrupted him, he had the presence of mind to ensure he didn’t leave a witness.” He didn’t tell her the guy normally cut off the heads of his “projects,” as he called them. Or about the half-open carton of orange juice they’d found sitting on the counter. Since Rob wasn’t able to bleach his victim this time, maybe he’d left behind a print. Doubtful, but Luke hadn’t given up hope completely. “A rookie was first on the scene. That doesn’t help. I just came from there. If there was evidence, which I doubt, it’s most likely gone.” He stabbed his fingers through his hair. “Can you think of anything else? Anything different. Doesn’t have to be about what you saw. Could be anything about the visit.”

Julie’s gaze widened. “I was supposed to meet with her on Thursday. She changed our appointment last minute.”

“Did you mention that to the police?”

“No. I didn’t think about it until just now.”

Bingo. New information. “Did she say why she moved the appointment?”

“No. She sent me a text asking if I could come a day early. Said something came up last minute and she needed to leave town right away.”

“How long did you have the original appointment on your calendar?” This guy watched his “projects” carefully. Hacked into their computers. Studied their movements. He knew them as intimately as he could without ever having met them face-to-face. At least in this case, he wasn’t monitoring her phone.

“Weeks.”

Must’ve been the change in schedule. Damn, if Julie had just kept the original appointment she’d be in the clear. This guy didn’t like an audience. He was most likely planning a way to finish his interrupted work...on Julie. Then again, any crazy with internet access could be targeting her right now. Luke glanced around. “How safe’s the neighborhood?”

“I had an alarm installed after you left...”

He’d noticed the keypad earlier. “I think it’s best if you stay with a friend for a while.”

“I’ve already thought about that. I have someone coming over later to stay the night.”

“Who?” He told himself the only reason he’d asked was to make sure it was someone who would have her back if the killer decided to strike. Not that Luke planned on being far away.

“A friend.”

He said a quick prayer it was a female. The thought of another man sleeping in his bed shot a lightning bolt of anger down his spine. “Does this friend have a name?”

“Alice.”

Relief he had no right to own washed over him. Alice hated him. But she was a helluva lot better than Herb, the dentist. “What time is she coming over?”

“She works until...” Julie checked her watch. Her hand shook. “Actually, she should be getting off soon. I’ll give her a call.”

Before he could debate his actions, he covered her hand with his. A current he refused to acknowledge pulsed up his arm. He didn’t want to offer to stay in a place that brought back so many painful memories. He couldn’t count how many times they’d made love on this very couch before he shipped off. Or how cold the leather was against his skin when he slept there every night after his return. “I doubt anything will happen tonight. He’ll want time to regroup. I’ll be right out front as precaution.”

“All night?”

“Yes. I have an officer stationed out back, too.” Luke was almost certain she wanted to poke his eyes out for ever having to look at him again. She still looked damn sexy. Her robe opened just enough for him to see she wore his old AC/DC T-shirt to bed. And since every muscle in his body screamed to reach out and touch her, he figured he’d better put a brick wall between them for safety’s sake.

“With this cold front it’ll be twenty degrees after the sun goes down. I can’t let you do that. You’ll freeze to death.”

“I’ll keep the heat on in my truck.”

“It just seems silly for you to be out there when you could set up right here.”

She must be awfully scared to make that offer. “I’m pretty certain I’m the last person you want to see. Let alone have sleeping under the same roof.”

She folded her arms. He could’ve sworn he saw a flash of regret or sadness darken her features. “True.”

He made a move to stand. Her hand on his arm stopped him. An electric volt shot through him, warming places it shouldn’t.

“I thought if I ever saw you again, it would be for different reasons.” Her lip quivered, but she compressed her mouth. Damn, it was still sexy when she was being stubborn.

“Yeah. Me, too. For the record, I don’t like this any more than you do.” Scratch that. He liked this situation boatloads less than anyone possibly could, even her. He’d be lying if he didn’t admit to fantasizing about meeting up with her again once he got his head screwed on straight. This scenario had never once entered his imagination.

“Luke.”

“Yeah.”

“You look...better. I hope you don’t mind me saying so.”

He smiled and meant it. For some reason those words mattered to him.

“And you seem different now,” she said. A melancholy note laced her tone.

The anger was gone from her voice completely now, but the sadness was far worse. Anger he could handle, fight head-to-head. He understood anger. Her sounding broken was a sucker punch to his solar plexus.

Her world had been turned upside down. She was reaching for comfort. He was still the same man she’d wanted to gut a few minutes ago. “Everyone changes a little, right?”

“Nope. Not everyone.”

Was she referring to herself or Herb?

Reminders that he had no right to care didn’t hold weight. He stood and walked to the door. “I’ll check in with the officer stationed out back before I take my post.”

Chapter Two

The last person Julie wanted to see after the hell she’d been through today was her ex-husband. How long had it been? Three years? Four?

Worse yet, the deep timbre in his voice still caused her nerves to fizz and her body to hum. The effect he’d had—correction, still had—on her was infuriating and not to mention completely out of place under the circumstances.

His expertly defined muscles on a six-foot-one-inch frame made for an imposing presence. Those golden eyes, light brown curly hair, dimpled chin and cheeks brought back memories of lying in bed long after she woke just so she could watch him sleep. Her body reacted to that.

Besides, that was a lifetime ago.

Her cell vibrated. She read the incoming text. Alice was on her way. Good.

Julie heated water in the microwave and made a cup of chamomile tea to calm herself and give her something to do besides think about her ex. Hadn’t she spent enough time trying to get over him? And she was almost certain she had.

Almost.

She threw on a pair of yoga pants and curled up on the couch with the steaming brew. She was less than thrilled her ex had shown up. Even so, she wasn’t stupid. He was FBI. She’d do whatever he said to stay alive.

There was some relief that he looked better than when he’d come back from Iraq. Then he’d been a shell of the once-charismatic, -vibrant and -sexy-as-hell man he’d been.

She still remembered the day she’d learned his tour was finished and he’d be coming home. She’d sat on this very couch, where they’d made love more times than she could count, and cried tears of joy.

Nothing had prepared her for the day Luke walked through that door.

She hugged the pillow into her stomach and took a sip of her hot tea.

The cool, courageous and fearless man she’d once stayed up all night talking to was gone. He looked as if he hadn’t eaten or shaved or slept in weeks. His eyes were deep set. He’d been dehydrated, starved or both. He barely spoke when he walked through the door and then folded onto the couch.

His vacant expression had startled her the most.

He’d refused to talk. The only thing she knew for sure was something very bad had happened overseas. Her determination to be there for him solidified even though he gave her zero reasons to hang on. Julie Campbell didn’t quit. Her father had sown those seeds years before and the crop was fully grown.

Even though Luke had shut her out completely, she was convinced she’d break through and find the real him again. The days had been long and fruitless. Then there were the nightmares. He’d wake drenched with sweat but refusing to talk about it. The slightest noise sent him to a bad place mentally—a prison, one he wouldn’t allow her access to.

She held on to their relationship, to the past, as long as she could before there was nothing left between them but sadness and distance. Then he left.

Seeing him now, he looked different but stronger.

She sank deeper into the couch.

Living on his own must agree with him.

She heard a noise from out back and fear skittered across her nerves. She told herself to calm down. There was a police officer stationed out there and Luke covered the front. No one could hurt her. She was safe. Luke wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her.

Even so, a warning bell sounded inside her. She turned out the light in the living room, slipped next to the curtain and peeked out the window. Luke’s truck sat out front. Empty. He should be at his post by now. Where was he?

A knock at the back door caused her to jump.

Adrenaline had her running toward the kitchen, needing to know if Luke was there.

The tapping on the door increased and intensified, causing her heart to lurch into her throat.

She forced her rubbery legs to carry her the rest of the way into the kitchen.

“Julie” broke through the pounding noise. Luke’s voice gave her strength to power forward.

She cracked the door.

He forced it all the way open and pushed his way inside. His weapon was drawn as he leaned his shoulder against the door for support. His dark eyes touched hers. “Thank God you’re safe.”

“What happened, Luke? What’s wrong?”

“He’s here.” He tucked her behind him.

A scuffle sounded from the alley. Luke opened the door and bolted toward it.

Julie fought to keep pace, pushing her legs until her lungs burned.

They stopped at the sight of an officer’s body lying twisted on the concrete, his radio the only noise breaking through the chilly air.

“Stay right behind me,” Luke instructed as he scanned the alley for a threat, his weapon leading the way. “And watch for any movement around us.”

She looked everywhere but at the officer, who she feared was too quiet to still be alive. She said a silent prayer for him.

When Luke had checked behind garbage cans and gaps in fences, he moved to the injured man. He dropped to the ground, bent over the officer and administered CPR as Julie kept a vigilant watch.

Luke leaned back on his heels after several intervals of compressions. He looked at her again and his horrified expression almost took her breath away.

“What else can we do? We can’t leave him.”

“There’s nothing we can do now. I tried to revive him. He’s gone.” The sadness in his voice was palpable as he called it in. He glanced at the officer’s empty holster and looked around. “His gun is missing.”

A sob broke through before Julie could suppress it.

“We have to go,” he said, then twined their fingers.

She noticed blood on his shirt and arms. She stuck close behind him as they bolted back through her house and toward the front door, his gun drawn.

“Alice is on her way,” she said.

“We’ll call her from my truck and tell her to turn around. I already notified local police. We can’t stay here.”

By the time they got to the front door, the silhouette of a man appeared against the front window.

Luke’s grip tightened on her fingers, and he leveled his weapon at the man’s chest.

Julie didn’t realize she was holding her breath until the squawk of a police radio on the other side of the door broke the silence.

Luke tucked her behind him, placing his body between her and the officer, and opened the door. He pointed to the badge clipped on his belt. “I’m Special Agent Campbell, and I called for backup. Where’d you come from? I didn’t hear your sirens.”

“I received a call of an officer down and was told to proceed with caution until others arrived at the scene. I was nearby.”

“He’s in the alley,” Luke said.

The officer thanked Luke, hopped off the porch and disappeared.

Several squad cars roared up the narrow street, descending on the once-quiet neighborhood in a swarm.

Relief washed over Julie. She glanced up in time to see Alice running toward them, looking panicked.

Julie let go of Luke’s hand and embraced her friend on the stairs.

“What in hell is going on?” Alice demanded.

“He was here.” Another sob broke through.

Alice’s expression dropped in terror. “You don’t mean...? How does he know where you live?”

“I don’t know. He left a note on my window earlier and now a police officer is dead.”

“What note?”

“I was planning to tell you about it when you got here. We weren’t sure it was him before.” Julie caught her friend giving Luke the once-over.

“That who I think he is?” Disdain parted her lips as her gaze stayed trained on Luke.

Julie nodded.

“What’s he doing here?”

“This is his case. He’s been tracking this guy for the past two years. He’s the expert, so he’s in charge.” Julie hoped her friend didn’t pick up on the change in her voice every time she spoke about her ex.

“Well, he isn’t doing a very good job.” Alice spoke loud enough for him to hear.

Julie took her friend arm in arm and turned to face the street, walking down the couple of steps to the sidewalk. “You can’t know how much I appreciate you for coming. I didn’t realize how dangerous this was when I called you earlier. I wasn’t thinking straight. You have to go.”

“Wait a minute. Are you worried about that killer coming after me, too?”

“I don’t know what could happen next. This whole experience is surreal and I don’t want to take any chances.” Julie wished she could wake up from this nightmare. Except a little piece of her felt a sense of peace at seeing Luke again. She told herself it was only because she had to know he was all right. After the way they’d left things, she couldn’t let him go completely.

“I’d feel better if you stayed with me for a few days,” Alice said.

“It’s safer for both of us if I stay with Luke. I’m sure he’ll find this guy, and when he does, I can have my life back.”

“How can you stand to be around him after what he put you through?” Alice asked, incredulous.

“It’s different. This is work and our past is behind us,” Julie lied. One glance in his direction released a thousand butterflies in her stomach. She rationalized the only reason that still happened was because her body remembered the passion between them. Their sex had surpassed earth-shattering, world-exploding-into-a-thousand-flecks-of-light hotness. The physical had never been an issue. She’d even lured him into bed one more time before he left, hoping they could build from there. The sex blazed, but after was all wrong.

They never got closure on their emotional connection, she reasoned. At least she hadn’t. He, on the other hand, looked to be doing just fine.

Maybe a part of him regretted the quick marriage?

Whatever had happened overseas could’ve expedited his realization they were two strangers who had jumped too quickly into a lifetime commitment. Young people were known to be impetuous with their decisions, hearts.

Alice stared intently at Julie for a few seconds that seemed to drag into minutes. Then came “Well, if you’re sure.”

“I am.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m a big girl,” Alice reassured her.

“Yeah? Well, this guy won’t care what you are,” Julie said. The truth cut like a serrated knife. She looked to Luke for comfort, reassurance. For now, she wouldn’t stress about the fact that one glance at him stopped the invisible band from tightening around her chest. Or that his touch warmed her in places it shouldn’t.

“Tell me you’re not staying here tonight,” Alice said.

“I’m not.”

Luke motioned for her to come back toward him. He hadn’t stopped watching her since she’d stepped away, looking uncomfortable the second she left.

“Promise to stay safe,” she said to Alice.

The short blonde nodded and gave Julie another hug.

“This will all be over soon and we’ll have lunch at Mi Cocina again. Like normal people,” she said. She pulled back and saw big tears filling her friend’s eyes.

“Are you kidding?” Alice asked. “After this ordeal, we’re going out for margaritas. Or maybe I’ll skip the mixer and go straight to tequila shots.”

Julie glanced up at Luke. He’d finished his conversation with the officers but kept his distance. He looked impatient for her to wrap things up.

“Take care of yourself. I’ll be in touch,” she said to Alice.

Her friend started down the sidewalk.

Luke was by Julie’s side in a heartbeat. He must’ve noticed her shivering, not from cold but from the shock wearing off, because he put his arm around her shoulders. She fit perfectly, just exactly as she remembered. Body to body, the air thinned and then thrummed. Julie ignored the familiar rush of warmth traveling over her skin and making her legs rubbery.

“Where’s your friend parked?” he asked.

Julie scanned the vehicles lining the street. “I don’t see her car.”

“Call her back.”

Last thing Julie wanted was to witness a confrontation. “Why?”

“He’s around here somewhere.” He skimmed the street.

“Alice!”

Her friend stopped and turned.

Luke had already flagged an officer. “Do me a favor?”

“Sure thing,” the cop said.

“See to it the blonde gets into her car, locks the doors, and then wait until she pulls away.” He motioned toward Alice.

The officer nodded. “Sure thing.”

Luke turned to Julie and said, “You okay with staying over at my place tonight until we find a suitable safe house?”

The thought of being alone with Luke at his place for an entire night sent a very different kind of shiver down her body. She downplayed it as her being cold. Looking him straight in the eyes, she asked, “Do you really think that’s best?”

He didn’t answer her. He had already started walking her toward the house. “Want to grab an overnight bag?”

She nodded. He escorted her inside, washed the blood off his hands and waited while she threw together a few items to get her through the next couple of days.

“Rob’s one step ahead of me, if it’s him. I don’t want to let you out of my sight until I’m certain you’re protected,” he said low, in practically a whisper, as he walked her toward his truck.

His reasoning made sense. After the way he’d been looking at her all night, she suspected he also probably felt some sense of guilt about how he’d left things before. Maybe he could catch a killer and ease his conscience at the same time.

Maybe she’d get the closure she so desperately needed.

Too many nights Luke Campbell had shown up in her dreams, charming her. If she spent the night with him, fixed the past, then maybe she’d be able to walk away clean, too. And possibly be ready to start a life with Herb. Or someone new. She doubted Herb would want to see her again after she’d told him she needed time to think.

Luke helped her into the truck and scanned the street again before he climbed into the driver’s seat.

She glanced back at her once-quiet neighborhood.

People were on their porches or standing at their front windows watching the circus of lights. Police were urging them to go back inside and lock their doors. Knowing a cold-blooded killer stalked her, and seemed intent on never letting up, made blood run cold in her veins.

“Wanna scoot a little closer? You’re shivering again.”

“I’m fine. It’s just been a long day.”

He turned the heater up. “Shock’s wearing off. I’m sorry this happened. If we saw each other again, I’d hoped it would be under different circumstances.”

If. He’d clearly had no plans to seek her out. Why did that make her heart sink?

Because Luke was her only failure in life.

“Breathe in and out slowly,” Luke said.

She did a few times. It helped calm her fried nerves. “Where’d you learn to do that?”

He shrugged, kept his gaze focused out the front window. “I took the military up on its offer to see a shrink. She was big on breathing.”

Luke Campbell went to counseling? If he hadn’t told her himself, she never would’ve believed it. “I’m shocked. You seemed so adamant about not involving doctors or having someone poke around in your head.”

“I made a lot of mistakes when I came home from duty.” A beat passed. “Some I could fix.”

The power of that last sentence hit her like a tsunami. Perhaps he’d worked on the things he thought worth saving. Their marriage clearly didn’t fall into that category. Anger burned through her. “When did you start therapy?”

“Not long before you... Doesn’t matter. Point being, it helped.” His tone was sharp, his words cutting.

“Before I what?” She couldn’t let it go.

“Never mind.” He flipped on the turn signal and then turned on the radio.

It was just like Luke to get all quiet as soon as they started talking about something personal. Hadn’t that been the true failure in their marriage? He didn’t trust her enough to open up.

Julie glanced in the side mirror. A white sedan turned a little too quickly at the same time they did. “Has that car been following us?”

Luke’s gaze narrowed as he checked the rearview mirror. “I’ve been keeping an eye on him.”

“Good. I thought my paranoia was in high gear after the day I’ve had.”

“Most people wouldn’t be able to hold it together as well as you have today. I’m really proud of you.” His voice was low and masculine, and it sent unwelcome sensual shivers racing through her.

She rubbed her arms to stave off the goose bumps.

“Hold on tight.” He cut a hard right without signaling.

The white sedan didn’t follow.

“Looks like I was imagining things. Sorry,” Julie said, ignoring the electric current pulsing through her at being this near Luke again. Damn body.

“No need to apologize. He landed on my radar, too. Besides, I want you to suspect everyone and everything around you from here on out. I want you to take every precaution until I can put this whole ordeal behind you and restore your previous life.”

What life? She almost said it out loud. She hadn’t had much of an existence since he’d walked away.

Luke glanced at the rearview mirror again.

“The white sedan just pulled up behind us.”

Chapter Three

Luke maneuvered in and out of traffic as he directed Julie to take his cell and call Detective Garcia. If this was Rob, he’d escalated to killing cops to get what he wanted, so murdering FBI wouldn’t bother him.

The clue Rob had left earlier with the capitalized word resurfaced in Luke’s thoughts. Nouns were capitalized. A noun could be a street name or a town. Luke thought about the word again—Devil. Proper nouns were capitalized, too. Could it be his last name?

Bluetooth picked up the call, and Garcia’s voice boomed through the speakers. “What can I do for you?”

“I’ve picked up a tail. If he’s not one of yours, I’m going to shake him.”

“You should have a white unmarked sedan behind you to make sure you weren’t being followed.”

Luke glanced at the rearview mirror and caught the quick flash of headlights. “Appreciate the extra eyes. Let me know if he sees anything, will you?”

“Absolutely. I’ll text any information we get. So far, he says everything looks cool. We’ve been interviewing Ms. Davis’s neighbors. No one saw anyone suspicious around her house. Didn’t hear anything, either. We’ll keep on it. Any information coming in from your guys at the Martin house?”

“No word from the team. The tech guys are working on her computer. Maybe they’ll get lucky and we’ll get an IP address.”

“That would be like Christmas morning.”

“Or like seeing the Tooth Fairy,” Luke agreed. “You already know about the orange juice, right?”

“He take a drink by any chance?”

“Didn’t get that lucky. The container was left out half-open.”

“Looks like we might have a diabetic on our hands.”

“My thoughts exactly. I sent you a snapshot of the note he left behind at Ms. Davis’s place. You get a chance to check it out?”

“He sure seemed to like the word Devil, if his capitalizing it is anything to go by. Any possibility it’s an honest mistake?”

“He’s deliberate. He also thinks he’s too smart for us. He’s been right so far. I’m hoping his arrogance will be his downfall. Any nearby towns by the name of Devil?”

“Good question. I’ll have my officers check. What about a last name? We could play around with the spelling and see what comes up.”

“I thought about that, too. We’ll have to investigate any and all Devils in the state, plus variations. See if there are any men in their early thirties in the family. Wouldn’t hurt to check for street names in Dallas, too.”

“Consider it done,” Garcia said. “I’ll keep you posted.”

Luke said goodbye and ended the call. He and Garcia had mentally connected the first time they met. They thought alike and had mutual respect for one another. The detective was a good ally to have.

Luke glanced at Julie. She gripped her elbows. “We’ll get a detailed report from the evidence response team soon. The suspect didn’t get to follow his usual routine this time, so maybe he left something behind we can tag him with.”

“Let’s hope.”

Luke needed more than optimism to find Rob.

A miracle would work.

Or just a good old-fashioned mistake on Rob’s part.

Luke drove into the garage of his town house and parked. “My place isn’t big. There’s a decent kitchen, and coffee’s always stocked.”

She half smiled the way she did when she was nervous.

“Right. I forgot you don’t drink coffee. Sorry, I don’t have any tea.”

“I drink coffee now. I only drink tea at night to help me sleep.”

He cocked an eyebrow at her, remembering when he’d tried to get her to taste his and she had to hold her nose to get close. “Since when did you start drinking coffee?”

She shrugged. “I missed the smell.”

He didn’t know what the hell to do with that, so he took off his bloodstained pullover, discarded it and took her on a tour. He walked her through the downstairs, which had a similar layout as her place—shotgun style. “My sisters helped pick out the furniture. It’s pretty basic.”

“It’s nice.”

Why did those two words lift the heavy weight bearing down on his shoulders since the day he’d walked out? He decided to ignore it and move on.

“By the way, I thought FBI agents wore dark suits and starched white shirts.”

He glanced down at his camo pants and black V-neck T-shirt. “Only the ones on TV. This is pretty standard-issue when we’re combing through a crime scene.”

“That where you were when they called you?”

He nodded. “I would’ve been by your place to talk to you tonight anyway.”

Upstairs, he brought her to the guest room and stepped aside to let her lead the way. “This is where you’ll sleep. I’m right next door if you need anything.”

She swallowed hard, and he tried not to notice.

“I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

The fact that only a thin wall would separate them forced its way into his thoughts. “There’s not much more than a bed in here, as you can see, but my family says it’s comfortable.”

“How are Meg and Lucy?”

“Fine. Meg just had a baby.” It pleased him that she remembered his sisters.

Surprise widened Julie’s amber eyes. “She’s married?”

Being with Julie made the past few years fade away. He realized a lot had happened since they’d last spoken. “She’s all grown up now with a family of her own.”

“Did she have a boy or girl?”

“A boy.”

“Another fine Campbell man,” she noted. The pride in her tone caused Luke’s chest to swell.

“He’s an Evans, but, yeah, he’ll always have Campbell blood running through him.” He absently rubbed the scruff on his face. “He already acts like one of us. He’s taken over their lives.”

“Then she married Riley.” A melancholy look overtook her otherwise-exhausted expression. “I wish I could’ve been there. Your sisters were always kind to me. I can’t even imagine your gran’s reaction to the news. She must be so proud.”

“She’s beside herself, all right. You know how she is. We had a big barbecue to celebrate the day he came into the world.” He smiled, and a little bit of the tension from the day subsided.

“Mind if I ask his name?” She sat on the edge of the bed, folded her hands in her lap and beamed up at him.

“Henry, but we call him Hitch for the way he hitched a ride in all of our hearts.” For a second, time warped. There she sat on his guest bed, wearing the AC/DC T-shirt she’d stolen from him. She’d claimed he’d broken it in for her. Conversation was easy, just like old times. He leaned against the doorjamb. Luke forgot how much he missed talking to his wife. Ex-wife, a little voice inside his head corrected.

As much as he wanted to stay on memory lane a little longer, he couldn’t afford to get sidetracked for so many more reasons than just this case. “I should check in and see what the team has come up with. I’ll be downstairs if you need anything.”

Her chest deflated. “Okay.”

The image of Julie on his bed in his nightshirt stirred an inappropriate sexual reaction. Luke changed his plan and headed to the shower.

The blasting cool water went straight to his throbbing midsection. He folded his arms above his head and braced himself against the wall, allowing water to cascade down his back. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the case.

A distraction right now was about the worst thing. He needed to keep a clear head and his thoughts off those long silky legs of hers. Of course, his body screamed accomplishing that feat would be easier said than done with her under the same roof.

A serial killer wanted to stop her heart from beating, he reminded himself.

He let the thought sit for a minute, bearing the full weight of the returning rock.

The shower helped him refocus. Luke toweled off and threw on boxer shorts and a T-shirt.

Downstairs, he made a sandwich and then booted up his laptop. Skimming through two hundred–plus emails, he took a bite and chewed.

The first email he opened was from the leader of the evidence response team. Preliminary data didn’t give them much to work with, other than the orange juice. They’d combed the place in a grid, as per standard operating procedure. Nothing stood out. Didn’t seem to help that he hadn’t had time to spread bleach everywhere, and especially on the victim. They’d pulled carpet fibers anyway. They’d taken photographs and diagrammed the scene. If they found anything useful, Luke would be the first to know, the team leader promised.

Luke scanned emails for Garcia’s name or anything from tech.

Nothing yet on either count.

His cell phone buzzed. He moved to the table and retrieved it.

There were eight texts. They must’ve come in while he was in the shower. He scrolled through them and stopped at Garcia.

His message said there were no cities or residents named Devil in the state of Texas. But there were twenty-four people in Texas with the last name Devel.

Luke texted Garcia. Excellent. We can split the list and start from there.

Garcia pinged back immediately. I’ll email the names and addresses.

Luke replied. I’ll take the bottom half.

He thumbed through the rest of his messages. Most were from his family. There was a new picture of Hitch. A pain hit hard and fast looking at the little boy’s round cheeks and toothless smile. For a split second, Luke wondered if his and Julie’s baby would look like his nephew.

Shaking off the thought, the ache in his chest, he moved to his laptop.

In the system, he pulled up the email from Garcia and scanned all twelve names. He printed the list. Three were female. He’d pay them a visit anyway in case one had a brother, husband or father sharing the name. He put a question mark by their names.

One Devel was dead. He crossed out that entry. Eight names drew more interesting possibilities. Two weren’t far. They lived in Addison and Dallas. The other names came from Austin, San Antonio and Houston. He could drive a circle. It would take only a couple of days max to investigate everyone on his list.

They’d start tomorrow.

Since both of his brothers worked in law enforcement, a U.S. marshal and a Border Patrol agent, Luke sent the list to them, as well, asking for background checks, paying special attention to anyone in the medical field.

The stairs creaked and Julie stepped into the room. “Just wanted a glass of water. Hope that’s okay.”

“Help yourself.” He motioned toward the kitchen. Being around her, especially at night, made him want things he shouldn’t. He kept his gaze focused on the monitor, where it belonged.

She poured her drink. “Not sure if I can sleep just yet. Mind if I sit?”

“Not at all,” he said, but his brain protested. If she knew how his body went on autopilot sex alert every time she was near, he wondered if she’d run. He also wondered if she still made that sexy little groan when he traced his finger behind the back of her knee.

She took a seat across the dining room table from him. “Find anything interesting?”

He glanced up and his heart squeezed. “Not yet. Garcia sent a list of names. We’re going on a road trip tomorrow to investigate a list of people who have a last name spelled D-e-v-e-l.”

“How’d you get that name?”

“From his note. He capitalized the name Devil. We ran variations and this is the best match.”

“Sounds promising.”

“Might not be anything.” They were playing probabilities. The real reason the letter d had been written in uppercase could mean something else entirely. Yeah, a copycat. Or Rob could simply be playing with them, waving that big IQ like a you’re-an-idiot flag.

She took a sip of water.

He didn’t want to get her hopes up, considering they had little to go on. “We don’t know if it’ll lead anywhere just yet.” He looked into her amber eyes and saw that the color had deepened, the way it did when he brushed his lips across hers. Damn.

What time was it?

He glanced at the clock, needing a reality check.

“It’s well after midnight,” she said, her voice almost a whisper.

“We need to get on the road early tomorrow. I was hoping we could leave by six.”

She gasped. “In the morning?”

He chuckled. She’d never been an early bird. Then again, he wasn’t, either, when he’d had the chance to lie in bed with her, hold her, kiss her. He could lose an entire day with her in his arms. Nothing else mattered but the two of them, being together. Hell, they’d missed more than a few meals in favor of staying in bed. The war broke him of needing sleep. Broke him of a lot of other things, too.

Or maybe just broke him.

She drained her glass. “Guess I’ll head upstairs.”

“You want to take something to read?” he asked, remembering how she’d said it helped after he’d been deployed.

The reference didn’t go unnoticed by her, as evidenced by her half smile. “I’ll be okay. Thanks, though. I didn’t think you remembered any of that stuff.”

How could he forget? She was all he had thought about when he was locked into that hole in enemy camp.

His gaze touched hers and electricity fired through him when their eyes met. His growing erection tightened at what else he recalled about her body. “It’s no big deal.”

Her smiled faded too quickly as she disappeared up the stairs. “Okay.”

He silently cursed himself for hurting her.

No. It was important to put some emotional distance between them. He was sliding down that slippery slope of needing her more than air again. And he’d only disappoint her.

This time, he’d be selfless. He wouldn’t drag her into his crazy world only to destroy her. No matter what it cost him personally.

An hour slipped by before he looked at the clock again. He’d mapped their route and caught up on a few emails.

Checking on Julie was for work, he told himself as he walked upstairs and stood outside her door.

A muffled scream pumped a shot of adrenaline through him.

He burst into the room. “Julie?”

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