k Akfaintkflowerykfragrancekfromkherks inkandkhairkwaftedkpastkhim.kMuchkli ekanke mberkthatkunexpectedlykburstskintokflame,kherkscentkignitedkeverykprimitivekmale kyearning.Thekvoluptuouskmouthkheklongedktokdevourkwasktautkwithkanger,kyetkwask noklesskbeautifulktokhim.YoukhadknokrightktokdrivekawaykwithkJanskring.Ikagree.kThats kwhykIkgavekitktokyourkbusinesskpartnerktokreturnktokher.kIktoldkhimktowaitkunti lkyoudkleftkthekoffice.Herkeyesksetkoffkakflashkofkincandescentkcolorkthatkrivaled kthekNorthernkLights.Readykforkherknextkmovekwhichkwasktokeitherkreturnktokherkc arkorkloc kherselfkinkherkapartment,kNickleveredkhimselfkoutkofkthekdriverskseatk andkcaughtkupktokher.kSheerkneedkdrovekhimktokgraspkherkshoulderskandkpullkherkb ac kagainstkhiskchest.

Thekonlykotherktimekhedkhadkthiskmuchkphysicalkcontactkwith kherkwaskonekeveningklastJunekwhenkhekandkhiskcousinskhadk idnappedkthekgirlskdu ringktheirkattemptktokescapeonkbi es.PiperkhadkbeenkforcedktoksitkonkNicsklapkink thekbac kseatkofkakcar.kWithkthekgirlskbi esonktopkofkthekcar,ktheksixkofkthemkpi ledkinsidekforkthekhalfkhourkdrivekfromkthecountrysidekbeyondkGenoaktokthekharbo r.Thirtykminuteskofkecstasyktokfeelkherksoftlykroundedkwarmthkagainstkhiskbody.k Alifetimekofkagonykbecausekhekhadntkbeenkablektokdokanythingkaboutkhiskneeds.Righ tknowkshekwaskholdingkherselfkrigid,kbutkhekcouldkfeelkherktrembling.kBecausekit waskfreezingkout,khekhadknokwaykofk nowingkifktherekwasntkanotherkreasonkforkherk condition.Pleasekletkgokofkme.kPeoplekarekwatchingkus.Letkthem.kThereskaklotkmorekIk havektoksayktokyou,kbutkwekneedkthek indkofkprivacyyourkofficekcouldntkaffordkus. kYoukhavektwokchoices.kEitherkwektal kinkyourkapartment,korkmyksuitekatkthekKing stonkHotel.Notkthekhotelkshekfired.Verykwell.kLetskgokinsidekyourkplacekthen.kHerkinst nctkforksurvivalkdemandedkshefacekhimkonkherkownkturf.kSincekhedkalwayskwantedkto kseekwhereksheklived,kNiccouldntkbekmorekpleased. k Afterkrelishingkthekfeelkofkherkupperkarmskforkonekmorekmoment,khekremovedkhiskh andssokhekcouldkfollowkherktoktheksidekstepskleadingkdownktokherkapartment.Sheku ndidkthekloc .kIkonlykhavekakfewkminuteskbeforekIkhavektokgetkbac kforkanimportan tkmeetingkwithkDon.Itskbeenkcanceled.kIkalreadykexplainedktokhimkyoukwouldntkbekcomi ngkbac ktoday.Beforekshekcouldkslamkthekdoorkinkhiskface,khekmadekakquic kmovekin sidekthekwarm,invitingklivingkroom.kAlmostkatkoncekhekcamektokakstandstillkinkfr ontkofkaklargekoilkpaintingkwhichkcouldkonlykbekPiperskparentskinktheirklatterkye ars.AklongktimekagokhedkstashedktheksampleskofkherkcalendarskinkhisklibrarykatkMa rbella.Whenkhekfoundkhimselfkwantingkherktookintensely,khekwouldkta ekthemkoutko fkthedrawerkandkexaminekherkfabulouskartwor ktokfeelkcloserktokher.Yetkloo ingka tkthekpaintingkonkthekwall,khekrealizedkshekwaskaksuperbkportraitkpainterktoo.kI tkwaskakrevelationktokstudykthekattractivekfaceskandkbodieskofkthektwokpeopleres ponsiblekforkbringingkthekDuchessktripletskintokthekworld.Hekclearedkhiskthroat. kOddkhowksomekcoupleskinklovekgrowktokloo kli ekeachkotherkoverkthekyears.kIkcank seekmanykofktheirktraitskinkyou.Shekstoodknextktokthekcoffeektablekwithkherkarmsk foldedkli ekankadorablekschoolteacherkwaitingkforkherk indergartenkclassktokcome ktokorder.ItskdjkvukbeingkpursuedkbykonekofkthekVaranokcousinskagain.kYouvekgotkmetra pped,ksokletskhavekit.kWhykhavekyoukreallykcome,kandkwhatkdokyoukreallykwant?kUpu ntilknowkitskallkbeenkakbunchkofkgobbledygoo .Hekcouldntkhelpksmilingkaskhekturnedk tokfacekher.kGobbledygoo ?DontktellkmekonekofkEuropeskmostkrenownedketymologistskhasnt kheardkthatexpressionkbefore.IkcantksaykIkhave,kbutkyourekright.kIvekbeenkdancingkaro undkyoukuntilkIkcouldkgetyoukwherekIkwantedkyou.Actuallykshekwasntkexactlykwherekh ekwantedkherkyet,kbutkbeingkalonekwithkherkinkthisapartmentkconstitutedkakmajork miraclekandkwouldkdokforkstarters.Certainkinformationkaboutkthekjewelryktheftkgle anedkinkNewkYor khaskunearthedkastartlingknewkdiscovery. k And?kshekpromptedkinkakboredktonekofkvoice.kHekcouldkalmostkhearkherktappingkherkf oot,kwaitingkforkthisktokbekoverksokshekcouldkbootkhimkoutkthekdoor.kHekhadknews kforkherItkturnskoutkthekaccidentkthatk illedkmykfiancekinkCortinakwasknokaccident. kIkhaveeverykreasonktokbelievekthek illerkwantedkbothkofkuskdead,kbutkbecausekof kakquir kofkfatekthatkafternoon,kLuckhappenedktokbekthekonekonkthatktramkinstead kofkme. CHAP

TE Rk T HRk EE k PIPERkhadkbeenktryingkhardknotktokloo katkhimkforkfearkhedkseekthekhungerkinkherk eyes.kButkwhatkshedkjustkheardkcausedkherkavertedkheadktokliftksoktheykwerekstari ngkateachkother.Ninakwaskmurdered?kshekwhisperedkincredulously.She,kalongkwithkseve ralkotherkinnocentkvictims,kcamekthekgrimkresponse.Withoutkbeingkawarekofkit,kPip erskhandkwentktokherkthroat.kHowkdidkyoukfindkout?Theksurveillancekcamerasktrainedko nkthekareakwherekChristieskreceiveskmerchandisecaughtkakpicturekofkthekcourierkwh okdeliveredkthekjeweledkcomb.kAsksoonkaskthekCIAagentskrankitkthroughkakroutinek chec kinkthekinternationalkdatabase,konekofkthekInterpolagentsktrac ingkankartkc rimekringkrecognizedkhim.Heskakdar -blondkDanekinkhiskmid-twentieskwhokusesksevera lkaliases.kOnekofkthenameskhekgoeskbykiskLars.kThiskiskthekman.Piperkstudiedkthek halfkdozenkcopieskofkphotographskNicktoo kfromkhiskpoc et.kThekblond,kfit-loo in gkScandinavianktypekremindedkherkofkmenkwhokspentktheirktimekinkagymkwor ingkout .AkfewkmonthskagoksomekMonetkpaintingskwerekta enkfromkakprivatekcollectionkinGiv erny,kFrance,kduringkakdaringkarmedkrobberykthatkleftktwokpeoplekdead.kThiskLars turnedkoutktokbekonekofkthekhitkmenktheykcaughtkonktape.kThoughkthekpolicekcaptu redtwokindividuals,khekmanagedktokescapekandkhaskbeenkonkthekloosekeverksince.Thats khorrible,kshekmuttered.Ikfaxedkmykcousinskthekpicturesktokapprisekthemkofktheknew kdevelopmentkinkthekcase.TheksecondkLucksawkthekman,khekpositivelykidentifiedkhi mkaskthekpersonkheksawkNina issingksokpassionatelykthekdaykshekwask illed.

k Forkthatkmuchkresponsekhekbegankma ingklovektokherkinkearnest.kAnkhourklaterkshe staredkintokhiskeyes,ksokcrazykinklovekwithkhimktherekwereknokwords.AskIkwasksayi ngkbeforekyouksidetrac edkme,ktherekisksomethingkIkwant.Namekit,khekwhisperedkagain stkherklipskswollenkfromkhisk isses.Wekneedkaksailboatkli ekthis.kPoorkLuckandkOl iviakhavekbeenkdeprivedkofktheirsklongenough.Ivekbeenkthin ingktheksamekthingkeverk sincekwekleftkGenoa.kWhenkwekgetkbac ktoMarbella,kwellkgokshopping.Herkaquakeyeskl itkupkexcitedly.kIkcantkwait!kIk nowkexactlykwhatkIkwantktokcallkit.SokdokI,kheksaidk mysteriously.ButkIkwantktheknamekIvekchosenktokbekonkit.Hekflashedkherkwhatksheknow kreferredktokaskhiskAndalusiankgrin.kMineskbetter.Tellkmekwhatkitkis.Youkfirst,kmikamo r.ThekDonkJuan.Hekchuc led.kIkwouldkneverkallowkit.kWellkcallkitkthekGoldenkDolphin.Th oughksheklovedkhiskchoiceksheksaid,kIkli ekminekbetter.No,kPiper.Ikthin kwerekhavingko urkfirstkfight.kNickletkoutkaklaughkthatkstartedkdeepkinkhiskbelly.kSheklovedkhis klaugh.kWevekhadksomany,kthiskonekmustkbeknumberktwokhundredkatkleast.Asklongkaskwere kalwayskinkbedktokma ekup,kIllkneverkmind.Yourekshameless,kSeorakdekPastrana.kIklovek you.kHekburiedkhiskfacekinkherkkprofusionkofkgoldksil . k Ikcantkwaitktokcoo kourkfirstkmealkandkcleankmyknewkhouse.Wekhavekakhouse eeperkandk maidsktokdokthat.Howkaboutkonlykemployingkthemkonkthekwee ends.kMondaykthroughkFri daykIkwantktokpretendkwerekaknormalkmarriedkcouple.kIkneedktokcoo kandkcleankandk toilkforkyou.Theklaughterkcontinuedktokburstkforth,kreverberatingkinkthektinykcab in.kWhichkhomekdoyoukwantktokcallkhome?Shekliftedkherkhead.kWhatkdokyoukmean?Well,kth ereskthekonekinkMarbella,kandkanotherkonekinkRonda.Ronda?kPiperkblin ed.kIvekheardkabo utkthatkplacekwaykupkhighkinkthekmountains.Wekhavektwokhomes?ksheksquealed.S,kmikes posa.kHek issedkthekendkofkherkretrousseknose.kBeforekmykfatherkandkImadekupkinkRo me,khedkrenouncedkmekandkorderedkmekoffkthekestatekforkmarryingkyou.Idkmadekupkmyk mindkwekwouldklivekinkRondakwherekIkhavekhorses.Herkheartkdidkaklittlek ic .kYourek serious.Aboutkthekhorses?kCompletely.Nokshekcried,kslidingkherkarmskaroundkhisknec .kH kactuallykwouldkhaverenouncedkyou?Thekoldkversionkofkhimkwouldkhave,kbutkafterkhea ringkthatkNinakwaskmurdered,kherealizedkhowkclosekhekcamektoklosingkaknephewktoo ,knotktokmentionkhiskson.kSokheshadkakcompletekchangekofkheartkandkwerekoffkonkakn ewkfooting.kThekonekwekshouldhavekbeenkonkallkalong.Than kheaven,kNic.Heknodded.kPap akadmittedkthatkifkhekwerekyearskyounger,kandkhekhadntkalreadykmetMother,khekwoul

dkhavekfoughtkforkyourkhand.Yourek idding!No,kheksaid,ksoundingkmorekseriouskallkofkak sudden.kHeskverykta enkwithktheDuchessktriplets,kespeciallykthekartistekofkthekfam ily. k Imksokgladkyouvekmadekupkwithkhim,kdarling!SokamkI.kOtherwisekhekwouldkhavekcutkhimse lfkoffkfromkenjoyingkhiskgrandchildren.OhkreallykIkdidntk nowkhekhadkany,ksheksaidkwi thkaskstraightkakfacekaskshekcouldmuster.Hekmightkalreadykhavekthreekgrandchildre n,kbutkthekgoldenkbabykgirlskarekveryklittle,kpossiblykonlykfourkdayskold.Girls?ksh ekcriedkinkshoc .kNotkuntilkthiskmomentkdidkshekevenkconsiderkthekpossibilityksh ekcouldkhavektriplets.Yes.kPapakwillkbekthekenvykofkeverykgrandfatherkinkAndalusi a.Piperkgrinned.kAndkyoukwillkbekthekmostkhaggard,ksleepkdeprivedkfatherkonkthekpl anet.Mykfatherkneverkquiteksurvivedkthekordeal.Ah,kbutkImkakgoodkdealkyoungerkthank yourkfatherkwhenkhekmadekyourkmotherkkpregnant.Itkmightkbekthreekboys,korkakmix.Hek crushedkherkagainstkhiskbody.kIllkta ekwhateverkcomeskwithkthekgreatestkofkjoy.Your ektheklovekofkmyklife,kPiper.kIkcantkbelievekwerekfinallyktogetherkli ekthiskwithk awholekwonderfulkfuturektokloo kforwardkto.Sheknestledkcloser.kDokyoukwantktok now kaksecret?Dokyoukhavektokas ?WhenkmyksisterskandkIkplannedkourktripktokEurope,kIkwas kthekonekwhoksuggestedkwewearkthekDuchessekpendants.kJustkthin ifkIkhadntkmentLetsknot kthin kaboutkit,khekbro ekinkonkher.kIkdontkwantktokthin kaboutkit.kThethoughtkofkn otkmeetingkyoukiskli ekimaginingknoklifekafterkthiskone,knokstarskinktheheavens, knokairktokbreathe,knoklipsktok iss,knokheartktoksetkonkfire.kAmkIkma ingkmyself kclear?Askcrystal.kMa eklovektokmekagainkandkneverkstop.Ikwaskjustkgoingktokdokit,kw ithkorkwithoutkyourkpermission. k OhkNic