Also by

Also by Mary Monroe

The Neighbors Series
One House Over
Over the Fence
Across the Way

The Lonely Heart, Deadly Heart Series
Can You Keep a Secret?
Every Woman’s Dream
Never Trust a Stranger
The Devil You Know

The God Series
God Don’t Like Ugly
God Still Don’t Like Ugly
God Don’t Play
God Ain’t Blind
God Ain’t Through Yet
God Don’t Make No Mistakes

The Mama Ruby Series
Mama Ruby
The Upper Room
Lost Daughters

Gonna Lay Down My Burdens
Red Light Wives
In Sheep’s Clothing
Deliver Me From Evil
She Had It Coming
The Company We Keep
Family of Lies
Bad Blood
Remembrance

“Nightmare in Paradise” in Borrow Trouble

Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.

Title Page

Copyright Page

To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

DAFINA BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.

119 West 40th Street

New York, NY 10018

Copyright © 2020 by Mary Monroe

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotion, premiums, fund-raising, and educational or institutional use.

Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington Sales Manager: Kensington Publishing Corp., 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018. Attn. Sales Department. Phone: 1-800-221-2647.

The Dafina logo is a trademark of Kensington Publishing Corp.

First Hardcover Printing: April 2020

ISBN-13: 978-1-4967-1618-7

ISBN-10: 1-4967-1618-3

First Trade Paperback Printing: February 2021

ISBN-13: 978-1-4967-1619-4 (e-book)

ISBN-10: 1-4967-1619-1 (e-book)

First Electronic Edition: April 2020

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my beloved cousins,
Alice Curry and Donnie Ruth Franklin.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

It is such an honor to be a member of the Kensington Books family.

Selena James is an awesome editor and a great friend. Thank you, Selena! Thanks to Steven Zacharius, Adam Zacharius, Karen Auerbach, Vida Engstrand, Lauren Jernigan, Samantha McVeigh, Elizabeth Trout, Robin E. Cook, the wonderful crew in the sales department, and everyone else at Kensington for working so hard for me.

Thanks to Lauretta Pierce for maintaining my website.

Thanks to the fabulous book clubs, bookstores, libraries, my readers, and the magazine and radio interviewers for supporting me for so many years.

To my super literary agent and friend, Andrew Stuart, thank you for representing me with so much vigor.