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Chapters (50)
  1. “YOU CAN TOUCH ME ALL YOU WANT, BUT I WON’T ABANDON THE JOB.”
  2. Also by
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Dedication
  6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  7. Chapter One
  8. Chapter Two
  9. Chapter Three
  10. Chapter Four
  11. Chapter Five
  12. Chapter Six
  13. Chapter Seven
  14. Chapter Eight
  15. Chapter Nine
  16. Chapter Ten
  17. Chapter Eleven
  18. Chapter Twelve
  19. Chapter Thirteen
  20. Chapter Fourteen
  21. Chapter Fifteen
  22. Chapter Sixteen
  23. Chapter Seventeen
  24. Chapter Eighteen
  25. Chapter Nineteen
  26. Chapter Twenty
  27. Chapter Twenty-One
  28. Chapter Twenty-Two
  29. Chapter Twenty-Three
  30. Chapter Twenty-Four
  31. Chapter Twenty-Five
  32. Chapter Twenty-Six
  33. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  34. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  35. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-One
  38. Chapter Thirty-Two
  39. Chapter Thirty-Three
  40. Chapter Thirty-Four
  41. Chapter Thirty-Five
  42. Chapter Thirty-Six
  43. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  44. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  45. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  46. Chapter Forty
  47. Chapter Forty-One
  48. Chapter Forty-Two
  49. Teaser chapter
  50. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Raider swallowed, looking for the right answer. “I met her, started dating her, fell in love with her, and then had her investigated.” He shrugged. “Had to know everything. When I found out about you and your connections to the Coonans, I started to think of a way to expand my business. It’s—”

Sean held up a hand. “I don’t want to know a thing about it. Does Brigid know what you do?”

Again, Raider tried to read the man’s expression, but it was blank. He must’ve been an excellent enforcer at some point. “No. The less she knows, the better. It’s safer for her.” He tried to look earnest. “I’m only into cybercrimes, Sean. Don’t move drugs, don’t move guns, and don’t move people. Well, guns once in a while. Just odd jobs.” Maybe that would make him more palatable to the old guy. “If I partnered with the Coonans, and they used their current system to launder my money, I could do very well. So could they.”

Sean lowered the tip of the shovel and leaned it against the post again. “Well, here’s your problem. I’m not in touch with the Coonans, and even if I was, I wouldn’t help you. I left that life a long time ago.” He wiped his hands down his overalls. “I plan on telling Brigid the truth, but I doubt that will change a thing. She’s always had terrible taste in men.” He rubbed his weathered hands together and moved closer to the door. “Probably karma for my past sins. So you’re going to end it with her.”

Against all logic, Raider kind of liked the guy. Yeah, he was lying, but he definitely cared about his daughter. “What incentive would I have to do that?” he asked.

Sean smiled for the first time. “Well, end it, and I won’t kill you.” He pivoted on his left foot.

The punch came out of nowhere, full on, and with a farmer’s strength. Pain exploded in Raider’s temple, his brain instantly swelled, and he dropped like a boulder to the barn floor. Hay filled his nostrils, and then the entire world went black as unconsciousness took him under.

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Brigid sat on her handmade wedding-band quilt and looked around her childhood room. Lightning zigged outside, and fat raindrops started to fall against the window. She loved a good rainstorm on the farm.

Pictures and pom-poms and sports trophies covered her dresser and end tables, and a collage of more pictures and souvenirs took up the entire wall space above her desk. She’d forgotten. Her dad had coached her in softball and in soccer for her early years, until she’d played at school.