Kate Donovan - Parallel Lies (Silhouette Bombshell)

She knew Zack was lying.

He had no intention of sharing information with her. At least, not willingly. But thanks to the global positioning device, she would track his every movement. If he got a lead on her sisters location, Sabrina would head there as soon as he made his move.

And in the meantime, maybe shed find the location first. Zack was wasting his time going to Sacramento. If there had been any clues at Shelbys house, Sabrina would have found them already.

They needed to focus on the kidnapper, not her sister. And so Sabrina would study the files using her training and instincts to get inside the kidnappers head. Then shed take her fathers bag of tricksand her gunand go hunting.

Dear Reader,

Youre about to read a Silhouette Bombshell novel, one of the most engaging, exciting and riveting books on the shelves today. Were pleased to bring you fast-paced, compelling reads featuring strong, admirable women who will speak to the Bombshell in you!

In Sophies Last Stand by Nancy Bartholomew, Sophie Mazarattis trying to start over after her marriage ends very badlybut it seems her slimy ex has left her in a sticky situation involving the mob, the Feds and one darned attractive detective.

Get ready for a thrilling twenty-four hours as military author Cindy Dees continues the powerful Athena Force continuity series with Target , featuring an army intelligence agent on a mission to save the President-elect from being assassinated. To gain his trust, shell give the villain someone new to chaseherself.

Its a jungle out there when a determined virologist races into the Amazon to stop a deadly outbreaka danger that authorities seem determined to cover up, even at the cost of Dr. Jane Millers life. Dont miss The Amazon Strain by Katherine Garbera!

And a protected witness must come out of hiding after her sister mysteriously disappears, in Kate Donovans adventure Parallel Lies . Its up to Sabrina Sullivan to determine which of two charismatic men is lyingor if they both areto save her sisters life.

The stakes are high and the pressure is on! Please send me your comments c/o Silhouette Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279

Sincerely,

Natashya Wilson
Associate Senior Editor, Silhouette Bombshell

KATE DONOVAN

PARALLEL LIES

Books by Kate Donovan

Silhouette Bombshell

Identity Crisis #20

Parallel Lies #44

KATE DONOVAN

is the author of more than a dozen novels and novellas, ranging from time travel and paranormal to historical romance, suspense and romantic comedy. An attorney, she draws on her criminal law background to create challenges worthy of her heroines, who crack safes, battle wizards and always get their man. As for Kate, she definitely got her man and is living happily ever after with him and their two children in Elk Grove, California.

This book is dedicated to my parents
for their loving encouragement.
Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Contents

Prologue

W hen the cell phone on her nightstand began to ring, twenty-year-old Sabrina Sullivan went from soundly sleeping to fully alert in an instant. The fact that it was 2:00 a.m. only heightened her instinctive response. After all, this particular phone had one purpose and one purpose onlyfor her father to contact her in case of an emergency. And given Sully Sullivans dangerous lifestyle, an emergency seemed to lurk around every intrigue-laden corner.

Flipping open the phone, Sabrina said simply, Dad?

Sweetheart, this is Uncle Theo. Im standing outside the door to your apartment. I didnt want to knock and scare you, but I need to talk to you.

The daughters heart began to pound. Is he hurt bad? Is he even alive? Uncle Theo

Come to the door, Breezie.

Right. She jumped to her feet and sprinted from her small bedroom into the study area of the dorm suite she shared with her sister Michelle. Then she yanked open the door, ready to demand a million details.

But the expression on Theo Howells face told her everything she needed to know, and it did so with the force of a well-aimed kick to her solar plexus. Oh, no

Breezie. He pulled her into a bear hug. Im so sorry.

Tears stung her eyes. He was here just last week for a visit. He looked so h-healthy. What happened?

He was murdered, hon. By Adonis Zenner.

Sabrina pulled free, shocked by the announcement, and perversely grateful for the rush of white-hot hatred that chased her tears away.

Zenner? She practically hissed the name. How did he get into the country?

We dont know. We dont know anything yet.

This is the thanks Dad gets for tracking that psychos father down? We knew Adonis might try to get revenge for Pluto. Didnt we take precautions?

Come and sit with me, Theo advised, adding over his shoulder, you men secure the premises.

Sabrina winced as two middle-aged men dressed in black pants and black shirts strode past her. She hadnt even noticed the burly pair of strangers. Her father would be so disappointed in her.

Except her father was dead.

Is this the only window? one man was asking. What about in there?

My sisters in there. Sleeping. And of course theres no window, she added, insulted at the implication that shed let Michelle sleep alone in a room with exterior access. Then she bit her lip, realizing for the first time that this nightmare was about to invade her younger sisters world, as well.

I should wake her up, she told her uncle. Zenners trail is getting colder by the second.

Theres a decision to be made, Brie. Your father would want you to make it. Youre the oldest.

A decision? She felt her temper flare. You mean, like funeral stuff? Who cares! We have to go after Adonis before he gets out of the country.

Theos gaze was steady and direct. We think hell come after you and Michelle next.

What?

When your father killed Pluto, he wiped out Adoniss whole family. He might want to return the favor.

Sabrina turned to stare at the closed door to Michelles room. Then she sank down onto the sofa next to Theo. We need to get her to someplace safe. Immediately.

We need to get you both someplace safe, he corrected her. There are two choices. My home in Monterey. Or a safe house here in Boston, which would be a stopover on your way into a protection program.

A protection program?

The government offered us two spots in RAP. Thats a relocation assistance program for compromised agents and their families, similar to witness protection.

Are you talking about new identities? Isnt that a little drastic? Just take Shellie to your house while I go after Adonis.

Is that what your father would have wanted?

Sabrinas eyes stung with the return of her tears, but she wiped them with miserable determination. There would be plenty of timethe rest of her life, in factto cry. Right now, she had to concentrate on protecting her sister and avenging her father.

In that order.

Because she knew exactly what her father would want her to do. She could almost hear his voice instructing her, the same way hed done just one week earlier at the end of his visit.

Take care of your sister. Im entrusting her safety to you. I know you wont let me down.

He had charged her with this responsibility since early in their childhood, and she had always taken it as a compliment. Now she knew it for what it wasa curse.

Whats going on? a sleepy voice demanded from across the room, and eighteen-year-old Michelle stepped into view, her feet stuffed into fuzzy pink slippers, her lightweight robe belted haphazardly and her arms cradling their new kitten, a black-and-white fur ball known as Zorro. Uncle Theo? Is everything okay?