The Full Story

The Full Story
Dawn Stewardson

Risk Control International operatives will go anywhere and do anything to protect the people who hire them. No crime, no conspiracy, no international intrigue is too large or too dangerous for these dedicated men and women.Dan O'Neill's latest client–foolhardy movie star Billy Brent–is a real challenge. Billy's not prepared to keep a low profile until Dan can find out who's threatening him.The job becomes more complicated when Mickey Westover shows up to interview Billy, and the bad guys turn their attention to her. Now Dan's not only protecting Billy, he's also trying to keep Mickey–the woman he's beginning to love–safe.

“There’s a hit man trying to kill Billy Brent.”

There was a short silence before Mickey continued speaking into her cell phone. “It’ll be the mother of all stories and we’ll have an exclusive. We’ll scoop the Chronicle and the Examiner. Hell, we’ll scoop the New York Times.”

She lapsed into silence, obviously listening to whatever her boss was saying. Dan felt his blood pressure rising. He wished he could hear both sides of the conversation.

“I know I’m not the best candidate.” She was speaking again. “But the critical thing is I’m up here with Dan O’Neill, and I’m the only person he’s willing to take along.”

Willing to take along? That was hardly the way he’d put it. There was another silence, and Dan couldn’t keep himself from whispering, “Is he going for it?”

She smiled at him. “I’m on hold. He’s running it past the editor in chief.”

Dan held his breath. Surely an editor in chief would recognize the insanity of this.

And then Mickey said, “That’s great. Tell Mr. Edwards I’ll come through. Neither of you will be disappointed.”

Dammit. Dan should have realized how persuasive she could be. After all, she’d convinced him to go along with this ridiculous scheme.

Dear Reader,

For my January 2003 Harlequin Superromance novel, Finding Amy, I created a company called Risk Control International—which turned out to have so many exciting people working for it that Harlequin will be publishing a miniseries of stories featuring various RCI operatives.

According to its director, RCI is in the “survival business,” a phrase he prefers over saying that people come to RCI because their lives are in danger. The only rule the company has is “Don’t let the client get killed,” and in The Full Story the client is Hollywood superstar Billy Brent.

A contract killer is after Billy, and it’s up to RCI’s personal security advisor, Daniel O’Neill, to keep Billy alive while learning who the hit man is and who’s paid him to whack Billy.

However, Dan’s plan for doing that runs into trouble when photojournalist Mickey Westover appears on the scene.

She’s arrived to interview Billy, but when she discovers that his life is in jeopardy she realizes a front-page story has fallen straight into her lap—and she has no intention of letting it go, despite the fact that Dan O’Neill is bound and determined to be rid of her. And the sooner the better.

Sparks fly between Mickey and Dan from beginning to end, and I hope you enjoy the way their romance is spiced with both humor and danger.

Warmest wishes,

Dawn Stewardson

The Full Story

Dawn Stewardson

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To John, always.

CONTENTS

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 ONE

THE MOUNTAINS OF Vancouver Island were home to some of the biggest trees Mickey had ever seen, and the air smelled so heavenly that she was driving with the windows down. Imagining herself a thousand miles from civilization was no challenge at all—until she reached her destination.

Then she was treated to a reality check. An eight-foot wrought-iron fence and a sign that read:

Private Property

No Hunting

Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted

Hmm. That certainly got the point across. And it was probably a lot more likely to discourage potential intruders than the fence. If it had razor wire it would give people pause, but as things stood it didn’t look like an insurmountable obstacle.