Confiscated Conception

Confiscated Conception
Delores Fossen

Shock didn't describe Rachel Dillard's feelings when her estranged husband told her the news: her precious embryo had been stolen!A child - their child - had been born and had become a pawn in a killer's deadly game. Finding their baby was her priority now, but the familiar heat of Jared's arms was proving a dangerous distraction….One touch of Rachel's lips and Lieutenant Jared Dillard knew he'd do anything to have her back in his bed. Bringing their baby home was the first step. Stopping a murderer was the second. And if risking his life was the only way, he would prove the power of a father's love….

A baby she’d never carried inside her…

Never held in her arms. Never even seen. And yet he was already there in her heart. A son. Rachel slowly let that sink in.

She had a child, and Esterman’s people might hurt him before they could find him.

“I’d given up hope of ever having a baby,” she admitted. She ran her fingers over the child’s picture. “Especially when you refused to let me use the embryos after we separated.”

“Yes.”

That was it. The sum total of Jared’s response. But Rachel didn’t hold it against him. She wasn’t sure how she was supposed to respond, either. Most couples had nine months to build up to a moment like this. Nine months of hope, planning and dreams. Their dream was one big nightmare.

“We have to find him….”

Confiscated Conception

Delores Fossen

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Imagine a family tree that includes Texas cowboys, Choctaw and Cherokee Indians, a Louisiana pirate and a Scottish rebel who battled side by side with William Wallace. With ancestors like that, it’s easy to understand why Texas author and former air force captain Delores Fossen feels as if she was genetically predisposed to writing romances. Along the way to fulfilling her DNA destiny, Delores married an air force Top Gun who just happens to be of Viking descent. With all those romantic bases covered, she doesn’t have to look too far for inspiration.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Lieutenant Jared Dillard—Even though he still cares for his soon-to-be ex-wife, Rachel, he believes she’s out of his life for good—until he receives word that someone stole the fertilized embryo they stored years ago. Now there’s a child—their child—and the baby will die if Jared and Rachel don’t work together to find him.

Rachel Dillard—She’s been in protective custody for over a year, and just hours before she’s supposed to testify against her dirty dealing boss, she learns that she has a newborn son. If she doesn’t testify, a killer will go free, but if she takes the stand, her child will die.

Clarence Esterman—Rachel’s former boss would do anything to stop her from testifying against him.

Sergeant Colby Meredith—Is he a cop on the take with orders from Esterman to assassinate Jared?

Lyle Brewer—Clarence Esterman’s lawyer. He’s possibly Esterman’s silent partner and the one who has Rachel and Jared’s baby.

Donald Livingston—Is this prison warden the mastermind behind Esterman’s plan to stop Rachel from testifying, or is he simply a pawn in a dangerous game?

To my brother, Mike, and his wife, Ann Marie

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 Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter One

Jared heard the footsteps a split second before the man aimed a semiautomatic at his head.

“Don’t move,” the officer ordered. He stepped around the side of the ranch house and approached Jared as if he were a cobra ready to strike. In a way, he was.

With the thick envelope still clutched in his hand, Jared lifted his arms in a show of surrender. “I’m Lieutenant Dillard, San Antonio PD. I believe you’re expecting me?”

“It’s all right, Smitty,” a woman called out from inside the house. “He’s Rachel’s husband. I recognize him.” The door opened, and Detective Miller, the dark-haired officer on the other side, motioned for Jared to enter.

“Lieutenant Dillard,” she greeted. “I wish you were here under different circumstances.”

The officer glanced at the envelope, and from the somber expression on her thin face it was clear that she thought it contained the divorce papers that Jared had mentioned on the phone.