The Ransom

The Ransom
Maggie Price

Mills & Boon Silhouette
WE HAVE YOUR SON!The ransom for five-year-old Matthew was one million dollars cash. And in a terrifying instant all of Kathryn Conner's dreams of a new life at her family's Texas ranch, far from the scandal of her failed Hollywood marriage, were blindsided by the only thing that mattered: saving her son.A desperate mother will do desperate things, even turn to a man who loved and left her long ago, a man whose touch still haunted her dreams. But Clay Turner was her last–her only–hope at finding Matthew. Clay knew what was at stake, shared her pain and understood what it took for her to seek him out. Because the look in Kathryn's eyes reflected the same searing memories fighting their way back to his heart, as well.This time, he won't let her down.

Praise for

MAGGIE PRICE’s

LINE OF DUTY miniseries

“A quick paced, action packed romance.”

—The Romance Reader’s Connection on Sure Bet

“Maggie Price’s riveting, intense plot makes this

an exciting reading experience.”

—Romantic Times BOOKreviews on Hidden Agenda

“Get ready for chills, thrills, and shivers of delight

as a super-stud cop and his sexy, stubborn,

soon-to-be-ex wife go after a murderous cop.”

—USA TODAY bestselling author Merline Lovelace on Shattered Vows

“The cleverly developed plot is filled with

unexpected twists and turns.”

—Romantic Times BOOKreviews on The Cradle Will Fall

“Combines romance, mystery and crime into one

page turning, exciting and sensuous story.”

—Reader 2 Reader on Trigger Effect

“A taut, romantic drama.”

—The Romance Reader on Most Wanted Woman

MAGGIE PRICE

A former police-crime analyst for the Oklahoma City Police Department, Maggie Price has never tried to distance herself from her dark “cop side” when writing the riveting romantic suspense that has become her trademark. If anything, that meshing of the cop side with the romance side is a natural blending…and her stories show us that sometimes, love can kill.

The authenticity of police work and sizzling passion she brings to her novels have earned Maggie numerous awards, including a National Readers’ Choice Award, a Booksellers’ Best Award and a coveted RITA

Award nomination. Other honors received include a Romantic Times BOOKreviews Career Achievement Award for series romantic suspense, and a Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Silhouette Intimate Moments.

Maggie invites readers to contact her at 416 N.W. 8th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73102-2604. Or reach her on the Web at www.MaggiePrice.com.

The Ransom

Maggie Price

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

Dear Reader,

While a civilian crime analyst for the Oklahoma City Police Department, I snagged an assignment to a task force investigating the abduction of two preteen girls from the state fair. During that time, I was in contact with the distraught parents. Their despair and suffering touched my heart and gave me an insider’s view of what it means to lose a child to an unknown evil.

That experience inspired me to tell the story of a divorcée whose small son is kidnapped for ransom. And the only person she dares turn to for help is the ex-cop who walked away a decade ago with a piece of her heart.

The Ransom is the story not only of the struggle to save a little boy’s life, but of the rekindling of a love that refuses to die.

Warmest regards,

Maggie Price

To Pam Hopkins, my supersonic agent whom I’ve

been blessed to have in my corner for over a decade.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE