She hesitated, unable to move from her spot on the bed. Her mind kept replaying the moment when Jake had come for her.

  She couldn't deny it any longer: her feelings for him were too strong to ignore. She knew she had to tell him, even if it meant risking their partnership, their friendship. The thought of losing him terrified her, but she couldn't bear to keep her emotions bottled up inside any longer.

  Fiona had never been in love, and she didn't know what it felt like, but if she had to guess, it was a lot like this. The longing, the desire to be close to him. The way he made her feel safe. When he came for her, it was all a reminder of that, of the feelings that had been growing between them since they started working together.

  But she didn't know how he felt.

  He had kissed her once before, but she recognized that had been a heat-of-the-moment thing. There was a chance Jake was still hung up on his ex, Lauren. At the same time, there were moments when Fiona was sure he was looking at her in a way that felt... serious. Like he truly saw something in her.

  Fiona felt her heart swell. She had to tell him how she felt. She had to take the risk and see if he felt the same way, even though it terrified her.

  She breathed in deeply and stood up from the bed. She grabbed her bag, feeling a new sense of determination course through her veins as she opened the door and stepped out into the night. Her feet carried her forward until she found herself outside Jake's car in the parking lot, under the silver moon. He must have still been packing up in his hotel room, which gave her more time to prepare.

  Fiona leaned against the car and waited, her heart racing as she tried to gather her thoughts. She was nervous about sharing her feelings with Jake. What if he didn't feel the same way? What if it ruined everything between them? But Fiona couldn't ignore the way she felt any longer.

  She had to take the risk, even if it meant changing things forever.

  ***

  The streetlights cast long shadows across the worn carpet of Jake's motel room as he packed his belongings, relieved that another case was down. He folded his shirts and zipped up his suitcase. They'd caught the killer, and the final would-be victim was in the hospital--a close call, but alive all the same. Still, it wasn't enough to shake the lingering unease that clung to him like a second skin.

  Harrison Greene was locked up, and that was a good thing, but understanding this killer and his motives made Jake's head spin. He'd learned that Harrison's father had murdered his mother, and he knew that had contributed to Harrison's snapping. On top of that, his father had been in prison for life but died only a few short weeks ago. That must have been the final straw that broke Harrison and sent him on a killing spree.

  Now Glen Hartwell, Sharon French, and Roger Gray were all dead. All because of one man's twisted game.

  It wasn't right. But at least Harrison could never hurt anyone again.

  Jake stepped out of the room, and the chill of the early morning air brushed against his face. It was late--or early, he should say--as they'd been up for hours, dealing with paperwork and handling everything. He needed a good night's rest, and he knew Fiona did too.

  She leaned against his car, her arms crossed over her chest and her gaze fixed on the ground, her bag beside her. There was something somber about her, something distant.

  "Hey," Jake said softly, approaching her. She looked up, her amber eyes wide and vulnerable, and something inside him cracked.

  "Hey," she replied, her voice barely audible.

  Jake closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her, feeling her stiffen before she slowly relaxed into the embrace. For a moment, they stood there, the world around them fading away until it was just the two of them holding each other in the dim light.

  "Why are you upset?" Jake asked, pulling back slightly to look at her face. The pain in her eyes unsettled him. He hated seeing Fiona in pain. She had too good of a heart, and she didn't deserve it.

  Fiona hesitated, her fingers twisting a loose thread on her jacket. "I shouldn't be telling you this," she started, her voice trembling. "But I can't keep pretending anymore. I... I have feelings for you, Jake. And I know it's a terrible idea, but I can't help it." Her words hung heavy in the air between them. Jake's heart raced in his chest, a jumble of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

  "Red," he whispered, his voice caught between gratitude and fear. "I don't know what to say."

  Of course, he had feelings for her too.

  He had for some time now, and he was the one who'd--foolishly--kissed her.

  But she hadn't been wrong to reject him the other day. To tell him they shouldn't do it again.

  And yet here she was, confessing her feelings for him.

  "Red," Jake whispered again, his face a mix of confusion and raw emotion as he took in her tear-streaked cheeks. "I have to be honest with you too." He hesitated, feeling a tightness in his chest that had nothing to do with the physical exertion of their recent case. "I... I have feelings for you too. But I'm scared."

  "Scared?" Fiona asked, searching his eyes. "Of what?"

  "Of hurting you," he admitted, swallowing hard against the lump in his throat. "I've been down this road before with a partner. You know it. It didn't work out. I couldn't commit, and it ended badly. I don't want to put you through that, Fiona. You mean too much to me." The words tumbled from his mouth, heavy with the weight of truths long held back.

  Fiona's expression shifted from surprise to understanding and then, almost imperceptibly, to something more guarded. She took a step back, putting distance between them once more. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she blinked them away, forcing herself to return to a professional demeanor.

  "You're right," she said, her voice wavering only slightly. "I'm the one who said it was a bad idea to get romantically involved with someone at work. It's a distraction."

  "So what made you want to tell me this now?" he asked.

  Fiona hesitated a moment before answering, her eyes darting away from his. "I don't know. Maybe it's because we're always so close to danger, and it makes me realize how short life can be." She paused, taking a deep breath. "Or maybe it's just because I trust you, Jake. I trust you with my life and my heart."

  Jake's heart swelled with a warmth he couldn't ignore. He wanted to reach out to her, to hold her close once more, but he knew it wasn't the right time.

  "I'm scared I don't deserve your trust," he admitted.

  They couldn't just throw caution to the wind and dive into something that had the potential to destroy everything they'd built together. It wasn't worth the risk.

  But that didn't mean he didn't want her. Didn't crave her.

  "I think we should take some time," he said finally, his voice low. "Think about what this means for us, for our partnership. We can't rush into anything, but... I don't want to ignore what's between us either." He stepped closer to her, his hand reaching out to touch her cheek. The heat of her skin against his fingertips sent a jolt through his entire body. She leaned into his touch, shutting her eyes before she pulled back. '

  "I know, Jake... it's late. I'm not thinking clearly. Forget I ever said anything, okay?"

  Jake nodded, his own heart aching with the knowledge that he was the one causing her pain. "Alright," he agreed, his voice barely audible. "We'll forget it for now."

  The air between them seemed to thicken, charged with unspoken emotions. They stood there for a moment longer, each lost in their own thoughts before Jake gestured to the car. "Come on, Red," he murmured, "let me drive you home."

  ***

  The next evening, Jake sat on his couch, a glass of scotch cradled in one hand as he stared at the shifting patterns on the floor from the setting sun. The ice cubes clinked softly against the rim of the glass as they melted, each drop pulling him further into his thoughts.

  Fiona's words from yesterday echoed in his mind. Her confession was unexpected, and it only added more confusion. He could have possibly accepted if she wanted to just stay friends, but knowing some part of her felt the same about him was torture. How was he supposed to work with her now when he could feel them grow closer with every case, pulling together like magnets?

  Still, his past haunted him like a specter, reminding him of his inability to commit to Lauren when she needed him most. To hurt Fiona in the same way - it was unthinkable.

  "Damn it," he muttered under his breath, taking a swig of the scotch and wincing as the liquid burned its way down his throat. He slammed the glass onto the side table, frustration bubbling up inside him. For once in his life, he wanted to be able to take a leap of faith, to trust that he could make it work with someone he truly cared about. But fear held him back, shackling him to the ghosts of his past.

  A knock on the door shattered the silence. Startled, he rose from the chair and glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. It was far too late for an ordinary visitor. He moved cautiously to the door, then opened it up.

  The person on the other side caused his stomach to bottom out.

  Lauren Price stood there, her blonde hair tied back in a tight ponytail, her green eyes rimmed with red.

  Lauren, who had been his partner for years, who he had secretly been dating, on and off the whole time. His first real love and the woman he had messed everything up with.

  "Lauren?" he managed to say.

  "Jake," she said softly, her voice a ghost from the past. "Can I come in?"

  "Of course," he replied, his shock giving way to concern as he quickly opened the door wider. She hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside, her eyes darting around the familiar space as if searching for something she had lost.

  "Lauren, what are you doing here?" Jake asked, closing the door behind her and trying to maintain a semblance of control over his rapidly spinning thoughts. He had regretted letting her go when she transferred from Portland, but never had he expected to see her on his doorstep again.

  "Jake, we need to talk," she said, her gaze finally settling on him. The weight of her words hung heavily in the air, casting an ominous shadow over the room as they stood facing each other, memories of their shared past swirling around them.

  "Lauren, what are you doing here?" Jake asked again, his voice strained. He couldn't fathom her sudden appearance, nor could he ignore the way his heart hammered in his chest at the sight of her. After Lauren left, Jake had been racked with regret. She ignored his calls, and refused to speak to him. He truly believed he'd never see her again.

  "Jake... I need to be honest with you," Lauren looked down at her hands before meeting his gaze, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I haven't been able to move on. I've tried, but... I want you back."

  The words hung in the air between them like a guillotine, leaving Jake feeling as if the floor had just dropped out beneath him. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out, as if his vocal cords had suddenly seized up.

  "Lauren, I..." His voice finally cracked. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, each one more tangled and confused than the last.

  He thought about Fiona, about the tender moments they had shared, and the undeniable connection that had formed between them.

  But now, staring into the eyes of the woman who had once held his heart, he felt torn in two.

  "Jake, say something," Lauren implored, her voice wavering as she took a step closer. The distance between them seemed to shrink and expand all at once as if taunting him with the impossibility of the choice he now faced.

  "Lauren, I don't know what to say," he admitted, his eyes darting away from hers as he struggled to collect himself. "I never expected to see you again, and now... Now everything feels so complicated."

  "Is it really that complicated, Jake?" She reached out a tentative hand to touch his arm, the warmth of her skin searing him as though it were a brand. "Or are you just scared?"

  "Scared?" He had always been terrified of commitment, of allowing himself to be truly vulnerable with someone else. And now, faced with the prospect of rekindling a love he had once let slip through his fingers, that fear threatened to consume him whole.

  "Jake, I can't stand here and pretend that I don't still love you," Lauren said earnestly, her eyes begging him to say it back. "But I need to know if you feel the same way. If there's even a chance for us."

  He stared at her for a long moment, crushed under the weight of this decision.

  "Lauren..." He began, but the words caught in his throat. Did he still love her? Or had he merely been clinging to the ghost of their past, unable to let go and move forward?

  But before he could find the strength to speak, the room seemed to close in around them, the air thick with tension and unsaid words. The silence deafened him, leaving him teetering on the edge of a precipice.

  "Jake, please," she whispered, desperation lacing her voice as she reached out to him once more. "Tell me... Do you want me back?"

  And in that moment, Jake felt the world come crashing down around him, leaving him suspended in a void of uncertainty and doubt.

  EPILOGUE

  The sterile fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting a pallor on Fiona's face as she walked through the labyrinthine halls of the FBI headquarters. The scent of antiseptic mixed with the faint odor of stale coffee, a sensory cocktail that only served to heighten her sense of determination. Chief Whittaker had told her that Marissa was asking to talk to her alone, and this time, Fiona hoped that she could convince Marissa to give up the name of the man who kidnapped Joslyn.

  Fiona's heart pounded in her chest; each beat a reminder that she couldn't afford to waste any time. Her footsteps echoed through the stark white hallway as she marched toward Marissa's cell, determination fueling every step. She couldn't let her parents down – not after everything they'd already been through. And Joslyn… if she was still alive, Fiona needed to bring her home.

  Fiona just had to stay focused. She could do this.

  There weren't many prisoners being kept at the FBI headquarters, but given the nature of Marissa's involvement in the crimes, she was being kept here. Fiona walked past empty cell after empty cell, her nerves peaking with every passing moment. The further she walked, the more her senses were assaulted. The sterile smell of antiseptic mixed with the faint scent of bleach and something else – something that Fiona couldn't quite place.

  Finally, she reached Marissa's cell. "Marissa?" she called out, wanting to make herself known right away.

  Her voice died in her throat as her gaze landed in the cold, dark cell.

  A lifeless figure hung from the ceiling.

  Marissa's body swayed gently, her face almost peaceful in death. A makeshift noose fashioned from torn bedsheets hung tightly around her neck.

  "Dear God, no," Fiona whispered, horror creeping into her voice and taking root in her chest. She could feel bile rising in her throat as she stared at Marissa, unable to tear her eyes away from the gruesome sight. She blinked over and over again, hoping it was just a hallucination. But no matter how long she looked, the scene only became more real.

  This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

  She was supposed to talk to Marissa.

  To get her to give up the name.

  "Help!" she screamed, her voice cracking with desperation. "Someone help!"

  Fiona's mind raced, thoughts tumbling over one another in a frantic jumble. Why had Marissa done this? Had she been so overcome with guilt about what she'd done to those girls, or had she just not wanted to face the future in prison? Had she been this desperate to prevent Fiona from ever knowing the man's name?

  "Damn it, Marissa!" Fiona shouted, her voice raw with frustration and anguish. "Why didn't you just give me his name?"

  She sank to her knees on the cold concrete floor as she stared at Marissa's body.

  The name, the one piece of information that could lead them to Joslyn and the man who had taken her, was now forever out of reach.

  NOW AVAILABLE!

  LET HER HIDE

  (A Fiona Red Mystery—Book Seven)

  When victims are found stung to death by a deadly breed of hornet, FBI forensic examiner and entomologist Fiona Red sees the pattern of a killer. With her brilliance in the field, only Fiona can decode his signature, and race to stop him before he strikes again….

  “A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.”

  —Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)

  LET HER HIDE is book #7 in a long-anticipated new series by #1 bestseller and USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose bestseller Once Gone (a free download) has received over 7,000 five star ratings and reviews.

  Fiona Red, a brilliant but quirky FBI loner, spends most of her time in the lab or at crime scenes. She comes from a family used to being around death and bodies, her parents having run a funeral parlor, and she would have run the family business if not for a tragedy in her past: her sister was abducted when she was a teenager, and never found.

  Fiona remains determined to crack her sister’s case. But in the meantime, as an FBI agent, she applies her brilliance to catching killers and cracking cases that no one else can, as bugs are the first visitors to dead bodies.

  With her FBI partner out in the field, Fiona expects to stay behind the scenes.

  But Fiona, obsessed with catching killers, takes it one step too far, and may just find herself in the crosshairs of a killer herself.

  A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the Fiona Red series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Rachel Caine, Teresa Driscoll and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love.

 

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