“I’ll show you.” Liza sat on the couch, draping a hand over the back and crossing her legs. Her pose was relaxed, cool, and angry all at once. “Because this is how I feel. Pissed. But not beaten. Don’t sit up all straight and attentive, like you are right now, or he’ll suspect. This kind of sitting says, ‘I’m fun. I’m the joy in your life, and you ruined it.’ That’s how I would be to make him feel bad for handing me over to some creep.” Liza shifted, looking relaxed and elegant now. “The way you take up space changes everything.”
God, that big attitude. That had always been the beauty of Liza—the wild, fabulous twin.
Again Zelda picked up the bottle of nail polish and shook it, wondering if she could put it on without trembling. She’d need to make up some excuse about why she didn’t put it on her toes.
“Or this.” Liza shifted into another pose. Liza always had a knack for transforming herself into the picture of leisure fun.
Zelda didn’t actually need this lesson. She had Liza down cold—they used to switch places all the time, but Liza needed to feel like she was contributing.
“Mikos will want to fuck in the back of the limo,” Liza continued, “but under no circumstances would I fuck him. He feels bad—he won’t press it. I loved him. If he tries anything, you tell him, ‘I’m not a fucking poker chip to be lost in a card game. Some possession to be gambled away like cattle.’” The tears were starting now. It broke Zelda’s heart. Through all the trouble between them, all the hell of Liza’s drug addiction, she’d never stopped loving her sister.
“Okay, let me try.” Zelda changed her posture and mimicked Liza’s smooth tone. “I’m not a fucking poker chip to be lost in a card game like cattle, Mikos. Some possession to gamble away. So fuck you,” she added.
“Exactly. Motherfucker.” Liza grabbed a tissue and dabbed her eyes.
“Here—help me with this.” Zelda held out the nail polish.
Liza tossed the tissue and took the bottle, sniffling as she unscrewed the top. She grabbed hold of Zelda’s fingers. “You’re shaking.”
“Too much caffeine.”
Liza smiled uncertainly. Could she tell that Zelda had no business going back into the field? It wasn’t just about being out of practice. It was about what happened with Friar Hovde. It was about getting Agent Randall killed. It was about the way guilt operated in the heart of an agent, every bit as lethal as a ticking time bomb.
Liza drew a thick, gleaming swath of red over Zelda’s fingernail. “I’m so sorry.”
“Stop apologizing.”
“I’m done with all that life, I promise,” Liza said. “I really promise this time—I won’t fuck up on you again. I’m so, so sorry—”
“Stop it. Look at me.”
Liza finished a nail and lifted her gaze.
“I’m your sister, okay? And seriously, this is a gift. Do you know how great it is to get inside that cartel right now? Inside Brujos’s ugly, stupid palace? We’re going to get something we desperately need because of you.”
Liza looked dubious, but it was true. The Association had never been able to get on the inside with Brujos and infiltrate his cartel. The timing couldn’t be better. A nice, juicy file full of damaging intel on Brujos was a bargaining chip they could use to prevent a serious disaster that was brewing on the other side of the equator.
“Easy in and out,” Zelda said. Instantly, she regretted her choice of words. They both knew she might have to fuck a few bad men before the thing was done. “It’s so nothing,” she added.
“So nothing.” Liza frowned and concentrated on the nails. “You are so full of shit.”
Zelda used Liza’s voice. “You are so full of shit.”
“God, you’re me.” Liza moved on to another nail. “Fucking Mikos. He could’ve sent a runner to get a million bucks to put in the pot, you know?” She sniffed. “A million is nothing to Mikos. He promised me he’d win the hand. He was so sure. And suddenly all the guys are throwing down their cards, and Mikos goes, ‘I’ll have her on a plane in twenty-four hours.’ Like I’m a kilo or something. On a plane to fucking Mexico. We were going to be married.”
Zelda nodded. She hadn’t said it, but she didn’t believe Mikos would have married Liza. She’d known a lot of guys like Mikos. Guys like that would say anything. You could never let yourself feel warm toward them.
Liza’s eyes went to the track marks on Zelda’s arm. Temporary tattoos. They’d stay on there at least two weeks. “Fuck,” she said.
“Stop it. We’re good. Okay?” Zelda stared into her eyes. It was like looking in a mirror—that was how completely she and Zelda had switched appearances.
Liza moved on to the other hand. Just hours ago, they’d colored Liza’s crazy bright platinum blonde hair brown, and they’d dyed Zelda’s dark brown hair platinum. They’d trimmed Liza’s hair to match Zelda’s cut, and now they both had shoulder-length hair. Liza had styled Zelda’s bright new hair all Marilyn Monroe. “You’ll just say you got a cut for your stint as a cartel leader’s whore,” Liza had said bitterly. “I would totally do something like that.”
“Good. Perfect,” Zelda said. “Perfect.”
Zelda and various IT guys had erased the link between Zelda and her family many years ago—way back when Zelda had joined the CIA. The idea had always been to protect Liza, not to mention their mother and father in their pretty little home in Okinawa. Now the erased link would protect Zelda; nobody could know she was a twin.
“I can’t believe you’re an agent.”
“Retired,” Zelda said. “And I can’t believe you wouldn’t come to me with this.”
Silence.
Stupid question. Because why would she come to Zelda after Zelda had ejected her from her life? Zelda had used her connections to bail Liza out of jams over the years, but the last time had jeopardized her CIA career. It was then she’d gone the tough-love route, telling her she couldn’t help her as long as she was using drugs. Yeah, it had to happen, but it had never felt much like love.
“Brujos is a horrible man,” Liza said. “I’ve met him.”
“I’ll just have to be more horrible. If he’s not careful, I may have to put soap on his motherfucking toothbrush. See how he likes that.”
Liza snorted. Soap on the toothbrush was a mean move from teen days gone by. “You always tried to protect me, Zelda. Remember that time when the kids were squishing poison berries in my hair by the swing? You were like a shining warrior. I should’ve known you’d fight for right. You always tried to protect everyone. You always had a passion that way—a passion for justice.”
Zelda smiled wistfully. Passion for justice wasn’t enough, unfortunately. Nobody in their right mind would put her in the field now.
But nobody could stop her. That was one of the advantages of helping to head up the secretive and powerful Association—nobody told them what to do. No officials. No governments. No corporations. She and Dax sent their agents—the Associates—on dangerous missions every day, taking down international criminals and terrorists, preventing flare-ups and massacres. Only fair that she’d be willing to get out there and risk herself.
In and out. It would be easy. Nothing.
Zelda looked longingly at the glasses Liza now wore. Her glasses. Zelda hadn’t worn contacts since her field agent days, and of course, Liza couldn’t have normal contacts. They had to be an insane shade of green—dazzling with the bleached hair. Their mother was Japanese; their father of mostly European ancestry. This mix of genes had allowed Zelda to pass for different ethnicities in global hot spots in her agent days, though she’d never gone quite so blonde.
“I have something for you.” Liza closed up the nail polish and handed her a small paper sack. Zelda took it and looked inside. Blue and yellow Jelly Belly jelly beans.
“Oh, Liza.” The blues were blueberry, and the yellows were buttered popcorn. When you put two blueberries with one popcorn, you got a blueberry muffin. It was Zelda’s favorite candy, what she always got after
doing something successful, a childhood habit. “But I only get to eat these after a mission is accomplished.”
“I’m not going on to a plane right now to be prostituted to Brujos,” Liza said, “because you’re taking my place. Because of your bravery. Because you saved me. Mission accomplished.”
Zelda crinkled the small bag, tears heating her eyes. She spoke without looking up. “You’ll stay in that safe house, right? Don’t listen to anybody outside of my guys. You’ll be bored—”
“I know, I know,” Liza said. “Don’t worry. I’m ready. I want a boring, simple life.”
A phone beeped. It was time.
“If anything happens to you…”
“Nothing will.” Zelda whispered. “I’ll go in there and do my job, and the intelligence I gather will be a gift. And you know what else?”
“What?”
“After this, I’ll personally make sure the only job Mikos can get is licking trash cans at a Buck ’n Burger.”
Liza smiled, tears shining like diamonds in her deep brown eyes.
Find out more on Carolyn Crane’s website: www.authorcarolyncrane.com and the Behind the Mask page.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Marcela Gergin who gave me some much needed help in regards to Colombian Spanish, which I’m assured is unlike any other kind of Spanish. I appreciate the insider tips, Marcela. Also thanks to my good friend Fred Pennell for putting me in touch with Vonnette Monteith. Vonnette provided me with some useful nuggets about locations in and around Louisville, Kentucky. Needless to say, I used artistic license with all information gleaned, and any errors in this story are mine.
Huge, enormous thanks go to my amazing critique partner Kathy Altman—I really don’t know what I’d do without her. Also my editors, Alicia Dean, and Joan Turner at JRT Editing, who helped get this manuscript into shape in record time. Syd Gill—a woman on a mission and so very talented when it comes to creating the beautiful covers of the Cold Justice Series. Paul Salvette (BB eBooks) finally gets a mention for the professional formatting he does for me. He saves me from repetitive stress issues and helps me keep my sanity when stuff happens. And stuff always happens. Thanks to all the other people working behind the scenes to get these books on the digital shelves. I appreciate your help and support.
Thanks to Eric Dove for his brilliant narration of the CJS books. It takes a special kind of talent to do what he does, and even more to do it calmly and with a sense of humor.
I want to thank my family, for loving me, and understanding the weird schedule, scribbled notes on every available surface, and the thousand-yard stare at dinner. We’re all busy and life never seems to slow down, but I hope we’re never too busy for one another. I love you guys.
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today international bestselling author, Toni Anderson, writes dark, gritty Romantic Suspense novels that have hit the Amazon and Nook Top 10, and iBooks Top 50. Her novels have won many awards.
A former Marine Biologist from Britain, she inexplicably ended up in the geographical center of North America, about as far from the ocean as it is possible to get. She now lives in the Canadian prairies with her Irish husband and two children and spends most of her time complaining about the weather.
Toni has no explanation for her oft-times dark imagination, and only hopes the romance makes up for it. She’s addicted to reading, dogs, tea, and chocolate.
If you want to know when Toni’s next book will be out, visit her website (www.toniandersonauthor.com) and sign up for her newsletter. If you want to read other fascinating stories about life in a city that during winter is sometimes colder than Mars, friend her on Facebook: (facebook.com/toniannanderson).
Toni donates 15% of her royalties from EDGE OF SURVIVAL to diabetes research—to find out why, read the book!
Reviews
COLD FEAR
(Cold Justice Book #4)
(International Bestseller.)
“Superbly crafted stories like these are the reason romantic suspense is my go-to genre.” —USA Today.
COLD LIGHT OF DAY
(Cold Justice Book #3)
(2015 Winner ARCA Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence & the Book Buyers Best Contest.)
“This has easily cruised into my top ten romances … in the history of EVER.” —Heroes and Heartbreakers.
TOP PICK “Cold Light of Day has all the elements of a great romantic suspense…danger, romance, action, and intrigue. I’d recommend Cold Light of Day to any romantic suspense reader looking for a thrilling adventure!” —Harlequin Junkie.
COLD PURSUIT
(Cold Justice Book #2)
(2015 Winner of National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.)
“I’d highly recommend Cold Pursuit to any romantic suspense reader.” —Harlequin Junkie.
“Toni Anderson’s new Cold Justice series is sizzling suspense and hot romance – the perfect summer read!” —Mom’s the Word.
A COLD DARK PLACE
(Cold Justice Book #1)
(Winner of the New England Readers’ Choice Award, and the 2015 Aspen Gold.)
“Toni magically blends sizzling chemistry between Alex and Mallory with lots of suspenseful action in A Cold Dark Place. At times I wanted to hide my eyes, not knowing if I could face what might or might not happen! The edge of your seat suspense is riveting!” —Harlequin Junkies.
“Recommended for fans of Toni Anderson and fans of dark romantic suspense. You’d definitely love this one!” —Maldivian Book Reviewer’s Realm of Romance.
DARK WATERS
(International bestseller. National Readers Choice Awards Finalist.)
“In this action-packed contemporary, Anderson (Dangerous Waters) weaves together a tapestry of powerful suspense and sizzling romance.” —Publishers Weekly.
“The pacing in this book is superb. The tension really never lets up … I never felt there was a good ‘stopping point’ in this book, which is probably why I was reading all night.” —Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.
DANGEROUS WATERS
(International bestseller. 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award Finalist.)
“With a haunting setting and a captivating cast of characters, Anderson has crafted a multifaceted mystery rife with secrets. Readers will have to focus, as red herrings abound, but the result is a compulsively engrossing page-turner.” —Romantic Times (4 Stars)
“A captivating mix of suspense and romance, Dangerous Waters will pull you under.” —Laura Griffin, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author
“With vibrant writing, a cast of damaged, captivating characters and a plot that’s deliciously diabolical, Dangerous Waters will have you mesmerized from page one.” —HEA USA Today
“The vivid picture of the scenery adds ghostlike images to the dark and dangerous mystery. Plot twists interlock, never letting up until the last pages.” —Coffee Time Romance (5 Cups)
THE KILLING GAME
(2014 RITA® Finalist, and National Readers Choice Awards Finalist.)
“The Killing Game is an exhilarating, masterfully-crafted mix of life-and-death adventure and political intrigue. It’s also a riveting romance, and with the author’s trademark gritty and evocative prose, wily imagination and fierce respect for the plight of the snow leopard and the war-torn country it inhabits, this book is one unforgettable read.” —Kathy Altman Goodreads Review. (5 Stars)
“I’d recommend this to any romantic suspense reader looking for a unique, intricately woven story that will really touch you.” —Peaces of Me (5 Stars)
“This is a smart story. This is a sexy story. This is a well written story. This is one of my favorite romantic suspense stories I’ve read all year. I wish there was more!” —Love Affair With An e-Reader (5 Stars)
EDGE OF SURVIVAL
“Anderson writes with a gritty, fast-paced style, and her narrative is tense and evocative.” —HEA USA Today
“… more substance than one would expect from a romant
ic thriller.” —Library Journal Reviews
“Edge of Survival is without a doubt, one of the most exciting, romantic, sexy stories I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year and I will definitely be looking for more by Toni Anderson.” —Blithely Bookish (5 Stars)
“Sensual, different; romance with a bit of angst, just how I like them; Edge of Survival is a romantic suspense not to be missed.” —Maldivian Book Reviewer’s Realm of Romance (5 Stars)
“Whoever thinks a story concerning a woman who does fish research would be boring hasn’t read Edge of Survival!” —Book Lovers Inc. (5 Bookies)
STORM WARNING
(Best Book of 2010 Nominee—The Romance Reviews.)
“Storm Warning is an intense, provocative paranormal romance with a suspenseful twist…This is a book that I am unquestionably adding to my keeper collection.” —Night Owl Reviews (TOP PICK)
“It is exactly the way I like my romantic suspense novels to be.” —The Romance Reviews
“The plot is full of suspense and some pretty incredible plot twists. … will have you on the edge of your seat.” —Coffee Time Romance & More
SEA OF SUSPICION
(Best Book of 2010 Nominee—The Romance Reviews. National bestseller.)
“Deeply atmospheric and filled with twists and turns, Sea of Suspicion kept me flying eagerly through the pages.” —All About Romance
“Sea of Suspicion is one heck of a book! The twists, turns, passion, and many colorful characters give Ms. Anderson’s novel a delightful edge.” —Coffee Time Romance
“Set along the coast of Scotland, Sea of Suspicion is a riveting story of suspense and the depths and heights of human character.” —The Romance Reviews
HER LAST CHANCE
(2014 Daphne du Maurier finalist.)
“A high intensity story, with action from the first page on, an intricate suspense tale with twists and turns that are surprising and a conclusion that is as near to closure as is possible to come. The characters are deep and rather brooding, but manage to lose themselves in each other. And the writing is clever, hot and altogether fabulous!” —Ripe for Reader
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