Backlash

By Amy Romine

This book picks up where Shockwave left off... They were worlds apart, drawn together by an undeniable passion. Ripped apart by fear, they ran from each other and now struggle to stand alone. Tragedy descends and they are pulled together in search of a killer. Kate returns to Dallas in search of Mike’s killer. Within hours of her arrival, events quickly spin out of control. Jack struggles to keep his distance, but when Kate becomes a suspect, his instincts take over and he rushes to her defense. As danger looms, all of the reasons they walked away from each other disappear, leaving the passionate fire that brought them together. Unknown forces set their sights on Jack and Kate and the pair soon realizes that their names are next in a long line of victims. In a desperate search for the truth behind Mike’s murder, they fight their way through the lies, discovering that not all is as it seems.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Feb 8, 2012
• ISBN: 9781554878604

Book preview

This book picks up where Shockwave left off…

They were worlds apart, drawn together by an undeniable passion. Ripped apart by fear, they ran from each other and now struggle to stand alone. Tragedy descends and they are pulled together in search of a killer.

Kate returns to Dallas in search of Mike’s killer. Within hours of her arrival, events quickly spin out of control. Jack struggles to keep his distance, but when Kate becomes a suspect, his instincts take over and he rushes to her defense. As danger looms, all of the reasons they walked away from each other disappear, leaving the passionate fire that brought them together.

Unknown forces set their sights on Jack and Kate and the pair soon realizes that their names are next in a long line of victims. In a desperate search for the truth behind Mike’s murder, they fight their way through the lies, discovering that not all is as it seems.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Backlash

Copyright © 2011 Amy J. Romine

ISBN: 978-1-55487-860-4

Cover art by Angela Waters

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by eXtasy Books

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Smashwords Edition

Backlash

Tarot: Knight of Cups

By

Amy J. Romine

Dedication

To my husband and children for their unending support, and my best friend Brenda who believes in me even when I don’t. A special thanks to the inspiration for this book Tony Zazza and Victoria Snee from the Morning MIX 102.9.

Backlash is book 2. It is advised to read Shockwave, Book 1 before reading this sequel.

Amy J. Romine

Chapter One

Kate Weiss pushed her way through the doors. She just wanted to get this over with. After three weeks of being undercover, she’d gotten the collar and closed the case. Now all she wanted was a glass of wine and a nice long, hot, bath.

She would have to wait, paperwork first, always.

She made it halfway through the bullpen when she heard her name. She turned and saw Andy waving her down.

The sight of him stabbed at her, the memory of her return from Dallas creeping from the back of her mind. She tried to push the memories of her time in the lone-star state out of her head. It was the whole reason she’d jumped back into work. Taking the first deep cover assignment she could get. It was ironic really, she’d gone to Dallas to regain her memory. Not only did she fail at that attempt, but she also managed to mangle her own heart in the process.

Jack

She pushed it away and made a U-turn toward Andy’s office.

What’s up?

Come in and close the door.

Is everything okay, you don’t look like the boss of someone who just broke a two-year-old case?

Kate, there is something I need to tell you. His face was hard and set in a pained expression. Her stomach immediately dropped when he met her eyes and she pushed the air from her lungs.

What is it, what’s wrong?

Kate…I…

What is it, Andy? Spit it out!

Mike’s dead.

Kate felt all of the blood draining from her face and her body became unbearably heavy. How?

He was shot in the head, it looks like a hit. She was speechless. She stared at him, feeling the walls closing in and sat in the chair behind her. Clasping her hands together, she tried to collect her thoughts and bring her buzzing mind under control. There has to be some kind of mistake, Andy. There’s no way…

It’s been confirmed. They just finished the autopsy. We should have the ballistics in a few days.

What—wait, autopsy? When did this happen?

Ah…we got the news last week.

Last week and you are telling me now?

Kate, there was no way to get a message to you without compromising your cover.

God damn it, why didn’t you… Her body began to shake, but she reeled herself back in, not wanting to show the weakness in front of him. So I assume Washington is handling the investigation?

No, the Dallas office is handling it, he replied, looking at her, somehow knowing she was going to object. Don’t start, there is no way to transfer it here I have already asked.

Kate decided to leave it. The less she involved him, the better. Do we know when the funeral will be?

Not yet. I have a call into the AD in Dallas. A lot of it is going to depend on when they release the body.

Yeah. She stood from the chair, hiding the shaking of her limbs.

You okay?

Yeah, she said with a nod. She watched him move around the desk.

He touched her arm before pulling her toward him.

Andy wrapped his arms around her and she reluctantly let him. He was trying to comfort her, so she humored him, laying her head on his shoulder. They stood silent before she pulled back. Thanks, Andy.

Why don’t you take the rest of the day off? Let it settle in, he suggested and she nodded in agreement. I’ll stop by later and see how you are doing, okay?

Call me if you hear anything else?

Definitely.

Kate opened the door and exited the office. She moved through the bullpen, grabbed her things from her desk and headed out of the building. Once she reached her car, she pulled out her cell and dialed. Jane. Hey, it’s Kate. Are you busy, I need a favor?

* * * *

Jack’s cell rang and he answered, seeing the number from the mortuary.

This is Jack Tucker, he said into the phone as he cleaned out the coffeepot. Yes. Yes, please that is fine. Thank you.

The entire situation was frustrating and he was glad it was almost over. Everything was put on indefinite hold until the FBI released Mike’s remains. Something they were told would take a few days had dragged on for over two weeks.

He’d found his boss and friend dead in his own kitchen two weeks ago. He had dropped by to deliver his laptop as requested and that was when he found him. The memory chilled him to the bone and everything since had been a dizzy haze.

Mike had no immediate family, so Jack and his on-air radio co-host, Melissa, took it upon themselves to make all of the funeral arrangements. This, if nothing else, kept them both busy, stalling the impending shock of emotion going to rain down soon enough. His mind went to Kate. He’d attempted to call her several times with no response. He wasn’t sure why he would have expected her to answer. He’d gone to California to apologize for the way he rejected her when he discovered she was an FBI Agent, but she shut him down and walked away, telling him that she wasn’t who he thought she was. Despite their recent history, he was sincerely worried about her. Jack knew how much she meant to Mike, he could only imagine that the feeling was reciprocated.

Jack shook himself out of his head and immediately got to work. His first order of business was to call Melissa and let her know that they were a go. He started at the top of the list and worked his way down. He had accomplished half of it when his phone rang.

This is Jack.

Jack, it’s Elisa.

Hey, what’s up?

The FBI is here and asking about Mike’s laptop. Do you still have it?

Her voice was strained and he wondered how she was handling things. She was, after all, Mike’s assistant. All of this must have been horrible. Ah, yeah, do they want me to bring it there? Jack heard her asking someone something in the background and then she came back to the phone.

They want you to bring it to the field office downtown.

Yeah, okay, I can run by there. No problem.

Okay, I’ll tell them, thanks.

He decided it was a good excuse to get out of the house and he grabbed his keys. Halfway to the federal offices, his phone rang again and he saw Melissa’s smiling face.

Hey, Miss, what’s up?

Are you busy?

Not really, I was just going to drop something off downtown. What do you need?