Faith in You (14 page)

Her heart started to race as she pulled out the piece of paper that was no more than an inch by an inch and saw Paul’s name and the beginning of hers. She glanced back into the box, saw another scrap that read “Agree” with a portion of the “e” torn in half. Her hands shook as she placed the scraps back in the bigger box. Feeling her knees going weak, she leaned against the door frame to open the smaller box. Beneath the foil was the familiar velvet of the jeweler’s box. She didn’t need to open it to know what was inside.

“Who gave this to you?” she asked the courier.

“Ma’am?” he asked and she looked up then, realized he was standing before her, hands held tightly before him. His body tense as he rocked back and forth on his heels.

Hesitantly, her limbs shaking as she did so, she reached up, pulled the cap off his head and found herself holding not just the cap, but a mound of brown hair.

She sucked in a quick breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she glanced at him, at his all too familiar face, marred only by the dark brown goatee, which he peeled off and tossed into the cap she held.

Carmen threw herself into this arms and he embraced her, lifted her high and twirled her around.

“Can I come home now?” he asked with a smile.

“
Dios, Sí
,” she answered, laughed, and held him tight.

She had told him that you had to have faith and now here he was, giving her his heart and the promise of a life together.

As he slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her, she had no hesitation that this time, he would be there forever.

It was all just a matter of faith.

Available in August 2013
from Entangled Publishing

TO CATCH A PRINCESS
by Caridad Pineiro

Detective Peter Roman chose a life out of the public view to

safeguard his family’s painful secrets. When Peter is faced with

revealing his real identity to keep a family friend safe, Peter

doesn’t hesitate. That revelation will threaten the world he

has built, expose his secrets and challenge him to open his heart.

Princess Tatiana doesn’t want to believe there is any threat to

her upcoming charity event and the priceless jewels that will be

on display at the Ivanov casino in Monaco. Because of that,

she is reluctant to have sexy detective Peter Roman accompany her

for protection, especially since her attraction to Peter is difficult to handle.

Danger and a wanted jewel thief will draw Peter and Tatiana

together, but can their newfound love survive exposure in

the tabloids and a deadly attack from an old foe?

Chapter 1

The heist had been so easy, it was almost insulting, Shea Brady thought as he handed over the padded envelope to his contact. He and his client were tucked into a leather booth at the back of a dimly lit pub in London’s Kensington section.

The older man opened the envelope and shot a cursory glance at the contents. With a satisfied smile, he said, “Well done, Mr. …”

“Smith,” Shea answered although they were both well aware that wasn’t his real name. All that his contact had to know was the number for the Swiss bank account where he would deposit the monies for the work he had done and the e-mail where he could be reached.

“Mr. Smith. My client was quite impressed with how quickly and quietly you completed your task,” the other man said in tones that bespoke of upper class British schooling, but there was another accent, more foreign, beneath those tones. His clothing screamed elegance and money, although it was staid. Better suited to a banker than someone dealing with a man like him.

Although some might consider bankers not all that much different than a thief.

“I’m glad that he’s pleased,” Shea said and signaled the waitress for the check. Considering how much he was being paid for the rather simple job, the least he could do was to pick up the tab for the pints they’d had. He could well afford it after his many years of high-end heists of some of the world’s most expensive and sought after jewels.

“Not so fast, Mr. Smith,” the banker type said and waved off the waitress as she approached.

He arched a brow and examined the other man, wondering what it was that he wanted. Growing uncomfortable, he considered that he might have somehow fallen for an Interpol sting. After all, he had been on their list of Most Wanted for nearly three years now, not that anyone had ever gotten close enough to even snap a photo of his real face for their mug shots. Even today he was well-disguised by the latex prosthetics that hid his features.

“Is something wrong, Mr. …”

“Jones,” the banker said with a wry smile before continuing. “My client is interested in building his collection and believes you can assist him. If you’re interested, of course.”

Shea considered how much he had been paid and how easy it had been. Actually too easy. The Hollywood couple who had been in possession of the multi-million dollar necklace hadn’t been particularly careful about safeguarding it. Maybe because the money to purchase the jewelry had come too easily to them.

Unlike how hard he’d had to work just to survive in his lean childhood years. One too many a night spent hungry despite hours of back-breaking labor had made him find a much more profitable way of earning his keep. If the rest of the jobs Mr. Jones’s client proposed were as easy as this one, it would literally be like stealing candy from a baby. While he wouldn’t mind such an easy gig, it was almost too easy. Almost as if someone was setting him up to fail.

“I appreciate the confidence in my abilities, but you really don’t need someone of my caliber for jobs of this nature.”

Mr. Jones’s smile turned harder and formed a thin slash across his face. “This was just a test, although I do wish it had been slightly more arduous.”

Shea lifted a brow, but it barely shifted the fake nose and forehead he wore despite how form-fitting they were. Still, Jones noted his displeasure as he said, “I suppose you don’t consider scaling a twenty foot cliff to reach their home arduous?”

With a smooth bob of his silvery-grey head, Jones apologized. “Of course, Mr. Smith. It’s just that the security systems at the location were rather barbaric.”

“And I suppose the next job --”

“Jobs,” Jones quickly corrected.

Shea nodded. “Jobs? I suppose they’re more of a challenge?”

Jones smiled, but it failed to reach his eyes which remained a clear, steady blue beneath bushy grey eyebrows. “Quite. Especially the last one. We’re talking high end security, armed guards, the rich and famous, including some royalty. Pull it off and the papers will have a field day with your achievement.”

Shea tapped his finger against his mouth, considering the other man and the big heist he described. Definitely a challenge worthy of his talents and if the payoff was anything like what he was receiving for the job he had just completed, he might even be able to retire.

“Let’s just say you’ve piqued my interest, Mr. Jones. You know how to reach me with details of the other jobs.”

Jones nodded and smiled, but there was a look about that smile Shea didn’t really like. Something deadly and decidedly dangerous. Mr. Jones was obviously keeping a great deal to himself about his future plans. “We’ll send you information on each job when appropriate. When we’re satisfied that you’re the man for our last assignment, we’ll let you know the details.”

Before Shea could utter another word, Jones bolted from the pub bench, amazingly speedy for a man his age.

Although maybe Jones was likewise in disguise, Shea considered. The warning bells that had served him so well in the past were ringing, but were silenced by the imaginary sound of coins dropping into his bank account. Lots and lots of coins, he thought.

With that much money, he could find himself a quaint home along the Italian coast. Settle down and start a family. He was still young after all, barely in his thirties.

Plenty of time to have the kind of life his profession hadn’t allowed him.

Until now.

With that in mind, he called over the waitress and as she shot him a welcoming smile and slipped him the bill, he noted her phone number on the paper.

Pleased that she had found him attractive despite the disguise, he left her the payment and a generous tip, regretting he wouldn’t be able to take her up on her offer.

If there was one thing he had learned in all his time as a thief, it was never to let anyone get too close. This waitress definitely seemed like the type who would eventually want more than a one night stand.

With a regretful sigh, he pushed away from the bench and strolled out of the pub, but as he did so, he caught sight of Jones half a block ahead, hurrying away.

There was something besides his almost natural condecension that rubbed Shea the wrong way. Because of that, he followed cautiously as Jones turned the corner and walked down several blocks to where a limo waited.

As Jones approached, the driver side door opened and the uniformed driver walked around and opened the door for him.

Shea wasn’t close enough to hear, but he could read the driver’s lips as he gave a practiced bow and said, “Good evening, Prince Sergei.”

A prince, huh? Shea thought as “Jones” slipped into the back seat of the Rolls Royce.

He waited until the Rolls pulled away and headed to the underground to reach his home.

He never did business too close to it. You didn’t shit where you lived, he thought, and passed through the turnstiles of the underground with his doctored Oyster payment card, his mind already looking forward to the big job Jones had mentioned.

No, not Jones, he reminded himself. Prince Sergei. Another royal. He hated the fucking royals with all their money and airs.

Stealing from them would definitely be a job he would enjoy, especially if he could find a way to deal with the uppity Prince Sergei as well. Nothing like a double-cross because even thieves had standards, but he would like to see the man taken down a peg or two.

In time, he thought, and hurried to his empty home, dreaming of the possibility that he could finally leave his thieving ways and settle down.

About the Author

Charity Pineiro is the pseudonym for New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and RITA® Finalist Caridad Pineiro. Charity/Caridad wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project – to write a book for a class lending library. Bitten by the writing bug, Caridad continued with her passion for the written word and in 1999, Caridad’s first novel was released. Over a decade later, Caridad is the author of nearly 40 published novels and novellas. When not writing, Caridad is a wife, and mother to an aspiring writer and fashionista. For more information, please visit
www.caridad.com
or
www.charitypineiro.com
.

Additional Books by Charity Pineiro

NOW AND ALWAYS
June 2012 ISBN Coming Soon

Additional Books by the Author Writing as Caridad Pineiro

Books in The Sin Hunter Series

THE CLAIMED
May 2012 ISBN 978-0446584609 Forever Grand Central Publishing

THE LOST
August 2011 ISBN 978-0446584616 Forever Grand Central Publishing

Books in The Sins Series

STRONGER THAN SIN
November 2010 ISBN 0446543845 Forever Grand Central Publishing

SINS OF THE FLESH
November 2009 ISBN 0446543837 Forever Grand Central Publishing

Other Novels by Caridad

THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE
November 2012 ISBN 978-1-62266-800-7 Entangled Publishing

THE FIFTH KINDOM
July 2011 ISBN 9781426891885 Carina Press

SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD
Dec 2008 ISBN 0373276109 Silhouette Romantic Suspense

Novellas

GHOST OF A CHANCE
, paranormal short story November 2012 ISBN B00AUGV89G Caridad Pineiro Publishing

HER VAMPIRE LOVER
October 2012 ISBN 9781459242289 Nocturne Cravings Novella

NIGHT OF THE COUGAR
June 2012 ISBN 9781459231153 Nocturne Cravings Novella

THE VAMPIRE’S CONSORT
April 2012 ISBN 9781459222731 Harlequin Nocturne Cravings Novella

NOCTURNAL WHISPERS
February 2012 ISBN 9781459221437 Harlequin Nocturne Cravings Novella

AMAZON AWAKENING
December 2011 ISBN 9781459282766 Available Harlequin Nocturne Cravings Novella

WHEN HERALD ANGELS SING
novella in A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS October 2011 ISBN 0373776446 HQN

AZTEC GOLD
January 2011 ISBN 9781426891045 Carina Press Novella

Crazy for the Cat in MOON FEVER
Oct 2007 ISBN 1416514902 Pocket Books

Books in THE CALLING/THE REBORN Vampire Novel Series

BORN TO SERVE, October 2013, ISBN Not Available Entangled Publishing

BORN TO LOVE, November 2013, ISBN Not Available Entangled Publishing

BORN TO DIE, December 2013, ISBN Not Available Entangled Publishing

BORN TO VENGEANCE (formerly VENGEANCE CALLS) August 2013 ISBN Not Available Entangled Publishing

KISSED BY A VAMPIRE
(formerly ARDOR CALLS) October 2012 ISBN 9780373885589 Harlequin Nocturne

AWAKENING THE BEAST
Collection featuring HONOR CALLS October 2009 ISBN 0373250940 Silhouette Nocturne

FURY CALLS
March 2009 ISBN 0373618077 Silhouette Nocturne

HONOR CALLS
February 2009 ISBN 9781426828362 Nocturne Bite

HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE
December 2007 ISBN 0373617763 Silhouette Nocturne

THE CALLING COMPLETE COLLECTION
October 2008 ISBN 9781426807657 Silhouette Includes Darkness Calls, Danger Calls, Temptation Calls, Death Calls, Devotion Calls, and Blood Calls–as well as a the online read Desire Calls.

BLOOD CALLS
May 2007 ISBN 0373617631 Silhouette Nocturne

DEVOTION CALLS
January 2007 ISBN 0373617550 Silhouette Nocturne

DEATH CALLS
Dec 2006 ISBN 0373617534 Silhouette Nocturne

TEMPTATION CALLS
Oct 2005 ISBN 0373274602 Silhouette Intimate Moments

DANGER CALLS
June 2005 ISBN 0373274416 Silhouette Intimate Moments

DARKNESS CALLS
Mar 2004 ISBN 0373273533 Silhouette Intimate Moments

Romantic Suspense Series

SECRET AGENT REUNION
Aug 2007 ISBN 0373275463 Silhouette Romantic Suspense

MORE THAN A MISSION
Aug 2006 ISBN 037327498X Silhouette Intimate Moments