Shadow of Vengeance (58 page)

“John dropped us off and is trying to find a parking spot,” Celeste said.

“He better hurry.”

“He’ll make it.” She smiled. “So, three weddings in six months. You could start advertising that CORE is turning into a successful dating service.”

He looked to the church ceiling. “God, help me. Next I’ll have to provide child care.”

“That’s a brilliant idea. I know we’ll be needing it in about…oh, seven and a half months.”

He gripped her hand. “Are you and John…am I going to be…?”

She grinned. “Yes, Grandpa.”

His heart swelled.
He
was going to be a grandfather. A year ago, he could only fantasize about meeting his daughter, and now she was a huge part of his life. She’d married one of his best agents, had a successful bakery just down the street from CORE, and now she was giving him a grandchild. Life couldn’t be any better.
 

“Any room for me?” John Kain asked.

He wanted to thank John for bringing Celeste to Chicago, for marrying his daughter and creating a child. With his throat tight from too many unfamiliar emotions, he stood and gave the man a firm handshake, instead.
 

John took a seat next to Celeste. “You told him?”

“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I think he’s speechless.”

Ian cleared his throat. “I’m not speechless, I’m considering how all these babies are going to affect business.” He glanced across the aisle to where Jake Tyler sat with Joy. “I might have to definitely bring in some new recruits.” He looked back to John. “Congratulations, by the way.”

John grinned, then held his wife’s hand. Seconds later, the music changed.

Celeste bumped him with her shoulder. “Time to stand.”

Ian stood and turned toward the door. When Rachel appeared, with her brother on her arm, he sucked in a breath. She was absolutely beautiful. Her green eyes were bright, her pretty smile, huge. Ian quickly glanced toward the altar, and grinned. Owen looked the happiest he’d ever seen him. Hell,
he
was happy.
 

For Rachel and Owen, for Celeste and John, and for Eden and Hudson. All three of them had found something good in a world filled with so much bad.
 

At that moment, he took advantage of his location and sent a prayer of thanks.
 

For second chances, for his future grandchild, and for…CORE.
 

The End

 
Other Titles Available by Kristine Mason

Look for Ultimate Kill Book One of the Ultimate CORE Trilogy Spring 2014

Shadow of Danger

Book One of the CORE “Shadow” Trilogy

Four women have been found dead in the outskirts of a small Wisconsin town. The only witness, clairvoyant Celeste Risinski, observes these brutal murders through violent nightmares and hellish visions. The local sheriff, who believes in Celeste’s abilities and wants to rid their peaceful community of a killer, enlists the help of an old friend, Ian Scott, owner of a private criminal investigation agency, CORE. Because of Ian’s dark history with Celeste’s family, a history she knows nothing about, he sends his top criminalist, former FBI agent John Kain to investigate.
 

John doesn’t believe in Celeste’s mystic hocus-pocus, or in her visions of the murders. But just when he’s certain they’ve solved the crimes, with the use of science and evidence, more dead bodies are discovered. Could this somehow be the work of the same killer or were they dealing with a copycat? To catch a vicious murderer, the skeptical criminalist reluctantly turns to the sensual psychic for help. Yet with each step closer to finding the killer, John finds himself one step closer to losing his heart.
 

Shadow of Perception

Book Two of the CORE “Shadow” Trilogy

What happens when negligent plastic surgeons receive a taste of their own medicine…?
 

Chicago investigative reporter, Eden Risk, receives an unmarked envelope containing a postcard ordering her to watch the enclosed DVD…or someone else dies. No Police. After Eden watches the DVD, a gruesome, horrifying surgery, she turns to the private criminal investigation agency, CORE, for help. Only she hadn’t expected that help to come with a catch. Her former lover, Hudson Patterson, has been assigned to the case.

Hudson would rather have another CORE agent handle the investigation. Two years ago, he’d screwed things up with Eden…bad. And as more DVDs arrive, Eden and Hudson find themselves not only knee-deep in a twisted investigation, but forced to deal with their past, and the love they’d tried to deny.

Kiss Me

When is a kiss…
 

After a series of bad relationships, Jenna Cooper wants a sex buddy—no-strings, no emotional involvement, and absolutely no expectations of commitment. She sets her sights on Luke Sinclair. A player and commitment-phobe, he’d make the perfect boy toy. Only Luke’s tired of playing the scene and wants a serious relationship with Jenna, not a series of one-night-stands.
 

…More than a kiss?

When Luke makes Jenna an offer she can’t refuse, the sexual tension between them combusts and their emotional chemistry becomes too hard for Jenna to ignore. They both end up with more than either bargained for, especially when Jenna’s wild past is exposed and threatens to tear their relationship apart. Now Luke will do anything to make things right between them, but knows it’s going to take more than a kiss…

Pick Me

For the chance of a lifetime…

To help save the TV reality show,
Pick Me,
from cancellation, Valentina Bonasera swaps her position as the show’s Production Assistant, to play the role of Bachelorette, only to discover Bachelor Number One, rancher and sports agent, Colt Walker, happens to be her one and only one-night-stand she’d snuck away from six months ago.
 

…Pick me.

Colt had never forgotten the hot, sensual night he’d shared with Valentina, or how she’d left him without so much as a note or her contact information. He’d spent months searching for the woman who’d given him a night he couldn’t forget and thought he’d never see again. Now that she’s in Dallas, he’s determined to make her his…

About Kristine Mason

I didn’t pick up my first romance novel until I was in my late twenties. Immediately hooked, I read a bazillion books before deciding to write one of my own. After the birth of my first son I needed something to keep my mind from turning to mush, and Sesame Street wasn’t cutting it. While that first book will never see the light of day, something good came from writing it. I realized my passion, and found a career I love.

When I’m not writing contemporary romances and dark, romantic suspense novels (or reading them!) I’m chasing after my four kids and two neurotic dogs.
 

You can email me at
[email protected]
, visit my website at
www.kristinemason.net
or find me on Facebook and Twitter!