The Agent's Surrender
Read The Agent's Surrender Online
Authors: Kimberly van Meter
Rival agents uncover a monstrous conspiracy
From the moment they met, sparks had flown…and not the good kind. Agent Jane Fallon would rather chew nails than work with arrogant—and much too good-looking—Holden Archangelo. But, convinced his brother was no traitor, Holden had Jane’s investigation reopened. And now Jane is forced to partner with him.
As new leads come to light, Jane’s certainty about the case is shaken. But the assassin’s bullet whizzing past her head convinces her they are onto something. Jane’s determined to keep things professional, but as the danger around them intensifies, so does the fierce attraction they try so hard to deny….
“You have to admit there’s a spark between us.”
“That’s not the point,” Jane insisted. “Neither of us is suited for a relationship.”
“I’m going to play dumb for a second so you can tell me why we’re not suited for one another,” Holden replied.
“There’s no way I could ever bring you home to my family.”
“Last time I checked I was a pretty good catch.”
“It’s nothing to do with you. It’s the way my family would perceive you.”
“I’m confused. You’re saying it’s not me, it’s your family?”
“Sort of.”
“Oh, good. For a second I thought you were throwing up imaginary obstacles,” he said. “Listen, just admit that you and I shared something pretty incredible. And I’ll leave it at that.”
“You’ll drop it?”
“Sure,” he lied. “Just admit that I rocked your world and we’ll go back to being simply partners without benefits.”
“Okay, Holden. You were pretty amazing and quite possibly the best guy I’ve ever slept with. Is that enough?”
“Yeah, it’ll do. Now tell me again why we shouldn’t be partners with benefits?”
“You’re impossible.”
Dear Reader,
Go big or go home—that was the prevailing mantra that kept running through my head with the final chapter in this exciting series of books. The stakes are the highest they’ve ever been, the characters rich with life and the situation without easy answers. Of course, it makes for good reading, but it makes for really hard writing! This book didn’t come together easily, but it was worth the trouble, as I think this story is one of the best (which is hard for me to say because all my books are like my babies).
I hope you enjoy
The Agent’s Surrender
with its twists and turns and ultimate conclusion. If you’re just coming to this story, you might want to check out
The Sniper,
which is Nathan’s story, and
Moving Target,
which is Jake’s story. Both are a great complement to Jane and Holden’s story.
Hearing from readers is a special joy. Please feel free to drop me a line via email through my website at
www.kimberlyvanmeter.com
or through snail mail at Kimberly Van Meter, P.O. Box 2210, Oakdale, CA 95361.
All the best,
Kimberly
THE AGENT’S
SURRENDER
Kimberly Van Meter
Books by Kimberly Van Meter
Harlequin Romantic Suspense
^
Sworn to Protect
#1666
^
Cold Case Reunion
#1669
A Daughter’s Perfect Secret
#1696
The Sniper
#1769
The Agent’s Surrender
#1821
Silhouette Romantic Suspense
To Catch a Killer
#1622
Guarding the Socialite
#1638
Harlequin Superromance
The Truth About Family
#1391
*Father Material
#1433
*Return to Emmett’s Mill
#1469
A Kiss to Remember
#1485
*An Imperfect Match
#1513
*Kids on the Doorstep
#1577
*A Man Worth Loving
#1600
*Trusting the Bodyguard
#1627
**The Past Between Us
#1694
**A Chance in the Night
#1700
**Secrets in a Small Town
#1706
***Like One of the Family
#1778
***Playing the Part
#1802
***Something to Believe In
#1826
^^
That Reckless Night
#1887
^^
A Real Live Hero
#1911
^^
A Sinclair Homecoming
#1935
^Native Country
*Home in Emmett’s Mill
**Mama Jo’s Boys
***Family in Paradise
^^The Sinclairs of Alaska
Other titles by this author available in ebook format.
KIMBERLY VAN METER
wrote her first book at sixteen and finally achieved publication in December 2006. She writes for the Harlequin Superromance and Harlequin Romantic Suspense lines. She and her husband of seventeen years have three children, three cats and always a houseful of friends, family and fun.
With all my love and admiration…
To my editor, Johanna Raisanen…you’ve taken my words and made them shine. I’m so lucky to have you on my side. From
The Call
to now, we’re a great team, and I am so grateful for your wisdom, your guidance and your talent! Here’s to many more collaborative books in our future.
Contents
Chapter 1
“T
hey can’t do this.” Holden Archangelo, CIA special skills officer, held his temper by the thinnest margin as his superior, Reed Harris, chief of staff, military affairs, looked up at Holden’s sudden appearance in his office. Holden gripped the door frame with Jane Fallon hot on his heels. “There’s been a mistake,” he said, ignoring Jane’s rigid, unwelcome presence.
“Your personal feelings are clouding your judgment,” Jane cut in, her lithe and muscular frame nearly as stiff as her inability to see Holden’s side. “If the accused were anyone other than your twin brother, would you have the same objections?”
He ignored her point. “Miko’s innocent.”
“He was proved guilty,” Jane countered. “And he will be treated as any person found guilty of treason.” She looked to Reed for affirmation.
“We all can sympathize with your position, Holden,” Reed said, leaning back in his chair with a heavy sigh.
Holden swallowed. Yes, the entire department knew Miko was Holden’s twin brother, which was why the case had been given to Jane and not Holden.
He kept his gaze trained on their superior, effectively trying to ignore Jane’s presence, which was near impossible. Pissed as hell would’ve been too mild of a phrase for the impotent rage choking him. He could admit Jane was a solid investigator, but he believed her final determination had been personal. Very personal. “Permission to remove Agent Fallon from the case for someone less biased.”
Jane sputtered, and he could feel the force of her glare even though he kept his stare focused on Chief Harris. “Sir, I take offense to his accusation,” she said. “My service record is impeccable, and I’ve given this office no reason to question my skills or my ability to separate my personal feelings from a case.”
Chief Harris grunted in agreement, giving Holden a sour look that warned him to tread carefully. “Don’t let your mouth overload your ass, son. Agent Fallon is more than qualified to handle this case. Permission denied. What’s this about anyway?” He pushed the paperwork on his desk and tapped it with his stubbed finger. “Nothing is in this file that we all didn’t already know was coming.”
Jane had concluded that Miko had been guilty of killing several people—including his own boss at the U.S. Department of Informational Development, or I.D. for short—and then committing suicide when the situation got too hot.
From the minute Holden had been told that Miko had killed himself at his own bar, something hadn’t passed the sniff test. No way would Miko have committed suicide. Not in a million years. Honor was something the Archangelo boys held sacred, and there was nothing honorable about taking a coward’s way out. “He didn’t do it,” he said between gritted teeth.
Jane shook her head, irritated. “Why are we having this conversation? I have eyewitness testimony that your brother ate a bullet. Harsh, yes, but sometimes the truth doesn’t pull punches.”
Holden had talked to Nathan Isaacs briefly about Miko’s death and, though Nathan had been there when Miko died, this was not an open-and-shut case. As difficult as it was for Holden to accept that Miko had pulled the trigger, he could not believe the story ended there. “Something was missed. No one knew my brother like I did, and I’m telling you, something isn’t right,” he finished hotly.
“I’m sure the family members of most suicide victims share similar conviction, but I assure you, nothing was missed,” Jane retorted, almost bored. “The truth is it doesn’t matter how you feel about the matter, your brother did, indeed, kill himself and you’re going to have to find a way to deal with that knowledge. It’s time to face facts and move on. Miko Archangelo was found guilty of his crimes and, as per the regulations, will be stripped of all military honors effective immediately. Frankly, I find your outrage a little confusing. The report was finished a month ago.”
“Yeah, and someone made sure that I’m just now seeing it,” he shot back, leaving no doubt he believed it was Jane’s doing. “Funny how that happened. If I’d known about your findings, I would’ve found a way to put a stop to your little celebration ceremony.”
Jane colored but held her ground and looked to their superior to end the controversy once and for all. “Sir?”
Reed considered a moment and then said, “Son, I know you’re hurting. You and your brother shared a close bond. But there comes a time when you have to accept the facts as they are given. Miko made a grave error in judgment and got in over his head. It’s that simple. It hurts, I know, but we’re not in the business of sugarcoating the truth.”
Holden spied the tiniest lift of Jane’s mouth and burned at the thought she might get the upper hand in this. Not because of their shared history—but because Miko’s honor depended on Holden succeeding.
“I have new evidence,” he blurted, taking a risk when he didn’t have all his ducks lined up just yet. Jane frowned and opened her mouth to speak, but Holden wouldn’t give her the chance to shoot him down. “Sir, I know I’ve got a dog in this fight, but that’s all the more reason to let me at least see this through, whatever that end might be. Let me chase down this one lead, and if nothing comes of it, I’ll let it go.”