I will protect my country and its citizens.

      I will stand in the line of fire between innocents and criminals.

      I will back up my fellow agents without questions.

      I will trust my instincts.

      And most of all…

      I WILL KEEP MY MISSION AND MY IDENTITY STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

      CAST OF CHARACTERS

      Holly Langworthy—A mother who will do anything to rescue her kidnapped baby. Will she lose her life and her heart in the process?

      Night Walker—This half-breed Colorado Confidential agent is a loner and the father of Holly’s baby. His mission is to save Holly and her son, but once he rescues them, will they welcome him back into their lives?

      Schyler Langworthy—An innocent baby caught in the trap of a mad scientist. Will he survive in spite of the research drug he received via his birth mother?

      Samuel Langworthy—The former governor of Colorado was against Night’s involvement with Holly, and has been acting suspiciously. Could he possibly have orchestrated his grandson’s kidnapping to help son Joshua’s campaign to keep Holly and Night apart?

      Celia Langworthy—Does she hold some clue as to who might have kidnapped Holly’s baby?

      Dr. Theodore Grace—Celia’s former husband has been conducting germ experiments on the unsuspecting public. Has he kidnapped Holly’s baby to seek revenge on Samuel for marrying Celia? And just how far will he go in his research with the baby?

      Governor Forbes—He’s bitter about losing the election to Joshua Langworthy, but is he bitter enough to get revenge by conspiring in a kidnapping?

      Carlton Sanders—The man Holly’s father wanted her to marry. He has political aspirations of his own—did he have a secret motive for romancing Holly?

      To Tashya, for putting together a great bible and giving me my start six years ago.

      Contents

      Prologue

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Epilogue

      Prologue

      Mid-July

      “Holly Langworthy’s three-month-old son has been kidnapped from his crib.” Colleen Wellesley leveled her gaze at the group of operatives she’d assembled in the secret meeting room at the Royal Flush, the 6,000-acre cattle and horse ranch where the Colorado Confidential organization based its operation. The surveillance room had videos of the ranch access points and of the ICU offices in Denver, and computers that linked to the Department of Public Safety, the DMV and other government agencies on a limited basis.

      Ten years ago, Colleen had founded a private investigation agency, Investigations, Confidential and Undercover, or ICU, which took on typical P.I. work—divorces, missing persons, blackmail and other cases. Six months ago, ICU had been recruited as the newest branch of the Confidential organization, Colorado Confidential. ICU’s office in Denver had become a cover for Confidential activities. The private detective business still operated on a highly selective level, but most of the work now was done for the DPS and the federal government.

      Confidential agent Night Walker jerked his head toward his boss in shock.

      Holly Langworthy had a child?

      The beautiful, chestnut-haired, sexy and pampered daughter of Samuel Langworthy, the former governor? Holly—the woman he had shared one incredible night with before her father had run him off and ordered him never to darken the doors of the Langworthy estate again?

      “Everyone, this is my brother, Michael.” Colleen continued. “I’ve asked him to join us today to offer suggestions and observations.”

      Night tuned out the introductions. His mind was still reeling from the bombshell Colleen had just dropped about Holly Langworthy. Did Colleen know about his previous relationship with Holly?

      How old was the baby?

      Fiona Clark and Shawn Jameson, two other Confidential agents, sat across from him, their expressions unreadable.

      “Although the Langworthy family had not made public the fact that they have a grandchild,” Colleen said, “the baby has been living with his mother at the Langworthy estate in Denver since his birth three months ago. Holly’s father, former governor, Samuel Langworthy, has suggested that the kidnapping