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Chapter One

"This entire plan," Verity Aiving out coood Lord obviously overlooked you two Or eneral"

She glared across the table at the two men who sat opposite her One was her lover and one was her father She loved theled them That she could be so fond of a pair of chauvinistic, bullheaded rogues probably indicated a serious character flaw in her

"Now, Red, just calm down I've told you there's absolutely no reason to worry It's gonna be a cakewalk No sweat" Her father's teeth flashed fro red beard, and his aquamarine eyes sparkled with enthusiasm Emerson A erous lane

Verity had gotten her fla blue eyes frole-handedly after her reith a thorough, if eclectic, education, and the ability to take care of herself One of the things Eed to instill in her, however, was his unquenchable desire to wander the far corners of the earth Verity valued home and hearth

"Don't try to reassure me, Dad I've listened to the whole scheme and I still think it's stupid and risky

Saet hiet involved"

"Lehigh's in real trouble this time, Verity He needs help He needs someone he can trust," Jonas said

He extended one arlass of vodka in front of hirace was an intrinsic part of Jonas Quarrel, a ined it was the kind of power one ht have seen in a sixteenth-century Renaissance nobleery

Although he had the grace and power of a Medici, Quarrel certainly did not dress like one Tonight he wore his usual attire—blue denim work shirt, jeans, and scuffed boots The leather belt around his waist was supple froht not dress like a Renaissance aristocrat, Quarrel did possess the unique talents of a Medici or a Borgia He was, in other words, equally capable of quoting poetry or wielding a dagger

He was definitely overqualified for his present job, Verity thought wryly Jonas Quarrel was one of the few dishwashers around with the right to put PhD after his name His field of expertise was Renaissance history; specifically, the weapons and strategies of that era

He was not a handsorace have never needed to depend on anything as superficial as masculine beauty Whenever she looked into the depths of his eyes—eyes the color of Florentine gold coins, filled with intelligence and the shadows of ghosts—the last thing on Verity's mind was how Quarrel rated on a scale of one to ten He could seduce her with a touch or a look She was deeply, passionately in love with him

And noas getting ready to leave her

"Lehigh wouldn't have asked for help if he didn't need it," Jonas continued reasonably in his rich, dark voice "He made it clear on the phone that Emerson is the only one he can trust to handle the ransoo down to Mexico to deal with the kidnappers Do you really want your father to go alone?"

Verity had realized hours ago that she had lost the battle, but she struggled on hopelessly "The Mexican police can deal with the situation"

Emerson shook his head "Co Lehigh can afford is to have the cops brought in, even if he could trust 'em not to take the ranso with the upholders of law and order in Mexico, you're playing with a stacked deck No, old Sam knows this has to be handled privately"

"And there's absolutely no one old Sam can call on to handle the payoff besides you?" Verity asked suspiciously