A book in the Bad Agency series, 2009

From Sherrilyn Kenyon

Thank you to Dianna for being such a good sport and always making me smile. I never thought I could cowrite anything, but given that we often share a common brain (LOL) you made it not only easy but a joy. Thank you so much for all the support.

Thank you to Kim, Jacs, Tina, Brenda, and Retta for reading all my manuscripts and making great comments. And let’s not forget Tina, Carl, Eddie, Aimee, Brynna, Kim, Judy, Soteria, and all the others who make my message bbs a living community where all are welcomed. Thank you, fans, for coming back day after day. You guys rock!

To my husband for being my shelter in the storm. You are my rock and I’m grateful every day that I said yes when you asked me out to see a movie I couldn’t stand. For my kids who are always my comfort and my greatest source of pride. May God bless and keep you all.

From Dianna Love

It was great to write a second BAD Agency story with Sherrilyn. She’s one of the most creatively generous people I know. Thanks, Sherri, for all that you do and for being a wonderful friend.

I also want to thank my husband, Karl, who supports everything I do and supports all my writing buddies as well (his cooking is becoming as legendary as the wit he shares with us).

A special thanks to all the fans who gave our collaboration a chance and wrote such wonderful notes about Phantom in the Night. Your enthusiasm and excitement for this series means so much. Su Walker and Leiha Mann-thanks for the laughs and endless support, the next martinis are on me. A big hug to my dear friends Walt and Cindy Lumpkin, and Dave and Gail Akins, for always being there for me and the many dinners. [Note for anyone traveling to my area in Peachtree City, you’ll find one of my favorite restaurants mentioned in this story. It’s owned by Pascal who helped us with details on France.] Thanks also to all my super family-James (brother) and Teri Love (sister-in-law, who also reads for me), plus my nieces Ashley and Tiffany, who understand without complaint when I miss family events and am typing during holidays.

From both of us

We appreciate Lauren McKenna’s support and faith in our ability to cowrite this book. In addition to being a terrific editor, she’s a wonderful cheerleader, always ready with a positive word.

Thanks also to Merrilee Heifetz for all the hard work on our behalf and her amazing skills as an agent.

A big thanks goes to author Mary Buckham who is always willing to read the first [bumpy] draft and critiques with a surgical ability that is deeply appreciated, and thanks to her husband, Jim, whose knowledge of rare information and Italian elements still surprises us. The talented Cassondra Murray is always willing to read and share her feedback when needed, plus explain weapons from a female perspective. Her husband, Steve Doyle, provides us with expert advice on Special Force operations and weapons, plus feedback on our romantic adventure from the male perspective. Keith Morgan shared his extensive knowledge of electronic forensics in a way that even Dianna could understand it ‹grin›.

Pascal Le Corre was an enthusiastic resource for us on France. He grew up there and returns every year. After seeing that country through his eyes, we want to go. A voracious reader of many genres and dear friend, Manuella Robinson dropped everything to read the final pages on short notice that really helped with our deadline. Kim Newman is an ESL teacher originally from South America who is a friend and a valuable resource and graciously reviewed pages to assure we had things like the regional Spanish correct.

Hope Williams once again gave us an early read and some of the best cookies you’ve ever eaten. She’s always a big help. Wes Sarginson who recently retired from forty-six years as an NBC newsman is a limitless fountain of information. He’s a good friend who helped with details about congressional media events. Thanks to Annie Oortman, who provides great live story reviews for readers. We hope we haven’t missed anyone. If any detail is incorrect, it is our fault. Great resources and terrific first reads play a huge part of creating an exciting romantic thriller.

To the RBL Women-thanks for all the support, laughs, and martinis. You are too much fun! Congratulations to Kathryn Collupy, who won the “name in our book” raffle.

We love our readers!! You are the reason we work so hard to create a story you’ll lose yourself in for hours. A huge thanks to all of you who have sent us notes of encouragement, excited about this collaborative effort, and who read our books, allowing us to do what we love-write stories. You are the best!

IF HE HAD to die today, he’d have preferred a warm climate and a bullet between the eyes over this.

Carlos Delgado had no one to blame but himself. He had agreed to take the lead on this screwed-up mission.

The routine HAHO-high altitude, high opening-jump from a C-130 came with a standard set of risks. First, his team had to hit a tiny spot in the French Alps near St. Gervais. Second, a midnight op upped the ante. Last, parachuting into a snowstorm kicked in the high-octane factor.

And those weren’t even the best reasons for labeling this op suicidal.

He stretched his legs and lifted a hand to scratch his face, but stopped. The Gentex face mask itched like a son of a bitch, but breaking the seal between skin and mask would immediately lower the raised nitrogen level in his blood. That meant he’d have to abort the jump and scrub the mission since this op was planned with a minimum number of operatives.

With the mood his three teammates had been in when they went wheels up, someone would immediately accommodate his wish for a quick death.

But they’d show some restraint since none of them wanted to waste a day off for his funeral.

Carlos checked his watch. Just after lunch on Sunday in the States. Headquarters should have new intel by now. He was ready to get moving as much as he hated making the jump.

He’d made the leap more times than he wanted to remember, but the stakes were high this time. The only thing worse than flying in an airplane was exiting one during flight…and at this altitude. An adrenaline junkie’s dream. Not his.

He slapped a sideways look at Korbin Maximus, sitting next to him on another uncomfortable canvas seat. Their resident adrenaline junkie and insertion specialist for BAD-Bureau of American Defense-wore an identical oxygen mask. His night-vision goggles were shoved up on his forehead.

Slouched, eyes closed above a perpetual five-o’clock shadow, and arms casually crossed, Korbin appeared at rest, but Carlos knew their point man was not asleep.

“What’s the matter, Korbin? Job puttin’ you to sleep?” Reagan “Rae” Graham’s British lilt came through the commo headset they all wore. Perched across from Carlos and Korbin, Rae was the only female on this op and no petite miss at five-eight. She could more than handle herself in hand-to-hand combat, cool as an ice cube under pressure. Few men would suspect the trim woman packaged with all those lush curves to be so lethal, but she was one tough babe from the short, sandy brown hair to a mile of legs…to the G36C rifle strapped across her chesty flight suit.