The Last Stand Collection Volume 2

Book excerpt: The Last Stand Collection by Brenda Novak, Volume 2 Three perfect stories of romantic suspense from New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak… The Perfect Couple One afternoon in May, Zoe Duncan’s thirteen-year-old daughter goes missing from her own backyard. Zoe’s willing to do anything to bring Sam home, even if it means divulging all her secrets to a private investigator. Jonathan Stivers is good at what he does, the best. But never has the P.I. had fewer leads to work with–or been more attracted to a client. Jonathan’s sure of only one thing: Sam was taken by someone close to the family. He doesn’t know how close until he realizes that the “perfect” couple next door is anything but…. The Perfect Liar Air Force Captain Luke Trussell is shocked when the police charge him with rape. He knows he made a mistake in judgment the night before, but he certainly didn’t force his attentions on the woman who’s been stalking him for months. Problem is Kalyna Harter has the bruises, and the DNA evidence, to make her claim convincing. Kalyna goes to victims’ rights advocate Ava Bixby, but Ava soon realizes she’s defending the wrong victim. Problem is switching her support to Luke could be dangerous, especially when she falls for him. Because Kalyna won’t tolerate losing the man she wants to anyone. Least of all Ava. The Perfect Murder For more than a year, Sebastian Costas has been trying to unravel the truth behind the murder of his ex-wife and son. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, he’s convinced that her second husband–a cop–committed both murders, then faked his own death. Now Sebastian has followed the slimmest of leads to Sacramento…and that’s where he finally gets the break he needs. Investigator Jane Burke calls him in connection with a separate crime–a crime that could lead him straight to the man he’s been looking for.