Fire and Ice - Anne Stuart [0]
ANNE STUART
“[Stuart is] arguably romantic suspense’s most popular novelist.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A master at creating chilling atmosphere with a modern touch.”
—Library Journal
“Brilliant characterizations and a suitably moody ambience drive this dark tale of unlikely love.”
—Publishers Weekly on Black Ice [starred review]
“Stuart knows how to take chances, and this edgy thriller shows how well they can pay off.”
—Publishers Weekly on Cold As Ice
“[A] sexy, edgy, exceptionally well-plotted tale.”
—Library Journal on Into the Fire
“A consummate mistress of her craft.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews
“Before I read…[a] Stuart book I make sure my day is free…. Once I start, she has me hooked.”
—New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber
Also by
ANNE STUART
ICE STORM
ICE BLUE
COLD AS ICE
THE DEVIL’S WALTZ
BLACK ICE
HIDDEN HONOR
INTO THE FIRE
STILL LAKE
THE WIDOW
SHADOWS AT SUNSET
FIRE AND ICE
ANNE STUART
To my fabulous agents, Jane Dystel and
Miriam Goderich, for unflagging support,
wise advice and, most of all, patience.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First off, I couldn’t have written this without falling in love with J-rock and Japan, so thanks to my daughter for dragging me to Otakon. I have an addiction to Japanese doramas (twelve-hour television miniseries, which I watch slavishly, in Japanese with Chinese subtitles and I don’t speak or read either language but I love them anyway).
My Yakuza is not terribly realistic, so don’t blame David E. Kaplan and Alec Dubro or their fabulous book Yakuza: The Explosive Account of Japan’s Criminal Underworld. I believe in poetic license.
And if you want a soundtrack for this, listen to the new age music from Pacific Moon, rock from Hyde and L’Arc-en-Ciel and, oh, just maybe the soundtrack to “Final Fantasy: Advent Children.” A touch of Dir en grey wouldn’t hurt either.
1
Reno bounded up the stairs, two at a time, and pushed open the door to the deserted apartment, only to stare directly into the barrel of a Glock.
Peter Madsen slowly put his gun away. “What the hell are you doing here? I could have shot you.”
Reno grinned. He knew Peter thought he was the most annoying, most flamboyant operative ever to work for the Committee, that covert organization of ruthless do-gooders, and he did his best to live up to that image. He brushed an invisible speck of lint off his leather jacket and kept his sunglasses firmly in place in the darkened room.
“I trust your instincts,” he said, closing the door behind him and strolling into the apartment. His pointy-toed leather cowboy boots echoed on the parquet flooring.
“How do you ever sneak up on anyone when you’re so damned noisy?” Peter said.
Reno gave him his most annoying smile. There was nothing he liked better than to irritate the Ice Man. “I manage,” he said. “I thought you might need a little help.”
“When I need help, I’ll ask for it.”
Reno shrugged. “Just trying to do my duty, boss. Isobel’s really gone, hasn’t she? Our fearless leader has disappeared, leaving you in charge.”
“Yes.” Peter glowered at him. “And don’t call me boss. It’s not my idea you’re here.”
“Not mine, either. You think she went with Killian?”
“I expect so.”
“Aah, true love,” Reno said. “For good?”
“I hope so,” Peter said.
“Why? So you can take over running the Committee?” Reno wandered over to the window to look out into the wet winter afternoon.
“Hardly. I’m passing this off to the first person qualified.”
“Then why?”
Peter shrugged. “Because this kind of life demands too high a price. Isobel and Killian stayed too long—they earned the right to get out of it.”
Reno snorted. “You don’t seem the sentimental kind to me.”
“And you’re such a great judge of character?”
Reno merely smiled