Waiting Read online

  When she finished, Ryan just sat there for a few moments with his mouth hanging open.

  Finally Ryan said, “You’re a hero, Riley.”

  Riley laughed nervously.

  “No, I’m really not a hero,” she said.

  Ryan shook his head and said, “You saved at least one woman’s life. By solving the case, you may have saved other lives as well. It’s crazy. I think maybe you’re crazy. But you’re also a hero.”

  Riley sighed. She didn’t much like that word—hero.

  If people in her life started expecting her to live up to it, they’d surely wind up bitterly disappointed.

  A silence fell between them.

  Then Ryan laughed nervously and said …

  “So what do you want to do with the rest of your life, Riley Sweeney?”

  “I’ve got some ideas,” she said.

  “I’m hoping they’re pretty much the same as mine,” Ryan said. He took her left hand in his and added, “We can start by going home and putting your engagement ring back on. And my ideas go on from there.”

  They looked into each other’s eyes, then shared a long kiss. Then they held hands and talked together idly for a while. But before long, Riley found herself distracted by thoughts of Gordon Shearer—the sick young man who called himself “Joey.”

  Her feeling of connection with him had been terrible and terrifying.

  Was that connection severed now that he was dead?

  Riley hoped so, but she couldn’t help remembering what he’d yelled to her at the marina …

  “I’m the only one in the world who knows … who you really are.”

  Of course those words had been the ravings of a madman. But she wondered—was there maybe just the slightest trace of truth in what he’d said? She felt as though she’d been inside his mind.

  Had he felt the same about her?

  She remembered something Elliot Flack had said in his lecture …

  “The trick is to understand monsters without becoming a monster yourself. It isn’t always easy.”

  Riley’s throat tightened and she squeezed Ryan’s hand more tightly.

  She stammered …

  “Ryan … let’s … the two of us … let’s just …”

  It took a moment for her to think of the words she seemed to be looking for.

  “Let’s just love each other,” she finally said.

  She fell into Ryan’s embrace, and they kissed again.

  NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!

  LURING

  (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 3)

  “A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”

  --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)

  LURING (The Making of Riley Paige—Book Three) is book #3 in a new psychological thriller series by #1 bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose free bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) has received over 1,000 five star reviews.

  As a serial killer, suspected to be using an RV camper, lures and kills women across the country, the FBI, at a loss, must break protocol and turn to its brilliant 22 year old academy recruit—Riley Paige.

  Riley Paige is accepted into the grueling FBI academy, and is determined to finally keep a low profile and work hard with her peers. But that is not meant to be, as she is hand-picked to help her mentors to profile and hunt down a serial killer that has terrified the nation. What sort of diabolical killer, Riley wonders, would use an RV to catch his victims?

  And where is he heading next?

  There is no time for Riley to make a mistake in this deadly game of cat and mouse, with her own future on the line, and with a killer out there that may just be smarter than her.

  An action-packed thriller with heart-pounding suspense, LURING is book #3 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. It takes readers back 20 plus years—to how Riley’s career began—and is the perfect complement to the ONCE GONE series (A Riley Paige Mystery), which includes 14 books and counting.

  Book #4 in THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE series will be available soon.

  LURING

  (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 3)

  Did you know that I've written multiple novels in the mystery genre? If you haven't read all my series, click the image below to download a series starter!

  Blake Pierce

  Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes thirteen books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising nine books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising three books (and counting); of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising two books (and counting); and of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising two books (and counting).

  ONCE GONE (a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #1), BEFORE HE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL (An Avery Black Mystery—Book 1), and A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1) are each available as a free download on Kobo!

  An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

  BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE

  CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE MYSTERY

  NEXT DOOR (Book #1)

  A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)

  KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES

  IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)

  IF SHE SAW (Book #2)

  LURING (Book #3)

  THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES

  WATCHING (Book #1)

  WAITING (Book #2)

  RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES

  ONCE GONE (Book #1)

  ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)

  ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)

  ONCE LURED (Book #4)

  ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)

  ONCE PINED (Book #6)

  ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)

  ONCE COLD (Book #8)

  ONCE STALKED (Book #9)

  ONCE LOST (Book #10)

  ONCE BURIED (Book #11)

  ONCE BOUND (Book #12)

  ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)

  ONCE DORMANT (book #14)

  MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES

  BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)

  BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)

  BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)

  BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)

  BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)

  BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)

  BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)

  BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)

  BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)

  BEFORE HE LONGS (Book #10)

  AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES

  CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)

  CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)

  CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)

  CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)

  CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)

  CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)

  KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES

  A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)

  A TRACE OF MUDER (Book #2)

  A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)

  A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)

  A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)

 

 

 
<
br />