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  She’d fought for her life, but she’d won. Trish might be wealthy, and have an MBA and a high-powered job, but when the chips were down, Cassie had prevailed as the stronger person.

  She remembered the inner resilience she’d sensed inside her—so tough and unexpected. Where had that core of steel come from? She didn’t know, but it had allowed her to keep her nerve—barely—and to hang on to the rock for longer than she’d thought physically possible.

  Cassie thought about her tough upbringing and the scars she carried, the fact she’d had to survive fights and domestic violence, and fend for herself, even if it just meant doing humble waitressing jobs. Perhaps the life she’d been so ashamed of hadn’t been a bad thing.

  Maybe—just maybe—it had laid the foundation for what she needed to survive this.

  CHAPTER FORTY THREE

  The piercing ring of Cassie’s phone dragged her out of an exhausted slumber, and she fumbled to answer it.

  “Hello?” She sat up, turning on the light and blinking bleary-eyed at the white curtains of the luxury room she’d been allocated.

  The man on the other end of the line was a stranger.

  “Good morning. Am I speaking to Cassie Vale?”

  “Yes, you are,” Cassie said warily.

  “I’m Dave Sidley from Dave’s Auto Repairs. We have your car.”

  “My car?” Cassie’s voice was high with surprise.

  “Yes. Sorry for the delay fixing it. Replacing all the wires was a time-consuming job, but it’s done now. I’m coming to town with my mechanic, so I can drop it off for you in an hour if you like.”

  “Of course. Thank you so much.”

  Cassie felt on top of the world—but how much would this cost?

  “What do I owe you?” she asked, wondering if there would be time to head down to the bank.

  “We’ve heard about the family tragedy. In the light of that, I can’t charge you. The job’s on us. Please accept our condolences and pass our good wishes on to the children.”

  “I will do,” Cassie promised. “Thank you so much. That’s incredibly kind.”

  The guesthouse proprietor had prepared her a lavish breakfast. Realizing how hungry she was, with her appetite flooding back, Cassie ate every bite. Then she headed across the road, where, a minute later, she was rewarded by the sight of her car arriving.

  Gratefully, she accepted the keys from the mechanic, feeling elated to have her wheels in working order. With her car and her passport, the world felt hers again. Freedom flooded her, the rush as intense as wine.

  Inside the house, the police had tidied the kitchen and swept up every fragment of glass. It looked ordered and homely and Cassie found it difficult to believe that such a nightmare had happened there, that she’d fought for her life, that she’d managed to trick a murderer into a confession.

  Now it was time to leave.

  She packed her bags into her car and waited for the children to arrive. She’d received a text from the aunt the previous night saying they were safe, and that they’d be home to pack up their belongings, by nine a.m. at the latest.

  At five to nine, the aunt’s car pulled up.

  This time, Nadine was first out of the car to greet Cassie.

  “What a nightmare,” she kept repeating. “You were so brave. Thank you for what you did.”

  Then Dylan and Madison were hugging her.

  “We’re going to stay with our aunt,” Madison whispered, her eyes shining. “I’m allowed to join the drama club and I can go to boarding school next year if I still want to.”

  Cassie felt her heart melt with happiness.

  “Can you take fish tanks in your car?” Dylan asked Nadine in concern. “Because Orange and Lemon have to come with me. I’ve researched how to transport them.”

  He shook Cassie’s hand.

  “You were a trouper,” he said. “My aunt says I can adopt another rabbit. I’m thinking about it.”

  Cassie smiled at him. Although she would never know who Dylan really was, she felt that she understood him better now.

  “I know you’ll do your best for the little guy.”

  Cassie waved at the children as they went into the house to pack their belongings. She planned to head into the village, draw enough cash to keep her solvent for a while, and then go past Harriet’s house with a thank-you gift. There was a diamante bomber jacket she’d seen in a shop window that she thought the cleaner would love.

  And then, who knew where? Cassie resolved it would be somewhere far, far away from this village.

  When she got into her car, she saw she had a new message.

  Quickly, while she was still within range of the home’s Wi-Fi, she read it.

  It was from Renee, her friend in the States.

  “Hey, Cassie,” the message read. “Just to let you know, that lady phoned again yesterday. I gave her your number. She sounded stressed, and said she was worried you might be in trouble. She said she’ll contact you soon. Just give her time.”

  Cassie read the message again and again, feeling a deep contentment as she took in the words. She felt Jacqui’s presence around her, even though she didn’t understand the strange turn last night’s events had taken.

  Perhaps she’d never be able to.

  Some bonds worked in inexplicable ways that were far beyond understanding.

  One day, she hoped, she would see Jacqui again.

  Cassie started the car and drove away, glancing in her rearview mirror so she wouldn’t miss the moment when the Ellises’ house disappeared from sight forever.

  NOW AVAILABLE!

  ALMOST DEAD

  (The Au Pair—Book Three)

  “A MASTERPIECE OF THRILLER AND MYSTERY. Blake Pierce did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. 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)

  ALMOST DEAD is book #3 in a new psychological thriller series by USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star reviews.

  After the disastrous fallout from her last placement in England, all 23-year-old Cassandra Vale wants is a chance to pick up the pieces. A high-society, divorced mother in sunny Italy seems to be the answer. But is she?

  With a new family come new children, new rules, and new expectations. Cassandra’s determined to make this one last - until a horrifying discovery pushes her to a breaking point.

  And when the unimaginable occurs, will it be too late to pull herself back from the brink? Who, she wonders, is she becoming?

  A riveting mystery replete with complex characters, layers of secrets, dramatic twists and turns and heart-pounding suspense, ALMOST DEAD is book #3 in a psychological suspense series that will have you turning pages late into the night.

  Book #4 in the series will be available soon.

  ALMOST DEAD

  (The Au Pair—Book Three)

  Blake Pierce

  Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes sixteen books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising thirteen 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 five books (and counting); of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising five books (and counting); of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising two books (and counting); and of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, 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), A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1), and WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1) are each available as a free download on Amazon!

  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

  THE AU PAIR SERIES

  ALMOST GONE (Book#1)

  ALMOST LOST (Book #2)

  ALMOST DEAD (Book #3)

  ZOE PRIME MYSTERY SERIES

  FACE OF DEATH (Book#1)

  FACE OF MURDER (Book #2)

  FACE OF FEAR (Book #3)

  A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES

  THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)

  THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)

  THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)

  THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4)

  THE PERFECT LIE (Book #5)

  THE PERFECT LOOK (Book #6)

  CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES

  NEXT DOOR (Book #1)

  A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)

  CUL DE SAC (Book #3)

  SILENT NEIGHBOR (Book #4)

  HOMECOMING (Book #5)

  TINTED WINDOWS (Book #6)

  KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES

  IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)

  IF SHE SAW (Book #2)

  IF SHE RAN (Book #3)

  IF SHE HID (Book #4)

  IF SHE FLED (Book #5)

  IF SHE FEARED (Book #6)

  IF SHE HEARD (Book #7)

  THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES

  WATCHING (Book #1)

  WAITING (Book #2)

  LURING (Book #3)

  TAKING (Book #4)

  STALKING (Book #5)

  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)

  ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)

  ONCE MISSED (Book #16)

  ONCE CHOSEN (Book #17)

  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)

  BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)

  BEFORE HE ENVIES (Book #12)

  BEFORE HE STALKS (Book #13)

  BEFORE HE HARMS (Book #14)

  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)

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

  CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

  CHAPTER FORTY

  CHAPTER FORTY ONE

  CHAPTER FORTY TWO

  CHAPTER FORTY THREE