Chapter 1

Celeste Vaughn froze, disbelief flashing across her face. Before she could speak, Damien Cole gave a scornful laugh.

"Nora, you've taken this performance far enough. Who do you think you are, stopping Celeste?"

"Damien, your wife really is angry this time."

Celeste gave a strained smile and stepped back, gripping the suitcase handle until her knuckles turned white.

Damien crossed the distance in three strides, clamped a hand around my wrist, and dragged me toward the public exit.

"Nora, you're a basic office assistant. How dare you impersonate a customs officer?"

Celeste lowered her eyes, sounding helpless.

"Damien, forget it. Maybe she only cares about you too much..."

"Cares?" Damien laughed coldly. "She's petty and jealous."

He turned and glared at me, his jaw working as he fought to contain his temper.

"Do you have any idea that Celeste just returned from an outbreak zone?

"She risked her life overseas treating the sick. What do you do? You worry about discounted handbags and track every hour of my day!

"You're ordinary and selfish. You're not worth a single hair on her head."

Every word was dipped in poison and driven into my chest.

The concentration of the strange odor was increasing.

If that suitcase passed beyond the secure exit and entered the public concourse, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Celeste saw that I wouldn't back down and lightly bit her lower lip.

She suddenly cried out and collapsed weakly into Damien's arms.

"Damien...my hand hurts. I think Nora aggravated the injury I suffered in the outbreak zone..."

Damien immediately released my wrist and pulled Celeste close, his voice urgent and his eyes full of concern.

"Celeste, are you all right? Do you need a hospital?"

Then he looked at me with murder in his eyes.

"Nora, if anything happens to Celeste, I'll never forgive you."

"Ms. Vaughn," I said, unmoved by his anger, "please cooperate and open the suitcase."

"Why should she cooperate with you?"

Damien straightened and placed himself in front of Celeste, looking down at me.

"You're in street clothes. You have no badge and no inspection order. What exactly are you supposed to be?"

He was right.

I was off duty, out of uniform, and carrying no identification. The only credential proving who I was remained locked inside a secure cabinet at headquarters.

When I fell silent, Damien sneered.

"Nora, this is what you always do. You invent a problem, then play the victim once it gets out of control."

More travelers gathered, and whispers rolled over me like a tide.

"Is something wrong with that woman? Why does she care what's in a stranger's suitcase?"

"Her husband's ex came home and she couldn't handle it. What a manipulative mess."

Celeste stood and gently patted Damien's arm.

"Don't be angry. Nora may simply be overwhelmed because she cares. Maybe I should open it so she can see."

Her voice was soft and gracious, making me look like a screaming lunatic by comparison.

Damien's expression softened even further when he looked at her. "You don't have to indulge her."

Celeste smiled and shook her head, reaching for the combination lock.

But as she entered the code, I saw her thumb quickly press a raised switch along the side of the lid.

She was moving something inside the suitcase.

My blood ran cold. I lunged forward and pinned her hand in place. "Don't move!"

Damien finally exploded.

He shoved me hard. I stumbled backward and struck the metal railing behind me.

A dull pain detonated in my lower abdomen. I doubled over, clutching my stomach as cold sweat soaked my back.

Damien didn't even look at me. He put one arm around Celeste, lifted the suitcase with the other, and strode toward the exit.

"Damien, stop."

He paused and looked back, an impatient smile curling across his mouth.

"What else do you want, Nora? Do I have to say it in front of everyone? I regret marrying you. Is that clear enough?"