Vendetta

Vendetta
Meredith Fletcher

History will repeat itself…unless she can stop it.Juicy stories are investigative reporter Winter Archer's bread and butter. So when her beloved mentor asks her to write the biography of Athena Academy's founder, Winter jumps at the chance. But someone out there will stop at nothing– not even murder–to ensure that long-buried secrets remain hidden. And Winter can't finish the job unless she joins forces with the one man who is most definitely off-limits. Only together can they uncover the deadly plot that spans decades and threatens to destroy a legacy…Athena ForceWill the women of Athena unravel Arachne's powerful web of blackmail and death…or succumb to their enemies' deadly secrets?

From: Delphi@oracle.org

To: C_Evans@athena.edu

Re: investigative reporter, Winter Archer

Christine,

I understand that the recent kidnappings at Athena Academy were just the first unraveling threads of a much larger web. Looking at the information you sent me, I have to agree with you. It seems Marion Gracelyn, Athena Academy’s founder, may have had a formidable enemy, one who arranged for Marion’s murder. One who is still plaguing Athena’s students and graduates.

The incidents leading up to Marion’s murder—and our current situation—are most likely buried in the past. Who better to deal with old secrets than Winter Archer? She’s uncovered older lies than these. Give her a call. Maybe her research into Marion’s life will lead us closer to our enemy.

D.

Dear Reader,

I’ve been a part of Athena Force since the beginning, so I felt really honored to write the story of Athena Academy’s matriarch, Marion Gracelyn. As you’ll discover, Marion’s story is also the story of Athena Force’s greatest enemy, a deadly female assassin who has plotted against Marion and her dreams since 1968.

To me, a veteran Athena Force author, Marion Gracelyn has always been a real person. It was like someone I’d heard a lot about and just happened to miss at critical junctures. Getting the chance to step back into 1968 and tell Marion’s story has been a blast. And I have to tell you, I regretted not being able to incorporate one of the most important things that happened that year: The ’68 Comeback Special of Elvis Presley. No one but no one wears black leather like the King of Rock and Roll!

Marion was a role model back then, one of the first female assistant district attorneys. And her love interest, Adam Gracelyn, was, as it turns out, anything but senatorial material back in his early days. They were a definite match, and I enjoyed watching them meet on opposite sides of the legal table, fall in love despite that, and take on the most dangerous killer either of them had ever faced.

Of course, we wouldn’t know about Marion’s story without the research of Athena grad Winter Archer, whose own love affair with David Gracelyn begged to be told. So there! You’re getting two love stories for the price of one. Enjoy!

Meredith Fletcher

Vendetta

Meredith Fletcher

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

MEREDITH FLETCHER

maintains a healthy interest in travel and history. She’s been to the top of Pike’s Peak and to the bottom of Carlsbad Caverns. She’s seen the Reversing Falls in St. John, New Brunswick (and eaten purple seaweed) and snorkeled plane crashes in Cozumel.

She comes from a large family and loves sitting at the table while everyone shares their stories. She’s also an avid reader and movie enthusiast, enjoying every love story from Casablanca to Spider Man 3, which she firmly maintains is a love story in spite of all the trappings of superheroes.

To the intelligent and generous women who make Athena Force fly: Natashya Wilson, Tara Parsons and Stacy Boyd.

And to my fellow writers in suspense and thrills: Rachel Caine and Nancy Holder.

Contents

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

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26