Closer Than You Think

PROLOGUE

Oh God. Corinne fought the sudden wave of nausea, contracting her body into the fetal position. Wine. Too much wine. This is the worst hangover ever.

But . . . Wait. No. Can t be. A sliver of clarity returning, she shook her head, swallowing a moan when the room tilted. Haven t had a drink in two years.

The flu. Dammit. She d had the damn flu shot. She lifted her hands to rub her eyes, but

Tied. Realization rushed in. She gave her arms a panicked jerk, shooting pain up through her shoulders. Her hands were tied. Behind her back.

The room wasn t dark. I m blindfolded. She lurched to one side, heard the clank of a chain before her movement was abruptly checked.

Terror crashed through her, filling her mind. Tied. Chained. Blindfolded.

A scream rose in her throat but came out a rusty croak. Her throat was dry as dust, her lips cracked. Not a hangover. Drugged. I was drugged.

How? When? Who would have? Who could have? What had they done to her? She drew a breath, tried to calm herself. Breathed deeply. Think, Corinne. Think hard.

The musty odor of the room burned her nose, making her sneeze violently, sending her head spinning again. She clenched her teeth. Rode the nausea through.

She listened, but there was nothing. She heard nothing. No wind. No music. No voices.

Okay. Okay. This sucks. This really sucks. Calm down. Think. Think.

She forced her arms to relax, felt the chain go slack. She moved her fingers, her toes. Straightened her spine, careful not to make any more sudden movements.

She was on a bed. A mattress. With a sheet. And a pillow. Slowly she rubbed her cheek over the pillow. Rough. The room was musty, but the pillow smelled clean.

A sudden creak had Corinne freezing. The door opened, letting in a cold draft. And the smell of lemons. And the beginning of a shrill scream, muffled by the quick closing of the

Karen Rose

Praise for Closer Than You Think
 
A chilling, enthralling read that succeeds on every level. Kirkus Reviews

The mesmerizing Deacon and vulnerable Faith are complex, compelling characters who draw readers into Rose s latest thriller. Her enthralling storytelling style and intricately layered plot combined with palpable tension and a powerful attraction between Deacon and Faith keeps readers hooked. A sinister villain takes the thrills to another level. RT Book Reviews

More Praise for Karen Rose and her novels

The queen of romantic suspense Crime and Publishing

An excellent example of how far-reaching and varied romance can be. The plot is complex, the characterization sound and the boundaries of the genre pushed...tremendously sexy. The New York Times

Karen Rose delivers the kind of high-wire suspense that keeps you riveted. Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author

From the first rousing chapter to the last...intense, complex, and unforgettable. James Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Rose writes blistering, high-octane suspense that never lets up. Karen Robards, New York Times bestselling author

Takes off like a house afire. There's action and chills galore in this non-stop thriller. Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author