Trapped In Ice

She never expected her hero to be the bad boy from her past… They hate each other. Or at least, Smith Sanders always believed Madelyn Lake hated him. But when the city plunges into darkness and he finds himself trapped in an elevator with the prim and ever-so-reserved Madelyn, he realizes that hate and desire can be twined dangerously close together. The simmering tension that has existed between them since they were sixteen years old explodes in a sensual frenzy that sweeps past their control. It won’t ever happen again. Power returns. So does sanity. They go their separate ways except…he can’t get her out of his head. Madelyn is haunting him, and Smith already has more than enough ghosts dodging his steps. But he goes back to her, helpless against a desire that won’t end, just in time to save her from a vicious attack. He never knew her at all. Madelyn’s whole life has been a lie. A carefully orchestrated cover to protect her from the monster in her past. Only now that monster has found her once more. Protection from the past comes in a most unlikely form—the ever so sarcastic and far too sexy Smith. Former Special Ops, Smith is vicious, deadly, and, quite possibly, the answer to her prayers. Needing him is dangerous. Falling for him? That’s so much worse. Madelyn is ready to stop the killer who has taken so much from her, but she can’t do it alone. She needs Smith’s help—Smith and the Ice Breakers, a diverse group of hunters who excel at solving cold cases. Madelyn has spent years pretending to be someone else, and Smith is her key to finally ending her nightmare. But ending that nightmare means returning to her blood-soaked past, fighting an enemy who thrives in the dark, and putting all of her faith in Smith’s callused hands. Her faith, and her heart. Because with every moment that passes, she finds herself starting to fall deeper and deeper for her unlikely hero…The bad boy from her youth is now the vicious protector who swears he will do anything to keep her safe. A cold case is about to get brought back to red-hot life as Madelyn and Smith team up to stop a killer. TRAPPED IN ICE is a steamy romance with twists, danger, and a hero who enjoys laughing in the face of danger. Smith is sarcastic, fierce, and totally about to fall for the good girl from his past. Years ago, Madelyn was always out of his reach—even as she starred in his fantasies—but this isn’t a fantasy any longer. She’s his now, and he will do whatever it takes to protect her. Buckle up and get ready for the ice to melt… By Cynthia Eden This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real people, places, or events are not intentional and are purely the result of coincidence. The characters, places, and events in this story are fictional. Copyright ©2023 by Cindy Roussos All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without the express written consent of the author except for the use of small quotes or excerpts used in book reviews. Copy-editing by: JRT Editing (build 1) Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page Trapped In Ice Prologue 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 Epilogue Author’s Note About The Author Prologue “Madelyn? Madelyn Lake? Yo, Madelyn!” A strong hand closed around her arm, pulling her to a stop. With her heart thundering in her ears, she swung to face— A handsome boy frowned at her. “Didn’t you hear me calling your name? Because I swear, I think I did it like fifty times.” Her breath shuddered out. “I—” Forgot. She was still getting used to that name, but she wasn’t supposed to say that to anyone. Another secret to keep. “You left your English book in class. I was just bringing it to you.” She saw that he was gripping her textbook in his right hand. His left still curled around her arm, and his touch felt funny. Like it made her skin too sensitive. Too hot. Too…something. Hurriedly, she jerked away from him. His brows immediately shot up. “Jeez. Get over yourself already. I’m not chasing you down to ask for a date.” Of course, not. Her heart needed to stop its crazy thundering, but when he’d grabbed her… Fear. Would she ever get over the fear? Her gaze darted around. She wasn’t trapped in some hell. Or, maybe she was. All about perspective, right? She stood in a bustling school hallway. Everyone wore the same preppy uniform. Her pleated skirt scratched a little over the tops of her thighs, and she could swear she felt everyone watching them. “I’m doing a good deed,” he growled. “Despite what you may have heard, I can do one. Occasionally.” He extended the book toward her. She reached out for it. Her fingers touched his and that crazy too hot, too sensitive, too…something feeling darted over her again. Her hand snatched back—with the book—as if she’d been burned. Giving a disgusted shake of his head, the boy turned away. “I haven’t heard anything about you.” The words rushed from her. “I don’t even know your name.” How could she? This was only her second day. Sure, yes, she’d met plenty of people, but their names were all blurs to her. This boy? With the thick, dark hair that fell rakishly over his forehead and his intense dark brown eyes…no, she didn’t remember him. Tall, with shoulders that were already plenty wide. He stared at her with a kind of knowing confidence, and she was— And I’m scared. But she was always scared. Her mother