Book excerpt: Stephanie Warren doesn't believe in the Fountain of Youth until she inherits it. Only then does she discover that beauty can be deadly, that there are those willing to kill for such a formula. Fresh out of college, this would-be writer is no match for hired assassins. Quinton Cooper, a homicide detective, is Stephanie's best chance for survival. Because of past experiences, neither welcomes this close relationship, but thrust into a web of greed, betrayal, and sordid liaisons, they realize their survival depends on trusting one another. While Stephanie escapes several near-fatal encounters, bodies of would-be murderers continue to mount. Under fire and in the midst of a hurricane, an elusive culprit makes his move. Quinton takes a bullet in the back. Now it's up to Stephanie to save them.