Book excerpt: This is Susan Mauro's story; a tale of deceit that began after the homicide of a teenage witness under her protection. It is about her struggle to forget the terrible events that led to divorce and her efforts to keep her ex-husband out of her new life...and how she failed to accomplish either of these things because of the unexpected and fatal interference of one individual. The story opens as Susan prepares to sever the last tie to Scott and the past they shared. Suddenly people are murdered. The victims have one thing in common - Susan, an undercover policewoman who witnesses claim is responsible. In a heartbeat she's trapped on the ride of her life — a roller coaster out of control - accused of murder and the pawn in a demented game. After years of building walls to protect her privacy, she becomes the focus of everyone's attention - a vengeful motorcycle gang, her friends and fellow officers. Desperate to save herself, Susan flees to Montescaglioso and the safety of the family fortress in the hills of Italy only to be drawn back to America by another family legacy that changed her life in ways that no one would have expected.