{"product_id":"covert-game-isbn-9780451490117","title":"Covert Game","description":"\u003cb\u003eTreason, torture and temptation haunt the GhostWalkers in their most dangerous adventure yet, as Christine Feehan's #1\u003ci\u003e New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling series hits an explosive new high.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRescuing an industrial spy from the hands of a criminal mastermind is a suicide mission for the GhostWalkers. And there's no one more up to the task than Gino Mazza. He's the perfect killing machine--a man driven by demons so dark and destructive that his blighted soul has given up trying to find solace. But his laser-sharp focus on his target has transformed into something nearing desire.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA treasonous senator dangled top secret GhostWalker data in front of a Chinese crime lord, and he bit. Zara Hightower, one of the world's leading experts on artificial intelligence, was sent in to psychically wipe the crime lord's computer network. She succeeded, but at a huge cost. Now she's the captive of a man who has descended into paranoid madness. Torture and death await her... \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut GhostWalkers never leave one of their own in enemy territory. And it's up to Gino to save Zara, or kill her if it turns out she's led them into a trap. Either way, heaven or hell won't stop him...\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003ePower Game\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “Lucky number 13 in Feehan’s contemporary paranormal romance Ghostwalker series is packed with heart-pounding action and toe-curling heat.”—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Confrontations with old enemies and the discovery of potential new ones throws another big complication into the lives of Feehan’s latest protagonists and all of the allied GhostWalkers. One of the key reasons why Feehan’s GhostWalkers series is so outstanding is its overarching theme of outsiders learning how to trust, love and build relationships. Paranormal romance at its best!”—\u003ci\u003eRT Book Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e (4½ stars, Top Pick)\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “This well-balanced hero is a treat for readers looking for a bad-boy alpha with a dash of sweetness.”—\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “Probably the most action-packed, exciting installment I’ve read in the GhostWalker series so far...Things are only getting more interesting for the GhostWalkers and where Christine Feehan will take us from here is anyone’s guess.”—Harlequin Junkie\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eMore Praise for Christine Feehan and the\u003ci\u003e New York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling GhostWalker novels\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “The queen of paranormal romance! I love everything she does.”—J. R. Ward, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Romance, suspense, danger, action-packed excitement, hot hot men, and on top of all that, a couple that sizzles all throughout the book...Sexy as hell.”—The Reading Cafe\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “I cannot wait to see where Ms. Feehan takes us next.”—Fresh Fiction\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Packed with adventure...Not only is this a thriller, the sensual scenes rival the steaming bayou. A perfect 10.”—Romance Reviews Today\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “One of the best storytellers around!”—\u003ci\u003eRT Book Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Sultry and suspenseful...swift-moving and sexually charged.”—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eChristine Feehan\u003c\/b\u003e is the #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of the Carpathian series, the GhostWalker series, the Leopard series, the Shadow Riders series, and the Sea Haven novels, including the Drake Sisters series and the Sisters of the Heart series.1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Zara Hightower stepped into the town car with tinted windows,      sliding along the leather seat, positioning her briefcase at her      feet on the floor. She gave the man who slid in beside her a small      smile and looked out the window, ignoring the way her heart wanted      to accelerate. It was always this moment, when she was so close to      her goal, when her body wanted to betray her. She never let it.      Never. She was very, very good at staying in control. Breathing.      Keeping her heart rate perfect, adrenaline at bay.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The car moved forward, and her head went up alertly. \"Wait. I need      my interpreter. She always travels with me.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The car kept moving. The man beside her, Heng Zhang, turned his      head and gave her a small, polite smile. \"Miss Hightower, you do      not need an interpreter. I speak English.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm aware that you do, Mr. Zhang, but I require my own      interpreter. I made that very clear to Mr. Cheng when he invited      me. I was given assurances when I agreed to speak with his people.      I've turned down his request four times, and will do so this time      as well if you don't stop this car immediately, turn it around and      get her.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She kept her voice smooth and even. She had a certain reputation      to uphold. She never lost her temper. She never raised her voice.      She was always polite. She cut people down sweetly, so sweetly      they almost didn't realize at first that she was telling them off.      She was an expert at that as well. Seeing as how she was      considered one of the world's leading minds in the field of      artificial intelligence, those around her should expect that she      could hold her own with anyone, but they always took one look at      her and judged on appearances. Like now. Zhang made the mistake of      looking her up and down and giving her a look that said she was      nothing in his eyes before turning away from her and looking out      the window.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In her head, she went through the moves that would end his life      and then the driver's. She would use one hard-edged chop to the      throat, hard enough to drive through the trachea. Or she could      just scratch his arm accidentally. Smile and apologize. Then, when      he slumped on the seat, for good measure she could follow up by      taking his gun and shooting the driver in the back of the head,      shooting Zhang to be certain and then taking control of the car.      One, maybe two seconds was all she'd need.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Zara sat very still, appearing as she always did. She looked like      a beautiful model with her long legs, oval face, flawless skin,      large slate blue eyes and long red gold hair that fell down her      back, thick and unusual, sheets of it falling below her waist,      looks that most reporters ended up commenting on when they should      be listening to what she had to say. Still, her looks enabled her      to get her work done. She shouldn't complain. It was her looks      that often kept her alive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She turned her head and looked out the window, resisting the      impulse to kill Zhang for his smug, superior attitude. They      probably had a camera on her. She let her mind drift, uncaring of      the direction they were taking her. She knew where Cheng's lair      was. He was famous in the district, his building a fortress. The      government tolerated him because he paid them well and gave them      all sorts of reasons to keep him protected. Cheng bought and sold      secrets and shared them often enough with the government to buy      their protection.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Once at the facility, the car pulled into the underground parking      garage, went through three guard stations and pulled right up to a      private elevator. Zhang got out first and went around to her door.      For a split second, Zara debated whether or not to have it out      with them right there in the parking lot by refusing to move from      the car. She knew they would force her, but she also knew they      wouldn't kill her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Cheng needed her. He wanted the information she had. He had kept      doubling the price each time she refused to come to his private      facility to give her talk on the VALUE system, as she called her      project, and its uses in the business world. He thought he had      bought her with his more than generous offer, the one that would      set her up for life if she accepted it-or get her killed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She slid out of the car without looking left or right, and      followed Zhang into the elevator. Neither spoke as they were      whisked up to the middle floor where Cheng waited for her. She was      stopped as she stepped off. Two guards with automatic weapons took      her briefcase and pointed to a door. She stepped through it into a      narrow cubicle. Immediately her entire body was scanned for      listening devices, weapons and cameras, anything that might harm      Cheng in any way.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Zara knew Cheng was paranoid, and deservedly so. He had his hand      in every criminal activity around the globe that had to do with      running guns, drugs or political secrets. He had top minds working      for him developing all kinds of weapons that he sold on the black      market. What he didn't develop, he stole. She knew every paper in      her briefcase would be scanned and copied before it was returned      to her. She'd come prepared for just such a thing. Those papers      were \"encrypted.\" No one could break the code because there wasn't      one. In reality, the code was nothing but sheer gibberish, but it      would give Cheng's people something to keep them busy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She was taken from the cubicle and marched through an open floor      where there were several desks leading the way to Cheng's office.      He stood in the doorway, all smiles, as if she should be pleased      to meet him even though he'd broken their rules.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Miss Hightower, how good of you to come,\" he greeted.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She stopped moving a few feet from his office, forcing Zhang and      the two guards to stop as well. \"My interpreter?\" She didn't      smile. She kept her gaze fixed on Cheng without blinking,      something she'd practiced for a long time. She was very good at      it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm sorry.\" Cheng didn't sound in the least remorseful. \"You must      understand I have many enemies. I don't, as a rule, allow any      outsider into these facilities. There are always industrial spies.      We won't need an interpreter.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Stubbornly she didn't move an inch. \"Don't you think you should      have let me know you changed the conditions? I'm uncomfortable      without her. When I come to Shanghai, I always use her and have      grown used to her.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Cheng stepped back to clear his doorway, waving toward his office.      \"Please come in, Miss Hightower. My staff has made you tea, which      I believe is your favorite drink.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She stood for several seconds, letting them all worry. Zhang      stepped close to her. \"Miss Hightower.\" He waved toward the      office.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She looked at him coolly. Haughtily. Every bit as arrogant as his      boss. \"I'm deciding. I added this additional talk to my agenda,      and as you both are aware, I've had a very tight and exhausting      schedule. I did this as a courtesy. I don't need the money. To      have your boss break his word so quickly is disconcerting to say      the least.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Zhang switched instantly to his native language. \"Do you want me      to take her up to the interrogation room? Bolan Zhu can extract      the information you require from her.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Cheng shook his head, a small, humorless smile on his mouth, one      that reminded Zara of a cold-blooded reptile. \"Don't be so      bloodthirsty, Heng. She will cooperate.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I apologize again, Miss Hightower.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I dislike others speaking in a language I can't understand,\" Zara      said, still not moving. She had understood every word they said.      Her resume never stated that she was gifted in languages. That was      kept a secret for instances just like this one. She admitted to      knowing a few pertinent words in the languages of countries she      traveled to often, but was careful not to let on that she      understood without her interpreter. Her heart had jumped at the      name Bolan Zhu. He was extremely good at torturing people.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Zhang was only asking after your comfort. We knew you would have      trouble without your interpreter, so we tried to think of other      ways that would assure you would enjoy your visit with us,\" Cheng      lied smoothly. \"We thought a tour of our labs was in order.      Understand, this is a great privilege, one not extended often.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e As in never. A tendril of unease slid through her. He wanted her      evaluation. She understood that. He wanted to hear what she was      doing in her chosen field of expertise. She understood that too.      She had the feeling that seeing his labs, especially his      computers, the ones that stored all that data, the secrets he      blackmailed or paid others to get so he could sell out      countries-including his own-to the highest bidder, would earn her      a bullet in the brain.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She kept her eyes steady on Cheng's face. Zhang didn't matter. He      would carry out his boss's orders, but he wouldn't act on his own.      He didn't take her as a threat.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Miss Hightower, I realize the circumstances are unusual, but if      you would just come into my office and hear me out, I would      appreciate it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She felt Zhang stiffen beside her. He didn't like his boss asking.      He was used to the man ordering others and if they didn't obey,      punishment was swift and brutal. The fact that she was a woman and      an American probably offended him even more. Deliberately she made      certain to stand as tall as possible so she could tower over      Zhang. He was particularly short, and she knew it irritated him      that she was tall. Cheng was the same height as she was in her      heels.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Zara flashed Cheng a small smile and walked past him into the      spacious office. She took the chair he indicated and sank into it,      deliberately crossing her legs. Zhang didn't like her, but he      appreciated her looks. Doing the leg thing always kept others from      thinking she was brilliant. She'd found out that most people      didn't think looks and brains could go hand in hand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Cheng seated himself across from her, not behind his desk, clearly      trying to create a much friendlier atmosphere. He picked up a file      and scanned it quickly. \"This is very impressive. I see you went      to MIT as an undergrad and then got your PhD at Stanford in      Computer Science. Your subfield is machine learning?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He made it a question, but Zara didn't respond. Instead she looked      slightly bored. She was really good at that particular look as      well. She'd perfected that and the wide-eyed innocent look she was      certain she was going to need very soon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I see you teach at Rutgers University. Why not private business?      You could make a lot more money.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She shrugged. \"Money bores me. I realize it makes the world go      around, but I don't spend much time in the real world, Mr. Cheng.      My mind prefers other pursuits.\" Which she supposed was the strict      truth. She didn't think about money because she didn't have to.      She thought about other things like life and death. Like survival.      \"I spend most of my time working on things others don't      understand, and that's all right. My programs, hopefully, will be      a contribution to the world.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"There isn't a lot here about your earlier life.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She frowned at him. \"What does my earlier life have to do with my      work?\" She kept her voice mild, as if barely interested. She kept      her heartbeat the exact same rhythm, and that took just a little      extra work, but she knew it was possible her vitals were being      monitored just by her sitting in the chair he'd chosen for her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I like to know everything about anyone I do business with.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm not a businesswoman, Mr. Cheng. I lecture. I get paid to      lecture. I give talks on exciting new breakthroughs in the world      of artificial intelligence. That's what I thought you wanted from      me, and knowing anything other than my credentials is not really      helpful. I can assure you, my credentials speak for me. I'm      regarded as one of the leading experts in AI and machine learning.      I thought you were aware of that.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm very aware of that, Miss Hightower,\" Cheng assured. \"It's      just that you're far younger than I thought you'd be. I noted your      age, of course, but thought it was a typo.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His gaze flicked several times to Zhang, and more than ever she      was certain they were somehow determining if she was lying or not.      She liked cat-and-mouse games. She was good at them. She was      fairly certain his secretary, or whoever prepared the report on      her, wouldn't dare give him a report with a typo. His secretary      wouldn't survive the hour.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"My age does sometimes give people pause, but I graduated with      honors, I assure you,\" she said with a small shrug as if she      didn't care whether he believed her or not. She uncrossed her legs      to switch them, drawing their attention immediately. Once      comfortable, she moved her foot, clad in a sexy blue high heel to      match the blue jacket she wore, around in lazy circles. That      always seemed to mesmerize males. It worked with Zhang, but not      with Cheng.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You disappear for long periods of time.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He made it a statement so she smiled sweetly at him as if waiting      for a question, making him ask.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He sighed. \"Where do you go?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She shook her head. \"I don't really think what I do in my downtime      is any of your business.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You're more of a consulting professor for Rutgers. I want to know      where you go, Miss Hightower. You're asking me to trust you around      my researchers.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She stopped the lazy circles, planted both feet solidly on the      floor and leaned toward him. \"Let's get something straight, Mr.      Cheng. I'm doing you the favor, not the other way around. I said      no over and over. I made it clear I wasn't interested in your      money. You may think I agreed to speak to your people because the      money was too good to pass up, but it was because you intrigued      me. You were that persistent. I thought the research mattered to      you. If you keep insisting on playing this silly game, I would      very much like you to ask your driver to return me to my hotel.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Have I offended you with my questions?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Zhang interrupted, once again in his language. \"Let me take her to      the interrogation room, Mr. Cheng.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That's it.\" Zara stood up, glaring at Zhang. \"I can't believe how      rude you're being when you invited me here. Please return my      briefcase and escort me down to the car.\"","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46301123674341,"sku":"NP9780451490117","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780451490117.jpg?v=1767724194","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/covert-game-isbn-9780451490117","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}