Tran is asking for the release of Dr. Ruffin, the developer of a mind-controlling designer drug. Since Dr. Ruffin is much too important, the CIA is not willing to make the trade, so Rocco vows to rescue Maddy on his own.

Rocco's previous boss, Travis Frank, steps in and takes over Maddy's rescue operation, Rocco doesn't know it, but Travis has feelings for Maddy. Travis tells Rocco he has a more immediate mission. Tran, they assume, has tried to get to Rocco's sister, and has made an attempt at Gena's life causing the death of a young woman. Rocco must go to Texas to get Gena and bring her back to a safe house.

Gena Armstrong is working hard at completing a women's shelter in Sugar Springs, Texas. Juveniles have already damaged the property once and Gena has repaired the damage with her own funds in the hope of meeting the code deadline so the shelter can open. She once was in love with Rocco, but he broke her heart. After a misguided marriage and eventual divorce, she is working hard to turn her life around. Going back home to Texas has allowed her to do so.

Even though Rocco arrives in Texas and tries to convince Gena she needs to stay with him, she is traumatized that a woman has died because someone is out to get Rocco and has targeted her. She goes out on her own, gets kidnapped but manages to get away. Then Rocco arrives and she finally agrees to go with him.

They now know there is an internal leak at the agency who has been feeding Rocco's business to the enemy. Rocco and Gena go off the grid while Travis works frantically to rescue Maddy from Tran. While working on the issues of the pasts, Rocco and Gena realize Tran must have a partner because activities are happening in the U.S. while Tran has Maddy in Thailand. A determined man is closing in on them and Rocco and Gena's tangled past becomes a bomb about to explode.

DEADLY GAMES is full of twists and turns as the characters try to sort out who they can trust. This second story in a trilogy by Cate Noble continues the gripping theme surrounding devastating life-changing results with mind- control drugs. The intense pain suffered by the characters is emotionally drawn out to a satisfying conclusion. I excitedly recommend Ms. Noble's DEADLY GAMES.

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