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Knowing Vera

by Rachelle Ayala

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Vera's dating Zach, casually, not committed, when she discovers her long-departed father is the killer of Zach's mother many years ago.

Meanwhile, Zach reevaluates his life after losing his leg in a tragic accident and realizes he's falling in love with Vera.

Can their timing be so wrong? Vera knows the relationship is doomed, but she cannot resist the tugging of her heart and Zach's panty-melting grin.

Caught in a web of family secrets and hidden agendas, Vera and Zach must depend on each other for survival. A dangerous killer is on the loose, and Vera must find the truth, wherever it leads, even if it destroys her chance for love forever.

Knowing Vera is a suspenseful, cross-cultural romance mixing an unsolved murder, adventure, and hot, steamy love scenes.

An excerpt from

Knowing Vera

Prologue

March 1991, San Francisco, CA

“Papa, are we there yet?” Seven-year-old Vera Custodio yawned and hugged her stuffed bear, Bing-Bing. The lights on the Golden Gate Bridge glowed orange in the night sky. In the distance, a foghorn bellowed like a sick cow.

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Vera watched the rain dribble down the side of the car window. Her stomach growled and she shivered. Mama would have made her put on a jacket.

“Papa?” She picked crusted blood from her fingernails. “I wanna go home.”

“Hun-Hun, almost there.” Her father braked and slowed to a stop. Horns blared, and their car shook from the passing traffic.

“Why are we stopping on the bridge?” Vera tapped the back of the driver’s seat with her toe.

“There’s a small emergency. Will you be a good girl and stay in the car? Papa has to look at something.” He grabbed a backpack from the passenger seat, opened the door narrowly and stepped into the rain.

The motor was still running and the twin wiper blades jittered back and forth. Her father crossed in front of the car and lifted the hood. A truck barreled by on the left, its deep horn blasting.

Vera unfastened her seatbelt and pressed her nose to the window. Instead of fixing the car, Papa crossed to the pedestrian walkway. He walked past an emergency telephone and leaned over the railing.

“Wait! Papa!” Vera dashed from the car and chased after him.

He turned and held a hand out. “I told you to stay in the car.”

“But Papa, I love you.” Vera clamped her arms around his legs.

He picked her up and kissed her cheek. “I love you, too. Go back to the car. Remember, you didn’t see anything.”

“Is she dead?”

“Shhh. It wasn’t real. You had a nightmare. Sit in the car and wait for Mama.”

“I don’t want to.” Vera held on to her father’s neck. She peered over the rail at the dark water below. Wind whipped her wet hair into her face, blinding her for a moment.

“Let go.” He pried her arms and dropped her to the sidewalk, then slapped her. “I told you to stay in the car.”

“Ow, ow!” Vera gasped, not believing he’d hurt her. Hadn’t he told her she was his special girl? That he loved her best?

He swung a leg over the rail.

“Papa, I love you!” She grabbed his trousers, her stuffed bear dangling between them.

Heavy footsteps pounded toward them.

“Get off that rail,” a man’s voice shouted and rough hands pulled Vera from her father.

“Papa!”

“Tell Mama I love her.” He dropped over the edge.

Author Bio

Rachelle Ayala is the author of three romantic novels. Michal's Window is a powerful, emotional journey as lived through the eyes of Princess Michal, King David's first wife. Broken Build is a story of healing where a man learns to love and trust the woman who destroyed his life. Finally, Hidden Under Her Heart is a heartfelt love story mixed with controversy over difficult decisions.

Rachelle is currently working on a romantic suspense involving family secrets, disability, and an unsolved murder. She is a very happy woman and lives in California with her husband. She has three children and has taught violin and made mountain dulcimers.

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