Havana: Top Secret
by David Pereda, Published May 2009

Prominent Miami plastic surgeon Raymond Peters is still grieving over the loss of his wife, Rebbie, when his childhood friend Pepe Orozco, whom he hasn't seen or heard from in thirty years, reappears in his life with a shocking secret. Sonia, the teen-age sweetheart Raymond left behind in Cuba, was pregnant. Their son is terminally ill and wants to meet his father. Raymond travels to Cuba and finds himself immersed in a conspiracy with far-reaching political implications. He's really in Havana to perform plastic surgery on Castro and Pepe to switch their identities. Raymond can trust no one, including the alluring Sonia with whom he's rekindled a passionate romance. With his life and heart on the line, Raymond is forced to perform the surgery and escape Cuba. The question is: how?

"...the audience was hanging on the story, and the reading, and the man himself. I can't wait for his next two books." Read more>>
— Moss Bliss, editor
Eternal Press

"If you love Cuba, political intrigue and clandestine government operations, you’ll love Havana, Top Secret."
— Rob Sequin,  
Havana Journal

"The novel is a neat read ... this is an adventure appealing to both male and female readers alike."
— Wil Hough,
Roses and Thorn Reviews

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ROMANCE |  Sonia moved closer to him. He felt her body heat. She looked him in the eye.

“Make love to me,” she whispered. "I've waited thirty years for this moment."

     His heart tried to hammer its way out of his rib cage. The nape of his neck was aflame. My blood pressure must be a thousand, he thought fleetingly. Then Sonia's lips were warm and moist, and her tongue was probing and daring at the same time.
He closed his eyes and responded to her kiss, letting himself go. He felt the hardened tips of her breasts pressing against his chest, and the incredible heat generated by his own loins and hers.

     They were teenagers again, crazy with unrestrained passion and untried love. They wrenched their clothes off their bodies and fell to the ground intertwined in a desperate embrace. An exquisite myriad of fireworks exploded in Raymond's head. As they coupled, fused into one, he released his entire being to an overwhelmingly powerful and passionate intensity he had long forgotten...

---

INTRIGUING | “That was uncomfortable,” Raymond said. “And the sugar business? What was that all about?”

“My cover, Ramon. Everyone in Cuba might suspect I’m with the CIA, but I still need a cover. I buy sugar for a Mexican consortium. Actually, I’ve gotten pretty good at it considering I didn’t know anything about sugar when I started.”

“I must admit I’m impressed. There’s never a dull moment with you, it seems. One moment you’re with the CIA, and the next you’re a sugar buyer for a Mexican group.”

“You know who that major was?” Pepe said.

“No,” Raymond answered. “But he sure asked a lot of questions.”

“He’s the head of national security, reporting directly to Raul Castro.”

“What?” Raymond stopped abruptly, and a woman following behind slammed into him. She was blonde, shapely and was wearing tight white shorts. Out of the corner of his eye, Raymond saw her dive into the mass of humanity and vanish. She reminded him of Sonia. “He’s what?”

“Keep walking.” Pepe yanked his arm. “I don’t know what Major Teceira was doing here. Maybe he was checking airport operations. Or maybe he was checking you out.”

“Me?” Raymond’s stomach contracted into tight, cold knots. “Why me?”

     Pepe didn’t answer. He charged ahead in silence, his head rotating like a lighthouse as his eyes scanned the crowd. Raymond’s heart beat like a high school band drum.

     When they stepped onto the sun-drenched sidewalk outside, Pepe stopped and said, “He’s Sonia’s husband.”

---

DANGEROUS |  Z was fast. The split second Marcela’s attention shifted, he moved. He rose as if on springs. Marcela saw the fist coming and tried to roll with the punch. His blow caught Marcela on the side of the head and left her ear ringing like church bells on Sunday. Luckily she’d managed to shift her head away enough not to get the full brunt of the punch. The man had heavy hands. Another blow like that and Marcela would be knocked out cold.

Marcela blocked Z’s left, which nearly broke the bone in her arm, and shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs. She slammed a foot into Z’s chest, but she wasn’t yet at full strength, and it only staggered him.

Time enough. She rolled on the ground and retrieved Z’s knife. When he threw his right cross at her, she slipped under it and placed the blade against his throat. Z stood rigid. “Now tell me, big man,” she said. “Who sent you?”

Z clamped his mouth shut with defiance. Marcela dug the blade deeper against his thick neck. Blood tinted the blade.

“Everyone deserves a second chance,” Marcela said. “So I’m going to give you a second chance. But this is your final chance. You don’t talk.” Marcela pressed the blade deeper into Z’s neck for emphasis, and blood started gushing. “You’ll never talk again.” She took a deep breath. “Who sent you?”

Z looked behind Marcela. He opened his mouth.

And then his face exploded.

---

EROTIC |  Wednesday was Chocolate Extravaganza Night. Marcela dipped the brush into the chocolate jar now, and a heady scent wafted in the air, making Marcela’s mouth water in anticipation. The mixture of smells caused by the rich chocolate and the aromatic candles burning brightly around the bedroom made her skin tingle. Marcela held the dripping brush between thumb and forefinger and straddled Cuca’s body tighter to make sure she wouldn’t move. Carefully, she painted a small heart around her erect right nipple.

“Hmmm,” Cuca purred with her eyes shut, stretching like a contented cat.

     Marcela finished painting another chocolate heart around Cuca’s left nipple and then traced a line from her neck to her belly button. Outside, the tide was rising, and the sound of waves crashing against the coast and rolling on the beach had increased to a persistent roar.

     She lowered her head and started licking the chocolate off Cuca’s body methodically, in the same order she’d applied it. First, she stroked the hearts, being careful not to touch the nipples, scooping the warm chocolate with the tip of her tongue. When she was satisfied that all the chocolate was gone from Cuca’s heaving breasts, she started working her way down the thick chocolate line, savoring the taste and the aroma, until she reached Cuca’s belly button.

     And then she stopped, taking in the scene, an artist watching her canvas. Cuca squirmed, breathing hard, her body flushed and covered with goose bumps.  Her back arched.

“Lower,” she moaned. “Please.”

Susan Blexrud, author of Love Fang, Fang Sui on May 31, 2009 at 12:17 PM said:

"In the vein of great suspense-thrillers, David Pereda upholds the genre with a Hispanic flair. If you like Harlan Coben, you're sure to enjoy David Pereda's fascinating take on a hired assassin, a kidnapped physician, a long-lost love, and Fidel Castro. Pereda imbues Castro with a personality that hits the bull's eye, and his characters keep you guessing as to their motives and their intent. Pereda's characters are flawed, yet sympathetic. Whose side is Pepe on? What part does El Jefe play? Will Marcela piece the puzzle together? Will Raymond and Mon reconcile? What's Teceira really up to? Surprise twists and turns infuse the plot to the very end. You won't be able to put it down, and you'll hope David Pereda has a sequel in store for his characters that prevail. Havana: Top Secret is a delightful read.

Vic DiGenti, author of the Windrusher trilogy on May 13, 2009 at 08:59 PM said:

"Hang on for a dangerous thrill ride overflowing with surprising twists and turns. David Pereda’s Havana: Top Secret goes down as effortlessly as a mojito—with the kick of a tropical hurricane. Filled with memorable characters, a plot so outrageous it could be true, and an island-full of deceit and intrigue. What more could a thriller reader ask?"

Bill Ballew, author and magazine editor on May 13, 2009 at 08:57 PM said:

"Outstanding ... the work of a professional novelist. Havana: Top Secret was a whirwind of activity, one of the fastest reads I've enjoyed in many moons. I thought the entire book was outstanding. The way the author was able to weave together the complex storyline was impressive. I compare it to a bowl of spaghetti, with the end result being all of the noodles in straight lines. I really liked the way the plot followed the paths of Raymond and Marcela and weaved the story from their separate points of view. All of the characters were well developed. And I loved the ending. After every superb cliffhanger at the end of each chapter, I kept telling myself I had to take a break; but I couldn't because of the excellent story telling."