by Tigris Eden
Table of Contents
Title Page
Praise for the Shadow Unit Series
Praise for Arctic Bound
Praise for Diamond
Copyright
Acknowledgements
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Epilogue
Other Titles by the Author:
About The Author
A GAME OF HEARTS
A February Indulgence
Praise for the Shadow Unit Series
“The Shadow Unit Series is an edge of your seat thrill ride full of steamy romance, conspiracy and best of all, hot shifters. A great series for any lover of the genre.” -Author S. Cu’Anam Policar.
“This was one of the best 2nd in a series books I think I have ever read. I have been waiting to see what happened with Jes and Draven, the hotness that is Royce and Ronin. Great Follow up. Great writing, can’t wait till the others come out!” –Tka3nme.
“Just when you think happily ever after there is another twist in the story that keeps you turning the page.” –1safelady.
“The Shadow Unit Series is intense, gritty and HOT HOT HOT!!!” –Viki Sloboda.
“Intrigue, love and action make an irresistible read.” –Vondetta Carter
“Once you start reading them you can’t put them down until you’re finished. Then you are anxiously waiting for the next.” –Barb A.
“Shadow Unit Series is an emotional, raw, sexy, action packed paranormal fabulousness that sucks you in from page one. You will cry, laugh, and blush throughout the series and burn for more.” –Indy Book Fairy
“Hunky men, steamy scenes, romance and a touch of the paranormal. What more can you ask for? It’s all here in the Shadow Unit.” –Jennifer Ballam.
“The Shadow Unit series is an edge of your seat mix of adventure and romance that will leave the readers wanting more!” –Ty Langston, Author of Decadent Dreams
Praise for Arctic Bound
“Arctic Bound is meltingly passionate and explosively sexy! Ms. Eden brings us an amazing story. Arctic Bound kept me guessing! Doesn’t happen often but I was stunned speechless a few times with plot twists I never saw coming.” –Bitten by Love Reviews
“I enjoyed Arctic Bound because of the heroine, she was no one’s push over. She was a fighter. There was passion, mystery and all kinds of paranormal creatures.” –Debra Crosby
“Do you want dark and brooding? Check. Do you want a heroine with a troubled past? Check. Do you want the leads to not be physically perfect? Partial check. Do you want your paranormal favorites in one place? Huge Check!” –Jenny
“I love Tigris Eden as an author and here’s why, she puts everything I want in a book without it being too much. I am a huge fan of adding diversity into books and Tigris delivers.” –Reese’s Book reviews
“The well-orchestrated events of this romance keep readers on the edge of their seats and ensure that the readers want to know everything. I was completely bewitched by the Arctic Wolves and their fascinating world and I can’t wait to read the next one.”– Evampire
Praise for Diamond
“My first book from this author and most certainly not my last. There are a lot of books available that claim to be dystopian with dark undertones but this book just knocked me for six! I wasn't quite sure what to expect but whatever it was it most certainly wasn't this. I read the synopsis and thought alrighty then futuristic sci fi with a mysterious heroine and the stereo typical alpha male. Can I state here and now that this book seems to have a life of its own and if it's a romance you seek then perhaps you will scream but if you want to get knocked on your (no doubt) shapely behind then this book deserves to be read!” – Marta Cox
“I feel like if I just write WOW! that will cover the review, yet I know I need to provide more than one word.
Let’s begin with the official stuff, I was provided a copy of Diamond in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley. the cover drew me in; I mean seriously; this has to be one of the best covers I’ve seen in a long time. Once I read the book, it ultimately NAILED the female protagonist, Nadya.
I have been drawn to post-apocalyptic stories for a while and read so many. This is a world where every breath is a fight, water is scarce, and food… Well, what do people do when food runs low? It’s savage, raw, and depicts a nightmare world. The imagery was brutal yet so realistic; I was thankful for my fresh glass of water.” –Boundless Book Reviews
A Game of Hearts
Copyright © 2017 Tigris Eden
Cover Design: Dar Albert Wicked Smart Designs
Editor: Chelle Olson
Proofed: Paige Prince
Published by: Kats Kreative Ideas
ISBN-13: 978-1-63587-577-5
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the work of the author's imagination, or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.
[email protected]
Houston, Texas
www.authortigriseden.com
Acknowledgements
To you, the READER… THANK YOU for reading my words and enjoying my stories. It means the world to me that you welcome me into your reading device on a regular basis.
As always, a big thank you to God. Without him nothing is possible.
Dedication
To anyone who has ever been in love with their best friend. I hope you found what you were looking for. I know I did.
Chapter 1
Zori
“Paige, what the hell am I supposed to do now?”
One of my friends, Paige Prince, was ear-deep in my ongoing drama with Clinton, my douche-bag ex, who had not only broken up with me on our anniversary but also had the balls to tell me I wasn’t refined enough for him. What a joke. Me, not refined enough for him. Yeah, right. That was laughable. But as I tried to bolster my emotions, I was suddenly overtaken by the thought that once again, I was single.
I had been with Clinton for almost three years. We’d met at work. The law firm, Magalla and Carver, where Clinton Melon—yes, melon is his last name, but it’s pronounced like the city, Milan—was an up-and-coming attorney. I knew, I shouldn’t have gotten involved with someone in the workplace, but I worked for one of the partners, Mr. Carver, as his executive assistant, and had for more than three years. So when Clinton had walked in the door, I was hesitant at first, but he’d kept pursuing me.
Some said we were oil and water, but I’d set out to prove them wrong. Just because we weren’t on the same level financially didn’t mean we couldn’t have things in common. I’d even planned to surprise him with a weeklong getaway to an exclusive island. A vacation I had pinched and scrimped for. Like, didn’t get
my mani-pedis for almost six months, and cut out my daily trip to Starbucks kind of save. While taking on a second job to boot. Just so I could foot the bill in its entirety for the trip.
Some guy named Aragon owned the island, and it was rumored that all your fantasies could come true there. My dreams were simple. I just wanted Clinton to propose. I wanted the ring, the house, and the safety that came with all that Clinton had to offer.
“I don’t know what to say, Zori. I could have told you Clinton McScumbag was indeed a…well, a scumbag. I thought the resort accommodations were non-refundable?”
“They are. Which is why I’m in a panic. Who’s gonna go with me now?”
Paige huffed over the phone as if she tried to come up with a solution to my problem. “You could always go by yourself? Meet someone on the island.”
I could, but then I’d be out eight hundred dollars. That could have been my feet, hair, nails, and decent food. Instead, I’d chosen to be a dumbass and purchased tickets for a romantic getaway that turned out to be pointless. I mean, what kind of person breaks things off on their three-year anniversary? Clinton does, apparently.
The door to the office opened, and I quickly told Paige I’d have to call her back. I was still at work, and although Mr. Carver didn’t mind me being on the phone, I didn’t want to take advantage of his kindness. Besides, he’d let me work from home the last three days. I needed the break. Clinton still walked these halls, and if the rumor circulating was true, he was up for partner. Which, in retrospect, explained a lot. A whole lot. Mierda.
“Ms. Lemes, I need you to schedule the conference room. Make it tomorrow at nine. Be sure to include Magalla and Melon on the invite list, would you? Also, have Rhonda from Human Resources, and Kent from In-House Legal there please.”
“Yes, sir.”
Mr. Carver had always been an efficient boss. He’d never once made me feel inadequate. Not like my previous employer, who would stare at my boobs constantly or make lewd remarks about my ass, while never giving me any praise on my actual work. Davis Carver wasn’t old either, probably mid-thirties at the most, and he wasn’t bad to look at—black hair, silver-grey eyes, and a body built for sin. He obviously kept himself in shape. But he was a perpetual bachelor.
After making some calls, I found that all parties were available to attend at nine and scheduled the room. This must be Clinton’s moment to shine. As if I’d summoned the devil himself from the pits of his fiery hell, he walked over to my desk with a smirk on his face.
“Zori, can you tell Mr. Carver that I’ll be about five minutes late to my appointment tomorrow?”
I wanted to turn up my lip at Clinton, but I didn’t. I was in my place of business, and I refused to let him get the best of me. Not here. Not now. Not…ever. So I tilted up my head as I typed on the keyboard. My nails clacking away, I smiled sweetly. “Yes, of course, Mr. Melon.” I purposely pronounced it the way it was spelled. His scowl of irritation was evident.
“One more thing, if you have a moment, Zori.”
I was back to staring at my monitor, but I acknowledged the prick. “Yes?”
“I want to buy those tickets off you. I know you could use the money.”
I lost it.
Did he think I was gonna let him buy my tickets so that he could take whatever woman he had dangling on the side?
“For your information, I don’t need the money, and I’m already going with someone else. So there’s no need for you to do me any favors.”
“Oh, really? You’ve jumped back into the game that quickly?”
He didn’t know if I had or hadn’t, and it was none of his business.
“How about you let me worry about my affairs, and you worry about yours.”
Clinton leaned forward with a sneer on his face at the word affair. “Are you saying you were seeing some other man behind my back?”
What I should have done was lie through my teeth, but I didn’t get the chance. Mr. Carver came out of his office with a scowl on his face. “Clinton, is there something I can help you with?”
“Ah, no, sir. I was just chatting with Zori here about the meeting tomorrow. I’ll be about five minutes late.”
“Why?”
I shouldn’t want to know the answer, but I didn’t move just the same. Not that I should have moved, but I knew how Mr. Carver was. He expected an answer—though not for my benefit, or even his. He was pissed--most likely because he thought what I did: Clinton thought he had a pair. A huge pair. Thought he could dictate things. But one didn’t show up to meetings late when both partners were in attendance.
“My fiancée needs a ride to the airport.”
His fiancée? Since when?
Clinton and I had only been broken up for a week! Which meant the fucker had been seeing someone behind my back the entire time. And if that weren’t enough, he’d just tried to call me out as if I were the one who fucked up the relationship. Insinuated that I was the one cheating.
Clinton had had no problems listing all the reasons we couldn’t be together when he’d broken it off. The partnership being one of them. He’d also said something about my family being too “Spanish,” and that my name was hard to say unless shortened. How is someone too much of something they were born to be? I was Cuban American. So the hell what? My parents immigrated when I was still in the womb, but everything about my family said we were Cuban. From the cute little house my parents bought a couple of years back with its colorful kitchen, to the yard decorations, to my mother’s incessant need to feed the entire neighborhood her signature ropa vieja or carne asada or fresh empanadas… Yum. Nope, I wasn’t ashamed one bit.
“Haven’t you heard of Uber?” Mr. Carver asked. His voice was tight, and his facial expression conveyed his irritation with Clinton.
“Yes, sir, but Mandy and I haven’t had a lot of time to spend with each other. She’s been away in the UK for almost three months.”
Yeah, the snake was a fucking douche nozzle to be sure.
“I don’t care, Mr. Melon. Work it out. My time is money, and I’m not losing out because you want to be five minutes late because of your girlfriend.”
Well. That said it all.
I loved my boss, and if he weren’t my boss, I’d probably think he was perfect for me. Not that I’d be his type. Mr. Carver only dated blondes. He had a preference.
“Zori, have you had lunch yet?”
“No, sir.”
“Great, let’s go.”
The man was made of awesome sunshine and amazing rainbows.
We left Clinton staring off into space without a backward glance.
* * *
Mr. Carter and I went to the local Cuban restaurant, Flor De Cuba. It was the most authentic Cuban food I could get outside of my mother’s kitchen, and it felt like home. Even my parents loved the place, which said a lot. Mom criticized everything. Right down to my outfit of choice when I went to work.
“Zori,” my boss said softly.
“Yes. sir.”
“Cut the sir crap, you can call me Davis.”
“All right, Davis.”
I smiled his way, but it wasn’t flirting, it just felt weird calling him by his first name.
“You can do way better than what you’re doing. You know that, right?”
I had no idea what he was talking about.
“Excuse me?”
“Clinton,” he said with no pretense.
I’d had no idea he referred to Clinton. I didn’t even know he knew about us…we’d been so careful. There wasn’t a policy at work that said we couldn’t date fellow employees, but I knew it was an unspoken law that those in higher positions shouldn’t fraternize with coworkers not their equal—at least in position or pay. I was just Mr. Carver’s administrative assistant. Clinton was an actual lawyer.
My eyes went wide when Davis placed his hand over mine, shaking his head. “Don’t worry, Zori, it’s okay. I don’t blame you at all. Next time, just make smarter choices. Clinton is all
about perfection and influence. He’s not someone who can see past the things that aren’t important and glimpse the heart of a person.”
Davis, the perpetual bachelor, was giving me advice. Interesting. I hadn’t realized he paid that much attention to me.
“Thanks for the heads up, Mr. Car—er, Davis, but I can handle this. I just need to figure out what to do with the rest of my life now.”
I had put all of my eggs into the Clinton basket when I should have been out there, surveying all that Houston had to offer.
“You’re still young; you have a lot of time left to find someone special. Don’t block your blessings. There could be someone already there, waiting for their chance, and you dating Clinton screwed that up.”
The conversation had taken a whole new turn, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. I never got the chance to question him about what he meant, though, because our waitress appeared to take our order.
“Que bolaita, acere?” It was Rosa. We went way back. Like way back. My parents and hers came over to the States at the same time.
“Hey, Rosa, I’m excellent. How’s the family?”
Rosa raised a brow at my brush-off. I hadn’t responded back in Spanish, which meant she had something to say. She spoke perfect English, but if she didn’t want a non-Spanish-speaking person getting the heads-up on what she had to say, she reverted to her native tongue. I wasn’t in the mood for her antics.
“Family is good, but, what gives?”
Davis watched our exchange and said nothing.
