by Shayla Black
“Or”—Logan cut in before Zy could push back—“Tessa.”
This shit again?
It was all he could do not to punch the asshole. “No. Fuck no. She’s the goddamn receptionist. She doesn’t have access to those secrets. She wasn’t even here in March when—”
“We didn’t think so, either. But now we’re rethinking.”
“Based on what? This is bullshit.”
“Shut up and listen,” Joaquin growled. “We’ve eliminated every other possibility. It’s either your bestie or your girl.”
“She’s not my girl.”
Logan rolled his eyes. “Oh, please. We all know you’re one bad decision away from breaking your contract…unless you already have and there’s something you want to tell us?”
“I haven’t touched her.”
The three of them exchanged another glance, then seemed to come to some silent conclusion he wasn’t privy to.
“Then here’s the deal: You’ve got two weeks to figure out which one of them is guilty or we’re letting both go.”
Zy’s heart stopped. “What?”
Hunter picked up where his brother left off. “We’re going to make it easier for you by sending Trees out of town. Invent a reason you need to stay at his place while he’s gone or something. Search it from top to bottom. If he’s got dirt, you need to hand it the fuck over.”
“He doesn’t. I told you. I showed you.” Zy knew he kept repeating himself, but Trees wouldn’t stab him—or anyone else—in the back like that.
“If you’re convinced he’s innocent—”
“I am.”
“Then investigate Tessa.”
Were they insane? “How am I supposed to do that? You’ve all but threatened to fire her for doing anything more than speaking to me.”
Logan reached behind him and plucked a file folder off his credenza, then whipped out a small pile of papers held together by a staple. He flipped a few pages, drew a giant X on one, then jotted something in the margin. He passed it to his brothers next. Each of them also scribbled on the side. Finally, Logan shoved the document back in the folder and slid it across the table to him. “No need to negotiate a damn thing now. You’re welcome.”
Zy opened the folder and found his employment contract inside. The nonfraternization clause had been crossed out. All three of them had initialed.
They had removed the restrictions keeping him from pursuing Tessa. Just like that? Even the goddamn idea made his skin tingle.
When he looked up, Logan smiled. “Yes, you’re now free to fuck her. Congratulations. But you better think with something other than your dick.”
Too late. His dick was having a party…and his conscience was choking on guilt. They wanted him to get close to her so he could deceive her?
He couldn’t do that to Tessa. “No.”
Joaquin shrugged. “Told you we should have just fired Trees and Tessa and been done with it.”
It took everything he had not to jump out of his seat and tell them to go fuck themselves. “Neither of them deserves that.”
“No?” Hunter shrugged. “Then prove it.”
Over the past ten months, he’d seen the three of them push, shove, and maneuver some of his fellow operators into tight spaces and corners to get what they wanted. Zy had tried to keep his nose clean, but now that he was on the receiving end, they really were manipulative motherfuckers.
“Tessa won’t touch me. She needs this job.”
Joaquin flashed him a rare smile. “I’m going to take her aside this morning and present her with a new contract. Better sick pay and vacation, tighter nondisclosure…and no nonfraternization clause. She’ll sign. Then you’ll both be off the hook.”
Goddamn it. Their coercion pissed him off. But the thought of touching Tessa while proving she’d done nothing wrong? “Fine. I’m in.”
“We figured.” Logan sounded like an arrogant prick. “You’ve got two weeks—max—or both Trees and Tessa are off the payroll and we bury them professionally. If you fail, we’ll do the same to your fucking ass, too. Now get busy and get it done.”
Ready for Zy and Tessa’s epic conclusion?
* * *
He'd protect her from the world. But who will protect her from him?
WICKED AND TRUE
Zyron and Tessa, Part Two
Wicked & Devoted, Book 4
By Shayla Black
(will be available in eBook, print, and audio)
Coming March 23, 2021!
Order it HERE.
If you missed One-Mile and Brea, catch up with the sexiest bad boy meets good girl story. Wicked as Sin kicks off the addictive, suspenseful Wicked & Devoted series!
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WICKED AS SIN
One-Mile & Brea, Part One
Wicked & Devoted, Book 1
By Shayla Black
NOW AVAILABLE!
Click here to purchase!
* * *
The good girl wants a favor? She’ll pay in his bed.
Pierce “One-Mile” Walker has always kept his heart under wraps and his head behind his sniper’s scope. Nothing about buttoned-up Brea Bell should appeal to him. But after a single glance at the pretty preacher’s daughter, he doesn’t care that his past is less than shiny, that he gets paid to end lives…or that she’s his teammate’s woman. He'll do whatever it takes to steal her heart.
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Brea has always been a dutiful daughter and a good girl…until she meets the dangerous warrior. He’s everything she shouldn’t want, especially after her best friend introduces her to his fellow operative as his girlfriend—to protect her from Pierce. But he’s a forbidden temptation she’s finding impossible to resist.
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Then fate strikes, forcing Brea to beg Pierce to help solve a crisis. But his skills come at a price. When her innocent flirtations run headlong into his obsession, they cross the line into a passion so fiery she can’t say no. Soon, his past rears its head and a vendetta calls his name in a mission gone horribly wrong. Will he survive to fight his way back to the woman who claimed his soul?
EXCERPT
Sunday, January 11
Sunset, Louisiana
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Finally, he had her cornered. He intended to tear down every last damn obstacle between him and Brea Bell.
Right now.
For months, she’d succumbed to fears, buried her head in the sand, even lied. He’d tried to be understanding and patient. He’d made mistakes, but damn it, he’d put her first, given her space, been the good guy.
Fuck that. Now that he’d fought his way here, she would see the real him.
One-Mile Walker slammed the door of his Jeep and turned all his focus on the modest white cottage with its vintage blue door. As he marched up the long concrete driveway, his heart pounded. He had a nasty idea how Brea’s father would respond when he explained why he’d come. The man would slam the door in his face; no maybe about that. After all, he was the bad boy from a broken home who had defiled Reverend Bell’s perfect daughter with unholy glee.
But One-Mile refused to let Brea go again. He’d make her father listen…somehow. Since punching the guy in the face was out of the question, he’d have to quell his brute-force instinct to fight dirty and instead employ polish, tact, and charm—all the qualities he possessed zero of.
Fuck. This was going to be a shit show.
Still, One-Mile refused to give up. He’d known uphill battles his whole life. What was one more?
Through the house’s front window, he spotted the soft doe eyes that had haunted him since last summer. Though Brea was talking to an elderly couple, the moment she saw him approach her porch, her pretty eyes went wide with shock.
Determination gripped One-Mile and squeezed his chest. By damned, she was going to listen, too.
He wasn’t leaving without making her his.
As he mounted the first step toward her door, his cell phone rang. He would have ignored it if it hadn
’t been for two critical facts: His job often entailed saving the world as the people knew it, and this particular chime he only heard when one of the men he respected most in this fucked-up world needed him during the grimmest of emergencies.
Of all the lousy timing…
He yanked the device from his pocket. “Walker here. Colonel?”
“Yeah.”
Colonel Caleb Edgington was a retired, highly decorated military officer and a tough son of a bitch. One thing he wasn’t prone to was drama, so that single foreboding syllable told One-Mile that whatever had prompted this call was dire.
He didn’t bother with small talk, even though it had been months since they’d spoken, and he wondered how the man was enjoying both his fifties and his new wife, but they’d catch up later. Now, they had no time to waste.
“What can I do for you?” Since he owed Caleb a million times over, whatever the man needed, One-Mile would make happen.
Caleb’s sons might be his bosses these days…but as far as One-Mile was concerned, the jury was still out on that trio. Speaking of which, why wasn’t Caleb calling those badasses?
One-Mile could only think of one answer. It was hardly comforting.
“Or should I just ask who I need to kill?”
A soft, feminine gasp sent his gaze jerking up to Brea, who now stood in the doorway, her rosy bow of a mouth gaping open in a perfect little O. She’d heard that. Goddamn it to hell. Yeah, she knew perfectly well what he was. But he’d managed to shock her repeatedly over the last six months.
“I’m not sure yet.” Caleb sounded cautious in his ear. “I’m going to text you an address. Can you meet me there in fifteen minutes?”
For months, he’d been anticipating this exact moment with Brea. “Any chance it can wait an hour?”
“No. Every moment is critical.”
Since Caleb would never say such things lightly, One-Mile didn’t see that he had an option. “On my way.”
He ended the call and pocketed the phone as he climbed onto the porch and gave Brea his full attention. He had so little time with her, but he’d damn sure get his point across before he went.
She stepped outside and shut the door behind her, swallowing nervously as she cast a furtive glance over her shoulder, through the big picture window. Was she hoping her father didn’t see them?
“Pierce.” Her whisper sounded closer to a hiss. “What are you doing here?”
He hated when anyone else used his given name, but Brea could call him whatever the hell she wanted as long as she let him in her life.
He peered down at her, considering how to answer. He’d had grand plans to lay his cards out on the table and do whatever he had to—talk, coax, hustle, schmooze—until she and her father came around to his way of thinking. Now he only had time to cut to the chase. “You know what I want, pretty girl. I’m here for you. And when I come back, I won’t take no for an answer.”
Click here to purchase!
Don’t forget to grab the gripping conclusion of this unforgettable couple…
* * *
WICKED EVER AFTER
One-Mile and Brea, Part Two
Wicked & Devoted, Book 2
By Shayla Black
NOW AVAILABLE!
Click here to purchase!
* * *
The good girl is keeping a secret? He’ll seduce it out of her until she begs to be his.
Wicked & Devoted World
Thank you for joining me in the new Wicked & Devoted world. In case you didn’t know, this cast of characters started in my Wicked Lovers world, continued into my Devoted Lovers series, and have collided here. Between Wicked as Sin and Wicked Ever After, you’ve read about a few other characters who may interest you. I’ve already told some of their stories. Others are still to come. Below is a guide in case you’d like to read more from this cast, listed in order of release:
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WICKED LOVERS
Wicked Ties
Jack Cole (and Morgan O’Malley)
She didn’t know what she wanted…until he made her beg for it.
Decadent
Deke Trenton (and Kimber Edgington)
The boss’ innocent daughter. A forbidden favor he can’t refuse…
* * *
Surrender to Me
Hunter Edgington (and Katalina Muñoz)
A secret fantasy. An uncontrollable obsession. A forever love?
* * *
Belong to Me
Logan Edgington (and Tara Jacobs)
He’s got everything under control until he falls for his first love…again.
* * *
Mine to Hold
Tyler Murphy (Delaney Catalano)
His best friend’s ex. A night he can’t forget. A secret that could destroy them both.
* * *
Wicked All the Way
Caleb Edgington (and Carlotta Muñoz Buckley)
Could their second chance be their first real love?
* * *
His to Take
Joaquin Muñoz (and Bailey Benson)
Giving in to her dark stranger might be the most delicious danger of all…
* * *
Falling in Deeper
Stone Sutter (and Lily Taylor)
Will her terrifying past threaten their passionate future?
* * *
Holding on Tighter
Heath Powell (and Jolie Quinn)
Mixing business with pleasure can be a dangerous proposition…
* * *
DEVOTED LOVERS
Devoted to Pleasure
Cutter Bryant (and Shealyn West)
A bodyguard should never fall for his client…but she’s too tempting to refuse.
* * *
Devoted to Wicked
Cage Bryant (and Karis Quinn)
Will the one-night stand she tried to forget seduce her into a second chance?
* * *
Devoted to Love
Josiah Grant (and Magnolia West)
He was sent to guard her body…but he’s determined to steal her heart.
* * *
As the Wicked & Devoted world continues to collide and explode, you’ll see more titles with other characters you know and love, so stay tuned for Zy and Tessa’s conclusion, as well as duets about Trees, Kane and more!
* * *
I have so much in store for you on this wild Wicked & Devoted ride!
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Thank you for reading Wicked as Lies! If you enjoyed this book, please review and/or recommend it to your reader friends. That means the world to me!
* * *
Hugs and Happy Reading!
Shayla
LET’S GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER!
* * *
Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of about eighty novels. For twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.
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Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past eleven years.
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Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband and daughter, as well as two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
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* * *
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If you enjoyed this book, please review it and recommend it to others. It means the world!
Other Books by Shayla Black
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
MORE THAN WORDS
More Than Want You
More Than Need You
More Than Love You
More Than Crave You
