Wicked and worshipped on.., p.49
Wicked and Worshipped (One-Mile & Brea: The Complete Duet),
p.49
Oh, holy shit.
“We’ll get her back.” Despite having gone ghostly pale, Hunter found his voice. “We’ll do whatever it takes—”
“You’re fucking right we will,” Deke spat. “I want my kitten back. Jack and the rest of the Oracle team are at our offices strategizing. Any help you can spare…”
“You’ll have it,” Hunter promised. “We need to lock down the rest of the wives and kids.”
“Fast,” the colonel managed. “Before it’s too late.”
The older man ducked out, looking as if he could barely keep himself together.
Deke didn’t look much calmer. “Thanks for whatever you can do.”
“Fuck that, she’s our sister. We’ll devote day and night to saving her.”
Kimber’s husband nodded, then he was gone. Silence prevailed for a protracted moment. Then Hunter swallowed, collecting himself first. He turned to ice in an instant. Logan lived up to his fiery temper, grabbing an eraser from the nearest whiteboard then throwing it violently. His empty coffee mug followed next, shattering against the wall.
Before he could toss anything else, Joaquin stepped in. “We don’t have time.”
“I know. I fucking know. Goddamn son of a bitch!”
Hunter and Joaquin raced out the door, already strategizing to keep all the others in their family safe. Logan fumed, trying to gather himself, his lungs working like a bellows.
“I’ll come with you,” Zy offered. “I’ll devote all my energy—”
“No. This shit is centered around Valeria Montilla. Trees and Kane are going to protect and relocate her pronto—and we’ll be monitoring every step. But none of that will mean shit if you can’t figure out our mole. Two fucking weeks—max—or they’re both off the fucking payroll and we bury them professionally. If you fail, we’ll do the same to your fucking ass, too.”
Logan tore out of the conference room, slamming the door behind him. After some shouting in the hall and more door slamming in the distance, the office fell silent.
Two weeks? Zy cursed. He had to start planning and setting some wheels in motion now—or they were all fucked.
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WICKED AS LIES
Zyron and Tessa, Part One
Wicked & Devoted, Book 3
By Shayla Black
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Continue the Wicked & Devoted adventure with Zy and Tessa!
WICKED AS LIES
Zyron and Tessa, Part One
Wicked & Devoted, Book 3
By Shayla Black
Click to purchase!
(will be available in eBook, print, and audio)
Available Now!
He wants her…and he doesn’t care that she’s the enemy.
Chase “Zyron” Garrett left a bloody stint with Uncle Sam for the personal security business. His employment agreement forbids hookups with co-workers, which isn’t a problem—until Tessa Lawrence, the office secretary and single mom, is harassed by her vengeful ex-boyfriend. Zy is assigned to protect her, but the moment he meets the gorgeous blonde, those contractual restrictions tighten around him like a noose.
Tessa Lawrence is alone in the world…except for her newborn baby, and she’s determined to survive without anyone’s help. Then Zy walks through her door. Fiercely protective yet tender, he’s everything she wants in a man, lover, and father for her daughter. But he’s totally off-limits. If she falls for him, she’ll be fired.
When a teammate is captured and the enemy predicts their every move, it’s clear they’ve got a mole. The bosses task Zy with discovering their traitor, and all clues point to the woman he’s losing his heart to. With danger lurking, he’s caught in a tangle of unquenched need and searing betrayal. Will their love be the greatest casualty of all?
EXCERPT
January 26
Chase Garrett, known to most as Zyron, stepped off his bike and locked up his helmet. His hands fucking shook. On the long walk up the shadowy path to the familiar front door, he let out a slow breath. Calm wasn’t happening.
He’d waited forever for the right to touch Tessa Lawrence. He’d been her friend, her co-worker, and her protector. But most of all, he wanted to be her lover.
Today, everything had changed. So tonight, that might finally happen.
Night enveloped him, chilly, still, and clear. Stars winked in a vast midnight sky. The world seemed to have stopped, as if it held its breath in anticipation. Or maybe that was just him, working to keep his lungs functioning and his head screwed on straight. Thoughts of Tessa made him hungry and desperate. Always had. He’d never craved a woman the way he did her.
Would she finally say yes?
At the front door, he knocked and told himself he wasn’t making a mistake. He wanted to do this. Yeah, but he had to do this. His bosses hadn’t left him any choice.
It took a minute, but the porch light came on. He sensed Tessa on the other side, saw a shadow pass in front of the peephole. Finally, she eased the door open. Her face was bare, her blond hair in a messy bun on top of her head. Her bottom lip was rosy and puffy, as if she’d been chewing on it in worry. She wasn’t wearing anything fancy, just a plain set of long-sleeved cotton pajamas in a muted green with a simple satin trim, but they hugged every curve of that body he’d craved for ten seemingly endless months. They also told him she wore nothing underneath.
All his blood rushed south. He started to sweat.
“Zy.” She sounded surprised, but she looked as if she’d half been expecting him. “What are you doing here? It’s getting late. Are you okay?”
“Did you really think that, after today, I wouldn’t come?”
“No.”
“Is Hallie asleep?” he asked of her infant daughter.
“She fought some, but I got her down about thirty minutes ago.”
He enjoyed spending time with the little girl, but she was a distraction they didn’t need tonight. “Good. Can I come in?”
She hesitated. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Did you get a new contract today?”
Another hesitation before she nodded. “Joaquin emailed it to me.”
“Did you sign it?”
“Zy…” She bit her lip again, this time as if she tried to stop herself from answering.
He wasn’t letting this go. He’d waited for her. He’d wanted her. And he intended to take her. “Did you?”
She sighed. “Yes.”
“So did I, first thing this morning. The restrictions keeping us apart are gone.”
“They are, but—”
“There are no more ‘buts’, Tessa.”
Finally, she nodded. “How did you know?”
“The bosses told me.”
“Why?”
She wasn’t asking why they’d rewritten the employment contracts and rescinded the clause that had prevented them from having any non-work contact of a sexual nature. No doubt the trio of bastards they worked for had fed her some story. They were good at that. Probably why they were successful. No, Tessa wanted to know why they’d told him about her contract.
Because they want me to get close to you, to fuck you, and find out if you’ve been selling us out. Right now, I hate my goddamn job…but I want you more. “Because when they changed mine, I asked about yours. You know why.”
“I do.”
Good. “Can you think of a single reason I can’t come in, strip you down, and make love to you? Tell me right now.”
Even by the vague lights of the porch, he saw color flush her cheeks. “Did you mean what you said on Christmas Eve?”
“Every word.”
Tessa dragged in a shaky breath as she stared at him with big green eyes. Finally, she stepped back, her baby pink toe nails a soft splash of color against the white tile of her foyer. “Then there’s no reason at all. Come in.”
LET’S GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER!
Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than eighty contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.
As an only child, Shayla occupied herself by daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and started pursuing a publishing career. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America, her heart was with her stories and characters, so she left her pantyhose and power suits behind.
Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, gaming, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
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OTHER BOOKS BY SHAYLA BLACK
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
WICKED & DEVOTED
Romantic Suspense
Wicked as Sin (One-Mile & Brea, part 1)
Wicked Ever After (One-Mile & Brea, part 2)
Wicked as Lies (Zyron & Tessa, part 1)
Wicked and True (Zyron & Tessa, part 2)
Coming Soon:
Wicked as Seduction (Trees & Laila, part 1) (March 15, 2022)
Wicked and Forever (Trees & Laila, part 2) (April 26, 2022)
REED FAMILY RECKONING
Angsty, emotional contemporary romance
SIBLINGS
More Than Want You (Maxon & Keeley)
More Than Need You (Griff & Britta)
More Than Love You (Harlow & Noah)
BASTARDS
More Than Crave You (Evan & Nia)
More Than Tempt You (Bethany & Clint)
Coming Soon:
More Than Desire You (Xavian & ??) (November 1, 2022)
FRIENDS
More Than Dare You (Trace & Masey)
More Than Hate You (Sebastian & Sloan)
1001 DARK NIGHTS
More Than Pleasure You (Stephen & Skye)
More Than Protect You (Amanda & Tanner)
More Than Possess You (A Hope Series crossover) (Echo & Hayes)
FORBIDDEN CONFESSIONS (Sexy Shorts)
Sexy Bedtime Stories
FIRST TIME
Seducing the Innocent
Seducing the Bride
Seducing the Stranger
Seducing the Enemy
PROTECTORS
Seduced by the Bodyguard
Seduced by the Spy
Seduced by the Assassin
Seduced by the Mafia Boss
Coming Soon:
FILTHY RICH BOSSES
Tempted by the Billionaire (February 8, 2022)
THE WICKED LOVERS (Complete Series)
Steamy Romantic Suspense
Wicked Ties
Decadent
Delicious
Surrender to Me
Belong to Me
Wicked to Love
Mine to Hold
Wicked All the Way
Ours to Love
Wicked All Night
Forever Wicked
Theirs to Cherish
His to Take
Pure Wicked
Wicked for You
Falling in Deeper
Dirty Wicked
A Very Wicked Christmas
Holding on Tighter
THE DEVOTED LOVERS (Complete Series)
Steamy Romantic Suspense
Devoted to Pleasure
Devoted to Wicked
Devoted to Love
THE UNBROKEN SERIES
(co-authored with Jenna Jacob)
Raine Falling Saga (Complete)
The Broken (Prequel)
The Betrayal
The Break
The Brink
The Bond
Heavenly Rising Collection
The Choice
The Chase
Coming Soon:
The Commitment (June 7, 2022)
THE PERFECT GENTLEMEN (Complete Series)
(co-authored with Lexi Blake)
Steamy Romantic Suspense
Scandal Never Sleeps
Seduction in Session
Big Easy Temptation
Smoke and Sin
At the Pleasure of the President
MASTERS OF MÉNAGE (Complete Series)
(co-authored with Lexi Blake)
Steamy Contemporary Romance
Their Virgin Captive
Their Virgin’s Secret
Their Virgin Concubine
Their Virgin Princess
Their Virgin Hostage
Their Virgin Secretary
Their Virgin Mistress
STANDALONE TITLES
Naughty Little Secret
Watch Me
Dirty & Dangerous
Her Fantasy Men
A Perfect Match
THE HOPE SERIES (Complete Series)
Steamy Contemporary Romance
Misadventures of a Backup Bride
Misadventures with My Ex
More Than Possess You (A Reed Family Reckoning crossover)
SEXY CAPERS (Complete Series)
Bound and Determined
Strip Search
Arresting Desire
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
STANDALONES
The Lady and the Dragon
One Wicked Night
STRICTLY SERIES (Complete Duet)
Victorian Historical Romance
Strictly Seduction
Strictly Forbidden
BROTHERS IN ARMS (Complete Trilogy)
Medieval Historical Romance
His Lady Bride
His Stolen Bride
His Rebel Bride
BOXSETS/COLLECTIONS
More Than Promises (Reed Family Reckoning: Siblings)
First Glance (A trio of series starters)
The Strictly Duet (Victorian historical romance)
Forbidden Confessions: First Time
Forbidden Confessions: Protectors
Shayla Black, Wicked and Worshipped (One-Mile & Brea: The Complete Duet)
