Wicked as Seduction: Trees & Laila - Part 1 (Wicked & Devoted 5)

He had no concept of time passing until he heard the front door open a bit later and looked up to find Zy.

Trees rose from his chair. “Hey.”

“Jesus…” His friend looked him up and down. “You’re still wearing yesterday’s clothes. Did you even go home last night?”

“No.”

Zy grabbed some coffee, then sauntered back to his desk. “So…did you find anything? At all?”

Trees shook his head, then filled Zy in on all the ways he’d taken apart the info on the former operatives’ computers.

“Did you check the network, too?”

“Only enough to ensure that we haven’t been breached and don’t have any detectable trojans or malware. But I haven’t done any sort of deep dive through internal communications. I ran out of time.” He sighed. “And now I’m out of steam, so I’m going to grab a few hours of sleep, and I’ll be back to finish up. Hunter knows. He told me he’s got a new assignment for me.”

“Do you need me to take you home?”

“Nah. I’m good.” He waved, then left the office, hopping into his Hummer, his eyes gritty like sandpaper.

Since the office would soon be too busy to Zen on the sofa and he was only going to get a few hours of shut-eye, Trees didn’t waste time driving to his house forty miles outside of town. He loved the quiet, wide-open space there, but it wasn’t convenient when he was in a rush. Thankfully, he knew people nearby.

Out in the dark parking lot, he dialed Madison. He’d met her because Zy had picked her up in a bar when he’d moved to Lafayette ten months ago, before falling for Tessa. Madison reminded him of a little sister—younger, a bit fragile, and uncertain of her place in the world. He tried to be kind; she didn’t need more men using her. He put off a big brother vibe every chance he got…but sometimes she made that hard.

“Hi, Trees,” she said after the second ring. He wasn’t surprised she was already awake. “You back in town?”

“Yeah. It’s been a long two weeks.”

“It has. You want a home-cooked dinner tonight? I’d be happy to whip up something for you. Just bring the wine.”

And there was the issue. She’d never come right out and said she was interested in him…but he suspected she took his attention for romantic interest. He didn’t have the heart to tell her he’d made friends with her because Zy had done her wrong, and he wanted to make amends. Madison was nice. He liked her company. But he’d bet she had some notion he would be a pliant teddy bear of a boyfriend.

She was very wrong.

“Sorry. I can’t.” He crossed the lot and let himself into his vehicle. “I’ve already got a new assignment. I’m heading out of town this afternoon.”

“That sucks. Any chance you’ll be back this weekend?” she asked hopefully. “My dad got free lane passes at the bowling alley. It’d be fun if you joined us.”

To meet her father? Even if he was home, Trees didn’t think taking her up on the offer was a good idea.

“I don’t know yet, but probably not. Um, I called for a favor.” He hated asking, but time was ticking. Laila and her nephew were loose in the wind, and he needed to find them the minute he reached Florida.

“Sure. What is it?”

“Can I crash on your sofa for a few hours before I have to hit the airport? I pulled an all-nighter at the office, and I need some shut-eye before I fly out.”

“Of course. Come on over. You can sleep in my bed. I’ll read in the living room, and I’ll be quiet as a mouse.”

That sounded too cozy. “No need for that. You stay in bed. Just leave me a blanket on the sofa.”

“O-okay. Sure,” she said as he started the engine and backed out of the lot. “I’ll make breakfast once you wake up.”

A nice offer. Because she was a nice girl…or because she was interested in more than friendship? Trees wasn’t sure, so he answered carefully. “I appreciate it, but don’t trouble yourself. I have to be back in the office by eight.”

“That soon?” She sounded disappointed.

“Unfortunately.” He didn’t want to hurt her. “We’ll catch up as soon as I get back.”

She murmured something that sounded vaguely like assent.

“Thanks, Madison.”

As she hung up, Trees sighed. For her sake, he really hoped she found the right guy someday. But it would make his life easier, too.

After some sleep and a tango with his toothbrush, he returned to the office for a big cup of black coffee. He felt almost human again.

He hadn’t been there ten minutes when all hell broke loose.

The front door crashed open, and Colonel Caleb Edgington, the organization’s previous owner and team commander, charged in looking pale and frantic. A familiar hulking blond brute who looked ready to kill filed in beside him. What the hell was going on? Caleb had retired last year to spend time with his new wife, and Deke Trenton co-owned EM’s sister organization, Oracle Security. He should be at Oracle’s office across town, working his own missions.