Merciless (Option Zero 1)

“To brief you on the op.”

“I’ll be on an OZ op already?”

“OZ employees are on call from day one. We don’t bring people on unless they’re already fully trained.”

“If that’s the case, what are you planning to train me to do?”

“You need to learn the OZ way.”

Before Jules could question what exactly that meant, the woman added, “If trainer doesn’t suit you, you can call me your watcher.” She tilted her head. “You come highly recommended—Kate doesn’t suffer fools gladly, but you damn well better be worth the trouble.”

She paused as if waiting for a response. When Jules didn’t respond, she continued, “Drake gave you your conditions for employment, but I’ll give you one more. Screw this op up, and you’ll regret ever hearing about OZ.”

Not waiting for Jules’s reply, the woman silently passed by Jules and opened the door.

“Just one question.”

The woman turned, arching a questioning brow.

“You got a name?”

“Yes.” Without another word, the woman walked out.

With more determination than grace, Jazz McAlister made her way to the elevator. She had booked a room three floors below Juliet Stone’s. She figured she had just enough strength left to make it there before she collapsed. Drake would bench her if he knew how weak she really was. She didn’t intend for him find out. If

she didn’t work, she didn’t function. Work kept her sane…well, as sane as people like her ever got.

When the elevator doors opened, she waltzed in as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Even though the elevator was empty, she kept up the appearance. Bravado had been her mainstay for years, and right now it was the only thing keeping her on her feet. When she got to her room, she’d let her guard down.

The instant she entered her room, her legs threatened to give out on her, and she managed to make it to the bed before she collapsed. Never one to shirk her duties, she quickly texted her boss and gave him her opinion. Drake was right. As impressive as Juliet Stone appeared to be on paper, she was hiding something.

She would definitely be keeping her eye on OZ’s newest operative.

As soon as the door closed behind her intruder, Jules dropped onto the sofa. She felt like she’d lived a lifetime in just one day. Not only had she met the man who had fascinated her for years, she had agreed to work for him. If that were all, it would be more than enough, but there was something else…something monumental. They were more than mildly attracted to each other. The complications were endless and mind-blowing.

In her heart of hearts, she wasn’t surprised at the attraction. How many times had she stared at his photo and wondered about him? She had built up Asher Drake in her mind, but she had assumed that once she met the real man, he wouldn’t live up to her expectations. She’d been wrong. He was more, so much more, than she had ever dreamed. Complicated, amazingly sexy, and bone-chillingly perceptive.

She was playing with fire, and even though she knew she would get burned, she couldn’t stay away from the heat. For the first time in years, she felt truly alive.

The ring of her phone drew her from her exhausted musings. Pulling it from her purse, she grimaced as she saw the name of the caller. Taking a deep breath, she slid her finger over the answer icon. She had some fast-talking to do.

“What the hell, Jules?”

Despite her friend’s tone, Jules couldn’t help but smile. Having known Kate for well over a decade, she knew the anger would come from concern. Kate Walker was at the top of an exceedingly short list of people she trusted.

“And hello to you, too.”

“You’re going to work for OZ? Are you insane?”

“Oh, I think that ship sailed a long time ago, don’t you?”

“Don’t be glib. How on earth do you think this is going to work?”

“It’ll give me access I wouldn’t have from the outside, which should impress Turner. I need to be as convincing as possible. Plus, I’ll be a good operative.”

“No question about that, but it’s going to put you in more danger, too.”

“I’ll play it out for as long as I can. You said you thought you were close to finding what you need.”