Wicked as Lies (Wicked & Devoted 3)

She’d been busy since her return because Aspen had left everything a mess. Zy had been on a couple of short ops, thankfully without incident or injury. But they hadn’t talked. And it felt weird. Even knowing he was in the building, nearby, and breathing the same air made her body hum.

God, she had it bad and she needed to let go.

Tessa pasted on a smile. “Do you know what this is about?”

He shook his head. “No clue. Cash given you any problems lately?”

“None. He’s been blessedly quiet. Maybe getting arrested made him think.”

“Not if the charges didn’t stick,” Zy shot back.

“True, but for now no noise is good. How’s the new place?” She’d avoided asking him, mostly because she hated to dwell on just how empty her duplex was without him. Everywhere she looked, she remembered Zy. She especially couldn’t be anywhere near her sofa and not see him stretched out, big and shirtless and watching her.

“Good,” he said. Then he flashed her a wry smile. “Actually, it’s a shithole. It’s too close to the university, and there’s too much partying going on for decent sleep. The place came furnished, which was great, but the decor is early secondhand dorm room, and the mattress is like concrete with a marshmallow topper.”

She took irrational pleasure in the fact he wasn’t enjoying it, then chided herself. The man needed sleep. “I’m sorry to hear that. They’ll be wrapping up the semester in another month or so. Hopefully, it will be quiet for the summer.”

“I may not last there that long. How’s Hallie?”

“Getting big. I took her to the doctor yesterday for her eight-week checkup. She’s gaining weight, but not as well as the pediatrician would like, so she wants me to make sure I’m sending enough bottles with her to daycare and we’ll keep an eye on the situation. But she’s otherwise healthy, just maybe petite.”

“Like her mother.”

“I’m not petite.”

He leveled her with a sardonic stare. “What are you? Five foot three and weigh a buck twenty?”

“Five foot four and I’m pleading the Fifth on weight.”

“Why? You look good, and I see your pants fit.”

“Finally.” She’d had to wear skirts the first couple of weeks back to work because those last few baby pounds had been incredibly stubborn. “But the needle started to move down again when I took up yoga at home. I try to squeeze it in as soon as I pick Hallie up but before dinner. So far it’s working.”

“Good.”

Then there was nothing to say as they entered the otherwise full conference room. At the front, the colonel stood, looking solemn. He’d been gone a lot last week, helping his stepson with something dangerous—or so she’d overheard Cutter and Josiah discussing earlier in the day. Then over the weekend they’d gone to Dallas to the wedding of a former FBI agent and a Chicago heiress who’d once been accused of murdering her family. Now, after a happy resolution, they’d gotten hitched…but the woman supposedly also had a boyfriend who owned some sort of sex club? And they were together, too, with her husband’s consent? That part couldn’t possibly be true. Who did that? Whatever, the colonel looked a little banged up. So did the three guys beside him, two of whom were his sons.

Tessa slid into an empty chair, notepad and pen in hand. Cutter leaned her way. “What do you know about this?”

The colonel’s watchful stare fell on her, then on Zy, who took the empty chair to her right and rolled closer.

She leaned Cutter’s way, hoping her boss would stop scowling. “Nothing.”

Instead, a quick glance told her that Zy wasn’t pleased. Because he wanted information now? Or because he was jealous that Cutter was so close?

Around the conference table, Trees slid into the last seat, steaming mug in hand, then Caleb Edgington cleared his throat. “Morning, everyone. I gathered you here to make an announcement that may shock you.” He gave a wry laugh. “Then again, maybe this won’t. You’re some of the best out there.”

One-Mile’s eyes narrowed as Tessa scanned the quartet of men at the front of the room, then he cursed. “You’re fucking retiring.”

The three younger men at the front all looked at each other.

The elder Edgington just raised a brow. “You’re eloquent as always, Walker. I fucking am.”

“Son of a bitch!”

“You’re serious?” Cutter asked.

“Yes.”

Beside her, Zy stiffened. “Effective when? I just got here.”

“Are you shutting down?” Josiah asked.

“Or selling out?” One-Mile sneered.

The colonel held up his hands. “Neither. I’m turning the business over to my sons. Hunter is a former Navy SEAL married to my wife’s daughter and has a baby on the way. Logan is an active-duty SEAL who is married to his high school sweetheart, has twin girls, and will be leaving the service this summer. My stepson, Joaquin Muñoz, is former NSA with prior law enforcement background—and he just got engaged over the weekend. This move may seem sudden, but I’m leaving you in very capable hands.”