Wicked as Lies (Wicked & Devoted 3)

The guys asked a few more questions. Josiah’s “date,” Ashley, seemed impatient to get on with it since she cocked her weapon, tucked it into a thigh holster, then all but dragged him to the door. With a shake of their heads, Cutter and Rebecca followed the pair.

Zy turned to her, and he didn’t look pleased. Then he glared back at Hunter. “If something happens to Tessa, there won’t be a hole deep enough for you to bury yourself in.”

She gaped. Was he crazy, threatening their new boss? “Zy—”

“If something happens to her, it will be on you,” Hunter snarled back. “I won’t fucking be there. Now go do your job.”

Beside her, Zy looked ready for a fight. Since he needed this job, too, she grabbed him and hauled him toward the door. “I’m fine. The others are leaving us behind. Let’s go.”

He cursed as he led her out of the suite and slammed the door behind them. “This is bullshit. I don’t want this for you.”

“I’m a little scared, but we’ve got this.” She hoped.

“Stay close to me.”

She nodded. If anyone would protect her, it was Zy.

The ride down the crowded elevator slipped by quickly. Cutter, Josiah, and their respective female operatives affirmed their identities and cover stories, then they agreed that none of the couples should seem to know the others.

“How did you meet Dr. Waxman?” she asked Zy.

He looked reluctant to reply. “Through my dad.”

Small world. “Was he one of the doctor’s patients or something?”

“It was business.”

End of conversation. His tone told her that was all he intended to say.

The car stopped. The ding indicated they’d arrived at their destination. Once the elevator doors opened, she and Zy filed out, his arm around her waist as he brought her close to his side. His nearness filled her up like a big drink of water after a long, hot day. She knew the situation might get dangerous and she should stay alert, but damn, it felt so good to be close to him after months of nothing but passing waves and casual conversations.

Tessa had been hoping that getting some space between her and Zy would take the heat off her crush, but no. Her feelings for him were still a blister on her heart.

Behind them, Josiah and Ashley veered left, ostensibly so she could smoke in a corner of the outdoor space before the ceremony. Cutter and Rebecca drifted off to the right, circulating with other guests admiring the scenery.

“What do we do?”

“Hang back here so everyone leaves us the fuck alone. We’re here to observe, not integrate.”

“Okay.” She took in the people and surroundings as he stopped her short of the crowd waiting to be seated for the ceremony. But she didn’t know what to search for. What did danger look like?

“How’s Hallie?”

Of all the things Zy could have asked, he’d inquired about her daughter. Tessa would be lying if she said that didn’t warm her heart. “Good. She’s getting big.”

“I’ll bet. No sign of Asshole?”

“Cash is in rehab. His dad came to visit me around the first of May. He wanted to apologize and meet Hallie. Apparently, he was just hearing about his granddaughter for the first time.”

“Do you believe him?”

She nodded. “He lost his wife last year and he has no other family, so he was really happy to meet Hallie. He said she was the one thing his son had done right. And he paid me the back child support Cash owed.”

“I’m sure that helped.”

“Yeah.” Tessa dropped her voice. “Do you know anything about this cartel?”

Zy looked tense and scanned the room as if he expected problems. “They were the assholes who tried to kill us all back in March. No one got a good look at us…I think.”

That possibility clearly added to his worries. “You know, if we’re supposed to be a happy couple attending a wedding, we’re failing. You’re tense.”

His gaze sliced across the room one more time before he pasted on a smile. “I know.”

“What are the odds—really—that these thugs will make a scene at a high-profile wedding?” Tessa couldn’t imagine that an illegal business would want to put themselves on law enforcement’s or the public’s radar.

“Slim. I wasn’t worried at all until you walked in the door.”

She sent him back a plastic smile, then added a laugh for onlookers. “They won’t attack simply because I’m here.”

He nodded and brought her closer. “You’re right, but I’ll be more worried if they do.”

And nothing she said would talk him out of that.

“So, has your apartment improved any?” Tessa changed the subject.

She hadn’t asked in a long while since it only reminded her that he was no longer at her place.

“Nope. Still a shithole. I only signed for six months, but I can break the lease without penalty in another thirty days. I’m thinking about moving away from the frat kids and keggers, maybe to the north side of town.”