Wicked and True (Wicked & Devoted 4)

This wasn’t about him. At least he didn’t think so. But what the fuck was going on?

“One more thing before I go?”

“What?” Her voice sounded impatient, like she wanted him to leave…but deep down she needed him to stay.

Zy ached to touch her, but she would only push him away. He didn’t understand. Last night, everything had been fine. Hell, great. Tonight, she couldn’t wait to be rid of him.

“Are we okay? Did I do something to upset you? If I did, we need to talk about it.”

“I can’t do this now. I need you to go.” Tessa gathered the robe even tighter around her. “And I know you have a key to my door. Please don’t use it.”

As answers went, it wasn’t one. But everything she said scared the hell out of him.

Fuck. She was too tired and overwrought for him to reason with. He hated to leave things between them like this, but she hadn’t given him much choice.

“All right. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

She nodded tightly. “At the office. Good night.”

Then Tessa shut the door in his face, and the dead bolt clicked into place. Zy stared at the closed portal. What. The. Fuck. Had. Just. Happened?

Scowling, he turned and left. It was only a temporary retreat. Tomorrow, he would get to the bottom of Tessa’s issue. She was going to tell him what the hell was wrong…no matter what he had to do.

Zy entered his apartment and slammed the door behind him. Son of a bitch. Every mile he’d put between him and Tessa just felt wrong. He hoped she was in a better mood tomorrow, but he had a bad feeling.

If he slept tonight, it wouldn’t be for hours. He was too pissed off and keyed up. Might as well get some shit done.

Yanking his phone from his pocket, he sent Kane a quick text, who answered instantly. No, he hadn’t gone to sleep yet, but Valeria and the baby had.

Perfect. Zy set his helmet down, grabbed a protein bar and a beer, and walked two buildings over to Cutter’s old place. Kane opened the door almost before he knocked.

“What’s up?” He stepped back and let Zy enter. “Hear anything from the bosses?”

“No.” That’s another thing that worried him, too. The Edgingtons were the best at what they did. He didn’t know Jack Cole or Deke Trenton well, but he knew their reputations. Kimber wouldn’t still be missing unless these kidnappers were fucking professionals. They probably knew that by now—and were devising Plan C.

“Damn it.”

“Hell of a first week on the job for you, huh? A kidnapping and a dangerous transport of a highly valuable client and her baby. And I’m not exactly boss material, so I can’t give you much guidance, but I do have a little advice.”

Kane shrugged and shut the door behind him. “Sure. Valeria and the baby crashed out about thirty minutes ago, so it’s just us. Shoot.”

Zy sat on the love seat across from the oversized chair Kane plopped into and took a swig of his beer. “You got the client and her son here quickly and in one piece. That was priority number one, so good job. But that wasn’t your only responsibility. This may not have occurred to you, but Valeria shouldn’t know anything about the situation with Kimber, especially if she finds out that the ransom demand was her location. You understand why she might worry whether we’d sacrifice her to the very people she’s running from to have Kimber back?”

“Yeah,” he said as if that was obvious.

“I’m glad you get it. Just be careful. You can’t say stuff like that to her—or even around her—anymore.”

Kane scowled. “I didn’t. Look, I might not have all the fancy experience you and the rest of the team have, but I know better than to run my mouth to someone dependent on our protection. Valeria only needs to know what will keep her safe. And having her doubt us will only make our job harder.”

“Exactly.” Zy sat back, chewing on his protein bar and washing it down with brew. Together, the flavors were disgusting. “You’re sure you didn’t say anything to her? That she didn’t somehow overhear you?”

“Positive.”

“Then I have no idea how she knows, but she does.”

“I don’t know, either. But it wasn’t me. Any chance Laila found out from Trees? Because if she knows, Valeria knows. Those two are constantly talking and texting. They’re tight.”

Possible…but unlikely. Trees knew the drill, but he’d circle back with his buddy and find out if his dick being in a knot had somehow affected the blood flow to his brain.

One thing Zy did know? Valeria was obviously concerned about her sister if she wanted Laila secreted elsewhere.

Zy nodded and stood. “Thanks for the info.”

Kane also rose. “Going already?”

“Yeah. It’s almost ten o’clock, this is dinner”—he held up the remnants of his protein bar and the other half of his beer—“and I’m fucking tired.”