Wicked and True - Shayla Black

Acknowledgements

Books don’t happen without lots of amazing people to help an author. I have a list of amazing folks to thank for all their hard work on Zy and Tessa’s story.

First and foremost, Rachel Connolly. The book definitely wouldn’t be as pretty without your cover genius, inside and out. But I appreciate you pushing me harder in some critical areas to make the story even better.

Jenna Jacob, your unending support and the hours of talking, reading, and assuring me I’m not crazy mean the world to me.

William…my husband and the love of my life. This journey is so much better with you by my side in the trenches. I thank you every day for taking a leap of faith with me and making this work.

I’m also grateful to Sierra Cartwright. Your enthusiasm, generosity, and positive spirit really helped me, especially during a rough winter.

Baby, biologically you’re my daughter, but you’re like a spirit sister, too. You get me, and you get these books. Thanks for always making me smile after a long day and for helping me keep the details straight.

EK, you know who you are, and I’ve really enjoyed your help, your honesty, and all the long discussions we had about this duet. I needed that as I went out on this limb.

Hugs to you all!

ABOUT WICKED AND TRUE

He'd protect her from the world. But who will protect her from him?

For agonizing months, Chase “Zyron” Garrett has been forbidden from touching Tessa, the pretty office assistant who makes him burn. But when danger strikes EM Security Management and top-secret information is leaked, it’s obvious the team has a mole…and the evidence points to the woman he’s fallen for. The bosses demand he investigate her, so he resolves to stop at nothing, even stripping her bare—body and soul—for the truth.

Tessa Lawrence has known heartbreak in the past, but Zy has always been her staunchest protector. Since he was contractually off-limits, the Southern, sassy single mom clung to her friendship with the daring demolitions expert who’d stolen her heart and focused on making the best life for her daughter. But when the barriers between her and Zy are suddenly gone, she welcomes him into her bed, not realizing she’s giving him the power to destroy her. Or that the enemy is watching.

Then the unthinkable happens, and Tessa is forced to make the most gut-wrenching choice of her life. Will their love survive the betrayal or will their future end before it’s even begun?

Author’s Note

Dear Reader,

If you have not read Wicked as Lies, please STOP.

Wicked and True is the second part of a duet in the Wicked & Devoted series about demolitions expert Chase “Zyron” Garrett and single-mom Tessa Lawrence. In order to fully understand and enjoy this book, you should first read part one of this duet, Wicked as Lies.

I sincerely hope you enjoy the saga of these two characters I’ve come to love so deeply, which is why they required two books to tell the full breadth of their story.

Happy reading!

Shayla

January 26

Chase “Zyron” Garrett sat back in his chair in the suddenly too-small conference room and stared at the trio of bosses glaring at him. He wished the BS Hunter, Logan, and Joaquin had just spewed was a punch line, but EM Security Management had a mole, and they very clearly weren’t joking.

It’s either your bestie or your girl.

You’ve got two weeks to figure out which one of them is guilty or we’re letting both go.

Bastards. Neither Trees nor Tessa was guilty of a fucking thing. Zy ought to know; he’d already spent three months nosing into his best friend’s life. He’d come up with zero dirt, proving Trees as innocent as Zy always suspected.

Now they wanted him to seduce Tessa Lawrence, their office assistant, to discern if she was guilty of selling them out. If he didn’t, they would fire her, despite the fact she was a single mom who needed her job.

You’ve got two weeks—max. If you fail, we’ll do the same to your fucking ass, too. Now get busy and get it done.

Calling them bastards was too polite. They were assholes.

Zy clenched his jaw and stood. How was he supposed to do what they’d demanded? He loved Tessa. He’d told her as much on Christmas Eve. Her response had been to run away, sure, but he was ninety-nine percent positive she’d left because she loved him, too…but thought their situation was hopeless. After all, they’d never dated or hooked up. Hell, they’d never even kissed because, for the