Wicked as Lies (Wicked & Devoted #3) - Shayla Black Page 0,38
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.”
Closer to her? Yes, but not because of her. That was ridiculous. After all, there was no them.
“I hope you find someplace great this time. It should be easier since you’ll be less rushed and you know the town better.”
“Yeah. That’s the last time I take advice about my living situation from Trees.”
She laughed. “I’m surprised you didn’t move in with him.”
“Then you haven’t seen where he lives.”
“No. I assumed he had some bachelor pad somewhere.”
Zy scoffed. “More like a fortress. He’s prepping for martial law or civil war, whichever comes first.”
“Is he paranoid?”
He sent her a sly grin. “He would tell you he’s cautious.”
It sounded more like crazy to her, but the world was full of different people who believed different things. Who was she to judge?
“I guess we should find our seats for this shindig.”
With a caress down her arm, he took her hand. “Yeah.”
She already knew from the debrief that Josiah and Cutter would take up positions on either side of the back of the garden to have eyes on most of the atrium. If any of the guests had come for nefarious reasons, those four would intercede. She and Zy settled toward the front, in the fourth row, to be closer to the wedding party.
The processional started. Kendra looked ethereal and misty-eyed as she walked down the aisle toward her husband-to-be, who seemingly had eyes only for her. Tessa’s heart panged with both yearning and envy. She wanted that for herself, with a man who not only loved her but whose life wouldn’t be complete without her.
Maybe she was fooling herself. How often did that happen in a Tinder-dating culture?
Beside her, Zy took her hand, his thumb absently brushing her knuckles. Shivers skittered through her body. She could definitely fall for him. Hell, she was halfway there, but even during his difficult goodbye the night he’d left her place, he’d never mentioned feelings, just sex. Just wanting what he couldn’t have. Sure, he’d been annoyed with Hunter for bringing her here tonight, probably as much because he felt protective as he was worried she’d screw up his op.
After a twenty-minute ceremony full of pomp, the newly married couple kissed and made their way down the aisle together, smiling at each other with happiness and promises of tomorrow. As an usher walked the bride’s mother out the back of the atrium, her father followed. When he caught sight of Zy, his stare snapped around. Zy cursed under his breath.
“He recognized you,” she said once the man had gone on.
“Yeah. He’ll probably say something at the reception. Follow my lead. It will be fine.” Zy sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than her.