Page 35 of Wicked and Claimed

And Jasper made her smile. After her New Year’s Eve debacle with Nash, she desperately needed a distraction, especially since she seemed to be on his radar again.

After the way he’d kissed her that night, she wasn’t foolish enough to think he’d given up. She’d have to devise creative ways to keep distance between them. Otherwise, it would be too easy to give in to her feelings. She’d tried to purge him from her heart…but she still missed him way more than was smart.

She had instigated their split for his own good. Why wouldn’t he just accept that?

Her boss’s jaw tightened. “What are your plans for these positive vibes?”

“I have a few thoughts, but I’ll need more information before I can develop a solid plan.”

“Oakfield Mall is one of my most valued—and problematic—properties. Those incidents you’re aware of? Those five missing women? There were three other thwarted attempts that never reached the press. Unfortunately, those women who got away never saw anyone or noticed anything helpful. All these incidents occurred on the mall’s premises, despite the upgraded tech and security guards I pay through the ass for. Somehow, every measure fails. The cameras blipped for twenty minutes on Christmas Eve, just as Kaylee Wright was abducted. It’s like someone knows the property’s weaknesses and can guess my every move. If I can’t stop this, it’s going to ruin me. Two of the missing girls’ families are threatening to sue.”

A chill skated down Haisley’s spine. Having such sinister crimes happening in her own backyard, to young women just starting their lives… It was terrifying and unthinkable. “I had no idea the situation was so dire. So seemingly…deliberate.”

“Neither did I—at first. Not until the latest victim. But that phone call was a gut punch. It destroyed my wife’s Christmas. I knew I had to take more drastic measures.”

Haisley risked a sidelong glance at her new boss. His expression remained impassive as he gazed out the floor-to-ceiling window. Did this incident bother him beyond the financial?

Maybe she was being too harsh. She hardly knew him, and some people didn’t wear their emotions on their faces.

“So what ‘drastic measures’ did you take?”

“Follow me.”

He led her toward the contemporary U-shaped desk he’d pointed out earlier. A laptop sat waiting as he gestured her into a black ergonomic chair. This was where she’d be spending most of her waking hours. It wasn’t fancy, but at least she was near a window.

She opened the lid on her laptop and was immediately prompted for a password.

“Before I say anything else, do you have any recommendations from a PR perspective?” he asked.

“Attacking the problem head-on. We can continue spinning your social media. You didn’t ask me, but you should consider hiring someone more competent than the local police and mall cops to solve the problem quickly and discreetly.”

“I’m a step ahead of you. I didn’t just hire ‘someone.’ I hired highly trained operatives from one of the most elite private security firms in the region, if not the country. They’ll get to the bottom of these abductions, utilizing every resource at their disposal.”

At least he was done fucking around. “Good. Once they’ve accomplished their mission, we’ll go wild with the press.”

He nodded in approval. “I’d like you to work with these security experts, provide them whatever information they need from this office, and stay apprised of what they’re doing so that if anything is press or social-media worthy, you can start getting Oakfield—and us—some wins with the public.”

Resolve buoyed Haisley. These cases dredged up the worst of today’s world, but she couldn’t deny the sense of purpose at the prospect of putting her skills to meaningful use. In order to help end this horrible string of crimes and make the world safer—even if it was just her hometown—she’d give it her all.

“You can count on me, Mr. Benedict. I’ll do whatever it takes to assist their investigation and highlight their progress through all our media and public channels.”

“Good.” He smiled faintly. “I hired you for your spirit and gumption.”

“When will I meet the operatives you hired?”

From behind, she heard heavy footfalls approach. Haisley turned as a broad-shouldered silhouette emerged, backlit by the blinding morning. The world dropped out from beneath her…

CHAPTER EIGHT

Apainfully familiar figure filled Haisley’s vision. She couldn’t breathe.

Nash.

Oh, shit.

Her heart rattled in her chest as she took in his rugged features, all chiseled angles and battle-hardened edges. He looked just like he had the night of their heated kiss—powerfully built beneath the snug black tee that hugged the sculpted contours of his physique and gripped his tatted biceps. A black leather cuff encircled his thick left wrist. His inscrutable onyx stare landed on her, scorching her from across the room.

She licked her suddenly parched lips, assailed by visions of their kiss at Highrise, of Nash’s body pressing her into the unforgiving wall, of the slick heat of his mouth trailing a searing path down her throat, of the steel bands of his arms engulfing her in his embrace while he drank her in like a man dying of thirst.

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