“Grey has a work life?”
“You know what I mean,” I grumbled. “If it weren’t for his tip on the casino, I don’t know that things would have fallen into place like they did. He might have helped in saving several lives, and I can’t ignore that.”
“He didn’t do it for you.”
“I know he had his own reasons,” I said. “But he’s not evil.”
Matthew gave a little derisive snort, but he didn’t disagree.
“Can you deal with that?” I asked. “I mean, really, seriously get over it?”
“There’s nothing to get over.” Matthew’s eyes flashed. “What brought you around today, Detective?”
I pushed past him, a difficult task, seeing as it was like trying to move a brick wall with a toothpick. “I came here to finish what we started.”
Matthew spun around and faced me. “And what might that be?”
I scowled. “I’m not here to play games, Matthew. Do you want to be with me or not?”
“Of course I do, Danielle. I gave my notice—”
“I know,” I interrupted. “Here’s your badge. Take it back and stop being an idiot.”
His lips pursed into an amused smile. “But—”
“I’m reporting directly to the chief now,” I said. “We don’t have any obstacles anymore—at least not through the precinct.”
“Who says I want to come back?”
I pushed the badge toward him, but he didn’t take it. “I tried to quit too. The chief didn’t flinch.”
“Ah.” Matthew reached out and took the badge. His fingers roved over the leather as if the answers were hidden in the seams. “So where does this leave us?”
“It leaves us right where we should be,” I said. “Unofficial partners on the job. And off the clock...”
Matthew watched me carefully as my words trailed off. His eyes, dark and murky, flicked over my body from head to toe, and he waited.
But I didn’t have anything left to say.
Then Matthew smiled and opened his arms.
I fell into them, letting my head rest against his chest, and his arms envelope my back. I’d felt like I was drowning for the right words, and the second our skin collided, I could breathe again. Our lips met in a kiss.
Epilogue
“And now,” the man said in the dim, dusky room. “It’s time.”
“But, master—”
He surveyed the image playing out before him. The vampire and the witch, lips locked as they fell into bed. He waved a hand over the clear image and brought about a deep sea of murkiness instead. A lightning bolt jolted through the crystal ball and the rumblings of thunder sounded overhead, rattling the table on which it sat.
“We cannot allow the witch and the vampire to gather the rest of the files,” he explained in a patient, slithery lisp. “If they do, it will ruin everything.”
“Master, the witch and her lover are stronger today than they were yesterday, and their bond will only grow deeper. The witch has already seen the first of the files—if she finds the other five, we’ll be finished.”
“She won’t. They’ve been hidden well,” he said with a slow, deliberate laugh. “But we don’t have any more time to waste.”
“What is it you propose we do?”
He withdrew a long, crooked dagger that gleamed in the moonlight. “Kill the witch.”
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed spending a little more time in Wicked! I’m very excited to let you know the next book in the series, THE HEX FILES: Wicked Moon Rising, is available for order on Amazon now! Click HERE to pre-order.
To be notified of new releases, please sign up for my newsletter at www.ginalamanna.com.
Thank you for reading!
Gina
Now for a thank you...
To all my readers, especially those of you who have stuck with me from the beginning.
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List of Gina's Books!
Gina LaManna is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Magic & Mixology series, the Lacey Luzzi Mafia Mysteries, The Little Things romantic suspense series, and the Misty Newman books.
List of Gina LaManna’s other books:
Wicked Never Sleeps
Wicked Long Nights
Wicked State of Mind
Wicked Moon Rising
Lola Pink Mystery Series:
Shades of Pink
Shades of Stars
Shades of Sunshine
Magic & Mixology Mysteries:
Hex on the Beach
Witchy Sour
Jinx & Tonic
Long Isle Iced Tea
Amuletto Kiss
MAGIC, Inc. Mysteries:
The Undercover Witch
Spellbooks & Spies (short story)
Reading Order for Lacey Luzzi:
Lacey Luzzi: Scooped
Lacey Luzzi: Sprinkled
Lacey Luzzi: Sparkled
Lacey Luzzi: Sauced
Lacey Luzzi: S'mored
Lacey Luzzi: Spooked
Lacey Luzzi: Seasoned
Lacey Luzzi: Spiced
Lacey Luzzi: Suckered
Lacey Luzzi: Sprouted
The Little Things Mystery Series:
One Little Wish
Two Little Lies
Misty Newman:
Teased to Death
Short Story in Killer Beach Reads
Chick Lit:
Girl Tripping
Gina also writes books for kids under the Pen Name Libby LaManna:
Mini Pie the Spy!