Coming Soon from Lyrical Underground
Dirty Deeds
A Likely Story by AJ Nuest
As owner of Dirty Deeds, a tech-savvy company specializing in the age-old art of revenge, Eden Smith knows first-hand that secrecy is critical. But when a dead body washes up on the shores of Lake Michigan clutching her business card, Eden’s well-constructed world begins to fall apart. Apparently, she’s not the only one with a passion for payback, and staying alive to outsmart a killer has become her most important job of all.
Hardened homicide detective Kelly Riordan is convinced Eden Smith is hiding more than she’s willing to admit. Years on the force have taught him that nothing is what it seems, and that couldn’t be truer than when it comes to investigating the alluring owner of a revenge-for-hire business. But revealing her past could put everything Eden has worked for in jeopardy. And trusting a man like Riordan goes against the very instincts that have kept her alive this long.
Kelly’s phone chirped, and he frowned, slipping it from the
pocket of his jeans. A glance at the caller ID, and he jerked to attention.
“Holy shit.”
past forty-eight hours.
not this call qualified as a problem was still up for grabs. “Riordan.”
was female, soft, held a slight hint of humor. Yep. He raked his hand through
his hair. This was gonna be a problem, all right. “I hope you don’t mind that I
called.”
called? What the hell was she trying to pull? For Christ’s sake, the woman
had not only located his private number, she’d dialed it and then acted like
calling him was no big deal. Meanwhile, he’d only spent the last two days
driving himself nuts trying to figure out her loca—
that. Which could only mean she also knew his efforts at trying to find her had
resulted in a dead end. So she’d called him. A power play to
establish right from the get-go exactly who was in charge.
want, I can always—”
line through the air, signaling for him to get some paper and a pen. Kelly
cleared his throat. “How can I help you, Miss…?”
had just slid down her throat. “I think the question you meant to ask is how
can I help you.”
she seemed to be enjoying this game she’d cooked up. A game she played without
giving him the parameters. “Had I known it would be this easy to get your
assistance, I would’ve started asking questions about you a long time ago.”
existed until Monday night, but based on the way her husky laugh brushed his
ear like a feather, she got the point.
South State Street on the twenty-first floor, room 4-B. I’ll give you ten
minutes.” She paused. “Funny, I was about to say come alone, but I know you
won’t. Besides, that sounds corny. Even for me.”
impulse, he hit *69 to dial back the number, but a weird busy signal repeatedly
beeped in his ear. Yep. He’d just been spanked and, at the same time, something
about her…
Damn, the woman had him intrigued.
