Wherever It Leads
Wherever It Leads
Copyright (c) Adriana Locke, 2016
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
Cover Art:
Kari March,
Kari March Designs
Cover Photos:
Dollar Photo Club
Editing:
Lisa Christman,
Adept Edits
Interior Design & Formatting:
Christine Borgford,
Perfectly Publishable
Excerpt from Sacrifice by Adriana Locke
Excerpt from Last Call by Staci Hart
THE EXCEPTION SERIES
(each novel can be read as a standalone)
The Exception (book 1)
The Connection (book 1.5)
The Perception (book 2)
STANDALONE
Sacrifice
To my mother.
You taught me to work hard and not sweat the small stuff. I’m still working on the latter.
Thank you for teaching me what a mother’s love is supposed to be . . . and how to make a great pizza. I love you.
Fenton
“T
ell him I got his message yesterday and I don’t need him to blow me. But thank him for the offer.”
Grabbing the nearest shopping cart and sliding it in front of me, I toggle the phone against my shoulder. It nearly slides off my rigid muscles, a mix of workout fatigue and work stress setting up shop across my back.
Duke sighs through the phone, not even pretending to hide his frustration. “Fenton, that’s not true,” he says, exasperation thick in his voice. “He didn’t ask to blow you.”
“Obviously it’s not fucking true. I just want to hear him have to deny it.”
“You know what? Just forget I called. I’ll come up with a response myself.”
“That’s probably the best idea you’ve had yet.”
Duke sighs again, louder this time. I’m sure I’ve been an asshole to deal with since I hired him, but I gave him plenty of warning what he was getting into. This entire situation, the one he was hired to deal with, has been a complete clusterfuck from the start. There’s nothing more vexing than being able to fix a problem and having your hands tied behind your back while being needled that the problem exists. I know it exists. I’m keenly aware and no one wants it fixed more than me.
“I’ll just tell them the status hasn’t changed.”
“I could’ve taken care of this,” I bite out.
“I know. I know.”
“And they wouldn’t let me.”
“I. Know.”
“I know
you
know. Try to impart some of that knowledge to
them
. I’m playing by their rules right now, but I’m starting to lose patience with their—”