When the Devil Drives

By L.J. Hayward

Work-life balance for a spy may be an oxymoron, but Jack Reardon likes a good challenge. And he’s almost bested this one. He’s settled into his Meta-State promotion as a field leader and into his new team with a second he can trust. Shop in order, he can take a day or two off when Ethan blows into town, their bargain finally starting to paying off.

Assassin Ethan Blade has few pleasures in his life—a decent cup of tea, a job well done, racing his fleet of supercars, and Jack. With plans to combine the last two into one thrilling weekend, Ethan’s attempt at having a normal, happy life may deliver everything he’s ever desired—or backfire spectacularly.

Jack and Ethan made a bargain, but the deal is thrown into jeopardy when the expectations and identities of the dealmakers shift—stoking the fires of doubt and jealously. Not to mention a contract killer out for revenge and an illness that threatens to reveal closely guarded secrets. Rewards are on the table for both men, maybe bigger than they even realize, if only they can renegotiate—and survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: L.J. Hayward
• Release date: Aug 31, 2018
• ISBN: 9780994457158

L.J. Hayward

L.J. Hayward has been telling stories for most of her life. Granted, a good deal of them have been of the tall variety, but who’s counting? Parents and teachers notwithstanding, of course. These days, the vast majority of her story telling has been in an honest attempt to create fun and exciting ways of entertaining others (and making money).As such, she is still a mad (always provoked!) scientist in a dungeon laboratory (it has no windows. Seriously, the zombie apocalypse could be going on outside and she’d have nary a clue) who, on the rare occasions she emerges into the light, does so under extreme protest and with the potential hazard of bursting into flames under the southeast Queensland sun.

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

When the Devil Drives

Copyright 2018, 2020 © L.J. Hayward

Smashwords Edition

Cover Art: L.C. Chase, lcchase.com

Layout: L.C. Chase, lcchase.com

When the Devil Drives Editor: Novel Solutions

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact the author at ljhayward.com/contact.html

ISBN: 978-0-9944571-5-8

Second Edition

April 2020

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Where Death Meets the Devil is a stunning debut. It hits all the right marks as a well-plotted, well-paced and well-written romantic suspense novel.

~ RT Book Reviews

Hayward ratches up the suspense in this action-packed piece, with constant twists and betrayals on all sides to keep things unpredictable. . . . Fans of tense action and smouldering romance will appreciate the emotional connection between Jack and Ethan; there’s plenty of chemistry

~ Publishers Weekly

The masterfully plotted dual-timeline and a swoonworthy assassin with a soft side hooked me from the start.

~ Cordelia Kingsbridge, author of Kill Game

An addictive, page-turning mix of high-stakes intrigue, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and slow burn romance. I couldn’t put it down!

~ Layla Reyne, author of the Agents Irish and Whiskey, and Changing Lanes series

Hayward is just masterful and these characters are so fascinating, this series is not to be missed.

~ Joyfully Jay

This series gets better with each book!
The pacing is great and shifting from one point in time to another is exquisitely done. I was literally hanging on every word and enjoyed each moment!

~ Gay Book Reviews

L.J. Hayward keeps you on your toes in this fast-paced, danger filled novel; it’s a roller coaster ride of a sequel to Where Death Meets the Devil.

~ The Novel Approach

While the suspense is what keeps these books so breathless, the heart of them is really Jack and Ethan. I have loved watching these men grow, both individually and together as a couple.

~ Joyfully Jay

Ms. Hayward has really put us through the ringer with twists and turns that kept us guessing at many things throughout this story. Needless to say, this was the perfect ending to an emotional and exciting suspenseful rollercoaster ride that I have never regretted picking up.

~ Love Bytes Reviews

I couldn’t tear myself from the story. It was brimming with twists and turns causing adrenaline rush. It’s ultimate thrill ride!

~ MM Good Book Reviews

About When the Devil Drives

When the Devil Drives (April)

April - Chapter 1

April - Chapter 2

April - Chapter 3

April - Chapter 4

April - Chapter 5

April - Chapter 6

April - Chapter 7

At Death’s Door (May)

May - Chapter 1

May - Chapter 2

May - Chapter 3

May - Chapter 4

Acknowledgements

Also by L.J. Hayward

About the Author

Work-life balance for a spy may be an oxymoron, but Jack Reardon likes a good challenge. And he’s almost bested this one. He’s settled into his Meta-State promotion as a field leader and into his new team with a second he can trust. Shop in order, he can take a day or two off when Ethan blows into town, their bargain finally starting to paying off.

Assassin Ethan Blade has few pleasures in his life—a decent cup of tea, a job well done, racing his fleet of supercars, and Jack. With plans to combine the last two into one thrilling weekend, Ethan’s attempt at having a normal, happy life may deliver everything he’s ever desired—or backfire spectacularly.

Jack and Ethan made a bargain, but the deal is thrown into jeopardy when the expectations and identities of the dealmakers shift—stoking the fires of doubt and jealously. Not to mention a contract killer out for revenge and an illness that threatens to reveal closely guarded secrets. Rewards are on the table for both men, maybe bigger than they even realize, if only they can renegotiate—and survive.

In this book, a character uses the phrase No wukkas. This is one of Australia’s most bogan slang terms. Its origin and meaning is no fuckin’ worries. How does this then become no wukkus? Well, we switch the first letters of the main words, no wuckin’ furries, in order to use it in polite company, and then we do what Aussies are best at and shorten it to no wukkas. Simple, right? No wukkas!

Jack.

Jack Reardon groaned and lifted his head enough to face the shadowy presence beside him. Ethan Blade, the most irritating person in the world, lay on his side, head propped up on one hand, pale eyes eerily visible in the darkened room and fixed on Jack. The bastard sounded annoyingly alert and refreshed.

Oh, good. You’re awake.

Glaring, Jack mumbled, I wasn’t.

Belly down in a soft bed, sleeping off two orgasms, Jack was quite willing to punch Ethan—except he didn’t have the energy. And frankly, neither should Ethan. Instead of being nearly comatose, the man was alert and shifting restlessly. Jack didn’t know what had caused Ethan’s aversion to bare feet, but the feel of his socked feet sliding against Jack’s legs was absurdly erotic. Combined with the fingers he drifted up and down Jack’s spine, it inspired the possibility of being interested in contemplating what they could do next.

I’m sorry. Ethan’s attempt at a contrite tone failed. I believe I’m still on Johannesburg time. I’ll let you sleep then. He didn’t move, just kept watching Jack with obvious intent.

Jesus, Jack muttered into his pillow. There’s clearly something you want to do. I might not respond much but go ahead. Knock yourself out.

Ethan’s low, throaty chuckle went a long way to fanning the spark of interest. It was a sound usually guaranteed to make Jack want to do stupid things. All it got this time was a slight lessening in Jack’s annoyance at being woken.

I only had talking in mind. However, given such carte blanche I might be persuaded to change my mind. His fingers trailed lower and Jack wondered if this was Ethan working his way towards asking to top. Jack had been waiting for it patiently, hoping Ethan wanted it too, but was unwilling to press the subject. Ethan had, after all, never pushed Jack on his no-kissing-on-the-mouth policy.

Ethan’s hand reversed direction and travelled back up to Jack’s shoulders. The assassin dug his fingers into the curls of hair laying across Jack’s neck. Tomorrow’s Saturday. Ethan dropped his head to rest on Jack’s pillow, close enough that his breath puffed across Jack’s cheek.

That’s great. You can read a calendar. Secretly, Jack was pleased. Given any regular weekend, Jack might or might not be working, depending on whatever job the Office of Counterterrorism and Intelligence had for him. Right now, he and Harry, his second, were still watching Delta Subject for External Threat Assessment.

The Indonesian national was in country on a student visa and financially supported by his mob-associated uncle, but he was an incredibly low-level threat and sitting a Tier Two op on him was like watching paint dry. At a stretch, there were reasons why Delta Subject should be monitored, but Jack considered it a very long stretch and had told the Singaporean unit leader, Keri Sing, as much with every report he gave on the subject. She didn’t agree and thus Jack was still wasting his time.

So, he’d told the Office he was taking the weekend for himself. Harry could reach him if something significant happened with Delta Subject. It was all about optimising opportunities because who knew when a seemingly harmless situation might explode into something major. It may have also had something to do with Ethan having hinted he would be back in country this weekend.

Ethan rolled his eyes at the calendar quip. I have plans this weekend and I was hoping you’d like to join me. I’ll understand if you can’t due to work, or just don’t wish to. Ethan nuzzled Jack’s jaw. I plan to leave around three a.m. and I’d appreciate being able to share the driving.

Wait a minute. Jack shoved Ethan back far enough