Innocence & Betrayal
Hidden Truths #2
By: Brittney Sahin
Releasing March 1, 2016
Self-Published
Blurb
Reserved biochemist Ava Daniels has spent the last six months working on a top secret assignment for Homeland Security. One morning, after a night of finally letting loose, she discovers her lab empty and her boss missing. Interrogated by the very organization she works for, followed by unknowns, and attacked, Ava finds herself in search of answers as the clock winds down.
Aiden O’Connor, Irish born and raised, attempted to put his past behind him when he opened a bar in the heart of Boston. Until one night, when Ava Daniels shows up asking for help. She is like no other woman he has ever met—breathtakingly beautiful, brilliant, and in terrible danger. Once he learns the true nature of her problem, Aiden realizes she is the key to unlock his past . . . and perhaps to get a second chance.
Innocence & Betrayal, Book 2 of the Hidden Truths series, is a stand-alone novel that features appearances from some of your favorite characters in Book 1: Silenced Memories.
Hidden Truths is a new romantic suspense series, which features ex-Marines in these stand-alone novels--no cliffhangers. To avoid spoilers though, it is recommended that the books be read in order, as characters make cameo appearances in other novels. Each book in the series is riddled with mystery and romance, as lies and corruption are unraveled to reveal the truth.
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2016/01/innocence-betrayal-hidden-truths-2-by.html
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28256052-innocence-betrayal
Author Info
Brittney Sahin began writing at an early age, with the dream to be a published author before the age of 18. Although academic pursuits (and, later, a teaching career) interrupted her aspirations, she never stopped writing--never stopped imagining.
It wasn't until her students encouraged her to follow her dreams that Brittney said goodbye to Upstate New York in order to start a new adventure in the place she was raised: Charlotte, North Carolina. Here, she decided to take her students' advice and begin to write again.
In 2015, she published her first novel, Silenced Memories. When she is not working on upcoming novels, she spends time with her family. She is a proud mother of a spunky toddler and a lover of suspense novels, coffee, and the outdoors.
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Excerpt:
“So, will you stick to the deal?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned back against the column once more. His sex appeal was downright dangerous, she decided, as her eyes took in the length of him. The contrast of his dark hair and blue eyes was a delicious sight to behold on a man. It was a feature her twin was known for and, of course, Ava had it, as well. But mixing in the broad shoulders, narrow hips, and swoon-worthy Irish accent . . . she felt at once in strange territory, and yet at home. He was like the best chocolate cake on earth—she wanted to eat the whole thing.
Aiden squinted his eyes at her a bit, pushed away from the column, and stalked forward, closing the gap between them. “Let me walk you out.”
“But—”
He placed a finger over her lips, silencing her. His touch caused some strange shock to parachute throughout her system. “I’ll walk you out, and I’ll meet you wherever you’re staying when I close up the bar tonight.”
When he removed his finger from her lips, her instinctive reaction was to wet them. “Oh. Okay.”
His hand rested on the small of her back as he guided her toward the exit of the bar. The cool air slapped her in the face as he pushed the door open. Where had that sudden chill come from? As she turned to say goodbye, she noticed he was laser focused on something behind her. “What is it?”
He gripped her arm without speaking and tugged her back inside the bar, where he shoved his free hand through already-messy hair. “Why are you being tailed by a Fed?” he asked with a rough voice.
Her brows snapped together and she looked down at his firm grasp on her wrist and back up into his eyes. “I didn’t think I was.”
“A damn Fed is parked outside my bar, and I get the distinct feeling it has something to do with you.”
“How do you know—” Before she could finish, Aiden jerked her forward, pulling her toward the back of the bar. He pushed open a black door that read “Employees Only” and turned to face her only once the door shut behind them.
They stood in a narrow hallway—he was too close. His edginess rippled from his body in tidal waves of crazy Irish energy. “I didn’t know I was being followed, but I can explain why—it’s about Henry.”
He finally released his grip and folded his arms. “I don’t want to be involved in this if you are in some kind of trouble with the Feds.”
“So you’re going to help me? You changed your mind?” Hope bounced around inside her before it came crashing down in the realization of his recent words. “Or . . . you were going to help me—until you saw the Fed?”
“Stay here,” he ordered before heading back into the bar.
What the hell? She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone while she waited for Mister Split Personality to come back. No missed calls.
Before she even realized he had returned, her phone was lifted from her hands.
“Strip.”
“What?”
He pulled her farther down the hall and into an office. “Take off your clothes.”
“You’ve lost your mind.”
“I need to know you’re not wired.”
“What is with the paranoia? I’m the one being followed—not you!” She crossed her arms and stood firm. “Or is there something you aren’t telling me?”
“Just take off your damn clothes. Don’t worry, you can keep your knickers on.”
“My what?” She arched her shoulders as her hand flew to her chest.
“Your undergarments. Bra and panties . . .” He moved toward her and held out his hand. “Purse, please.”
She furrowed her brow but handed it over to him. He tossed her bag on his desk and turned back toward her, her cell phone still in his hand.
“I’m not wired. I promise. And I would know if someone was tapping me. I have showered since I was interrogated.”
His face fell. “Since what?”
Oops. “It’s kind of a long story. I planned on telling you later.”
“Just take off your bloody clothes.” He leaned against the edge of his desk. “I’m powering off your phone.”
“What is your deal?” She still hadn’t removed an article of clothing. Over her dead body!
“Listen, I’m not helping you if you don’t do what I say.”
Relief and surprise settled in the pit of her stomach. But after his peculiar behavior, could she even trust him? “So you’re going to help me?”
“Yes, I’ll help you, but only if . . .”
She nodded as she searched for some inner lioness to give her strength. “If I remove my damn clothing?” she finished, mimicking his accent. She scowled at him, but followed instructions. She pulled her blouse over her head in one swift movement, trying to tuck away the fact of her shyness.
His eyes shifted from her face to her nude demi bra. He moved toward her and she took a step back, worried about his intentions. He circled around her and jutted his chin forward, waving his hand at her jeans.
She was pissed, but also strangely aroused to be stripping in front of him. Her hands slipped to the button of her pants before she unzipped them. She slid them down to her ankles, humiliation brightening her naturally honey-tan skin, which was a gift from her Brazilian grandfather.
He dipped his gaze down to her nude bikini bottoms and shifted his attention back up to her face. “You can put your clothes back on.” He shut his eyes for a moment, as if the image of her standing naked in his office was painful to him.
“Thank you,” she spat while pulling up her pants. She extended her hand out toward him. “My shirt, please?”
“Shit. Sorry.” He shook his head and gave it back. “Where are you staying? A hotel?”
She nodded once.
“Can’t take you there and I don’t want to bring you to my place. We’ll go to another hotel, for now.”
First she stripped for him and now he was taking her to a hotel?
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