The wire in Ash's ear crackles but I can't understand what the voice is saying.

My eyes begin to adjust. There is light spilling under the door, illuminating the outline of Ash's shoes and the bottom of his pant legs. Soon I can make out shelves and the rest of his looming figure.

"They are doing a security sweep," he says. "Shouldn't be more than a few minutes. They think it was a prop mishap."

I nod even though he can't see me.

"You okay?" he asks.

"No." The honesty shocks us both, I think, because his body goes still and mine gets flaming hot. "I'm not okay, Ash. Are you kidding me?"

He turns fully to me, his broad shoulders a black line in the darkness, his face nothing but shadows. I have an insatiable urge to strike out at him. My hand flies, aiming up at his face. Ash catches my wrist, his finger shackling it.

I strike out with the other hand, just as sloppily. He catches that one too, just as easily.

A sob sticks in my throat. Ash lessens the pressure on my wrists, as if asking if I can be trusted. When I stay still, he releases. My skin feels branded from his.

I swallow the emotion in my throat as I lower my hands. They’re shaking. Anger wells up again, and it's like someone else is in charge of my body when I lunge at him.

Ash captures both wrists again. I struggle, thrashing in his grip. "Stop it," Ash seethes, his hands like manacles. I kick out, hitting him in the shin. He grunts. I kick him again.

Using his hold on my wrists, he pushes me sideways until my back knocks into one of the shelves, then he presses close, not so that he's touching me but so that my kicks don't have any power.

My chest heaves with each breath, my wool sweater brushing the button of his suit jacket.

"If you want to hit me, I'll let you. But realize that if you slap my face right now, I will walk out of this closet with your handprint on me. Is that what you really want?" His voice is so cold it burns.

My breath saws, tears burn. I lean my head back against the shelf, all the fight draining out of me. There are photographers out there.

Fuck.

He releases my wrists and fumbles briefly by the door until an overhead light blares to life. I close my eyes against the glare.

Digging my nails into my palms, I try to use the pain to ground me. It doesn't. I am a tornado of emotion trapped in a body. "Ash." My voice shakes.

He's standing by the door, a few feet away. Breath rougher than normal.

"I don't want to fight you." I swallow. It's so true.

"I don't know why you do."

My eyes fly open. He's half turned toward the door, giving me his profile. "Are you kidding? You seriously don't understand why I want to slap you?"

"My mission is to keep you safe." He doesn't look at me.

"For them!" I scream-whisper, pushing off the shelves behind me and pointing an accusing finger at the closed door, at the world outside this closet, at the forces pulling my marionette strings. The same ones pulling his. "Your mission could change to killing me, Ash." My voice drops to a true whisper.

He turns to me, leans forward, his quiet response loud in the intimate space between us. "I will keep you safe." There is no warmth in his tone, no tenderness in his eyes. But there is grim determination in both.

Book 1, A Spy Is Born: emilykimelman.com/SB
Book 2, Lone Spy: emilykimelman.com/LoS

Lone Spy is now available in ebook and paperback in my bookstore.

Other retailers will be available on June 5th.

If you preordered the ebook, check your email or visit your BookFunnel library. https://purchase.bookfunnel.com/EmilyKimelman

If you haven't started this series, A Spy is Born, Starstruck Thrillers Book #1, is still 40% off in ebook and audiobook. The deal ends soon, so now is the time to grab it.

Paperback preorders or Lone Spy should ship by June 6th and arrive in 7-10 business days. However, we can't guarantee an exact date, so keep an eye on your inbox (or spam) for tracking updates.

Audiobooks are not currently available for purchase or preorder. We’re working with our narrator to begin production within the next 6 months and will announce it everywhere once live.

Happy Reading,

Emily

📚 Pay what you want for the first 8 Sydney Rye Mysteries in ebook or digital audiobook. Save 40% on paperbacks:
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📚 Continue the adventure with books 9-12:
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📖 Preorder Feral Vengeance, Sydney Rye Mysteries Book 19:
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**This preorder is for 2026, so please be aware it won’t arrive until then.**

📙 If you’re all caught up with Sydney Rye, read A Spy is Born, Starstruck Thrillers Book 1:
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📖 If you read book 1, Lone Spy, Starstruck Thrillers Book 2 is now available exclusively on my website:
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