And Zoe saw them—the words that Alex wouldn’t say. She was the strongest woman Zoe had ever known, but something in the past few months had changed her, tilted her earth on its axis, and was threatening to spin her off into the void.
“Alex.” Zoe clawed and pushed and, finally, Sawyer let her out of the couch cushions. “What’s wrong? Where have you been? Whatever it is we can fix it. Is it the Agency? Another mole? Terrorists? Double agents? Rogue scientists? Is it a robot army? What have you been running from, Alex? Whatever it is . . .”
It was like a spark from the fire sprang up and caught inside of Zoe. She couldn’t touch it or feel it but she knew it was there and, if she wasn’t careful, that it would burn her sister to the ground.
But Alex just looked . . . annoyed. “Long story short, I’m in an enemies-to-lovers situation.” Alex took a deep breath. “And I think I’m gonna need your help.”
Acknowledgments
All books are team efforts—this one more than most—so I have to take a moment and acknowledge the incredibly generous and talented people who got me through the last year.
First, I need to thank Nicole Fischer, Madelyn Blaney, Laurie McGee, and the team at Avon for their wisdom, patience, expertise and, most of all, for taking a chance on Sawyer and Zoe. And me.
I’m now nineteen books into my career, and none of them would have been possible without Kristin Nelson and the team at the Nelson Literary Agency. Thank you for holding my hand as I made this jump.
Thank you to Shellie Rea, assistant extraordinaire, and to my wonderfully supportive family.
Finally, the greatest gift of my career has been the amazing community of writers, readers, and friends that I’ve somehow been welcomed into. So thank you to Carrie Ryan, Rose Brock, Sophie Jordan, Sarah MacLean, Lindsey Leavitt, Jen Barnes, Marianne Mancusi, Diana Peterfreund, and Michelle Wright for always replying to my frantic texts and keeping me sane.
But, most of all, I have to thank Rachel Hawkins, who not only let me borrow the surname of Sterling but also told me the exact thing I needed to hear at the exact moment I needed to hear it. This one is because of you.
About the Author
ALLY CARTER is the bestselling author of novels that have epitomized action-adventure YA romance for more than a decade. From the spy-centric
humor of I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You, to the globe-trotting glamour of Heist Society, and the nonstop thrill ride of Not If I Save You First, the name Ally Carter is synonymous with hilarious action and heart-pounding romance. She is also the writer of Netflix’s
#1 hit A Castle for Christmas. Now she is bringing her trademark style and voice to the adult rom-com market.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.