Hey everyone! Here's a quick teaser from the sequel to Dark Magic, titled Puzzle Pieces. That story will be posted at a rate of one chapter a day (just like this one) starting this Sunday (April 3rd). There won't be a ton of action, because Puzzle Pieces is a build up to the much longer third story (which is possibly the last story in this series), but hopefully you'll enjoy it anyway. (And, despite it being April 1st, this isn't a prank :D). For now, here's the teaser to tide you over!

Exerpts are pulled from the first two chapters of Puzzle Pieces

Tia's brow furrowed as she struggled to figure out where she knew the man from. After a moment it dawned on her. This was one of Brian's friends who'd been waiting at the Miami-Dade police precinct. The loud one who'd looked like he'd wanted to shake Brian for scaring him.

"Y-Yeah," she choked out, managing a weak smile. "You're one of Brian's friends, right?"

"Roman Pearce," he said, carefully letting go of her. "And yeah, I am. Someone's gotta keep that crazy white boy outta trouble."

"That sounds like quite a job," Tia said with a more genuine grin, some of her panic fading away. Roman grinned back at her and she noticed that her hand had wandered up to play with a strand of hair that had come loose from her bun. "Um, how's Brian?"

"You can ask him yourself, if you want," Roman told her, jerking his head to one side. Tia turned her gaze in that direction and found herself smiling again when Brian- O'Conner, not actually Spilner- waved at her. He was leaning against the silver body of a car with deep blue shapes and blue lighting on the undercarriage. Next to him was a pretty woman with dark brown curls pinned up at the base of her skull. She gave Tia a friendly smile before turning and saying something to Brian. "You going in?" Roman asked, redirecting her attention towards him. He gestured towards the club as he spoke, making it clear what place he was talking about.

Tia chewed on her lower lip, considering her options. This had been looking like the third unsuccessful attempt on her part to re-enter the club. Maybe she could actually manage to get inside the club if there was someone around to distract her. "Yeah," she said, determined.

"Great. You can come in and hang with us," Roman said with a wide grin.

"If you want to," a new voice cut in and Tia turned to see Brian smiling at her. "You don't have to."

"It's okay," she reassured the blonde haired man. "I could use some company. I, uh, I haven't successfully been back in Dark Magic since the kidnapping." The last sentence jumbled together in an awkward rush and her cheeks flushed pink.

"You got kidnapped from here," the woman said with a gentle smile. "It isn't uncommon for that kind of thing to have some kind of psychological effect."

"Yeah," Tia replied with a weak laugh. "It's not exactly fun though, and I have to go back to work sometime."

"If you think this will help, then we'll try it," the woman told her before offering her hand. "I'm Monica, by the way. Monica Fuentes."

"Tia Holloway," Tia said, shaking Monica's hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Nothing's bothering me." Mia's voice went defensive and she slipped the rag back under the counter, stepping out from behind it to straighten inventory.

"Bullshit," Letty replied, drawing the word out. "What is it? The truck heists? Dom running? Jesse's death?" Mia flinched a little at the mention of Jesse and moved deeper into the store, hoping to escape Letty's prodding. "Is it Brian?" Mia stiffened, her hand curling tight around a bag of chips, which crackled alerting Letty to her agitation. "Don't tell me that you're still in love with the pig!"

"I don't know, okay?" Mia spat back, whirling around to scowl at her old friend. "He told me it was all real, but I don't know whether he was lying or not." Mia buried her head in her hands with a low moan.

"Mia girl?" Letty questioned cautiously and Mia dropped her hands, revealing teary brown eyes.

"I just need to know the truth," she told Letty.

"So go ask him then," Letty said casually, not looking exactly pleased by the suggestion but managing to keep most of the venom out of her voice.