Hardened (Foxy Valdez Thrillers Book 2)

One Woman. One Mission. No Mercy.

Two years after tearing down The Committee’s leadership, Foxy Valdez thought she was free. But freedom comes at a cost—and in Hardened, that cost is everything. While trying to escape her past on a quiet Mexican vacation, a new threat emerges: The Committee has a new leader, and they want her gone for good.

When her world is shattered once again, Foxy turns to familiar allies—Old Man and Brendan Thor—and uncovers a chilling new plan: a global scheme of manipulation fueled by deepfakes, digital lies, and a tech billionaire with too much power. But trust is thin, and loyalties shift. As Foxy digs deeper, questions mount—especially about the mysterious Old Man and his true motives.

In this pulse-pounding sequel to Exposed, Foxy isn’t just fighting an enemy. She’s chasing vengeance. And this time, she won’t stop until justice is served—on her terms.

Read Hardened today and follow Foxy Valdez as she takes the fight to those who tried to silence her.

Excerpt from the book

The beach left them too exposed. The hot sun, cool breeze off the ocean waves, and Josie dripping in a green and white bikini after a dip in the ocean did little to chill Foxy Valdez’s operational awareness. Her anxiety. Deep-rooted instincts impossible to shut off. Another carefree day on the beach disallowed.

She surveyed their spot under the straw umbrella for any means of defense. No guns, of course. Unless she planned on squirting tanning oil in an assailant’s eyes, she had no weapons at all. Nothing else but their twin beach towels and Bogg Bag.

Maybe she could throw a shoe at someone.

Despite it being autumn, over a hundred people crowded the beach. Relaxing, napping, wading through the surf. Each one a potential threat.

Take this guy a football field to her left. He stood out among the other countless tourists on the resort’s beach this afternoon. With a physique that God Himself carved out in his mother’s womb. Out here in paradise all alone. No girlfriend. Surprising, as he possessed a hardy charm to go with the killer abs. A perfect male specimen in his early, maybe mid-thirties. A fighting-aged male. Sitting on a beach chair for the past hour. Staring at nothing in particular. With mirrored aviators that concealed his eyes’ focus.

In other words: a probable threat.

“He’s handsome,” Josie said. Salt water trickled down her short brunette hair and sun-kissed bronze skin. The green and white bikini exhibited her impressive physical features. Stunning enough to take any man’s or woman’s breath.

Foxy shook her head. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Josie replied with an inflated pout. “Should I introduce you?”

Foxy beamed at the joke. Her partner always hammed up the sad or jealous vibes if she caught Foxy looking at a man with lust in her eyes. From the beginning of their relationship, Foxy told Josie she’d be the first woman she’d be with. One of the few things about her past she’d been one hundred percent truthful about.

To her surprise, Josie confided that she’d been with men in the past, as well. She explored her attraction to women in early adulthood, while Foxy just found Josie to be one damn special babe. She couldn’t help falling in love with her. Knowing that brought tears to Josie’s eyes—being that high on someone’s totem pole.

At the end of the day, Foxy’s heart belonged to Josie. And her alone.

Foxy pulled her sand-covered hair into a ponytail, keeping her smile. Said, “I’m all yours tonight.”

“Come here,” Josie said.

Josie drew Foxy close. Pressed her lips against hers. Foxy embraced the kiss and returned the favor. Invited Josie’s tongue when it glided into her mouth. Not a care in the world for the other hundred or so vacationers on this side of the resort. As their tongues rolled around, they relished each other’s taste. Foxy’s envy for her partner’s carefree view of the world expanded. Nothing in this world she desired more than to turn her cautious brain off. To enjoy this kiss. To have this moment. Where in the vast universe only the two of them mattered.