The moon overhead lights our path as we lean over the edge. Sitting beside Killian, he adjusts the scope on the bolt-action sniper rifle. Though I’m a great shot, Killian is better.
“How is he?” he asks, peering through the hole. He makes a few changes, and I roll my shoulders, easing a knot of tension.
“Same. They think he’s waking up.”
“Good.”
I’ve kept tabs on Nico’s condition. Lex might be in charge of his uncle as next-of-kin, but Nico is my friend. I found him, and I can’t function if I don’t have a status on him every other hour. As we planned this trip, I made sure to check on him one more time.
I’m not sure how this will go. I needed this moment.
“Have a shot?”
He smirks. “Don’t insult me, Princess.” His cockiness makes me smile, rolling my eyes to the starry sky above.
“Think they’ll show?”
I stand, walking along the edge of the roof. This high up, the sounds below are muted, wind rushing past my ears. The lights from the harbor pull my eyes, only drowned out by the neon signs decorating Lex’s club walls.
This was the only place we could control. With Lex’s assistance—not willing—he let us set up this sting. With a few tip-offs placed between his men and mine—ones who made it apparent they thought little of women—I’m sure my activities have gotten back to Ronan.
If he’s half as good as I think he is, he’s already scouting the area out, looking for a way to attack us. He won’t come from above—that’s why we’re here—but he will look for a place to lay low and wait. He prefers shadows and attacking from behind.
Too bad for him, I was forged from that darkness. Shadows don’t scare me—theybowto me.
“Considering I know what the Board pays for a hit,” he muses, clocking the gun. “I’m sure he’s chomping at the bit to attack and collect his payday.”
Rolling my eyes, I cross my arms. “Thanks.”
Tugging me against him, I’m slapped with a blast of heat. He’s always so warm, practically begging me to melt against him.
“He’s not going to get you,” he promises. “I’ve kept you alive all these years. Some fucking dick with a pretty gun isn’t going to take you out. Not with me here.”
Slipping my knife out of my hip, I twist it into the air. “Not with me here, either.”
Pressing a hard kiss to my temple, he laughs. “I always love it when you’re vicious.”
Shifting away from him, I pull down the dress I snagged from the back of my closet. A tight blood red number, I hang off the shoulder, but my leather jacket hides the scars. In a pair of tallboots with spiked heels, I hide my knives between my thighs and by my ankles.
Pulling back to look into my eyes, Killian asks, “You ready?”
Am I?
Scoffing, I nod once. “I’m ready to end this.”
Fear doesn’t saturate my belly, nor does it cause my hands to shake. Facing Ronan is low on my list of priorities. He’s one step closer to finishing this—leading to taking down the Board and their bullshit attempts to own me. To own my family.
With one last lingering kiss, Killian points to the roof. “I’ll be here watching. And for the love of everything fucking holy, do not do anything stupid.”
Crossing my heart, I pretend to throw away the key. “I promise.”
Crossing the busy street, I hunker into the masses, nodding once to the bouncer at Lex’s club. He knows who I am—they all do. I’ve had a standing invite here since Nico ruled, so he doesn’t stop me from entering, unlocking the red rope for me mutely.
Inside the front door, I slide my jacket off, handing it to the girl behind the counter. She doesn’t smile—and I don’t in return. She scans me, seeing the knife under my dress, but she chooses to remain silent. Good choice. I wouldn’t have removed them anyway.
Further inside, the room is a pumping mess of chaotic bodies and loud, beating bass drops. The room surges and falls, a tide to sweep me away, but I continue through. The red lights flicker, blinking overhead, and I duck under arms, between bodies.
Sweat dampens my brow and the back of my neck. I hate these types of environments. I’m not in control—I can’t see the exits. But it makes it more likely to tempt an assassin if I’m out of my comfort zone.
