Assassin's Revenge

by Ward Larsen

  His eyes flickered with humor. “You shouldn’t put it that way.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because what I’m trained to do—there are no rules.”

  They both looked back out across the valley, reveling in the peace.

  “There is one thing you could do for me, Anna.”

  “What’s that?” she said.

  “Bring in a team next week to watch over Christine and Davy for a couple of days. I’ve got something I need to take care of.”

  “Okay … I can do that.”

  He turned back toward her. “They’re going to be home soon. I know they’d like to see you. I’ve got some soup simmering on the stove—you should stay for dinner.”

  Sorensen smiled. “Yeah … I’d like that very much.”

  * * *

  Eight days later, at the church of St. Nikolaus and Holy Spirit in Rosenheim, Sister Magda was exiting the weekly choir meeting when the deacon approached her.

  “Sister,” he said, “a man has come to see you.”

  “Who is it?”

  “I’m not sure. He speaks only English and mine is not very good. But he was insistent—it is you he came to see.”

  “Very well.”

  She went into the cathedral and found him near the entrance. A tall man in work clothes standing with practiced patience. He was holding a bag of tools in one hand, a heavy bag in the other. Because she hadn’t scheduled any work to be done that day, and perhaps because the prescription on her glasses needed updating, Sister Magda didn’t recognize him until she was very close. It was the man she had spoken to some months earlier—the one she’d allowed to use the computer to contact his family. She recalled now that he had left a very kind note of thanks.

  When she stopped in front of him, he smiled engagingly, his gray eyes alive with life. “Good morning, Sister. I trust you remember me?”

  “I do, my son.”

  “Good. And I haven’t forgotten you. Now, about that window casing…”

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I am deeply indebted to those who helped create Assassin’s Revenge. To my longtime editor, Bob Gleason, your sharp eye and creative input is always appreciated. To Elayne Becker and the staff at TOR/FORGE, you are the best in the business—thank you one and all. Debbie Friedman, your faultless copyediting and recommendations were spot-on.

  Much appreciation to my agent, Susan Gleason, for your advice, encouragement, and of course the wine. Captain Brian Fitting was of particular help in detailing the ejection system on the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

  And finally, thanks as ever to my family. Your support and input are never less than essential.

  BOOKS BY WARD LARSEN

  The Perfect Assassin

  Assassin’s Game*

  Assassin’s Silence*

  Assassin’s Code*

  Assassin’s Run*

  Assassin’s Revenge*

  Cutting Edge*

  *Published by Forge Books

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  WARD LARSEN is a USA Today bestselling author and five-time winner of the Florida Book Award. He has also been nominated for both the Macavity and Silver Falchion Awards. A former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, Larsen flew more than twenty missions in Operation Desert Storm. He has served as a federal law enforcement officer and is a trained aircraft accident investigator. His first thriller, The Perfect Assassin, is currently being adapted into a major motion picture by Amber Entertainment.

  Visit him online at www.wardlarsen.com, or sign up for email updates here.

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  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  Twenty-Seven

  Twenty-Eight

  Twenty-Nine

  Thirty

  Thirty-One

  Thirty-Two

  Thirty-Three

  Thirty-Four

  Thirty-Five

  Thirty-Six

  Thirty-Seven

  Thirty-Eight

  Thirty-Nine

  Forty

  Forty-One

  Forty-Two

  Forty-Three

  Forty-Four

  Forty-Five

  Forty-Six

  Forty-Seven

  Forty-Eight

  Forty-Nine

  Fifty

  Fifty-One

  Fifty-Two

  Fifty-Three

  Fifty-Four

  Fifty-Five

  Fifty-Six

  Fifty-Seven

  Fifty-Eight

  Fifty-Nine

  Sixty

  Sixty-One

  Sixty-Two

  Sixty-Three

  Sixty-Four

  Sixty-Five

  Sixty-Six

  Sixty-Seven

  Sixty-Eight

  Sixty-Nine

  Seventy

  Seventy-One

  Seventy-Two

  Seventy-Three

  Seventy-Four

  Seventy-Five

  Seventy-Six

  Seventy-Seven

  Seventy-Eight

  Seventy-Nine

  Eighty

  Eighty-One

  Eighty-Two

  Eighty-Three

  Eighty-Four

  Eighty-Five

  Eighty-Six

  Acknowledgments

  Books by Ward Larsen

  About the Author

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  ASSASSIN’S REVENGE

  Copyright © 2019 by Ward Larsen

  All rights reserved.

  Cover design by Peter Bollinger

  A Forge Book

  Published by Tom Doherty Associates

  120 Broadway

  New York, NY 10271

  www.tor-forge.com

  Forge® is a registered trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.

  The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

  ISBN 978-0-7653-9153-7 (hardcover)

  ISBN 978-0-7653-9154-4 (ebook)

  eISBN 9780765391544

  Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.

  First Edition: August 2019