Burning for an Assassin

by Serenity Snow

  Ace had brought a rifle with her, but Sabrina didn’t have a problem with the sniper position. Someone had to take it.

  “Let’s go,” Ace said after a pause. “Alexi’s ready.”

  She climbed out of the truck and grabbed the pack the rifle was in. Then, they walked down to the brick wall of the house that provided some protection against intrusion. Sabrina supposed that worked fine as long as the intruder wasn’t a shifter or couldn’t climb.

  She let the cats go up first, but Ace gave her a hand up before following the others. Sabrina watched them descend the tree while she climbed further up and removed the rifle from the pack on her back.

  Sabrina assembled it, standing on a branch and then laid down, each leg draped over one side while she braced the rifle against her shoulder to look through the scope.

  The signal was plain and simple. Shot fired from the front of the house. When it came, the cats dropped the trees into the backyard, some in human form. She focused her scope on the house now and spied a willowy brunette in an upstairs window.

  She was packing. According to Ace the wife wasn’t as involved in the trafficking. She did work for Lowell Grande’s legitimate business, the home shopping show. Grande/The Hatter came into view and she wished she could hear what they were talking about.

  A bullet skimmed the branch she was lying on hidden in by a cluster of leaves and Sabrina looked down to see a man pinned against the tree by a big black cat. Leaves in the tree wiggled and she glanced up wishing for cat eyes, but she didn’t need them.

  The gray cat leaped down at her, and she slipped, rolling off the branch. She lost her rifle, but managed to grab a branch. The cat landed on the branch and swiped at her face. She used her other hand to swing at it. The cat danced out of reach before lunging at her.

  She let go and landed on a big golden cat’s back. The cat growled as its legs gave way taking them to the ground. Sabrina rolled to her feet and the gray cat leaped to the ground landing lightly. It lunged at her and she grabbed it holding it tight between her hands.

  “I told you we’d have issues,” she said and shook the cat. It protested loudly and hissed, struggling to get to her. She broke its neck and tossed it to the ground before grabbing the rifle.

  Sabrina was hit in the jaw by a hard fist she hadn’t seen coming and winced. The man was masked, and didn’t waste time with conversation.

  He hit her again hard enough to sending staggering back to the ground. She grunted and he was there before her grabbing her hair and hauling her to her feet. Sabrina ducked the next punch.

  He slammed her into the tree and she drove her knee into his stomach. He grunted and leveled a punch at her eye but she moved to one side causing him to hit the tree trunk. She stomped on his foot and hit him in the throat.

  He let out a strangled sound and she jerked her knife free of its holster and he produced a gun. He fired and she leaned to one side and rolled along the ground. Coming up, she threw the knife at him as he fired off another round.

  He let out a cry and so did she as hot metal kissed the side of her arm on its way by. She was on him as the gun fell from his grip and he pulled the knife from his shoulder with a grunt that sounded familiar.

  She hit him and took advantage of his loosened grip to jerk her knife from his hand. He shoved her back and hurried for his gun. She waited for him to pick it up and turn before throwing again. The knife left her hand seconds before his bullet left his gun. This time, her knife hit with pinpoint accuracy.

  The shot went wide and he gripped his chest and got off another round as he collapsed to the ground.

  She went to him eager to see who he was. His eyes were still open as blood eased from the corner of his mouth.

  She bent and ripped the mask away. He stared back at her. Her eyes widened and then her mouth pulled into a taut line.

  “W-where did you learn to fucking fight?”

  Peter’s father had been Billy’s close friend. He’d been a city councilman and William had allowed him to have her more than once.

  “I was a mercenary,” she told him. He was a cop.

  “Pamela said you’d killed my father,” he rasped out. “They never found his body.”

  “And they never will,” she murmured. He’d burn to death in the house she’d set on fire to cover what she’d done that night.

  Peter had been nice to her, but she supposed he was as sick as his father.

  “Is Charles part of this sick twisted mess?”

  He gave her a cryptic smile and exhaled. His eyes closed.

  She got to her feet and grabbing the rifle, headed to the house.

  “Sabrina.”

  She stopped dead in her tracks and the mechanical voice drifted to her. Sabrina whipped around and brought the rifle up but she was too late. The crack of his gun, once twice, and the first bullet slammed into her before she even had time to tell her feet to move.

  She managed to hit the ground before the second one reached her. Sabrina rolled but didn’t have time to get off a shot before a second bullet pierced her shoulder. She let out a cry and came up on her knees, letting the rifle lay on the ground.

  “You’re a thorn in my side too.” He fired again but his gun jammed and she hurled her knife at him.

  “Fuck,” he cried and jerked the knife from his arm. He threw it back and she caught it. “Damn.” He took off at a run and it hit him in the back of the shoulder before she collapsed face down.

  ****

  Veda lounged on the floor listening to the movie with only half an ear. Her nerves were on end as she silently prayed for Sabrina’s safe return.

  They had barely begun to get to know each other, and she liked what she’d seen so far. Veda could already imagine waking up in Sabrina’s arms, going to sleep with her voice being the last sound she heard at night.

  Goddess, please bring her back to me unharmed. She prayed the silent prayer over and over, hands pressed tight to her chest.

  “Veda?” Darice called softly. “Veda? Are you sleeping? Sabrina wants to talk to you.”

  She opened her eyes unaware she’d even closed them, and fear slithered through her. Her pulse slowed as did her breathing.

  Darice tossed her the small device and she caught it. “Sabrina?”

  “We’re on our way back,” she said sluggishly.

  “Sabrina, you’re hurt,” she growled in an accusatory tone.

  “A little bit, but I’ll be fine.”

  “I’m going to kill you if you die, I swear,” she cried.

  Sabrina’s soft chuckle did nothing to put her mind at ease. “See you soon.”

  Veda put Darice’s phone on the coffee table and sat back to release the cover spell. She was so tense she had to work hard to pull the energy back. Veda felt it snap back into place and heard the garage door opening five minutes later.

  Veda was on her feet but Zyra was in front of her. “Give them a minute to get inside,” she said.

  Veda attempted to go around her and Darice grabbed her arm while Zyra went to meet the returning operatives.

  “I need to see her,” she insisted raggedly. “Let me go, Darice.”

  Darice shook her. “Stop it,” she snapped. “She’s hurt. She’ll need to be tended.”

  Veda’s eyes filled with tears. “I—” She broke off.

  “I know,” Darice murmured and pulled her into a hug. “We’ll know how bad it is soon, okay. Ace had a trained doctor with them.”

  She nodded and clung to Darice. “I’m falling in love with her and I don’t want to lose her.”

  “Shh.” Darice urged her down on the couch. “I’m not going to say you won’t, but you won’t be alone, Veda,” she assured her. “We’ll all be there for you.”

  “Zyra, get in here, we need blood fast, or we’re going to lose her,” a woman said urgently.

  Veda tried to get up, but Darice pushed her down.

  “Kari! I can’t get a pulse!”

  A sob was ripped from Veda’s thr
oat and clenched her fingers in Darice’s sides as tears burned down her face fast and hot.

  “Oh my God,” Chloe whispered and put a hand on Veda’s back. “Darice.”

  Veda didn’t know what was going on. She refused to lift her head. She didn’t want to see the pain she felt echoed in the faces around her. She trembled, the sobs wracking her body silently as aguish tore at her.

  “Kari, bring her back,” Ace ordered.

  “I’m not a miracle worker damn it,” the woman growled. “I don’t bring back the dead.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “Well, it’s done,” Black Jack said into the quiet room.

  The King of Clubs swirled the ice in his glass and winced before downing the last of his drink. It was all over. At least that part of it was. They were ready to begin the transition.

  “Is everything still set for the final auction?” he asked.

  “Yep, we’ll ship them out when he leaves,” Black Jack replied. “How’re the knife wounds?”

  “I’m fine,” he muttered. “Cain was a bit more of a worthy opponent than I thought, but she won’t be a problem anymore.”

  “Ace of Spades should back off now,” he said. “We’ll be able to get the kids out without her notice.”

  “Alexi was there,” The King of Clubs said. “She’ll be a problem.”

  “And we’ll deal with her when the time comes.”

  “That might be sooner rather than later considering her alliance with Mojo,” The King of Clubs said. “Anyway we should reward the girl in some way. Her assistance was invaluable today.”

  “Don’t pat yourself on the back so fast. Moles don’t last long in their organization,” Black Jack murmured. “Just don’t tell her anything they can use against us.”

  “I won’t,” he retorted coldly and rubbed his shoulder again. He would be careful with her. He knew from experience though that ambition and flat-out disgruntlement made strange bedfellows of the oddest people.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Two days later, Sabrina studied the scar carefully in the vanity mirror, marveling at Kari’s handiwork. She was still amazed at the power of faith healing. Kari called it something else, but she didn’t care what it was, it was nothing short of miraculous.

  Sabrina smoothed the tank down over the waistband of her cargo pants. This thing with Five by Five was far from over considering the last two players in the game hadn’t been caught and one of them had tried to kill her.

  She wanted her revenge and felt she had to see this through. She didn’t delude herself by saying it was in any way for Pamela. She didn’t care about the Cains. They all deserved to roast in hell. The way the sickness of Billy had so infected his children had started long before she and her mother had ever fallen victim to them.

  No, she was staying in this for her and the payback she owed the bastard who’d come after her and her woman.

  Her woman?

  “Sabrina? I need your advice.”

  She turned as the bathroom door open to reveal Veda in a simple dress, curves kissed by the fabric.

  “Do I look okay?”

  “It’s lunch with your father, Veda, and unless you’ve got some incestuous secret—”

  “Oh gods, no.” She made a face. “I just want to look nice.”

  “You look beautiful, angel,” she murmured and cupped her cheek. “You always do.”

  “Ugh, right.” Veda shook her head.

  Sabrina pulled her into her arms and kissed her.

  “Sabrina, you’re going to hurt you shoulder hugging me so tight, she protested.

  “I’m okay,” Sabrina murmured. Veda’s concern for her made her chest ache. Since her mother’s death care and concern for her had been sparse until she’d gone to work for Ace and Devin. Now, it overwhelmed her seeing the fear in Veda’s eyes. “I’m healing nicely.”

  Veda kissed her jaw. “I don’t want you to have a relapse or anything.” She caressed Sabrina’s back.

  “Kari’s a good healer,” Sabrina told her. “She couldn’t prevent the scarring but it’s a small price to pay to still be alive to be with you.”

  Veda’s eyes misted. “Sabrina, I promised myself I wouldn’t say it, but I need you to know.”

  “Then, tell me,” she said pushing her fingers into Veda’s hair. Her heart stopped beating. Surely Veda hadn’t asked her to stay with her to break up with her.

  “I should have told you that night. I keep asking myself what if you’d died without knowing that I’m falling in love with you?”

  Sabrina’s pulse thudded, and she exhaled shakily. “I’m falling for you too, Veda,” she whispered. “When I was dying, I heard you calling my name, begging me not to leave you. I turned around, and you held out your hand to me.”

  “Since you came back, you’re mine to keep.”

  Sabrina smiled. “I hope you know what to do with me.”

  “I think I’ll figure it out,” she said softly. “But are you sure you’re up to this meeting with my dad?”

  “Do you think that’s a good idea?” Sabrina asked.

  “I’m so nervous,” she said. “He’s made it clear he doesn’t approve of me being a lesbian.”

  “All that matters is what you think,” Sabrina told her.

  “I know, but I don’t want to fight with him.”

  “Then, don’t,” Sabrina said and led her from the bathroom into the spacious bedroom drenched in afternoon sunlight. “Let him come around, and I’m sure he will.”

  Veda nodded and rubbed Sabrina’s arm, sending shivers of pleasure through her. She loved being touched by Veda, she made her heart beat faster and her skin tingle.

  “Is this thing with the cartel over?” Veda asked.

  “Not yet.”

  Veda frowned. “Just be safe this time, baby,” she insisted. “Promise.”

  Sabrina chuckled softly. “I will.”

  “And you won’t lie to me about what’s going on.”

  “I might not answer your questions, but I won’t lie.”

  Veda cupped her cheek and kissed her. “I’m trusting you to keep your word,” she murmured and the doorbell rang causing her to tense.

  Sabrina smiled. “I’ll get that.”

  ****

  Veda didn’t follow Sabrina. She took a moment trying to steady herself as her stomach knotted with fear. If her father didn’t accept Sabrina, it would break her heart to cut ties with him, but she would do it. Sabrina was her world, her consort and she wouldn’t allow anyone to separate them.

  “You work for a magazine?” Claude asked.

  “I own Feminine Confidence Magazine,” Sabrina told him and Veda leaned against the wall in the hallway holding her breath.

  “Are you preparing for retirement?” he asked crossing his arms over his chest as his brows rose.

  “I am,” Sabrina replied calmly to the icy question. “I own a home, I’m financially stable, and I’m in good health.”

  Approval flitted across his face for a moment but vanished quickly. “If I asked you to break up with my daughter—I know you can’t be interested in her because she’s so attractive and sweet, would you?”

  “That’s part of why I’m interested in Veda,” Sabrina told him in a hard tone.

  “And what’s the other part, her inheritance?” he demanded icily.

  “I have my own money,” Sabrina replied. “In case you haven’t been able to find that out, I’m worth far more than you and Veda put together. She could be after me for my money, but the way she makes me feel I don’t really care.”

  Veda smiled, her toes tingling and a wave of rapture washing over her.

  “I’ve never known anyone like Veda. She’s a precious gem to me, and I will do anything to protect her even from you.”

  The silence made her stomach knot and ache. Her father would make it clear now that he’d do what he could to separate them.

  “And you know Veda is a practicing witch?” he asked tautly.

  “
Yes, and that doesn’t bother to me,” Sabrina told him.

  “It should because I’ll hex you if you hurt my daughter,” he said coldly. “But you’ll know no loyalty like mine or my coven’s as long as you’re good to Veda, and truly love her.”

  “I already love her, and I know I’ll only grow to love her more with time,” Sabrina told him so softly Veda almost didn’t hear her.

  “This mess with the cartel?” He pushed his hands into his pockets.

  “It’s working itself out.”

  “I’ve asked around and I know you weren’t always a professional. I only have one question to that.”

  “Ask.”

  “Were you working for the mob?”

  “Never have and likely never will,” Sabrina answered. “But the organization I worked for is every bit as dangerous. I’ll be working with them to end the cartel.”

  “We’ll protect Veda and include you in our protections,” he said carefully. “Don’t deceive her or me about this or you’ll regret it.”

  “I won’t deceive her, but how much I ever tell you is questionable.”

  “We’ll deal with this on an as needed basis,” Claude replied, his tone softer. “In the meantime, it’s nice to meet you, Sabrina.”

  Veda smiled and joined them. “Hi, Daddy.”

  ****

  Ace glanced up when Jasmia stepped into her office. “I thought you were going to work.”

  “I have a meeting in an hour,” she said. “I know you’re still beating yourself up for what happened to Sabrina, but it’s not your fault.”

  “I know,” she said. “None of us saw it coming, but I guess the planning was poor. Just like the attack at the safe house.”

  “Sabrina will forgive you,” Jasmia said and sat on her lap. She rubbed Ace’s head. “Have you talked to her?”

  “Yeah, but she doesn’t know, and I’m not going to tell her.”

  Jasmia kissed her jaw. “Is Darice going to help with the rest of the plan?”

  “Everybody’s in, and I think Sabrina will want revenge even more now than before. The feds are sniffing around the incident with The Hatter. I’m pretty sure the reason they showed up during the attack is because of the mole in their organization. He or she was trying to protect The Hatter, but we did confirm that Lowell Grande and The Hatter were one and the same.”