Chapter 16
BASTIAN
Something hot and violent stormed through me.
Whoever was doing this, they were after Lark.
Hell, no.
Everything inside me locked tight. That wasn’t happening. I wasn’t letting this fucker near her.
“This isn’t a coincidence,” she murmured. “It’s my fault they’re dead.” Her face had turned impossibly pale. “He’s here for me.”
I spun and cupped her jaw. “Well, he can’t have you.” Because you’re mine.
I didn’t add that bit. I knew her. That sort of declaration would make her run.
I took out my phone and snapped a picture of the threat on the wall. “Come on.” I grabbed her hand. “We’re going to your apartment to get your stuff. You’re staying with me.”
“What?”
“It’s not safe, Lark. He knows you’re here. He’s hunting you. I can keep you safe.”
“I can keep me safe.”
“Even the best assassins can stumble into an ambush.” I dragged in a deep breath, pushing away the images of her hurt and bleeding. “My place is more secure.”
She made a sound. “I attacked you in your penthouse, remember?”
“That security breach has been plugged.” Fear scraped my insides. There was no way I could leave her here alone, unprotected. “Please.”
Her gaze moved to my face. Then her nose wrinkled. “Fine.”
I pulled her closer and dropped a quick kiss to her lips. “Thank you.”
There was a faint blush on her cheeks, and I wondered if she was thinking about what I’d done to her in my kitchen.
What I wanted to do again very soon.
Now is not the time, Thorne.
Then she stiffened. “God, he could’ve gone into my apartment.” She shoved toward the front door.
“Wait. The cop is still out there.” I pulled her to a stop, then slipped my backpack off my shoulder. I saw curiosity spring to life on her face as she leaned over. I unzipped the bag and pulled out a dark windbreaker.
I held it up. Crime Scene Investigations was emblazoned on the back.
“This is the real deal,” she said. “Where did you get it?”
I shrugged the windbreaker on. “I keep a few things stashed for when I might need them. From the old days. Nash and the others have added to it.”
Her gaze narrowed. “You have a secret assassin stash of goodies under your casino.”
My lips twitched. “I do. It’s even kept in a secure vault.”
“Have you got weapons?”
“Yes. Including some knives I bet you’d like to get your hands on.”
She pressed her tongue to her bottom lip. “I want to see this secret vault.”
“If you’re very good, I might let you. Now, wait here. Slip out once I’ve got him distracted.”
She nodded.
I opened the door. The young cop’s head jerked up. “Hey—” he saw the jacket. “Oh, I thought all of you guys had left.”
I strode out. The key was projecting confidence. “I was just finishing up a few things. Hell of a scene.”
The man nodded. “I got a glimpse. Brutal.”
Behind him, Lark slipped out, silent as a wraith. She darted down the hall and into an apartment.
“Hopefully, we’ll find a clue to catch him.” I pulled out my phone. “I just got a message to check in the apartment across the hall. Apparently, there’s something that might be connected.”
The uniform waved a hand. “Sure thing.”
I strode to Lark’s door and opened it. She was waiting just inside.
“You’re good, Reaper,” she murmured.
“I know.” I closed the door.
As soon as I was inside, she dashed across the very empty apartment.
Taking in the sparse space, I frowned. I hated that she’d been staying here. With nothing. I took in the air mattress, the single duffel bag. There was no sign of Lark. No sign of her vibrant spirit.
She dug around in the bag, then clutched an iPad to her chest like it was a child. “I don’t think he came in here. If he did, he was very careful.”
No, he’d left a big enough message for her down the hall. Edgy energy filled me. I hated that she was in the crosshairs of some unknown sicko.
Every cell of my body was restless. I wanted a target.
I needed to find out who this asshole was.
He wasn’t getting anywhere near Lark.
“Is this all of it?” I took the duffel from her hands.
She nodded. “I travel light.” She pulled a face. “I don’t have much stuff anyway.”
My jaw tightened. I knew she wouldn’t have made a home anywhere. Ed would have taught her all his infamous rules, including not collecting things or getting settled.
I’d been the same for years. Constantly moving, avoiding friendships, avoiding connections. I hadn’t bought anything sentimental, nothing that I couldn’t leave behind.
But one day, while I’d been on the job, something had changed.
My target had been the worst of the worst. There was nothing he hadn’t been involved in: drugs, human trafficking, arms dealing. Worse, he’d also been a sick and twisted pedophile.
He’d been the one in possession of the uncut diamonds. After I’d killed him, I’d held those gems in my hand, and in that moment, I knew I had my chance to change things. I’d been an assassin for over a decade. I’d started to feel numb, hollow, just going through the motions.
So, I’d faked my death and walked away.
I’d built the Avernus, made friends, collected more things than I really needed. I gave away money behind the scenes to help people. It was no one’s business but mine that I helped veterans, the homeless, foster kids, people escaping domestic violence.
But I also knew that there had always been something missing.
Some void inside me. Maybe I’d expected it would always be there.
But now, I realized that void was shaped like the small assassin standing in front of me.
Damn.
It was a hell of a time to realize that Lark Smith was mine. Not just for a little while, for always.
I couldn’t risk scaring her off. I needed to show her why staying with me was the right thing to do.
“Let’s go home,” I said.
She cocked her head. “Home?”
“My place is your home for now. You’re staying with me.”
“I didn’t agree to that.”
“You want to find the Red Ribbon Killer, right? You want to stop him?”
“Yes.”
“Your best bet is for us to work together. I have the resources to help. Money, technology, manpower.”
Plus, I had to keep her safe.
She eyed me. “Okay, I’ll stay with you. But just until we catch him.”
We’d see about that.