Chapter 29
LARK
Ilifted my coffee mug and slurped.
“Ugh.” I held it away and pulled a face. It was cold.
I set it down on the island, among the mess of my laptop, papers, and files. I was running search after search. Trying to find out who the man marked Red was.
Tapping the keyboard, I looked at the photo again. The guy looked so ordinary, but I had years of reading people. I knew when to trust my gut.
He wasn’t normal.
He was a killer.
He was the man who’d murdered my parents.
“Who are you?” I whispered.
My neck was aching from hunching over the laptop for so long. I rubbed it and curled my feet up on the stool. I had no idea where Bastian was. He’d gotten a phone call and headed out to take care of something in the casino. He’d kissed me senseless before he’d left.
I touched my lips. My body still felt tingly and sensitive. He’d sure changed my outlook on sex. I smiled. Totally.
But I couldn’t imagine it being anything like this with anyone else.
I chewed on the end of my fingernail. I’d enjoy it while it lasted. Bastian wouldn’t be mine forever. We’d hunt down the Red Ribbon Killer, and then I’d leave.
I was designed to be alone. Ed had trained me that way. I looked around the penthouse. I wasn’t made for homes and happily ever afters. My work was on the road.
Besides, Bastian could have anyone. He liked interesting, beautiful things. Before long, a willowy blonde or a leggy redhead would catch his interest, and he’d move on.
An oily feeling mixed in my stomach.
I pulled in a breath. I was used to dealing with circumstances I didn’t like. I’d deal with that when the time came.
There was a knock at the front door. I rose. If it was Bastian, he’d just let himself in. I glanced at the laptop. I was waiting for some informants to ring or email me back. I’d sent the photo of Red out to a few people.
But I wasn’t expecting anyone to show up here.
I grabbed one of my knives from the counter. My fingers curled around the hilt as I moved toward the door. I checked the peephole.
And saw Georgie standing on the other side.
Crap. I opened the door.
“Hi.” I hid the knife beside my thigh.
She smiled brightly. “Hi. I saw that Bastian was locked away with Nash in the security office, so I thought I’d pop in and say hello while I’m on my lunch break.”
“Lunch?” Shit, how long had I been working?
Georgie came in and turned to face me. “First, I wanted to check on you. Nash wouldn’t share any details, but he said you had an upsetting situation the other night.”
I blinked. She was…worried about me. “Thanks. I’m doing okay.”
“Good. I knew Bastain would take care of you. But if you ever want to talk, I’m here.”
I blinked again. “Thank you.”
She nodded. “And second, I wanted to apologize.”
Now, I frowned. “For what?”
“Dinner the other night. You were uncomfortable—”
I held up a hand. “Georgie, you have nothing to apologize for. I just—” I blew out a breath. “As you were talking, I realized I’m not like you. I’m not like regular people. My parents were murdered when I was ten.”
Georgie gasped, sympathy filling her face.
“I was taken in by a CIA agent and trained to be an assassin. I had no friends, I didn’t go to college. All I’ve known is killing. You on the other hand, are beautiful, stylish, educated, came from a small town where you no doubt had a loving family.”
“Lark.” Georgie took a step closer. “My mom died of cancer just as I was finishing high school. I helped my Dad take care of her and put off attending my dream college. I got my degree at the local college, then my brother was killed in action in Afghanistan. Then my dad died, and my sister was taken in by a club owner here in Las Vegas who promised to make her a star.”
I just stared at her.
“Instead, he got Viv addicted to drugs, abused her, shared her with his friends, then he killed her.”
“Georgie,” I murmured.
“I was a wreck. I had nothing but anger and grief. Then, Nash and the others helped me kill Snyder, the club owner. So, you aren’t alone. What is normal anyway? Everyone has something going on in their lives. I am sorry about your parents.”
“Thanks. I never knew who killed them…but I do now. That’s what happened the other night. And now, this killer is targeting me, and Bastian and I are working to stop him.”
Georgie gasped, her cheeks turning pale. “The killer is targeting you?”
“Yes, but it’s lucky that I’m very hard to kill.”
The other woman shook her head. “You’ll fit right in around here.” She glanced at her watch. “Oh, I have to get back. We have the opening of the Isis and Osiris show tomorrow, so it’s all hands on deck.”
“I saw the dress rehearsal.” Well, some of it.
“It’s going to be amazing. Look, let’s get together for coffee. No, a cocktail. Girls only.”
I smiled. “I’d like that.”
Georgie stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me.
I froze, and stood there like an idiot. I’d only ever been hugged by Bastian.
Georgie didn’t seem to mind. She stepped back with a smile. “See you later.” Then she was gone with a wave.
Wow. I might have just made a friend.
My computer pinged. I moved back to the island, and saw a message from one of my informants. I scanned it.
“Dammit.” My shoulders slumped. Nothing.
After refilling my coffee mug, I sat back down and opened another of Ed’s files. The hours ticked away and I had a headache threatening. I much preferred action to sitting and reading boring files.
I opened the next file. It was an old CIA report. Lots of it was redacted. I started scanning.
A new intake of recruits. Ed had made notes on some of the most promising. There were training logs.
I scrolled and saw a picture of a group of young agents. It looked to be circa the early 2000s. Ed looked so much younger in the picture.
Seeing him had mixed emotions washing through me.
Then I stilled. There was a guy at the edge of the photo, his head turned away from the camera.
My heart kicked.
Was it him?
I pulled up the other image of Red and put them side-by-side. It was hard to tell because he was in profile. The men had a similar jawline, but the hair was different.
The front door opened and Bastian strode in. My belly clenched. God, it should be illegal for a man to look so good in a suit.
His gaze locked on me and he smiled that sexy smile of his. My heart did a crazy little squeeze.
“Hello.” He cupped the back of my head and kissed me until I felt dizzy. “How are you, my darling?”
“Well, I sorted through so many files it’s lucky that I can still see.” I pointed to the screen. “I may have found a match. This photo is of Ed with a bunch of young, green agents circa 2000.”
Bastian frowned, staring at the screen. “It could be him. You think he was a CIA agent?”
“I don’t have anything concrete yet.” I blew out a breath. “I think I’m going to start hallucinating soon.”
“I swear he seems familiar.” Bastian rapped his fingers on the island. “I’ve seen him somewhere.”
He couldn’t have known the guy well or he’d remember. I doubted that Bastian would forget anything.
With a shake of his head, he pulled me off the stool. “I think you need a break.”
“Bastian—”
“No arguments.” He towed me to the front door. “I need a break too.”