Amaranthe smiled at them. “You actually didn’t tell me about Dario’s interrogation and the information he got out of the prisoners. Geno did, which means you told him because you were worried I wouldn’t like Dario’s methods.”
“No one likes Dario’s methods, but sometimes they’re necessary,” Geno said. “You’re very aware of what happens in interrogations, Amara.”
“Sadly, I am,” she whispered and turned toward the front.
A woman emerged from the shadows and stood for a moment looking around the shop. The riders knew she was orienting herself before she moved around the store. They watched as she stealthily made her way through the racks to the edge of the hallway, where she appeared to be listening for Miranda’s return.
Deliberately, Geno crinkled a sheet of the tissue paper Miranda used to wrap the articles of clothing in for shipping. The moment the assassin heard the crumpling sound, she drew a short-bladed knife and stood to one side of the open hallway door.
Geno held up his hand to stop the others from moving.Lucca, you stay with Miranda. In case this woman manages to slip by, I want you to guard Miranda and make certain she’s safe. Amaranthe and Salvatore, choose a shadow and come up behind her. If possible, we’d like to take her alive. If we do, we’ll finally have someone who will be able to provide answers for us.
You’re using yourself as the bait, Amaranthe said.
He could tell she wasn’t happy with him. What did she think? He’d let her be the bait? Not likely. He didn’t care how fast she was. He could control the woman’s knife with sheer strength alone. He rustled the tissue paper again and took a light step on the floor, allowing the tile to creak under him.
Amaranthe moved into a shadow and disappeared. Salvatore stepped up, toe to toe.She’s the real deal, Geno. Amara is. You’ve got it all right in front of you. I don’t care what Stefano did to us. We’re still a family. You. Lucca. Me. And now Amaranthe. Don’t you fuckin’ blow it.
Geno might expect Lucca to come at him with a lecture, but not Salvatore. He nodded.My brain’s working again.
Good.Salvatore stepped into a shadow and was gone as fast as Amaranthe. Geno found himself smiling. He’d raised his brothers to be men. They didn’t take shit off anyone, not even him. He was proud of them. He liked that they stood up for Amaranthe.
In position, Amaranthe told him.
He waited, creaking another tile.
In position, Salvatore assured him.
Miranda is covered, Lucca said.
Geno immediately glided down the hall toward the main showroom, remaining perfectly silent. There was no more deliberately stepping on tiles that creaked under his feet. He moved in silence, going right up to the open door. Hearing her sudden gasping inhale as he loomed over her, he reached to shackle her wrist before she could strike with the knife. Ruthlessly applying force to the pressure points so her fingers went dead and she dropped the blade, he spun her around easily, locking her to him.
Salvatore and Amaranthe checked her for weapons, stripping her of two more knives before declaring she was clean. She glared at them with hate-filled eyes but refused to speak.
Geno didn’t ask her to speak. He didn’t need her to say a word, not there. He wanted her back in the interrogation room, where they could ask her questions and get much-needed answers. He waved Amaranthe toward the shadow that would take them out of the shop, into the street. She stepped into it. Salvatore waited, stepping to one side as Geno shoved the assassin toward the shadow.
Stop, Geno, don’t bring her out here. She has a partner. She’s in communication with him and he’s waiting.
Amaranthe’s voice didn’t portray distress, but Geno wasn’t taking any chances.Salvatore, go. She may need help. I’ll take this one out another way.
Geno turned the woman and shoved her toward the back room. As he did, Salvatore stepped into a shadow to take him outside the front of the store to join Amaranthe.
Amaranthe hissed her displeasure in Geno’s mind.Her partner stepped into a short tube with so many feeders it’s hard to track him quickly. Watch out, Geno. I think he’s coming for you.
He wanted to tell her to stay back, but he knew shewouldn’t listen.Salvatore, do you see him or evidence of his passing?The only thing he could do was try to have his brother keep Amaranthe safe.
Geno forced the woman into the shadow that would take them out the back door onto the small round porch that led to the street behind the boutique. The moment they emerged onto the porch from the shadow portal, his prisoner locked to his front, Geno knew it was too late. He tried to yank the young woman back inside the tube for her safety, but an older man was waiting for them, and he stepped right into her and slammed a knife into her heart.
“To keep you from the horror the monsters would subject you to,” he murmured and stepped into another shadow.
Geno’s first instinct was to try to save her. He knew the effects of the poison, but he couldn’t stop himself from lowering her to the ground. Her eyes were already closing, breath ceasing, heart stopping by the time he had her flat on her back on the porch.
Lucca. She’s down. Dead. I’m going after her killer.
Who’s dead?Lucca demanded, fear in his mind.
The assassin. The woman. Her partner killed her.Geno included Amaranthe and Salvatore in his communication.I made it easy for him.There was disgust in his voice.
He stepped into the same shadow, careful, every sense flaring out in an effort to uncover the male, to see if he had waited for Geno to follow him. He had to know Geno would. He would be thinking in terms of an ambush. He could move much faster because Geno would have to be cautious, always cognizant of the man lying in wait for him.
