Page 111 of Burn the World Down

Bastian stood beside us, watching us with a smile and a cocked eyebrow.

I set Georgie down. “I’m a consultant, not an employee.”

“Semantics.”

“I’m not going to stop kissing my woman.Ever.” I slid an arm around her.

“I’m going to order in dinner tonight,” Bastian said. “Landon said he’ll drop by. Alessio’s away, and Cole’s a maybe.”

I figured Alessio was off on another side job. I glanced at Georgie and she nodded. “We’re in. I’ll bring?—”

There was a blur of movement to my right. Suddenly, a small figure launched through the air and crashed into Bastian.

Georgie gasped and I yanked her backward, out of the line of fire.

There were shocked cries as people nearby scrambled out of the way.

Bastian didn’t go down. He caught his attacker, but the added weight made him stagger.

That’s when I realized his attacker was female. Hell, it was the female dealer with the red hair I’d seen earlier.

She moved like a damn acrobat, slipping up and wrapping her thighs around Bastian’s neck.

As she twisted, this time he fell, trying to pull her off him.

They crashed to the carpet.

“Fuck,” I muttered.

“Aren’t you going to help him?” Georgie gasped, wide-eyed.

“No, he’s got it.”

Bastian yanked on the woman’s red hair and the wig fell off. She was short, petite, with a fit body. Her dark hair reached her shoulders and complemented large, brown eyes.

“Lark, I—” Bastian started.

She flipped and pinned him to the floor. “Shut up. I’m just here to kill you.”

Georgie sucked in a sharp breath.

I watched the tiny assassin pull a knife from under her vest. Bastian reared up and knocked it away.

She leaped off and launched a kick at him. He jerked to the side, and her booted foot narrowly missed his head.

I knew she was well-trained. There’d be enough power in that kick to incapacitate.

Bastian rose, his gaze locked on her. “Lark,” he growled.

“You killed him, now I’ll kill you.” She drew another knife.

The way she held it showed she knew exactly how to use it.

She threw it.

Bastian moved like water—fast, liquid. The knife embedded in the blackjack table beside him.

He rushed her, but she leaped onto another table, scattering chips everywhere. People screamed. Another knife appeared in her hand.