Page 1 of Scarlet Mark

Prologue

Killian

Nikolai leaned one leather-clad elbow against the bar top, angled his body toward me, and cocked a dark brow. “So, you want to tell me how you convinced Calthorpe to help Ava?”

I knocked back my scotch and set the glass down. “Did I do that?”

“You tell me.”

“Why don’t you ask Ava?” I suggested casually, ignoring his penetrating stare. Nikolai exuded a lethal air, one that caused everyone around us to keep a wide berth. But he didn’t scare me. Never had. That was what made us such good friends. From that first night in this very bar, we’d bonded over a mutual respect for the other’s deadly talents.

“I did,” he replied, his voice flat. “She won’t tell me shit. Claims she doesn’t know anyone named Dagger.”

My lips twitched. “Yeah? Fancy that.”

“Come on, man. Tell me what happened.”

I shook my head. “Sorry, Nik. You know I don’t kiss and tell.”

He snorted and snatched up his glass to down the contents. “You’re an ass.”

“I am,” I agreed, signaling the bartender for another round with a flick of my wrist. “But I’ll admit, your Ava is slowly winning me over.”

“I thought you didn’t know each other?”

“We don’t,” I replied, not missing a beat. “But you’ve certainly told me all about her.” The woman had caused him quite a bit of trouble over the years. Hence the reason I didn’t like her. At least not until recently. Still… “I’m surprised you forgave her.”

He sighed. “Yeah, it’s quite a story, actually.”

“Color me intrigued.” My phone vibrated in my pocket while I spoke, forcing me to pause before I could request an explanation. “Ah, damn.” The contents on the screen had me sighing and shaking my head. “Seems our reunion is being cut short.” Arthur had me on a midnight flight out of Miami, giving me—I glanced at my watch—ninety minutes to get to the airport.

“Mission?” he guessed as I signaled the bartender again.

“Yeah.” A missing-person case. Pretty cut and dried, apart from the client’s name. One glance at it confirmed why I’d been assigned. Mingling with the world’s elite was my specialty, thanks to my family name. “Can we close our tab?” I asked as the bartender approached. Fortunately, she’d not yet poured our next round.

“Sure, babe,” she replied, sounding disappointed.

I didn’t bother considering why, just focused on my best friend. “This reunion isn’t over. I still want the details.”

“How about I give you the abridged version while I drive you to Miami International?”

Handing the bartender a few large bills that more than covered our tab, I nodded. “A solid plan.” Especially as he had the car, not me. “I want to hear all about how Ava brought you to your knees.”

He chuckled. “Just wait, man. You’ll have your day.”

“Not fucking likely.” I enjoyed my single life. No one to report to other than myself. It made me the boss in every way that mattered.

“We’ll see.” He clapped me on the back. “Let’s go.”

Killian

Three weeks.

Three. God. Damn. Weeks.

That was how long it took me to track down Amara fucking Rose. The woman had disappeared without a trace, something I usually would have admired if it hadn’t been my task to find her.

And to end up here, of all places.