Page 96 of Scarlet Mark

My future had finally arrived, and I wanted every minute of it with this man by my side.

And the way he whispered my name now told me he felt the same.

He found me. Held me captive. But I captured the most valuable item of all—the heart of an assassin. Ofmyassassin. And I would never be letting him go.

“I love you,” I said again, solidifying our unspoken promise to one another.

“I love you, too,” he replied, his mouth taking mine.

Maybe Amir was right. Maybe I did belong at the top. But it would be his throne I went for next.

With an armed knight at my side.

Epilogue

Amara

One Year Later…

The Greek cafe reminded me a bit of the restaurant Killian and I once dined at in Cairo. It was the little touches, like the way the waiter excitedly spoke English and the very helpful host who called meMrs. Dagger.

But the company this time was a lot less charming.

I swirled my wine, waiting.

Amir would arrive any minute now.

It’d taken us ten months to track him down, and two more to plan this moment. Killian waited outside, his voice warm in my ear as he murmured, “I do love that dress on you, kitten.”

My lips curled at his words. “I know.”

He was watching me from a sniper rifle one roof over, just in case things went south. But I knew they wouldn’t. I’d arranged everything, including the meeting.

“Daddy dearest just appeared,” Killian informed me softly. “He’s alone. No Taviv.”

I expected as much.

From what I’d gathered over the last year, Taviv wasn’t nearly as compliant as he’d first appeared. I still didn’t fully understand him, but with a father like ours, I suspected his position in this life wasn’t one of his choosing. That didn’t mean I would allow him to live indefinitely, but he could live for now, while I kept a close watch on him.

Amir, however, would die.

Today.

“You ready, kitten?” Killian asked, his low voice seductive.

We both enjoyed this lethal game. It had turned into our version of foreplay over the last year as we hunted down everyone involved in the trafficking syndicate. One of the many items Amir had gifted me was Clarissa’s client list. Killian had promptly turned it into a kill list. And I’d helped him cross off each mark.

“I am,” I said as Amir walked through the front door. He greeted the host, then followed him to a table in the corner, the one he always chose, which meant his wine was already waiting for him. I finished my own glass, watching him and grinning as he took a sip. “Time to play, sir. Wish me luck.”

“You don’t need it,” Killian replied, his tone amused.

I picked up my purse, smiling. “True.” Because Amir was exactly where I wanted him. He used to terrify me, make my blood run cold with fear, but I’d spent the last year learning everything I could about him. And today I would be using it all to my advantage.

He glanced up as I approached, his arched brow the only indication of his surprise as I slid into the chair across from him. And set my purse on the table. “Father,” I greeted him, sarcasm heavy in my voice.

“Hello, Amara,” he replied, tilting his head to the side. “You look… colorful.”

I glanced at the tattoos running up my right arm and smiled. “Do you like them?” Killian did. I added a new one after every kill, picking an item from each memory to print on my arm. Nothing obvious, just little things. Like the wine glass sitting in front of Amir. That’d be my next object.