Page 41 of Stalk (Assassin’s Kiss Duet #1)

The recognition that these are willing murderers trying to kill me makes things a little easier.

They aren’t innocent here; they’re willing participants in Catherine’s twisted game.

So, instead of feeling the usual guilt that comes with taking a life, I focus on protecting my lover’s back.

I don’t necessarily have to feel bad this time, and I’m choosing not to. At least for now.

As I walk backwards in the direction Mattia was headed, I shoot at the woman right as she takes her first couple of shots at me.

Luckily, I drop to the ground and the bullets miss me completely.

The woman yelps as I do so, so I assume that I must have hit her somewhere, but I don’t stick around to find out.

In order to protect Mattia, I can’t stay too far behind him, so I hastily jump to my feet and venture off to the other side of the house.

I’m not sure if other gunshots have gone off, but I assume they have.

I was too distracted to notice. There’s no way Catherine doesn’t have my house surrounded by at least a handful of killers.

I spot Mattia nearing the street, only several yards away from what looks like another female assassin.

Neither one of them have anything to hide behind or shield themselves due to the close proximity between my house and the neighbor’s, so they stare at each other in a standoff.

I don’t think she sees me, though, so I press my back against the brick and hold up my gun.

After bringing up the scope to my eye, I find the best angle I can, away from Mattia.

The best shot I have is in her shoulder, but that will at least give Mattia a chance to get away or shoot her after I do.

I inhale and exhale quickly, pressing on the trigger as I do so.

Her shoulder jerks back, and I smile at my success. Mattia wastes no time in taking the opportunity to shoot her in between the eyes. The assassin falls down, limp. I grip my rifle tightly and sprint toward Mattia, not wanting to put that much distance between us again.

He waits for me. When I’m behind him, he says, “Good job, Ren.” I blush. I can’t help it. “Keep following my lead, but be sure you continue to watch your back.”

I glance behind me and don’t see anyone. “Got it.”

Mattia walks out from the shadows of the side of the house, and I follow.

Immediately, I spot Marco, who whips around to us from where he is positioned from the SUV’s sunroof.

He holds up two fingers, which at first I think is a peace sign, but then I realize he must mean that there are two more assassins. Duh.

I spot a pair of limp feet and a puddle of blood on the ground near the rear of the SUV, so I know he’s already killed one. Probably the person who shot at him first when Mattia and I were still inside the house.

Mattia runs up to the passenger side of the SUV and tosses the canvas bag inside.

I glance behind me again, and see the same woman I injured earlier limping after us.

I take the chance to shoot her again. This time, I aim for her head, but end up hitting the side of her neck. She falls to her knees.

“Ren! Get in!” Mattia yells.

I stare at the injured assassin for a second, then do as I’m told.

Once seated, I keep my attention on Mattia outside, just in case he still needs backup.

Adrenaline races through me, amping me up to the point that sitting still feels sickening.

Something wet slides across my ankle, and it takes me a second to look down and realize it’s poor Cannella, cowering on the floorboard and licking me for comfort.

“It’s okay, girl,” I reassure her breathlessly. “We’ll be safe soon.” I’m not sure if we will be or not, but it seems like the right thing to say to the trembling Pomeranian.

All of a sudden, Marco slides back inside from the sunroof and fumbles into the driver’s seat.

He closes the sunroof, cursing in Italian like his life depends on it.

Outside the cracked window, I see Mattia take a few more shots at a large, male assassin who has made his way close to my front door.

The shots hit him in the chest, the arm, and the stomach.

Mattia opens the passenger side door and slams it once he’s fully inside. “Go now!”

Marco wastes no time. He puts the car in drive and swerves out onto the road, the tires screeching as he speeds away.

From an onlooker's perspective, I’m sure our car looks like something out of a movie.

We’re speeding down each street way over the speed limit with the rear windshield shattered, and who knows how many bullet holes decorate the rental car at this point.

“Everyone okay?” I ask, my voice shaking as my adrenaline begins to taper off. Cannella hops up into my lap and burrows under my arms. I put the gun on safety so that no accidents happen.

“Yes,” Marco says with a huff. “Mattia?”

“I’m good. We left two injured, but I don’t think they’re capable of much right now.” He sighs, and I wish he was sitting beside me so I could hold his hand. “I’m sure more are on their way, or they’re already stationed at the airport, waiting.”

Marco grunts. “Good thing I went ahead and asked for backup at the airport before we made it to Ren’s house.”

Silence washes over us, then Mattia laughs and leans his head back. “You think of everything, Marco.”