Page 2 of The Mafia Assassin's Redemption-

The house is a little farther away. Crossing open space is a risk, but one I’m itching to take. I check my gun, make sure my backup rounds are where I can reach them. Second nature, a tic. And one that could mean death if I forget to look.

Another shot explodes, this time to my right, into the night.

They’re shooting at something, but what?

“Not you, prick,” I say under my breath.

It’s the perfect time to race across the open and jump the bastards.

Something flies through the air. It hits its target and bursts into flames.

These Serb mercenaries are known for burning down the house—literally—when their job is done, but this is bad.

“Burn, fuckers!” An Irish male voice, one I recognize, comes from the right. Donal Quinn. Before I can move, soft arms wrap around me, softer lips crushing against mine. “Torin, you didn’t think I’d let you do this without me, did you?”

I look at my girl, Siobhan. I know who she mixes with, and I don’t want hardcore political homegrown guerillas on this mission. It muddies waters.

“Siobhan, take Donal and get out of here. I told you this is a one-man job.”

“Every man needs a woman, Tor. I want to fight by your side.” Siobhan Quinn presses tits intome as I angle my gun.

Part of me wants to melt into her, take her hard against a wall. With all the danger, it’d be fucking hot sex.

But the other part of me, the killer, is ice.

“I don’t need help, not from the Irish Freedom Fighters, and not you.”

Her eyes flash as more gunfire explodes in the night, as the yells in Serbian get louder and closer.

“Torin, too bad, you need me.” She kisses me hard, her pretty face lighting up with the possibility of violence. Then she steps past me into the light, right as a bullet slams into her.

My girl crashes to the ground.

“Siobhan!” My cry breaks free when she doesn’t move.

Gunfire blasts from the right. But not at Shiv, not at me. It’s between Donal and whoever shot her.

While the shooter’s distracted, I move. I see the fucker. I aim and pull the trigger, shooting him in the throat and then through the skull as he collapses. He goes down hard, and my plan for a stealthy ambush is gone. They’ll be on alert.

More will come running. My window is about to slam shut.

The gunfire increases, farther to the right, where Donal was. There’re no answering shots. Cries rise up and commands fly. I crouch low, aware of the speeding seconds.

Shit. They’re not putting out the fire. They’re throwing things onto it, making it rage.

Shiv moans. My heart clenches as I put a hand on the wound to stop the blood flow.

“Don’t you fucking die, Shiv.”

The world stops, hangs on a thread.

The gunfire changes direction, swinging to where I am.

With a roar I aim my gun, shooting at whoever appears, hitting two men, and ducking a bullet that whizzes by my ear.

I drag Siobhan back behind the wall.

Donal comes running. “Oh God! Shiv!”