Deadly Sting - Дженнифер Эстеп

Deadly StingElemental Assassin - 8byJennifer Estep

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Once again, my heartfelt thanks go out to all the folks who help turn my words into a book.

Thanks go to my agent, Annelise Robey, and editors, Adam Wilson and Lauren McKenna, for all their helpful advice, support, and encouragement. Thanks also to Julia Fincher.

Thanks to Tony Mauro for illustrating another terrific cover, and thanks to Louise Burke, Lisa Litwack, and everyone else at Pocket Books and Simon & Schuster for their work on the cover, the book, and the series.

And finally, a big thanks to all the readers. Knowing that folks read and enjoy my books is truly humbling, and Im glad that you are all enjoying Gin and her adventures.

I appreciate you all more than you will ever know.

Happy reading!

1

That would look fabulous on you.

Finnegan Lane, my foster brother, pointed to a tennis bracelet in the middle of a glass case full of jewelry. The shimmer of the gemstones matched the sparkle of greed in his eyes.

I looked at the price tag beside the diamond-crusted monstrosity. You do realize that the cost of that bracelet is within spitting distance of my going rate as an assassin, right?

You mean your going rate back when you were actually killing people for money, Finn said. Or as I like to call themthe good ole days.

Finn gave the diamond bracelet one more greedy glance before moving over to a display of shoes. He grabbed a purple pump off a shelf and waggled the shoe at me before holding it up and inspecting it himself. He gazed at the shoe with a rapt expression, as though it were a work of art instead of merely overpriced pieces of leather sewn together.

Its the latest style, he said in a dreamy voice. Hand-stitched lavender suede with custom-made four-inch heels. Isnt it marvelous?

I arched an eyebrow. Have I ever told you how scary it is that you know more about shoes than I do?

Finn grinned, his green eyes lighting up with amusement. Frequently. But my impeccable fashion sense is one of the many things you love about me.

He straightened his gray silk tie and winked at me. I snorted and moved over to look at some dresses hanging on a rack near the wall.

The two of us were out shopping, which was one of Finns favorite things to do. Not mine, though. I never paid too much attention to what I was wearing, beyond making sure that my jeans and boots were comfortable enough to fight in and that my T-shirt sleeves were long enough to hide the knives I had tucked up each one. As an assassin, Id learned a long time ago not to invest too much money in clothes that were only going to end up with bloodstains on them.

But here I was, along for the consumer ride. Finn had shown up at the Pork Pit, my barbecue joint, just after the lunch rush ended and had dragged me all the way up to Northtown, the part of Ashland that housed and catered to the wealthy, social, and magical elite. Wed spent the last hour traipsing from store to store in an upscale shopping development that had just opened up.

Now we were browsing through Posh, the biggest, fanciest, and most expensive boutique on this particular block. Racks of ball gowns and evening dresses filled the store, starting with all-white frocks on the left and darkening to midnight-black ones on the right, like a rainbow of color arcing from one side of the store to the other. There wasnt a dress in here that was less than five grand, and the shoes arranged along the back wall went for just as much. Not to mention the minuscule handbags that cost ten times as much as a good steak dinner.

Come on, Gin, Finn wheedled, holding the pump out to me. At least try it on.

I rolled my eyes, took the shoe from him, and hefted it in my hand. Lightweight, nice enough color. Not the worst thing youve shown me today. And that skinny stiletto would make a decent weapon, if you took the time to snap it off the rest of the shoe and sharpen the end of it.

Finn sighed and took the pump away from me. Have I ever told you how scary it is that you think of heels in terms of their possible shiv potential?

I grinned at him. Frequently. But my impeccable sense of improvised weaponry is one of the many things you love about me.

This time, Finn rolled his eyes and then started muttering under his breath about how he couldnt take me anywhere. My grin widened. I loved needling Finn as much as he enjoyed teasing me.

Tell me again why I have to go to this shindig with you, I said when he finally wound down.

Its not a mere shindig, he huffed. Its the opening gala for an exhibit of art, jewelry, and other valuable objects from the estate of the late, not-so-great, and certainly unlamented Mab Monroe. Everyone whos anyone will be there, underworld and otherwise, and its going to be the social event of the summer. Besides, arent you the least bit curious to see what the old girl stashed away over the years? The things she collected? What she thought was beautiful or valuable or at least worth hoarding? She was your nemesis, after all.

Mab Monroe had been a little more than my nemesisthe Fire elemental had murdered my mother and my older sister when I was thirteen. Shed also tortured me. But Id finally gotten my revenge when I shoved my knife through the bitchs black heart back in the winter. Killing Mab had been one of the most satisfying moments of my life. The fact that she was dead and I wasnt was the only thing that really mattered to me.

Sorry, I said. I have no desire to go gawk at all of Mabs shinies. Theyre not doing her any good now, are they? Im quite happy simply knowing that shes rotting in her grave. And I still dont understand why you insisted on dragging me out to buy a dress. I have plenty of little black numbers in my closet at home, any one of which would be just fine for this event.

Finn snorted. Sure, if you dont mind wearing something thats ripped, torn, and caked with dried blood.

I couldnt argue with that. Funny how killing people inevitably led to ruined clothes.

Finn sighed and shook his head at my lack of interest in Mabs many treasures. I cant believe you wont go out of simple curiosity and unabashed greed. Those are certainly the reasons Im going. And probably half the folks on the guest list. Weve just covered why you need a new dress. As to why you have to go with me, well, naturally, I asked Bria first, but she has to work. I need someone to drink champagne with and make snide comments to about everyone else in attendance. You wouldnt deny me that pleasure, would you?

Perish the thought, I murmured. But what about Roslyn? Or Jo-Jo? Why dont you take one of them instead?

Roslyn is already going with someone else, and Jo-Jo has a date with Cooper. Finn used his fingers to tick off our friends and family. I even asked Sophia, but theres some classic Western film festival that shes planning to catch that night. Besides, shed probably insist on wearing black lipstick, a silverstone collar, and the rest of her usual Goth clothes instead of an evening dress. Since I dont want to be responsible for any of the old guard having conniptions or coronary episodes, youre it.

Lucky me.

Besides, its not like you have plans, he continued as though I hadnt said a word. Other than sitting at home and brooding over lost love.

My eyes narrowed, and I gave Finn a look that would have made most men tremble in their wing tips. He just picked up a strappy canary-yellow sandal and admired it a moment before showing it to me.

What do you think? Is yellow your color? Yeah, youre right. Not with your skin tone. He put the shoe back on the shelf and turned to face me.

Look, Finn said, his expression serious. I just thought it would be good for you to get out of the house for a night. You know, dress up, go out on the town, have a little fun. I know how hard this last month has been, with you and Owen on the outs.

On the outs was putting it mildly. I hadnt spoken to Owen Grayson, my lover, since the night hed come to the Pork Pit a few weeks ago to tell me he needed some time to himself, some time away from me, from us.

But thats what happens when you kill your lovers ex-fiancée right in front of him. That sort of thing tended to make a person reassess his relationshipsespecially with the one whod done the killing.

No matter how much I missed him, I couldnt blame Owen for wanting to take a break. A lot of bad stuff had gone down in the days leading up to me battling Salina Dubois, a lot of terrible secrets had been revealed, and he wasnt the only one whod needed time to process and come to terms with everything. I might understand, but that didnt make it hurt any less.

Even assassins could have their hearts broken.

Gin? Finn asked in a soft voice, cutting into my thoughts.

I sighed. I know youre just trying to help, but Im fine, Finn. Really, I am. The important thing is that Salina is dead, and she cant hurt anyone else ever again. Owen and I . . . well eventually work things out.

And if you dont?

I sighed again. Then well both move on with our lives.

I kept my face calm and smooth, although my heart squeezed at the thought. Finn had started to say something else when one of the saleswomen sidled up to him.

Good afternoon, sir, the woman, a gorgeous redhead, practically purred. What can I do for you today?

Wed already been in the store for five minutes, and I was mildly surprised that it had taken someone this long to come over to us. In my boots, worn jeans, and grease-spattered black T-shirt, I didnt look like I had two nickels to rub together, but Finn was as impeccably dressed as ever in one of his Fiona Fine designer suits. The perfect fit showed off his strong, muscled body, while his walnut-colored hair was artfully styled. Add all that to his handsome features, and Finn looked just as polished as the jewelry hed been admiring earlier.

The saleswomans eyes trailed down his body and back up. After a moment, she smiled at him and then subconsciously licked her lips as though Finn were a hot fudge sundae that she wanted to gobble up. At the back of the store, a second saleswoman eyed her associate with anger. While Finn had been waxing poetic about bracelets and shoes, the two of them had been having a whispered argument about who got the privilege of waiting on him. Looked like Red here had won.

Finn, being Finn, noticed the womans obvious interest and immediately turned up the wattage on his dazzling, slightly devious smile. Why, hello there, he drawled. Dont you look lovely today? That sky-blue color is amazing with your hair.

Red blushed and smoothed down her short skirt. Her gaze flicked to me for half a second before she focused on Finn again. Do you and your . . . wife need some help?

Oh, he said. Shes not my wife. Shes my sister.

The womans dark eyes lit up at that bit of information, and Finns smile widened. Despite the fact that he was involved with Detective Bria Coolidge, my sister, Finn still flirted with every woman who crossed his path, no matter how old or young or hot or not she was. Dwarf, vampire, giant, elemental, human. As long as you were breathing and female, you could count on being the recipient of all the considerable charm that Finnegan Lane had to offer.

But my sister could definitely use your help, and so could I. What do you think about this color? he asked, picking up the purple pump once again. Dont you think it would look fabulous on her?

Fabulous, Red agreed, her eyes wide and dreamy.

I might be standing right next to Finn, but I was as invisible as the moon on a sunny day. I sighed again. It was going to be a long afternoon.

* * *

Twenty minutes later, after being dragged from one side of the store to the other, Red showed me to a fitting room in the back. Rightfully insisting that he knew more about fashion than I did, Finn had picked out several dresses for me to try on. Red placed the gowns on a hanger on the wall before brushing past me.

Im going to check on Mr. Lane and see if he needs anything, she said.

Of course you are.

Red hightailed it over to the jewelry case, where the other saleswoman, a well-endowed blonde, was leaning over and showing Finn the diamond bracelet hed been admiring earlieralong with all of her ample assets. Red stepped up next to Blondie and not so subtly elbowed her out of the way. Blondie retaliated by shoving her breasts forward even more. The two of them might as well have filled up a pit with mud and settled their differences that way. That would have been far more entertaining than the petty one-upmanship they were currently engaged in.

I rolled my eyes. Finn was the only man I knew who could inspire a catfight just by grinning. But it was a show that Id seen many times before, so I stepped into the fitting room, closed the door behind me, and started trying on the dresses. The sooner I picked something, the sooner I could get back to the Pork Pit.

Too tight, too short, too slutty. None of the garments was quite right, not to mention the fact that Finn had chosen more than one strapless evening gown. My cleavage had never been all that impressivecertainly not on par with Blondiesbut of more importance was the fact that strapless gowns were not good for knife concealment. Then again, Finn didnt particularly care about such things. He didnt have to. He could always tuck a gun or two inside or under his jacket, which suited him just fine, as long as the weapons didnt mess up the smooth lines of the fabric.

I was just about to take off the latest fashion disasterthis one in that awful canary yellow that definitely wasnt my colorwhen I heard a soft electronic chime, signaling that someone else had come into the store. I wondered how long it would take Red and Blondie to tear themselves away from Finn to see to the new customer

A surprised scream ripped through the air, along with a sharp smacking sound. The pain-filled moan that followed told me that someone had just gotten hit.

Dont move, and dont even think of going for any of the alarm buttons, a low voice growled. Or Ill put a couple of holes in youall of you. Maybe Ill do that anyway, just for fun.

Well, now, that sort of threat implied that the person making it had a gunmaybe even more than one. I perked up at the thought, and a genuine smile creased my face for the first time today. For the first time in several days, actually.

I cracked open the fitting-room door so I could see what was going on. Sure enough, a man stood right in front of the jewelry case. He was a dwarf, a couple of inches shy of five feet tall, with a body that was thick with muscle. He wore jeans with holes at the knees and a faded blue T-shirt. A barbed-wire tattoo curled around his left bicep, which looked like it was made of concrete rather than flesh and bone. He held a revolver in his right hand, the kind of gun that could definitely put a large hole in someone, especially if you used it at close range.

Since it didnt look like the dwarf was immediately going to pull the trigger, my gaze went to the other people in the boutique. Blondie was the closest to the gunman. She had one hand pressed to her cheek, probably from where the dwarf had reached across the counter and slapped her, while her other hand was clamped over her mouth to hold back her screams. She wasnt entirely successful at that, though, and a series of high-pitched squeaks filled the air, almost like a dog whimpering.

Finn stood about ten feet away from the dwarf. He must have been talking to Red when the gunman entered the store, because hed put himself in between her and the dwarf. Red had the same stunned, horrified expression on her face that Blondie did.

Finn had his hands up, although his eyes were narrowed, assessing the dwarf and the danger he presented, just like I was.

The first thing I did was look past the gunman and through the boutique windows, just in case he had a partner waiting outside, but I didnt see anyone loitering on the sidewalk or sitting in a getaway car by the curb. A solo job, then.

The second thing I did was study the dwarf to see if it looked like he was searching the store for someone elseme, Gin Blanco, the assassin known as the Spider.

By killing Mab, Id inadvertently made myself a popular target in the underworld, and more than one of the crime bosses had put a bounty on my head, hoping to establish themselves as Ashlands new head honcho by taking me out. It wasnt out of the realm of possibility to think that the dwarf had followed Finn and me to the boutique on someones orders.

But the only thing the dwarf was interested in was the jewelry. His eyes glinted, and his mouth curved up into a satisfied smile as he glanced down at all the expensive baubles. So this was nothing more than a simple robbery, then. Plenty of those in Ashland, even up here in the rarefied air of Northtown. Really, if the Posh owners were going to keep all those diamonds around, then they should have at least hired a giant or two to guard them.

Move! the dwarf barked, pointing his gun at Blondie. Over there with the others. Now!

Blondie, whod been behind the counter, hurried around it and stopped next to Red, putting the other woman and Finn between her and the robber. Well, at least she had a good sense of self-preservation. Red knew it too; she gave her coworker a hostile glance over her shoulder.

I turned my attention back to the robber, wondering if he might have any magic to go along with his inherent dwarven strength and the hand cannon he was sporting. But the dwarfs eyes didnt glow, and I didnt sense anything emanating from him. No hot, invisible waves of Fire power, no cold, frosty blasts of Ice magic, and nothing else to indicate that he was an elemental. Good. That would make this easier.

Give me the key! the dwarf snapped at Blondie as he moved behind the counter. Now!

Blondie stepped around the others and over to the robber, pulling a set of keys out of her pants pocket and holding them out to him at arms length, her hands shaking. The dwarf grabbed the keys and used one of them to open the lock on the jewelry case, instead of just smashing the glass and setting off the alarms. He threw the keys down on the floor and started shoving bracelets, rings, and necklaces into his jeans pockets.

I looked at the knives Id piled on the bench inside the fitting room alongside my clothes. Normally, I carried five silverstone knives on meone up either sleeve, one against the small of my back, and two in the sides of my bootsbut Id removed them when Id started trying on the dresses. I couldnt exactly go outside with a knife in my hand, since that would ruin whatever element of surprise I had, and there was no time to change back into my regular clothes. Cursing Finn under my breath, I hiked up the long skirt of the dress I was wearing and opened the fitting-room door.

Darling! I squealed, rushing into the front of the store. Isnt this dress just the most divine thing youve ever seen?

I twirled around and managed to put myself in between Finn and the robber. With the yellow dress, I might as well have been a mother duck, watching over her little ones.

Darling? I thought you said she was your sister! Red hissed.

A dwarf had threatened to shoot her and was now robbing the store, and Red was still more worried about Finns marital status than all that. Someones priorities were a little skewed.

Finn winced and gave her an apologetic shrug, but he never took his eyes off the dwarf.

The robbers head snapped up at the sound of my voice, and the gun followed a second later. He stepped to the end of the counter and grabbed hold of my bare arm, his fingers digging into my skin as he pulled me next to him. His hot breath wafted up my nose, reeking of onions and garlic. I hoped hed enjoyed whatever hed had for lunch today, because he was going to be eating through a straw soon enough.

Who the hell are you? he growled, shoving the gun in my face. Where did you come from?

I was . . . I was . . . I was in the back, trying on some evening gowns, I said in the breathiest, most terrified and helpless voice I could muster. I dont want any trouble. Please, please, please, dont shoot me!

The dwarf stared at me for several seconds before he lowered his gun and let go of my arm.

Just so you know, thats the ugliest damn dress Ive ever seen, he said. You look like a daffodil.

He shook his head and reached inside the case to grab another handful of jewelry. The second his eyes dropped to the diamonds, I stepped forward, yanked the gun out of his hand, and drove my fist into the side of his face.

With his dense, dwarven musculature, it was like smashing my knuckles into a cement block. My punch didnt have much effect, except to make him stop looting the jewelry case and focus all his attention on me, but that was exactly what I wanted.

Stupid bitch! he growled, stretching his hands out to grab me. Ill kill you for that

I pistol-whipped him across the face with the gun. My fist might not have had much of an impact, but the sharp edges and heavy, solid weight of the weapon did. His nose cracked from the force, and blood arced through the air, the warm, sticky drops spattering onto my skin.

The robber howled with pain, but he reached for me again. I tightened my grip on the gun and slammed it into his face once more. And I didnt stop there. Again and again, I hit him, smashing the weapon into his features as hard as I could. The dwarf fought back, wildly swinging his fists at me. Despite the blood running into his eyes, he was a decent fighter, so I grabbed hold of my Stone magic and pushed the cool power outward, hardening my skin into an impenetrable shell.

Good thing, since the dwarfs fist finally connected with my face.

Given his strength, the blow rocked me back, and I felt the force of it reverberate through my entire body, but it didnt break my jaw like it would have if I hadnt been using my magic to protect myself. Still, the dwarf took it as a sign of encouragement that hed finally been able to hit me.

Not so tough now, are you? he snarled, advancing on me again.

Tough enough to do this, I said.

I waited until he was back in range, blocked his next blow, and then used the gun to coldcock him in the temple. His eyes widened, taking on a glassy sheen, and then rolled up in the back of his head as he slumped to the floor.

You know, Gin, you really should warm up before you tee off on somebody like that, Finn murmured, leaning across the counter and staring down at the dwarf. Wouldnt want you to pull a muscle or anything.

Oh, no, I sniped, letting go of my Stone magic so that my skin would revert back to its normal texture. We wouldnt want that. Have I told you how much I hate shopping?

Finn just grinned and pulled out his cell phone from his jacket pocket to call Bria and report the attempted robbery. I used the long skirt of the dress to wipe my prints off the gun and then put the weapon down on top of the jewelry case.

Id just started to head to the fitting room to change back into my own clothes, when the two saleswomen blocked my path. They both looked at me with serious expressions. They were probably going to thank me for saving them

You know you have to pay for that, Red said.

Oh, yeah, Blondie chimed in. Thats a ten-thousand-dollar dress you just got blood all over.

Blood? There hadnt been that much blood. It wasnt like Id sliced the dwarfs throat open with one of my knives, which is what I usually did when bad folks crossed my path.

I had opened my mouth to respond, when I caught sight of my reflection in one of the mirrors on the wall. Dark brown hair, gray eyes, pale skin. I looked the same as always, except for the flowing yellow dressand the blood that covered my hands, arms, and chest. Actually, being covered in blood pretty much was the same as always for me. But the robber had bled more than Id thought, and the fancy gown now looked like it had come straight out of a horror movie where everyone dies at the big dance.

I started to push past the two women, but they crossed their arms over their chests and held their ground. Apparently, the sight of a ruined dress was more offensive than the fact that I had bludgeoned someone unconscious right in front of them.

I saved your snotty little store from getting robbed, not to mention that I kept that dwarf from probably killing you both, and you actually think youre going to charge me for it? I stepped forward. Keep talking, and this dress wont be the only thing in here with blood on it, sugar.

Red paled. After a moment, she stepped aside. I turned my cold gaze to Blondie, who sucked in a breath and stepped aside too.

I stomped past them, went into the fitting room, closed the door behind me, and peeled off the gown. I put it on its hanger and hung it on the back of the door. Now, instead of being canary yellow, the top of the dress had taken on a bright crimson color, and blood had also oozed down the full skirt, giving the whole garment a garish, tie-dye effect.

Still, as I stared at the disastrous dress, I couldnt help but smile.

Finn was right.

Yellow really wasnt my colorred was.

2

I grabbed some tissues out of a box in the fitting room and spent the next ten minutes scrubbing the dwarfs blood off my skin. After peering at my reflection in the mirror to make sure Id gotten as much of it as I could, I put my own clothes back on, tucked my knives into their appropriate slots, and slipped on my boots.

That electronic chime sounded again, telling me that someone new had come into the store. So I stepped out of the fitting room and went into the front of the boutique.

Finn was once again standing in front of the jewelry case, but hed been joined by my sister, Bria Coolidge. Bria wore her usual black boots and dark jeans, along with a light blue button-up shirt. A silverstone primrose rune rested in the hollow of her throat, and her gold badge was clipped to her black leather belt, along with her gun.

Red and Blondie stood against the wall behind the case, arms crossed, eyes narrowed, glossy lips puckered with displeasure. They were none too happy about my sisters arrival. Even in her cop clothes, Bria was quite lovely, with her shaggy blond hair, rosy skin, and vivid blue eyes. Not to mention the adoring way Finn looked at her. He might flirt with every woman who crossed his path, but Bria was the one who made his eyes soften and his face brighten in that warm, special way. She was the one who had his heart, and Red and Blondie could see it just as easily as everyone else could.

But Bria hadnt come alone. A giant who was around seven feet tall reached down and hauled the dwarf to his feet before slapping a set of silverstone handcuffs on the robber. The giants hair, skin, and eyes were all a rich shade of ebony, while his shaved head gleamed in the afternoon sunlight streaming in through the windows. Xavier, Brias partner on the force, was another member of my makeshift extended family.

Xavier finished securing the cuffs, then put one hand on the robbers shoulder to keep the much shorter man from falling over. The dwarfs eyes were slightly unfocused, and blood still dripped from the cuts Id opened up on his face when Id pistol-whipped him. Still, he surged forward at the sight of me.

You bitch! he screamed. Ill kill you for this!

Sure you will, I said in an easy voice. Take a number and get in line.

Xavier tightened his grip on the dwarfs shoulder, holding him in place, and let out a deep, rumbling laugh. Ill say this, Gin. Theres never a dull moment when youre around.