Chapter 1 - The Hidden Mark
Gabriel stepped closer to the sleeping woman.
His eyes traced the brutal bruises along her delicate jawline.
Suddenly, her ruined beige coat slipped a fraction of an inch down her shoulder.
Gabriel stopped breathing entirely.
Resting perfectly against her pale collarbone was a dark, intricate tattoo of a silver serpent.
It was the unmistakable mark of the Widow-makers.
They were the most elite and ruthless assassins in Damian Cross’s entire syndicate.
The timid accountant he had secretly loved for two years was a highly trained killer.
Before Gabriel could process the shocking betrayal, Claire’s eyes snapped open.
There was absolutely no fear or confusion in her gaze.
Her eyes were completely cold, calculated, and terrifyingly lethal.
She instinctively pulled Eli closer to her chest while scanning the room for threats.
Gabriel slowly raised his hands to show he meant no harm.
"Who exactly are you, Claire?" he asked in a low, dangerous whisper.
She did not have a chance to answer his question.
The reinforced windows of the safe house suddenly shattered inward in a shower of explosive glass.
Six heavily armed men in tactical gear poured into the living room.
Mason drew his weapon, but a bullet instantly grazed his shoulder, sending him crashing to the floor.
Gabriel reached for his own gun, but Claire moved faster than humanly possible.
She reached under her torn skirt and pulled a suppressed pistol from a hidden thigh holster.
Without blinking, she fired three precise shots.
Three heavily armed intruders dropped dead before they even realized they were under attack.
Gabriel stared in absolute awe at the woman he thought he knew.
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She reloaded her weapon with one hand while cradling his nephew with the other.
"If you want this baby to live, you need to follow me right now," Claire commanded.
