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He might hate me, but we had some similar business interests, so he had to deal with and even speak to me on occasion. I went out of my way to make him interact with me as often as possible. It pleased me to see his jaw clench when I knew that all he really wanted to do was punch me. Childish of me, but it was the only revenge I could force myself to take - on Owen, anyway.

It wasn't completely his fault things had turned out like they had.

"And Gin?" I asked. "Did she come to pay her respects as well?"

Owen's eyes narrowed. "What do you know about Gin?"

This time I shrugged. "Just what all the rumors say. That she's the assassin the Spider. That she's the one who killed Mab. Then, of course, there was the display she put on here today. Going after that sniper wasn't exactly a smart move, if you ask me. All she's done is draw attention to and set herself up to be a target for the other crime bosses. I imagine almost all of them will want her dead now. "

Chapter Eight

"What do you know about the sniper?" Owen demanded, his hands clenching into fists. "Did you hire him to kill Gin? Were you behind the attack today?"

"Of course not," I snapped. "If I were going after Gin, I would go after her myself - not hire someone to do it for me. I'm man enough to do my own dirty work. So were you, once upon a time. I'd thought you'd remember that, given all those clever jobs we pulled together. "

Owen stared at me with suspicion, but after a moment he forced himself to relax. It seemed like he was going to believe me - about this anyway. "So if it wasn't you, then who do you think was behind the sniper attack?"

"McAllister, I imagine," I said. "He's looking for work, and some of the other bosses haven't been very . . . kind to him. Too bad he hired someone with lousy aim. Or maybe he just wanted your friend to show everyone exactly who she is and confirm all the nasty rumors he's been spreading about her. Either way, McAllister wins. "

I hesitated. "But let's talk about more pleasant things. How's Eva?"

I knew it was the wrong thing to say, but I couldn't stop myself from asking the question. I missed Eva. I missed a lot of things - things that had unfairly been taken away from me. Things that I thought Blanco just might be able to help me get back - finally, after all these years.

The anger flared up in Owen's eyes again. "Don't you dare ask me anything about Eva," he snarled. "Don't you even think about my sister. "

I held up my hands. "I didn't mean anything by it. I'm just one old friend asking after another. "

"Well, don't," he snapped. "And we aren't friends. Not anymore. Not in years now. "

"Believe me, I know. You've never let me forget that. "

"What does that mean?" Owen snapped again.

I thought about telling him what I meant, about what had really happened all those years ago, but he wouldn't listen to me. He hadn't back then, and he wouldn't now.

It was his stubborn refusal to believe me that hurt the worse, despite how much time had passed.

A beep sounded, saving me from answering. Antonio steered the car down the narrow road. The giant stopped a few feet away and beeped again.

"Well," I drawled. "It looks like my ride is here. A pleasure seeing you again, Owen. Just like it always is. "

He glared at me. I started to head toward the car but stopped after a few steps. Even now, after what he'd done to me, part of me still cared about him - enough to turn around and let him know what was going on.

"You should go check on your friend," I said. "She had a rough time of it at Mab's coffin. "

"What do you mean?" Owen asked again.

Instead of answering him, I just smiled, my blue eyes as cold as his were. "She really is something. I look forward to getting to know Gin better in the future. It'll be here sooner than you think. "

Owen's knuckles cracked as his fists tightened that much more. He took a step forward, but I turned my back on him, walked over to the car, and got inside. I'd just shut the passenger door behind me when Blanco hobbled into view, covered with blood. Owen glared at me a final time before hurrying over to her. I watched him put his arms around her, and I almost felt sorry for the poor bastard. He had no idea what was coming, but I did - and I was going to be ready for it.

"Phillip?" Antonio asked.

"Let's go," I said. "I'm done here. "

My friend put the car in gear and drove out of the cemetery. I looked in the passenger-side mirror, getting a final glimpse of Owen and his new love before we rounded a curve and they disappeared from sight.

I sighed. Maybe Owen wasn't the only fool here. Maybe I was, too, for still caring about him, for still wanting to protect him from what was coming. I wondered if Gin felt the same way - and what she'd do when she learned the truth about me, Owen, and our checkered past together.


Tags: Jennifer Estep Elemental Assassin Fantasy