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Chapter One

Gin Blanco

I couldn't believe the bitch was dead

Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who'd been head of the Ashland underworld for years, the woman who'd murdered my mother and older sister, was finally, finally dead

And I was the one who'd made her that way

Me Gin Blanco The assassin known as the Spider

Now,new I'd helpedover the years, whether for money or to help out my friends or for my continued survival But Mab had been different - and killing her had been very, very personal

The Fire ele fight of both our lives Not that I'd expected anything less froest elemental born in the last five hundred years, but she had also been as set to be the head of the Ashland underworld and stay there as long as she had without being absolutely ruthless Oh, no Taking down Mab had been anything but simple I still couldn't quite believe she was dead - and I wasn't

But killing Mab hadn't been without a price We'd fought each other in an eleainst her Fire power According to some folks who'd been there, you could see the flaics from a half mile away I didn't knohether I believed that or not, but Mab was seconds froed to stab the bitch in her black heart with one of my silverstone knives Even then, Mab's Fire washed overright along with her Now, after weeks of healing Air ic and intensive physical therapy, I was finally back to my old self - more or less

I peered into themy reflection This would be one of the first ti Mab, and I wanted to be sure I looked one hundred percent, like the Gin of old, even if I kneasn't quite there yet

My dark chocolate brown hair was pulled back into a sleek pony-tail, while black shadow, ray color A shiny strawberry-pink gloss coveredpowder added some much-needed color to my cheeks Despite the coppery sheen, a hint of death white still tinged side Mab

I smoothed down a stray hair and plucked a piece of lint off -sleeved T-shirt for a pantsuit Stark, black, and si today Sturdy black low-heeled boots encased my feet, while my usual five knives were hidden on my body One up either sleeve, one in the small of my back, and two tucked into the sides of my boots

Just because Mab was dead didn't uard and leave my weapons at hoerous folks in Ashland, people ould just as soon shoot you as look at you - and those were some of the nicer folks in town That was one of the reasons I was going out today and had taken such care with my appearance I wanted to see for myself just how much the underworld landscape had shifted with the Fire eleht mean for me as the Spider and Gin Blanco too

Footsteps sounded outside in the hallway, a steady, familiar tread that I knew and welcomed A moment later, a soft knock sounded on the door

"Come on in," I called out "I'm ready "