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Chapter 1

"That would look fabulous on you "

Finnegan Lane, my foster brother, pointed to a tennis bracelet in the ereed 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 ht?"

"Youpeople for ood ole days "

Finn gave the dia over to a display of shoes He grabbed a purple pu it up and inspecting it hih it were a work of art instead of ether

"It's the latest style," he said in a dreamy voice "Hand-stitched lavender suede with custom-made four-inch heels Isn't 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 s you love about me "

He straightened his gray silk tie and winked aton a rack near the wall

The two of us were out shopping, which was one of Finn's favorite things to do Not h I never paid toosure that ht in and that h to hide the knives I had tucked up each one As an assassin, I'd learned a long tio not to invest tooto 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, andfro development that had just opened up

Noere 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 ht, like a rainbow of color arcing from one side of the store to the other There wasn't a dress in here that was less than five grand, and the shoes arranged along the back ent for just as s that cost ten tiood steak dinner

"Co the pump out to me "At least try it on "

I rolled my eyes, took the shoe froh color Not the worst thing you've 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 "