Page 78 of Seven Deadly Sins

“It’s nice to see you again, Steven.” Liam thrust out his hand. “It’s been a while. My wife and I were touring Europe. A second honeymoon.”

The man frowned but accepted the handshake. “Welcome back, uh.”

“Liam.”

“Right.” He turned to leave.

“So, what have you and the missus been up to? Still going to church?” He doubted that’s what Robert called it, but maybe Maysup will let something slip.

“We don’t go to church.”

“Oh, my mistake. I thought you had mentioned meetings, and, well, I assumed.” Liam plastered an apologetic grin on his face.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He took a step away. “If you’ll excuse me, I have someone I need to see.” He turned and rushed away.

Definitely skittish but hadn’t revealed anything useful. Liam rolled his shoulders, then headed back to the table. Since Harper’s phone sat on the table, he expected her back within a few minutes. After ten, a tickle of worry crawled up his spine.

After fifteen minutes, he grabbed her phone and headed for the women’s restroom. He opened it a couple of inches. “You in there, Harper?” When no one responded, he opened the door further.

Harper lay on the floor. A knot showed through her hair.

Liam knelt next to her and patted her cheek. “Wake up, sweetheart.”

Her eyes fluttered open. “The woman assassin is here. I recognized her. She’s dressed like a young woman in skinny jeans and baggy shirt. She’s at a table with a middle-aged man that has to be Robert.”

With his arms around her, he slowly helped her to her feet. “Come show me. Maybe we can still catch them.”

“Okay.” She put a hand to her head. “She got me good.”

“We’ll need to get you checked out by a doctor.”

“Not until we find out whether they’re still here.” The tone of her voice left no room for argument.

The couple no longer sat at a table in the dining room. In fact, Liam didn’t see them anywhere. His gaze lingered on each person there. No one who resembled the assassin or Robert in the slightest.

The front window shattered.

A large man fell face forward onto the table.

His companion screamed a split second before she, too, fell.

Pandemonium broke out as people fought to get out of the building.

Liam rushed for the table where the couple slumped. Both were dead from a gunshot to the head. He faced the window. A sniper.

He squared his shoulders. The shooter wouldn’t take him out. It wasn’t time yet.

Rather than hide, he tried to determine where the shots had come from. The glint from a scope from the window of parked car.

Fire ripped through Liam’s arm, spinning him like a top. He dropped to the floor and scuttled to the safety of the hostess stand.

“You’re shot.” Harper crawled toward him.

“That’s what I get for taunting the shooter.” He glanced at his arm. “Just a flesh wound. Nothing a few stitches won’t fix.”

“Looks like we both need to see a doctor.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and held it so he could see the screen.O lust, thou infernal fire, whose fuel is gluttony; ...

“I guess we’re moving on.” With a groan, he got to his feet. With his good arm, he pulled Harper up as sirens wailed from the parking lot. The shooter would be long gone.

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