Page 81 of Seven Deadly Sins

“She’s trying to intimidate us.”

“It might be working…a little.”

He had to agree and hated sitting there while she contemplated who knows what. The person took a few more steps closer. He peered harder through the rain. “What’s in her hand?”

“A board?”

“With spikes?”

It was the assassin. She stopped and peered through the window. No makeup on her face. Amazing how changed her looks were without it. She grinned and held up two boards, both with spikes.

Liam reached for his gun.

The woman ducked. Was she putting the spikes in front of the tires?

She straightened, appearing next to the passenger door. With a wiggle of her fingers, she strolled back down the highway, until the rain engulfed her.

Harper’s phone buzzed with a text. “Enjoy the thorn in your side. Great. We’ll be running into her a lot.” She reached for her door handle. “I won’t be able to get us back onto the highway without puncturing tires. I have to remove those boards.”

“You can’t go out there. Not until we’re sure she’s gone.”

“If she’d wanted to kill us, she would have. We were sitting ducks. Stupid ducks that didn’t shoot her when we had the chance. She’s only playing with us. I’m already wet, so it won’t matter.” She opened the door and stepped into the rain.

Not wanting her to be out alone, Liam stepped out and removed the back spikes while she did the front. Harper opened the back and they both dropped the boards inside.

She peered up at him, her hair plastered to her face. Their gazes locked.

Before he could change his mind, he moved the hair out of her face and claimed her lips in a kiss. If the assassin made a move at that moment, he’d die a happy man.

“I’ve always wanted to do that.” Harper smiled.

“Kiss me?”

“Kiss in the rain.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

Chapter Two

Gluttony was morethan just eating too much. This particular sin encompassed so many things. While most associated it with overeating to the point of excess, not eating to live, but living to eat, it also stood for greed.

Robert’s father had been a prime example on his constant search for wealth and depravity. So much so that he’d not been around much to raise his only son.

He stared out the back window as the clouds opened and dumped a torrent of rain. He’d like to know what Lucy was doing to make the agent and detective’s lives miserable but knew she wouldn’t allow him to tag along when she worked.

So, here he was, bored to tears, unable to go to the office. His disguises no longer made him feel as safe as they once had. Still, he wouldn’t stay locked up until his quest was finished. He needed to find those who were destined to leave this world. To do that, he had to go out.

But, where? Where would be the best place to find the next target? He smiled. The Harrington mall would be the perfect place.

Once the rain eased, he dressed as an elderly man, complete with suspenders and a sweater, and headed for the mall. He shuffled across the parking lot, not making eye contact with anyone, and entered the building at the food court.

People filled the place, shoulder-to-shoulder. Long lines stretched from a variety of food choices. A baby wailed from a stroller while the mother pushed it to and fro in vain.

Robert scanned the place, his gaze falling on an obese man with three burger meals. No one sat next to or across from him. Possibility number one.

A well-dressed woman, head high, marched past. Trailing behind her was a young woman burdened with bags of purchases. Possibility number two. The woman snapped her fingers, sat at an empty table, and motioned for the girl to get her some sushi.

A third possibility was a woman whose thighs hung over the edge of the chair she sat in. She had several servings of Chinese food filling her table.

The most interesting was the well-dressed woman. Not a glutton for food, but for things. The other two were sad souls searching for solace. This woman simply wanted to collect and possess. Now, how to let Lucy know.

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