THE REBORN HEIRESS IS A LETHAL WEAPON

Beep. Beep. Beep.A heart monitor. Too steady.I open my eyes to a white ceiling. Blinding light cuts through my vision. This isn't where I died.Because I did die. I remember the bullet, Cole's voice breaking into static, and the floor rushing up to meet me. I remember the taste of blood, thick and metallic, filling my mouth.Dead. I was supposed to be dead. So why can I feel my fingers moving?I try to sit up. Agony pins me down. A dull, heavy ache spreads through my ribs. Not a gunshot. Bruised ribs. Weak muscles. A body that has never known the kind of training mine had.This isn't my body.I lift my hands. Wrong. No scar tissue. No calluses. Just smooth skin, perfectly manicured nails, and tiny wrists. A hospital band digs into my skin.Vivian Montgomery.Who is Vivian?The door clicks open, snapping me out of it. A nurse walks in and freezes. "You're awake," she breathes, looking at me like she's seen a ghost.I stay silent. Old instinct: never talk until you know your surroundi

The phone screen burns my eyes.I know you're awake.Four words.One massive problem.The heavy metal door handle rattles. Someone is coming in. Right now.I shove the phone under the thin hospital pillow. My heart does a quick, violent flip, but my face remains blank. I slide back into position, eyes wide and lips slightly parted.The picture of terror.The door swings open.It's not Christian Vance. It's not Nurse Lily either.A man steps inside. He's broad-shouldered, wearing a cheap security uniform that doesn't fit properly around his chest. His eyes aren't checking my medical monitor or the IV beside my bed.They're scanning my face.Hunting for something."Miss Montgomery," he says. His voice is deep and rough. "Just doing a quick security check."He takes a slow step toward the bed.Too slow.Too deliberate.My eyes instinctively track his right arm. It's stiff, and he's keeping his hand hidden behind his leg. My skin tingles.Pure assassin instinct.He's not a guard.He's cle

The inside of Christian's mansion is exactly like him—grand, cold, and ridiculously expensive.Marble floors stretch beneath my bare feet, reflecting the warm glow of the chandeliers. A massive staircase curves toward the second floor, and paintings worth more than my old apartment hang along the walls.Beautiful.Impressive.Completely irrelevant.My attention is on the man standing behind me.Christian shuts the heavy front door and locks it. The click of the lock sounds louder than it should.His eyes drop to my bare feet before slowly moving back up."You're freezing."I glance down at myself.The oversized coat he gave me hangs from my shoulders, almost swallowing me whole."I'll survive."His eyebrow lifts."That's what you said at the hospital."Before I can answer, he steps closer.He reaches for the coat, pulling the lapels together around me. His fingers brush my neck, and I instinctively stiffen.Too close.I can smell his cologne now. Clean, masculine, with something darke

Christian doesn't look back as he heads up the stairs.I wait exactly two seconds before following him."Stay here" is a rule for helpless girls, and I'm supposed to be one of those now. Unfortunately, pretending to be helpless doesn't mean I've forgotten how to move.I follow him up the marble staircase, keeping my footsteps quiet.By the time I reach the second floor, Christian is already inside his master suite, standing in front of a massive wall of security monitors. The screens cast a pale blue glow across his bare chest."I told you to wait downstairs," he says without looking at me."I don't do well with orders."His eyes flick toward me.I ignore it and look at the monitors.Several camera feeds show the estate grounds from different angles. Most are dark and empty, but one screen catches my attention immediately.Red.The western perimeter sensor is flashing red.On another screen, three shadows move between the trees.They're dressed in black tactical gear.Weapons in hand.

"Don't lie to me again."Christian's words hang between us.I stare at him, trying to decide which lie will keep me alive.The answer should be obvious.Lie.Always lie.But then I look at the blood running down my ankle, the dead men scattered across his hallway, and the pistol lying between us.There's no point pretending anymore.Not about tonight, anyway."I cut my feet on the glass," I say.Christian's eyes narrow."That wasn't what I asked.""I know."He releases my wrist.For some reason, I miss the warmth of his hand the second it's gone.Annoying.I bend to pick up the pistol, but Christian gets to it first.He takes it from the floor and checks the chamber before placing it somewhere behind him."You're not touching another weapon tonight."I straighten."You're giving me orders again.""Yes.""I don't like it.""I noticed."His eyes drop to my feet again."Sit."I almost laugh."Excuse me?""Sit down before you bleed all over my floor."I look around at the shattered glass