The lights went out. One second. Two. Then— CRASH. A body fell through the glass doors. The room erupted. Screams. Gunfire. People diving behind tables. Viper grabbed Vixen and pulled her behind a marble pillar. "Are you hurt?" "No." "Stay here." She grabbed his jacket. "Absolutely not." "Vixen—" "I'm your wife, not your luggage." He grinned. "Fair." They moved together. Not like two people. Like one. Viper dealt with the attackers coming from the eastern corridor while Vixen disappeared into the darkness. One attacker spotted her. Too late. She stepped behind him. "You're standing on my dress." He looked down. She hit him. He collapsed. Vixen sighed. "Honestly. No manners." Across the ballroom, Viper faced the final attacker. The man's hands trembled. "You can't kill me." Viper tilted his skull-like face. "Everyone says that." A single shot echoed. Silence returned. Vixen emerged from the shadows. She looked at the fallen man. Then at Viper. "Show-off." "You liked it." "I did."

The First Body