As soon as they were seated at a cosy table near the window, Rosa was glad she’d come. The painkillers were working their magic and she was no longer berating herself. After all, the mission hadn’t been a total failure. She’d killed one cop and wounded another. And according to the latest news reports, she’d also shot Detective Laura Jefferson’s partner, who was now in hospital.

With any luck he would die. But if he did survive then she would apologise to Roy Slack and at the same time assure him that she wouldn’t miss the next target.

The fact was she couldn’t afford to. Not if she wanted to restore her reputation as the best sicaria in the business.

Rosa found it such a joy to be with Alice. The evening flew by and for much of the time she was oblivious to her own discomfort.

Alice was so considerate, so understanding, that Rosa felt almost guilty for deceiving her. It was yet another emotion she had rarely experienced and she was beginning to wonder what was happening to her. It was like a light had come on in her life, suddenly changing everything from sepia to full-colour.

‘I’m so glad you decided to come despite what happened to you,’ Alice said after she insisted on paying the bill. ‘I know it can’t have been easy. You are such a dear.’

‘A fall down the stairs was never going to stop me,’ Rosa said. ‘I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day.’

Alice reached across the table, took Rosa’s hand and squeezed it.

‘Then you won’t mind me telling you that I’ve been counting the minutes,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t concentrate at work. I just kept thinking about making love to you again.’

They looked into each other’s eyes, and Rosa knew that what passed between them, unspoken, was something meaningful. It made her want to tell Alice everything about herself, to open up her soul for the first time in her life.

No other woman had ever made her feel this way and it scared her. She’d known for years that she had nothing to offer when it came to relationships because of who she was and what she did. She’d therefore resigned herself to always being alone.

So far it had suited her. She’d gone from one sexual tryst to another. She’d never felt vulnerable, or exposed, and she’d never had to deal with a maelstrom of conflicting emotions.

Until now.

Alice Green had got under her skin after only three nights. Rosa found everything about her intoxicating. Her beauty. Her eyes. Her gentleness. Her silky smooth flesh.

Rosa had heard about people being swept off their feet, but she’d never thought it would happen to her.