Skin Game by Ava Gray

This compilation of excerpts centers on Kyra, a skilled con artist, and Reyes, a professional assassin, whose paths become entangled following a high-stakes pool game. Their initial interactions are marked by Kyra's use of a mysterious ability, which she "steals" from others, and Reyes's professional assignment to eliminate her for Gerard Serrano, a casino owner Kyra previously swindled. The narrative follows their complex and evolving relationship, shifting from a professional hit to an unexpected partnership and, ultimately, a passionate but complicated romance. Concurrently, the excerpts introduce Foster, Serrano's enigmatic chief of security who harbors his own motivations and connections to the past, and Mia, Kyra's close friend and fellow con artist, whose disappearance prompts Kyra and Reyes to work together against Serrano. The texts explore themes of deception, trust, unexpected connections, and the blurred lines between professional obligations and personal feelings.