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y at work. I shoved the phone back in my bag and ducked into a waiting cab, ditching the two guards stationed outside. I knew they would report it and Zane would be pissed. But I couldn't be his problem today. I already felt like too much. The city blurred past, neon lights bleeding into one another as the car sped toward downtown. But even with the movement, the memories followed. They always did. It had been three years since the last time I ran. Another job, another city, another fresh start. Away from Ian. But no matter where I went, the past always found a way to claw itself back. The night it all fell apart, I was twenty. The hacks came first and then the threatening red envelopes at every corner. My father had taken us to the safe house, but it didn't matter. The Cartel found us anyway and the night they carried off the brutal attack on our family, I should have been asleep but Father had given me the silver locket earlier and I was fascinated by it. He had always treasured the piece and never let it out of his sight and it was why I was still awake when the visitors came. Four men in dark suits. One of them stood out because of his funny build. I still remember his face. The scar along his forehead and the way his eyes drooled when he raised the gun. I should have died that night. The voices downstairs were loud enough to wake the dead keeping me up. When the gunshot rented the air, I knew that was the last time I'd be normal again. I went to hide in the makeshift cabin father had carved out and shown me. I listened but everything was silent after the shots were fired. The heavy, terrifying silence before everything burned. They had the house set on fire. I didn't even get to bury them. When I crept down the stairs, my heart nearly stopped. They were already leaving yet I saw them. Instead, I ran. And I kept running. Until I ended up here. Working for Zane Calloway. The one man powerful enough to keep me safe. At least, that's what I to