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Sarah

I wake up with a sharp pain pounding in my head, and the first thing I notice is the cold, hard surface beneath me. My fingers brush against rough concrete, the texture grating against my skin as I push myself up to sit. The room is dark, too dark, but there’s a faint, sickly yellow glow coming from somewhere behind me. I try to orient myself, but the room spins, and I nearly topple over again.

That’s when I hear them. Low voices, murmuring in a language I don’t understand. Russian, maybe? My heart races as I glance around, trying to make out the faces in the dim light. Three men stand near the door, their figures looming like shadows. I catch a glimpse of one man’s hand as he gestures, and my blood turns to ice when I see the small, coiled snake tattooed on the back of it. Another man’s shirt is unbuttoned just enough to reveal the same tattoo on his chest, the snake’s eyes seeming to glare at me through the darkness.

I’m over. The thought crashes down on me, heavy and suffocating. I should’ve known better, should’ve been more careful. The data I stole was too hot, too dangerous, and now I’m paying the price.

There’s a sharp creak as the door opens wider, and the men go silent, parting like the Red Sea as another figure steps into the room. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, with a presence that demands attention. The shadows don’t hide the sharp angles of his face, the hard set of his jaw. His eyes are dark, piercing, and they settle on me with a scrutiny that makes my skin crawl.

This must be Kace Preston. The name is whispered in dark corners, feared even by those who think they’re untouchable. The Mafia boss who rules his empire with an iron fist.

I’m caught in his grip.

He doesn’t speak at first, just stares at me, his gaze traveling from my disheveled hair to the bruises forming on my wrists. The silence stretches, each second ticking by like a death sentence. My breath catches in my throat, but I force myself to hold his gaze. I can’t show fear, not now. I’ve survived worse—at least, that’s what I try to tell myself.

Finally, he speaks, his voice low and rough, like gravel. “Strange, you look a lot like my daughter.”

The statement throws me off for a moment. I’ve heard about Sophia Preston, the sheltered princess of the Preston empire, but this isn’t about her. This is about me, and how I’m going to get out of this alive.

“So what,” I say, my voice hoarse but steady. My mouth is dry, my body still reeling from whatever they drugged me with, but I focus on the one thing that matters. “Am I supposed to care?”

His eyes narrow slightly, and I see something flicker there—curiosity, maybe. It’s gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that cold, calculating gaze. He steps closer, his polished shoes echoing on the concrete floor, and I stiffen, forcing myself to stay still.

“So, you’re the one who thought you could steal from me,” he says, his voice smooth, almost amused.

I clench my jaw, biting back a retort. There’s no point in lying; they caught me red-handed. The only thing left is to figure out how to stay alive long enough to see my brother again.

“Why?” His question hangs in the air, demanding an answer, but I don’t respond right away. My mind races, weighing my options, calculating the risks.

“For the money,” I finally say, the truth slipping out like a confession. “My brother needed a liver transplant. We couldn’t afford it.”

Kace stares at me for a long moment, and I can’t read the expression on his face. Then, he nods slowly, almost thoughtfully. “You’re either very brave or very stupid. Maybe… there’s another option for you.”

Kace’s words hang in the air, thick with possibilities I’m too scared to consider. My body tenses, and I swallow hard, trying to keep my expression neutral. My mind is still foggy from whatever they used to knock me out, but I focus on him—on the man who holds my fate in his hands.

He looks at me like he’s weighing me, evaluating every ounce of who I am. It’s unnerving, and I hate the vulnerability of it, but I keep my eyes on him. I won’t cower.

“You’re resourceful,” he says, his voice low, almost conversational. “Breaking into my system like that? Impressive. Took a lot of guts.”

I can’t tell if he’s mocking me or genuinely impressed. “I did what I had to,” I reply, my voice steady, despite the tightness in my chest.

“Now you find yourself in quite the predicament,” Kace continues, taking a step closer. The room suddenly feels smaller, the air heavier with his presence. “You’ve got skills, and you’ve got determination. That’s rare, especially for someone as young as you.”

I don’t respond. I’m not sure where he’s going with this, and I don’t trust myself to say the right thing. I’ve seen too many people dig their own graves with careless words.

Kace tilts his head, his dark eyes boring into mine. “I could use someone like you, Sarah.”

The way he says my name sends a shiver down my spine. It’s not just that he knows it—it’s the way he says it, like he’s already decided I belong to him.

“You’re offering me a job?” I ask, disbelief creeping into my voice. I’ve heard of criminals being recruited, but this? This is something else.

He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “In a manner of speaking. You’ve got potential, and I have the resources to hone that potential. Train you properly, give you what you need to succeed.”

I stare at him, my heart racing. “You want me to work for you?”

“Yes,” he replies simply. “You could be an asset to my organization. You’ve already proven you’re capable of breaking into systems most people can’t even touch. Imagine what you could do with the right training, the right tools.”

The offer hangs between us, a dark promise laced with danger. I know what working for him means—what it would make me. I’d be crossing a line, stepping into a world where morality is nothing more than a shadow on the periphery. But I can’t deny the pull of it, the desperate need for financial support that’s gnawed at me for years.

I think of Luke, his pale face and fragile body lying in that hospital bed. The fear in his eyes when I told him I’d find a way, no matter what it took. I’ve made a promise, and I don’t break my promises.

“What’s the catch?” I ask, my voice quieter now, edged with the wariness that’s been my constant companion.

Kace’s smile widens, just a fraction. “No catch. You work for me, I pay you well. You’ll have what you need, and your brother will be taken care of. Know this, Sarah—once you’re in, there’s no getting out. You’ll be part of the family, for better or worse.”

Family. The word makes me want to laugh, but I don’t. There’s nothing funny about this. He’s offering me a lifeline, and I’m not in a position to refuse. Even if it means losing a part of myself in the process.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “I’ll do it.”

Kace nods, as if he expected nothing less. “Good. You can visit your brother tomorrow, and then you start working for me.”

The door opens again, and the men with the snake tattoos step forward, their expressions as cold as before. I push myself to my feet, ignoring the wobble in my knees. As I follow them out, I don’t look back at Kace.

The men flank me on either side, their footsteps echoing in the narrow hallway as we move deeper into the belly of the building. I’m still unsteady on my feet, but I force myself to walk straight, to keep my head up. Every instinct screams at me to fight, to run, but there’s no point. I’ve already chosen my path.

We reach a door at the end of the hallway, a heavy thing made of dark wood, and one of the men with the snake tattoo—this one on his hand—pushes it open. He jerks his head toward the room, a silent command for me to go inside.

I hesitate, glancing at him, then at the other man. His tattoo is visible just above the collar of his shirt, the snake’s tail curling around his throat like a noose. They both look at me with the same blank expression, devoid of any warmth or empathy. They’re not here to comfort me; they’re here to make sure I don’t step out of line.

“This is where you’ll sleep tonight,” the man with the throat tattoo says, his voice low and clipped. “Boss will run a background check, make sure you don’t have any nasty surprises waiting for us.”

A shiver runs through me at his words. They’re going to dig into everything—my past, my life, my mistakes. I can only hope that what they find won’t land me in an even worse situation.

I step into the room. It’s small, bare, with just a bed and a nightstand. The walls are painted a dull gray, and there’s a single window on the far wall, covered by thick blinds that block out the world beyond.

I turn to face the men, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. “I need to call my brother,” I say, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice. “He’ll be worried if he doesn’t hear from me.”

The man with the hand tattoo shakes his head. “No calls. You’ll see him tomorrow. Arrangements will be made.”

“But—” I start, but he cuts me off with a look that makes it clear this conversation is over. “You’re here now. Do what you’re told, and things will go smoothly.”

I bite back my frustration, realizing that any attempt to argue would be pointless. These men aren’t going to give me anything. Not information, not comfort, not even a sliver of hope.

“What’s going to happen tomorrow?” I ask, though I already know the answer. I just need something, anything, to hold on to.

The man with the throat tattoo gives me a cold smile. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

With that, they turn and leave, the door closing behind them with a heavy thud, sealing me in. The lock slides into place with a finality that makes my heart skip a beat.

I’m alone now, truly alone, with nothing but my thoughts and the low hum of fear that has settled in my chest. The room is too quiet, the kind of quiet that makes your mind wander to dark places. I sit down on the edge of the bed, the mattress firm and unyielding under my weight.

The urge to cry creeps up on me, but I push it down. Tears won’t help me now. I think of Luke, of his smile, of the way he used to run to me when he was scared. He’s the reason I’m here, the reason I have to keep going. Whatever happens tomorrow, whatever Kace Preston has planned, I have to survive it. For him.

I look around the room again, trying to find something, anything, that might give me a sense of control. There’s nothing. No pictures, no decorations, nothing personal. It’s a prison, plain and simple, and I’m the one locked inside.

Taking a deep breath, I lie back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. The darkness presses in from all sides, but I refuse to let it swallow me. I’ve come too far to give up now. I close my eyes, willing sleep to come, even though I know it will be elusive. Tomorrow, I’ll face whatever Kace throws at me. I’ll do what I have to.

For Luke, and for the chance to reclaim some part of the life that’s slipping away from me.