PROLOGUE
AIDEN
“You can run, kid, but we’ll find you!”
“Screw you!” I yelled back, running from the jerks who wanted something I refused to let them take. I wouldn’t go through that again. Not ever.
City blocks passed in a blur, but I pushed. Harder. Faster. Not until my lungs burned and a copper tang filled my mouth did I pause, doubled over to catch my breath. When I stood, I noticed where I was.
Home.
At least the last place I remembered being halfway decent enough to be called that. I’d not been in the area for years. I avoided it at all costs. My subconscious must’ve pushed me here, to the last place I remembered being safe and warm. My stomach growled. I couldn’t tell you the last time I had a full belly on the regular.
I kept to the shadows as I moved around the massive building looming over me. There had to be a door I could jimmy—something I could do in my sleep. I just hoped there wasn’t a security system. That would be bad.
Rounding the corner, a wall of brick with high windows and a singular, nondescript metal door greeted me. My gaze roamed around the wall, looking for cameras.
Nothing. I nearly crowed in victory.
I moved toward the door, pausing when I heard the beat of sneakers on pavement.
“Fan out. He’s gotta be here somewhere.”
Electricity shot through me, lighting up my nerve endings with panic and fear. I rushed to the door, pulling out the lock pick kit I swiped from an old bum one night. He’d shoved me off the ratty couch in the flop house I’d been staying in at the time. I didn’t protest. The guy had a big knife he’d pointed at me when I moved to stand. As soon as he was asleep, I rummaged through his things, taking everything I could before disappearing.
The sounds of the guys chasing me came closer and closer.
“C’mon, Aiden. C’mon,” I whispered to myself, hoping to hurry myself despite the trembling fingers that fumbled with the picks.
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, forcing out everything around me until my racing heart settled into a slow, steady hum. Then I tried again.
A flood of relief washed away the panic and fear as the lockfinallyturned, the door opening with a groan. I shushed it as if it could understand me, holding it with both hands until it clicked shut with a soft snick.
“What is this place?”
The sound of my voice bounced off the tile floors and concrete walls. My left arm tucked in close to my aching ribs, I turned, surveying my surroundings. Nothing gave away what the building was used for.
Shrugging, I stumbled through the darkness. I wanted to scream until my head rattled. The enormous amount of pain flooding my brain now that I’d quit running weaved its way throughout the rest of my body. Screaming would be so damn wonderful, but a seriously bad idea. The rib beaters were just outside. Getting away from them took priority, which meant keeping my trap shut, no matter how much I wanted or needed to let out the onslaught of agony.
After a few deep breaths to steady myself, I moved through the building, looking for a place to crash. Somewhere safe and warm. And hopefully, something to eat. It had been a few days since I had more than scraps from the trash.
Door after door turned up more and more of the same. Jack shit. Offices filled with desks and tables, but nothing soft, comfortable, or inviting. Not that I was used to anything of that nature. Not since before my dad took off and my mom died. Since then, hunger and fear have become my existence.
Another door opened, and I laughed, my body deflating with relief. A couch. A comfortable one, too, from the looks of it. Sneaking a peek behind me, my breath stilled while I listened, praying the guys chasing me hadn’t figured out I ducked in here. Silence greeted me. A smile warmed my face for a moment, but I wiped it from my face. Luck didn’t know me, and I didn’t know it. Disappeared sperm donor. Dead mother. More foster parents than I could count, and not a one of themdecent. Some of them bigger nightmares than I could bear to think of. Especially once a few of the closeted assholes realized I’m queer.
I shook off the darkness that threatened to descend and entered the office. I dropped onto the couch, my fingers grazing the soft fabric. I’d sleep here. This would be a good spot. Now to find some food.
I rummaged through all the drawers in the desk then turned for the cabinets. I found some blankets and a pillow in one and a jacket several sizes too big in another, but nothing to eat unless you counted spearmint gum.
Easing the door open, I checked the hallway. I didn’t have a clue where to go, having never been in the building before, but the posters and things on the walls of the office screamed hockey, so there had to be a concession stand around here somewhere given the size of the building. People ate junk when they watched a game. Not that I’d ever been to one of them. Kinda hard coming up with the cash for tickets and concessions when you spent all your time trying to keep from being pimped out, beat down, or starving to death.
I moved around the building, taking things slow. With the adrenaline gone, everything hurt. Every step jarred my ribs, my breath catching in my throat. If I didn’t come across anything soon…
“Wow!”
The whispered gasp echoed, but I gave no notice. My entire being focused on one thing only. The sight that filled the opening I’d come across that looked out over the most beautiful thing I’d ever set eyes on.
Swallowing, I glanced all around me. I held my breath as I moved slowly toward the balcony railing that spanned the opening.
