Prologue
Bella
* * *
I bounce up the driveway to the big brick mansion I now call home. Papa’s black Rolls-Royce is parked in front of the door. I didn’t know he was going to visit; he must be here to see how I’m settling into school.
I pause on the stoop to check myself over. I’m covered in powdered sugar from my visit to the bakery. Papa says I shouldn’t eat donuts for dinner, but I love the sugar high.
I brush the powder off my cute white top and pink plaid skirt. My shoes are white, so the sugar blends right in. I make sure the bakery bag with the rest of the donuts is hidden deep in my backpack before barging into the house.
“Honey, I’m home.” My voice echoes across the polished wood floors. Papa bought this place because it’s close to the university. It was partially furnished, but we really should buy some rugs.
I swing my backpack down and toss it on the couch, then head through the dining room towards my father’s study.
And stop short when I see the three masked men surrounding Papa with scary masks covering their faces.
“It’s all right, Bella,” my father calls before I can scream. He’s standing by his desk, with two of the three men towering over him.
I swallow my scream. My heart is thumping.
“Papa?” I should be freaked out that these sinister-looking men are here. And I am, but I’ve met some scary people in my life because of the business my dad does with them, so I’m a bit more used to it.
Or at least better at hiding my shock.
So on a scale of one to ten, one being chill and ten being “so scared I pass out and pee myself,” I’m at about a five.
Maybe a six.
Okay, seven.
FOCUS, BELLA!
Papa is a small man. He looks meek and mild, but he’s badass in his own way. But right now he looks defeated. His sober expression sends alarm bells ringing in my head.
“What’s going on?” My dad is the only family I have left, and he looks like he’s been told he only has three months to live.
The men standing over him look like executioners. One is tall and slim in a gray suit, wearing a skull mask, but I can’t make out the details because he’s positioned himself in front of the window, right where the light blazes in and blinds me.
My eye moves to the man in the middle. His mask is shiny and black with short devil’s horns and covers his entire face. He’s sitting behind my father’s desk, and that’s almost worse than the scary costume. He’s acting like my father’s office belongs to him. It’s a power move that takes my breath away. “We had some business to discuss with your father,” the man in the devil’s mask says. “And now you.”
“Me?” I suppress a shudder.
I’m definitely at a seven.
“It’s okay, Bella,” Papa says, but his voice is soft. A little sad.
RED ALERT.
“You’re lying,” I say in a small voice. Because Papa lying to me… is the scariest thing of all.
He says nothing. Doesn’t take it back or try to reassure me. Nothing.
My sugar high is turning on me. I’m gonna puke.
The third guy moves in front of me, and my stomach flips over. He’s bigger than all of them. Huge with bulging muscles. I stare up at him, taking in his wavy blond hair and the dark map of his tattoos.
“Calm down,” he says, and his voice is familiar.
