PROLOGUE
EVELYN
Shit, shit, shit.
I heard the sirens coming in the distance. Quickly typing on the computer keyboard, I saved the items I needed on a flash drive and stuffed it in the side pocket of my leather jacket, then grabbed some plain pieces of paper from the large conference room to look like I had forgotten something. I zipped up the pocket as I ran out the back door, where I knew security wasn’t.
As I busted out of my stepfather's office, the skyrise that housed Ricci Enterprises loomed over me like a beast, just like its owner. I booked it toward my car, parked a few blocks away. The sirens drew nearer. The cold New York City air attempted to steal my breath away with its intense bite.
The most reliable thing in my life, my yellow Volkswagen bug, affectionately named Bug, stood out like a sore thumb. I threw open the door and hopped inside. Quickly unzipping my pocket, I shoved my hand in to grab the thumb drive and promptly stuffed it in my school bag.
To anyone else, it would look like a regular school item next to my laptop and notebooks. But I knew the truth. What I had just downloaded from my stepfather's computer would bring an end to his empire. Shoving my bag in the back seat, I went to turn on the ignition when a police car parked behind me with blue lights flashing. Shit, shit.
Taking a few deep breaths, I rolled down my window and saw the familiar face of the police chief.
“Evelyn…” He leaned down to look at me.
“Chief Carmichael, to what do I owe the pleasure?” I asked cheekily. I should be nervous, but he was like an uncle to me.
He raised an eyebrow, his dark-brown mustache quirking up as he eyed me. “Do you have any idea why we received an alert that the alarm was tripped at your dad’s office and why an officer saw you running out of said office?”
“You mean mystepdad?” I corrected him. It was no secret I loathed the man my mother married. Until I was fourteen, I’d looked at Anthony Ricci as an uncle, a dear part of our family.
Until that day. The day my father, his best friend, died. Supposedly in the line of duty. The day I’d watched him hold my heartbroken mother in a way that turned my stomach. The day I knew that there was more to the story than I would ever get from the adults around me.
I used to like him. I’d been mesmerized by his dominating presence. He always dressed to impress with tailored suits that made his muscles seem even more intimidating. His full head of hair and beard were always trimmed and styled to perfection. He was the classic ‘silver fox,’ with his dark and handsome physique. To others, he seemed cool, calm, and collected. But I knew the truth about him.
Even if it took my entire life, I would destroy Anthony Ricci.
“I have no idea why an alarm would go off. I just went in to grab my homework. It sounds like he needs to get a better security system,” I continued innocently, pointing to the paper I had taken from the conference room.
The chief did not seem to like that smart-ass response. “Evelyn, you and I both know how this will go, so turn off the vehicle and come with me.”
I didn’t bother putting up a fight. No one would have any idea what I took. I’d made sure to cover my tracks. I turned off the engine and gave the chief my keys.
My stepfather had the entire department on his payroll. Thankfully, I had my own connections with some of the detectives in the precinct since my dad had died in the line of duty. Details of his untimely death were never fully recovered. All that was known was a hitman was hired to take him out and no one asked questions except me.
When we got to the station, my mother and stepfather were waiting. I was the black sheep of the family. Being the middle child of three made staying hidden in the shadows easy. I was barely home, especially now that Matthew was deployed. Sarah was Anthony's princess. She was too young when he entered our lives to know that the Devil had a name, and she called him Dad. When shit like this happened, my mother and stepfather suddenly remembered I existed. Out of the kindness to my family, one of the officers drove Bug to the station instead of towing my baby.
I was surprised to see my mother out of the house. She spent most of her days at home. If my parents’ looks could kill, I would be dead ten times over. I rolled my eyes, ready to be done with this.
“Was this all necessary?” I motioned to the station around us. “I forgot my homework in the conference room.” It was a dumb excuse, but it was believable enough, and there would be no way to prove otherwise. Anthony folded his arms.
“Sure, homework. That’s the excuse this time?” His tone was menacing.
My mom put a frail hand on his arm. “Honey, let’s talk about this at home. We don’t need more attention drawn to us than already has been.”
And there it was, the stab to my heart that my mom saw me as a disobedient teen. I couldn’t tell her what I was trying to uncover. It was too dangerous. So, instead, I continued to play the hostile, out-of-control teenager—the black sheep.
We were making a scene. I was making a scene. Anthony stared at my mom and then back at me.
“Go get in the car. You’re lucky I agree with your mother,” he growled.
I knew better than to ask for my keys. Steven, the chief’s son, would bring Bug back to me later tonight. We had a system.
I stormed out of the station and got into Anthony’s Lexus.
The car ride home consisted of Anthony telling me he knew I was up to something and me just sitting there with an amused expression on my face. It was a façade for the fear that lay beneath my skin.
