Novels by chigoisproof

Chapter 4: The First MistakeThis stranger—Dante, has been protecting my brother for half a year.While I had no idea."Who ARE you people?" I whisper.He writes slowly: The question isn't who we are. The question is: what are you going to do now?I look at him.This dangerous man who's been watching me. Broke someone's wrist for touching me. And has guards protecting Mason."I'll help you," I say. "Find your thief. Whatever you need. Just... keep Mason safe."He writes: Deal.Then adds: Welcome to my world, Iris. I promise I'll keep you both alive.I hope he's telling the truth.Because I just made a deal with someone who might be more dangerous than the people hunting me.But what choice do I have?We arrive at the penthouse around midnight.I received a message from Dante's men that my brother was safe. They sent me footage evidence. Said that the incident had been contained.When I asked how, Dante asked if I really want to know.I don't know if I want to know, but it's all I thou

CHAPTER 3: The Threat and the DealMy heart is pounding so hard, I can hear it in my ears.The man from my kitchen is walking toward me. Through the crowd. People move out of his way like he's made of fire.30 seconds until he reaches me.Should I run? Where would I even go?Before he reaches me, every phone in the room buzzes at the exact same time.Everyone reach for their phones, I look at mine.Mass text: Building lockdown in effect. No one leaves until I find what belongs to me.Confusion spreads through the crowd."What's going on?""Is this a joke?"Then the main doors SLAM shut.Heavy. Metallic. Electronic locks clicking into place.Someone screams. The room explodes into chaos, people scatter through the noise, shoving, trying to get to the exits.Armed men in black tactical suits pour through the side entrances. They don't look like regular security. They move like soldiers.I press myself against the wall, trying to disappear. The man from my kitchen stops walking toward me

Chapter 2: The Silent Predator I stare at the photo for an hour.Maybe two.Time feels weird when your entire world just got flipped upside down.I should call the police. But what would I even say? "A man broke into my apartment and paid all my bills"? They'd laugh me off the phone.I have to go to work. My shift at Romano's starts at 8 AM, and I can't afford to lose this job.Sure, my bills are paid NOW. But for how long? What's the catch?There's always a catch.On the bus, I clutch the photo in my pocket, and try to find meaning behind it. Why now?I can't stop thinking about it. That night. The fire. Mom.Why can't I remember?Walking to work, my brain goes into overdrive.It's doing the thing again. Noticing, recording. Whether I want it to or not.Black SUV parked across the street. License plate: 7JKL-439. Tinted windows. Engine is still running.I count the seconds as I walk past. The exhaust pattern says it's been idling for at least 47 minutes.Who sits in a car for 47 min

CHAPTER 1: The Golden CageI wake up at 5:47 AM. Same time. Every single day.The hospital bill is taped to my bathroom mirror where I can't miss it: $47,293.18.I don't need to look at it anymore. The number is burned into my brain. Just like everything else.Sigh.I have two hours before my shift at Romano's Restaurant. Three hours before I visit Mason at the cancer center. Four hours before I start coding websites for rich people who'll never know my name.Sleep? That's a luxury I traded for my brother's health.I drag myself out of bed and—Wait.Something's wrong.The mattress beneath me is too soft. Way too soft. My brain does this thing where it notices details I don't even want to know.I sit up fast. My heart starts pounding.Thread count: 1,200. Egyptian cotton. EXPENSIVE!!My mattress is a cheap foam thing from a discount store. Thread count: maybe 200 if I'm lucky.Everything is different.My broken couch and the desk I held together with duct tape are gone. Instead, there