chapter 1

Chapter 1

Today was supposed to be the happiest day of Freya’s life.

She was turning twenty-two, and her parents had just solved the biggest case of their entire career as secret federal agents. Tonight was meant to be a double celebration for the Rossi family.

And the venue?

Her brother’s motorcycle club.

Her parents had warned her never to set foot in that place until she turned twenty-two. But Freya had never been the obedient type, especially not when her big brother spoiled her rotten.

She swung her leg over the Ducati Monster 821, which her brother had gifted her for her birthday.

The engine roared to life beneath her.

She could practically feel her parents staring from the porch behind her, probably wondering when their little princess had learned how to ride a motorcycle.

But that was a story for another day.

The moment she hit the road, every nerve in her body came alive.

Wind rushed past her as the engine growled beneath her seat, and for the first time in her life, she felt completely free.

She had loved bikes since she was a little girl. Owning one had always been her dream.

Now that the dream had finally come true, Freya could not contain her happiness.

She wanted to take a quick ride around town, but her phone rang before she could even make it halfway down the street.

It was a call from her brother.

She answered through her helmet.

“Firefly, where are you?”

Freya groaned.

Her brother called her Firefly. According to him, it was because she had always been full of energy and running everywhere like a tiny ball of chaos.

And yes, she absolutely hated that name.

She sped down the road as she shouted into the phone.

“Bro, what did we agree on? You were supposed to stop calling me that once I turned twenty-two!”

His laughter burst through the speaker.

“Come on, Firefly. You know that name suits you.”

Freya opened her mouth to argue, but then she heard someone call her brother’s name in the background.

Her stomach flipped instantly.

She knew that voice.

It belonged to her brother’s VP.

The man who had been haunting her thoughts for far longer than she cared to admit.

He was handsome in a way that should probably be illegal, with tattoos covering his arms and a presence that made every woman in the room stare.

And she was no exception.

And since today was her birthday… Maybe tonight would finally be the night she stopped pretending she wasn’t attracted to him.

Her brother’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

“Be careful on the road,” Roy said. “I’ll see you at the club.”

…

Freya arrived before her parents.

That wasn’t surprising.

She had ridden the Ducati Monster 821, after all.

The moment she stepped into the club, she pulled off her gloves and glanced around.

The place looked… different.

It was sparkling clean and more organized than usual.

Her brother had clearly taken the time to scrub away the usual smell of alcohol and engine oil that reeked in this place.

Roy spotted her the moment she walked in.

He lifted his hand and waved.

Freya sauntered over to him.

“I’m impressed,” she said, glancing around the room.

Roy placed a hand over his chest dramatically, as if she had just insulted him.

“Firefly, do you really think so little of your big brother?”

Freya opened her mouth to respond, but then she noticed the man standing beside Roy.

Her heart did a complete somersault in her chest.

Great.

Just… great.

Did Roy really have to call her Firefly in front of his ridiculously hot VP?

She could feel heat creeping up her neck.

“Roy,” she said quickly, clearing her throat, “Mom and Dad will be here soon. I’m going to change.”

…

Her parents had wanted to make her the center of attention that night, but Freya had declined.

They were retiring after closing this case, and she wanted the celebration to be about them.

Unfortunately, the night didn’t go the way any of them expected.

The knife had just sunk into her birthday cake when the first gunshot shattered the air.

The music stopped, screams erupted, and everything became chaotic in an instant.

Panic spread through the room as people began running in every direction.

Then the club doors burst open.

Her brother’s VP stumbled inside, his hand covered in blood, and his face pale.

Roy and Freya had been standing side by side, ready to cut the cake together, so she heard every word he whispered.

“Prez,” he said, breathless. “We’re under attack.”

Roy’s face was instantly drained of color.

There were powerful people in the room tonight, government officials, businessmen, and people with connections in places no one talked about.

If this were an attack…

Everything could fall apart.

“Roy, what’s going on?” Her father stepped forward, a deep frown on his face.

Roy turned to him, and for the first time in her life, Freya saw fear in her brother’s eyes.

“There’s a secret exit behind the bar,” Roy said quietly. “Take the guests and leave. Now.”

Then he turned to her.

His hands gripped her shoulders tightly.

“Firefly,” he said, his voice shaking, “I want you to go with Mom and Dad. Whatever happens… don’t look back.”

Her heart started pounding hard in her chest.

“Roy,” she whispered, “what the fuck is going on?”

A cold knot twisted in her stomach.

The words his VP had whispered replayed in her mind.

Before she could grasp them, the second wave of gunshots exploded outside the club, shattering the windows to nothingness.

People screamed.

Someone knocked into her as the crowd surged toward the exit.

“Move! Move!” someone yelled.

Roy shoved her toward their parents.

“Go! Now!”

Her mother grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the back of the club where the hidden door was.

But before they could reach it, the main doors burst open.

Men stormed inside.

Black clothes. Masks. Guns.

Her father stepped in front of them instantly.

“Stay behind me,” he said.

Everything happened too fast after that. Too fast for her mind to comprehend.

Another gunshot, and she heard her mother scream.

Suddenly, the smell of gasoline filled the air, and smoke erupted.

Someone tackled her to the ground as bullets tore through the room.

Freya crawled toward Roy, her ears ringing.

“Roy!” she shouted.

But then she saw something that made her blood run cold.

One of the attackers had already reached her parents.

Her father tried to fight him.

But he didn’t stand a chance against the armed mercenary.

The gun was fired, and her mother collapsed beside her, a deep hole in her forehead, her eyes wide open.

“No!” Freya screamed.

She tried to run to them, but strong hands grabbed her from behind.

Another shot rang out.

Pain exploded in her head as something struck her.

Her vision blurred.

And the last thing she remembered before darkness swallowed her…

…was Roy shouting her name.

“Firefly!”

And then everything went completely blank.