WELCOME TO YOUR NEW LIFE

ELON'S POV

The guest room was nicer than any place I'd ever lived. A view of the city that would be stunning if I wasn't too furious to appreciate it.

I'd been shown to the room by Dimitri, who'd taken entirely too much pleasure in explaining the "house rules." Don't leave the penthouse without permission. Don't touch Fort's private office. Don't try to run—they'd just catch me and make things worse.

"Think of it like house arrest," he'd said with a smirk. "Except with better food and a much scarier warden."

That had been three hours ago. Since then, I'd been left alone with my thoughts, which was somehow worse than being interrogated. My mind kept replaying the day's disasters on loop. The briefcase. Levi's betrayal. Fort's cold smile. That contract.

One year. I'd signed away a year of my life.

I kicked the bed frame, immediately regretting it. "Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid."

A knock on the door made me jump.

"Dinner's ready," came Fort's voice through the door. "Don't make me come in there."

I gritted my teeth. "I'm not hungry."

"I don't care, you need to eat. You're still recovering from being drugged twice in one day."

That was almost funny, if I was in a mood to laugh. I'd drugged Fort, then Levi had drugged me. Karma was a bitch with a great sense of irony.

"Fine." I yanked open the door. Fort stood there in casual clothes—expensive casual clothes, but still. Dark jeans, a fitted black shirt. He looked more human like this.

I reminded myself that this man owned me for the next year. Approachable was an illusion.

The dining table could have seated twelve but was only set for two. Fort took one end, gesturing for me to sit at the other. A private chef—of course Fort had a private chef—brought out plates of food that smelled incredible.

My stomach betrayed me with a loud growl.

"Eat," Fort commanded.

Pride said refuse. Hunger said shut up. Hunger won. I dug in, trying not to think about how this was the best meal I'd had in months.

We ate in silence for a while. Fort watched me with those calculating eyes, and I hated that it made me self-conscious. I was eating too fast. Using the wrong fork probably. Not that I gave a shit about rich people table manners, but—

"Tell me about yourself," Fort said suddenly.

I looked up, suspicious. "Why?"

"Because you're going to be working for me. I should know who I'm dealing with."

"You already had your guy look me up. You know everything."

"I know the facts. I want to know the person." Fort cut his steak with precise movements. "Humor me."

"There's nothing to tell because I'm nobody."

"Nobody doesn't drug and rob Fort Thorne." Fort's eyes glinted with something I couldn't quite read. "You're brave or stupid. I haven't decided which."

"Can't I be both?"

That actually got a small smile. "Fair enough. Where'd you learn to con?"

I debated refusing to answer. Fort could probably find out anyway. "The streets. The foster care system's not exactly known for its supportive environment. I had to learn to survive."

"How old were you?"

"Twelve when I ran away. Sixteen when I got good at it."

Fort nodded slowly. "And Levi?"

"I met him three years ago. I thought he was a friend." My voice went bitter. "Guess that was another con."

"Trust is expensive in our world."

"*Your* world. I'm not—" I stopped myself. I WAS in Fort's world now. The contract made sure of that. "What do you want from me, really? You're not just making me work off a debt. You could've killed me and been done with it."

"I could have." Fort set down his silverware. "But you interest me."

"Interest you?"

"You're talented. Rough, untrained, but talented. You got past my guard at that bar. Made me think you were just another pretty face lady looking for a sugar daddy. That takes skill."

I felt my face heat. "I wasn't—"

"Please, that's exactly what you were doing and it worked." Fort leaned back in his chair. "I let my guard down. That doesn't happen often. So either you're very good, or I'm getting sloppy. I'd prefer to believe the former."

"So what, you're going to train me? Turn me into some master criminal?"

"Something like that." Fort stood, moving to the bar. "You have potential, Elon. I can shape that into something useful or you can keep doing penny-ante cons and eventually get yourself killed by someone less forgiving than me."

He poured two glasses of whiskey, bringing one to me. "To new beginnings."

I stared at the glass. "The last time someone gave me a drink, I woke up on the floor."

"If I wanted to drug you, I wouldn't need to hide it in your drink. I own you, remember?" Fort switched our glasses anyway. "Better?"

It wasn't, really but I took the glass. "What's my first job?"

"Eager. I like that." Fort returned to his seat. "There's a businessman I need information from. Douglas Chen. He's paranoid, careful.  He won't talk to anyone in my organization."

"And you think he'll talk to me?"

"I think a pretty boy with a sob story might get past his defenses." Fort's eyes traveled over me in a way that made me want to squirm. "You'll seduce him, gain his trust, get me what I need."

"You want me to sleep with him."

"I want you to do whatever it takes. How far you go is up to you." Fort sipped his whiskey. "Consider it a test of your abilities."

My stomach churned. This was what I'd signed up for. This was the price of stealing from Fort Thorne.

"And if I refuse?"

"Then we revisit the window option." Fort's voice was pleasant, conversational. Like we were discussing the weather instead of my future. "But I don't think you will. You're a survivor, Elon. Survivors do what they must."

He was right, damn him. I'd survived worse than this. I'd do what I had to do, play whatever role Fort needed, and then when my debt was paid, I'd disappear so fast it'd make Fort's head spin.

"Fine. When do I start?"

"Tomorrow night. Dimitri will brief you on the target." Fort raised his glass. "Welcome to your new life."

I drank, the whiskey burning all the way down. It tasted like surrender and i was not ready for what was to come.