Prologue

Rain hammered against the windshield, blurring the city lights into streaks of neon and gold. The midnight traffic had died down hours ago, leaving the streets empty except for the low rumble of thunder.

Beside Adrian, Elena laughed softly. The sound of it instantly loosened the tight knot of tension he always carried in his chest.

"You’re laughing," Adrian said, keeping his eyes on the wet road. "At what?"

"At you." She leaned her head against the leather seat, smiling at him. "You’ve been staring at the road like it personally insulted you."

"I’m driving. It's called concentrating."

"You’re brooding."

Adrian let out a slow breath. "Same thing."

Elena reached across the console and rested her hand on his arm. Her touch was warm, familiar, and incredibly grounding. Adrian took one hand off the wheel to cover hers, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze.

They had been married for three years. Three years of a life Adrian never thought he deserved. Before Elena, his world was entirely black and white: business, power, and keeping everyone at a safe distance. Love was a weakness in his line of work. But Elena hadn't cared about his walls. She just walked right through them.

"You’re overthinking again," she said softly. "Normal people actually enjoy their anniversary dinners, you know."

"I did enjoy it."

"You spent half the night checking your phone under the table."

"That’s work."

"That’s paranoia," she corrected gently.

Adrian finally shot her a sideways glance. "You married a paranoid man."

"I married a powerful one."

He looked back at the road. Power. It was a heavy word. Power brought money and respect, but it also brought enemies. And enemies only needed you to make one mistake.

The rain started coming down harder, drumming against the roof of the car. A few blocks ahead, a black SUV turned onto the avenue, slipping in right behind them.

Adrian noticed it immediately. His grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"Elena," he said, his voice dropping slightly. "Make sure your seatbelt is clicked."

She blinked, confused. "It is. Why?"

Adrian’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. The SUV was still there, matching his speed exactly. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. Years of surviving in a brutal world had taught him to trust his gut.

"Adrian?" she asked, her voice losing its playful edge. "What’s wrong?"

"Probably nothing."

Suddenly, the SUV’s headlights flashed high, blinding him in the mirror, and the heavy vehicle accelerated, rushing right up to their bumper.

Danger didn't make Adrian panic; it made everything go deadly quiet in his head. "Hold on tight," he ordered.

Before Elena could brace herself, a loud, sharp crack ripped through the night.

The back window exploded. Glass rained down on the backseat. Elena screamed.

Adrian slammed his foot on the gas. The car's engine roared as they shot forward, tires slipping slightly on the wet pavement. Another gunshot rang out, tearing through the metal of the passenger door.

"Get down!" Adrian shouted, shoving his right hand against her shoulder to push her below the dashboard. He ripped the steering wheel to the left, taking a sharp turn down a narrow side street to shake the tail.

The SUV swerved and followed.

Adrian’s mind raced. Two miles to his secure building. One mile to the nearest police station. He pushed the pedal to the floor.

Then came a third shot.

This one sounded different. Closer. Inside the car.

And then, absolute silence.

Adrian felt a heavy, wet warmth spread across his right arm. He looked down. Elena was slumped against the center console. A dark, spreading stain was ruining the white fabric of her dress.

Time seemed to stop. The world outside the car didn't matter anymore.

"Elena?"

She looked up at him. Her eyes were wide, completely lost. "Adrian..." her voice was a wet, broken whisper.

The car slowed down. In the rearview mirror, the black SUV turned off its lights and disappeared into the stormy night. They had done what they came to do.

"Elena, hey, look at me," Adrian said, panic finally breaking through his ice-cold exterior. He pressed his hand hard against her side, trying to hold the blood inside her. "Stay with me. I'm getting us to a hospital."

Her fingers weakly grabbed his jacket sleeve. "It hurts."

"I know, I know, baby. But you’re going to be fine."

She tried to give him that same smile from earlier, but her lips were trembling. "You’re a bad liar."

His chest felt like it was caving in. "No. Don't say that."

"Adrian..." She let out a long, shaky breath. "I'm so cold."

"Stay awake!" he yelled, his voice cracking. "Just keep your eyes open!"

Her grip on his sleeve went loose. Her hand slipped down to the seat. "I love you."

"I love you too," he choked out, pressing the gas again, desperate, blind with fear. "Elena, please—"

But her eyes were already staring at something he couldn't see. Slowly, they fluttered shut.

Adrian pulled the car over, shaking her by the shoulders. "Elena! Elena, wake up!"

The rain kept falling. The thunder kept rolling. But inside the car, the silence was deafening.

Everyone in the city knew that bullet was meant for Adrian. But Elena paid the price. As he held his dead wife in his arms, Adrian learned a bitter truth: power could buy you the world, but it couldn't protect the people you loved.