Chapter 3

When I first met Hunter, he was still a long way from becoming the casino king of the Sable Isles.

He was just a small-time thug who had been caught stealing and thrown out of the gang. They broke his limbs and left him to die in the snow.

My mother had lost a power struggle with my father's mistress. They riddled her with bullets and dumped her in the sea to feed the fish. There was not even a body left to bury.

That left me at the very bottom of the gang, where anyone could kick me around.

I wore hand-me-downs from others and ate spoiled food when I could get any leftovers at all. I was barely better off than a rat in the gutter.

When I found Hunter on the verge of death, I could not leave him there.

It took all my strength to haul him back to my room. I used the ointment I had been saving to treat his wounds.

He lay at death's door for a month before he finally stirred. His fever had not broken. His eyes struggled to focus.

As he drifted in and out of consciousness, he kept asking why I had saved him.

"Why didn't you let me die? People like me are born to be walked all over!"

I was furious. "How do you know things won't change if you don't even try?

"Even I can find the courage to keep going. What gives you the right to give up? I saved your life, so you don't get to throw it away without my say-so! I'm ordering you to make something of yourself!"

That evening, the setting sun turned the sky red as blood.

He stared at me for a long time, though I could tell he was barely taking in my face.

Before the fever pulled him under again, he murmured, "Evangeline, you saved my life. I'll repay you someday."

I managed a bright smile.

At the time, I thought nothing of him calling me Evangeline. Looking back, he must have read her name on the clothes I was wearing. After the fever, he remembered the name but not my face.

I checked myself out of the hospital.

I had planned to visit a funeral home and pick out a nice coffin for myself, but Hunter called before I could go.

"It's Evangeline's birthday. I'm throwing her a party on a cruise ship. You're coming."

I could not turn him down, so I went.

As soon as I boarded, I ran into Evangeline.

Her lips were painted a bold red. Her black curls fell to her waist.

There was smugness on her face when she saw me.

"You know by now, don't you? Gareth isn't the only one who'd die for me. Hunter would too. So what if I'm marrying Gareth? One word from me, and Hunter would still put his life on the line.

"I hear you two are going to the city hall tomorrow?"

She flicked ash from her cigarette.

"What if I killed you on your way there? Do you think Hunter would blame me?"

I frowned. "You can try. If I die, I'm taking you with me."

She froze for a moment, unnerved by how serious I was. Then, she flew into a rage and wrapped her hands around my throat.

"Do you think I'm afraid to die? I'm Dad's only real daughter. You're just his illegitimate daughter. What makes you think you can threaten me? I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life settling for the men I throw away! Die!"

Her grip tightened until my vision darkened. I stumbled backward and slammed my head against the railing.

As I tipped over the edge, I grabbed Evangeline by the collar.

Splash!

We fell into the sea together.

The freezing water filled my mouth and nose. As I struggled to breathe, I saw Hunter swimming toward me.

For a moment, hope stirred in my chest. Then, I saw him swim right past me.

He went straight to Evangeline, caught her in his arms, and lifted her out of the water.

He never once looked back at me, even though he knew I could not swim.

As seawater filled my lungs, I watched him carry her away. Somehow, my heart did not hurt quite so much any longer.