Chapter 1: Cold steel

AVERY'S POV

I had to escape; this was my chance. A few more steps and I would be free. I just had to get to Keisha. My hands touched the hot metal of the gate, my heart racing with joy.

Suddenly, cold metal pressed against my head. Beads of perspiration formed on my forehead.

“Turn around.”

The command was icy. I shivered with fear. Obeying the command, I turned on shaky legs to find my stepmother smirking at me.

“You really thought you could escape, huh?”

This was it; my life was over. I closed my eyes, wishing this was all a dream.

HOURS BEFORE

"Let go of me! Let go. Just leave me alone." They were gone. Why the hell was I tied up and locked in here? My throat ached from screaming; no one could hear me. "Somebody help! Please, anybody." No one seemed to be around to help me. It started to rain. It was strange because I was locked up in a sealed room with no windows, yet whatever it was kept dropping on me. How?

I opened my eyes; it was all a dream. I had been out all night, and this morning, when it began to rain, the butler helped me get inside.

I am Avery Kingston—blonde, with freckles across my nose, fair-skinned, and petite. I am the daughter of Vicente Kingston, one of the richest men in New York, but I am treated like an alien.

It was my birthday the next day. Every girl with a normal life and a loving family looks forward to her birthday.

They would at least have reasons to smile a lot, maybe get a gift or two. My life was different—a disaster I could only hope to escape.

The night before my birthday, I was forced to sleep outside like a stray dog, and my father did nothing. I just have to find a way to escape them. Letting my tears fall, I whispered to my mom, even though I knew she couldn't hear me.

"Mom, you know I need you now. Why did you leave me? If only you had just taken me with you." I knew it was out of her control.

Sometimes I like to think she could have decided not to go, or better still, she could have given me a better father so it wouldn't have hurt so much. I rested my head back on my pillow.

"Here, I brought food for you," Mr. Brutus said softly. Sensing my surprise, he added, “You did not lock the door, so…”

"No, it's fine. Thank you so much, Mr. Brutus. I'm starving."

"You don't have to thank me, my dear. I just wish I could do more for you. Get some rest."

He turned to leave and then stopped.

"I almost forgot! Happy birthday, Miss. I wish all your wishes come true." With that, he left. I whispered my thank you, even though I knew he couldn't hear me.

The sound of thunder brought me back to reality. I had gotten inside with Mr. Brutus' help, and now, silly dreams wouldn't let me be. I'm dreaming of food now? Soon, there was a knock on the door. "Who is it?"

I feared it was my stepmom. Had she noticed I had snuck back in?

"Miss, you have to open up. It's urgent. Your family has some kind of plan, I don't know."

"Mr. Brutus?" I opened up immediately. He looked worried. "You have to leave this house. I overheard your father's and stepmom's conversation. They plan to get you married to some dangerous person for money. I might be wrong, but you should get yourself away from here."

My head was pounding, and my heart raced. Humiliating me wasn't enough? Where do I go from here? "It can't be..."

Taking my hand in his affectionately, like a father holding his daughter, I wondered at that moment how much better my life would have been if he were my father. He placed money in my hand.

“Take this and go far away from here, child, somewhere safer. You deserve so much better than this.”

"This is too much. I can't—"

"Yes, you can. Now, hurry.” I didn't bother packing my clothes. I wanted to get away as soon as possible.

Just when I was about to head to the stairs, I saw my stepmom and sister; they seemed to be looking for me. I hid in the corner immediately.

"She's not outside; I didn't let her in either. Where could she have gone?"

"Maybe she sneaked in. Mom, don't worry, we'll find her," Serena assured, obviously bored by the conversation.

"Don't tell me not to worry! Do you know who Mr. Armstrong is? We'll be dead if he thinks we're playing him."

"He's that bad? Get people to look for her. Have you told Dad?"

"Your father will kill me if he finds out. He wasn't really in support of this; he knows how dangerous Mr. Armstrong is. I assured him everything was going to go as planned. I messed up; I should not have made her sleep outside last night."

What Mr. Brutus said was true... My heart ached. My own father agreed to this. If they were this scared of him, what kind of monster is he? I don't want to find out.

I have to escape before they find me. I immediately sent a message to my friend Keisha. She had promised to come visit me today since it's my birthday.

"I need your help. Come pick me up; I'm trying to escape."

She replied immediately, "It's about time! I'm on my way."

I managed to get outside the door without getting noticed. I caught sight of Keisha's car, and I ran as fast as I could to get to her. I opened the gate, but I felt something cold behind my head.

BACK TO THE PRESENT

"Avery!!! Let her go, you bastard!" My friend Keisha couldn't stop screaming as she tried to get to me.

"Get her friend too; she's just in time for the celebration," my stepmother ordered.

No, I can't have them bring her into this mess.

"No! Leave Keisha out of this; I'll do as you wish."

"Fine. Let the girl go."

"Take the back door; Mr. Armstrong has arrived. Serena, make sure she gets dressed. We don't want to keep Mr. Armstrong waiting." Just then, I saw the convoy. He must be filthy rich and probably very bad. My stepmother would never give me anything good.

Thirty minutes later, I was literally dragged out to the living room. To my surprise, the living room had been decorated. I could swear these decorations weren't here thirty minutes ago.

Every step I took closer to my dad filled me with dread. If he wasn't smiling so much and if he wasn't present, I would have hoped he'd come to my rescue.

“Come here, Avery,” my dad ordered, stretching out his hand for me to take it.

"Move, little swine. You've kept Mr. Armstrong waiting for way too long. The sooner you marry him, the better."

I gulped. I glanced at every corner of the room, hoping for a miracle, a way to escape—a savior, if any.

AIDEN'S POV

In my quest to claim everything—my grandfather's legacy, the clues, and the pieces I needed for revenge—I will do anything. If it means getting married, I'll do it. The outcome will outweigh the sacrifice. Since my grandfather's death, I have taken on extra responsibilities, ones I am ready to handle.

The field smelled of victory. The air was filled with the scent of heat, sweat, and blood. Another victory, each one a step closer to the goal.

My ringtone snapped me out of my thoughts. I had received a proposal from the Kingstons.

"Stephan, you know what to do; burn the bodies. Make it clean. Simon, find out who sent them."

"Yes, Boss."

"Be fast about it, Stephan; you're coming with me. I have a bride to claim."

A virgin bride in exchange for money. I'll get something I enjoy and fix my inheritance issue. Of course I'm getting married. I had to be there in an hour.

"A bride, but—"

"Don't even think about questioning me." I hate being questioned. One silly mistake could earn you one bullet. I gave my gun one more swipe with a clean cloth; nice and shiny.

"Perfect." Then I gave it a kiss and returned it to my suit pocket.

"Done, Boss," Santos, my right hand, said as he hurried back.

"Good. To the Kingston Mansion, wherever that is. Ruddy, drive as fast as you can."

We arrived at the Kingstons'.

I was made to wait for quite some time, which wasn't part of the agreement, and I was beginning to lose my patience.

Did they not know they were playing with fire? I turned to signal my right hand, but I noticed Mrs. Kingston had brought the girl. She was shaking; I could tell from a distance.