Chapter 1

Lawson had called this shipment run his last chance to prove himself, and he had asked me to go with him.

We had been together three years.

In those three years I had gone with him on several shipment runs.

We had moved cargo by sea out of Southeast Asia, weapons through the Westhaven desert, and cash along the Easton highways.

Every route was dangerous, and several times I nearly died.

But every time we made it out alive, Lawson was thrilled, because every finished job earned him his family's approval.

Last month, I brought it up with him.

"Why don't we go to Northbay instead and take over the casino business there? It wouldn't be nearly as dangerous."

"Northbay is on the coast. It's beautiful. We wouldn't have to live on edge anymore."

He stroked my hair. "Alright. From now on we do whatever you want."

I curled happily into his arms.

I contacted our people in Northbay right away to set things up. I bought an estate outside the city and turned the little storage cabin into the weapons model library he had always wanted.

I had even started picturing our life together in Northbay.

Then, one week before we were supposed to leave, everything changed.

Beth suddenly produced a stack of shipping documents and said to us, "We're so young. Why settle down now?"

"And Lawson's father cares a lot about this drug shipment. There will always be chances in Northbay, but chances to prove yourself like this don't come around often."

Lawson looked at the documents, and something in his eyes shifted.

"I think we could split the load across three trucks."

I froze for a second, and by the time I looked up at him again, he and Beth were already mapping out the route.

I tugged at his sleeve. The words were at my throat, but Beth caught my shoulders and cut me off. "Annie, this is the time in our lives to push hard. You're not seriously thinking about going off to Northbay for a quiet life, are you?"

"What's so great about business in Northbay? We should be working our way up, not embarrassing our own families."

I paused, and swallowed the words back down.

The truth was that the casino business in Northbay had been booming the last few years. It was a good direction to grow in.

But I didn't say it out loud.

The members standing around us started talking.

Some said Northbay business carried no weight.

Some said a load like this needed both Lawson and Beth to pull off.

I stood there in the council hall like an outsider, so I walked out without a word.

I had barely reached the hallway when Lawson came after me.

He caught my wrist and asked with a smile, "Upset, are we?"

I didn't answer. The warmth at my wrist filled in a little of the hollow place in my chest.

I felt slightly better. He ruffled my hair and sighed. "Why are you still like this? Even if you're upset, you shouldn't just walk out."

"It'll make Beth read into things. Once I finish this run, I'll go to Northbay with you."

"Come on, don't be angry. Come back inside."

Beth was calling for Lawson from inside.

He said his piece and hurried back in.

I stood in the doorway looking toward all that noise, and my chest went cold. My nose stung.

I didn't go in. I turned and left.