Prologue

I went back to my room and flopped on my bed and groaned.

The next morning as I pulled into work at Zacks Crab Shack, I was stopped by a tall man in a suit after blocking me with his black suv. I took a step back.

I’d seen enough action movies to know this was a government vehicle. “Are you Evelyn Myers?” A deep velvety voice said.

“Uh…yeah, that’s me.” I stammered. “Can I help you?”

The man came closer to me and stuck out his hand, “I’m agent Derrick Fleming.”

I tentatively shook his hand. Scars marred his hands. Although his demeanor was intense, his eyes were gentle. It was clear that he was military from the mere size of him. Tattoos peaked from underneath his suit jacket. His hair was cut short on the sides and longer on the top. Gray started to speckle throughout his brown hair. His features were hard, but his gentle eyes held my gaze as he continued.

“I’d like to discuss a potential job opportunity.” I stood there awkwardly as he continued. “Unless you would like to go to federal jail?”

My eyes went wide. “I’m…so…sorry?” I asked.

“Let’s skip the bullshit, shall we?” He smirked. “You were flagged for accessing top secret government databases. At your age that is quite impressive. If your skill wasn’t so impressive, you would be incarnated.”

“What would I have to do?” I asked, biting my lower lip. Shuffling my worn sneakers on the ground.

“Join my team. I am part of a special operations team where your skill set would be a huge asset not only for the team but for this country.”

“But, I just turned 18? I’m supposed to be leaving for school in August.” I mustered out. My head was swimming from the shit storm I got myself in.

“I know. I know everything about you Ms. Myers. How about this, I will give you some time to think about it. Give me a call,” he said, giving me his business card. “Don’t leave me waiting too long. Felonies are permanent.” On that note he turned and headed back to his black suv.

He nodded to me. “I’ll be talking to you soon, Ms. Myers.”

I just stood in the parking lot. Not knowing what to do until my coworker sang out my name at the side entrance door to the restaurant.

After the lunch rush, I complained of not feeling well. My boss Zack, let me off early.

As I pulled into the driveway my mother was being escorted by two men in green scrubs to a white van.

She fought them as they held onto her arms.

My step father stood on the front porch. His black suit and domineering appearance looked undisturbed by the situation in front of him.

“Anthony, please don’t let them take me! I promise I will be better” she cried trying to fight the men holding onto her.

I rushed to my mom. “What the fuck is going on here?” I screamed, making the two men in scrubs stop moving. They let her go and she rushed to me, engulfing me in a hug.

“Why are you home early?” A deep menacing voice asked. I looked over my mother’s shoulder to see Anthony shooting daggers at me with his dark eyes.

“I asked a question first!” I retorted. My mother trembled in my arms. She was so frail in my arms.

Anthony walked down the steps and towards us. “Your mother is sick and needs to be taken to a facility where she can receive help.”

My mother cried harder as he said the words. “I’m not crazy,” she whispered in my ear. “Don’t let him take you down too. Don’t let him see you.” Her warning was clear. Stay in the shadows as I take him down.

“She’s not going anywhere.” I bellowed out, squeezing my mother tighter. Her tears soaked my Zack crab shack t shirt.

“That’s where you are wrong Evelyn.” Anthony said as he peeled my mother out of my embrace. She cried more, pleading with him to not let this happen. Strong arms wrapped around my torso as one of Anthony’s security team restrained me. No matter how hard I fought, my mother was taken and now I was more at the mercy of Anthony Ricci.

A couple hours passed as I paced in my room as I played with the business card given to me earlier. I locked myself in here after my mother was taken. Biting my lip, I stopped pacing and dialed the number..

The call was picked up on the second ring, “Agent Fleming, how can I help you.”

“I’m in.” I responded without saying hello.