LOGIN"There were, there were men," Mira managed, her voice shaking. She let her genuine terror at being questioned by a police captain bleed into her words. "They had guns. They came into the room and Christopher, he, they,"She couldn't finish the sentence, because the words were stuck in her throat, tangled up with lies and truth and guilt."Take your time," Miller said, pulling out a notebook."I just, I saw men die," Mira whispered, and that part was true. She had seen men die, right in front of her, because of her. "There was so much blood. And the guns were so loud. And I thought, I thought we were going to die."Her voice broke on the last word, and tears started streaming down her face. Real tears, because the fear was real even if the reason for it was different than everyone thought. She was scared, terrified, but not of the attack. She was scared Captain Miller would see through her, would realize something didn't add up, would figure out that she was involved.But how could he?
Richard's hands were shaking as he ran them over her arms, looking for wounds, for proof that she really was okay. "Let me see, let me check," he said."Dad, stop, I'm fine," Jems said, but her voice broke on the words because seeing him like this, so scared, so desperate, so much like the father she remembered before everything fell apart, it broke something loose inside her chest.Richard finally stopped his frantic inspection and just looked at her, and he saw tears streaming down her face."Oh, baby," he whispered, pulling her close again. "My baby girl."And then Jems was crying in earnest, wrapping her arms around her father and holding on like she might drown if she let go. All the anger, all the hurt, all the months of separation, it all melted away in the face of how terrified she'd been, how close she'd come to dying, and how much she needed her dad."I missed you," she sobbed into his chest. "I missed you so much, Dad. I missed us being a family. I missed everything about h
The hallway was packed with terrified hotel guests, all of them fleeing the sound of gunfire. People in various states of dress, some in robes, some half-dressed, some fully clothed but clearly panicked, were streaming toward the stairwells and elevators, desperate to get away from whatever violence had just occurred.Christopher herded Jems toward the emergency exit, but Mira grabbed Jems' hand."We need to get somewhere safe!" Mira said, pulling Jems toward the stairwell. "Come on!""Wait for Christopher!" Jems said, trying to pull back."There's no time!" Mira insisted, pulling harder. This was it, the backup plan Don Emilio had given her. Get Jems outside where more men would be waiting. "We have to go now!"They burst into the stairwell, joining the stream of panicked evacuees all trying to get to ground level. The stairwell was a bottleneck of humanity, people pushing, shoving, some crying, some on their phones calling loved ones or 911.Christopher tried to follow, but his inju
After today, everything would change.After today, Jems would probably hate her forever.If she survives, a dark voice whispered in Mira's head, if Don Emilio doesn't kill her.Mira pushed the thought away. She couldn't think about that, and she knew she would go crazy if she did.The drive took about forty-five minutes. When they finally pulled up to The Grand Meridian Hotel, even Christopher let out a low whistle. The building was absolutely stunning, featuring all glass, steel, and modern architecture, with a fountain out front and doormen in formal uniforms."Wow," Jems breathed. "Mira, you didn't tell me we were going somewhere this fancy!""I wanted to surprise you," Mira said, and it wasn't even a lie. "We deserve to treat ourselves."They parked in the underground garage and made their way to the lobby. The interior was even more impressive, boasting marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and fresh flowers everywhere. It was the kind of place where rooms probably cost thousands o
After they hung up, Mira immediately called Don Emilio with shaking hands."It's impossible," she said the moment he answered. "She won't go anywhere without Christopher. I tried everything, but she won't budge.""Then Christopher comes," Don Emilio said, unperturbed."But won't that—""It doesn't matter. If Christopher gets in the way, he dies. Simple as that."Mira gasped. "No! Please, don't hurt him. He's just doing his job," she pleaded."And I'm doing mine. Your job is to get Jems to that hotel. My men will handle Christopher if necessary. Don't worry your pretty little head about it.""But—"The line went dead. He'd hung up.Mira stared at her phone, horror washing over her. This was getting worse and worse. Not only was she betraying Jems, but now Christopher might die too. Christopher, who had always been kind to her and who had protected Jems so faithfully. How many people was she going to hurt with this choice?But what choice did she have? Her father was alive because of Do
Mira's phone buzzed at exactly 3 PM. She'd been expecting it, dreading it, but the reality of seeing Don Emilio's number on her screen still made her stomach drop. She stepped away from her study desk and locked her bedroom door before answering. "Hello?" "Mira." Don Emilio's voice was smooth and casual, as if he were calling to chat about the weather. "How are you today?" "Fine," Mira managed, her throat tight. "Good. Because I have a job for you. It's time." Mira's heart stopped. "Time for what?" "Time to bring me Jems Dawson." He said it so simply, so matter-of-factly, as if he were asking her to pick up groceries. "This Saturday. I'm sending you a location. You'll take Jems there, and my men will handle the rest." "Saturday? That's three days from now." "Is that a problem?" Don Emilio's voice hardened slightly. "Do you need me to remind you what happens if you don't cooperate?" "No," Mira said quickly. "No, I'll do it. What do you want me to do?" "Simple. Tell J
Derick sat at his laptop with the USB drive plugged in, his eyes scanning through file after file. Most of it was standard business stuff, like boring contracts, routine emails, and quarterly reports. But then he found something interesting. A series of encrypted emails existed between Richard and
ONE MONTH EARLIER Derick Edgar stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror of his apartment, barely recognizing the man looking back at him. A month ago, he'd been Jems' bodyguard, a professional doing his job and protecting a young lady who'd become something like family to him. Then he'd d
CHICAGO: BUSINESS CONFERENCEEthan smoothed his tie with a single, precise motion, his hands steady and his expression unreadable. Beside him, Jems watched with an amused smile, noting the way he seemed to command the space around him before he’d even spoken a word."You look perfect," she assured
Mira stood in her father's office at Thompson Industries, barely recognizing the space that had felt so heavy with despair just days ago. Now, it buzzed with energy and optimism. Phones rang constantly with business inquiries, and staff members rushed past with stacks of contracts and proposals. Th







