Chapter 1 - The Escape
The humid summer air felt heavy as Harper stood in the dark alley outside the restaurant.
Derek was staring at the empty space where his car keys used to be.
He did not look at Harper.
He simply turned on his heel and walked away into the shadows.
Harper watched the man who had tormented her for two years retreat like a beaten dog.
She felt no relief.
She only felt a creeping, icy dread as she turned to face the stranger in the charcoal suit.
Roman Falco slipped Derek’s apartment key into his pocket.
His dark eyes finally met hers.
“Get in the car,” Roman said.
His tone was not a request.
Harper clutched her purse tighter against her chest.
“I don’t even know who you are,” she whispered.
“I am the man who just bought your life,” Roman replied calmly.
He gestured toward the open door of the black town car.
The giant man with the cauliflower ears stood waiting by the vehicle.
Harper took a step backward.
“I’m going to call a cab,” she said.
Roman sighed softly.
“Derek is a coward, but he is a vindictive one,” Roman stated.
“He is currently walking to a burner car parked three blocks away.”
“In the glove compartment is a loaded weapon.”
“If you are standing on this curb in two minutes, he will drive by and shoot you.”
Harper’s heart slammed against her ribs.
“How could you possibly know that?” she asked.
Roman did not answer.
He merely checked his silver wristwatch.
“One minute and forty seconds,” he murmured.
The faint sound of a car engine roaring to life echoed from down the street.
Harper’s survival instincts screamed at her to run.
She lunged toward the town car and threw herself into the backseat.
Roman slid in beside her.
The heavy door slammed shut, sealing them in absolute darkness.
“Drive,” Roman ordered.
The car sped away from the curb just as a pair of blinding headlights swerved into the alley.
Harper heard the deafening crack of a gunshot hitting the brick wall exactly where she had been standing.
She gasped and pressed her hands over her mouth.
May you like
Roman poured himself a glass of whiskey from the car’s minibar.
“Welcome to your new life, Harper,” he said.
