Chapter 1
The rain poured heavily, drenching the city of RavenPort. Water ran in rivers along the cracked sidewalks; the smell of gasoline and wet concrete filled the air.
Kaitlyn Parker stumbled onto her parents’ front porch. Her key trembled in her fingers as she struggled to unlock the door.
Something was wrong.
The house was dark.
Too dark.
Her parents always left the kitchen light on.
The door creaked open, revealing a nightmare she could never have imagined.
Blood.
So much blood.
She choked on her breath as her wide eyes scanned the scene.
The lifeless bodies of her father and mother sprawled on the floor, crimson soaking into the expensive carpet.
Her mother’s arms were outstretched as if trying to reach for safety. Her father’s eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.
“No…” she whispered.
“No…no, please.” Her muffled screams came out with her hands over her mouth.
A shadow shifted in the room.
Her gaze shot upward and locked onto the tall, dark figure standing above the corpses.
A man.
Broad shoulders, dressed in black from head to toe with leather gloves. A gun in hand, still smoking—the metallic scent of gunpowder mixed with that of blood was too much to ignore.
His face came into view with the help of the moonlight.
Sharp jaw, cold, merciless eyes like carved obsidian.
Callum Drake.
The name slammed into her mind like a bullet. She knew him. Everyone did.
The king of the Drake Syndicate.
The most feared mafia lord of the city.
And now, standing over her parents’ dead bodies.
“You,” her voice cracked, horror evident on her face.
“You killed them. You murdered my parents!”
His gaze locked onto hers, unreadable.
Calm. Deadly.
“Kaitlyn Parker,” he murmured, like he had said the name a thousand times before.
“Finally, we meet.”
Her blood pressure soared.
“No…” she whispered, stumbling back, her body shaking violently. “Stay away from me.”
He moved like a predator, swift and silent.
In an instant, he was in front of her, towering over her trembling form.
“Get away!” she screamed, panicked, fists pounding against his chest.
His strong hands caught her wrist… too tight. The other hand reached up, cradling her chin as he forced her to meet his eyes.
“I didn’t kill them,” he said softly. Dangerously. “If I wanted you dead, little mouse... you would already be on the floor beside them.”
Tears blurred her vision. She yanked free, stumbling towards the door, only to be wrenched back into his iron grip.
“Let me go! You bastard! You killed them! You monster!”
A thin smile touched his lips.
“Wrong again, darling. I just saved your life.”
Her body went rigid.
“What?”
A sharp metallic sound cut through the room.
Another gun.
A man stepped out from the shadows behind her. Sharp, deadly, pistol raised.
Before she could scream, Callum shoved her to the floor and fired.
The blast echoed like thunder.
The stranger collapsed, dead before he hit the ground.
Kaitlyn gasped, staring wide-eyed at the body.
“You were so busy blaming me,” Callum murmured as he crouched beside her, “you didn’t see the real killer behind you.”
Her heart pounded painfully in her chest. Her head spun.
“Wh-what is happening?” she whispered, still shaking, her back pressed to the wall.
Callum stood, towering over her like a dark god. His eyes burned into her soul.
“Your father made enemies, princess. Powerful ones. They wanted him dead... and you next.”
She flinched at the sound of ‘princess’ on his lips.
“Stop calling me that.”
“But you are,” he replied. “A princess without a home, without a family... and now you belong to me.”
“Over my dead body,” she spat, fury rising within her.
“That can be arranged, but I’d rather keep you alive.”
His hand wrapped around her arm, pulling her roughly to her feet. His grip was firm, yet possessive.
“Where do you think you would go, little mouse? The city is crawling with men who want you dead, and without me, you won’t last a night.”
“I’d rather die than go with you,” she hissed.
He leaned in, warm breath against her ear.
“Careful, Kaitlyn. You have no idea how precious your life just became.”
Her pulse stuttered.
Callum turned, dragging her out into the rain-slick night. A sleek black car waited at the side, engine on.
“Let me go!” She fought, struggling and kicking. “I hate you! You killed them! You…”
“Quiet,” he ordered, pushing her into the backseat. “You are mine to protect, whether you like it or not.”
The door slammed shut.
Tears blurred her eyes as the car sped away into the darkness.
The devil had her now. No one could save her.
She huddled in the corner of the backseat, shivering, her mind racing in circles. Her parents were dead. Murdered. And this monster—the king of the underworld—was dragging her away like a possession.
“You have made a mistake,” she whispered, barely audible. “The police... they will come for me.”
Callum chuckled slowly, a sound that made her stomach twist.
“There is no rescue coming, little mouse. The police either work for me or the cartel. You belong to my world now.”
Her heart sank.
“Why? Why are you doing this?” she choked.
His dark eyes flicked to her in the rearview mirror.
“Because you are the key to everything your father was hiding. And because the cartel wants you dead. Keeping you alive keeps me in control.”
The words settled like chains around her chest. Heavy and final.
The car turned sharply, tires squealing on the wet pavement. They climbed the road leading to Raven Hill; the silhouette of Blackthorn Manor stood like a dark castle against the sky.
Cold fear settled within her.
“You can’t keep me here forever,” she whispered.
Callum smiled. “Watch me.”
The gates creaked open, and the car came to a halt.
Guards flanked the entrance, armed and merciless.
No escape.
“This can't be real, is this a nightmare?” she thought
Callum stepped out first, adjusting the cuffs of his black shirt like he hadn’t just kidnapped someone. He opened the door without a word and yanked her out.
“Welcome to your new home, little mouse,” he said while dragging her toward the mansion’s great iron doors.
“I will never forgive you,” she spat, struggling against his grip. “Never.”
His smile was that of pure sin. “I bet you would change your mind.”
The doors slammed shut behind her.