Chapter 1
After five years of playing the pampered pet to New York's most ruthless mafia boss, Lucian's empire crumbled. He went to a roof and put a gun to his head.
I didn't hesitate. I packed my bags to run.
Then glowing lines of text flashed right in front of my eyes:
【He doesn't die. In six months, the Ghost takes back the city and slaughters everyone who crossed him. The female lead saves him tonight, and the girl who ran away ends up dead in a ditch.】
I dropped my bag, sprinted across the wet gravel, and wrapped my arms around his knees, sobbing.
"Don't shoot! You promised to buy me a massive diamond ring, and I still haven't gotten it!"
The text feed went crazy.
【WTF?! The man is seconds from pulling the trigger, and she's whining about jewelry?!】
【Watch her. She's probably going to shove him off the ledge herself to cash in on the insurance!】
Instead of letting go, I dug my fingers firmly into his wet slacks.
Annabelle
Lucian lowered the barrel, staring down at me like I had lost my goddamn mind.
"Why the hell are you still here, Anna?"
I yanked at his pant leg, glaring up at him. "You swore you'd protect me for life. You didn't let me out of your sight when the bullets were flying. You don't get to back out now just because you went broke."
The glowing letters scrolled mid-air, blurring my vision.
【She's making this all about herself. No wonder he turns so ruthless toward her later.】
【He's down to his very last bullet, and she's still treating him like a walking ATM.】
【If the side chick isn't toxic, how else does the real female lead look like an angel?】
【Wait for it—when he pulls the trigger, it misfires. Someone calls 911, and Victoria shows up with her syndicate money to save him. Patiently waiting for the real queen to enter!】
I ignored the screen and buried my face against his damp shirt, hugging him tighter.
He used to run this city's underworld. He still had the thick scar on his side from taking a bullet for me three years ago. But now, holding him, I could feel the sharp edges of his ribs through his wet shirt.
He stared at the traffic lights below and rubbed his temple. His voice was dead.
"I'm a dead man walking, Anna. The network is gone. I'm drowning in blood debt. I can't keep you safe anymore."
He clenched his jaw, refusing to look at me.
"There's a card in the nightstand. Five million. It's the last clean cash I have. The PIN is your birthday. Take it, buy a ticket out of the country, and don't look back."
Even in the dark, the words hit me hard. This was a man who used to order executions without blinking. Now, with one foot over the edge, he was using his last breath to give me a way out.
I stood up and grabbed his wet collar, pulling him down to look at me.
"No. If you can't protect me, then I'll protect you."
Lucian froze. His dark eyes widened in shock, disbelief, and a flash of panic.
Before he could point out how ridiculous that sounded coming from me, I quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, today is our five-year anniversary. And I actually got you a gift."
The wind whipped his thin shirt against his chest, showing off fresh, brutal bruises.
He just stared at me. When he finally spoke, his voice was rough. "You... got me a gift?"
Over the last five years, Lucian had bought me diamond-encrusted pistols, antique emeralds, and rare vintage cars just because I pointed at them.
I had never given him a single present.
Twenty minutes later, we were back in our cramped apartment. Lucian stood in the middle of the living room, looking down at the box on the table.
"So," he asked, sounding unsure. "Where's my gift?"
I pulled a tiny black silk slip dress out of the box and held it up against his broad chest.
"Looks a little tight in the shoulders," I deadpanned.
I let out a dramatic sigh. "The store doesn't take returns on lingerie. Guess I'm stuck wearing it myself."
Lucian stared at me. His jaw twitched, then he let out a short, disbelieving laugh and shook his head.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and headed right back out the front door.
I bolted into the hallway, stomping my bare foot. "Lucian! Don't be such a jerk!"
His deep voice drifted back up the cold stairwell.
"I left my phone on the roof, Anna. I'm going to get it."
