Chapter: 1: The Start
l Iooked away, staring out the window as the heavy rain beat against the glass, watching the blurry trees flash by as mom drove down the dark mountain road.
"Your dad always used to say you had his stubborn side," Mom said softly, offering me a gentle smile from the driver's seat.
" I know things haven't been easy for us, Adriana. I spent so many years just trying to keep us safe. But I want something better for you. A soft life. A real, loving home with a good husband who truly protects you."
My eyes softened, and I was just about to answer her when blinding white headlights suddenly flashed through the rain.
BANG!
A deafening crunch of metal echoed as a massive dark car slammed into us. My body jerked violently. The world spun completely upside down, glass shattering everywhere, before everything slammed to a sudden, crushing halt.
"Mom!?" I gasped, my chest tightening with pure panic.
I forced my neck to turn, every muscle screaming in pain. Mom was slumped over the steering wheel, her breathing shallow and weak. With a trembling, bloodstained hand, she reached over and pressed something cold into my palm. It was her gold sun pendant—the one Dad had given her years ago
"Promise me..." she choked out, her voice barely a whisper against the sound of the storm. "
Promise me you'll find that life... keep this with you..."
Mom, no! Stop talking like that, please stay with me!"
Tears burned my eyes as I squeezed her hand back.
But her fingers went completely limp, and her breathing just stopped.
Before I could even scream, the crushed door was violently yanked open with a loud metallic screech.
A towering, dark figure stood in the pouring rain. He looked massive, his black coat soaked through, his sharp face completely calm and unreadable. It was his heavy vehicle that had skidded across the slick road and crushed ours.
Without saying a word, he reached into the wrecked frame. His large hands grabbed me—surprisingly gentle for how intimidating he looked—and pulled me free.
He carried me effortlessly through the storm and set me down onto the dry leather seat of his SUV. Leaning in close, his dark, dangerous eyes locked onto mine.
"Can you hear me? Are you okay?"
His deep, raspy voice cut through the sound of the thunder.
I couldn't even form words. I just gave a tiny, frantic nod, my knuckles turning white as I clutched the sun pendant against my chest.
A violent shudder ran through my entire body.
The biting cold, the shock, and the crushing realization that my mom was gone hit me all at once. I started sobbing hysterically, shaking so hard I couldn't catch my breath, until the edges of my vision finally went black and I passed out right in front of him.
