INTRODUCTION (Prologue)
"I found it first! Give it back, asshole!"
The high-pitched voice of a young boy echoed off the dumpsters lining the alley, his grimy fingers clutching a soiled pizza box.
Drizzle plastered his dark hair to his skull. He'd been so damn hungry, and finding this half-slice felt like hitting a gold mine until a shadow fell over him and ripped it from his hands.
"Scram before I make you lose another 'teef'." The taller boy snarled, smugly flashing crooked yellow ones.
But Luca refused to give it up and so locked his small fingers around the bully's arm, yanking him back. "No! Find your own shit!"
Instantly, the two boys began wrestling for the box until the soggy carton ripped apart. The pizza slice tumbled toward the wet pavement, but Luca's reflexes were faster, and he snatched it mid-air.
"Yes!" He exclaimed, and a fist slammed into his face.
White light exploded behind his eyes, and he doubled over in pain while the pizza disappeared into the bully's greasy hands.
"Learn to stay in your place, punk. This is my turf."
His footsteps began retreating. Luca straightened, a gleam sparking in his dark eyes. Time to strike. He slipped the sharpened plastic fork from his pocket, and as sneaky as a little rat, he scrambled forward and stabbed it into the older kid's side.
"AhhhI What the fuck??!"
Luca grinned, scooped up the fallen pizza, and shoved it into a plastic bag under his tattered shirt. That would teach him not to ever mess with Luca. He was already walking away when suddenly blue and red lights flooded the alley, followed by loud and insistent sirens.
Shit.
Six years on the streets had taught him one thing: never trust cops.
Heart thumping, he bolted for an opening in the brick wall of the alleyway, but a hand clamped over his mouth before he could slip through. An arm wrapped around his torso, lifting him off the ground and dragging him deeper into the shadows.
Luca thrashed, kicking, clawing, and cursing, unaware that flashlights just swept across where he'd stood moments before.
"You're a feisty one," a deep voice rumbled in his ear. "Dios mios, you could put a sailor to shame with that mouth."
Finally, they emerged onto a quiet sidewalk. The man lowered him but kept his hand firmly over Luca's mouth.
"Let me go, you stupid fucking motherfucker!"
When the grip didn't loosen, Luca sank his teeth into the meaty palm.
"Fanculo!" The man yanked his hand back. "You little—"
Luca instantly bolted, but he didn't get far. That same hand caught his neck and hoisted him into the air again. He kicked and cursed, panic clawing up his throat. Was this one of those detectives who took street kids to houses where they disappeared? Like his friend last year, the one they said got murdered? Luca didn't want to end up dead!
"You stole my wristwatch earlier." The stranger suddenly boomed, and Luca froze.
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. He'd lifted a lot of things today, including a gold watch he'd hidden from his gang because he wanted to keep it. Did his boss find out already?
"I didn't steal anything," he said, jutting his small chin out.
The man let out a dark and rumbling laughter, and he dangled the gold watch before Luca's eyes. "Convincing liar. Isn't this yours?"
Luca's eyes widened in surprise, and he reflexively lunged for it, but the man pulled it back. Glaring daggers at the man, the little boy gnashed his teeth and growled.
"You have it now, don't you? Let me go."
"Here's the thing." The man's smile was cold, just like his blue eyes. "You stole from me. Do you know what happens to little thieves who steal from me?"
Luca trembled but kept his expression fierce. He had scars on his back from worse beatings. This man didn't scare him. "I don't care! You got your watch. Put me down, or I'll scream."
The man threw his head back and laughed. When he looked at Luca again, his gaze was nearly blank, and it sent goosebumps popping along his arms. "Right now, you're just a kitten. But I can make you a lion. Kids like the one who tried to steal your pizza? They'll never touch you again."
He leaned closer.
"What do you say, kitten? Come with me."
