Chapter 1
The blinding sun made my skin tingle in warning and I hurried into the waiting town car. The blast of cold air that met me immediately soothed my damp skin and I sank against the plush leather seat with a sigh. I hadn't even met Lena's family yet and I was already falling apart at the seems. I hated lying more than anything but the memory of Gran's funeral kept me going. I owed Lena, more than I could ever repay. She had payed Gran's medical bills, dad's debt, and even the funeral. Money was nothing for her, she had a shit ton of it and her husband was also loaded. But still her help hadn't been free, nothing ever was with Lena, she was our mother's daughter through and through. Thankfully said mother was nowhere near Manhattan but she was enjoying a European tour with her latest husband. She'd always been the only one who could tell us apart, she was the only thing that threatened Lena's little plan.
The ride was long and quiet, the driver making no effort to speak to me and I was grateful. I hadn't quite perfected her accent yet and my Scottish lilt kept slipping out unconsciously. The less I spoke for the next couple of months, the better it would be. It was a good thing I wasn't a big talker.
I must have fallen asleep because I was suddenly startled to find myself being lifted into someone's arms. I gasped my eyes flying open and found beautiful turquoise eyes watching me closely. The face that came with those eyes was so perfect it took my breath away.
"Stefan"
I murmured and he raised an eyebrow at me a smirk twisting his sensuous lips.
"What? Did you forget what I looked like in a couple of days"
He said his voice cold and mocking. I shook my head.
"No I'm just a bit disoriented. I'm sorry but can you put me down?"
He chuckled.
"Always the ice queen aren't you sweetheart. I thought seeing your family would warm you up"
I snorted tossing my hair like I'd seen her do.
"Don't be ridiculous. I was just doing my duty. She's still my sister, I can't just pretend she doesn't exist"
He narrowed his eyes at me.
"Oh but you managed to do that just perfectly all this time. You and your mother. Which makes me curious why you suddenly felt the need to reach out"
I felt a prickle of fear crawl up my spine but I shook it off steeling myself, I had to do this.
"She said they would kill her if she didn't pay back our dad's debt and not even I'm that cold sweetheart"
His eyes crinkled and suddenly he was laughing. He doubled over gripping the side of the car and I stared at him confused and more than a little unnerved. He finally straightened wiping tears from the corner of his eyes and smirking at me.
"Nice try Lisle but Lena really should have spent more time teaching you how to act like her. But then she's always underestimated me"
He stared at me like a predator and my blood turned to ice in my veins. Suddenly he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pistol and his eyes turned steely
"You should have stayed in Portland Lisle"
He said then he pulled the trigger.
