Prologue

Jenna

I stare blankly at my reflection in the mirror.

I look exactly how I want to, prim and aloof. Detached, as I need to be for any interaction with my demonic stepbrother, Henry.

I've chosen clothes that made me feel in control; a soft gray sweater and tailored black pants with a pair of black platform heels. My long, dark hair is neatly pulled back into a low ponytail, every strand in place. Turning away from the mirror, I grab my purse just as a short knock sounds at the door.

"It's open," I call out.

The door is pushed open, and my mom walks in. She looks fabulous, as always. She carries herself with a quiet confidence that I've always admired. Her auburn hair is styled in loose waves, and she's dressed in a tasteful navy dress that flatters her figure.

"You look like you're going to war," she says with a smile, leaning against the doorframe with her arms folded over her chest. "It's just a simple dinner, honey."

"Nothing is simple with Henry, Mom and you know it," I reply with a careless shrug.

"You should give him a chance."

"Don't act like we're a big happy family," I say, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

"At least he's trying to reach out," she says quietly.

I almost laugh at her words. Sometimes, I wonder if she's intentionally blind to Henry's flaws or if she's genuinely naive. Henry was a manipulative bastard at seventeen and he still is at thirty-four. I was just five when mom met and married Greg Henson, my stepdad. When I learned he had a son, I was over the moon… I was happy to be getting a dad and an older brother all at once. It didn't take me long, though, to realize that Henry didn't share my sentiments.

"This dinner isn't going to fix anything, Mom." I know how excited she and Dad are that Henry asked me to dinner, but I've known him long enough to know he definitely has an ulterior motive. Still, I don't want to disappoint my parents, even though my instincts are telling me I should stay home tonight.

My mind reels with all the times Henry has been cruel to me, from calling me names to leaving me lost in the woods. He has caused too much damage to make up for with one dinner.

"Oh, Jenna," my mom says, rubbing her hands down my arms. "I know he's hurt you. He's made mistakes, but he's trying to change. He's still your brother."

I shake my head, growing more frustrated by her naivete. "I really don't think I'm asking for much, I just want some acknowledgement that he's hurt me in the past."

Mom nods, sighing softly. "I know it would mean a lot if he did that, and maybe he will someday. But Jenna, I hope you can find it in your heart to try and meet him halfway tonight. For your dad and me."

I take a moment to consider her words, but a familiar heaviness settles in my chest. "I'll be civil," I finally say, my voice calm but distant. "But I'm not going to pretend everything's fine."

"That's all I ask," she replies, trying to smile, though I can see the worry still lingering in her eyes. "I love you, Jenna."

"Love you too, Mom," I say, trying to muster up some warmth in my tone. It's not her fault that I can't seem to see whatever good she sees in Henry.

My conversation with Mom delayed me a bit, so I arrive at the restaurant about ten minutes later than we agreed upon. When I arrive, Henry is already waiting—seated at a corner table with his customary deep scowl marring his annoyingly handsome features. As I walk towards him, I take in my surroundings. Henry's picked an upscale restaurant and as with everything with him, it's fancy and exaggerated, with glistening chandeliers and flamboyant furniture.

I immediately dislike the place.

I make my way to the table where he's seated and pull the empty chair opposite his for myself. "Hi," I say simply, sliding into the chair.

His scowl deepens, his dark eyes flickering with a hint of irritation as he finally acknowledges my presence. "Jenna," he greets, his voice clipped and distant. "Took you long enough."

"Got caught up talking to my Mom," I say, trying to keep my tone as neutral as possible.

He nods curtly, dismissing my explanation. "Of course. How're you?"

I frown slightly at him, surprised he asked. "Doing fine," I answer, keeping it short and avoiding giving him much to latch onto. "How about you?"

"Same old, same old," he replies with a shrug, leaning back into his seat.

After that, we sit in tense silence for what feels like forever, broken only by the waiter arriving to take our orders. I ask for the first thing I see on the menu and lean back in my seat, watching Henry interact with the bright-faced waiter. There's something about him, an edginess that hovers just beneath the surface. He seems… ruffled, and that's very unlike him.

"What's the deal, Henry?" I ask after the waiter leaves to prepare our order. "Why did you invite me here?"

"I just wanted to have dinner with my sister," he replies, his lips turned up in a mocking sneer.

"We both know that's not true."

"You're right," he says with a humorless laugh, leaning forward in his seat. "I want you to work for me, Jenna."

I blink at him in surprise. "Why? I'm sure countless website programmers are dying to work with your company. I…"

"I'm not talking about that," he interrupts with a dismissive wave. "I need your hacking skills."

I freeze, and for a moment everything inside of me seems to stop working. Then my heart starts to pound, hard and fast. No one is supposed to know about my hacking skills. I've been hacking since I was fifteen. At first, it was just for fun, a challenge to see what I could accomplish. But over time, it evolved into something more serious—a dangerous skill set that I use to play an even more dangerous game. This is a part of me that I carefully kept hidden from everyone. The fact that Henry knows about it leaves me feeling exposed and vulnerable.

"How did you find out?" I demand, careful not to reveal the emotion in my voice.

He leans back in his chair with a smug smile. "I have my ways, Jenna. Let's just say I know more about you than you think."

I narrow my eyes at him, feeling a surge of anger. "What do you want from me?"

His expression becomes serious, his mouth turning downwards at the sides. "I want you to infiltrate MedPlus," he deadpans, his eyes resting on mine.

"Isn't that your company?"

MedPlus is a medical equipment company Henry co-founded a few years ago.

"It was," he responds, his tone laced with bitterness. "That bastard, Ryan, ousted me under false allegations."

"Ryan Anders?"

"The very one," Henry responds, his dark eyes glinting with rage. "He secretly bought up my shares and framed me for corruption, alleging that I had attempted to embezzle investor funds, all so he could have the company to himself. I want to dig up dirt on him so I can take him down and reclaim my rightful spot in the company."

"And if I say no?" I ask, cocking my head slightly to glare at him.

He smirks. "You can't."

I push my chair backward and stand up, returning his smirk as I grab my purse. "Watch me walk away."

When I try to leave, Henry's hand darts out, grabbing my wrist and pulling me back down to my seat with a force I didn't expect. His grip is tight, his dark eyes boring into mine with a deadly seriousness.

"Not so fast, Jenna," he hisses. "Do you think you can easily walk away from this? I can't let you do that, my dear little sister."

His words send a chill down my spine, but I glare harder at him, despite the fear trickling down my spine. He doesn't seem like he's bluffing. "Let go of me, Henry," I say, my tone quiet. "Or else I'll start screaming."

"No one will pay you mind, I promise" he replies, his voice cold. "Now, shut the fuck up and listen to me. I know the game you've been playing."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ghost002," he says, smiling smugly. "Ring a bell?"

My heart skips a beat. I stare at him in disbelief, wondering just how much he knows.

"That's your secret hacker identity, isn't it?" He asks, snickering slightly. "It was you that exposed Gemini Inc. for fraud and illegal mining. Believe me, the people you've exposed would love to see you pay for it. I just have to let your real identity slip."

His threat hangs in the air, and I feel a wave of panic wash over me. I know it is likely an idle threat, but even the thought of him exposing my identity, and destroying my career, is enough to make me break out in a cold sweat.

Henry's grip on my wrist loosens slightly, but his gaze remains locked on mine. "You can help me and get out of this unscathed. Or you can refuse, and I'll make sure your secret is spilled to the people you've wronged."

I swallow hard, trying to think through my options. I can't just let him blackmail me into helping him, but the consequences of being exposed are too great to ignore. My mind races as I desperately search for a way to turn the situation to my advantage.

Henry's sneer deepens, and he releases my wrist, sensing my struggle. "You're smart, Jenna. You know what the right choice is."

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. I don't want to agree to his terms, but the alternative is too risky. "Fine, I'll help you," I say, my voice strained.

He smirks, satisfied with my answer. "Good. We'll talk more about the details soon. But remember, Jenna, this is a one-time deal. Do this, and you can walk away. Try to mess with me and I'll bury you in a scandal so big you'd never recover. Understood?"

I swallow nervously but I nod, unable to find my voice. Henry's threat is clear: help him or risk losing everything I've worked so hard to protect. The weight of the situation presses down on me, leaving me feeling trapped.

"Good girl," Henry says with a senile smile, standing up and smoothing his suit jacket. "You'll be hearing from me soon. Don't disappoint me, Jenna. And… enjoy your meal."

And with that, he walks away. I sit at the table for a moment, trying to process everything that just happened.

I close my eyes with a ragged sigh as my mind races with possible scenarios of what could happen if Henry made good on his threat and none of the options are appealing. First, I need to figure out a way to protect my anonymity and ensure Henry can't use my hacker identity against me. If I can find a way to cover my tracks and make it seem as though Ghost002 never existed, perhaps I can free myself from his grasp. But before that, I need to give in to his demands, or at least pretend to.

One thing is for sure, I'm in some deep shit.