Chapter One

The Past

The boy shivered in his tattered blanket and rested his head against the cold, hard wall. He didn ’ t know how long he ’ d be there this time. He only knew it was worse somehow, because he was madder than usual.

That was never good for anyone, especially his younger brothers. Were they okay? Hurting somewhere dark and quiet like he was? The thought made him mad, made him curl his hands into fists and clench his jaw. Anger was good, better than being afraid all the time.

He shifted, trying to find a less uncomfortable position on the concrete floor. The dampness seeped through his clothes, chilling him to the bone. The only source of light came from the small barred window.

He listened carefully, straining to hear any sound beyond the basement. Was that a footstep? His heart pounded in his chest, and he held his breath, but the sound faded into silence.

Someday, the boy swore he’d get strong enough to put a stop to all of this. He’d painstakingly claw his way to the top and take his father’s throne. Then he’d make all the rules. He’d make sure he and his brothers would no longer have to suffer.

The door creaked open, and he tensed. A hulking figure dressed in a cheap suit stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the dim light from the corridor. It was one of his father’s men. The boy tightened his fists, digging into his palms.

“ Get up, ” the guy growled.

The boy didn ’ t move, his defiance simmering just beneath the surface. The grunt stepped closer, and the boy could see the cold, merciless eyes glaring down at him.

“ I said, get up! ” The grunt ’ s voice was harsher now, a warning.

Slowly, the boy rose to his feet, his body aching from the cold, hard floor. The guard grabbed him roughly by the arm and yanked him toward the door. The boy stumbled but managed to keep his balance. He bit back a cry of pain, refusing to give the guard the satisfaction.

They walked up the stairs to the first floor of the house and the boy ’ s mind raced. Where were they taking him? Was this another punishment, or something worse? He had to be strong. He had to survive, for his brothers.

He squinted at the harsh morning light as they arrived in the kitchen. The boy ’ s heart pounded even harder. The grunt showed him forward.

In the center stood his father, his expression a mask of cold fury. The boy ’ s stomach churned, but he stood tall, meeting his father ’ s gaze with all the defiance he could muster.

“ You think you ’ re brave, don ’ t you? ” his father sneered. “ You think you can defy me? ”

The boy didn ’ t answer. He knew better than to speak. His father ’ s eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer.

“ You will learn your place, ” his father hissed. “ And so will your brothers.”

The boy’s blood boiled. He clenched his fists tighter, his resolve hardening. Someday, he would make sure they were free. Someday, he would take this man down. But for now, he had to endure. He had to survive. He had to be strong. For himself. For his brothers. For the future he dreamed of in the darkness.

“Take him back to the basement,” his father said.

No , Devlin thought in desperation, but he bit his tongue. He refused to show any sign of weakness. Some fear must’ve flashed on his face, because his father smirked in triumph.

He wanted to wipe that smug look away, but right now, that would only make matters worse. So he complied. He slumped his shoulders and allowed himself to be taken back.

He didn’t know how much time had passed. He was thirsty, hungry, and some part of him was starting to believe he was slowly going insane. Then, the sound of the door creaked open. Was he imagining things? If his father wanted to talk to him again, he didn’t think he’d have the strength to keep his bravado up.

The door opened, and to his shock, one of his father’s men shoved someone down the stairs. Not Galen or Carver … but a girl with striking red hair and fierce green eyes. He recalled seeing her at a few events. The daughter of one of his father’s associates. Although they’d traded a few glances once or twice, they never had the opportunity to speak.

“Stay there,” the guard said, shutting the door behind her.

She screamed and pounded the door with her fists. She had so much fight in her, he admired that. He was sad that sooner or later, all that defiance would be ground down to nothing. It had been the same with him.

“Shouting and screaming won’t work. Better to conserve your energy,” he told her.

She turned, surprised to find another soul there. Her wide eyes, filled with fear and fury, locked onto his.

“Who are you?” she demanded, her voice trembling.

“The eldest son,” he replied quietly. “Like you, I’m a prisoner here.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why are you here? What did you do?”

“Nothing,” he said bitterly. “That’s just how it is. My father’s way of keeping control.”

She took a step closer. “ I don ’ t deserve to be here, ” she whispered.

“ Yeah? ” Devlin asked, even more curious about her now.

She slumped her shoulders. “ I guess I do know. My father stole from yours and I guess they thought by nabbing me, they ’ d lure him back here, ” she said.

He could see the fight draining out of her already. It pained him to watch. “What’s your name?” Devlin asked.

“Krista,” she said. “And you?”

“Devlin.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the only sound their breathing and the distant drip of water from somewhere deep within the basement.

“We need to get out of here,” she whispered fiercely. “Both of us.”

He admired her determination, but he knew better. “It’s not that simple,” Devlin said.

“It has to be,” she insisted, her eyes blazing with defiance. “I can’t just sit here and wait for whatever they plan to do to me and my dad.”

Devlin felt a spark of hope ignite within him. Maybe, just maybe, with her fire and his knowledge of the estate, they could find a way out. He leaned closer, lowering his voice.

“All right. We’ll find a way. But you must be smart about this. No more shouting. We need to stay calm and think,” he told her.

Krista nodded, looking determined. “Agreed. So, what’s the plan?” Krista asked.

Devlin took a deep breath, his mind racing. “First, we need to learn the patterns of the guys assigned to guard us. When they come, when they go. We find a weakness, a moment we can exploit.”

Krista’s face hardened with resolve. “And then?”

“Then we make our move,” Devlin said, feeling a surge of hope he hadn ’ t felt in a long time. “Together.”

****

The opportunity finally arose—a crack in the guard’s routine they had waited for. Devlin was ready with a piece of broken plywood they’d discovered in the basement. While Krista distracted his father’s man with pleas for more water, Devlin brought the plywood down on the grunt’s head, knocking him out in the process.

Dropping his weapon, Devlin and Krista moved swiftly out of their prison. Devlin’s heart pounded in his chest as they climbed the stairs to the kitchen. The door had been left open by the grunt. Freedom was so close, he could almost taste it.

But then, disaster struck. Another of his father ’ s men entered the kitchen spotting them instantly. “ Hey! Stop! ”

Devlin’s pulse quickened.

“Run!” he hissed to Krista, shoving her forward.

They sprinted out of the kitchen door, leading them to the estate ’ s garden, the sound of pursuing footsteps echoing behind them.

After a few twists and turns, they skidded around a corner and found the garden gate which led to the street. Devlin knew it was their only chance.

“Go, Krista!” he urged, pushing her toward the gate.

She hesitated for a fraction of a second, her eyes wide with fear.

“ It ’ s not too late, Devlin. Come with me! ” she pleaded.

“No, there’s no time. Go, now!” he insisted.

His father’s men were gaining on them. Krista nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude. For a moment, Devlin was nearly tempted to run off with her. So close and yet, he couldn’t just leave Galen and Carver behind. He knew they’d bear the brunt of his punishment. Who knew what their father would do in his absence?

She was already at the gate, working the bolt to unlock it. More of his father ’ s men burst into the garden. Devlin turned to face them, his fists clenched, ready to buy her some time. The grunts rushed him, and despite his desperate struggle, they overpowered him.

“ Krista, go! Forget about me! ” he shouted, but she looked back, tears streaming down her face.

“ I won ’ t forget you, Devlin! I promise I ’ ll come back for you! ” she yelled, disappearing into the street.

Devlin ’ s heart twisted with a mixture of despair and hope. As the grunts pinned him to the ground, Devlin watched the last sliver of light disappear with Krista ’s retreating form. She was free.

This was so unlike him. Devlin prioritizing someone else apart from his brothers? It was a strange and unfamiliar feeling, a break from the fierce, singular focus that had driven him for so long.

His entire life had been dedicated to protecting his younger siblings, to shielding them from their father ’ s cruelty. Sacrificing his own chance at freedom for someone else was an act that defied everything he had ever known.

“ Get him up! ” one of his father ’ s men barked, yanking Devlin to his feet.

They dragged him back to the house, his mind racing. Although it felt useless, and there was only a slim chance of it happening, Devlin held onto the hope she’d keep her promise. He had to believe in her.

As they threw him back into the basement, Devlin stumbled and fell hard against the floor. He groaned, the pain in his body intensifying, but his mind was elsewhere.

As he pushed himself up, leaning against the wall, he couldn ’ t help but wonder how far Krista had gotten. Had she managed to evade the guards and find a way out? Or were they already hot on her trail?

The thought gnawed at him. Would they chase after her? Of course they would. His father’s men were relentless. Devlin’s mind raced with images of Krista running in front of him, her fiery hair streaming behind her. He imagined her slipping through the streets and outsmarting his father’s men at every turn.

Devlin shook his head, trying to push the doubt away. Krista was a smart girl. She had shown incredible courage and resourcefulness. She wouldn’t get caught … would she?

He bit his lip, his fists clenching in frustration. Even if she managed to escape the immediate danger, what if they captured her father? Would they use him to lure her back? The thought sent a chill down his spine.

The door opened, interrupting his train of thoughts. His father stood there, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

“ You thought you could escape? ” he sneered. “ You ’ re even more foolish than I thought. ”

Devlin glared at him, his resolve unbroken. “She will come back. And when she does, you’ll regret everything,” he said.

His father’s smile widened. “We’ll see about that. Until then, you’ll stay right here where you belong,” he said.

The door slammed shut and Devlin was left alone in the cold darkness once more. The cell was the same as it had always been—cold, damp, and suffocating. But something within Devlin had changed.

He clung to Krista’s promise, a small beacon of hope in the dark, but it was enough to keep him going. Devlin lay on the cold floor, his body aching. He thought about his brothers, about the promise he had made to himself to protect them and to one day take his father’s place as the family head. And now, intertwined with those thoughts, was the image of Krista, free and determined. The hope that she represented was something he could hold onto, something that made the unbearable just a little more bearable.

Devlin knew he had to stay strong. For his brothers. For Krista. As he closed his eyes, exhaustion finally overtaking him, he whispered into the darkness, “Don’t forget me, Krista. Please don’t forget.”

Too bad she never did come back for him.