Chapter 1

Jenna

Mine. Mine. All mine!

The hard work had finally paid off. To a point.

Only if you get clients coming in through that thick steel door.

My inner voice had been calming over the years, always managing to bring me down to reality. But right now, I wish I had a bottle of champagne to celebrate this amazing accomplishment. I was now a business owner in New York City.

Far, far away from home.

Much to the chagrin of my parents, who hated the fact I’d wanted to remain in New York. They were fearful of the bums and violence, the criminal activity and rude people. I loved them dearly, but they were way too overprotective.

The dazzling city was where I’d wanted to be for as long as I could remember, coming on college breaks and holidays, enjoying the eclectic people and the exciting atmosphere. Now I could call a piece of it my own.

For a hefty monthly price of course.

Laughing, I felt happier than I had in a long time. I’d even found an amazing employee. So far, only one but I had to start somewhere. Right?

I couldn’t help spinning around in a circle for the third time. After all the years of education, working two jobs to try to be able to live off more than just ramen noodles, and putting everything including every dime I had to my name into my dream clinic, my baby had come to fruition.

I was ecstatic.

Eager for the future.

And terrified.

I’d spent all day cleaning and setting the space, adding all my favorite furry baby touches including pictures of doggies and kitties on the walls. I’d been lucky enough to be able to invest in the best equipment, although I’d be paying for it for more than ten years. I had paint under my fingernails, covering my sweatshirt and sweatpants, and my tennis shoes.

Even both cheeks.

I looked like some homeless chick on the streets of New York. But what did I care? I was now the proud owner of Furry Tails Veterinary clinic. My last deed of the day had been to hang my diploma, something I’d worked so hard to achieve, sacrificing almost everything, including parts of my sanity.

I’d had a reason to stay late, a lovely older woman noticing my newly built Facebook page, begging me to stay until she could bring her poodle in. I’d explained I wasn’t quite set up yet, but her sobs had worn down my resolve and I’d agreed. Then she’d been a no show.

A no show.

That wasn’t the best way to start my new business, but I refused to take it as a sign. Plus, it had driven a fire under my butt, and I’d chosen a paint color and worked my little fingers off. I was thrilled with my efforts and the results.

“Yes!” I pumped my fist, blowing silly kisses to the four corners. I was exhausted but happy, eager for a tall glass of wine and some sleep in my fabulous bed inside my cramped Brooklyn apartment. Tomorrow was a new day and I already had three clients on the books. Oh, yeah, baby. I was rocking it already.

Laughing, I realized there was nothing that could deter my good mood. Nothing! I grabbed my purse, suddenly noticing the time. Ugh. It was after eleven. That meant I’d need to walk to the second subway stop, the closest one shutting down promptly at ten. I had no idea why, other than the building where I leased my clinic wasn’t in the best part of town. However, it was all I could afford, even if my landlord was a grade-A jerk.

Still, a working girl had to start somewhere. Right?

I’d celebrate with a glass of cheap wine and the block of cheese I’d been saving for the occasion.

I slung my purse over my shoulder, grabbing the office keys and taking one last look before turning off the lights. When I walked out in the small courtyard, other small businesses surrounding mine, the light breeze sent an instant chill into my bones. After locking the door and shoving the massive set of keys into my purse, I held the leather strap against my body and hurried away from the building.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

While gunfire was typical on any given day in the dark streets of New York, the fact the sound echoed in my ears meant whoever was engaged in a gunfight or partaking in a horrific crime was close. I scanned the street, my heart racing. But I couldn’t see anything even though there were several streetlights on both sides.

I tentatively took several steps further away from the building, debating if I should head back inside, calling the police. Sadly, this neighborhood wasn’t tops on their agenda for patrolling. The seconds I took thinking about my best move were detrimental, a dark figure appearing out of the shadows, grabbing me from behind.

The perpetrator was strong, yanking me off my feet instantly. “No!”

“Shut the fuck up. Be a good girl and play your part.”

I tried to scream but the sound was cut off when he slammed his thick forearm against my throat, cutting off my air supply. I fought with him against the advice of experts providing tidbits on staying alive when mugged. But I wasn’t the kind of girl to play demure or nice, doing what I could to pull his arm away while kicking him in the shins.

“Stop moving, bitch, or it’ll be your last day on earth.” The guy’s deep voice was ragged, as if he’d had one too many cigarettes in his life. But it was louder than I would have thought. I started to wheeze, stars floating in front of my eyes as I was slowly being suffocated. “Just be quiet and maybe I’ll let you live.” His angry hiss was followed by the bastard placing the barrel of a weapon against my temple.

While another wave of terror skipped through me like wildfire, I refused to lose my wits. That’s how victims were killed. As he started pulling me further into the shadows, I made it as difficult as possible.

There was sudden movement near the three trees in the center of the cracked concrete courtyard, a blur that I couldn’t make out until I heard his voice.

“Tha stamatoúsa akrivós ekeí.”

The language was one I didn’t recognize entirely, although if I had to guess, I’d say it was like the Greek I’d heard at one of my favorite restaurants. As he walked under one of the decorative-style pole lights near the single bench, I was in awe of the man. It was as if I was staring at Adonis, his appearance that of a Greek god. He had to be at least six and a half feet tall with shoulder-length, thick dark hair. I couldn’t see his eyes, but in my mind, they were glowing as if he was some kind of crazed superhero.

“Fuck off.”

“I said,” the second guy hissed, “if you let her go and follow my orders, I might let you live.”

Was he really going to save my life?

My instinct told me he was just another bad guy and I’d been caught in the middle of a turf war. He was dressed in a suit as opposed to the hoodie and jeans my assailant was wearing; the moment seemed out of place even for the Big Apple. While I couldn’t make out his features, what I could see clearly was the weapon he had in both hands of his outstretched arms.

“You’re a fucking fool if you think I’m going to follow your orders and stop. Get the fuck out of here.”

“Then you die,” he said in English, his deep voice penetrating my eardrums, the sultry sound splashing over me like a protective blanket.

There was no further discussion, no ugly comments back and forth. The man standing maybe ten yards in front of me simply fired his weapon once.

But that was enough.

It took me a few seconds to realize what had actually occurred but I only fully understood when the assailant’s arm started to slip away, his body hitting the blocked concrete with a hard thud. I stumbled forward, slapping both hands across my mouth as I peered down at his dead body. If I were to give the other marksman points for accuracy, he’d top a ten given the bullet wound was centered perfectly in the asshole’s forehead.

I might be in some kind of shock, but my mama hadn’t raised a fool. I’d just witnessed a murder, which meant the guy who might have saved my life would end up needing to strip it away to keep me quiet. So, I did what any smart, red-blooded chickie would do.

I took off running.

And screaming.

As if that would matter. No one cared about a girl fighting off an attacker. Not in this city.

I hadn’t anticipated that the hulking mass of a man would be so fast, grabbing me from behind just as the other jerk had done, slapping his hand over my mouth. When he pulled me against his hard body, I shuddered from his possessive and dangerous hold as well as a sick series of tingling sensations.

“Now, if I remove my hand, you’re going to promise not to scream. Yes?” His dangerous tone was whispered in my ear, his hot breath cascading down the side of my neck. I couldn’t stop shaking as I dug my fingers into his massive, chiseled arm.

All I could do was nod slightly.

“Good girl.” He slowly lowered his hand, wrapping it around my throat instead, but his hold was more about possession, not a direct threat. Still, I had a feeling he could easily snap my neck if he so decided. “Now, who are you?”

Was he kidding me? Did he think I was somehow involved in this brutal game? When I didn’t answer him immediately, he nuzzled against my ear, laughing in a dark and dangerous way.

“We’re going to try that one more time, sweetheart, and I suggest you answer the question. Who. Are. You?”

He didn’t release me, but I was easily able to talk, even though a lump the size of a grapefruit had formed in my throat. “I’m… I’m a veterinarian leaving work. My clinic is behind us.” My voice was shakier than it had been before, my pulse racing as it should be. How was I going to get out of this? How?

“You’re a vet?”

“Yes,” I hissed.

“Take me to your clinic.” He pressed the weapon into my side as a reminder of who and what he was.

“Why?”

“Because, sweetheart. I said so and right now, I am the man in charge, the one holding a gun to that pretty little head of yours. I suggest you remain a very obedient little girl.”