Prologue

Sebastian

NOW

October 18 th , 2024

I stood in the dark driveway, staring up at the house. It towered on high, three stories of wood and stone throned on a mountain and surrounded by deep green foliage.

I used to think of the house as a mini paradise tucked away from the rest of the world. A peaceful escape. Now I only saw it as the place where it all began. The place that had carved its mark on my life, leaving behind all the jagged scars that defined me.

What started here twenty years ago wouldn't be over until I forced it to end. That was my job now, and I knew it was finally time.

My boots crunched against the gravel as I turned and faced away from the house. I yanked the burner phone out of my jacket and composed a text to a now-familiar number. The owner of that number always pretended he didn't care for modern technology, but I knew he checked the phone every day. He was a fucking liar and a hypocrite, just like the rest of them.

Thinking of him automatically made me think of her, down on her knees, mouth gaped, eyes shimmering with tears until one finally escaped to land on her delicate cheek.

With my lips pressed together in a firm slash, I finished the message and hit send.

I have your daughter. Follow my instructions, or I'm going to kill her.