Chapter 1 Prologue

I stared at my face sadly for a few minutes in the mirror. I had been crying like a little kid for the past thirty minutes but I really wanted to stop.

My brother would be so angry if he found out I was here crying when he wasn't even gone yet. I quickly walked my face and tried my best to look okay, I didn't want my brother's last memory of me to be a bad one.

Someone banged on the door hard, and I jumped when I heard Jake's voice.

"Elsa. I know you're in there crying like a princess, but can you please come out? We need to talk."

I opened the door and gave him a smile I hoped wasn't too obviously fake. But there was no point doing that, my elder brother knows me better than I know myself.

He sighed and gave me that look he only gives me when he's upset with me. I just couldn't help it no matter how hard I tried. I couldn't bear the thought of losing him now.

He pulled me into a bear hug and whispered. "It's okay, sis. I promise it's going to be okay."

I pulled away from him to look into his eyes. I wanted to be sure he meant what he said because I couldn't believe anything would be okay anymore.

"You'll be fine, sis," he said with a small smile, but then his facial expression changed, and he became more serious, "You have to promise me that you'll leave here the minute you turn eighteen."

"There's no way I'm going to be fine without you," I whined. "and how can I leave here? I don't want to---"

He snapped, "Elsa you better fucking listen to me!"

I flinched and he took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"I'm sorry about that, sis, but you have to leave and if possible, never come back here. It's never been safe for you, and soon I won't be around to protect you from....them. So you have to leave. Please leave..."

"You're not leaving me," I whispered. "This is all a misunderstanding and I'm sure our lawyers are going to clear things and win the case. You'll be free and then we could leave here together. I'm sure it's all a misunderstanding."

He sighed and petted my head to comfort me like he does when I'm sad, then he shook his head and said, "I'm guilty of all charges, Elsa. The sooner you believe it, the better for you. I killed them. It was all me."

I wanted to hate him for giving in so easily. I wanted to scream and hit him multiple times for doing this to us. To me.

He sighed again and pulled me into his arms. "Please Elsa, be strong for me. I know this is extremely hard for you but please be strong. Things will be fine eventually, I promise."

It's so easy for him to say, but I know there's no way I'll be fine without him near me. He's my rock, my shelter, my safe place but now I'm about to lose him. I hate to admit it but I don't have a choice. I have to be stronger than ever.

I hugged him tight and said, "I'll be strong, Jake. I promise."

He released me gently and smiled at me. "You still look like shit sis, you should go out and get some fresh air."

I rolled my eyes at him but smiled back. He was right, I needed to breathe properly. I was out on deck, walking slowly to clear my mind, when I saw him sitting alone on a chair.

I didn't recognize him at first which made me raise my guard. Jake's friends were around but I knew all of his friends. He didn't look like one of them in any way.

He looked more.... mature.

Curiosity made me stay nearby, watching him look majestic while he was relaxing. I was just about to leave when he turned my way and we immediately locked eyes.

Being the awkward girl that I am, I normally would've mumbled a quick sorry for staring and left but his eyes had me stuck on the spot. He looked at me like I was the only reason he was here.

I didn't want the staring contest to go on so I cleared my throat and said, "Hi...uhm.. what are you doing out here alone?"

He smiled and said, "I could ask you the same. You're Jake's sister, right? Elsie or is it Elsa?"

"Yes...I....I'm his sister, and my name is Elsa," I shuffled my feet awkwardly. "Who are you, though? I basically know all of my brother's friends, and they come around a lot, but this is my first time seeing you."

He chuckled lightly. "Who I am shouldn't matter to you but don't worry, I'm not a stranger to your brother."

My heart started racing when he stood up and walked towards me. With each step he took, I felt like dying or sinking into the ground. Why was I even reacting to him like this?

This was so wrong for me in so many ways. Especially because he was clearly a grown-up man. An attractive one but still. He could be at least 6 years older than me; Jake would probably freak out if anything happened between us, but... I wouldn't mind.

He stopped inches in front of me and tilted his head down a bit so he could really see my face, then he whispered, "Do you know we have something in common, Elsa?"

I gulped. "We do?..."

"Yes." He sighed "We're both losing Jake."

I came out here to clear my head and feel better but this man just had to make all the pain rush back into me with extra force. The reality hit me so hard, I got dizzy and slipped backwards but he caught me on time.

I muttered a quick thank you and tried to get out of his grip but he held on to me tightly. And the way he looked at me...oh, those beautiful eyes of his.

He looked at me with so much desire in his eyes, then he leaned in closer to me. For a moment, I saw a flicker of doubt, but I wanted whatever he wanted for us right now, so I leaned in closer to him, daring to close the little gap between us.

I suddenly realised what I was doing was crazy and moved back saying, "I'm sorry. Thank you for catching me, you can let me go."

He smiled slightly and shook his head. Then he pulled me closer and pressed his lips on mine. It wasn't slow or awkward. He kissed me like he'd been wanting to kiss me for a long time.

I gasped slightly but he took that as an invitation and quickly slid his hot tongue in to dance with mine. I whimpered slightly as I felt heat rise between my legs and he held me even tighter, Kissing me with so much intensity I was running out of breath.

I didn't want to know why this was happening. I didn't care to find out who he was anymore or why he was here. At this moment, all that mattered was the way he held and kissed me like I belonged to him.

But our kiss was cut short when my brother came out. I broke the kiss the moment he called out my name, heat rising on my cheeks as I struggled to free myself from the stranger's grip, but he wouldn't let me go.

I looked at him and mouthed, "Please, let me go" he smiled like he'd won a prize and let me go abruptly. Then he turned to face my brother and tilted his head to the side with a mocking look on his face.

Jake stared at the man dangerously, his eyes burning with fury. There was clearly something deeper going on between them because I could feel it. He wasn't angry just because of the kiss he'd seen.

He turned to me and snapped, "I told you to come out here to get fresh air so what the fuck are you doing locking lips with that....with that guy!" He sighed, "I'll deal with you later, just go back inside."

I shook my head, letting my curiosity take over me, "I don't want to go in. He's your friend, right? I didn't-"

"Elsa get the fuck out of here. Now!" He ordered, losing every bit of patience he had.

I nodded slightly and made to leave but the stranger held me back and bent to whisper in my ear, "It was nice to finally meet you, Elsa. I can't wait to see you again."

He let me go and before I could say what I wanted to say, he walked away. He was gone. Just like that.