Chapter 1

The key turned smoothly in the lock.

This was it. My new apartment. A surprise from Sophia.

Years. It had been years since I'd felt anything close to normal.

Switzerland, the clinics, the surgeries – they'd pieced me back together. A new face, a new name, Ethan White.

Evan Grant was a ghost, a memory of fire and pain.

I stepped inside. Floor-to-ceiling windows showed off the Chicago skyline.

Sophia always did things big.

My legs, once shattered, ached a dull reminder of why I'd been gone so long.

She'd called a week ago, her voice bright. "Ethan, darling, you have to come for the engagement party!"

Rick Harrington. Her VP. Soon to be my brother-in-law.

She'd even sent a picture. Looked like a typical corporate shark.

A sudden crash.

The front door splintered inwards.

Men poured into the apartment. Big men. Angry men.

Leading them, a face I recognized from Sophia's photo. Rick Harrington.

Before I could speak, his fist connected with my nose.

A sickening crunch. Warmth gushed down my face. Blood.

My head swam.

"Well, well, look what we have here," Rick sneered, his voice dripping venom. "Sophia's little pet project."

He grabbed a heavy glass ashtray from a nearby table.

"Thought you'd stay hidden in Europe forever, huh? Living off her money?"

He swung the ashtray.

I tried to duck, but it caught me on the temple.

Pain exploded behind my eyes. I staggered, a cry tearing from my throat.

"You're mistaken," I gasped, tasting blood. "I'm-"

Rick kicked my legs out from under me.

I crashed to the polished hardwood floor. My bad leg screamed.

"Mistaken?" He loomed over me, his face contorted with rage. "I know exactly who you are. You're the leech who's been bleeding my fiancée dry."

He stomped on my hand. Bones crunched.

I screamed.

"She bought you this place, didn't she? This fancy apartment."

His men fanned out, their expressions hard.

"You think you can just waltz back in, ruin everything?"

He delivered a savage kick to my ribs.

Air whooshed out of my lungs. Black spots danced in my vision.

"I'm going to teach you a lesson about messing with what's mine."