Chapter 1 The Girl in the Rain

The rain poured like it had something to prove, washing the grime off the cracked pavement and soaking through Aria Blake's worn hoodie. She ducked under the awning of a closed flower shop, clutching her backpack like it contained her entire life-which it nearly did.

She glanced at her phone. Dead. Of course. The universe never gave her a break.

A sharp noise echoed down the alley-glass breaking. Aria's head snapped toward it. She wasn't the type to get involved. Not in this city. Not with her history.

But then she heard the voice. A grunt. A struggle.

She hesitated, then took a cautious step forward. What she saw stopped her breath.

A man, dressed in a soaked designer coat, was pinned against a wall by two thugs. One of them held a knife. The other was going through his pockets.

Aria's feet moved before her brain caught up. A loose brick lay nearby. She grabbed it and hurled it as hard as she could.

"Hey!" she yelled. "Police are coming!"

The brick smashed against the wall, startling the muggers. One turned. "You stupid-!"

But the stranger took his chance. A sharp jab to the ribs, a twist-and he was free. The men took off into the night, cursing as they disappeared.

Aria ran toward him. "Are you okay?"

He turned slowly, breathing heavily, his face shadowed under the streetlamp. For a moment, he just stared at her.

"Who...?" he began, but then staggered.

She grabbed his arm, surprised by how solid he felt. "You're hurt."

"I've had worse." He looked at her now-really looked. Dark hair plastered to his forehead, strong jaw, eyes like thunderclouds. He wasn't just rich. He was dangerously, arrestingly beautiful.

He caught her wrist before she could pull away. "What's your name?"

Aria blinked. "It doesn't matter. Just-stay out of dark alleys."

She turned and ran before he could say another word.