CHAPTER 1
Her heels hit the ground with a vengeance, the sound reverberating across the cool tiles. She walked purposefully, though her eyes scanned the room for the familiar face she was looking for—bingo. A slight smile curved her lips as she approached. She took a seat opposite him playing with the handle of her now cold coffee courtesy of Lucius.
"You're late," Lucius said, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Better late than never, don't you agree?" She winked.
He said nothing. She stared at him, her expression unreadable. Her gaze traced his face—from his beautifully arched eyebrows to his emotionless brown eyes, to the sharp line of his jaw—and she laughed, a completely mirthless sound.
"Lucius, it's been a while, and you've grown into such an audacious prick. These past two years must have been good, huh?"
Lucius picked up his coffee and took a long sip
"You haven't grown at all, Val. But if this is all you called me for, then I've wasted my time." He tossed a card onto the table and rose to his feet.
"This is my number now. If you need anything, call me. But this is your first warning—my time is money."
She stood as well, mirroring his movements.
"Don't bother." She threw the card back onto the table. "We won't have any further communication. I just wanted to personally see how my brother's murderer was faring after all these years."
She walked away. It was wiser to drive yet it felt right to walk because she had a feeling that after her meeting with Lucius, she would need it. The streets were chilly, but the chill made her think faster. She tucked her hands in the pockets of her parka and slowed her steps. Her gaze on the ground, she counted.
"One." She needed to clear her thoughts.
"Two." She needed to focus on her plan forward.
"Thre—"
Her shoulder collided with something solid.
She staggered back a step. "Sorry," she muttered automatically, lifting her head—but whoever she had bumped into was already gone.
She turned around instinctively, searching the street.
She stopped cold.
Red light directly on her face. She pulled the parka tighter around herself and felt for the cool metal hidden in the inner pocket.
Breathe. She told herself and took one step at a time. She counted again but this time in fear. She took a turn down the wrong alley and entered a coffee shop that was holding an event she could care less of. She flirted a bit with the waiter, but her heart was frozen solid. They were warning her, and it was up to her whether to heed it.