Stolen hearts

ng long shadows over the dining hall where the family sat around a sleek, circular

astermind, though he rarely lifted a finger. He didn't need t

ned back in his chair, chewing gum with his usual disinterest-he never did much, never had to. Ophelia sat with her a

onathan Black with the business deal, Opheli

action? No fights, no chases, just a stupid accident?" He exhaled dramatically. "I need action, Max.

Not every job has to b

lia a smirk. "No offense, sis, but I'd rather be in a real

a muttered, barely s

l get your action eventua

. "And if somet

. "Nothing will go wrong.

f he doesn't stop in time? What if I ac

hat, his usual playful

elia. You know how to take a hit and sell it. You'll control the impact. S

s throwing herself in front of a moving vehicle,

easy target. He's predictable. He'll panic, take her to the hospital

"Still sounds like a waste of time. If he's that predictable, why don't we just

oice was sharp, final. "We do things smart, Ethan. And if y

his tongue but

ter the accident, I'll meet him for the business deal. He needs to believe w

table. Inside were documents

res. "It's a wreck now, completely abandoned. But Black doesn't need to kno

in his house?"

e. Property papers, investment

key in his glass. He always loved a well-laid pla

"I still don't get it. We have money. We h

m went

s voice was cold, final. "The rich get richer, the poor stay poor.

seen her father donate a single dollar. All he did was buy another sports car

athan Black, memorizing details about their target. Then

only place in the mansion that felt like hers. She sat beneath the sh

arted

world of deception, longing for a way out. A girl so deeply em

ed to write a different ending this time-one

people like her e

ing back against

din

lliam standing over her

and writin

is legs. "You ever wonder what life

ers froze over

time," sh

enver saved me. I was nothing before he took me in. Now, I'd do anything for him. Anythi

she asked.

the streets. I was just a kid, and he took me in. Fed m

ng. That she couldn't keep doing this. But looking at hi

ned. "Shoppi

You know I never s

conversation aside. Because that was the

ia knew t

e ignoring it