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

at, his usual playful e

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.

had never seen her father donate a single dollar. All he did was bu

ept her m

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

coul

ke her ever t

ing back against

din

lliam standing over her

ng," sh

is legs. "You ever wonder what life

ers froze over

time," sh

him. Mr. Denver saved me. I was nothing before he took me in. Now, I'd do anyt

udied him

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