Prologue Evelyn Age 17

One week before 18th birthday

Shit shit shit.

I heard the sirens coming in the distance. Quickly typing on the computer keyboard in front of me, I saved the items I needed on a flash drive. Stuffing it in my side pocket of my leather jacket and grabbed some plain pieces of paper from the large conference room to look like I forgot something . I zipped up the pocket as I ran out the back door where I knew security wasn’t.

I busted out of my stepfather's office. The skyrise of Ricci Enterprises loomed over me like a beast, just like its owner. I booked it towards my car that was parked a few blocks away. The sirens drew nearer. The cold New York air attempted to steal my breath away by how intense the bite was.

My yellow Volkswagen Bug stood out like a sore thumb, but she was my baby. Her name was Bug for short and was the most reliable thing in my life.

I threw open the door and hopped inside. Quickly unzipping my pocket I shoved my hand in to grab the thumb drive and quickly stuffed it in my school bag. To anyone else it would look like a regular school item next to my laptop and notebooks. But to me I knew the truth. What I had just downloaded from my step fathers computer would bring an end to his empire. Shoving my bag in the back seat I went to turn on the ignition when a police car parked behind me. Shit shit…..

Taking a few deep breaths I rolled down my window and saw a familiar face of the police chief. “Evelyn…..” he leaned down to look at me in my car.

“Chief Carmichael to what do I owe the pleasure?” I asked cheekily. I should be nervous, but he was like an uncle to me. He raised an eyebrow at me. His dark brown mustache quirked up as he eyed me.

“Any idea why we received an alert that the alarm was tripped at your dad’s office and why an officer saw you running?”

“You mean my step dad?” I corrected it. It was no secret I loathed the man my mother married. Who marries your best friend’s wife months after their so-called best friend dies? I used to like the man. I was always mesmerized by how dominant his presence was. He always dressed to impress with tailored suits that made his muscles look even more intimidating. His full head of hair and beard always trimmed and styled to perfection. He was the classic “silver fox,” with his dark and handsome physique. To others, he seemed cool, calm, and collected. But I know the truth about him. Even if it took my entire life, I would destroy Anthony Ricci.

“I have no idea why an alarm would go off, I just went in to grab my homework. sounds like he needs to get a better security system.” I continued pointing to the paper I took from the conference room.

The chief did not like that smart ass response.

“Evelyn, you and I both know how this is going to go, so turn off the vehicle and come with me. “

I didn’t bother putting up a fight. No one would have any idea what I took. I made sure to cover my tracks. I turned off the engine and gave the Chief my keys.

Safe to say I was the black sheep of the family. I was the middle child of three so it was easy to stay hidden in the shadows. I was barely home, especially now that Matthew was deployed. Sarah was Anthony's princess. She was too young when he entered our lives to know that Devil had a name and she called him dad. When shit like this happened, suddenly my mother and step father realized I existed. Instead of towing my vehicle one of the officers drove it to the station.

My step father had the entire department on his payroll. Thankfully I had my own connections with some of the detectives in the precinct since dad died in the line of duty. Details of his untimely death were never fully recovered. All that was known was a hit man was hired to take him out. No one asked questions, except me.

By the time we got to the station my mother and stepfather were waiting. Great, just the welcoming community I needed. I was however surprised to see my mother out of the house. She spent most of her days home. If looks could kill I would be dead 10 times over. I rolled my eyes ready to be done with this.

I looked at them and stopped in my tracks. “was this all necessary?” I motioned to the station around us. “I forgot my homework in the conference room.” I knew it was a dumb excuse but it was believable and there would be no way to prove it.

Anthony folded his arms. “Sure, homework. That’s the excuse this time?” His voice was menacing. I knew he wasn’t a guy to fuck with. From what I had uncovered he had deep ties within the Mafia.

My mom put a frail hand on his arm, “honey let’s talk about this at home. We don’t need more attention drawn to us than it already has.” And there it was, the stab to my heart that my mom looked at me as a delinquent. I couldn’t tell her what I was trying to uncover. It was too dangerous. So instead I continued to play the hostile, delinquent teenager. The black sheep.

All the officers including the chief were at their desks pretending like they weren’t listening. Anthony stared at my mom and then back to me. “Go get in the car. You are lucky I agree with your mother.” He growled.

I knew better than to ask for my keys for Bug. Steven, the chief’s son, would bring her back to me tonight. We had a system. It would all be worth it in the end. I stormed out of the station and got into Anthony’s Lexus.

The car ride consisted of Anthony telling me he knew I was up to something and me just sitting there with an amused look on my face. It was a facade for the fear that lay beneath my skin.

One week later…..

Once the heat died down after the office stunt. I decided now was the time to start digging more into the findings on my thumb drive. My fingers moved at lightning speed as I accessed the files on the thumb drive while hacking into one of the government databases that would allow me to cross reference the information I downloaded from Ricci Enterprises. As quickly as I entered the database, error pop ups and warning messages took over the screen.

“No, no, no” I whispered as I frantically typed. A final message that showed a ghost and crossbones emojis before my entire computer crashed.

“Fuck” I yelled slamming the laptop closed. I threw my brown hair up into a messy bun as my anger heated my skin. I got up from my desk and headed to the kitchen to get some water. I needed something to cool down the fury in me. My mother stopped me as I was halfway down the hallway.

“Evelyn baby, can you come here please.”

I walked into her room and tried to hide my sadness seeing her weak in her bed. Her doctor had paid a house visit a few months ago and whatever he prescribed her made her super sleepy. The woman with the most vibrant personality now was dull.

She smiled as I approached her bed. Her long wavy chestnut hair lay over her shoulders. Her bright green eyes sparkled from the flames that danced in the fireplace in the enormous master bedroom. Even without makeup she was still as beautiful as an angel.

I grabbed her hand.

“What’s up momma.” I returned her smile.

“How’s my girl today? I know you think you stay under the radar, but know that I see you my sweet girl.” I furrowed my brows. There’s no way she could know what I did in my spare time.

“I’m alright mom, I swear. I just don’t like seeing you sick.” Her eyes turned glassy at my response.

“I know baby. But I’m in good hands. Anthony is making sure of it. I’ll be back to being the momma you know in no time. Could you get me some water?”

I nodded my head. Not responding to the Anthony comment. I returned with some water for her and myself. I gave her a kiss as she closed her eyes. “I love you my sweet girl.”

“I love you too momma.”