Chapter 1: The Boy They Wanted To Own
The first time I saw Emmett Carbone, I was barefoot, bleeding, and running from the only family I thought would protect me.
I did not know if I was escaping a kidnapping, a family secret, or a war that had been waiting years to begin. I only knew one thing: if Malcolm Bannon caught me before I reached the road, Cody would disappear forever.
The black Lincoln Navigator carried me farther away from the Bannon estate, but my heart stayed behind with the sixteen-year-old boy I had promised to protect.
The city lights blurred through the tinted windows. My hands still shook as I held the handkerchief Emmett had given me against my foot.
The man sitting across from me was supposed to be my enemy.
That was what the Bannon family had taught me.
For twenty years, the Carbones and Bannons had existed like two storms moving in opposite directions. Everyone knew there had been blood between them, though nobody told me the whole story.
Not Patrick.
Not his father.
Not Shawn.
And especially not Malcolm.
Emmett Carbone watched me silently for several seconds.
"You keep looking at the door," he said.
I looked away.
"I'm deciding whether I made a mistake.""
"Did you?""
"I don't know yet.""
A faint expression crossed his face. Not a smile. Something colder.
"Most people who make mistakes with me don't get a chance to decide.""
The words should have terrified me.
Instead, I felt strangely calmer.
Because Emmett Carbone was the first person all night who had actually admitted there was danger.
Everyone else had smiled while threatening me.
I looked down at my hands.
"Why did you help me?""
"Because you asked me to drive.""
"That's it?""
"Yes.""
I almost laughed.
"You don't even know me.""
"I know exactly who you are.""
My stomach tightened.
"What does that mean?""
The older man looked out the window.
"It means you're Patrick Bannon's wife. It means you raised Shawn Bannon's son. And it means Malcolm Bannon was willing to send men after you.""
I swallowed.
"You knew?""
"I know many things.""
That answer bothered me more than if he had admitted ignorance.
The driver turned onto a quieter street. The man beside Emmett, who had remained silent the entire time, finally spoke.
"Mr. Carbone, we should not keep her here.""
Emmett didn't look at him.
"Her name is Jillian.""
The man nodded.
"Jillian.""
The way he said it felt like a warning.
I stared at Emmett.
"What exactly are you planning to do with me?""
"Find out why Malcolm Bannon is hunting a woman who ran away empty-handed.""
"I told you. They think I know where Cody is.""
"And you do.""
I froze.
The car became silent.
Emmett noticed.
"You do know.""
I looked away.
"I won't tell you.""
"Good.""
Again, that unexpected answer.
I frowned.
"Why do you keep saying that?""
"Because if you had trusted the first powerful man who offered help tonight, Cody would already be lost.""
My chest tightened.
The fact that he knew exactly what I feared made me uncomfortable.
"What happened to Shawn Bannon?"" Emmett asked.
I looked at him.
"Why?""
"Because everything started when he died.""
I remembered the funeral.
The perfect black suits.
The expensive flowers.
The Bannon family standing together like a photograph.
Everyone mourning.
Everyone pretending.
Except Cody.
Cody had stood in the corner, staring at the floor, holding one of his index cards in his hand.
The same cards he used for drawings.
Except that one had no drawing.
Only words.
I had asked him what it meant.
He had hidden it.
"Shawn's death wasn't an accident," I whispered.
The man beside Emmett shifted.
Emmett's eyes sharpened.
"Who told you that?""
"No one.""
"Then why do you believe it?""
I looked at the reflection of my face in the dark window.
"Because the night Shawn died, Cody received a phone call.""
Emmett leaned forward.
"What phone call?""
I hesitated.
Because saying it out loud made it real.
"Someone told him his father had left him something.""
"What?""
"I don't know.""
"You never asked?""
"I did.""
"And?""
I remembered Cody standing outside Shawn's old office three days after the funeral.
His face pale.
His hands trembling.
"I can't tell you, Jillian.""
Those were the exact words he said.
Not "I don't want to.""
Not "I can't.""
I can't tell you.
"I thought he was grieving," I said.
Emmett studied me.
"And now?""
"Now I think he was afraid.""
The Navigator slowed.
We entered a private underground garage beneath a large building. No signs. No security guards visible.
The driver opened my door.
I hesitated.
"Where are we?""
"Somewhere Malcolm Bannon cannot walk in and take you.""
I stepped out slowly.
"Why would you protect me from him?""
Emmett walked past me.
"Because Malcolm Bannon is not protecting his family.""
He stopped.
"He is protecting a secret.""
Before I could ask another question, my phone buzzed.
The screen showed one new message.
Unknown number.
My blood turned cold.
May you like
Because the message contained only five words.
*WE KNOW WHERE CODY IS.*
