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Prologue

“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaar Allan Poe

Maksim

I fell in love with her when it was right We were throwing oing to go blind at eleven So I chased her

She threw more mud and said, literally—“you’ll survive”

Also at eleven, I oat with her

She loved it

So did I Because I ith her because our parents were trying to give us normal in a world where normal wasn’t a word that could ever be used

My goat at the ti around screa like a little bitch

“They’re the devil!” I yelled

She helped me

We laughed

And I knew

I just knew

Any girl who could survive a scandal like goat gate was a winner

But I also knew the rules our parents—the bosses—had given us

No dating within the Families

It could potentially cause too much turmoil

It could cause death

War

And I tried

I really did

I tried to stay away from her Knew my love for her could hurt her, hurt us I could hurt us

So, I became what she needed, even what I needed to stay sane

And then, one day, it all changed One day I was given a shit choice I didn’t tell a soul

I just got on a plane

I did the job just as her father ordered me to

And that’s where ins

With my lie

Her truth

Our pain intertwined

I killed for them

I nearly died for them

And it wasn’t until that first drop of blood fell that they all realized how good I was at it

And despite ood…

Right

Incredible

My job wasn’t to save lives

It was to end them

I just never realized I’d be damned in the process

You want to know my story?

Hers?