Chapter 1

The dining room of the Hayes mansion was a masterpiece of old money and cinematic illumination. Crystal chandeliers hung low, casting a gentle, golden warmth over the crowded table, entirely free from any yellow or muddy orange tint. The light hit the polished silver and the fair, rosy skin of the assembled guests, highlighting the immaculate evening wear. This was a private dinner party, a gathering of the elite and the dangerous, ostensibly to celebrate Alexander’s impending nuptials.

Alexander Hayes sat at the head of the table. At forty-one, he commanded the room simply by breathing. His broad shoulders filled out his tailored dark three-piece suit perfectly. He possessed an angular face with a high-bridged nose and a sharply defined jawline shadowed by extremely short, neat stubble. His thick, slightly wavy hair was swept back, a few loose strands falling carelessly over his forehead. He was handsome like a movie star, but the cold, penetrating stare of his dark eyes reminded everyone present that he was the apex predator of the city’s underworld. Artistic, refined tattoos peeked from beneath his cuffs, decorating his hands and fingers with dangerous elegance.

To his right sat Meredith Blake, his thirty-two-year-old fiancée. She wore a fitted satin evening gown that draped flawlessly over her slender frame, heavy diamond earrings catching the light. A massive engagement ring glittered on her finger. She offered polished, public smiles to the guests, but beneath the veneer was a quietly controlling, calculating woman who believed she had finally secured her throne.

Between them sat three-year-old Emily, Alexander’s daughter. She was dressed in a modest formal party dress, looking incredibly small in the massive, high-backed chair. Her small legs dangled off the edge of the seat.

The low hum of polite conversation filled the room as the main courses were cleared away.

Anna Collins stepped out from the shadows near the kitchen doors. At twenty-seven, she was striking, beautiful like an old Hollywood starlet with a delicate, heart-shaped face, softly defined cheekbones, and expressive brows. Her hair was pinned into a neat, low twist. She wore a sophisticated black maid dress with a cinched waist, a short A-line skirt, and a crisp white apron tied neatly at the back.

Anna moved silently toward the head of the table, carrying a silver tray laden with delicate desserts.

As she approached Alexander’s side of the table, the bright, clear light hit the floor. Alexander’s penetrating eyes flicked downward, catching a flash of movement.

Anna was completely barefoot.

Alexander’s brow furrowed slightly. He observed the way she walked—careful, favoring her left foot. As she set a small dessert plate down beside Emily, Alexander noticed a small, clean white bandage wrapped tightly around Anna’s heel. There was no visible blood, but the injury was undeniable.

His sharp gaze slowly traveled up from the maid’s bare feet to his daughter’s dangling legs.

Emily wasn’t wearing the delicate, formal party shoes she had arrived in. Instead, strapped awkwardly to her tiny feet, were a pair of simple, adult-sized black flats. They were visibly oversized, swallowing the toddler’s feet completely. They were Anna’s shoes.

Anna caught Alexander looking. Her cheeks flushed a deep, rosy pink. She quickly drew her injured foot behind her other leg, trying desperately to hide her bare feet beneath the hem of her black skirt.

>> Chapter 2