Chapter 1 - THE MAN WHO TOLD THEM TO KEEP RECORDING
The room stayed frozen.
Tate's phone was still pointed at Mirabelle.
Ronan Voss stood ten feet away, one hand resting casually inside the pocket of his black overcoat.
He looked almost bored.
That was what terrified Brandon.
Everyone in Blackhaven knew the stories.
Ronan Voss didn't shout.
He didn't threaten people twice.
And he never entered a room unless he had already decided how it would end.
Brandon forced a laugh.
"Mr. Voss. This isn't what it looks like."
Ronan looked at the clippers.
Then at the hair scattered around Mirabelle's chair.
Then at Brandon's fist, still wrapped around a handful of auburn strands.
"Really?"
One word.
Brandon released her.
Mirabelle's head dropped forward.
She was shaking.
Ronan noticed.
Something dark passed through his eyes.
"Untie her."
Brandon hesitated.
Ronan's three men took one step forward.
Brandon immediately grabbed the rope.
His fingers fumbled with the knot.
Mirabelle winced when he touched her wrists.
Ronan noticed that too.
"Careful."
Brandon's hands stopped.
"She's fine."
Ronan's eyes lifted.
"Did I ask?"
"No."
"Then don't speak."
The knot finally loosened.
Mirabelle pulled her hands free and immediately covered the shaved side of her head.
She couldn't look at anyone.
Ronan walked toward her.
Slowly.
He crouched in front of the chair.
"Mirabelle Hayes?"
Her eyes widened.
"How do you know my name?"
Ronan didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at the thin red marks around her wrists.
"Who did this?"
Mirabelle glanced toward Brandon.
Ronan's jaw tightened.
Brandon stepped backward.
"Look, Voss, she embarrassed me."
Ronan turned his head.
"She embarrassed you?"
"She refused to serve us."
"I see."
"She talked back."
"I see."
"And then she threw a cup at me."
Mirabelle's eyes widened.
"It slipped."
Brandon laughed.
"Of course it did."
Ronan stood.
"Give me the phone."
Tate swallowed.
"I—"
"The phone."
Tate handed it over.
Ronan looked at the screen.
The video was still recording.
He watched the last thirty seconds.
The clippers.
Mirabelle's tears.
Brandon laughing.
Tate zooming in on her face.
Ronan's expression became completely empty.
He handed the phone to one of his men.
"Make three copies."
Brandon frowned.
"Why?"
Ronan looked at him.
"So nobody can later claim this never happened."
Silence.
Brandon's confidence cracked.
"My father owns half the buildings on Mercer Avenue."
Ronan nodded.
"I know."
"You can't just threaten me."
"I haven't threatened you."
Ronan stepped closer.
"I'm documenting you."
Brandon's face went pale.
Ronan turned toward Mirabelle.
"Can you stand?"
She tried.
Her legs trembled.
Ronan caught her elbow before she fell.
His hand was warm.
Steady.
Mirabelle immediately pulled away.
"I can stand."
"I didn't say you couldn't."
She looked at him.
For the first time, their eyes met.
Something about his expression unsettled her.
Not because he frightened her.
Because he looked at her as if he had been searching for her.
For years.
Ronan glanced toward the missing shoe.
He picked it up.
Then he walked back to her.
"Put this on."
Mirabelle stared at the shoe in his hand.
"Why are you helping me?"
"Because someone should."
She almost laughed.
It came out as a broken breath.
"People like you don't help people like me."
Ronan's eyes hardened.
"People like me?"
"The kind who walk into places with four bodyguards."
He leaned closer.
"And what kind of person are you?"
"Nobody."
His expression changed.
"No."
Ronan looked at the shaved hair on the floor.
"You're someone they decided was nobody."
Then he turned toward Brandon.
"That's going to be their first mistake."
Brandon's voice shook.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Ronan ignored him.
He looked at Mirabelle.
"Come with me."
She shook her head.
"I have a brother."
"I know."
She froze.
"What?"
Ronan's voice softened.
"Kellen Hayes. Seventeen. East Harbor High. Physics honors. Works weekends at the auto shop on Franklin."
Mirabelle stared at him.
"How do you know my brother?"
Ronan didn't answer.
Her fear returned.
"Who are you?"
Ronan held her gaze.
"The man who's been making sure nobody touches your family."
Mirabelle's lips parted.
"What?"
Before Ronan could explain, his phone rang.
He answered.
"Yes."
A pause.
His expression changed.
"Say that again."
Mirabelle watched him.
Ronan's eyes moved toward her.
"The boy isn't home."
Mirabelle's blood went cold.
"What?"
Ronan ended the call.
"Kellen's missing."
Her knees buckled.
Ronan caught her.
She grabbed his coat.
"Find him."
"I will."
"Please."
His eyes locked on hers.
"I already started."
Outside, rain hammered the windows.
Inside, the three men who had humiliated Mirabelle suddenly realized something terrifying.
They had not interrupted Ronan Voss's evening.
May you like
They had interrupted his search.
And Mirabelle Hayes was the person he had been looking for.
