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PROLOGUE

Chicago,Illinois

Six years ago…

Quinn Wilder stoodin the alley under the building’s narrow overhang, a curtain of rain filling her vision as it poured from the gutters above. It was late—nearly midnight—and she was at the back of the yards near Forty-Seventh Street in Chicago.

It was all she could do to keep her wild imagination from taking a dark and twisted turn.

Using her mitten-clad hands, she pulled the collar of her plush winter coat tight, bringing it to her chin in search of the slightest respite from the bone-deep chill of the night. The rhinestone belted backer boy hat offering little protection from the late winter weather.

Damn it, Justin. Where are you?

Fifteen minutes had passed since her boyfriend was supposed to meet her. Fifteen minutes of standing outside in the freezing cold, waiting for Justin to finally decide to grace her with his presence.

Of all nights to be late…

Keeping her movements subtle, Quinn slid a sideways glance to her right. Her chest grew tight, the palpitations of her heart increasing in both speed and force when she spotted a black car with tinted windows. It was parked across from the alley’s entrance, its tires snuggled up to the curb on that side of the street.

The men who’d followed her were there, sitting in the sedan’s front two seats. She couldn’t see them, but they were there.

Watching.

Waiting.

Nausea churned as she began to second-guess her decision. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. This wasn’t how things were supposed to end.

They will, you know. Once you do this, that’ll be the end.

The urge to flee was so damn tempting, but she didn’t dare. As much as she hated everything about this plan, it was still the better option.

For her. For Justin.

This is for him, Quinn. Remember, you’re doing this for him.

She felt that truth down to her bones.

Every single decision she’d made over the course of this last year had been for Justin. The reckless abandon with which she loved him…the stupid, crazy things they’d done together…even her heartbreaking betrayal…

It had all been for him.

Blinking away the stinging moisture collecting in the corners of her eyes, Quinn shivered from the cold as she slid her frozen hand into her coat pocket and pulled out her phone. Using her teeth, she removed one of her wool mittens.

With a few trembling taps, she put the phone to her ear and waited. Justin answered on the second ring.

“Keep your panties on, sweet cheeks. I’m almost there.”

He sounded happy. Normal. As if he didn’t have a care in the world. As if he wasn’t about to commit a crime that could send them both to prison for the next twenty years.

That isn’t going to happen, Quinn. You made sure of that, remember?

Forcing the second-guesses away, she ignored the newest wave of shivers and stuttered out, “Y-you’re late.”

“No shit,” her boyfriend of eleven months quipped. “Traffic was nuts, and this weather didn’t help.”

Right on cue, a giant explosion of spider lightning appeared above them. The powerful force of nature illuminated the night sky, its deadly tendrils spreading wide beneath the clouds before dissipating into nothing.

Seconds later, the air in the lightning’s path expanded from the sudden discharge of heat, sending a loud clap of thunder rolling past.

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