PROLOGUE The Night Everything ChangedThe rain fell heavily that night.Emily Vale stood beside the window, watching water race down the glass. Outside, the street was unusually quiet. No children playing. No neighbors talking. Not even the sound of her father's car returning home.Something felt wrong.Her father had promised he would be back before midnight.It was already 1:17 a.m.Amara turned away from the window and glanced at the clock again.Then she heard it.Cars.Not one.Several.Their headlights appeared through the curtains, illuminating the living room with flashes of white light.Amara's heart began to beat faster.She hurried toward the front door, but before she could reach it, her father appeared from the hallway.His face was pale."Emily," he whispered.She had never seen him look so frightened."Dad? What's happening?"He didn't answer.Instead, he walked toward her and held her shoulders."Listen to me carefully.""What is it?""If anything happens tonight, you must not trust anyone."Emily stared at him."What are you talking about?"A loud knock shook the front door.Bang. Bang. Bang.Her father released her.Then came another knock.This time, harder.Her father looked toward the door."They're here.""Who?"He swallowed."The Morettis."Before Emily could ask another question, the door opened.Three men dressed completely in black entered the house.Behind them stood a man with silver hair.He carried no weapon that Emily could see, yet everyone in the room seemed afraid of him.He looked at Emily's father."Mr. Vale."Her father said nothing.The man pulled a folded document from inside his coat."You've had fifteen years to repay the debt."Emily's eyes widened."What debt?"Her father closed his eyes.The man looked at Emily.Then he smiled coldly."Your father didn't tell you?"Emily turned toward her father."Dad?"He couldn't meet her eyes.The man continued."Don't worry. Mr. Moretti has already decided how the debt will be paid."Emily felt a chill run through her."Who is Mr. Moretti?"The man stepped aside.A tall figure entered the house.Black suit.Black tie.Cold expression.The room seemed to become smaller the moment he walked in.Emily had never seen him before.But somehow, she knew exactly who he was.Damien Moretti.The most feared man in the city.His eyes settled on her.For several seconds, neither of them spoke.Then Damien looked at her father."Is this your daughter?"Her father nodded slowly.Damien looked back at Emily."The debt is no longer your father's problem."Emily's voice trembled."Then whose problem is it?"Damien's expression remained unreadable."Yours."Thunder crashed outside.Emily stared at him, unable to understand what he meant.Then Damien placed the contract on the table."Welcome to my world, Emily Vale."And in that moment, she realized that the life she knew was over.She just didn't know yet how much she would lose...or how much she would discover about the man who had come to collect her family's debt.