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When I got to my car, the stupid engine wouldn't start—no matter how many times I turned the key. The dashboard lit up with a big, fat "E," and I groaned, slamming my forehead against the steering wheel in frustration.

"Great. Just freaking great."

It had been working just fine this morning... or at least I thought it had. I couldn't remember exactly how much gas I'd had left. Knowing my luck, Dad probably drained the last of it when he drove it earlier and didn't fill it up.

I tapped my finger against my knee, weighing my options. I could head back to the house... but that meant possibly running into my parents. If they found out I was going to Thomas' place, there was no way they'd let me go.

Screw it. His house wasn't that far, and if I ran, I'd get there in no time.

Resolved, I climbed out of the car and stepped into the cold evening air, heading straight for the gate.

"Evening, Isabella," the gatekeeper greeted with a nod.

"Evening." I gave him a quick smile. "I'm going to visit a friend. Can you open the gate?"

"Rose?" he asked, throwing out Amanda's name.

I nodded quickly, silently praying he wouldn't call my parents to confirm.

He scribbled something onto a clipboard and reached for the controls. "Make sure you tell your parents when you're expecting to be back. Have a safe trip, Isabella."

I nodded my head in acknowledgement. "I did. Thanks."

I walked away slowly, careful to stay casual. I knew my parents had cameras posted all over the perimeter and I did not want to be detected. But as soon as I was out of view, I broke into a sprint, the chill air burning my lungs as I ran. I had to get to Thomas' house right before he got back from school. If I missed him, he'd shut the door in my face without a second thought.

But if I caught him before that, he couldn't ignore me. Just you wait, Thomas. I'm getting the answers I came for.

At the end of the street, I paused, glancing both ways. No cars.

I stepped toward the crosswalk, then stopped. Something felt... off.

I glanced behind me. Nothing. Not a soul in sight. I narrowed my eyes, brushing it off. Probably just my imagination.

But the second I lifted my foot to step forward, I heard it—footsteps. Fast and close.

I didn't even have time to turn around before a hand clamped over my mouth.

My head spun, everything tilting sideways. The last thing I saw before darkness swallowed me was a pair of piercing green eyes.

Then, nothing.

My eyes fluttered open, blinking slowly as they struggled to adjust to the thick darkness pressing in around me. Where the hell am I?

Shapes loomed in the shadows, impossible to identify. I squinted, trying to focus, then a sharp jolt of pain ripped through my body. I let out a groan, hunching forward, eyes squeezed shut. Biting down on my lip, I waited for the ache to fade before looking up again. This time, I could make out a door and something else. A sack, maybe, piled with random objects, sitting in the center of the room.

Before I could get a proper look, the door burst open with a loud crack. Two men stormed in, both masked in black ski gear. Their eyes swept the room and then locked on me.

I didn't even have a chance to react before one of them shoved the other, hard. The second guy stumbled, barely catching himself.

"You grabbed the wrong damn girl!" the first one barked, his voice echoing sharply off the walls.

"What? How?" the guy on the left asked, shooting a glance my way. "She's the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ace."

My brow furrowed as I stared at him. That voice... it was familiar. I'd definitely heard it before. But where?

"No, you idiot!" the first guy snapped, slapping him upside the head. The smaller one let out a startled yelp. "We wanted the youngest daughter. Look at her, does she look young to you?"

Youngest daughter? Wait—are they talking about Lily? Don't tell me they were planning on kidnapping Lily?

    "Well, yeah."

    He let out a frustrated huff, throwing his hands in the air. "I swear, I work with morons!" he snapped, dragging a hand down his face. "I mean—does she look nine to you?"

My eyes narrowed, fury momentarily outweighing fear. I knew full well he could knock me out cold with a single blow, but none of that mattered. They had meant to take Lily. My little sister.

"No," the other guy muttered.

"Then you got the wrong damn girl!" the tall one roared, voice ricocheting through the room. I flinched. God, he sounded livid. But at least his rage wasn't aimed directly at me. Not yet.

"At least she's still an Ace," the shorter guy offered weakly, taking a step back.

The taller one exhaled, shoulders sagging as some of the heat drained from his voice. "You better hope Dad doesn't care."

"He won't," the smaller one replied quickly. "As long as we get the money, he'll be happy."

"Yeah... you're right," the first guy mumbled, more to himself than anyone else. Silence settled like a thick fog.

My body tensed as his gaze shifted back to me. His stare pinned me in place. Even with his face half-hidden, there was no mistaking the danger in his eyes. He was built like a wall of muscle and I had no doubt he could break me in half without thinking twice.

He smirked, clearly enjoying the fear written all over my face.

"So," he said, voice low and mocking. "What exactly are we gonna do with you?"

That smile—cold and cruel—deepened as he took a slow step toward me. I shrank back instinctively, every nerve on fire, fighting the urge to completely break down.

"Aww... are you scared?" he sneered, letting out a harsh, barking laugh as he closed in.

    "Get away from me!" I shouted, lashing out blindly. My legs jerked forward, but the restraints held tight. I barely managed a slight movement—just enough to show resistance, not enough to do any damage.

He lunged forward and grabbed a fistful of my shirt, yanking me toward him. I gasped, breath catching in my throat. His face was inches from mine.

"Listen, girly," he growled, his breath hot and foul. "Shut up, or I'll shut you up myself."

I froze, heart hammering against my ribs. His brown eyes burned with pure frustration, maybe even hatred. And for a moment, I truly thought he was going to kill me.

"Calm down," the other one said, stepping in. "We can't hurt her."

With a rough grunt, the bigger guy shoved me back and let go. I hit the floor with a yelp, catching myself on my bound hands. My glare snapped up to meet his, but the younger one shot me a warning look, one that said don't push your luck.

He probably thought I had a death wish. Maybe I did.

"Why not?" the brute barked, spinning on him. "Why the hell not?"

"Because Dad said not to," the smaller one said, steady but firm.

That finally got through to him. He sucked in a long breath, held it, then exhaled through his nose. His fists slowly unclenched, arms dropping to his sides as he wrestled himself back under control.

"Whatever," he muttered. "Stay here. Watch her. I'm gonna report to Dad."

He stomped out, slamming the door behind him.

The room instantly felt different without him, less electric, but still dangerous. The younger one turned to me, and I instinctively flinched, trying to scoot back. My heart pounded like it was trying to escape my chest. He might not have screamed like his brother, but he was still one of them. My kidnapper.

He knelt slowly, keeping his hands raised in a sign of peace.

"I won't hurt you," he whispered, voice soft. Gentler. Too gentle for someone in a ski mask.

I stared at him warily, breathing hard. He gave me a small, almost apologetic smile—like this wasn't what he signed up for.

And then I heard it again—that voice.

My head tilted slightly. Why does he sound so familiar?

I searched his eyes, what little I could see of his face. The pitch of his voice, the rhythm of it. I knew him from somewhere. But again, where?

    "Who are you?" I demanded, forcing my voice to stay steady. "And what do you want with my family?"

I was done playing scared. I needed answers and fast. From everything I'd seen so far, these guys were sloppy, unprofessional amateurs. But that didn't make them less dangerous. If anything, it made them unpredictable. And worse, desperate.

They wanted money. That much was obvious. But would they still come after Lily? What if their mysterious "Dad" decided I wasn't enough? What if he still wanted her?

     No. I couldn't let that happen. Lily was just a kid. This would destroy her.

"You're here because we need money."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, no kidding."

His lips twitched like he wanted to smirk but was trying not to.

"Why?" I asked, narrowing my gaze. "Why do you need money? What, are you broke?"

He sighed and looked away, voice dropping a little. "My father's company tanked. Filed bankruptcy out of nowhere. And apparently, this," he motioned vaguely around the room, "was their genius solution."

The way he said it, sarcastic and bitter, I almost cracked a smile. He was definitely the brain out of the two. Not that that was saying much.

"You do realize you guys can go to prison for this, right?" I said, eyebrows raised. "Hard time. Like, life."

He glanced back at me, meeting my eyes. For a second, I saw a flicker of something—guilt? Regret?

"Yeah," he murmured. "I know."

That surprised me. He didn't deny it. Didn't bluff or threaten me back. Just said it like someone who'd already accepted what was coming.

Then he looked at me a little closer, tilting his head. "You're not what I expected."

I snorted. "What, you thought I'd be scared, crying in a corner right now?"

He shrugged. "Most people would be."

I held his gaze. "I'm not most people."

"Yeah. I'm starting to see that." His smile faded. "I tried talking them out of this," he muttered, forcing a dry laugh.

I watched him closely. That laugh. Why does that laugh sound so damn familiar?

"You know," he said, tone lighter now, "I'm surprised you haven't recognized me yet."

Another laugh, short, almost nervous.

I narrowed my eyes. "Maybe if you told me, I would recognize you."

He hesitated, then reached up and pulled off his mask.

"It's me. Gabe."

My breath caught.

Gabe? My jaw dropped as recognition slammed into me like a freight train. Thomas's friend, Gabe? Of all people, it had to be him?

No wonder his voice felt like déjà vu. He'd always been nice, the one who actually treated me like a human being, even back when I was invisible, even when I was a hundred pounds heavier and a total outsider.

I opened my mouth to speak, ask one of the hundred questions exploding in my head but heavy footsteps thundered down the hall, growing louder.

"Shit," Gabe cursed under his breath. "Listen, stay quiet. I'll make sure he doesn't touch you." His voice dropped lower, urgent. "I swear."

Then he turned and rushed out, slamming the door behind him. A click followed. I stared at the door, stunned.

Why Gabe? He'd always been decent—quiet, kind, harmless. But now? Now he was an accomplice in a kidnapping. Even if he didn't want to be here, he still chose to be. He still helped them take me.

My heart pounded as the silence crept back in like a fog. I sank back, head spinning, lost in the chaos inside my skull.

Please don't hurt me.

I jolted upright. My head snapped around, searching for the voice. No one.

My brows knitted together. Where did that come from?

Please help me...

Another whisper. Softer, right in my ear or in my head?

I groaned, clutching the back of my skull as a sharp pain radiated outward, blurring my vision. The flicker of a lone candle across the room cast a trembling light over my things, while the shadows seemed to twist and writhe in a way that felt all wrong.

I beg you, please don't kill me.

"No..." I whispered, shaking my head. "No, no, no. What the hell is happening?"

The voice wouldn't stop. It clawed at my mind, fragile and desperate.

I don't want to die just yet... please, someone save me.

My eyes flew open. My breath hitched.

I knew that voice.

My blood ran cold.

It wasn't in my head. It wasn't a hallucination.

It was real.

"No way..." I breathed, heart seizing. I know that voice...

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