Chapter 1 – The Job
The Beta
&
Jewel Thief
Prologue – Strangers Passing Through
JONDA
One Month ago.
I left the Kodiak Kingdom early today, not wanting to outstay my welcome. I was disappointed but not surprised that Morgan couldn’t reverse the curse. I had hoped to gain my wolf fully.
They say you can’t miss what you never had, but that’s an outright lie. I had a wolf, one that was bound inside me, one that was there but I couldn’t communicate with her. I couldn’t shift and I couldn’t use her abilities. I was almost as good as human. I was faster than a human, had better hearing, and healed better than a human could. But I wasn’t a shifter, not even close.
I longed for the day I could meet my wolf and shift. Run through the forest and feel the wind in her fur. It never bothered me as much as it has since I met Mike. The Royal Beta to the werewolf kingdom.
I know we weren’t fated mates, if we were then he and his wolf would know. But that didn’t stop us from falling in love. He wanted to take me as his chosen mate, and I wanted that too. Almost as much as I wanted my wolf.
The truth is - and only the gods know how much I love Mike - I wasn't convinced I love him as much as he loves me.
There's always this niggling voice in the back of my mind 'you are not his true mate, what if he finds her, where does that leave you?'
I stopped just outside of the Kingdom’s borders, finding a motel to stay in for the night, prolonging my journey back to the Moon Kingdom. Back to Mike. A shithole of a tavern is attached to the motel, and I find myself sitting at the bar drowning my sorrows. Very un me. I don’t do pity, never had. I have always taken what I have and excelled with what I was given. Always looking forward and not dwelling on the what ifs.
I didn’t really start to second-guess myself until I met Mike.
I knew I wasn’t good enough for him, and I felt ashamed that I didn’t have my wolf and would be useless to the Pack without her. When he marks me, I will become the mate of a Royal Beta. A mate who lacks the very essence of what it is to be a werewolf.
The door to the tavern opens. I glance up, having a perfect view from where I'm sitting of the tavern door. My eyes land on a man with the most perfect build I could have imagined. He’s handsome; with dirty blond hair on the lighter side. The cut of his jaw is sharp and sturdy. His muscular frame is lean and strong.
A heat builds and something inside me deep down stirs, causing a sensation to build between my legs. I clamp them together as heat pools between them. The instant reaction to the attraction of the mystery man takes me by surprise and I draw in a long breath. I down my whisky and held my glass up to the bartender. "Another,” I tell him, and he comes, pouring the rustic amber liquid into my glass.
I turn and face the back wall behind the bar, catching my reflection in the mirror behind the glass bottles lined up. I look tired, defeated. I take another sip of my drink and reach my hand up to smooth my chestnut brown hair.
A shiver runs down my spine when the woodsy smell of aftershave hits my nostrils. So manly and alluring. I turn my head to the right. The Man who I was eyeing takes a seat on a stool three spots down from me. That heat rises again, and my thighs rub together.
What is wrong with me? I have the most perfect guy ever waiting for me at home, yet here I am reacting to this mystery guy. I shake the dirty thoughts from my mind and avert my eyes.
Just finish your drink and go back to your room. I tell myself, feeling like a little girl with a silly crush.
I shouldn’t be having these unsavory thoughts about another man. I was committing myself to Mike and I love him. I do. I don’t have to convince myself of that. My heart flutters for Mike, drives me crazy and it’s the best sex I have ever had in my life with him. He is kind and patient, but a beast when he needs to be and a beast in bed when I want him to be. Again, I shudder in pleasure, this time at the image of Mike making love to me, how good he makes me feel, and how he fills me up.
Mike makes me happy in a way I have never felt. Still, that thought that one day he won’t want me if he finds his true mate crawls back into my mind causing doubt to course through me all over again.
The bartender places a glass in front of me, filled with the same whisky I am drinking. “I didn’t order that,” I tell him.
“Compliments from your admirer,” He tips his head down the bar and I follow his gaze. My eyes landed on the hunk who had me aroused just minutes before.
The hunk looks at me, our eyes meeting and I swoon at those deep sexy green eyes. Fuck is he hot. I feel my face flush embarrassingly with the thought. I lift the glass and tip it to him in a thank you. He nods and winks at me. Picking up his own glass and doing the same.
I feel edgy - excitable. Strange. I sip my drink and stare at the contents swirling in my glass, trying to shake these unwanted feelings from me. I resolved to knock back the drink the handsome stranger brought me. Slamming the glass down on the bar top.
I stand grabbing my purse, ready to head back to my hotel room. An early night and an early start in the morning for my long drive back to the Moon Kingdom.
“Leaving early?” A deep sexy voice has been halting in my tracks.
I pause and look toward the voice, the handsome stranger’s eye’s me with a sinful glint. The heat rises in me again, and an ache throbs between my thighs.
I blink, once, twice, before I can conjure a coherent thought. I smile sweetly at the sexy stranger “Long drive, early start tomorrow, thank you for the drink.” I tell him, slinging the strap of my purse over my shoulder.
“Not from around here, huh?” He sips his drink, my eyes tracking the bob of his throat as he swallows, and I lick my lips. He made the simple action look so sexy.
“No, just passing through.” My voice is strained and wispy, and I can’t figure out what the fuck is wrong with me. Why this stranger is having such an effect on me.
“Let me buy you another drink gorgeous?” He motions to the bartender, lifting his glass to indicate he wants a refill.
I really shouldn’t. I know I shouldn’t, yet everything in me is screaming have another, stay and talk with the sexy man. “Thank you but I can’t.” I feel disappointed in myself for turning him down immediately.
This is crazy.
“Are you staying here?” He asks another question, keeping my feet from moving.
“Yeah.” I nod. Why did I tell him this? He may be hot as shit, but it’s dangerous for a single woman to be out in unknown lands by herself. It’s not as if I was in the best area either.
He sets his glass down gently, his eyes rake over my body, and I feel a blush creep across my face. The way he takes me in, slowly, and carefully, has my heart racing. “Let me walk you to your room. This is not a great area; A beautiful woman like yourself shouldn't be walking around alone at night.”
Say no. say no. I repeat in my head several times. “That’s ok, thanks though. Enjoy your night.” I make haste towards the door when I feel a hand grasp my elbow gently. Either way, the touch burns right through my clothes and heats my skin.
“I didn’t catch your name,” That sexy voice says lowly, his breath tickling my face as he leans in close.
“I didn’t give you one,” I reply. My own voice is breathy and almost panting as my heart speeds up, thumping against my chest.
“I’m going to follow you back to your room,” I stiffen at his words. Part of me was frightened, part of me turned on as all holy hell “Not because I’m a stalker but because I want to make sure you are safe.”
Moons, in one sentence this stranger has my panties wet and aching to be touched where the heat builds into a needy throb.
“Suit yourself,” I don’t know how I managed to sound calm and uncaring, but I did. I pulled my arm from his grasp and push the door open. The chill of the night air hits me, and the icy wind whips at my face.
Another reason I wish I had my wolf fully. I wouldn’t feel the cold like do now.
My room is seven doors down, I glance behind me as I approach it. Sure enough, the sinfully sexy stranger is behind me. Causally walking with his hands in his pockets, eyes on me.
I reach my door and I fumble for my key card. Nervous. “This is you?” I feel how close he stands behind me.
“Yeah,” I mumble pulling out my keycard and pressing it against the electronic door opener. The lock clicks open, and I turn to thank the stranger for watching out for my safety.
Whirling around, I find I’m at eye level with his chest. Words get stuck in my throat when I look up, meeting those alluring green eyes that bore into mine. He’s tall but not as tall as Mike, still, he towers over me. “Th-thank you” I stumble over my words as I take in his facial features. My gaze settling on those full lips I suddenly imagine devouring me.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. What am I thinking? I love Mike, I shouldn’t be having these thoughts about another man. I feel guilty yet my body is still reacting to the way his man is holding my eyes, devouring me with his look. Hungry and lustful.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on,” he says, searching my face. His expression is almost pained as if looking at me and not touching me is killing him.
I open my mouth to say something, anything, but nothing comes out. The next thing I know, his face is mere centimeters away from me and his lips are on mine. Brushing over them, then gently I feel them start to caress mine.
Holy shit. What is happening? I lift my arms to push against his chest, to push him away but find my fingers digging into his shirt and fisting them. Pulling him closer to me and sliding my tongue in his mouth. My brain is screaming how wrong this is, but I can't stop, it's like a magnet is pulling us together and I don't get a choice.
He groans I moan. The door to my room is wide open - the warmth inviting us in.
I shouldn’t be doing this, but I can’t stop. My mind and consciousness scream at me, but my body reacts and grinds against him as he pulls me flush against him and I can feel his arousal thick and hard.
“What’s your name gorgeous?” he breathes out between kissing me.
“Lisa” The lie slips out easily and he doesn’t seem to notice as his mouth covers mine once again.
Before I know it, my sweater is on the floor, my jeans are peeled down, our clothes are completely gone, and he has me against the wall rutting into me with such passion and vigor.
RHETT
From the moment I walked into the shit hole of a bar, my eyes landed on the most gorgeous woman I had ever laid them on. Long chestnut hair that held deep tones of auburn. Her slender hand tipped the glass back against painted red lips. My eyes feasted on the simple action.
I took a seat a few stools down from her, not being able to turn my attention away from beauty for one second.
It has been a while since I had been with a woman, but every fiber of my being was aching to touch her. I sent her a drink, hoping it would entice a conversation.
When she stood up - grabbing her purse to leave, I couldn't not say anything.
I'm a red-hot-blooded man and my cock twitches at the sight of her bright and unique hazel eyes.
She turned me down for another drink and I just couldn't let it go. I couldn't let her go.
“I’m going to follow you back to your room,” She stiffened at my words. “Not because I’m a stalker but because I want to make sure you are safe.” Damn now I just sounded like a creep. I suppose I was being creepy and stalkerish, but I needed more time around her.
I didn’t understand it, but I went with my gut anyway.
So, like a lovesick puppy, I followed behind her, until she reached her room.
She had already turned me down, but the look in her eyes was telling me a completely different story from the words she was articulating. “So beautiful” I mummer, hungry to taste this beauty.
I watch her tongue dart out, moistening her bottom lip and without warning I find my lips caressing hers in a moment of thoughtless action.
Fuck she tasted so fine.
"What's your name gorgeous," I ask her again, breaking the kiss for a mere second.
"Lisa" I sense the lie. I don't care. I could find out her name later.
I crash my lips against hers again and her tongue sweeps into my mouth. My hands thread through her silky hair and I walk her backward into her room. Slamming the door shut with my heel.
Our hands are frantic, clumsily fumbling in a desperate attempt to remove the clothing between us that keeps me from having her. I'm out of control - never in my life have I felt this desperate with the need to be consumed by someone.
In moments, were naked and I have her pinned against the motel room door sinking into her warm and tight pussy. “Fuck you feel good” I groan sliding out and back into her.
It’s not enough. My mouth slides down, teeth nipping at her neck, tongue trailing behind and my lips suck her sweet and soft skin. My hips thrust desperately, bottoming out in her heat with each wild swing of them.
I can’t get enough. I plunge into her harder, sweat beads across my forehead and back, my eyes close tightly as I strain to hold back my release.
“Oh fuck, harder!” she moans, and fuck me if it’s not the most sexual thing I have ever heard.
I pull us away from the door, her legs clamping around my waist as I move us to the bed, collapsing on it. I don’t stop, not for a second. Still seated inside I pull almost all the way out then slam back into her heavenly pussy.
“Holy shit!” She gasps as I feel her clamp around my cock.
“That’s it, gorgeous, come for me.” My breathing is erratic, matching hers. “Fucking phenomenal” I moan, her release gushing around me. I fuck her through her orgasm and when her tight walls ease up, I flip her over. Her hips are in the air, and her glistening pussy is calling to my cock. I lined up and shoved back into her. The position allows me to feel her deeper and I shudder at the sensation of feeling so connected with her.
“Holy gods woman you feel so fucking fine!” I plow into her relentlessly.
I can’t breathe. The sound of skin slapping against skin creates a symphony with the deep thrum of our labored breathing. “Come for me again, sweetness, one more time.”
“Oh, my goddess,” She groans in pure ecstasy, her sounds muffled by the sheets.
I come with a growl at the same time she screams out her release. Spilling my seed inside her and feeling fulfilled like I never have before.
I pulled out, collapsing beside her on my stomach. The room is silent aside from our heavy panting, as we both try to catch our breath.
At some point my eyes drifted closed, I don’t even remember falling asleep. When I woke, I was alone. No sight of the girl who called herself Lisa.
She was gone. Slipped away while I slept off the most amazing sex I had ever had.
I was crestfallen.
I made it back to my own room, showered, and threw my bag in my truck. The whole way to the Clan Mansion I couldn’t get the thought of my one-night stand out of my head.
I hadn’t even given her my name, too desperate to be inside her. And she had given me a false one, I was sure of it.
LYRIC
I look around, peering down one end of the street and up the other. The last thing I need is for anyone to see me. Us.
I grip the tiny hand in mine a little tighter. I raise my other hand and knock on the worn and cracked door, quickly glancing around at our surroundings again. For the millionth time. All the while listening for movement from the other side of the door.
I knock again when I hear nothing. Tap, tap, tap. My nerves ramp up as I wait, listening, looking, “Hurry up” I whisper, sighing on the exhale.
The bite of cold nipped at us as we waited for the door to open. The snow in this part of the borough was thick and more was falling. The damp air seeped into our skin through the layers of clothing, chilling us right down to the bone.
I would give anything to curl up in front of a fire with a warm drink, cozy up with my favorite person in the realm. Anything was better than having to drag us from the comfort and safety of our home out into the bitter cold night.
But I didn’t have a choice this time.
Finally, I hear movement from inside. “Who is it?” The familiar raspy voice of Aunt Lizzy calls out.
“It’s us, Aunt Lizzy, open up it's cold!” I answer back, keeping my voice low but loud enough for the old she-wolf to hear.
The door opens and we slip inside, taking another look up and down the crumbling and decrepit street. My eyes find the shadows of falling down houses, moving to the next when I find nothing or nobody before I close the door behind us. Leaving the cold night air outside.
Aunt Lizzy's home is warm and the immediate change in temperature heats my cheeks.
“Thank you,” I mouthed to her as we moved through the small two-bedroom stone house. The interior, in better shape than the exterior.
Aunt Lizzy gives me a tight smile. One that shows she’s not happy with me. One that I know is only out of concern with my choice of work.
It’s what puts food on the table and a roof over our heads. I know my line of work can be… challenging and not quite above the law. I deal with some shady characters, to say the least. And it’s because of the unique skills I possess that landed me the job I was running off to once I left here.
If given the choice I would have never taken the job, but when your family is threatened, and you’re blackmailed. What choice do you actually have? In my case – none.
“He ate before we came here. Maybe a warm drink and he will be ready to crash.” I tell Aunt Lizzy.
I looked down at the small boy standing next to me and stooped to pick him up. He was my everything. My only family left. It broke my heart to have to leave him for a few days, but it was to protect him. I just had to keep reminding myself of that fact.
I would do anything for him, and if it meant having to do a job for the worst and slimiest gangster in the boroughs, this side of the Kingdom. Then so be it.
I kiss the little guy's cheek, “You be good for Aunt Lizzy, and I promise I will only be gone for a few days, a week at the most. Then I will never have to leave you again.” I say the words and I mean them. I just hope I can follow through.
“Please don’t go mommy. I will miss you too much.” He speaks. His little chubby hands grab my face so he can stare me in the eyes.
I hold back the tears, my heart melting. I don’t want to leave him. My gut told me this is a bad idea and that I should have taken him and run far, far away. But to where? They would find me. Find him.
“I love you, baby. You be a good boy for Aunt Lizzy. Don’t you be giving her any trouble, you hear?”
He nods his head, his black hair falling over his haunting eyes that look so much like his father's. “I promise.” He says with a sad tone and an even sadder look. I brush his hair back, the tips of my fingers lingering on the clashing bright blonde streak that he was born with.
“You are such a smart boy. I will miss you, but I will be back before you know it.” I put him down, and Aunt Lizzy tells him to go get a book from her chest.
As soon he is out of sight, she turns to me with a worried look marring her face. “Lyric,” She shakes her head. “I wish you would find another way to make money. You said last time was your last job.”
I grit my teeth and clench my fists, my gaze still on the empty door frame my heart disappeared through. “I know. I don’t have a choice.” I tell her, the words coming out harsh.
“You always have a choice.” Lizzy sighs.
“Not this time,” I shake my head. “They threatened him, he said they needed me on this job, and if I didn’t do this then he would expose him. I can't let them, or anyone, know about him. I have to keep him safe Lizzy.” I look at her, hoping she can see the truth in my eyes. That I had no choice.
she bobs her head with understanding.
“If you haven't heard from me in four days, you need to get him out of here. Take him to the safe house.” I bring her in for a hug, squeezing her tight. “If don’t turn up at the safe house at the end of the week, take him, Lizzy. Run with him, as far as you can, go away from the wolves. Go south, catch a boat to the other continent if you need to.” I whispered in her ear. Then pull back.
I know she will protect my baby with her life. The same way she protected me.
She wasn’t a real Aunt. Lizzy had been a maid in my father's Pack house. When we were attacked five years ago, our pack was decimated and everyone who didn’t manage to flee was killed or enslaved by the Rogue King Silas. Women were taken, men slaughtered, and children sold.
The nightmares from that night still plague me.
I was lucky. Lizzy found me, and together we ran. Became rogues of our own choosing. Finding refuge in a borough on the outskirts of the New Moon Kingdom.
I wish I could say the same for the rest of our families. We had no idea if anyone else had made it out. We were massacred that night.
It would be two years later, after escaping with our lives, that we would find out that pack members had lived, if you could even call it living, at least were kept alive.
“Come back to us Lyri,” Lizzy breaks my trip down memory lane, “He needs you,”
“I know.” I concede. “He promised to cut me loose after this job.”
“And you believe him?”
“I do. I hope he means it.” I want to believe this is the last time I’ll have to do anything for that slimeball of a wolf. Unfortunately, trusting his words is akin to trusting a rattlesnake won't bite you if you pet it. “I don’t have a choice if I want to keep him safe.” I gesture towards the living room where I can just hear a little voice speaking to himself, trying to read a book.
I dig into my coats inside pocket, pulling out a thick envelope full of notes. All the money I have. “Take this, just in case.” I shove it toward Aunt Lizzy who shakes her head.
“I can't take that Lyri. If I take it, it’s like sealing your fate.” She pushes it back at me.
“Take it in case something happens. You will need it to get yourself and him out of here.” This time I grabbed her wrist and forcefully made her take it. “Four days, I will contact you. If I don’t, you go to the safe house. On the seventh day, if you still haven't heard from me, you run Lizzy. You take him far away from here. Promise me.” She shakes her head, white whisps of hair falling around her face framing the wrinkles and her doe eyes. “Promise me, Lizzy,” I growl out.
I see the fight in her eyes leave, and the dawning of realization comes over her face. “Ok Lyri, I promise. But you have to promise me to come back.”
“I Hope I can.” They are the last words I say to Aunt Lizzy before I slink out the door the same way I came in. Cautious, attentive, nervous. Hoping I wasn’t followed, and no one will know I brought him here.
Forty-five minutes later, I’m walking into Miko’s base of operations.
Several pairs of eyes stare me down, as I make my way through the seedy bar to the back room, where I will be given the details of the job.
“Good to see you again, Swift.” I pause my steps at the familiar voice of Bram, who uses my street name. Miko’s number one henchman.
“Bram.” I greet him with a tight-lipped half smile. My gaze wandered from head to toe and back up again. Bram was a large male, werebear, with eyes like honey and hair that matched. He smiled at me, but that panty-melting smirk that would have any woman swooning didn’t do it for me.
I knew better. As easy on the eyes as Bram was - he was a killer. A stone-cold murderer who did Miko’s dirty work. A few times I had found myself on the edge of his mercy. As if his hand was still coiled tight around my neck, I swallow hard. The feeling of those gigantic paws from when he held my head underwater hadn’t left me. And I wasn’t in a hurry for a repeat.
“This way.” Bram directs me as if I didn’t already know where we were going. Regardless I let him lead me through the back of the bar down to Miko’s office.
He raps on the door three times before he opens it. Instinct has me assessing the room and as my eyes lock with Miko’s, I wish I had kept my head down.
“I came to do a job, Miko. Not watch you get off.” I spit, turning my head away from the scene in front of me.
“Awe, don’t be such a prude Swift.” He chuckles lowly, “You could always join in,” That smug tone makes me shiver, and not in a good way.
Miko says something to the girls in a foreign language. They quickly scramble up from their positions. Both were naked as the day they were born. One girl was strapped with some kind of sex toy, as they pushed past Bram and me to leave the room.
The smell of stale cigars, alcohol, and sex fills the air and stifles my senses. I breathe in through my mouth which wasn’t the best idea because now I could taste everything and I gasping for a breath of fresh air.
The door shuts behind me, Bram between me and the only exit. But I refuse to show any cowardice. “Always business Swift, never any time for fun.” Miko’s words are berating and I scowl at the dark-skinned wolf. His yellow eyes scanned my body like it was his next feast. Making my stomach churn, and nausea rise.
It would be a cold day in hell before I ever let him touch me.
I pull my shoulders back and lift my chin. “You have a job you want me to do. That’s why I’m here Miko. What's the job?”
“What’s the rush beautiful?” Miko lets out that smarmy chuckle again. I swear he thinks it’s sexy and maybe some females go for that. All it does for me is make me want to puke more.
I startle when I feel the heat of Bram’s chest at my back. His large hand comes down on my shoulder, pressing heavily so I have no choice but to sit in the fabric seat across from Miko. I cringe because I can only imagine what the stains that cover the dark fabric are from.
Sex, blood, drugs. This is so gross.
“King Kellen will be holding a coronation for his Queen in four days time. I want you to steal her crown.” Miko slides a folder across the desk in my direction. I open it and begin to study the information. “They will be hosting a ball the night before the ceremony, that’s your opportunity. You steal it then.”
I scan the documents, wondering how they managed to obtain a photo of the new Queen’s crown. My fingers run over the image of the beautiful piece. Gold and delicate with diamonds encrusted on the band. The small peaks hold an emerald each and in the center sits the most beautiful blood-red jewel I have ever laid my eyes on. “Impossible.” I shake my head.
“Not impossible. And even if it is, you will make it possible.” The demand in Miko’s voice is final.
“Miko, They have a three-tiered system vault. This crown is probably kept within the inner vault that requires a nine-digit key code. Even the best couldn’t crack that in the less than thirty seconds it will take to set off the alarms.”
“The Shadow Witch wants the crown. He tasked us with the job. Hence, it's time for you to shine, Swift. That is if you don’t want me leaking information about your boy?”
My head snaps up to glare daggers at him.
Miko leans back in his chair, fingers stroking his chin menacingly. “You know I don’t like to threaten children, but you don’t get this job done, it’s both our necks on the line.”
“You wouldn’t.” I seethe. Yes, Miko is a sick and icky wolf, but he had one rule. Don’t hurt children. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t out my son to the realm for his own personal gain though.
“I would. You’re the best at what you do, and I expect no less from you. Get me that crown and I’ll swear on the name of the gods, I will set you and the kid, free.”
My eyes narrow with suspicion. “You said that last time. Yet here I am.”
“I meant it last time too. But I need you on this Swift. Don’t let me down.”
I was a thief, at least that’s how I started out. I dealt with antiquities and rare objects, I brokered deals on the black market. I obtained hard-to-find items. A skill I found I had when Lizzy and I lived on the streets for the first year of our lives until Miko grabbed me one night.
I worked for him for two years, until I had my own thing going. Still not completely above board, but it was better than stealing chump change and it put a roof over our heads.
There wasn’t a code I couldn’t crack nor a lock I couldn’t open. But the Royal vault? That was another story. An impossible feat to manage. Something like that would take months of planning. He was giving me days.
If my parents could see me now, they would hang their heads in shame. How an Alpha’s daughter could be reduced to a life of crime and shady dealings.
“Why the Crown Miko? What's so special about it? I could steal twenty times more jewels than what's on this crown.”
For the first time ever, I see a dark shadow of fear cross through Miko’s eyes, his posture changes and he shifts his position. He shakes his head from side to side, “I don’t know Swift. But he wants it. He wants it bad. He’s sending one of his men to accompany you.”
“No.” I bark out quickly. “I work alone. You know that. This job is more than likely going to go sideways as it is, I don’t need someone else to help fuck it up further.”
“You don’t have a choice!” His fist bangs on the table with force, “I don’t have a choice. I will give you more details as I get them.”
I left Miko’s - folder in hand and a bigger weight on my shoulders than when I walked in.
My job was to break into the Royal vault, steal the new Queens Crown, and get it out without being caught. Then get me, Lizzy, and my boy, as far from this life as possible.
Already my gut told me this job was a bad idea. If I bail though, Miko will spill beans, then there would be nowhere left to hide.
He would find me. Us. As long as he doesn’t know of his existence, we are safe.