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Prologue
“Are you sure about this? She won’t be hurt?” I look at both of them and watch as one looks at the other. I’ve trusted them for so long but never like this. I’m supposed to trust them implicitly, but right now I can’t be sure. Their agenda is more important to them.
“Why do you care? She’s proof that he doesn’t care about us.” Ainsley huffs as she turns back to watch what Lyric is doing.
Lyric looks up from her laptop. “Besides, don’t you want to get her away from him?”
“I just think that Andrei isn’t letting her move on and have a real life. He’s not letting her be a fun-loving eighteen-year-old. She should experience life before she settles down and gets married.” I defend my choices.
“Isn’t he like way older than her?” Ainsley says.
I watch her and can’t deny the resemblance between us. But that’s what they’ve wanted for all of us, todenywe are related. We can’t tell anyone our secrets.
“We can use this to our benefit.” Lyric has her head back in her computer.
I move across the room to the table where they are at and look over Lyric’s shoulder. I don’t understand the computer code that is rolling across one screen, but I recognize the image on the second one. The Lucky Dice Casino.
“I thought you were done with that job.” I wave my hand at the screen.
“I need to figure out what happened and then I’ll be done.” Lyric’s voice holds a bit of distraction but also hurt. I gently pat her shoulder, and she looks up at me with pain in her expressive hazel eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“Okay, we have our friend lined up to help you.” Ainsley looks up from her cell phone.
“I’m still not sure about this plan. I don’t want her hurt. She is my sister after all.”
“She’s not mine. Just because our mother couldn’t keep her legs closed, doesn’t mean I have to care. This is the problem with all these men. They think Vegas women are here for them. They keep leaving their kids around and not taking responsibility of said children. I’m done. It’s time to get our revenge.” Ainsley stomps over to me and shakes my shoulders. “It’s time to stand up for us. You’re in this as much as we are.”
I nod. She’s right.
“But my father is currently trying.” I always make excuses for him. “He’s been more attentive and has been attending board meetings with me. He wants to make things right. If you would just let me tell him about you, I know he’d care. He’d want to help.”
“Help us? Why? We aren’t his kids. Plus, I wouldn’t want him to take care of us the way he did you. Didn’t your nannies and boarding school teachers know you more than him?”
“I agree with Ainsley. He missed everything for you. You keep saying he’s trying, but he hasn’t shown that as much as you say.” Lyric keeps typing away on her laptop with the dual monitors.
She’s right about my father, but I hate to admit it.
“If I could just hack into this system, I’d be able to transfer all their money out and bankrupt the casino.” Lyric looks away from her computer again.
“I think we should stop now.” I twist my hands together nervously. I didn’t want to start this, but I can’t turn my back on them.
“No, we aren’t stopping the plan. Even if we can’t find Jimmy, it doesn’t mean we stop. He might’ve started this, but I’m ready to take over and finish it. It’s time to figure out where he is and make these men know how they impact others.”
“But I don’t want to hurt Sparrow.”
One
LENNON
Ilook down into my purse and know I’m doing the right thing. It’s hard though because I worry that she’ll be mad at me. I look up at Sparrow’s back. She’s almost reached her bodyguards, Adrik and Arkady. I square my shoulders. It’s time to do this. She’s my little sister, and it’s my job to protect her. I pull the envelope from my purse and set it on the bar top counter.
“What’s that?” Sparrow asks me as I continue to rifle through my purse.
I keep my head down, avoiding eye contact. I won’t be able to lie to her face. I hope that someday she forgives me for this.
“It’s nothing, just a thank you to Mr. Morosov for inviting me tonight.” Once the lie passes my lips, I’m finally able to look at her. She’s smiling at me. Her smile is secretive and holds a hint of joy in it. I don’t know if it’s because she thinks I’m doing good giving him a card or something else. I hate lying to her, but they told me this was the only way.
