The sun was going down over City X, leaving long, orange shadows across the grass of the Mariposa home.
From the outside, the villa looked like a piece of modern art made of glass and white stone. But to Ruby Mariposa, it just felt like a very expensive prison.
She stood by her bedroom window and touched the cold glass with her fingers. Beyond the tall fence, she could see the city lights starting to blink on. It was a busy world that felt very far away, even though it was right outside her door.
The quiet of the house was broken by the sound of tires on the gravel driveway. Ruby watched as a dark car pulled up.
That was her brother, Steve. He had moved out years ago after a big fight with their father, but their mother, Elena, always used guilt to get him to come home for dinner.
Ruby sighed and turned away from the window. She hated these family dinners.
They were like a show where everyone pretended the Mariposa name was perfect, even though it was built on secrets.
She went to her desk and picked up a small silver locket from her childhood. She didn't open it because she already knew what was inside. It held a memory of a time before her life became so boring and controlled.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror. At twenty-two, she was pretty, with a short haircut that framed her face. she was wearing a simple silk dress that her father expected her to wear, but she felt restless.
She had spent a long time talking her father into letting her take self-defense classes. She told him that as the daughter of the Director of National Intelligence, she needed to know how to protect herself.
Marcus had finally said yes, thinking it was just a hobby. He didn't know she took it very seriously. She trained until her muscles hurt and her knuckles were bruised. It was the only time she felt like she had control over her own life.
"Ruby? Steve is here. Your father is waiting," her mother called from the hall.
Elena Mariposa was a woman who knew how to be quiet in her own home.
She was beautiful, but she looked tired. She spent her days taking care of the house and going to events, enjoying the money her husband made while avoiding any topic that might cause a fight. Ruby loved her, but she didn't want to end up like her.
"Coming, Mom," Ruby said, putting the locket in a drawer.
The dining room was a big, empty space with a very long table. Marcus Mariposa sat at the head of it. As the Director of National Intelligence, he was one of the most powerful men in the country. He was the man who knew everything and controlled all the important information.
Steve sat to his right. At thirty one, her brother was a successful businessman. He had started his own company so he wouldn't have to work for their father.
Marcus hated that. He wanted his son to follow in his footsteps, but Steve had refused after a bad fight ten years ago. Now, they were just polite to each other in a cold way.
"I heard your company finished a new deal, Stephen," Marcus said as he cut his steak. "I didn't think you cared about logistics."
Steve didn't look up. "The market is moving that way, Father. It's better to own the pipes than the water."
"That sounds like a businessman's answer," Marcus said. He took a sip of wine and his face got serious. "I wish you cared more about the city. There is a new group moving in the dark. It's not just small gangs anymore. This group is different. They are disciplined."
Ruby kept her head down and ate, but she was listening closely. Her father only talked like this when he was worried.
"The police are hearing stories about people who are highly trained and hard to track," Marcus continued. "They move like ghosts. And then there is this new company, Vanguard Industries.
They showed up out of nowhere with a lot of money. They are taking over the market in City X like they have been planning it for ten years."
"Vanguard is a real company, Dad," Steve said, finally looking up. He looked tired and stressed. "They are well-known in other countries. It's good for the economy that they are here."
"A real company can be a good mask," Marcus said. "I'm not worried about their taxes. I'm worried about the timing. This new group shows up just as Vanguard moves in? It's not a coincidence. Someone is building power in this city right under our noses."
Ruby looked at her father. "Is that why there are more guards at the gate?"
Marcus looked at her with cold eyes. "I have more security because I know how dangerous the world is, Ruby. You are not allowed to leave this house without a guard for a few weeks. Do you understand?"
Ruby felt angry. "I know how to defend myself, Dad. You let me take the classes. I'm not a child."
"You are my daughter," Marcus snapped. "And that makes you a target. We are not talking about this anymore."
The rest of the dinner was silent. Ruby watched her brother and wondered what he was thinking. Steve looked like he wanted to leave. He used to protect her when they were kids, but since the 'incident' ten years ago, he had become distant.
Late that night, after everyone was asleep, Ruby got ready to leave. She wasn't going to follow her father's orders. She needed to get out of the house.
She changed into dark pants and a black leather jacket. She looked in the mirror and tucked her hair back. She looked ready for the real world, not like the girl at the dinner table. She grabbed her keys and her pepper spray.
She knew the security schedule better than the guards did. She had watched the cameras from her laptop and found the spots where they couldn't see her.
She climbed down from her balcony and ran across the grass. In a few minutes, she was over the wall and headed toward her ride.
She didn't want to go to a loud club. She wanted somewhere quiet where no one knew her. She told the driver to take her to The Grotto, a nice lounge in the basement of an old building. It was a place for rich people to hide, with low lights and expensive drinks.
When she walked inside, the air smelled like leather and wood. The music was a slow jazz song. Ruby went to the bar and ordered a drink. She sat down and finally felt like she could breathe.
She looked around the room. There were a few couples and some men talking quietly. It was exactly what she needed.
And then, she felt it.
It wasn't a sound, but a feeling in the air. The back of her neck prickled. She felt like someone was watching her so closely that her hand shook a little.
She didn't turn around. She used the mirror behind the bar to look at the room.
He was sitting in a booth in the corner, almost hidden in the dark.
He was alone with a glass on the table. He wasn't wearing a suit, just a dark sweater that showed his broad shoulders. He sat very still, but he looked like he owned the room.
Even in the dark, she could see his eyes. They were staring at her with a lot of intensity.
Ruby felt a jolt of electricity. There was something about the way he sat that felt familiar. It was like a memory she couldn't quite remember. Her heart started to beat fast. She knew she had never met him before, but her body seemed to recognize him anyway.
He didn't look away. Most men would have looked down, but he just kept watching her. His face was cold and hard to read.
There was a darkness to him that her father would have seen as a threat. He looked like a man who just took what he wanted.
Ruby should have been scared. She should have left and gone home. But her training had taught her how to read people. Looking at this stranger, she didn't see a common criminal. She saw a mystery.
She took a sip of her drink and met his eyes in the mirror. She didn't look away. She wanted him to know she wasn't scared of him.
The man raised his glass just a little bit. He didn't smile. He just kept looking at her, as if he were memorizing her face.
She didn't know who he was. She didn't know he was the leader of the group her father was worried about, or that he had spent ten years building his power. She didn't know his return was bad news for her family.
All she knew was that the air in the room felt different. Her boring life at home felt very far away. Looking at him, she felt a pull that was both scary and exciting.
The man didn't move toward her, but she knew her world was never going to be the same again.
A/N: Hello everyone, if you like the first chapter so far. Please leave a comment and add it to your library. Thank you...