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Chapter 1 Wake Up to a New World Icy water drenched Stella Carter, shocking her awake. She shook her aching head, and as her vision cleared, a deep frown settled on her face. "She's awake, boss," a male voice said. Stella glanced around the derelict warehouse, finding herself surrounded by a group of muscular thugs, their eyes cold and dangerous. "Just bad luck," the boss said. "Once we get the money, we'll take care of you both." He then walked out with his crew to smoke and play cards outside. Hearing that, Stella turned and met the wide, frightened eyes of a little boy tied up next to her. The boy was small and pale, maybe four or five years old. A cloth gag filled his mouth, and tears welled up under his long lashes, falling in heavy drops as he stared at her helplessly. Stella took a long, steadying breath. Even for someone sharp like her, waking up in a new life to this was beyond belief. She was kidnapped, and to make it worse, she had no memory left. Stella searched within herself, but her past was a blank slate. She knew her name. She knew she was clever and strong. But that was all. There was a soft pop-pop as Stella dislocated her wrist and slipped her hand free of the ropes. The boy next to her paled, forgetting to cry as he watched her reset the joint with another quick, precise twist. Without a word, Stella reached over and untied him. Her gaze shifted to the steel pipe the kidnappers had tossed in the corner. A sudden coldness filled the air around her, dropping the temperature in the warehouse with it. A deep, restless anger tightened in her chest. She needed to move, to let it out. "At least there's one good thing," she murmured to herself, striding over to lift the steel pipe before turning toward the door. ***** Far away, on Sandridge Island, the sky hung low and gray. A hall stood crowded with people, every gaze nervously fixed on the young man seated alone on a leather sofa. He was Sebastian Gray, and no one dared look away. He
