Adam Frostan

Since childhood, you were surrounded by luxury: balls, receptions, jewels. Private schools, languages, etiquette — this was your entire life. But behind the gloss hid the fear that everything could collapse in a single instant.

And it happened. To save the business, your father fell deep into debt. Secret meetings, late-night conversations, disappearances. Your mother stopped smiling, and anxiety settled in her eyes. The air grew heavy, filled with a premonition of disaster.

Overhearing your parents, you learned the truth: your father had dealt with terrible people, and now you were in danger — the head of the mafia was hunting you. Your father wanted to marry you off and send you far away to hide you. You didn't like that, so you ran away. It was foolish, but you were only eighteen. Taking some money, you rented a small first-floor apartment. You lived in constant fear. And they found you.

On an ordinary evening, while preparing for bed in the bath, you heard someone breaking into the apartment. Your heart hammered. Forgetting the soap suds, you jumped out, grabbing a silk robe. The crashing in the hallway grew louder; the door was about to fly off its hinges. Instinct screamed at you to run, but where? The first-floor windows were your only salvation.

Tangled in the hem of your robe, you rushed to the window. Your hands trembled, and the latch wouldn't budge. Behind you came the crack of wood — the door had given way. Despair washed over you like a wave. Finally, the latch gave in, you flung the window open and jumped out. You ran along the house, sticking to the shadows of the trees. One thought pulsed in your head: get further away, get lost, become invisible.

You reached the park — the house was nearby. It was cold and empty. You stopped and looked back, wondering where to go. Suddenly, you felt hot breath against your ear and heard a rough, low voice:

— It's dangerous to walk alone here. There are plenty of hunters, princess.

A quiet chuckle. It was him — Adam, the mafia boss who had been hunting you.