Chapter 1
Cass's POV
I wake up reborn on the night they bury my father.
In the underground chamber, two candles flicker beside his portrait. The lawyer cracks open the sealed will and starts reading out the debt: my father owed the Callahan family a life. His two daughters have to repay it through marriage.
Two men stand at the far end of the room.
One is Dominic Callahan, the eldest son—the family's "Cleaner." He's got a scar running from his brow down to his jaw. People call him the Executioner.
The other is Adrian Callahan, the bastard son. He's in a nice suit with this gentle smile plastered on his face. Looks more like a lawyer than a mobster.
Not marrying that butcher this time. No way in hell.
A voice rips through my head.
I spin toward Vivienne. Her mouth is shut, but that voice is definitely hers. My heart slams against my ribs as I stare at her—can I actually hear what people are thinking?
Adrian's the smart choice. Refined, cultured. I just need to grab him before she does.
There it is again. Everything clicks into place. I'm not just back from the dead—I can read minds now. And from what she's thinking, she's been reborn too.
The second the lawyer finishes, Vivienne jumps in. "I choose Adrian."
She walks straight to him and pulls out the ceremonial dagger from her waist. The blade cuts across her palm, blood pooling in her hand, and she doesn't even flinch as she grabs Adrian's hand. Their blood mixes. The pact seals.
The lawyer turns to me. "Then you'll marry Dominic Callahan. Miss Cassandra Hayes."
Vivienne's eyes light up with victory. Your turn to suffer now, little sister.
In my past life, Vivienne married Dominic.
That man was cold as stone. Never brought her to family business, never let her in. Every time she tried getting close, she got punished for "breaking family rules"—whippings, lockdowns, stripped of everything. Five years in, she still hadn't given him an heir, so Dominic's mother kicked her out herself and took away the Callahan name.
I married Adrian. He was perfect—thoughtful, sweet, took me to fancy parties, bought me cars and jewelry, kept me away from all the violence. Everyone said I'd gotten lucky.
Then Dominic died in a gang shootout. Adrian took over the family, and overnight I became the queen of the underworld.
Vivienne lost her mind with jealousy. Staged a car accident while I was out. Killed us both.
I take the dagger and walk over to Dominic. The blade stings when it cuts into my skin, but my hand stays steady.
When I grip his hand, I try reading his thoughts—nothing. His mind's completely silent, like there's nobody home.
But when Adrian looks at Vivienne, I catch what he's thinking.
Sweet little doe. Bet she cries pretty.
My breath stops for a second. I'm staring at that gentle face of his.
Whatever's hiding under that smile reminds me of things from my last life I'd rather forget.
The lawyer clears his throat. "Please complete the blood oath."
I snap out of it and glance at Dominic next to me. He's just waiting, expression blank, that scar looking even nastier in the candlelight.
But somehow, standing beside him feels safer. At least with him, the danger's right there on the surface.
This time, I'm changing how this ends. I'm making it out alive on my own terms.
Three days after the blood oath, we have to show up to dinner. Family rules.
It's at the Callahan family's private club.
Adrian pulls up in a silver sports car to get Vivienne, and right at the club entrance he drapes this expensive-looking fur coat over her shoulders.
He walks into the hall with her on his arm, showing her off to everyone. "This is my fiancée. I'd die for her."
Everyone eats it up.
"The second son's such a gentleman."
"He treats her so well."
Meanwhile, I'm sitting alone in whatever basic car the family sent, staring out at the neon lights.
When I walk into the hall, maybe three low-level guys bother saying hi. Dominic's nowhere to be seen.
I can hear every thought around me crystal clear.
Poor girl, marrying the Executioner. She's done.
He didn't even show up tonight. Dominic obviously doesn't give a damn about this marriage.
She'll end up in the punishment room soon enough.
Vivienne strolls over in that fur coat, sweet smile on her face.
"Look how good he is to me." She makes sure I see the jeweled buttons up close.
Then she lowers her voice, all fake concern. "So where's Mr. Dominic? Don't see him anywhere."
