Page 1 of Stolen Fate

Prologue

Jace

Evelyn Adler.Twenty-eight years old. Average height, average looks, average life, just… average.

Evelyn Adler was as average as they came, and nothing about the woman should be holding me to her—nothing, save for the most important person in my life.

He was the reason I looked for her, why I threw thousands and thousands of dollars at having her searched for, and at this moment I had her life laid out in documents on my desk with a single picture of her—the woman who had played such an important role in my life and didn’t even know it.

She had brown hair, brown eyes, and fair skin with a slight scattering of freckles on the bridge of her nose that made her look years younger than she was.

There should be nothing holding my attention to her, except for my quest to find out what kind of person she was. And yet, the moment I opened the file that had been sent to my office a few months back, the moment I got a good look at her, my heart had begun beating frantically in my chest, begging to be set free.

I had found myself reaching for her picture more times than I dared admit to myself, so fucking fascinated with her, with those deep set brown eyes, the delicate lines of her jawline, and even that small twist of her lips that made her look like she was always pouting.

What was it about the woman that caused such a strong reaction from me?

On paper, she almost looked like my ex-wife. The same hair and eye color, the same slight stature, and the same fair skin.

But that was where the similarities ended.

Where Camila was unbelievably sexy—the kind of sexy that stopped men in their tracks—this woman was on the average side of pretty. Someone decent to look at, but someone who could have been easily overlooked.

Where Camila’s soul was pitch black, this woman had kind eyes.

Kind eyes that I wanted to get lost in.

And even in the picture, I could tell she was sad.

I rubbed away the ache that had suddenly taken residence in my chest.

I knew why she was sad. I knew all about the sordid deal she made with Camila, but the question remained as to whether or not she fully knew about the deal and didn’t care, or if she, like me, was another target in the long stream of victims Camila left behind in her quest to get what she wanted.

Evelyn wasn’t the kind of woman I usually involved myself with. Most of the women in my past had been some version of Camila: Someone who was beautiful. Someone who knew the score. Someone who would have no problem separating emotion from everything.

But Evelyn wore her heart on her sleeve. A terrible thing in such an unkind world.

Was that why I was feeling so protective of her? Why a part of me wanted to find her and tell her it was okay for her to be kind, because I could be mean enough for her. Forhim.For both of them.

I shook away the ridiculous thought.

I didn’t know her. And what I did know, I knew from the documents I got from the PI I had hired to look into her.

I hadn’t even met the woman yet.

And she didn’t know about me. She didn’t know about him, either.

I supposed it would be smart to leave her alone. To let her live her life and not tempt fate and try to find her, to meet her….

Things would be a hell of a lot less complicated.

Nevertheless, I found myself reaching for my desk phone. I pressed the intercom and Belinda answered right away. “Yes, Mr. Reed?”

“Belinda, I need you to book me a flight to Boston.” I hesitated, but only for a brief second. “Actually, book me two seats.”

“Yes, Mr. Reed. And who will be joining you on the flight?”

“My son, Elliot.”

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