Prelog

In New York, police sirens are background noise. In New York, a dead body in an alleyway is old news. In New York, if you are anyone you are no one.

No one ever told me what New York was really like. Like everyone else, I thought this city was going to be perfect. That wasn't the case. Within twenty-four hours of stepping off of the plane I already had death looming over my head.

I had just unpacked the last of my boxes and headed outside to explore the city a little. As I was turning the corner I passed by a side street where I heard raised voices. I paused in my steps and leaned up against the wall, carefully peering my head around the corner into the alleyway to get a better look at the men. One man had wavy blonde hair and shockingly blue eyes. He was lean but I could tell he was much stronger than he looked because he was holding a man twice his size against the wall.

"I told you to have the money by Friday," he spoke.

He brought something up against the big man's head making him whimper. "I know Jasper, but if you could just give me a little more ti—"

The man, Jasper, dug the object into the man's skull. "I'm through giving you more time Samuel."

A gun. He had a gun.

Being a small town girl I could never fathom someone actually holding a gun to someone's head in real life. I didn't know what to do so I stayed frozen against the wall watching this horror movie take place right before my eyes.

"Please Jasper, I have kids— two of them. They need me."

Jasper laughed, actually laughed. "You really think I care about your kids? You should have thought about them before you deiced not to pay me back." Samuel whimpered as Jasper pressed the gun further into his head. "Say your prayers you filthy animal."

He pulled the trigger letting off a humongous bang. I let out a little scream unable to contain myself any longer.

Only too late did I realize that I had made a big mistake. Jasper looked up from Samuel's lifeless eyes and right into mine. I stood frozen in the mouth of the alley watching Jasper's cold, murderous body stalk towards me.

"Hey kid. How much of that did you see?"

His voice shook me out of my shock induced haze and I slowly began to walk backwards out of the ally and towards the hustle and bustle of New York. He looked down at my feet and raised his gun as his eyes met my face again. "Don't even think about leaving until we've had a little chat, 'kay?" I froze for a split second, assessing my options, before cautiously nodding my head. "Smart girl. Now why don't you come back here and we can talk like the mature adults we both are okay?"

My feet moved of their own accord and took hesitant steps toward Jasper.

"Good girl," he said once I was close enough for him to grab my wrist and yank me further into the darkness. "How 'bout you tell me your name sweet-cheeks."

I took a deep breath and tried to come up with a name. "M-M-Marie."

"Marie, 'ay? Well Marie, I don't think you saw anything tonight, do you?" He raised his gun and rested it lightly against the side of my head. "Because if you did, well, the end result wouldn't be pretty. Understand?" He dug the gun a little harder into my skull making me bite my lip.

I carefully nodded my head and said, "I didn't see anything."

He laughed lightly. "Good girl, you learn fast. If I didn't already have a girl I would take you easy." he lowered his gun returning it under his shirt and patted me on the head. "And if I do get caught for what didn't happen here tonight I'll know who to blame."

I nodded my head again and he let go of my wrist patting me one more time on the head before promptly exiting the alley, returning to the city that never sleeps.

That had been two weeks ago and I hadn't seen him since—though I haven't really been looking either. Every time I saw a blonde head that looked similar to Jasper's I ducked my head and steered clear of him.

Today had been like any other day since arriving in New York; working in Hal's Diner and trying to forget Samuel's lifeless eyes. It was nearing nine o'clock and the dinner rush was finally dwindling down. I began to walk back to the kitchens to punch out when the door chimed and Stacy, another waitress, came up to me.

"Bella, I hate to ask you this but could you possibly take these customers? My nanny called and told me she had to go home and I don't have anyone else to watch Charlie." Her green eyes silently pleaded with mine and I felt myself start to give in. I sighed and nodded my head re-tying my apron. "Oh, thank you Bella! You are an angel."

I smiled and took her pad. "Go home to Charlie I've got these last few."

She grinned pulling off her apron and jogging to the kitchen yelling another rushed thank you before she disappeared. I let out a loud sigh and turned around grabbing menus as I headed toward the booth with the five new comers.

I laid the menus out on the table and said, "Welcome Hal's Diner. Can I start you off with any drinks?"

I looked up at the customers and froze.

"Yeah, I'll have a Coke." A chill went up my spine as his voice echoed through my body.

Jasper.

AN: okay so this is my new story and I really hope you guys liked it. Please read and review!