Briar Rose, the beautiful daughter of a powerful mobster, is cursed by a jealous witch to stop her father from making a critical alliance that will determine the fate of their family empire.
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In the wake of political downfall, the city of Forev...
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Richard Jinx was a man of very few words, but his loyalty to the Rose family was firm. He had served them for years.
As the family's Private Investigator with a past rooted in fighting crime as a detective on the dirty city streets, Richard's valuable skills soon became apparent. They earned him an honest and safe living. But, unfortunately, Forevermore was a ghastly reflection of the mighty city it once was. With crime surging, no man, woman, or child would survive without an allegiance to one of the ruling families.
The city was a warzone, but in every darkness, there was a beacon of light. Hope for a better future. Today was such an occasion, and it began in a cathedral.
"Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth?"
Richard watched an elderly priest shuffle on stage at the front of the cathedral sanctuary, overlooking a well-dressed man and woman. From Richard's position, their bodies were framed by a tall stain-glass window. As the sun's rays filtered through, a pink light was cast across the room. A charming baby was wrapped in white silk in the woman's arms, with a single golden curl protruding from the infant's smooth scalp. The woman shuffled, twisting the baby at an angle to meet Richard's eyes.
He smiled warmly. The child grinned.
The priest's questioning continued, but the words were distant. All Richard noticed was the baby's radiant blue eyes.
The priest grabbed a glass of water, wetting his thumb and index finger. He massaged the baby's forehead and muttered a blessing under his breath. The baby squealed in delight. Her parents smiled proudly, turning as they presented their new child to the audience.
Thunderous applause arose, echoing throughout the large room. Richard turned to assess the audience. The Spade family was in attendance on the opposite side of the aisle, lead by the brutal Phillip Spade. They controlled the south end of Forevermore and held substantial power. For generations, other families have been prompted to merge their empires into one. All have failed, ending in bloodshed.
Today, the Rose family would present their proposition of a union, but instead of gifting money, they would bestow a prize of far greater worth. Their child.
"Beautiful ceremony, Tobias," Phillip Spade said, eagerly shaking the hand of the new father in question.
Richard watched intently from a distance as Tobias swallowed a lump of fear. Then, keeping his composure, he nodded his head before speaking. "Your thanks are worth a thousand coins, Phillip. You have my gratitude."
Phillip laughed, suddenly squinting his eyes. "Quite the daughter you have there, Tobias. She'll be a beauty. My Julian is a lucky man."
Tobias frowned as his wife, Iniid, arrived holding their baby girl. Iniid pressed the baby lightly against her breast while Tobias put a hand over her shoulders.
