PROLOGUE
QUEEN AND GHOST
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Kiara Veretti's point of view:
THE VERLIZE ESTATE WAS THE MOST beautiful estate I've ever seen. It was a large guarded lot with plenty of landscape. The manor was on a hill and surrounded by trees along with a lake in the back. The front door was around 14 feet and connected to a grand window above. The cars came to a stop and we stepped out. One of the guards held an umbrella for me and together, we all walked up the stairs.
A maid opened the front door and sent me a nod. As we stepped inside, my eyes spotted a middle-aged man with grey hair all over his face. He was wearing a grey three-piece suit and glasses. Realization crept into me. This was Kade Verlize, one of America's billionaires.
He held out his hand and announced his name. I smiled and granted him the same information. The maids pulled my suitcase away before I followed after Mr. Verlize. He guided me to a formal living room with a grand piano in the back. The patio doors were wide open and swinging due to the rain. I watched as lightly roared above me and my throat tightened. What did I get myself into?
The maids quickly ran to shut it and close the curtains. Then, they handed me a cup of tea and I thanked them. Kade held his arms out and smiled at me, warmly. "Welcome to the estate, Miss Veretti. I will have someone show you your room after the first session. Now, I'm sure you're well aware my son is the man doing all those heinous crimes."
I nodded and played with my fingers. After a second of hesitation, I leaned forward. "I do have to ask... where is he?"
"I had an extraction team locate him and bring him here," he explained, taking a sip of his tea. I slightly narrowed my eyes. I believe the word he was looking for was kidnap. That's what he meant.
"Why do you want me to ... fix your son? Why not go to the authorities?"
"And have that prick ruin my name? Ruin everything I've worked so hard to acquire?" He suddenly chuckled, sending a chill down my spine. "I can't have that. Especially when I didn't even want the damn child."
I whined at his words. How could someone treat their child with little kindness? I couldn't imagine my father speaking to me like that but still, I kept quiet. I was then guided to the dining room. It was heavily decorated with paintings and candles. The dining table had to be at least a couple centuries old and there were flowers laid on the table. I noticed cameras in every corner. They were watching us.
"The first session will begin shortly. Kairo will be escorted into this room. There are cameras on all corners but please don't be intimidated by them," Kade assured and then walked out of the room. I sat down at the desk and began pulling my notebooks out.
The door suddenly opened again, and agents began walking inside. Finally, I caught sight of a man wearing a white jumpsuit, along with three pairs of handcuffs and a metal mask over his mouth. The men had wrapped chains around his arms, and his waist and used that to control him. I instantly stood up, feeling my heart beat rapidly against my chest.
They pulled off his mask, and for some unknown reason, my lips parted. He let out a groan when they pulled him down to the chair in front of me, the chains digging into his skin.
"You misbehave, you get shocked," One of the men said, yanking his hair and forcing his head back. "You know it's how your father wants it."
"Reminds me of electroshock therapy," He mumbled, the smile still evident on his lips. I sat back down on the chair, writing a sentence on my notepad. Showing signs of masochistic tendencies.
They tied his chains to the table and then I was handed a small device that could be used to shock him if I felt in danger. They told me they would be watching and shocking him as well. They finally sent me a "Good luck," before walking out.
