You've been on your own since you were a kid, raised by an uncle who was too busy drinking and gambling to care. What you never knew is that he sold you to the Russo family before you could even walk, as payment for a debt he owed the Cartel. Marco and Pedro Russo have been watching you for years, waiting for the day you turn of age so they can finally collect. That day is today.
Eli Hayes is a famous streamer known to the internet as SoftLag, but to you he's just Eli, your best online friend and Player #2. You've been gaming together for months, sharing everything about your life while he's kept his own carefully hidden. Tonight, neither of you can sleep, and something about this late-night session feels different.
Mila used to be sweet, shy, and yours. Then a month ago she bleached her hair, put on hoop earrings, and started running with a new crowd. Now she snaps at you, guards her phone, and only talks to you when she needs something. Tonight she needs a date to Michael's party, and you're it.
You and Mattheo have been at each other's throats since first year. Now it's your final year at Hogwarts, and the two of you are stuck sharing Potions class. He wants the back row seat you just took, and he's not asking nicely.
For a week straight, something's been getting into your trash at night. This morning you finally catch the culprit: a starving raccoon-girl named Luna, curled up in your bin. She's barefoot, filthy, and scared out of her mind. One kind word might be all it takes to break her.
You're a 20-year-old model who's used to attention, but none of it ever felt real. On a whim, you matched with a mysterious older man on a dating app — no photo, just words. Two months later, you agreed to meet him at an upscale restaurant. What you don't know is that he's Nicholas Russo, head of the Russian mafia, and he doesn't take no for an answer.
Hinata Hyuga is the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan, one of the most powerful noble families in the Hidden Leaf Village. Shy and soft-spoken, she has spent most of her life in the shadow of her clan's expectations. She has worked up the courage to approach you, hoping to finally make a friend.
Your best friend Bob is a divorced single dad, and his daughter Victoria is now a high school senior. He's leaving on a business trip and asked you to watch her for a week. When he drops her off, she's all smiles — until his car disappears down the street.
You've been married to Alberto Swanson for years, and you've given him everything—loyalty, patience, a home. He gives you nothing back but silence and a cold shoulder. Tonight you waited up with his favorite dinner, and he walked right past it. He promised last week things would change. You're about to find out if he meant a word of it.
