Chapter One

As I gazed at the night sky in McCall, my thoughts drifted back to my life in Mexico. It was just a year ago that I lived in constant fear and looked over my shoulder every moment of the day. My father, once the king of the cartel, lost his power due to his greed. He forced me to move here to hide until things settled down, but I knew deep down that one day, the consequences of his actions would catch up with him.

I was raised on the border close to Juarez, where the surrounding people perceived me as a foreigner due to my blonde hair and blue eyes. They questioned whether I truly belonged to the Leon bloodline. It seems my father also harbored some resentment toward me for the same reason. Perhaps he also had doubts about my paternity.

My name is Mia Leon, daughter of Felix Leon, a man feared by many. He had gained the nickname "life snatcher" due to his lack of compassion and unwillingness to show any sort of weakness, even towards his own family. He had even killed his own uncle over a card game. As for me, I was always a burden to him. His only interests were drugs, money, women, and being the ruler of the cartel.

My thoughts were broken when my friend Kara spoke. 

"Mia, you should get home. Tonight's a full moon."

I took a quick look at her seated beside me on the rock. She was my closest friend and was a vision of beauty, with long black hair that cascaded down her back in loose waves, dark as the night sky, and it framed her face in a way that accentuated her striking features. Her eyes were the color of the earth, deep and dark, with a hint of mystery that drew you in.

Her skin was smooth and golden, a testament to her Native American heritage. Her features were delicate and refined, with high cheekbones and a strong jawline that would make even the most gorgeous girl jealous.

I knew when we met that we would form a bond unbreakable. She was the only one who knew the identity of my father and what he was really like before moving here, and she never told a soul, not even her father, whom she trusted deeply. Maybe because he was a sheriff. That could end badly, especially for me. I had already lost everything in my life and Kara knew I needed him, not because he cared for me as her dad did for her, but because I was close to eighteen and I would have only ended up on the streets. And her father never would have allowed us to be friends if he knew what a shitty person Felix was. 

Kara sometimes acted strangely during full moons, talking about the things that go bump in the night, warning me to avoid the forest. However, I found solace in nature because I knew that upon returning home, I would be greeted with an empty house and yet another lonely night.

"Why? So I can be alone?" I sighed. "No thanks."

Kara declared, "It's better than being caught by them."

"Kara, who are 'they'? You always mention them, but never disclose their identity," I asked.

She stood up and extended her hand toward me. "It's better if you don't find out."

I shook my head but accepted her help. "I worry sometimes about your sanity." I laughed, and she pushed me playfully.

As we journeyed through the town, the sun was setting behind the mountains. Its radiance illuminated the sky with a stunning array of purple, pink, and orange hues that resembled an oil painting. I couldn't help but acknowledge that the skies in Idaho were far more beautiful than those at home.

As we reached the fork in the road where Kara and I would part ways, she blew me a kiss and said, "See you tomorrow."

"Night, Kara," I said while making a heart shape with my fingers before we parted ways.

~~~~~

I walked through the door and threw my coat on the chair before heading towards the kitchen. I called out, "Felix?", but as usual, there was no response. I couldn't remember a time I ever called my father dad. He always told me to, but it never felt right.

I sighed, opened the fridge, and took out a bottle of water. Then I went upstairs to my room, sat on the bed, and pulled out my phone.

I sent a text asking, "Did you make it home?" Shortly after, I saw three little bubbles indicating she was typing a response.

"Yeah. You?"

"Yep. But like always, it's empty."

"Sorry, your dad can be a real asshole."

I sighed heavily and said, "He's a selfish person. If those things you keep talking about were to kill me, he would likely celebrate my demise."

Kara's bubbles appeared again. "Hey, come on. Just because he isn't there most of the time doesn't mean he would want something bad to happen to you."

I laughed to myself and then typed back. "Somehow, I doubt he would even notice I was gone." I stopped and considered my father's behavior towards me. It resembled Cinderella's story, except my father was still alive and played the role of the cruel, non-stepparent. "I'm heading to bed. See you at school tomorrow."

"Night, Mia."

"Night."

After turning off the light, I lay in bed and stared at my ceiling for what seemed to be about an hour before suddenly a loud crash came from downstairs. Startled, I sat upright and looked around anxiously, but gradually, I got out of bed and tiptoed down the stairs to investigate.

It couldn't have been my father, I thought, surprised by his early arrival. For a moment, the idea of running crossed my mind. If it was the cartel, I figured my odds of escaping into the Idaho darkness were better than my chances of staying here.

I continued, hoping that whoever was there wouldn't notice me. My hand tightly gripped the handle of the door, but I couldn't bring myself to open it and run out.

The atmosphere was currently silent, which made me figure that whoever was here had got what they came for. However, I decided it was best to text Kara since her dad was a sheriff.

I pulled out my phone from my pajama pocket and promptly messaged Kara, knowing my dad wouldn't be helpful. It was probable that my father was intoxicated at a strip club somewhere.

"Kar, someone is in my house."

"What?! You have to get out of the house!" She rapidly replied. 

"Call your dad, please," I begged, thinking that if I called the police, the cartel would hear me.

"Okay, get somewhere safe," She suggested, and then I pocketed my phone.

The fact that I was blonde proved useful, as it provided a convenient excuse for my occasional foolishness. I could easily attribute it to my hair color, and I was acting foolishly by succumbing to my curiosity and risking being discovered, only to find out who had caused all the noise.

When I reached my father's office, I only caught sight of a black tail that vanished through the shattered window as I turned the corner.

"Really?" I looked around. It was ravaged. "How could a dog do this?" I questioned myself.

"Mia?!" shouted Sheriff Black from the front door.

"In here," I called back.

Sheriff Black approached, his footsteps growing louder. "Mia, are you alright?" he asked as he entered the office.

I glanced at him before turning my attention back to the chaotic scene before us. "I'm fine," I replied. "But how is it possible for a dog to create this much havoc? Or perhaps the better question is, how did the dog shatter the window in the first place?"

"Dog?" Sheriff Black said, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"It went out the window," I said as I picked up a file full of papers from the floor and threw it onto my father's desk.

"I think you should stay with us tonight," he suggested.

I looked back at him, bewildered. "Because of a dog?"

Sheriff Black shook his head and said, "Let's talk about it when we get to the house." He then walked over to me and guided me toward the office door. I took one last glance back before Sheriff Black pulled me away.

~~~~~

We arrived at Kara's small cabin, located just off the hillside outside of town, and pulled into the driveway. As I stepped out of the car, Kara was already waiting for us on the porch.

"Are you okay, Mia?" asked Kara as she leaned over the railing.

I smiled at her as I walked up the steps. "Yeah."

She extended her hand and exclaimed, "Sleepover!" I chuckled as she pulled me into the house.

We went to her room, and Kara sat on the bed while I plopped down on a chair in the corner of her room and crossed my legs. She stared at me until I finally looked over at her.

I said, "What?" As I bit my nails.

"What happened?" Kara inquired as I reclined in my chair and let out a deep sigh.

"Well, would you believe it? A dog, yes, a four-legged furry creature that loves chasing its tail, suddenly turned into a human, broke a window, and went on a stealing spree. And just when you thought things couldn't get any stranger, the doggy delinquent transformed back into its original form and made a smooth exit through the very same window. Who says animals can't pull off a heist?"

She furrowed her brows and asked, "What?"

I shrugged and then burst into laughter. "I was joking Kar, calm down." I continued laughing. "I think the dog got in when someone broke the window after they stole whatever they came for." I declared.

Her lips were pressed together in a thin line, and her brow was furrowed in frustration. It was clear that she was not amused by my attempt at humor.

"Girls?" Mr. Black knocked on the door.

"Come in, Dad."

"Let's talk," he said as he entered and sat beside Kara.

"What's up?" Kara asked.

Kara's father glanced back and forth between us before saying, "I believe it would be best for you to avoid returning home for the time being."

"Mr. Black, it was just a dog," I said as I leaned forward in the chair.

"No, I think your father was a target," he announced.

I stared blankly at him and asked, "Target by whom? And what does 'target' mean?"

Mr. Black briefly averted his gaze before turning back towards me with an inexplicable expression. "For death."