. His voice was calm and efficient, a stark contrast

irst name. It was

or my moth

"I'm an orphan. They just told

ment, p

hing past me in a blur of noise and color. I felt like a ghost. Each second f

s old, powerful, and carried an accent I couldn

e asked. Not who a

le," I w

e. A car is on its

ne wen

another trick? Another part of Jax's sick gam

curb. A man in a sharp suit got out and approached me. He didn't look

in my cheap clothes and the exhaustion etched on

nsive leather. It was a world away from the dusty tour buses and smoky bars

n the afternoon sun. It was impossibly larg

p was old, with piercing blue eyes and an aura of immense power. He was impec

sn't a question. "You h

t him, confused

e said, his voice softer no

l. Grandfather? I was an orphan.

ly daughter. She fell in love with a blues musician from America. A man I did not approv

ur father died in that car crash, I arranged for you to be placed in the foster system. I wanted to see if you had her strength. Her fire. I created a

ed in my mind. The banking dynasty. The legends

words catching in my throat

"And that is a failing I will carry for the rest of my life. But I am here now.

l. He spoke in rapid German, his voice sharp

every asset, every shell corporation belonging to Jackson Thorne

tips from years of playing guitar. I thought of

of something other than pain ignited inside