She had been a vampire for years.

Bangchan had turned her shortly after she joined his organization, giving her a second life — and one that would never move past the age of twenty-two.

She didn’t regret it.

After all, there wasn’t much left for her in her old life.

Her biological family ran a powerful mafia organization of their own, but unlike Bangchan’s, every member was human. She had grown up surrounded by them, yet she’d never felt like she belonged to them.

Her parents had always made one thing painfully clear: she could never inherit the organization. Because she was a girl, and girls couldn‘t rule. That‘s what they‘d say.

So when her parents eventually retired, the position she’d spent her entire childhood preparing for would automatically go to someone else.

She had eventually stopped trying to earn their approval.

She disappeared.

And for years, neither side had heard a single word from the other.

She never went back. Her family never came looking. Until tonight.

“Territory dispute.” Bangchan explained, standing at the head of the table. “They’re moving into our side of the city.”

She leaned back in her chair. “And we’re going to stop them.”

Bangchan’s eyes briefly met hers.

“Exactly.”

Hours later, she stood outside an abandoned warehouse with the rest of Bangchan’s vampires, waiting for the opposing organization to arrive. Those vampires were her only friends, too.

She rolled her shoulders and checked her weapons.

This was just another mission.

Another group of humans standing between Bangchan and his territory. At least, that’s what she thought.

Headlights appeared in the distance.

Several black cars pulled into the street. Her expression changed slightly.

Something about them felt familiar. She ignored it. The doors opened.

Men and women stepped out, armed and ready for a fight. Then one final car stopped.

The door opened. Kaisy froze.

She knew that face.

Even after all these years.

Even after convincing herself she’d forgotten.

Her father stepped out.

And beside him was her mother.

For the first time in years, she stood completely still.

Behind her, Bangchan noticed immediately.

“Kaisy?”

She didn’t answer.

Because suddenly, this wasn’t a territory dispute.

It was her past coming back to find her.

Bangchan looked up, past her shoulder. Oh. Oh no.