1 Chapter 1: A step to freedom

Eden stepped out of the car and she almost smiled except her eyes were leaking again. She hated the tears just as much as she hated the heavy weight on her chest.

But it won't be long now. There was a way out, just across the dark deserted road. A way to the sweet succulent freedom she craved for, freedom from the pain and nightmare that haunted her, released from the obligation and the promise she made to find Mr. Damon Hellfire, the man who caused her mother's death and left her at the mercy of an unkind relative.

Beyond the point she stood was the serenity and peace she deserves and good lord! she couldn't wait to get there.

She took a step into the road, the cold tar biting into her feet, just reminding her that she was barefooted but it didn't deter Eden. Nothing at this point could, not when release was a few steps away from her.

The night was cold and the breeze was a fleeting comfort. The white dress she wore was flimsy and loose and it danced to the drum the wind was beating.

Eden closed her eyes and she breathed in the fresh sweet air around her.

Say what you must but it was a beautiful day to die.

She took the first step on to the ledge, her first step to freedom. She could hear the river below the bridge calling her name, telling her it was time to come home.

Come home and rest Eden!

It was almost music to her ears as she took yet another step and another until the only thing separating her from going over was a tiny rusty railing.

"I am almost there, Mom…tell Dad I am coming" she murmured to herself but the wind carried her voice and it went away.

Then she heard his voice for the first time. His baritone voice emanated authority without even trying.

"Not this again! What are you doing?" He asked her.

Eden turned around and watched him. It was certainly too dark to make out his features. All she knew was he had a nice voice and he was among the tallest men she had ever seen.

"There is nothing for you to see here, sir. Please leave me in peace" Eden told him before returning her attention to what she was doing.

"I can't do that" he came even closer.

"Why not?" Eden asked him. This night was supposed to be peaceful but he was messing it up. He was messing her whole plan up. "Whether I choose to live or die is entirely my choice, sir. let me make it in peace"

Eden turned around fully to look at him. She could see him clearer now thanks to the car she could assume was his not far from him.

He was beautiful alright, in a suit and there were stains.

"Is that blood on your sleeves?" Eden asked him.

The man followed the direction of her eyes to his sleeve and he quickly folded them.

"Tomato sauce. Occupational hazard, my job entails getting my hands dirty"

It was a lie.

"What's your name?" Eden asked him. She had no idea why she even did, she wasn't planning on staying long enough to use it.

"Name's Asher…Asher Angelwings, maybe if you take just a step down from the ledge, it will do well for my mental health"

Eden blinked but didn't take a step down. Her eyes darken and for someone about to take her life she was suddenly afraid of something.

"You are not a chef and that's not tomato sauce on your sleeve"

Eden watched him place both hands into his pocket like he was daring her to say his identity outloud.

"You are the Asher Angelwings…you are the CEO of Angelwings Conglomerate and secretly the infamous Manhattan crime lord. You are a Mafia boss"

Asher flexed his shoulders before he spoke. "I guess my reputation precedes me. Come down from the ledge, let's talk about whatever is causing this madness, lady"

"Or what? You will put a bullet between my eyes? Now, if you will excuse me, I have a ledge to jump off of"

Eden took another step on the ledge just moments before she could fully go over, she heard the man shout for her to stop.

"Wait! Don't go over yet. I have a story to tell"

"No thank you" Eden quickly murmured.

"But you want to hear this story, I promise you"

"Why Mr. Mafia boss?" Eden said in a mocking tune.

"Because it's the story of a girl and a boy….and that girl is currently standing on a ledge and that boy is trying to talk her down. It's the story of how we met, Eden"

Asher's hand was raised like he was willing to physically stop her from falling. Eden knew it was a trick.

"You are lying, Mr. Mafia boss. You don't know me and I don't know you"

The man chuckled. It was a sad chuckle.

"If I am making this up then how am I in love with you, Eden Amara Powell? It's just a story…our story. So, let me tell it"