The first thing Angelo Black noticed when he opened his eyes was the pounding in his head.
The second was the noise.
Someone was hammering on the hotel door.
"Open up!"
Angelo groaned and pulled the blanket over his head.
The pounding came again, harder this time.
"Angelo!"
He knew that voice.
His stomach tightened.
"Mom?"
He dragged himself out of bed, stumbled across the expensive hotel room, and opened the door.
His mother stood there with her arms folded across her chest. She looked perfectly composed, despite the fact that it was barely six in the morning.
Her eyes travelled slowly around the room.
Empty bottles.
Fast-food containers.
Clothes scattered across the floor.
She raised an eyebrow.
"This place is a mess."
Angelo rubbed his eyes.
"It's a hotel, Mom. They have people who clean."
"They do. Apparently, they don't have people who can clean up after you fast enough."
He sighed.
"What are you doing here?"
"I received your results."
Angelo froze.
For a moment, the hangover disappeared.
"What?"
"Your university results."
"How did you get them before I did?"
His mother gave him a cold smile.
"You know exactly how."
Of course he did.
Money opened doors. His mother had contacts everywhere, and she had never been particularly good at respecting boundaries.
Angelo dropped onto the edge of the bed.
"I haven't even checked them."
"I have."
Silence.
"And?"
"You failed."
The words landed harder than he expected.
Angelo looked away.
"Again?"
"Again."
"Mom—"
"No."
She raised a hand.
"I am done, Angelo."
He looked at her.
"I've paid your tuition. I've paid for your apartment. I've paid for your car. I've paid for vacations, clothes, restaurants and every other ridiculous expense you've managed to accumulate while pretending that you're studying."
"I've been studying."
"You've been attending parties."
"That's not fair."
"Isn't it?"
She stepped farther into the room.
"You failed your second year."
Angelo had no answer.
His mother watched him for several seconds before speaking again.
"You're twenty-three years old. It's time you started taking responsibility for your life."
"So what? You want me to get a job washing dishes?"
"No."
"Cleaning hotel rooms?"
"No."
"Then what?"
Her expression changed.
It wasn't quite a smile.
It was something worse.
"I have a job for you."
Angelo stared at her.
"What kind of job?"
"You're going to South River."
He frowned.
"Where?"
"South River."
"Never heard of it."
"You weren't supposed to."
His mother walked toward the door.
"Pack your things."
"Mom, what are you talking about?"
"You'll find out."
"Find out what?"
She turned.
"You're going to manage one of our mining operations."
Angelo laughed.
Then stopped when he realized she wasn't joking.
"You're serious?"
"Completely."
"I don't know anything about mining."
"You'll learn."
"I've got university."
"You don't anymore."
She opened the door.
"Your flight leaves in three days."
"Three days?"
"Use the time wisely."
She stepped into the hallway.
"Mom!"
She turned one last time.
"And Angelo?"
"Yes?"
"Don't embarrass me."
The door closed.
---
Three days later, Angelo sat aboard his mother's private jet staring through the window.
He had spent most of the flight trying to convince himself that this was temporary.
Two years.
That was what his mother had said.
Two years running the South River mine.
Then, if he proved himself responsible, she would reconsider his future.
He hated the idea.
He hated the distance.
He hated that Melissa had refused to come with him.
Most of all, he hated the fact that his mother had somehow turned his failure at university into an exile.
After landing in Bermuda, he transferred to a smaller aircraft.
Hours later, he arrived at Madelaine Airport.
The final journey was by road.
Three miserable hours in an old taxi brought him closer to South River.
The landscape became increasingly barren.
Then the town appeared.
Angelo stared through the window.
South River was nothing like Phoenix.
The streets were dusty. Buildings looked tired and neglected. Men covered in dirt walked home from the direction of the mine. Their faces were exhausted.
The taxi finally stopped.
Angelo stepped out.
The driver unloaded his bags.
He looked around.
This was going to be home.
For two years.
"Wonderful," he muttered.
A bell rang somewhere across town.
Almost immediately, the streets filled with miners.
The noise was overwhelming.
Angelo watched them pass.
Dirty clothes.
Dust-covered faces.
Exhausted eyes.
He couldn't understand why anyone would choose to live like this.
Then an old woman approached him.
She wore a faded dress and carried herself with surprising dignity.
"You must be Master Angelo."
Angelo nodded.
"You're Sis Dolly?"
"That is what everyone calls me."
She smiled warmly.
"Welcome to South River."
Angelo looked around again.
"I'm sure I'll love it."
Sis Dolly laughed.
"You don't believe me."
"Not particularly."
"You will."
She picked up one of his smaller bags.
"Come. Your room is ready."
Angelo followed her toward the old boarding house.
He had no idea that the miserable town he already hated would soon become the place that changed his life forever.
And he certainly had no idea that beneath its streets, something deadly was already waiting for him.