Step aside, and see the devil in I.

Avriel Rodríguez was the typical girl from a wealthy family in Miami, who lived with her mother Victoria, brother Raphael, and stepfather Callum.

When she was younger, she didn’t believe in monsters—but now she was 17, and she was starting to believe in them, especially when one in particular came through her bedroom door every night.

Her brother Raphael always competed in drag races but never allowed her to go. Today, after a fight with their mother, he left in a storm: she had slapped him as soon as he tried to mention how her husband looked at Avriel with knowing glances. His mother hadn’t listened. And as soon as he left, when Avriel tried to talk to her, Victoria obviously didn’t hear and slapped her across the face.

Avriel knew staying in that house wouldn’t be an option without Raphael there. In a few minutes, Callum would come in, and she wouldn’t be able to go to her brother’s room to feel protected. So without thinking twice, she called a taxi to the location he had posted on Instagram.

23:01 PM – She could be sure the place was chaos: The smell of alcohol and car tires permeated the air—and now she knew why Raphael didn’t want her there.

As she looked for him, she spotted him racing on the tracks in his green Lamborghini. Unfortunately, she bumped into McKay, one of the guys Raphael competed against. He tried to kiss her, but then a warm, large body approached her from behind.

Xavier Blackwood. The guy she had a crush on—had crushed on since childhood—even though he was the typical bad boy: three years older, indifferent and rude to her most of the time, and most importantly, her brother’s best friend. And it was clear that indifference was a facade, because within minutes her back was against a graffitied wall.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he asked, facing her. “I told you you couldn’t come—or let me correct myself: your brother said he didn’t want you here.” He was irritated. Pissed, even.