A Stolen Heart is a full length novel set in the Antonello Brothers Science Fiction Romance series. The book is currently in progress.

The scene below is the critical moment of the story when Luc Saint-Cyr meets Senthys (Senth) Antonello for the first time. This massive, enhanced warrior turned businessman has the empire by the tail -- so long as no one finds out what Luc really is. Enter a tiny three-year-old boy running as if fleeing a monster, and that solid hold on all things "normal" quickly turns to mush.  The teacher has showed up, and while Senth hides, Luc redirects her elsewhere...

After she left, Luc stepped back. "It's safe to come out now. She's gone."

Sticking one finger in his mouth, the boy crept forward, peeked around the door, and burst into tears.

Even Luc, whose experience with children could be recorded on his palm, could tell his cry reflected genuine relief. The boy had been terrified.

Monster chasing him indeed. What had that woman done?

The little one ran, but instead of heading for the door, he made a beeline for Luc and threw both arms around one of his legs, sobbing.

Luc stiffened.

Children didn't run to him. They fled.

Imperturbable, Pietas had called him. Seeing him now, his king would guffaw.

Luc bent at the knees only enough to pat the boy on the head. "There, there."

The child cried harder.

What if the headmistress showed up and found him with a sobbing child? How did one coax a child to cease crying? Her office held no toys or distractions. This room was all business, a showcase for prospective clients, not children.

"Stop crying, little boy." He tacked on, "Please."

Wailing harder, the boy looked up at him, blue eyes red-rimmed.

Heart in his throat, Luc took stock.

A terrified child. Him.

That ratio was supposed to work only one way.

He showed up. Children ran.

Why didn't this one?

An adult with issues, Luc could handle. That was territory he knew. When one lived with Pietas, one became an expert out of necessity.

His training, both military and in business had taught him three steps. Identify the problem. Acknowledge the problem. Solve the problem.

All right. He knew the problem, so the solution was not to stand there like a dolt, but instead treat this little one with respect. Like a tiny adult.

Or Pietas.

Luc went down on one knee. "You're afraid." He stroked the mass of curly hair away from the boy's tear-soaked face. "It's okay. I promise, I won't let anyone hurt you."

Hiccupping, the boy reached up to him.

Back to awkward.

The prequel to the Antonello Brothers Science Fiction Romance series, Bro is Sci Fi from the sweeter side of the galaxy.
When you can make yourself invisible, you reveal invisible truth...

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Senth Antonello had attended classes at the Thieves' Guild Academy every day since he was what? Three? Yet the looming entrance to the exclusive Advanced Level access that he'd more than earned stood empty, while he skulked in the shadows like he hadn't.

Plunging through that door always felt like he was flying into a beehive while sporting hornet wings.

Enough of this.

He ought to zip up there and let idBot scan him.

He took two decisive steps forward, then pivoted and took five steps back.

"Come on, Senth," he berated himself. "Go for it. Now." He turned around and faced the entrance. "This time will be different. You can do this. Just go in there."

But did he?

No.

And why was that?

Because there were times being the best got you nothing but hated and looking like a kid got you nothing but disrespect. Being the adopted son of a former grand master had distinct perks, true. It got him in ahead of others, but then that was part of the problem, wasn't it?

Daddy had clout. Daddy belonged. People feared Daddy, for good reason.

Nobody feared a clawless halfbreed who looked twelve when he was eighteen.

"I will do this. The time to act is now." He stepped up and let the automated idBot system scan him.

"Welcome, Blue Shadow," idBot's smooth robotic voice cooed. "Cleared for Advanced Level." The door unsealed.

Why couldn't people treat him like that machine? Senth released the tension in his shoulders, and rolled his head to soothe his neck.

Maybe today would be different.

Maybe undergrads would respect him for his level.

Maybe his dad would ask him how he was doing instead of going behind his back to the Grand Master.

Maybe nobody'd meow when he entered the room.

Maybe nobody'd go, "Here, kitty, kitty!"

Oh, and maybe the Empress would eliminate taxes, and while she was at it, free all the slaves. Because, sure. That could happen.

Inside, down the first hallway, monolithic carved wooden doors of the Great Hall stood open. The pickup line for upgraded cloaks wound down the stairs and then back and forth across the cavernous hall like one of those rides at Planet Fun.

Voices. Noise. Din. A hive of thieves anxious to score.

No sound suppression in the empire could mute the hum careening off these stone walls. Not today. Not with the first cloak upgrade in ten years minutes from release.

He took one last, sole-dragging step, entered the hall, and made straight for the grand staircase.

The entire queue of lower-level thieves craned their necks at whoever had entered. Their low buzz faded from front to back, and what do you know? Right on cue, a chorus of meows rose from the anonymous safety of the back row.

Senth halted and snapped his head in that direction, but the sound cut off.

No one in view so much as cracked a smile.

He tossed them a lazy salute and turned back toward the stairs. The conversational drone kicked right back in. After all, no one important had entered. Just the halfbreed.