I light a cigarette I don’t want, drag it into my lungs until it burns, and let the smoke cut a hole through the rage swelling in my chest.
I tell myself it’s survival. That I’m protecting her. That the papers mean nothing compared to her heartbeat, her safety.
But deep down, I know the truth.
I’m his again.
My hands shook so much that I couldn’t stop them from trembling when I got back to my car. Not from fear—fear is clean, sharp. This is filthier. This is the shake that comes when an addict takes their first hit after swearing they were done.
The engine roars to life, but I don’t drive straight home. I make loops through the city, every streetlight flashing like an interrogation lamp. Memories bleed in with the glow—handingover shipments, laundering blood money, listening to Rafe’s voice like it was gospel.
I promised myself I’d buried that man.
But here he is, wide awake, hungry, crawling out of the grave with dirt still in his teeth.
When I finally pull into the driveway, dawn is threatening the horizon. The house looks peaceful, still, like nothing in the world has shifted. But I know better.
Everything has.
I sit in the car, staring at the front door, fighting the urge to put my fist through the windshield just to feel something break. I want to storm inside, haul her against me, brand her mouth until she forgets my name and only remembers mine.
I want to confess what I’ve done.
I want to lie.
Instead, I kill the engine and press my forehead against the steering wheel. A wave of coolness washed over me as the leather touched my skin, giving me a fleeting sense of calm.
Tomorrow, Rafe will call again. He’ll want more. He always does.
And every time I say yes, it’s another nail in the coffin I swore I’d never build.
But I’ll do it.
For her.
Because the alternative is unthinkable.
And when the time comes—when the noose tightens too close—I’ll burn his entire empire down with my bare hands.
Even if it takes me with it.
Playing With Fire
Something tickles my nose. I try to waft it away but feel nothing. I’m almost slipping back into a peaceful slumber when I feel a tickle crawling up my cheek.
“Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead.”
My eyes slowly open, and I see Kate leaning over me with a feather in her hand.
“So, you’re the culprit of the ominous tickling.” I roll my eyes.
“Yes,” she smirks. “I have a day of fun planned.”
“A day of fun?” I cock a brow.
“Well, I thought you deserved some fun before I leave you here with my boring daddy.”
I can feel the burning of my cheeks just at the mention of him, not sure I would ever describe him as boring but I couldn’t say that to her, I just smile hoping she hasn’t noticed that I’m blushing just hearing her mention him.
