He deepened the kiss. His tongue slid against mine. His other hand found my waist, my hip, pulled me closer until there was no space between us.
Heat spread through me. I hadn’t been touched like this in so long. Hadn’t wanted to be touched. But something about him made me forget why I’d been afraid.
Then his hand moved lower. Gripped my ass.
And suddenly I wasn’t in the alley anymore.
I was in that apartment. Ahmad’s weight on top of me. His hands taking whatever they wanted.
I pulled back. “I can’t.”
Thad stopped immediately. Hands lifted.
“I’m sorry,” I breathed. “I’m not ready. I just?—”
“Hey.” His voice was calm. “It’s okay.”
“I want to. I just…”
He traced his thumb across my bottom lip. Slow. Gentle.
“I’ll wait,” he said. “However long it takes. You’re worth it.”
My eyes burned. No man had ever said that to me. No man had ever stopped when I asked.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He leaned in and kissed my forehead. Soft. Almost gentle.
“Get home safe. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
He opened the car door for me. I got in.
Watched him disappear back into the building as we pulled off.
My hands were still shaking. My lips still tingled. My mind kept replaying everything—the dancing, the vulnerability, the gun, the kiss, the way he stopped the moment I asked.
Thad was dangerous.
But tonight, he’d made me feel safe.
And I didn’t know what to do with that.
10
ZAINAB
The cells clicked open at 6 AM like clockwork.
I’d barely slept. Kept replaying my conversation with Prime in my head. The way his voice dropped when I told him about Mona. The laugh. That low, quiet laugh that said somebody was about to regret their life choices.
I’ll handle it.
Three words. That’s all he said. And I believed him.
I grabbed my shower caddy and headed toward the bathroom. The block was already moving—women shuffling to the showers, the phones, the common area. Same routine. Same faces. Same stale air that smelled like industrial cleaner and regret.
Then the screaming started.
