Sasha Ramirez
Pieces of Me
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Istared down in horror at the small box in my hand. Resting on the padded cushion, the severed finger was roughly sawn below the second knuckle. Below the ragged, bloodied skin, a sliver of bone protruded.
I tasted bile.
“Price has gone up. Or you pay for him piece by piece now.”
Emilio! Oh my god! What are they doing to you?I read the note again. Then a third time, through eyes misty with tears. And then I slumped back against the wall behind me. My legs were shuddering. I glanced back through the open doorway and clasped a shaking hand over my mouth. The thought of what they were doing to my brother made me sick to my stomach. I had to do something. But how was I going to break this news to Prince?
Oh my god, what am I going to tell him? He can’t find out!
My heart was racing so hard I was sure it would crash straight through my chest. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t get enough air into my lungs even though I was panting with terror. Cheeks tingling, light-headed…
You’re hyperventilating! Calm down!
I had to think. Had to figure out what to do. As much as I was afraid of what Prince would do when he learned of this, I was more afraid – moreterrified– of what was happening to my baby brother right then.
You have to tell Prince. Have to ask for his help.
“Sasha?” Prince’s voice was ringing through the apartment.
Fuck! Fuck fuck fuck!
“Sweetness, are you out there?”
I snapped the box closed and fumbled it awkwardly into the deep pocket of my robe.
“I- I’m right here, Prince,” I called back, straightening up and trying to keep my voice steady. A rich chuckle behind me rippled down my spine like a warm, soothing touch.
“It’s still so strange to hear you calling me that,” he said, stepping up against my back and sliding his arms around my chest. He buried his face in my hair and inhaled.
“Why?” I kept my tone light and turned in his arms to face him, taking care not to let the box bump against him. “It’s your name, isn’t it?” He was dressed in nothing more than a pair of lightweight black pants. His broad chest was bare. Stubble framed his strong jawline. So beautiful, it made my heart hurt.
“I guess I’m so used to being Prince, the dick. Alec feels…nice.” He brushed his nose against mine.
“I happen to like Prince the Dick…and Alec the Nice.”
He chuckled again, and then his expression grew serious.“What you doing out here? Is everything alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he asked, cocking his head slightly and glancing down the hallway.
“I- I thought I heard something, so I came to the door. Probably just some kids playing around,” I replied, thinking fast on my feet.
He walked backward into the hallway, drawing me along with him. “Well, it’s time to come back inside. I have some of my own playing around to do. I was thinking we could pick up where we left off before Andy called. I still have a whole donut to burn off, remember?” He winked.
I forced a smile and let him tug me along playfully. It was almost overwhelming to try to think right then. This man’s hands had a way of wiping common sense from me.
But little could distract me from the macabre message now resting against my hip. The threat against my family. And yet, his grandmother’s ring still circled my finger…a band of trust. A trust I was about to break. The terms of my contract were quite clear from the outset. No criminal activities would be tolerated.
But I wasn’t the criminal here – that was all on Emilio’s head.Dammit!If only he hadn’t gotten caught up in this whole mess. What kind of idiot steals from a drug dealer? There was no way he could have known I would ever be in a position to bail him out of this mess. He simply assumed somehow I would fix it. Just as I always had.
If Prince hadn’t walked into my life when he did, Emilio would be dead. Or I’d have had to resort to turning tricks. Or praying to hit the lottery to find the million dollars Razortip wanted in exchange for my brother's life.
“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” Prince asked again, his brow furrowed in concern as he looked down at me. “You’re really not looking great.” He brushed his lips over my forehead.
I cleared my throat. “Just…just a bit of a headache.” I forced a smile. “Not much sleep lately.” That was the truth. Though I certainly wasn’t going to be the one to complain about it.
