CHAPTER 1
KYRA
OCTOBER
“Come on, babe. It’s for my birthday.” I give Mike the best puppy dog eyes I can manage. “Nyx said the department has a bunch of tickets and she can get us a set for free.” He just shakes his head, his face turning more red by the minute. “It’s the first playoff game in Detroit in 10 fucking years-“
“You will stop this incessant whining, Kyra. I’ve had enough. You know I hate that girl.” His voice is terrifyingly calm, which sends chills down my spine. I have no idea what Nyx has to do with going to the game other than just getting us the tickets. Do I keep asking, or do I just shut my mouth?
Deciding my safety is more important than my dreams of going to a playoff game for my birthday, I lower my eyes to the ground and just nod my head. I don’t say anything more because I don’t want another bruise I will have to explain away or try to hide. I really don’t think Nyx will believe any more of my lies.
Nyx is my best friend in the entire world. She is a police officer for the City of Detroit. That girl is a badass. She served her time in the Army to come home and immediately joined thepolice academy. She is my person, and I wouldn’t survive life without her.
Keeping my eyes down, I head into the bedroom to get ready for another long day at the office. My black dress slacks are, yet again, getting tighter. Squeezing myself into the fabric and then sliding the brightly colored blouse over my head.
“Woman!” His voice filled with rage, and I can only imagine what slight he has perceived now. My hands shake at the mirror as I apply concealer to hide the remainder of the yellowing bruise on my cheek.
“Yes, dear.” My voice is barely heard over whatever nonsense hunting show he is watching.
“You are going to be late for work. If your check is short, we won’t be able to pay the rent.” He’s leaned back in his ratty recliner, a pile of beer cans surrounding his end table. I had decided to stop trying to keep a spotless house years ago, when he made zero effort to help keep it that way.
This is my kingdom, not the one I ever imagined growing up as a little girl. The trailer walls are barely standing around us, and the rickety deck outside is one fight away from one of us falling through. We have more photos covering holes in the walls than ones hanging for decoration. But it’s ours…
“Chop, chop. Money doesn’t grow on trees, Kyra.”
Packing my lunch and grabbing my bags, I head out the door without a word. I refuse to give him a kiss or acknowledge his existence when he talks to me like this.Maybe one day I’ll have the courage to leave this situation, but where would I go?
My parents hate him to the point where they won’t even come to our wedding. Not that we have anything planned yet. You have to have money in order to have a wedding. It doesn’t matter how much money I make; his truck needs repairs, he needs a new gun, or something else.
This is the life you choose, Kyra.
Climbing into my jeep, I leave for yet another day at the dealership. Shortly after college, I became the head of marketing for a local dealership, and thank goodness, it was a good job. I love what I do, but what I would give to own a cute indie bookstore!
Something that carries the books from all my favorite authors, not just the popular ones on TikTok. We would serve coffee and tea in the mornings, but have weekly wine-and-book club nights. Maybe a cozy fireplace, even if it’s just electric, in a reading nook where someone could get lost in a fantasy world.
Those are just pipe dreams, though. Nothing that would ever be real, not to a girl like me. I brush a stray tear off my cheek before any more can follow, and climb out of my jeep in the parking lot of the service center. I straighten my clothes and stride in like a woman with dreams that she can…maybe one day reach.
Alright, Kyra, let’s tackle the day. Fuck Mike.
CHAPTER 2
KYRA
An obnoxious vibrating comes from my nightstand. Rolling over, I reach for the offending device. Peeking through cracked eyelids, I see my best friend's face shining back at me.
“You Hoe! Do you know what time it is?” I whisper, trying my best not to wake my fiancé lying next to me.
“Ummm, it’s like midnight, I think.” She is definitely drunk. Her voice echoes out of the speakers. I slowly climb out of bed, and I close the bedroom door behind me.
“Try again, beautiful. It’s like 2 am. What kind of emergency do we have tonight?” I scold with a smile on my face so she knows I don’t actually mind.
“Oops, I’m sorry, but I have news.” She is practically vibrating out of her skin.
“I’m waiting.”
“I told you about Graham and Demitri, right?”
“Yes.” I just laugh, waiting for her to get to the point.
