e more in tips than I di

them. Her lipstick was smudged, her chest blotched with a fresh bite mark. She looked like sin in

er my shoulder,

slipping

l learnin

w. "That excuse has

to my bag. "I'll mak

nother piece of candy in her mouth and

the best t

ike it was the natural order of things. A week ago, that w

d been eyeing me for half an hour. He didn't hesitate. Took her h

't have bo

it

ed, later that night. We w

gged.

a flask. I too

What i

t on the couch like a cat. "Burns

across the cushions. She looked tired. Not in the way sleep

" I admitted. "Like every nigh

ne eye open. "Th

t pa

ou. Then they crave you. Then t

pposed to

ded me a cigarette. I didn't

e not here to be seen. You're here to make them think they're seein

r. "You ever o

ed, sharp. "

waiting on the fire esca

to her frame, smoking something stronger than cigar

t sleep,

eyes narrowed. "You th

way

spot beside h

eneath my thighs. The night

joint. I took it. Let it warm my lungs, ma

you think," she said. "E

her. "Why

stared out over the rooftops like

me from disappearing," she said finally. "I

ce stretched

said, "And because I like you better when y

in her bed

. No sl

s they couldn't outrun. It wasn't tender. It wasn't wild. It

on, but they didn't take anyt

cooling, the hum of the city le

ean somethin

over our hips. "It means we're n

mehow,

rning, Luan

g. Just an empty l

Dante sold her off to someone higher up. Others sai

believe a

ished, the truth didn't ma

't speak of

ame way I looked at myself in the mirror after long nights

t talk a

kept d

bothered by Luan

n like it was mine all along. L

n stage," he said.

t say t

d out like my heels wer

*

the spotlight, I

der. No

.. re

I'd peeled back another layer and fou

ore. Some whispered

am

in. Her arms crossed, mouth tight.

e, she kissed me in the

e top," she whispered

her bac

th knew the f

of us planne