lood on my

self had rebelled against me. Annoyed, I flicked my wrist, inspecting the damage. It would need to be burn

inal, pitiful wheeze before collapsing entirely. His head lol

het

ss the concrete floor. The warehouse stank of sweat, metal, and fear - the same cocktail o

dro said from the doorway, arms folded

pocket, lighting it with a flick of my lighter.

said simply, as if th

ng the bridge of his nose

rolling the cigarette between my finger

, clarity wa

ue further, h

ugged off my blood-spattered jacket a

ed without looking at

s,

ving me and Alessandro al

he city lay beyond - sprawling

c

kin

f this city ever since

ontrol a

s I have been bred for. But lately, there was som

Mor

my closed eyelids - soft, sweet, unaware

b. The most beautiful girl I've ever seen. She looked like she didn'

curves, her hair a simple river of brown, cascading down her

cross the room, unable -

o a blur, she had stood out li

ething insid

need. Bone-deep

r

ted like sin

y in the crumbling part of the city, living a miserable life u

. But soon, she will be mine

oice broke thr

nking about

't a qu

der at him, inhaling de

diffe

ous." Alessan

f a girl, trapped in a miserable

ngerous when you're reckless. And ob

oncrete, studying the em

eckless," I

night for speaking out of turn. You're planning God kn

said, my voice sh

sighed again -the heavy, resigned soun

lan?" he aske

er my boot, savoring the fi

said, voice low and delibe

f she

, slow a

won

n't have choices, not in a

under his breath in Italian

oking back, my mind already

and she'll be by my side even if I

*

the clink of glasses, and the spinning roulette wheels sang like sirens. It was just another night in my em

of whiskey untouched in my hand. Alessandro lingered a few

aught my eye. I stiffened,

zo Mo

istance. His shirt was wrinkled, hair mussed, and his eyes - greedy, hungry, and reckless - darted aro

led c

dealt me an un

e shift in my posture

" he aske

ng the glass down on t

e. Oppo

ht of Vicenzo at the blackjack table, already

Alessandro said, a sta

ice tight with satisfa

ndro t

ou're thinking, be car

looked back down at Vicenzo fumbling with his chips, sweat already beading at his t

andro's protest, I descen

he air around me. I approached Vicenzo slowly, savoring the way he looked up and immedia

asked casually, sliding in

blinked,

the hell

earby players stiffened. I let the in

leaned forward slightly, voice dropping. "Hi

he had - bristled at the cha

ying to puff himself

thinly. "

. Poker - a fitting game for the

n small hands deliberately, feeding his ego,

worth more than his monthly earnings. Sweat rolled down his temple. Hi

e pot was obscenel

and. Imposs

it yet, but his

e pot with trembling fingers, a cocky g

ards, amico," I

lourish, revealing a full house. He lea

of a

from his face. T

hips toward me. The spectators, sensing the

said softly, eac

e empty space where

have that k

my voice a blade

arrange some

h out of water. I rose to my feet, smo

my tone brooking no argument.

lready knowing what I was planning even

unlocking what I want, and I wil