ZO'

-

r. It likes to show up when you'

e n

bleeding, and face covered in dirt. Not the poetic kind either t

d breakup text. But now, all I could hear was my own breathing an

re

as not how it wa

e. Racing toward some distant skyline. Not

ngs. They never survive

-

hadn't been fat

e it

als until he was in deep enough to drown. Every contr

the final

ed his d

shame. Just a shru

became

k the bait just a

auty. Especially not when it co

the lion's den. And while she was catching her breath and wondering why

ke I was more than a monster

n I stopped th

-

Held onto my sleeve like

I le

I wanted to be that

about your inner softness

just when I lifted the lid for the main co

. Boots. Loud,

tattoos

t Leone's.

yell. They don't shoot unless it's necessary. They sl

ly tripped over each other. One of them shouted Ar

.. they

ame fo

because they were skilled. But

-

s my ribs, a cracked phone, and about two-th

except me. I collapsed inside, fumbled for the go-bag, and bandaged mysel

bag. Bless that bottle.

bly thinks I

look she gave me before

sold her. N

cause it helped my plan, but because she w

things usually s

-

e I kept for em

One new messag

the only one w

fr

threatening. But

e was playi

't seen th

Ariana meant. Not just to me, but to

en to strike. Smart enough to send amateurs

nough to m

, just a gut-pun

he only one w

orse? They

-

in blood-soaked bandages, and let

re, Ariana was ba

that the ambush

for her. That I killed one of those

vanished like every o

s wasn'

her. Not

else wan

he was more

as va

t when I don

e wood. The orchard outside rustled quietly. I

to my coat and slung th

war to

longer just pe

urned Ariana

urn to find out

they'd