INO'S

, naïve girl I had been promised. Not the small, soft t

r voices when I walked in. They chose their words

n my world. Respect was

iley C

She chewed her steak like she was ready for a f

ange reason, that did not disple

men like me did. We lift glasses and we meas

ry unrefine

le. "Thank you." Short. Dry. L

dared me to step closer. I should have been angry. I

re was this pull

and someone daring me to climb. It was a

rcus wa

ed to be. He barged through the

middle of dinner." He looked at Hailey

lled me. Not the slow, steady cold I carried

in like that. Not at

d. How's prison?" He smir

k the room. Her eyes curved and she looked alive for a se

I wanted to snap his neck. But that would be too

king him to the edge where he

softened her face. For a moment she looked less like

glared

. "You'll survive. Just do

then left with a whistle. I watched him go. I

voice in my ear months ago telling me of her father's se

that had crept into my c

he clink was soft. My voice was

Of course. He's funny. You should try it sometime

ed like a pebble in still water and made smal

all mistake, made me wa

ey. My patienc

but she held her chin high like a queen who

mine,"

ks, Dangerous and sharp. I could

s going to have fun breaking

at once. Not in a childish way. In the way I handl

hem apart, see the parts, learn how they work,

ed back, ate steak with both hands. She called s

my men joked about

ad let me see her laughter. It had shown me how s

ss and sipped like noth

the cutlery. I watched the way she chewed, the small movement

own. But she did not look like she was searching for approva

I said low, and the

ened. That would be the game now. Push. P

. Controlling. Necessary. And I would see if she w

ne thing: She would not make me