THE BROKEN WOLVES
e's
YEAR
hte
umber, but it's
ast t
e and white striped dress, a uniform so clean I've never been able to w
ing customers looking like I went for a dive in my clothes. But today is different. Sp
rl it away, aiming for a small puddle a few feet away. It nearly makes it but falls short. Again.Poor
rthday present I've wanted since Mom closed her eyes when I was s
ee
that I'm happy to take full advantage of. When he's out of cigarettes, it's less of a perk and more of a keep your head down and
s hole-in-the-wall diner, who has never thought to ask if I'm old enough befo
the bruises on my arms and face because the makeup never lasts an entire shift. When I noticed a w
d up, I squeeze my eyes tightly shut, so it slides down my face like tears. It's just
me to get the rest of the money I've been tucking awa
ust-turned-eighteen-year-old with no references, so
ere the fu
t the half-garbled
t.
ired blond guy, Geoff, my boss, on the other side of the counter shoving a dark-haired, bl
as he stumbles back, nearly goi
in a gym, the belly that touches the cash register even when he's standing two steps
d about who owes whom money. I
ding spot was ju
runk to look further th
waiting for me once I return from taking him home. Not after the las
now I'm eighteen and an adult in the eyes
, unlike some of my past bosses, who acted like they'd never
ustomers I feel staring, I close my hand
nocks me o
unch to the gut before I bounce off it. Someone gasps. Not m
flying as ketchup from someone's plate of
y belly as a dull throbbing heat b
m a million miles away. I feel numb as I lay on the cold floor staring at the speckl
ave to hold it together f
without a smack in the face in
yourself late
ings open and a pair of pristine black leather shoes
ar often, especially in this shitty part of the city, st
t my
ed he even sees plain, Saige Leo with the drunk for a dad, long dark hair that doesn't know whether
blue eyes that shine like the facet of a gem. Flawless. A catlike smile of satisfaction
and it feels like an animal is staring back at me, but
st been se
oward me, I fo
s happening in another room and not right behind me. But it doesn't seem importa
neck. Probably getting ready to hit me again. I brace myse
ell-dressed stranger's voice is a w
th his powerful shoulders and the fierce burn in his eyes, only an idiot would think
ay faster than I bel
Silver glints at his wrist, drawing my gaze for a second. The name stamped on the watch's
s when I don't move to take
t he's talking about,
low. He seems happy to ignore the silent diners and the fact I have k
, or a fairytal
pain subsides enough that I can speak, wis
." His gaze darts over my shoulder to where Dad must be and his exp
this beautiful man who says I'm his, de
could b
y sign he's a predator an
't se
mile curves his full lower lip. "There's a
more than two coins to rub together goes for
ow while we wait out the rain. I didn
his expensive
you even d
ome." The next time he offers me his hand, I take
mmy for that. So he shouldn't find it that ea
ing of expensive leather and safety
ing like he's moving towar
er. Keep talking and I'll put my hands on you." His
Dad shrink back, terro
st Dad. When was the las
e. It's nev
the door handle and swings it open, revealing the rain hasn't slo
at him. "Sai
ul name. I'm Rylan. How do you feel about me
But he's still a stranger, so I try to soun
t a coffee. A
ut w
he ketchup drying on my chin when h
ate before. Maybe we
t and drapes it around my shoulders before he le
r look
on