KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS

city of

might have entertained the thought once or twice. Or thrice. Sue me

boss. I could barely see him under the dim lights, but his eyes shone like beacons-blue enough to rival the clearest ocean.

fer him her tits as a drink service, which is a new level of

ld also have a sour personality, hence my current position sprawled on the

; I thought as I glared

when I noticed the

ose di

s about to spont

repeated over an

ting in my head. Definitely not how the su

You're meant

ed daydream, I decided it was final

do

the h

ew everywhere, and the glass table beside me exploded into a thousand glittering shards, pulling me out

no, no

My chest tightened, my vision blurred, and my mind spiraled with wo

say to do in moments like these

to whisper through trembling lips. "Five

rpses. Glass shards. Broken furn

G

trying to steady myself. The cold floor beneath my fingers. My body trembling uncontrollab

voice breaking. Screams. Gunfire. The low,

The grounding techn

things you can smell," I whispered, thoug

n taste." The dry

like an unrelenting tide. My chest felt like it was being squeezed in a vice

e

s started. Images of her bloodied, lifeless body sprawled across the clu

ad. She could a

rth. The thought was too much, too overwhelming. My mind spir

I saw

aos, his expression grim and focused. He was saying something, bu

mine. There was something fierce in his eyes

vive this," I mumbled, the words

s the tormented look on his fa

************

murings coming from a dire

n Earth

d in shades of darkness-blacks, deep mahoganies, and a medley of colors that scream

ympic event, and made my way toward the door, only to be g

gures out who we are? It's too risky! We could

at all and why the hell w

tely the rude fool who had made a mockery of me earlier. Revenge simmered

She's the enemy and she'll ruin everything we've b

n some surreal blend of crime

rom the door. My clumsy self obviously miscalculated and collided w

ht, praying to every deity I could

ore the man-Nikos- broke it, his v

verything you n

ess they h

door swung open, and suddenly I was pinned down by

bly," Nikos said, clearly reveling in the drama. Iason reluctantly released me but remained poi

k a shit in his

hat could land someone a role in a horror film. With my hands raised

appened. Even the part about you keeping me. I'll even forgive you for tossing me to the f

t was the kind filled

I straightened my posture and

o back down from any man-no

ughed even harder displaying t

goes my

date me," he began, his accent heavy. "B

chin in a way that was both u

noring OMERTA requires that I kill you for overhearin

ust! I chanted in my mind, trying to focus on his

and you just happen to be the perfect solution,

ted out, utter

exclaimed, as if he had just

continued, "but being a major sharehol

ng to process t

o, kill me?" A murderous glint flashed in his

. Chaos you could have avoided by giving me what I want. Then, I'll take your company, b

the bed and playing with a knife that seemed to have appeared

aid, glancing at his watch. "Or Iason will call my men

ut her? And she's alive?

eading my thoughts. "But she could cease to be in," he loo

me. What would Babas

you are! I thought swe

anted in a sin

ted, the words flying out

egan to leave. Pausing, he turned back

so you know I wasn't bluffing. I can't wait to do business with you, Adira." And jus

e in my hands, trying to process the w

have I gotte