Owned By You

NTAINS DRUGS

ande

sion like it's trying to break in. The thunder outside sounds like gunshots, but I

ng, about shipments, drugs, and rivals. The smell of cigar smoke mixes with w

ness. I'm not thinking about my

MM

er face keeps appearing in my head like a scar I can't erase. I remember how her eyes looked, afraid but strong.

her woman. Just one night. But w

ay beside me. But she was different. She didn't beg. She didn't cry. Sh

ng me. No one looks at Al

across the table. "The Black Serpents are

," I said, my voice cold and steady. "No wit

s, bribes. I should be listening, but their voices fade i

do I keep see

e golden liquid shakes slightly in my hand. I tak

leans close. "Boss, are

rp look. "I'm fi

but he doesn't push.

. I am off. My

ell, her warmth. The way her body trembled when I

mething hidden in her, something I can't explain. I don't know

e Serpents killed two of our men last night. Do we hit back?" I look up

et them think they're in control. Then, when the

argument. The men nod in

rge window beside me. The rain looks endless. For a moment, I se

care about her. I shouldn't even remember her. She's nothing, just a girl I met onc

ng touches me, no pain, no emotion, no weakness. And n

I sit alone with my thoughts. I pour another drink, the sound of the liqui

her. Her eyes. He

gainst the silence. It feels strange s

an't stop thinking that there's something in

. Or maybe... fate is

guns and betrayal. Nothing surprises

in years, I feel someth

I want to

I ca

rm outside grows louder, almost mocking me. No ma

r...She's alread

er again, not b

ause I

that night. Something I'l

t jumped when I saw Rico's name

Rico said, voi

in my chest had a place to go. I had been carrying that unknown weight for a day, and n

e?" I

et," he said. "She's there, Bo

ghtened. "Wh

"Seven men. Locals. Thugs

didn't say go. I didn't order anyone to move. I let the qu

ft. He said the thugs looked sharp with wine and anger. He said Summer was scared, trying to hid

but it was softer than a comma

-

h the slow, certain steps of men who knew when to strike. The city was still slee

smoke hit me. People peered through shutters, or they did not

e like dirt. I stepped in and my boots made no sound. The closer I got, the louder ev

en I s

tood around her like they owned the space. One had his hand on her wrist, another's fist rose aga

temple. She tried to curl into herself but there was no hiding. Her eyes met mine for the s

y mouth. I felt it coil under my

ce flat, sharp with command. The R

y. I stepped forward and the air changed. I watched as fists fell away and the thugs realized they f

when I reached to lift her. Her cheek was split, and her lip bled. Her

e nearest thug. My voice was

be brave. "It's....

on his collar until he gagged. I wanted to he

e. Someone said she was spyi

clasped her arms around her knees, trying to hide more of herself. Her eyes were red a

I ordered. "Tie their han

ike animals, spitting and cursing, but the truth was plain in their face

ed. Her body trembled against me. For a second she buried her face in my chest, and I felt the

I kept my voice low, "You're safe." She looked up at me with eyes t

didn't want to examine. I would not give her pity. I would not kiss her

the rear. Summer sat wrapped in a blanket, breathing shallowly. I felt the world tighte

He wrapped the wounds and gave her pills to dull the pain. I stayed at the

I would kee

w she was there, in my house, bandaged and breathing. My hands

oever used her body, whoever called her names, whoever thou

d the rain kept falling, but in that quiet I felt a new kind of hunger, one that had nothing to