ly

dingy underground mob clinic. The acrid smell of cheap antiseptic and stale iron f

narrow cot. A tiny muscle twitched beneath his left eye,

ed you out of the fire one more time. You're welcome," he sneered. He accused me o

ed pillow and asked him how I could possibl

roat raw. "How can you c

otion and interrupted the mob doctor who was trying to check my

ine tearing from the back of my hand with a sharp, searing pain. My legs gave out, and I st

"Where... where are you taking me?" I br

and forced me into the back seat of a waiting bla

ed up to The Phoenix Room. It was an exclusive, illicit club strictly reserved

Ryan would bring me to a hostile underw

service entrance like a captured animal. He pulled me into a lavish private VIP roo

ered me. "Special delivery, right on time,

que of syndicate wives and daughters. Seeing me, Victoria recoiled in mock d

ve shoes. "Ugh. Get that filthy rat away from my heels, Ryan

line of my throat to the room. He interrogated me about an anonymous tip leaked t

my wife?" he demanded, his grip tigh

accusation. "I didn't... I don't kno

their marriage certificate. He held it up in front of the syndicate elites, publicly declaring his legitimate union with Victoria for

th the back of his hand. The force of the blow sent me crashing t

ing in my mouth, warm and

al repayment for the protection he gave me in our youth. The

part of the perfect, wounded victim. She accused me of spreading mal

softly. "Trying to destroy my name in fr

gain, too broken to f

red body like a shroud of dark silk. She leaned in and whispered d

the rumor herself just

st my ear. "I needed him to finally despise you. I needed this public humiliation. N

my eyes wide with shock

acy of her confession. She jumped back and cried out, asking why I just attacked her. "Ahhh! O

oot into my stomach, the impact stealing all the air from my lungs. He unleashed a savage beating, blow after

but my father was al