ia

business, a high-end fashion bout

back entrance, I heard the hush

had used Syndicate money to pay for

dressing room and sat d

ked directly into his private office network, I

sing Chloe that he would transfer ownership of three of h

ain in my c

ed over me because I finally saw

ssociate slipped into the roo

feed from an illici

nounce her new status, but the regional boss

lly transferred five million dollars from the Family's clean,

it back, my thoughts shifting t

orts and emergency cash before the Fa

ast time, using the private service

he wall safe hidden behi

red ligh

ad already been alte

buzzed in

usly leaked Chloe's status as a homewrecking clu

he danger, the heavy lib

om, his chest heaving w

d and smashed it violently against the h

d he dragged me toward the massive g

nd violently shoved me out

unfiltered hatred as he told me

d glass door shut and lo

the city sudde

old, hard sheets that battered my shoulders and stung

, wrapping my arms around myself

unlocked the door, realizing that any visi

o grab my arm an

ay, rejecting his touch with ev

ng wet and freezing, and took the

g and into the dark, rain-slicked stree

unlit underpass beneath the main avenue, the st

rounded me, their breath reeking

me, laughing as they grabbed

g to inspect what a former mafia

kicking and thrashing, bu

my arms against the

avy wave of absolute d

rpass came the slow, rhythmic sound

hugs

ght, his tailored black suit seemin

d, empty voids of

hrough the damp air

hands off m

ated for exactly one second. T