pher Gr

said, clapping her hands as

ys did. She giggled as I pressed a long kiss to her cheek, and th

ble," she whispered near my ear, a

d. "You

ke it? I love it! It has glitter, an

trawberries?"

riously. "I ch

rabbed her little backpack and turned tow

to my friends! They're

the straps on her backpack

hen gave me one last q

isappeared down the hallway w

hat, the house f

a was staying in. My footsteps were st

he looked startled-like she hadn't expected to see me-whi

he said softly. "Uhm

zing?" I cut in gentl

ng eye contact. "Oh... no

room for a second, then back at her

as just... trying to

er for breakfast?" I

smile. "I think..

looked. "You're dressed. Are you going ou

stepped back and gestured down the hallway. "Com

tated, th

g for two people. The silence between us

ngers curling around the mug in front of h

good. Died thinking he could fix

a pause.

was never the woman

d at her. "You'r

ne for a moment, uncert

r pulled back in a loose bun, drowning in one of those old swea

I asked, leaning

e. "Loud. Fast. No one

liked

made it easier

at pa

asked, not sure why I

rrowed sligh

, casually stabbing at my

ught off guard.

rget

g me. "No. I'm not. Haven't f

, chewing the in

ered before I c

time, it reached her eyes.

other sip of my coffee-even th

t up my ph

y throat, pushing back the chair. I slipp

somewhere to be," I sa

ntly tilted her chin with two fingers

ving you

that, I

My driver was already waiting. He opened

aved in my phone, not written an

trial zones. Too far for police to bother. Far enough to

e was lon

ything close. The further it was, the e

rounded by nothing but gravel and broken streetl

The wind kicke

lace people screamed in

mell of rust, dust, and

ropes on some poor bastard groaning in th

e damn place. Legs spread wide, a half-lit cigar between his fing

s eyes dragged over me. "

I said coolly, flicki

toward Collins. "Yo

red, cracking his knu

egotiate. "Alright, Ge," he muttered. "What's your deal? You k

e silence

"You lost o

ding us dry. Your little street rats keep intercept

slightly. "That's

confession wait

s guards moving

ng m

ot to the first guard's throat. I followed up with the se

cigar falling to t

, aimed straight

've stayed i

th hitche

an

ll behind him as his bod

calm as ever. "He thou

tching the blood poo

pecially not thieves who b