Chapter 51

    Chapter 51: I could keep you

    Lyric's POV

    The streets were eerily quiet, the distant hum of traffic the only sound breaking the silence. My breath came in shaky exhales, my mind racing as I walked. Every shadow felt like a threat, every passing car made my pulse spike. I had no real plan—just a desperate need to act.

    I tapped my phone screen, my fingers trembling as I typed a message.

    Uncle, where are you? It’s urgent.

    No response.

    I tried again. And again. Still nothing.

    Panic tightened my chest. If Alessio’s men were after him, they had probably already tracked his usual spots. If I could think like them, maybe I could stay a step ahead. It could all be a huge waste of time, but I had no choice.

    But where would he go?

    Despite being an asshole, my uncle had a lot of friends—or frenemies. Any one of them could be harboring him.

    Or he could be out of town. Hell, he could be out of the country as we speak. But I had to try.

    I stood at the nearest bus stop and took a bus to the first place that came to mind—my uncle's favorite bar.

    The bus arrived, its brakes hissing as the doors creaked open. I stepped inside, swiping my card with shaking hands.

    The ride felt endless. My mind replayed my aunt’s words over and over. If you leave, don’t come back.

    Did she really mean it?

    I bit my lip, fighting back another wave of tears. I didn’t have time to fall apart. Not yet.

    When the bus finally stopped near the docks, I stepped off, my shoes crunching against the gravel. The air smelled of saltwater and rust, the night thick with tension. The warehouse loomed ahead, dark and lifeless.

    The bar was crowded, as expected. I pulled up my hoodie to avoid being recognized by any of Alessio's men. I knew every inch of this place—I had sung here once in disguise.

    The owner, a shrewd man in his sixties, had a wandering eye for naive young girls like me. You could get any information out of him, as long as you were willing to do something inappropriate, illegal…

    Or even lifeless.

    I hesitated at the entrance, pressing my back against the cold metal door. My pulse pounded in my ears. If my uncle was here, I had to get him out. If Alessio’s men were already inside… I didn’t want to think about that.

    Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

    The dim glow of a single flickering lightbulb barely illuminated the space. Stacks of crates lined the walls, and the floor was littered with empty beer bottles and cigarette butts.

    “My whole bar is ruined. Completely ruined!” the owner cried out. He stood at the side, looking at the mess. “I leave for only a minute—”

    He trailed off when his eyes met mine. I quickly looked away, uncomfortable. Everything about him—from his gray stubble to his leather sandals—gave me the creeps.

    His entire face lit up when he saw me, you would think we were related “You… What’s your name again?”

    I stared at him.

    “Something to do with a song… Melody?”

    I shook my head.

    “Tune?”

    I shook my head again, growing annoyed. I needed to find my uncle, not play charades.

    “Jazz?”

    “Harmony?”

    “Rhapsody?”

    Really? Someone named their kid Rhapsody?

    “Sonata?”

    He scratched his head, then snapped his fingers. “Tuna?”

    This was getting irritating. I punched the words into my phone, and the robotic voice recited them in a strained tone, reflecting my annoyance. “I am in search of my uncle.”

    His half-smile vanished into a deep frown. I instinctively took two steps back. Then, without warning, he grabbed a half-broken bottle from the floor and hurled it in my direction.

    I dodged just in time, but a shard of glass scraped my cheek. I covered my face, hissing in pain.

    “That motherfucker took my money and ran,” he spat. “And some men came here this afternoon and ruined my bar!”

    With shaking fingers, I reached for my phone, but before I could type, he knocked it out of my hands with the back of his gun. A loud popping sound echoed, and a yelp escaped my lips.

    “Get out! GET OUT!” he roared, veins bulging from his neck, his wild eyes burning into mine.

    I had to leave. I had to.

    But my legs felt cemented to the ground.

    He lunged forward, his rough hand latching onto my wrist like a vice. My wet eyes met his. I hadn't even realized I was crying. His grip tightened, crushing my fingers.

    “On second thought…” His lips curled into a sinister grin. “Why don’t I keep you? You’re young. Beautiful. You could bring me real cash.”

    I froze as his fingers, coated in some sticky, glue-like liquid, grasped my face. His breath reeked of whiskey and something rotten.

    Angry eyes. Murderous eyes.

    My heart pounded painfully against my ribs.

    “Why are you shivering all over?” he sneered. His hand trailed down—past my collarbone, past my stomach—before pressing a cold, hard object against my hip.

    A gun.

    A fucking gun.

    This was my end.

    I shut my eyes tight as he slammed the gun into my stomach. Pain exploded in my brain, and I doubled over in his arms, completely at his mercy.

    “Hey, Larry, what do you think of this one?”

    “Chubby, but not bad. I want two rounds with her.”

    Voices. Laughter.

    I wanted to scream, but the agony swallowed my breath.

    Then—

    A loud, piercing shriek.

    The owner’s voice.

    Before I could process what was happening, strong arms swept me off my feet.

    We were running.

    That was all I could make out.

    Bang! Bang!

    Gunshots rang through the air.

    The person holding me cursed under their breath in a foreign language I couldn’t understand. My head lolled against their chest as I struggled to stay conscious.

    I forced my eyes open, desperate to see who had saved me.

    But the darkness consumed me before I could make out anything—

    Except for one thing.

    A tattoo on the underside of their stomach.

    A four-leaf clover.

    But with black petals.

    "Don't worry you are safe with me. " The voice assured me, but I didn't feel safe. I was dying, I could feel it. It reminded of that accident all long ago. The accident which took my voice. My mom.

    "Lyric, open your eyes. Keep them open. " The voice said, I heard the ignition of a car engine. When did we get into a vehicle?

    I tried to peep but my eyes lids were heavy. I wanted to sleep. I was sleepy. The pain was overbearing.

    I felt a shadow come over me, his cologne infiltrating my nostrils. "Open your eyes. No no no___"

    Darkness took over.