Cephus’ POV

Chapter 151

Cephus’ POV

Katie has found a way under my skin, and each day that she is here, I feel myself losing my grip on things. I’m not soft, I can’t be.

In this world, there is only strength or weakness. Being weak is certain death, and strength is power, something necessary when you have men breathing down your throat and people shooting at you.

“I just don’t want to die yet. I have so many plans… My mom died rather young, and I want to fulfill everything before my time comes.” Her words cause a hole in my chest to form. She’s opening up to me about her mother and her death.

God, does it make me feel even more like a fucking asshole for treating her like shit, for putting her through all this. It has to be done, though, softness is a weakness.

She sounds defeated as she talks about her mom. I knew when her father came for money what his story was. His wife had died from cancer, so he was alone with a daughter and needed to find a way to make ends meet.

“What type of cancer did