The roar of Armando’s motorcycle vibrated through my legs, a wild pulse that surged up my spine, igniting a thrill I couldn’t explain. His bike was louder, more powerful than Luna’s, and I clung to his waist, feeling the heat from the muffler blast against my right leg like a furnace on the cool night air. My hair whipped behind me in the wind as we tore down the deserted highway toward downtown Phoenix. The night cloaked us in darkness, an eerie silence hanging thick in the air. As we approached a red light at the heart of the city, near the Japanese Friendship Garden, a jolt of familiarity hit me. I used to roam that garden as a child, and the memory burst into mind like the twinkling blue lights that had adorned it during my teenage years. Suddenly, we jerked forward, turning onto North Street, only to be halted again, trapped by an endless parade of red lights that felt like some cruel game of fate. The chill seeped through my thin coat, my fingers growing numb against the relent
The door slammed shut behind me, reverberating through the tense air of the room. I stood frozen in the center, my pulse thrumming as I faced the massive table that loomed before me. Ten chairs circled it—ten men, myself included—but not a single one was occupied.The four elders stood rigidly near the fireplace, their presence an unyielding weight that filled the room. They always claimed the head of the table, and challenging their authority was unthinkable. It was a mandate, etched in blood and tradition.Demetri, positioned just below the elders, held his ground like a fortress. His rules were law, and to defy him was to invite ruin.Across from me stood Marcus, a striking figure with piercing blue eyes and dark dreadlocks that framed his pale face like a crown of shadows. He was the president of the Lions Pact, the crew that ruled Flagstaff with an iron fist. Next to him, Elden leaned casually against the back of his chair. His buzz cut gleamed under the dim light, and his sharp
I took the beer, allowing her to guide me into a shadowy corner beside the house. As we settled into the weathered chairs, her gaze locked onto mine, promising secrets and revelations that could either save me or seal my fate. Little did I know, a storm brewed beneath her calm exterior.I sank onto the sofa near a burning barrel, its flickering flames casting dancing shadows around us. She joined me, propping her feet on the log that sat between us, the heat from the fire mingling with the cool night air.“Adriana,” she said, her voice smooth yet electrifying as I raised the bottle to my lips.“Maya,” I replied, offering a slight smile as the icy beer coursed down my throat, invigorating yet oddly soothing.“So, Armando, huh?” she asked, a hint of curiosity lacing her tone.I nodded slowly, letting the beer warm slightly in my hand, the condensation pooling on my palm. “He’s something,” she mused, her laughter soft but edged with something darker. I remained silent, letting the quiet
Demetri and I rode back into Phoenix as the sun began to claw its way above the horizon, the cold air morphing into a warm embrace around us. As we entered the town, I felt an unsettling mixture of exhilaration and dread. I didn’t know the name of the apartment complex where Jake had stashed my belongings, but at that moment, it hardly mattered. All I had were my essentials: my wallet and my father’s photograph. Everything else was expendable; I could replace a phone, even find a new place to live. Demetri veered off Park View Highway and pulled into a weathered diner nestled between a Walmart and a tire shop, the neon sign flickering in the early morning light. He killed the engine and leaned back, his gaze locking onto me as I hastily gathered my hair into a tight ponytail, steeling myself for whatever lay ahead.“I’m starving. Aren’t you?” he asked, his voice gravelly and low, as he swung his leg over the bike and reached out for me with his left hand. I grasped it tentatively, all
The rich, enticing aroma of breakfast slices through the haze of my dreams, pulling me abruptly from slumber. As I blink awake, reality crashes in: I’m back in my childhood bedroom at my mother’s, the familiar walls closing in like a cage. With a groan, I heave myself out of bed, my body protesting as I stretch, each crack and creak echoing through the silence. My gaze drifts to my bag, barely filled with the remnants of my life—clothes that likely carry the scent of neglect. I rummage through my old dresser, fingers diving deep into forgotten memories, finally unearthing a pair of sweatpants and a faded Nirvana T-shirt. I throw the shirt over my shoulders, feeling the fabric cling to me like a ghost from the past. My hair falls in wild strands around my neck as I twist it into a haphazard bun, giving up on perfection for the promise of comfort. Grabbing a laundry basket heavy with the weight of yesterday, I let the bedroom door fall shut behind me with a soft thud, then navigate t
I stare at my phone for a moment longer, then shove it into my pocket, feeling the weight of its secrets press against me. Turning to my mother, I force a smile, my heart racing beneath my calm facade. “Wish me luck!” I say, the words tumbling out with a mix of hope and desperation.Her smile is warm but tinged with an edge of worry as she moves in for a hug. “Good luck today!” she says, her voice steady but laced with unspoken fears.I pull away, gripping my purse tightly in one hand, my other hovering over the door handle like it’s a lifeline. As I step outside, I lean back in, my smile widening despite the knots in my stomach. “I’ll call you if I need a ride.”She nods, her eyes lingering on me as I close the door, watching until I see her car disappear from the lot. The moment the sound of her engine fades, I exhale, releasing the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The familiar swish of my scrubs fills the silence as I stride toward the entrance of the sterile hospital, the s
I let myself slip off the bed, my feet hitting the cool hardwood floor with a sharp thud that echoed in the silence. Each step toward the bathroom felt like a descent into another world, a pattern I knew too well. The moment I flicked on the light, it flooded the room, blinding me for an instant, but the harshness only magnified the chaos swirling inside.My body glistened under the light, droplets of sweat rolling off my shoulders and pooling against my skin, tracing an agonizing path toward my abdomen. There, the wound—now healed but marked by a scar—whispered tales of my encounter with Reaper. I rubbed my eyes, trying to dispel the haze of exhaustion, and cranked the cold water tap, splattering my face in a futile attempt to wash away the remnants of the night.“Come back to bed.” The voice, sultry and enticing, sliced through the darkness. A shadow emerged, morphing into Adriana as she stepped closer, her presence igniting a tumult of conflicting emotions within me. Her lips graze
I exhale sharply, pushing the tension from my chest as I stride toward the nurses' station. I settle into my seat, fingers tightening around the folder of patient charts, the weight of responsibility heavy in my grip. As I boot up the computer, the familiar hum of machinery fills the air, providing a false sense of normalcy. I dive into the reports for their release and daily charts, letting the rhythm of typing ground me until a voice pulls me abruptly from my focus.To my left stands a young woman, strikingly pretty with dark hair twisted into a clip, her brown eyes darting around the bustling emergency room. She wears mauve scrubs—the unmistakable uniform of the Neonatal department—an island of color amid the sea of blue that surrounds me. Her presence feels out of place, like a whisper intruding on a storm.She’s speaking animatedly with a new nurse who just clocked in—one I barely noticed while I was preparing to inject Reaper with air into his IV. The Neonatal nurse's laughter ri
I zip up my bag and set it next to the door, the tension thickening in my chest as I move toward the kitchen. I settle into a bar stool, the cold steel biting against my skin, and wait for Demetri. The hallway thrums with distant sounds, a symphony of life that feels worlds away from me.Adriana glides into view, draped in a light pink robe that sways gently around her form. Her hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail, strands cascading softly around her shoulders. My heart races, not from desire, but from the dread pooling in my gut.She greets me with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes, leaning in to plant a kiss on my lips—soft, familiar. But it feels hollow, a gesture stripped of warmth. “Good morning,” she whispers, her breath brushing against my skin as she wraps her arms around my neck, the intimacy of the moment stinging. As her hand travels down my abdomen, nudging at my groin, my body betrays me, stirring in response despite my mind's frantic warnings. I can feel i
When I awoke, the early morning light sliced through the window like a whisper, stirring a haze of dreams from my mind. The warmth behind me pulled me deeper into reality, and it took a moment for the memory to crystallize—I wasn’t alone. Demetri was here, nestled against me in my bed. A smile danced on my lips as I wrapped my arms around myself, pulling the covers tight against my skin, shielding the heat of my body from the cool air. I turned slightly and felt him there, all of him pressed against my back, the undeniable evidence of his desire pushing insistently against me like a force of nature. My heart raced as I allowed myself to sink closer into his warmth, the intoxicating heat between us igniting every nerve ending. But this blissful cocoon was destined to break. The faint sound of footsteps creaked softly on the carpet outside my door, a harbinger of reality intruding upon our sanctuary. My mother was home from wherever her night had led her, and my chest tightened at
Just the sight of Armando ignited a fierce anger within me, stirring a reckless impulse to lash out. In a fit of defiance, I texted Demetri. My fingers flew across the screen, a careless flirtation fueled by my memories of that electric kiss we shared one fateful night. I could still feel how his body had entwined with mine, how the moment had stretched longer than necessary until my mother’s abrupt interruption shattered our world.I sent off the message and slipped my phone into my purse, my heart racing as the last police officer exited the hospital. A cute cop named Roland handed me his card, his blue eyes glimmering with unspoken promise. “We’ll have a patrol car parked outside in case any of the Reapers Crew decides to return,” he said, his tone reassuring.“Thank you. That makes me feel a bit safer,” I replied, forcing a smile while my insides twisted. As Roland turned back toward his cruiser, I couldn’t shake the conflicting emotions. I huffed and stepped onto the sidewalk, th
She didn’t look at me the same way anymore, and I knew it was all my fault. The torment I put her through still clawed at my insides, but that wasn’t even the worst of it—Adriana hung over me like a specter, a secret she would never know. The guilt twisted like a knife in my gut, but right now, I had bigger fish to fry: finding Reaper.I followed Demetri outside, the cold air biting at my skin, when I saw the first patrol car creeping into the deserted parking lot. A chill ran down my spine. This was only the beginning; I could feel the storm brewing. The way the car rolled in made it clear they were suspicious. An investigation was inevitable, and I knew all eyes would land on us—sitting ducks in this godforsaken hospital parking lot, exposed and likely caught on camera.Anger simmered beneath my skin, igniting something primal as I kicked the stand out from under my bike. The engine roared to life, a feral growl that drowned out my fears. I shot after Demetri as he peeled out of the
I exhale sharply, pushing the tension from my chest as I stride toward the nurses' station. I settle into my seat, fingers tightening around the folder of patient charts, the weight of responsibility heavy in my grip. As I boot up the computer, the familiar hum of machinery fills the air, providing a false sense of normalcy. I dive into the reports for their release and daily charts, letting the rhythm of typing ground me until a voice pulls me abruptly from my focus.To my left stands a young woman, strikingly pretty with dark hair twisted into a clip, her brown eyes darting around the bustling emergency room. She wears mauve scrubs—the unmistakable uniform of the Neonatal department—an island of color amid the sea of blue that surrounds me. Her presence feels out of place, like a whisper intruding on a storm.She’s speaking animatedly with a new nurse who just clocked in—one I barely noticed while I was preparing to inject Reaper with air into his IV. The Neonatal nurse's laughter ri
I let myself slip off the bed, my feet hitting the cool hardwood floor with a sharp thud that echoed in the silence. Each step toward the bathroom felt like a descent into another world, a pattern I knew too well. The moment I flicked on the light, it flooded the room, blinding me for an instant, but the harshness only magnified the chaos swirling inside.My body glistened under the light, droplets of sweat rolling off my shoulders and pooling against my skin, tracing an agonizing path toward my abdomen. There, the wound—now healed but marked by a scar—whispered tales of my encounter with Reaper. I rubbed my eyes, trying to dispel the haze of exhaustion, and cranked the cold water tap, splattering my face in a futile attempt to wash away the remnants of the night.“Come back to bed.” The voice, sultry and enticing, sliced through the darkness. A shadow emerged, morphing into Adriana as she stepped closer, her presence igniting a tumult of conflicting emotions within me. Her lips graze
I stare at my phone for a moment longer, then shove it into my pocket, feeling the weight of its secrets press against me. Turning to my mother, I force a smile, my heart racing beneath my calm facade. “Wish me luck!” I say, the words tumbling out with a mix of hope and desperation.Her smile is warm but tinged with an edge of worry as she moves in for a hug. “Good luck today!” she says, her voice steady but laced with unspoken fears.I pull away, gripping my purse tightly in one hand, my other hovering over the door handle like it’s a lifeline. As I step outside, I lean back in, my smile widening despite the knots in my stomach. “I’ll call you if I need a ride.”She nods, her eyes lingering on me as I close the door, watching until I see her car disappear from the lot. The moment the sound of her engine fades, I exhale, releasing the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The familiar swish of my scrubs fills the silence as I stride toward the entrance of the sterile hospital, the s
The rich, enticing aroma of breakfast slices through the haze of my dreams, pulling me abruptly from slumber. As I blink awake, reality crashes in: I’m back in my childhood bedroom at my mother’s, the familiar walls closing in like a cage. With a groan, I heave myself out of bed, my body protesting as I stretch, each crack and creak echoing through the silence. My gaze drifts to my bag, barely filled with the remnants of my life—clothes that likely carry the scent of neglect. I rummage through my old dresser, fingers diving deep into forgotten memories, finally unearthing a pair of sweatpants and a faded Nirvana T-shirt. I throw the shirt over my shoulders, feeling the fabric cling to me like a ghost from the past. My hair falls in wild strands around my neck as I twist it into a haphazard bun, giving up on perfection for the promise of comfort. Grabbing a laundry basket heavy with the weight of yesterday, I let the bedroom door fall shut behind me with a soft thud, then navigate t
Demetri and I rode back into Phoenix as the sun began to claw its way above the horizon, the cold air morphing into a warm embrace around us. As we entered the town, I felt an unsettling mixture of exhilaration and dread. I didn’t know the name of the apartment complex where Jake had stashed my belongings, but at that moment, it hardly mattered. All I had were my essentials: my wallet and my father’s photograph. Everything else was expendable; I could replace a phone, even find a new place to live. Demetri veered off Park View Highway and pulled into a weathered diner nestled between a Walmart and a tire shop, the neon sign flickering in the early morning light. He killed the engine and leaned back, his gaze locking onto me as I hastily gathered my hair into a tight ponytail, steeling myself for whatever lay ahead.“I’m starving. Aren’t you?” he asked, his voice gravelly and low, as he swung his leg over the bike and reached out for me with his left hand. I grasped it tentatively, all