His Broken Plaything

leather. I leaned back in the plush seat of the Bentley, pulling off my gloves and wiping my hands with a damp cloth. It didn't do much. The scent was the

os

ing at me through t

blood on y

rk smear just below my tie.

or the he

a cleaner rag from

ore you get home and scare

ic ad

ade me

they're stayin

explain to her six-year-olds why

ain. The fabric was too far g

hem running to Mom, saying I l

c chuc

ght-up faint. Lexi, though? She'd pr

econd thought. If there was a way to make a mess, she was already in the middle of it. Aria, though, was the total opposite. So sweet and sensitive. she'd start crying i

mehow, it worked. Having them around always made things more... unpredic

ep my distance u

with an ease that came fro

ywa

breaking t

about tonight? O

the roof. The night had been pretty straight forw

some excuse and making a fool out of me. Turns out, he lost all his cash on some dumb game he thought would double his pay. Got sucked into

ess. He couldn't pay, so we made him understand that in the usual way. A few broken ribs, snapped a few of his finger

. The night should've just ended with Carter, but it didn'

s the l

th, thinking about the g

he doubt, and they turn around

He was used to my rants, especially when things went south. The spy,

nk he wa

ce low as he swerv

y mind. The spy, caught red-handed trying to dig up info for a rival cl

o,

my voice

re's no way they woul

e fuck out of me. A reminder of how easily blood could be spill

tely them. T

get dangerously obvious. They were a more refined bunch, known for their underhanded tactics, blending into high society while scheming behind closed doors. For yea

ey'd come for

tered, his

e handled th

row

t y

o think through

they can push us around just 'cau

ngers against the cool surface

rders of our territory. Every angle covered. If they think they can w

t right

, his voice

out to th

dde

ng. They're too comfortable. We need

o retaliate

ncing back at me,

lay low for a while. Let

a point. Laying low was always a strate

no chaos. Let them think they've won

arview mirror where our eyes met. Dom smir

ines

ed to

sin

aned

ll their supply chain from under them. Watch how fast t

s might've had the upper hand in social circles, but in our

ow what happens when you cross the line. Hit 'e

then his voice came, softer this t

, your nieces are staying over this weekend.

nd shifted gear

re ri

leaning back in the sea

over. I don't want them

ir, pushing it back as I l

a small, unde

to be glued to you, thinking she's your little protector. You're gonna need a clear

tension in my shoulder

I'll let The Alvadores think they've got a win. They

d ca

eady, like he knew thi

e of 'king of the castle' or whatever it is she calls

, even though it w

mess, I'll be lucky if I can

Aria see you all

grin through the

down if she thinks

m a point

I'll be

ked open slowly as we approached. Few more minutes and the manor came into view, the dark stone and big windows

like she'd just seen her favorite celebrity, while Aria stood calmly beside her maid, clutching her stuffed bunny. Even from here, I could tell s

you've got a

reading across his face

ed my

can see

p, Lexi was already sprinting toward me, arms wide. Aria followed, a lit

e Ced

actically tackli

take it e

r up for a second bef

oice came fro

kay, Uncle

, leaning down so

t, I'm fine. Jus

onto that bunny like it

ing in again, her voi

for a pillow fort, and you'r

nic, who was giving

I'm stuck fo

rying not

ing me a wink as he p

k with th

turning back to the girls who w

ht, let's see w