SURVIVING

EN'

other tough task. I looked around the room while dressing up, Poppy had left a few hours earlier. She seemed like she was the only one happy abo

ping that Kasha wouldn't find out about her sneaky link. The Poppy I knew now was brand new , she always had a smile on, no matter how Kasha would want to try so much to make them disappear. She had tough

ound almost as harsh as the look she gave me. There seemed to be a no knock policy in the manor. Any of the

in the car ASAP!," she snapped, her tone bit

her words dripping with venom. "What do you thi

usy in her voice, even if she was trying to hide it. It didn't matter that I wasn't trying to b

were Terzo's favorite, I don't think you'd be here giving me orders," I sa

ut, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking my head back. The pain was instant

k you can talk t

, her grip

air heavier as I looked u

pulled my head back even more, making my ne

oss here, not yo

n't last a second if I didn't l

in her voice. I wanted to fight back, but I knew better than to provoke

legs wobbled, and for a brief moment, I thought I might fall, but I steadied myself, sw

rzo's waiting for you," she said, her voice still dripping with

her words. I didn't have time to dwell on it. Straightening up, I slipped into m

the door, leaning casually against the frame.

asked, his voice l

o's voice, low and demanding from t

and I wasn't about to test him. I swallowed hard, forcing the words that were trying to

headed out to the car where Terzo stood, his eyes locked on me. The tensi

. That's when I saw her-Kasha. She was standing by the manor, her eyes locked onto mine with a glare so intense it felt lik

n moving, but the air in the back seat was thick with tension. Terzo was sitting across from me, his posture stiff and his expre

ving. We hadn't spoken since the last time we'd ridden together, and that distance, that coldness-it was worse now. He was my b

e the tension. I didn't expect him to speak, nor did I want him to. I had no desir

ade my skin crawl. I didn't know what to expect from him, and honestly, I didn't want to find out. I just wanted the rid

ying to ignore the tension in the air,

me of the last time we were in Vegas, when he had stared at me like he'd never seen a woman before. I'd been in that dance costume,

e him any reason to think I was paying attention, especially with Terzo sitting acros

knowing that every move I made was being watched-not just by Terzo, but by the others who di

r thick with tension as I stepped out. The sound of the engine cut off, a

rz

ngs. As always, there was something unnerving about the way he carried himself, like he was

reached into his jacket and

eld it out to me without a word. My heart skipped a beat. The weight of it in h

o a weapon like this before, never held anything so final in my hands. But there was no time

e said, his voice cold and comma

whitened as I gripped it, trying to steady my breathing. The weight of it was heavier than I expect

of panic rising inside me. "Got it," I mut

toward the entrance of the club. I followed him, but the gun was now a constant presen

the noise, the lights, and the heat of the night. Ev

flashing in chaotic patterns. My eyes immediately started scanning every corner, every face in

ight of the night pressing down on me. As I sat down on one of the high stools, the ba

is tone polite, but there was an

of the situation hit me harder than I expected. This wasn't just about getting the job done-it was

strong," I said,

get me throu

s. I didn't care what it was; I just needed the burn, the rus

sic thudded in the background, but I wasn't listening to it. I was listening for anything t

y throat, helping to dull the sharpness of the situation. My eyes were st

sence impossible to ignore even from across the room. His eyes locked onto mine, and for a

t. He was leaning against a table, a drink in hand, chatting with a couple of

d, making sure he saw me approach. My heels clicked against the floor, sharp and purposeful, as if the sound alone coul

see the recognition in his eyes. He was expecting me. I kept my pos

walking into a meeting-I was he

was nothing more than a plaything. It was the way he looked at me, with that smug, entitled expression, that made my skin c

rom the bar to get his attention. I made sure to act like it was nothing special, nothing o

ed, he set his drink down and pushed away from the table. The movement was subtle, but it was

h. I just waited, knowing t

interest in them now-more curiosity than anything else. He stopp

d, his voice smooth

ce steady. It was the name they'd given me for the job, the one that kept things clean

anning me once more, assessing me like I was his next plaything

skin, but far enough to keep things mysterious. I let a small smile play

y words that I couldn't hide. The last thing I wanted was for him to think he could easil

e. "Fun, huh?" He chuckled, clearly pleased with my response. "

to his. He was still a game piece to me, and I wasn't about to show him too much. "I'm sure you

gered on me, like he was trying to piece together something that wasn't quite adding up. I kne

gave me a moment to gather my thoughts, to assess the situation. The game had officially begun. I was

ng in closer. "So, Mercedes... what

but it was a tight,

ime, actually. I'm just here to

he mystery I was giving him. I knew he was the type who enjoye

gleaming with interest. "Well, I'

before answering, keeping my tone light but non

ed forward slightly, his voice lowering as he spoke aga

of my eye. I had to be careful-there was more going on here tha

here? I know a more peaceful spot where we can talk, away from all this noise." His tone was smooth,

n't the ideal setting to carry out my task. A quieter, more private sp

my expression neutral. "S

catch a glimpse of someone in the back of the room-someone who had been watching me this entire ti

as aware of Terzo. I couldn't afford to give anything away. So, I gave a quick, subtle glance toward Terzo-just enough to acknowledg

a small smile and accepted, allowing him to lead me toward the quieter part of the club, but

e club. As we walked, I felt the pulse of the music vibrating through the walls, but th

sparsely decorated. A few people were scattered around, but they were preoccupied, leaving us to our own

he said, his voice smo

as here for a reason, but Felix didn't need to know that. I let him walk a litt

Felix seemed to grow more

suggested, stepping closer to me. His hand slid a

iece of jewelry, but in reality, it was a tool I had been handed for this very moment. My he

o busy to

longer the suave businessman I had been speaking with-his intentions had shifted the moment the door closed behind

w, as he reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me

had in mind. I had a task to carry out, but this

voice firm but shaking slightly. I could feel the te

g me closer. "Slow? We're not kids anymore, Mercedes. You'

n his touch. Panic crept up my spine, and I had to force myself to stay calm. I wasn'

more force, pushing against his chest. "Yo

against mine, his breath hot on my neck. I could feel his hands

I couldn't just let him overpower me. But Felix wasn't backin

get," he sneered, his hand moving t

ng me seriously, and I could feel the situation spiraling out of control. This

econd, I mad

d pulled out the gun Terzo had given me earlier. The cold metal

saw the gun, and his grin

rned, my voice low but sharp

first time, I saw fear flicker across his face. He to

his voice strained.

y raised, aimed right at his chest. "You'll stay away from me.

t, we just stood there in the silence, the tension thick between us. His