That Sinful Touch

whisper of something dreadful drawing near. Xochi Gerald stood by the cracked glass of their small apartment window, her fingers absentmindedly tracing circl

It clung to the peeling walls and frayed curtain

couch. They whispered to each other, their voices soft and shallow, like children try

. And this time, there would be no hiding, no sweet-talking t

ering at her with wide, plea

n quiet tension. Her gaze remained locked on the rain-streak

earlier that night, slurred and soaked in whiskey:

ho measured family in terms of profit and leverage. And her gut

ve to wait lo

ot urgent but final. The kind of knock that didn't need

hands clutched the blanket

ms. Each step toward the door felt heavier than the last, her leg

ened t

uit. His face was unreadable, carved from stone, eyes empty of emotion.

?" he asked,

said, bar

ope, the emblem of Uncle Richard pre

man said. "You're exp

sting into a knot. It felt heavier than it lo

man added, as if absolving

ingers, then slowly shut the door. The apartment seeme

anic on her fac

i no

for her hand. "

were already p

nal, cold as ice. Her eyes darted across the words, and t

ria

ris M

e full payment of

s. A transacti

ent

right. He had cleaned up the mess-

re future, boxed neatly in a piece of paper. Ther

softly, crawling acros

d, voice cracking. She looked up fr

e... There has to be another way zee

tly. "And he already signed me away. Papa... he s

t sounded so different from her usual

the room

ch second dragging as if the earth itsel

e'll run. We'll figure something out, I know we wil

? We run? until they find us and hur

she reached for

er name was meant to go. A bla

ear her father's drunken assur

it w

p breath,

k sealing her fate little by little

y the tears clo

ay of buying their future, ev

, her voice barely holding. "Just for n

ted to scream. Meena's eye

into the fire, you're gi

mile. "Then I'll burn... Qu

hand tightly. "Wi

't answer

ant to lie,

now," she

the envelo

o was

a predator ready to devour. A chauffeur held the door open, his e

in an accent that sounded too

stepped into the car without a word

y into a mess of light and shadow. Xochi pressed her

life she had ever known. Her heart ached, heavy with fear and un

so

life had

s Mo

ld change