THE CONTRACTUAL HEARTBEAT

na

he most powerful build

. And not while high on adrenaline, half a can of neon pink spray pai

some kind of broken Banksy, outlining a giant bleeding heart with barbed wire curling

ct. The symbolism. Th

ouches would give it life. A cracked crown above th

scream You can'

ir AI bots and glass towers. People like them didn't see color unless it was green. My mother's old bodega? Gone. Our communi

this was

aint from the can when the click

mped. I tur

as smirking. Great. Another violation added to my record. I yan

't m

No. This one had authority laced into every syllable. It

d and nearly s

ting someone in a boardroom. Tall, broad, and built like every rich villain from a spy movie. He wasn't handsome in the tradition

Industries. Reclusive, rut

t defaced h

h

f to myself. "You're t

react. N

s if afraid I'd vanish if he moved too fast. His

this?"

ower now. Contr

quickly. "Must've b

le

t. I flinched, but he only pul

k suits emerged from the stairw

rying to play it cool even though my h

said. "You stole my neighborhood. I fi

ive' installations. Four minor arrests. No convictions. Currently banned from three gal

he hell did your

replied

rt-circuited

onto mine. "Yo

t he already knew everything about me, or the wa

stay and be psychoanalyzed, but I'm kin

" he said, interrupting me

ed. "What are yo

His eyes scanned it with unsettling intensity.

good," he

w," I

ood to

ed. "Ex

again. "I have

tty Girl makes s Deal with the Devil. Ends

ately. "I don't do deals w

ly. "You just committed felony vandalism. On private c

"So blackmail's y

ile. More like amusement, trying to

he said. "Good.

mmunity service campa

could smell the faint trace of e

fiancée,

"You nee

rviews. A few charity events. In exchange, your recor

ghed. "Is this

N

ne like you need

. "That's not

re in

But you'd

ms. "There has

alway

orate. Of cour

pital bills. My sister's tuition. A studio of my own. H

Stepford Barbie to Mr

ay.

" I said. "Or obedie

lied. "I alrea

. Was tha

gain, he stepped forwa

"Say yes, and you'll n

d at hi

the hell a

k away. Fight the c

the armor, the calculation calle

out and to

at, my world sto