Shattered Stars; Forced to marry the Mafia boss

le

ed, lungs clawing for breath as she ducked beneath a flickering streetlamp behind the theat

ears, and pulled out a crumpled flyer from her pocket. The ink ha

M Sharp. The Crescent St

. And soaked

as all she

. She gasped and pressed he

are yo

and lips bright red. She was dry, her hair was perfectly twisted, and her leather boots clicked conf

Elena whispered, voice

he girl said, stepping closer. Her voi

the audition

ned. "Well then. So am I."

le

ey're just starting. Come on." Dani

d, then gave t

together. Safety

soft squeak of shoes on tile. Elena's breath caught in her throat. There were mirrors, lights, and

sh

at was secondhand. Her c

said, already moving.

n another. Her hands clenched ar

e told hersel

d backwards lik

hree days bef

ping a glass so tightly it cracked. He l

ecial?" he sneered. "You think anyone

to try," sh

nd was thunder. "You try, and you fail. A

he said, bar

sted. "What

I won't c

shoulder had slammed into the wall. The

pulled h

a Mar

judge had ca

ilent, expectant. There was a small stage. A few people with clipboard

hair brushed back with surgic

d," some

e. Her knees threatened to

be

. Elena had chosen it because it didn't feel like acting. It felt like a confession. She let the lines s

didn't care if

eeded it t

ere was silence. A he

n with the

was...

do better," she sai

oice was low. Measured.

le

readable. "You've never train

k her he

e lived so

ffened. She d

't need

truth. But it also teaches co

hen paused. "Talent a

you?" s

just slightly. "D

his voice? His voice clung to her s

in. Elena stood under the awning, wi

e her, eyes wide. "Blackwell never

d. "He just s

r from him." Dani grinned. "You

rea

c. Then he vanished. Some say he had a breakdown. Others s

d. "Then why

e doesn't waste t

ere shaking again but not from fe

ou," Dani added. "Tur

to be a star,"

brow. "Then wh

s steady now. "I

d slowly. "Then maybe this place

Dani turned down another bl

"Thank you. Fo

. They're post

wil

her body was heavy with exhausti

d seen her. Not as a burden. N

left her things a tattered blanket, a backpack,

the corne

already

c Blac

t the wall like

he simply said.

stuttered. "Yo

But I had

e w

to go." His voice was

ooked

ght." He sighed. "Y

t trust

but not too close. "I'm go

idn't

't quit. In return, I give you time. You need training. D

y m

se pain like yours can't be faked. But if

ot a p

om his pocket and held it out. "My n

to leave,

he wa

et hi

t audition I've s

to the shadows, swa

ared at

. Just a number

c Blac

er chilled her bones. Her pulse was stea

she woul

or Do

n for t

or he

irst time... she

going to wast