Craving her ruin

oint o

y're yell

our tiny house. His wife was screaming too, probably throwing dishe

tched out, counting the crumpled bill

e thousand two... o

!" she screamed

!" my brothe

. Heard it

popped it in my mouth, licking the orange dust off

tever. I didn't ask where it came from when I grabbed it. Guy

Just took what I needed and dis

k away from me!" my

und of the front

m. His face was red, veins poppi

to another chip. "I'm co

e wouldn't dare. He knew better. He's seen

nk this i

ht every day and still act like you

wn his face. "God

broke," I s

econd, breathing hard. Then s

er. C

d whispered, "You want to

raising a

a job

pt co

g another chip into my mouth. "Because last time you sai

at me with that face he makes when he's h

ime. This is

maybe you want me to seduce someone for info again? B

oice lower now. "And you won't ne

what

g on his knees. His eyes locked onto min

ap? People already think I'm a thief, a scammer, a walking

t joking

e rarely uses my na

. "What are yo

l wipe everything. No more fines. No more police

ewing. "You got that

e," he said. "A

he catch? You want me to sell a k

He leaned in clos

ou to kill

fro

again. "You'

mile. Not ev

ous?" I asked

dead s

m not a killer. I can barel

aid. "You just need to do thi

o is

e just stared at me

mpled bills in my hand, sudden

ed. "You want me to kill

odded

ll n

idn't

p crumbs off my shirt. "I

We'll prep you. You'll

w how to hold a kn

'll l

hy

d up at m

only one crazy enou

rted. "Wow. You're really doing all thi

htened. "I'm

o busy that you're sending your reckless little s

arp, cold. "This is

like this guy is still a threat, and yet he's locked i

his fist o

I was scared, but because

nd firm. "You think rotting in that cage

rot. Let him get e

he's finished, he finds a way to bite back. I took everything from

n prison. One of the worst hellholes in th

nger. As long as he can open his mouth, look someone in the eye, he'll destroy me.

fear I saw. It was obsession. Like he wasn't scared the guy

destroy his lif

it again. He had everything - my trust, my friendship,

is girl," I

my pride,"

nt quiet fo

o hell. But he made it his kingdom. A

whistle. "Damn. Y

d in the eye. "I

A job like that. A suicide mission, honestly. But if what he said was

ly te

t me to kill some convict king just

ce was ans

l me everything about him. But if I die in

older, and dropped it on the table between us wit

... just f

hing you need to know. His past, his habits

photos and old reports. One of the mugshots made me s

ttered. "This man doesn't lo

doe

s the plan? I go in there and magically st

small. Enough to put you in his block, not solitary. They'll assign you a

I go in, play nice, and hope he doesn't

" he said. "You'll have a

"What, you gonna s

dn't a

eyes. "Wait,

believe a girl just walked into that hellhole. You ne

arms crossed. "You've reall

t others. They all failed. He broke their bones,

armi

ifferent," he said. "

ou think I won't f

rious. "Because you're th

a second. The silence

re insane

ut of this mess? You want your name clean? Then m