Contract Hearts

ia'

eat after school. Her bright chatter filled the car. Marcus's message on Josh's phone st

tely. A crisp white envelope tucked neatly on the front step. No stamp

I muttered un

sualness into my voice as I stepped out and picked u

a snack and cartoons. Then I slipped into the bathroom,

Park a few days ago. Her little hand in mine,

red X slashed

into the sink. My breathing came hard a

age had already burned itself into my mind. Someone was watching

t friend and I met. Maya was already there, her dark hair pulled into a messy bun, designer sunglasses pushed up on he

d before I even sat down. "You

y hands shaking as I reached for the menu I

ropping to a whisper. "Sofia, yo

hen pulled out my phone and showed her the photo I'd taken of

When did y

ick calling card." I tucked the phone away

d to call the p

t sharper than intende

nd. "What do you mean you can't? Some

everything I couldn't tell her. "It's complicated, May

ice was gentle but in

ink. Maya got her usual-oat milk cappuccino with an extra shot. When

inning. And don't y

member when I told you abo

h, you said it was just to get riche

felt like glass in my throat. "The tru

n my hand tig

cause of Josh's father. I thought if I could get close enough, I coul

w w

n us like a confession in church. "And I think he might be fa

ssing. "Sofia, this is insane. Yo

how it

en a couple at the next table glanced over. "But that d

be it's someone from my past who knows what I'm doing." I stirred my un

k he suspect

I didn't have to lie to. "Sometimes I catch him watching me like he's trying to solve a puzzle. But the

ead. "You're in

im. She's never had a father figure, and now she lights up

her heart." M

ncing at how cold it had gotten. "What am I supposed to do, Maya?

her fingers drumming against her c

out harder than I

igger than your r

l with Victor, his half brother.. He's the one who arranged all this, who gave me the in

What ha

nds. "He destroys me. He has evidence of things I've done, ways I've ben

pale. "Sofia, t

s getting into when I made that deal. I just didn't

"But it doesn't matter what I feel. I ha

heir laughter loud and carefree. I envied them for their s

me last night if I thought someone was watching us. Th

ng dangerous. What if whoever sent that phot

tomach lurch. "I won'

nsider ending this. Walkin

l. "You don't understand what he h

isn't worth El

ntended, and I quickly lowered my voice. "If Victor exposes me, I will lose her for

to argue, but something in

red," I

the strongest people I know. You've be

felt like my entire world was balanced on the edge of a knife. One wrong m

im?" I asked. "What if Jos

t too. But Sofia, you can't make decisions based

the first place. But I couldn't trust them now. I had to trust Vict

" I said, checking my phone.

eave. "Promise me you'll be care

d firmly. "I'll han

has on you, it can't be wort

n't understand. She'd never had to choose

ierce hug. "I love you, you craz

pushed them away. There was no choice here. Victor had made that clear from t

y to protect Eliza from whoever was threatening

keep searching for the information Victor needs,

as I pulled into the school

ems nice. It would be a shame i

people? What's going on? I tried cal

g for that black car Josh had mentioned. Nothing seem

just shifted. This wasn't just about me or my past with Josh'

dn't tell Josh. But I had to find ano

ther I was strong en