Burning empire

ide-eyeing the man in the bac

run for my life, hide in a totally innocent-looking luxury car, and now I'm be

didn't

. "Seriously, not even a

t, but Matteo could still feel its pres

ho accidentally sit in your car,"

" the man said coolly

Like, the universe brought us together for a reason. Maybe y

hut

. "Okay, wow. Clearly some

ace. Late thirties, maybe. Sharp cheekbones. Dead-serious eyes. That same expens

y not an U

use I got nothing. Just the pouch. No cash, no ID, not even clea

ot robb

"Then this is just... a very

ched like he almost

who you stole from,

grabbed it. Thought it might have a few credits, maybe s

the worst pos

ed. "Worse th

ze sharpened.

So I'm probably gonna die. That's fi

ce fel

.. do I get a name? Or do I just k

the glovebox, pulled out a small black

"Texting your boss? Your mom?

pped. He looked up,

up, sit still, and start thinking very carefu

d back, lips

tered, "I mean... probably

-

rting between the dashboar

glass. The silence wa

e grown-ups. You clearly have a gun. And... cheekbones that could cut glass

resp

ook, I'm not a threat. I'm a very minor inconvenience. You don't kill

linked, un

. "Okay. Fine.

still up like he was surrend

rk for you?" h

his head. That g

tural at stealing stuff-accidentally or not. I could be useful. You need someone on the gro

wa

gaze was

ayed the confidence card. But I learn fast. I'm like a stray cat - I

of the man's lip

lm

he

an

of the car - a trash can, maybe,

toward the sound,

teo

as

dived out of the car, a

is heart hammered.

he was half a block away, pantin

d around

as still i

sittin

tch

- he leaned bac

nd la

t echoed off the alley

s stomac

s he la

and ran into the maze of city lights, t

-

ewhe

peck of dust from his sleeve

ys," he said in

pau

n't know what

her p

I let h

then smiled - slow, sharp

I know exactly wh