Bound to be with the ruthless mafia

ter

lar as she'd hoped. Sometimes she stayed out late, lingering at the corner of the bar, sipping slowly, watching every new face that walked in. Sometimes she wanted t

going to give

ya asked as she stepped into

ridge with drinks. The glass shelves clinked s

offered, placing a hand on Eileen's arm. "I

u in danger. One mistake, and everything falls apart. I can't take that

rried but nodded. "

yes narrowing. "Promise me y

," she sai

ncing on his back. He looked cute with his blue shi

Maya," he greeted

osh," she said,

r conversations were still short and hesitant, but

nch?" he asked, l

greet your mom, too

said, flatly, bar

d him his

Mrs. Maya continued. "She woke up

mumbled, eyes

y's waiting in the

he called and st

deflated. Her s

y, and he's hurting. Keep showing him love, no matter how much he

. "I'll keep trying. I hur

tand what happened. If he did, he'd be

t like you. You know, Last year, he bought two pairs of N

yes lit up

José to pay a friend's hospital bill. Kep

ittle boy standing up to José. Maybe the

music smooth and mellow, and the whiskey in her glass burned just right. Eileen sat by herself at the counter, nodding her head softly to the rhyt

ted to hurt her again. He waited for it. But fuck Mike. She wasn't scared of him

ven up for the night when the female officer finally walked in. Eil

the bar, ordering a drink and pulling out her phone.

d was to get a number. Just a name. Just something that could lead her to the detective-without makin

on some lipstick, and turned around just slightly to flash

rf

e made a move like he was going to follow, but when she tu

ficer walked

th a bright smile as th

" the officer r

een said with a playful tilt of

laughed. "Yo

ileen lied, of

officer sai

." Eileen turned to the mirror and reapplied her lipstick. "A few nights ago, this de

asked. "What di

really see him well. But

w guy. Transferred he

l smile. "Do you think I could get

pulled out her phone.

g and handed it ov

r smile warm and sincere.

ty often,"

I'll be seei

silence, occasionally flicking those hateful eyes at her through the rearview mirror. But she didn't

rd cabinet behind a box of flour she knew José never touched, she retrieved her se

varez, was linked to that number and one of the four officers who ha

inally, A thread of

al

ive Al