Page 54 of Fractured Future

“Well, looks like the lady has spoken.” Warner surprises me with a good-humoured wink. “Come on, Tom. Let’s feed the beast before she has a full meltdown.”

“But—”

“Cheeseburgers,” I insist. “No hospital.”

He wearily shakes his head. “I was hoping your stubbornness had mellowed.”

“Keep dreaming, bro.”

All laughing, I snuggle into Tom when he bands his arm around my middle. His smell is a pure slice of home—old, legal textbooks and fresh peppermint toothpaste.

I’m really here.

I’m safe.

I’m free.

Not even the bloodthirsty whispers growing louder in the back of my mind can convince me otherwise. I survived the cartel. I don’t need violence to protect me anymore.

Now… I just want it.

CHAPTER 7

EMBER

STAY WITH ME – THRICE

“That was shockingly bad,768. You’re getting lazy.”

Panting from exertion, I let my sweat-soaked forehead crash against the training mat. We’ve been in the ring for almost ten hours. I feel like I’m going to throw up if I don’t take a break soon.

Looming above me, Carlos makes no secret of how my failing muscles disgust him.

“So weak! Pathetic!”

The powerful kick he delivers to my tender midsection causes me to scream out.

“P-Please…”

“What did I tell you about begging?”

Pleading with him only intensifies his rage. I should know better than to beg for anything after the blows he dealt before I knew what asking to rest would incite.

I roll onto my back, jelly-like arms wrapped around my stomach to protect it from another kick. The motherfucker loves to flex his authority when the boss is watching.

“Get up, puta!”

Sitting silently in the corner of the warehouse with a hand-rolled cigarette clasped between his fingers, Mr Gael hasn’t reacted at all. Not even when I landed a punch to Carlos’s sneering face.

After weeks of these gruelling sessions, I thought he’d be pleased. Or at least forgiving. I don’t want his satisfaction; I just want his mercy. My body can’t take another punishment.

“Get up,” Carlos spits again. “Now.”

“Just… A little water…”

“When you earn it, you’ll be given water and rest. Now get up.”

Bracing a blood-caked hand against the floor, I use the leverage to heave myself upright. The world twists and spins, threatening to pull me under, but I blink the dizzy fog aside.