Page 9 of Veil of Obsession

“Seventeen’s not a kid.”

“You’re still my son.”

I glance at her face—drawn tight, shadows under her eyes.

“You worry too much,” I mutter, leaning back.

“And you don’t worry enough.” Her voice is so quiet, I almost miss it. She wraps the bandage tight, her hands shaking just a little. “This life... it doesn’t give second chances.”

I look away.

She touches my jaw, turning my face back toward her. “Don’t let them take your soul.”

I smirk. “Pretty sure that ship’s sailed.”

Ma doesn’t laugh.

Pops is waitingin his study. I knock once, and his voice rumbles through the door.

“Come in.”

He’s behind his desk, reading glasses perched on his nose, papers everywhere. He looks up when I enter, eyes narrowing.

“Lose the shirt, gain a scar. That’s one way to commemorate your second meeting.”

“The deal went south,” I say simply. “Outfit pulled guns. We responded. Two dead.”

Pops exhales and takes his glasses off. “Eli?”

“Unharmed.”

“And you?”

“Fine. Just a graze.”

He nods slowly. “Cleanup?”

“Already handled.”

Silence stretches. He studies me like I’m a report he’s not sure whether to file or burn.

“You’re starting to see it now, aren’t you?” he finally says.

“See what?”

“This life. What it costs.”

I don’t answer.

He leans back, his voice quiet. “You either lead it, or it eats you.”

And that’s the end of it. He waves me out, already turning back to his paperwork. I shut the door behind me and head upstairs, the words ringing in my ears.

You either lead it, or it eats you.

2

Princess