Chapter 1 - The Dark Asphalt
The heavy oak door of the lounge swung inward, letting in a sharp gust of humid night air that smelled of wet asphalt and exhaust fumes. I tightened my grip on the sleeping toddler, feeling the steady, rhythmic thump of his small chest against my white button-down shirt. The black apron tied around my waist felt suddenly thin and useless against the chill of the street. Behind us, the low murmur of the upscale restaurant faded into the steady hum of idling engines.
The dark-haired man in the tailored black suit slid off the leather sofa with a fluid, quiet grace that betrayed years of practiced caution. His hand tattoos caught the amber glow of the streetlights as he flicked the remaining ash from his cigarette into a crystal ashtray before stepping past the heavy glass threshold. His bodyguards moved in tight formation, their dark suits cutting sharp silhouettes against the neon glare of the avenue.
"Get in the car," he said again, his voice lower this time, carrying an absolute weight that brooked no argument.
I didn't move for a heartbeat, my eyes flicking from his piercing gaze to the matte-black town car idling curbside with its rear door already held open by a broad-shouldered man in sunglasses. The toddler stirred against my collar, letting out a soft, whimpering sigh that tore right through my chest. He wasn't mine, and yet the boy had anchored his small fists into my shirt as if I were the only solid thing left in a collapsing world.
"I have a bicycle parked around the back," I said, my voice barely steady. "I can take him home."
May you like
"You don't have a home you're going back to tonight," the man replied, stepping closer. I caught the faint scent of expensive bourbon, tobacco, and cold rain. "Not after you stepped into my booth and called out my shadows. Get in."
The rear interior of the town car was cavernous, smelling of leather, polish, and absolute seclusion. I slid across the plush seat, settling the boy carefully in my lap while the man climbed in beside me, closing the heavy door with a satisfying, muffled thud. The city outside dissolved into a blur of streaked lights as the vehicle pulled away from the curb, merging into the wet midnight traffic without a sound.
