Sophia’s hands were dusted with flour, the scent of warm bread and cinnamon clinging to her clothes. The late-afternoon sun spilled through the bakery window, casting golden stripes across the counter.She wiped her brow with the back of her hand and glanced at the clock. 6:10 p.m. She was already late. Her shift should have ended half an hour ago, but Samantha’s replacement hadn’t shown up on time.“Alright, I’m heading out,” Sophia said, untying her apron.Samantha looked up from boxing a cake. “Don’t forget your bag! And hey—tomorrow I’m bringing those cookies you like.”Sophia managed a smile. “Bye, Samantha. Lock up well.”The bell above the bakery door chimed as she stepped out, the evening breeze brushing against her face. She quickened her pace, weaving past commuters and street vendors, her mind fixed on her son’s little face.By the time she reached the school gates, her breathing was uneven—not from the distance, but from the gnawing anxiety that had been sitting in her che
Liam’s pov Liam stayed in the alley long after Sophia and Leon disappeared from sight.The smell of old brick and damp pavement lingered in the air, mixing with the faint copper scent of his own blood dripping from his knuckles.His mind replayed the image of her face—her laugh, her voice—except now it was tangled with the sight of her walking alongside another man.He flexed his injured hand, ignoring the sting. “So… you built a life without me, huh?” The words were low, almost a whisper.He stepped out of the alley and followed the direction they had gone. Not directly—he knew better than that—but at a careful distance, weaving in and out of side streets, keeping just enough space to avoid notice.They lived only a few blocks from the bakery, in a modest two-story townhouse with faded blue paint and a small iron fence. From across the street, Liam could see the soft yellow glow of light spilling from the front windows. A child’s laughter floated faintly into the night—muffled but u
The rain had stopped hours ago, leaving the streets damp and shining under the early morning light. Liam stood across the street from the small corner bakery, his body still, his expression unreadable beneath the shadow of a black face cap. A pair of dark sunglasses hid the raw hunger in his eyes.He had been there for thirty minutes, leaning casually against a lamppost, watching the front door like a predator in tall grass.And then—there she was.Sophia stepped outside, wearing a pale cream apron dusted with flour. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun, stray strands brushing her cheeks as she exhaled into the cold air. In her hands was a paper bag, the top folded neatly. She walked over to the green dumpster beside the shop, dropped the bag inside without a glance, and turned to go back in.It was nothing unusual—just a worker tossing out scraps—but Liam’s eyes narrowed like she’d just given away a piece of herself.The moment the door swung shut behind her, he adjusted his cap, cros
Liam’s POVI froze.The noise of the bar, the clinking of glasses, the laughter—it all went silent in an instant.She was standing right there, just a few feet away, her face tilted slightly as she smiled down at a small boy holding her hand.Elizabeth.My Elizabeth.My lungs forgot how to work. My pulse was a thunderstorm in my ears. For two years, I’d told myself the same thing every night before I closed my eyes—she’s gone. I had watched her fall. I had seen the bullets hit her. I had seen her vanish into that cursed river. I had believed the water swallowed her, body and soul.But now… now she was here.“Elizabeth?” My voice cracked as her name tore out of me. I stood abruptly, my chair screeching against the floor, the sound so loud a few people turned to look.Her gaze flicked to me, confusion furrowing her brows. And then—she smiled. But it wasn’t the smile I knew. It wasn’t soft or teasing. It was a smile meant for the little boy beside her.“Liam, why are you this naughty?” s
Liam’s povThe quiet was the kind that didn’t feel peaceful—it gnawed at you, pressed against your skull, and reminded you that no one was coming. I sat on the edge of the couch, elbows on my knees, staring at nothing. The TV was on mute, flickering images I wasn’t watching. My gun sat on the coffee table, glinting under the weak light like it knew I’d need it again soon.My phone buzzed on the armrest. Ryan. I didn’t bother picking it up. Whatever he wanted, it could wait. I had no patience for small talk or the fake camaraderie we all pretended to have.A few seconds later, the phone buzzed again—this time Neon’s name lit the screen. I let it ring out. He called again. And again.I snatched the phone and pressed it to my ear.“What do you want?” I barked, my voice sharper than I intended.“Well, good evening to you too, sunshine,” Neon’s voice oozed amusement. “Heard you made the most kills last night. The boys are impressed. I say that calls for a hangout party. Drinks, girls, musi
Liam’s POVIt’s been two years since my darling slipped from my grasp and into that damn river, the sound of those bullets still echoing in my skull like a curse I can’t silence. I’ve lived every day since like a ghost — breathing, walking, killing — but never really alive. I told myself I’d forget, that the taste of her name on my tongue would fade. It hasn’t. If anything, it’s grown sharper.The nights are the worst. That’s when I see her — soaked in moonlight, eyes wide, breath quick — right before she jumped, right before the water swallowed her. Right before the boss laughed.I went back to my old life after that. The endless cycle of violence. Guns. Knives. Blood on my hands that never washes off no matter how hard I scrub. And yet, none of it hurts like losing her.“Where’s your head at, Liam?”Neon’s voice cut through the haze.I blinked, dragging myself back into the present. We were in the middle of another job — an ambush in some half-lit warehouse. Men were shouting. Bulle