TWENTY.

ACE.

Sucking on my upper teeth, I loosen my fists and settle back into the chair I occupied upon his arrival.

Placing my left foot over my right knee as I lean back, “tell me more about this drug.” I demand through gritted teeth, knowing that I’m about to break my vow.

“I can do one better. I can show you.” Pulling out a small vial from the inside of his jacket, Ismail holds it between his fingers. “This beauty right here is called Delilah. The high is out of this world and the come down… there’s no cotton mouth, dizziness, or shakes.” Removing the cap, he sprinkles some of the black powder on the back of his hand and uses the pad of his finger to smear it across his skin.

I lean forward with my eyes growing wide when the powder begins to turn candy apple red, glowing under the laser lights.

“It sure is pretty,” I admit, playing with my zippo, impressed. “The quality?”

“Pure.”

“And it can’t be cut?”

“No, it’s been carefully crafted, and I heard the sources' pharmacist spent a