LOGINLORETTA We hadn't gone up to twenty feet before three men lounging against a graffiti-covered wall straightened. One of them flashed a smile with his yellow teeth. “Well, well... what've we got here?” Another whistled low, his eyes rolling over me, “Lost, sweetheart?” The third stepped directly into my path, his gaze lingering far too long. “You don't belong around here.”Before I could respond, the guard shoved the man back with enough force to make him stumble. “Back off” The man's smile vanished. For a heartbeat, I thought a fight was about to break out; my fight or flight reflexes kicked into motion, but there was no way I could fight all those guys, and where could I possibly run to from here? How far before someone catches up with me?The guard casually pulled back his jacket just enough for them to notice the pistol tucked beneath his waistband. I gasped loudly, not expecting that it was with a gun this whole time. The three guys exchanged glances before stepping aside with
LORETTA The sky gave way to darkening clouds, just like my determination was giving way to deep, bone-chilling fear.The taxi drove past gleaming condos and polished office blocks. The farther we went, the more the city seemed to...change.I haven't gotten this far before, never had a reason to.Fine blocks of building became sparse, giving way to aging apartment complexes with cracked balconies and peeling paint. The boutique and cafes all disappeared, replaced by pawn shops, liquor stores, and boarded-up storefronts. The roads grew rough beneath the tires. Every pothole jolted the taxi hard enough to rattle my teeth and bones, and with each passing street, it felt as though we were driving farther away from the city I knew, and deeper into one that had long since been abandoned.People lingered on street corners, not talking, just watching, watching the cars roll by, watching strangers, watching usThe taxi driver, who was initially grumbling about the sour weather when we first
LORETTA I folded my arms tightly across my chest, forcing myself to hold his gaze. “Well? Start talking” The guard didn't answer immediately. Instead, his eyes drifted lazily around the club, scanning the bartender, the day drinkers at the bar, the elderly couple tucked away in the corner, and the two women laughing over cocktails by the window.Only after satisfying himself that no one was paying attention to us did he look back at me, and then he crooked one finger, “Come closer”The tone of his voice dropped lower, quieter, as if he was about to reveal a government-level top secret between us. I hesitated at first, chills running down my spine, every instinct told me not to, but I had already come too far to back outReluctantly, I stepped closer until I was standing directly in front of the security podium. He leaned forward, lowering his voice more until it was barely more than anything but a whisper. “The guy you're looking for...” His eyes narrowed slightly, “...calls himself
LORETTAAtmosphere looked like an entirely different place at noonLast night, the building had vibrated with music so loud I could feel it inside my ribs, neon lights had painted the pavement in brilliant blues, greens, and red, while hundreds of people moved in and out with their bodies smashing together Today, it looked almost ordinary.The enormous black sign still hung above the entrance, but without the darkness of night to make it pop out, it was simply a nightclub signThe music was gone, and so was the rowdiness. I paid my taxi driver, climbed out, and stood on the sidewalk for a long moment.This was ridiculous. I had no guarantee the man would even be here or that anyone here would even know him But still, I had to try; this was the only real lead I've gotten in months, and I wasn't about to be discouraged. I swallowed loudly as I pushed the doors openCool air wrapped around me immediately. The club still smelled of expensive liquor, but this time it was accompanied by c
LORETTA “Welcome to Sandra's beauty boutique, ma'am. What brings you here today?” The blonde girl fussed over me the moment I walked into the storeI glanced around at the space; soft music was playing from somewhere I couldn't see. The fine chandelier spilled warm light over the clean, bright floors.There were racks and racks of silk blouses, tailored blazers, and elegant dresses stretched across the spacious showroom like carefully arranged works of art. I could even spot some of the designer dresses I had wanted to purchase for a while now, but today, none of them registered with me“Do you see something you like?” The blonde sales assistant kept on questioning me with an enthusiastic smile that didn't waneBefore I could answer her, an older lady who I guessed would be her superior called her “Megan, darling.” She said softly, “You're going to frighten the customer away if you don't let her breathe”The blonde girl's cheeks immediately flushed red. She acted so much like Zoe, “O
ELIONThe silence inside my office was louder than the traffic thirty floors below. I stared at the chaos below, flickering my lighter and burning the pad of my thumb My chest was tight, too tight to breathe properly I think it would be accurate to say I was having a midlife crisis, or something worse. *From today onward, Mr Fitzpatrick treats me like your contract, and I will treat you like mine. No truths, no care, and abouselty no feelings of any sort between us* Loretta's harsh words played over and over in my mind like a broken record hellbent on destroying my sanity That tightness in my chest pulled at me till I had to force myself to breathe through my nose. I wanted to smash something so bad right now, to let all these pent-up emotions outI wanted to flip her over the dining table and kiss her senseless till she melts in my arms and stop saying those sharp words that only serve to divide usBut more than anything, I just wanted the relationship we were starting to have, h
LORETTAI woke up feeling rested.Which was, at the very least, surprising.There was no sleep paralysis, no nightmare. No frantic jolt awake with my heart trying to burst its way out of my chest.I actually felt good waking up, There was a strange sense of calm that enveloped me as I sat up slowly
ELION Something was wrong with Loretta. And I didn't mean her ability to piss me off or that endless, infuriating urge she had to defy me at every available opportunity. I meant something different. I felt her shift unsteadily as she pushed off the wall, running a hand over her hair before h
ELION My hand was around her throat. Her delicate, fragile throat. All it would take was one flick of my wrist and I would never have to endure her presence ever again But then, I would never see her ethereal eyes come alive with hate and rage, Loretta would be gone for Good. There would be n
LORETTAI am a good girl. I mean….I was a good girl. Until today. My name is Loretta. Loretta Rea Sterling. The first child of George Sterling. Being born into the Sterlings family meant many things: power, generational wealth, fame, you name itBut being born as a girl meant only one thing, my







