MIGUELPaul helped me load my duffel bag into the trunk of his car without saying much. There wasn’t much to say anyway. The early afternoon sun warmed the pavement, and the quiet between us was comfortable. He glanced at me once before sliding into the driver’s seat, waiting until I was buckled before starting the engine.He started driving, but the hesitation was obvious in him.“Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked again for what seemed like the nth time.I nodded and watched the buildings blur past. “Yeah. I need a reset.”Paul kept one hand on the wheel, the other tapping lightly against his thigh. “John seems decent. I still don’t know him, though.”“He’s credible,” I said. “He’s not like Salvatore. He listens.”Paul snorted. “That alone puts him ahead.”We fell into silence again. The roads stretched out, the houses thinning as we left the city behind. By the time we reached the outskirts of town, we were surrounded by open fields and the occasional worn-down shop or
SALVATORE I paced the office with the phone pressed to my ear, my voice sharp as I barked into it. “John, get to my office. Now.” I hung up before he could reply, raking a hand through my hair as frustration crackled under my skin. The air felt thick, too quiet, too still, like it was waiting for the next blow.John stepped in a few minutes later, his eyes flicking over me. “What’s going on?”“I fucked up,” I said. “Miguel has refused to pick up my calls. I don’t even know if he will see me at this point.”John’s jaw ticked. “What do you need?”“I need you to go to Paul’s. Miguel’s probably with him.” I stepped closer. “Tell Miguel that I’m sorry. I’m coming to make it right. Get some flowers, I don’t know, maybe roses, lilies, or something that says, ‘I’m a jackass, but I love you.’ Got it?”John hesitated. “You think that’s gonna do anything? Flowers?”“I don’t care if it doesn’t. Just do it.” I pointed toward the door. “Now.”He gave a short nod and left, and I sank into my chair
MIGUEL“Your total is one hundred and twenty-three, and some cents,” I said, flashing a warm smile at the customer, an older woman with a cart brimming with canned goods and fresh produce. Her glasses slipped down her nose as she fumbled with a wad of crumpled bills, and I punched the numbers into the register. The air carried the comforting scent of warm bread from the bakery aisle, mingling with the sharp tang of citrus from a nearby display. I handed her the change, and she thanked me with a nod before wheeling her cart away.The next customer in line was a teenager with headphones dangling around his neck and a six-pack of soda in his arms. I rang him up, made a joke about the caffeine rush, and he gave a small laugh before heading out. Each interaction was a brief and pleasant flicker. Out here, in this sleepy corner of the world, everything was a little slower, a little softer.This place—this small, unassuming store tucked on the edge of town—had become something I hadn’t r
SALVATOREI slammed the front door so hard it nearly cracked in the frame. The echo thundered through the house like a gunshot. “Emily!” I roared. My shoes pounded the hardwood floor as I barreled into the living room. The scent of lavender candles choked the air. It clung to everything like a lie pretending to be peace. Miguel was gone. Not for hours. Not even a day. But for Days. Three fucking days now without a fucking word! And it was driving me out of my goddamn mind.Emily appeared at the top of the stairs, her silk robe clinging to her as she hurried down, her eyes wide and frightened. “Salvatore, what happened?” she gasped. “What’s wrong?”Her voice grated on me. She was too calm. How the fuck didn’t she even have an idea. She reached for me like her touch might soothe the chaos inside me, but I jerked away, smacking her hands off me.“You haven’t seen Miguel in days and you didn’t think to say anything?”Her face fell, confusion flickering across her features. “I thought h
MIGUELAnother day of healing, learning to smile warmly at customers, and enjoying the peace of my surroundings. When I clocked out, John was there again, waiting under that flickering lamp outside the store. His car was in the lot, the headlights cutting across the cracked pavement.He seemed to have mastered my schedule even better than me. He had a way of showing up right on time, already knowing that I had nothing to keep me back when I closed.He leaned against the hood with his arms folded, a soft grin tugging at his face when he saw me coming.“You are going to spoil me,” I said, jogging up with a tired smile. “Keep this up and I’ll start expecting dinner too.”He opened the passenger door, dipping his head in a mock bow. “Maybe I’m just making sure you don’t starve.”I climbed in and let the door thunk shut behind me. I could get used to this. The familiar scent of old leather and lingering coffee greeted me. No Salvatore scent. Good.John settled behind the wheel, and we pu
JOHNKarl leaned in close to Salvatore, their heads nearly touching as they hovered over a clipboard. I watched from across the warehouse floor, pretending to busy myself with a half-open crate. Karl’s laugh was soft, almost charming, but too well-timed, like a man who practised in the mirror before work. I’d been watching him for weeks, and it was always the same. He was too eager, too clean, and too damn smooth.Why hadn’t I seen this earlier?He said something that made Salvatore shake his head and sigh, then clapped him on the shoulder. Then Karl walked away and slipped out the back door like smoke curling under a crack. I set the clipboard down and followed him.The air outside bit through my jacket. The alley behind the warehouse smelled like stale beer and motor oil, and the ground was littered with crushed cartons and broken pallets. Karl stood by the dumpster with his back to me, his phone pressed to his ear. His voice was a low thread as he spoke quickly into the receiver
SALVATOREI slumped behind my desk, my fingertips idly tracing the rim of a cold, half-empty coffee mug. The room felt tighter today, more suffocating. Every second Miguel remained missing added more weight to my chest, like a clamp pressing in from all sides.The door creaked open. I didn’t even bother to lift my head.It was John. He stood at the door for a moment before stepping in and closing it behind himself.I still didn’t raise my head. But he still wasn’t saying anything. “What the fuck is it, John?”He cleared his throat. “Boss…”“I can hear you.”“I knew you must have forgotten about the meeting for today. So I thought to remind you.”Oh, shit. I’d totally forgotten. Since that successful deal on the boat, I’d gotten countless calls from my partners. Everybody was excited about what this new phase would bring us. I was excited too, but I was too weak right now to sit at a round table and discuss financial and risk matters.“Will you be going?”"Of course, I won't." I exhal
MIGUELI ran faster than my legs allowed. My sneakers slapped against the pavement, the sting of the cold air biting at my lungs with every breath. How the hell did he find me?!Shadows from alleyways clawed at my back like fingers trying to drag me down, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Behind me, Salvatore’s voice echoed like thunder.“Miguel! Please come back!”I didn’t turn around.That voice had power. It was the kind of power that made me want to hesitate, to believe he meant every word, but I knew better. He was a high tide, and if I turned back, I’d drown in him all over again like I did the first time.I rounded the corner and saw the store’s sign glowing red against the night. I had run so far that I was back at my workplace.My interaction with Salvatore wasn’t even up to ten minutes, and my life was already turning sour.I burst through the doors, the bell above jingling loudly like it knew what kind of storm had just walked in.The warmth of the place wrapped around me l
I stood at the kitchen counter, chopping everything I’d set out for tonight. The onions stung my eyes as I diced them, but I didn’t mind. I focused on the motions: slice, slide, dice, repeat. Anything to keep my hands moving and my mind from circling back to that streetlamp, and to Salvatore’s face.The pan on the stove hissed to life as the oil met the heat. The scent of garlic hit next, followed by a splash of soy sauce that filled the kitchen with warmth. I moved on autopilot, throwing in whatever vegetables I’d grabbed without checking. Cooking wasn’t really about eating tonight; it was about distraction. If I could just keep stirring and slicing, maybe I wouldn’t feel that twisting in my gut every time I replayed the way he’d looked at me, like he didn’t care who saw, like I still belonged to him.A knock shattered the quiet. For a beat, I froze, my fingers getting tight around the blade. My heart thudded a little too hard. I wiped my hands on a dish towel and forced myself to
MIGUELI ran faster than my legs allowed. My sneakers slapped against the pavement, the sting of the cold air biting at my lungs with every breath. How the hell did he find me?!Shadows from alleyways clawed at my back like fingers trying to drag me down, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Behind me, Salvatore’s voice echoed like thunder.“Miguel! Please come back!”I didn’t turn around.That voice had power. It was the kind of power that made me want to hesitate, to believe he meant every word, but I knew better. He was a high tide, and if I turned back, I’d drown in him all over again like I did the first time.I rounded the corner and saw the store’s sign glowing red against the night. I had run so far that I was back at my workplace.My interaction with Salvatore wasn’t even up to ten minutes, and my life was already turning sour.I burst through the doors, the bell above jingling loudly like it knew what kind of storm had just walked in.The warmth of the place wrapped around me l
SALVATOREI slumped behind my desk, my fingertips idly tracing the rim of a cold, half-empty coffee mug. The room felt tighter today, more suffocating. Every second Miguel remained missing added more weight to my chest, like a clamp pressing in from all sides.The door creaked open. I didn’t even bother to lift my head.It was John. He stood at the door for a moment before stepping in and closing it behind himself.I still didn’t raise my head. But he still wasn’t saying anything. “What the fuck is it, John?”He cleared his throat. “Boss…”“I can hear you.”“I knew you must have forgotten about the meeting for today. So I thought to remind you.”Oh, shit. I’d totally forgotten. Since that successful deal on the boat, I’d gotten countless calls from my partners. Everybody was excited about what this new phase would bring us. I was excited too, but I was too weak right now to sit at a round table and discuss financial and risk matters.“Will you be going?”"Of course, I won't." I exhal
JOHNKarl leaned in close to Salvatore, their heads nearly touching as they hovered over a clipboard. I watched from across the warehouse floor, pretending to busy myself with a half-open crate. Karl’s laugh was soft, almost charming, but too well-timed, like a man who practised in the mirror before work. I’d been watching him for weeks, and it was always the same. He was too eager, too clean, and too damn smooth.Why hadn’t I seen this earlier?He said something that made Salvatore shake his head and sigh, then clapped him on the shoulder. Then Karl walked away and slipped out the back door like smoke curling under a crack. I set the clipboard down and followed him.The air outside bit through my jacket. The alley behind the warehouse smelled like stale beer and motor oil, and the ground was littered with crushed cartons and broken pallets. Karl stood by the dumpster with his back to me, his phone pressed to his ear. His voice was a low thread as he spoke quickly into the receiver
MIGUELAnother day of healing, learning to smile warmly at customers, and enjoying the peace of my surroundings. When I clocked out, John was there again, waiting under that flickering lamp outside the store. His car was in the lot, the headlights cutting across the cracked pavement.He seemed to have mastered my schedule even better than me. He had a way of showing up right on time, already knowing that I had nothing to keep me back when I closed.He leaned against the hood with his arms folded, a soft grin tugging at his face when he saw me coming.“You are going to spoil me,” I said, jogging up with a tired smile. “Keep this up and I’ll start expecting dinner too.”He opened the passenger door, dipping his head in a mock bow. “Maybe I’m just making sure you don’t starve.”I climbed in and let the door thunk shut behind me. I could get used to this. The familiar scent of old leather and lingering coffee greeted me. No Salvatore scent. Good.John settled behind the wheel, and we pu
SALVATOREI slammed the front door so hard it nearly cracked in the frame. The echo thundered through the house like a gunshot. “Emily!” I roared. My shoes pounded the hardwood floor as I barreled into the living room. The scent of lavender candles choked the air. It clung to everything like a lie pretending to be peace. Miguel was gone. Not for hours. Not even a day. But for Days. Three fucking days now without a fucking word! And it was driving me out of my goddamn mind.Emily appeared at the top of the stairs, her silk robe clinging to her as she hurried down, her eyes wide and frightened. “Salvatore, what happened?” she gasped. “What’s wrong?”Her voice grated on me. She was too calm. How the fuck didn’t she even have an idea. She reached for me like her touch might soothe the chaos inside me, but I jerked away, smacking her hands off me.“You haven’t seen Miguel in days and you didn’t think to say anything?”Her face fell, confusion flickering across her features. “I thought h
MIGUEL“Your total is one hundred and twenty-three, and some cents,” I said, flashing a warm smile at the customer, an older woman with a cart brimming with canned goods and fresh produce. Her glasses slipped down her nose as she fumbled with a wad of crumpled bills, and I punched the numbers into the register. The air carried the comforting scent of warm bread from the bakery aisle, mingling with the sharp tang of citrus from a nearby display. I handed her the change, and she thanked me with a nod before wheeling her cart away.The next customer in line was a teenager with headphones dangling around his neck and a six-pack of soda in his arms. I rang him up, made a joke about the caffeine rush, and he gave a small laugh before heading out. Each interaction was a brief and pleasant flicker. Out here, in this sleepy corner of the world, everything was a little slower, a little softer.This place—this small, unassuming store tucked on the edge of town—had become something I hadn’t r
SALVATORE I paced the office with the phone pressed to my ear, my voice sharp as I barked into it. “John, get to my office. Now.” I hung up before he could reply, raking a hand through my hair as frustration crackled under my skin. The air felt thick, too quiet, too still, like it was waiting for the next blow.John stepped in a few minutes later, his eyes flicking over me. “What’s going on?”“I fucked up,” I said. “Miguel has refused to pick up my calls. I don’t even know if he will see me at this point.”John’s jaw ticked. “What do you need?”“I need you to go to Paul’s. Miguel’s probably with him.” I stepped closer. “Tell Miguel that I’m sorry. I’m coming to make it right. Get some flowers, I don’t know, maybe roses, lilies, or something that says, ‘I’m a jackass, but I love you.’ Got it?”John hesitated. “You think that’s gonna do anything? Flowers?”“I don’t care if it doesn’t. Just do it.” I pointed toward the door. “Now.”He gave a short nod and left, and I sank into my chair
MIGUELPaul helped me load my duffel bag into the trunk of his car without saying much. There wasn’t much to say anyway. The early afternoon sun warmed the pavement, and the quiet between us was comfortable. He glanced at me once before sliding into the driver’s seat, waiting until I was buckled before starting the engine.He started driving, but the hesitation was obvious in him.“Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked again for what seemed like the nth time.I nodded and watched the buildings blur past. “Yeah. I need a reset.”Paul kept one hand on the wheel, the other tapping lightly against his thigh. “John seems decent. I still don’t know him, though.”“He’s credible,” I said. “He’s not like Salvatore. He listens.”Paul snorted. “That alone puts him ahead.”We fell into silence again. The roads stretched out, the houses thinning as we left the city behind. By the time we reached the outskirts of town, we were surrounded by open fields and the occasional worn-down shop or