06

The next day, I sat slumped in the cafeteria, my coffee mug barely warm between my hands.

“She said, ‘Get out and never come back,’” I muttered.

Noelle raised her brows and scoffed. “Like I care.” She leaned back in her chair with an exaggerated shrug.

“You should,” I said. “We need the money.”

Noelle shook her head. “I can always ask my parents.”

I shot her a look. “Aren’t you a little too old for that? Gosh, you’ve gotta quit that ‘gig’ and get a real job.”

Her eyes rolled skyward. “Yeah, sure. Because flipping burgers at Harry’s is such a career move.”

I huffed in frustration and reached for my mug again. That’s when I saw them — two guys walking into the café.

My gaze locked on one of them. Familiar brown hair, broad shoulders, and a confident stride that made my stomach churn. Memories came rushing back — heated whispers, tangled sheets, and a bitter morning after. My chest tightened.

“Oh no,” I muttered.

“You okay?” Noelle asked, noticing my stare. She turned to look — and gasped.

“They’re hot,” she squealed. “Like, stupidly handsome.”

I slapped her arm.

“Ow!” she yelped. “What was that for?”

“Stop drooling. We’re leaving.” I grabbed my phone and stood.

“Leaving? Are you insane?” Noelle looked at me like I’d grown horns. “Who are they? Do you know them?”

“Not here,” I muttered. “I’ll explain later.”

Her brows shot up. “Later? Girl, you’re acting like you robbed a bank.”

“I said later,” I snapped, grabbing her wrist and dragging her toward the exit.

“Let me go!” she shouted. “You’re being weird!”

I ignored her protests and pushed through the café doors, my pulse racing.

Once outside, Noelle shoved me away so hard I staggered back.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she barked. “Why are you acting like you just saw a ghost?”

I glanced around, noticing a few bystanders watching us. My face burned.

“I’ll explain later,” I muttered again and hurried toward the car.

“Come back here!” Noelle shouted, storming after me.

I slammed the car door shut and leaned back against the headrest, raking my hands through my hair.

Noelle flung her door open and climbed in.

“What did you do?” she demanded, her tone sharper now. “Did you steal something?”

I shot her a glare.

“Stop being dramatic,” I snapped, but my voice shook.

“I know you, Kat,” she shot back. “You’re hiding something. And you know what? I’m sick of this crap.”

I clenched my jaw.

“You never tell me anything,” she continued. “We’ve been friends for six years, yet I barely know a damn thing about you! The only reason I even know how your parents died is because I was there when it happened!”

I stiffened, my fingers tightening on the steering wheel.

“Don’t,” I warned in a low voice.

Her expression softened. “Kat, I didn’t mean—”

“Don’t bring my parents into this,” I said firmly. Without another word, I turned the key in the ignition and drove off.

---

Two Days Later

The silence between Noelle and me stretched like a canyon. Neither of us had apologized, and both of us were too stubborn to break the tension.

Today, I decided to change that.

I’d bought her a necklace — something delicate and silver — and hoped it would be enough to smooth things over. We’d been through too much for this fight to tear us apart.

After finishing my shift at Harry’s bar downtown, I walked home. The streets were quieter than usual, dark and empty. No cabs in sight.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and kept walking.

That’s when I heard footsteps.

I glanced back — four men, laughing loudly, bottles of liquor swinging from their hands.

Stay calm, I told myself. Just keep walking.

“Hey!” one of them called out.

I quickened my pace.

“Hey, you deaf?” The voice grew sharper.

My heart pounded. I bolted, turning down a narrow street. Their footsteps thundered behind me.

I ran until I found myself in an alley — dead end.

Panic swelled in my chest. I spotted a stack of trash bags near the wall and squeezed myself behind them.

“Where’d she go?” one man barked.

“She’s hiding somewhere. Check the bags.”

I clenched my teeth, biting down a terrified sob. My boss had warned me not to walk alone at night. I should’ve listened.

“Hey, beautiful,” one of them called mockingly. “Come out. We won’t hurt you.”

I heard footsteps approaching.

My breath hitched. I slapped a hand over my mouth, praying they wouldn’t hear the tremble in my breathing.

“If I were you,” a cold voice drawled from the shadows, “I’d leave immediately.”

I froze.

“What the hell?” one of the men growled. “Who the fuck are you?”

Silence. Then —

A sickening thud. Someone groaned in pain.

I peeked out just in time to see one of the men crash into the wall, blood splattering across the bricks.

The stranger moved like lightning — fists flying, boots slamming into ribs. Six men against one, yet he tore through them like paper.

“Run,” a battered voice begged.

“Run?” The stranger’s voice was low and lethal. “You’re not leaving conscious.”

Another blow. Another body hit the ground.

I stumbled back, my legs shaking.

Before I could react, one of the bodies tumbled dangerously close to me. I screamed — and everything went black.