All Chapters of Broken Wings : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

She woke up in the afternoon, alone. The sun leaked through the blinds—too bright for how late it felt. The bed beside her was cold. Riko was gone; probably had been for hours. The apartment smelled like cheap cologne, sweat, and whatever takeout Riko had left behind the night before.Her stomach twisted, low and sharp. The cramps were back—angrier this time, like her body was catching up on all the pain it had been forced to delay. She curled in on herself for a moment, pressing a hand to her lower belly, but it didn’t help.She had to get up. There was nothing in the apartment that could help, and he hadn’t left her anything. No painkillers. No food. No care.She dragged herself out of bed and pulled on an oversized black hoodie—the one that hung down to her thighs and covered the bruises. It still smelled like him, faintly. That alone made her nauseous.Outside, the light stung her eyes. She was accustomed only to the dark. She kept her head down and walked quickly. Her body ached

A week later, she was in bed alone again.Sunlight crept through the blinds. Her eyes opened slowly—today, she was back on stage. She sighed. She hated the attention of those strange men, but she hated serving them drinks more.She got ready like every day. The routine was unbearable, but it was the only thing she knew. Today, though, she wore one of her performance outfits. She was dancing again—and tonight, she was the main performer. She had to be ready.After Ivy's light performance, it was almost her turn.Milo knocked on the door before sticking his head inside and calling her name.“Raven, you’re next.”He left immediately, and she rose to go to the stage._The lights dimmed to a deep, smoky violet. A slow, haunting melody hummed through the speakers—something sultry and atmospheric, like a spell in sound.Then she appeared.Raven stepped into the spotlight wearing black lace, sheer sleeves clinging to her arms, and a velvet corset cinched tight around her waist. Her skin glow

The back office at the Red Velvet was dim, smelling faintly of liquor and old smoke. A single overhead light buzzed above. A worn couch sat against the wall, cluttered with empty beer bottles and cigarette ash. Ozzy was slouched on it, scrolling through his phone, feet kicked up on the table like he owned the place.Riko stepped in first, followed by Luis, who shut the door behind them.Ozzy grinned. “What’s up, boys? You here to drink or count bodies?”Luis replied flatly, “Get out.”Ozzy blinked. “Huh?”Luis, gruffer now: “I said get the f*ck out, Ozzy. Me and Riko got business.”Ozzy, mock-offended, sat up. “Damn, what’s with the attitude? I was here first.”Luis shot back, “You wanna keep your teeth, or argue about seniority?”Ozzy grumbled as he got up. “Fcking hell, man. Always acting like you run sht.” He shoved past them, muttering curses as he exited.Luis slammed the door behind him and locked it. He turned to Riko, who was already lighting a cigarette, eyes suspicious.Riko

It had been weeks since Lena came to the station, but Reyes never stopped watching.The Red Velvet sat under the same flickering neon, unchanged on the outside. Inside, girls danced and men drank—the same as every other night.He sat in his car across the street, same unmarked sedan, same angle on the club doors—but his notepad had grown thicker, filled with patterns, plates, shifts, faces. Riko never stayed past two. Milo came and went like clockwork. Luis lingered on the sidewalk, always watching.Every day after Riko left the club, a few officers would follow him, but he never took the same route. As if he knew he was being watched.A junior officer’s voice crackled through the radio:“Target just pulled off the highway—he’s moving eastbound toward the river... sh*t—he took an alley, we lost him.”Reyes gritted his teeth. Another blown tail. Riko was too careful. Or someone tipped him off.He tossed the radio into the passenger seat. His eyes flicked back to the club.Tonight, he’d

Laughter and perfume fill the air. The girls are lounging after their shifts, removing makeup and swapping stories. The curtain pulls back and Dollface skips inside, cheeks flushed.Dollface, grinning: “He said I did good! Like… really good.”Mama G follows her inside. “Good? Baby, Riko actually smiled when you danced. That man’s face usually has two expressions — pissed or bored.”The room breaks into laughter and light applause. Cherry swings a leg off the vanity table and smirks, her eyes flicking between Dollface and Raven.“Uh-oh, looks like someone’s giving our star girl a run for her money. Careful, Raven — he might trade you in for the newer model. New legs, new face — fresh meat always gets the best cuts.”Raven stiffens, forces a tight smile. “It’s not a competition.”Ivy, mock gasp: “Is someone jealous?”Dollface, teasing and sweet: “If I become his favorite, promise you won’t hate me?”Raven suddenly stands, her voice sharper than anyone expects.“Don’t be stupid.”The roo