Them's The Breaks Novels & Stories

"There's no need for that, Nicholas. We should—" Before I could get the words "break up" out of my mouth, a soft, dainty voice chirped from beside him. "Nicholas, we should get going. If we don't leave now, we'll miss the start of the show. You can't back out now. You've never stood me up before." I looked up and caught the provocative glint flickering in Madeline's eyes. Nicholas turned back to me. "Anyway, I'm heading out. Get home safe."

A silence followed. Then Fabian looked at her carefully. “I’m trying to understand when I became this person.” Claire crossed her arms lightly against the cold breeze. “You didn’t become this person overnight.” Fabian’s jaw tightened. She was right. Neglect happened slowly. One ignored feeling at a time. One broken promise at a time. One moment of choosing someone else repeatedly until it became habit. Claire studied him quietly. For the first time since their separation— Fabian looked emotionally stripped bare.

he said, “Emily said if you come to the infirmary one more time this month, she’s buying you your own personalized bed.” I groaned. “Why is everybody acting like this is my fault?” “Because it is your fault,” Chloe and Kyle said together. I stared at both of them in betrayal. “This friendship is abusive.” “No,” Chloe said calmly. “You just lack survival instincts.” Kyle pointed at my bandaged hand. “Exactly. Normal people see broken glass and move away.” “It happened fast.” “You keep saying that like it changes anything.” “It does change things.” “It literally doesn’t.” Chloe argued.

Inside, the bond throbs with a new, dawning certainty. I’ve made a crack in their world. They’re going to try to break me for it.

I bit down hard on my lip and refused to let a single tear fall. Crying would only make them laugh harder. "Begin." Marco's voice held no emotion at all. A bodyguard lifted a soaked bullwhip, letting it slice through the air before it landed with a heavy crack against my back. Pain shot through me like molten fire, making me grunt involuntarily as my body shook violently. Blow after blow landed with ruthless precision. My back quickly turned into a bloody mess. I could hear the crowd whispering, jeering, and lamenting—all of it stabbing at my heart like a thousand needles.

I never imagined they'd end up being used against me. She even gave them the video where I'd promised the tracks were just for her. In the end, Maeve had no choice but to return them. "I don't mean anything by it, Xavier. I just wanted to remind you to be careful with copyright from now on, even with people you're close to. I heard you've been having a tough time lately. Don't worry about paying me back until you're in a better place." Maeve comforted me over the phone. I was already grateful she didn't demand compensation for the breach of contract.

Besides, it's been years since I had a proper vacation and if Rayne is giving it to me without a cost, who am I to day no? One thing you must know, is that even as my Father's former right hand man, despite knowing the Mafia world through and through, I had a switch which I could flip on and off on my own accord. It is called the Mafia princess switch and the last time that switch was on was when I had helped my Father on a mission to get his money from one of his rivals. The switch had worked perfectly, because who gave a damn about a spoilt rich Russo Principessa? No one. So now as we make our way to our hotel room, I flip my goddess braids, and put a cheeky grin on my face, then I ease in

She utters confidently with no evidence of remorse on her face "Why? Just give me a reason you want to break up with me, ok? Is it because of what happened? I'm going to fix it, I swear it. I will make it up to you, ok? I won't..." "Just stop it, ok? Just stop it! I don't want you anymore, and that is my final decision!" She yells at the top of her voice, and I stagger back. I gulp down the sudden lump that forms in my throat. My heart pumps heavily against my chest, my blood went cold, and my hands suddenly become sweaty as my whole body come trembling fearfully.

The news flickered on. Specials Break Peace The screen flashed below the anchor woman. Specials break peace I read to myself again. “Turn it up Micheal” I ordered. He rolled his eyes but obliged. “Peace has been held for 15 years and today an extremely dangerous special broke it. We are unaware what caused the incident to spark. Soldiers were deployed to Barker Street. Officials have not yet released the number of killed or injured, but we can tell from footage it is a large number. We are estimating at least 50”

"We gotta stop." "Probably. Don't wanna." "Two days to Alliance. Should prep. Drill. Plan." "Breaks matter. Dodge burnout. Keep spirits up." Grinned. "What I tell myself." Laughed. Real laugh. First in days. Felt right. Felt regular. Felt alive. "After Alliance." Said. "After Lila's down. After dust settles. Real break. Long. No threats. No risk. Us." "Holding you to it." "Good. Hold me on all. Keep me straight. Grounded. Sane."