Chapter 7

• Lana
• I rush past Mrs. Moretti’s door, walking faster than I should in heels this high. I keep my eyes forward and my shoulders tight.
• If she opens that door and sees me like this, she’ll lose her mind. The neckline dips too low. The hem barely covers enough. The red stilettos feel like a bad decision with every step.
• I don’t need to hear her voice out loud. It’s already in my head.
• “You crazy, Lana? You want men thinking you a puttana?”
• She wouldn’t be wrong. Not tonight. These shoes aren’t me. This dress isn’t me either. I only put it on because Xander bought it. Because he liked it. Because I need him to see me and want something. Anything. My father’s freedom depends on it.
• I pass La Dolce Vita Bakery, and the smell of sugar and warm bread drifts behind me. I slow down without meaning to. At least here I don’t have to worry about Mrs. Moretti or her son, Gianni. They won’t follow me this far. I turn onto Pine Street, my heart still pounding.
• Down the block, a man in a black suit is climbing into a dark town car. He pauses, just slightly, and looks up.
• Our eyes meet.
• The moment stretches longer than it should. His gaze is sharp and steady. There’s no softness in it. His jaw is tight, set like he’s used to being obeyed. His shoes shine under the streetlight, polished and expensive. Everything about him feels deliberate.
• I squint, trying to see his face better, but he’s too far away. His brows pull together, like he’s trying to place me, like I mean something when I know I don’t. The noise of the street fades. Cars pass. People move. Neither of us does.
• I blink.
• He gets into the car.
• “Hey,” I call, the word slipping out before I can stop it.
• The car takes off fast, tires screeching. It disappears around the corner, leaving the street suddenly empty. My chest tightens with a strange, heavy pull. I want to follow it. I don’t know why. I just know the feeling is strong and wrong and makes no sense.
• What is wrong with you, Lana?
• I shake my head hard and force my feet to move. I don’t have time for strange men and stranger instincts. The smell of fried dumplings and sweet sauce fills the air as I get closer to my destination. My stomach twists.
• Chinese food. The one thing I still miss from the year I spent trapped with Xander. The golden phoenix statues sit on either side of the entrance, watching me like they know why I’m here.
• The Golden Phoenix.
• I stop at the bottom of the steps. I draw in a slow breath. Then another. My stomach flips violently. The thought of begging Xander makes my skin crawl. My hands feel damp. Weak.
• I climb the steps anyway.
• The bright red door swings open. The bell rings loud and sharp, too cheerful for how I feel. Jin looks down at me, his dark bangs stuck to his forehead, his grin already forming.
• “What are you doing here, La....”
• He stops mid-word.
• Xander steps in behind me. He looks pleased. Too pleased. His eyes drag over me slowly, taking in every inch.
• The dress. The heels. My legs. I hate the way my body reacts despite myself. If it weren’t for the dark bruise under his eye and the split lip, I might’ve turned and run.
• Instead, I let myself enjoy that small victory. It’s petty. It’s brief. It’s all I get.
• “You’ve got something under your eye,” I say before I can stop myself.
• Idiot.
• His smile fades fast.
• “Worth it,” he says coldly. “Seeing your face when that book hit the tracks. Seeing you scared when I had you down.”
• My jaw tightens. I almost fire back. Almost tell him I already replaced the book. Almost tell him he didn’t break me. I stop myself just in time.
• You’re not here to fight.
• I breathe in slowly and force my lips into a smile.
• “I didn’t come to fight. I need a favor.”
• He laughs quietly, like he already knows where this is going.
• “Miss me?”
• I bite down hard on my tongue. He knows exactly why I’m here.
• “My dad owes the Golden Phoenix money.”
• Xander leans back against the counter and crosses his arms.
• “Does he?”
• “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
• “Not a thing.” He steps closer. Too close. “Gambling’s ugly business.”
• He pauses, watching my face. “How much?”
• “Twenty-five thousand,” I say, my voice tight.
• He whistles. The sound echoes through the empty restaurant.
• “That’s serious.”
• The old nickname hits my nerves like a slap. I don’t know how I ever thought it was cute. I step closer anyway, forcing my body forward while every instinct screams at me to step back.
• “So can you help me?”
• “What do you want from me?”
• “Make it disappear.”
• He laughs, loud and sharp. Jin joins in, his laugh higher and more annoying. I’d forgotten he was standing there. Heat rushes to my face. This is humiliating. My chest burns with it.
• Then I say the thing I promised myself I wouldn’t.
• “I’ll do whatever you want.”
• Xander’s eyes light up immediately.
• “Leave,” he snaps at Jin.
• They exchange quick words in Mandarin. Jin stiffens, then turns away and disappears through the kitchen doors without looking back.
• The room feels smaller.
• Xander steps closer. My chest tightens. My body wants to run. My legs feel heavy, like they won’t listen to me. I clench my fists and stay where I am.
• “Anything?” he asks quietly. “Get on your knees?”
• His hands grab my shoulders and shove me down. My knees hit the tile hard. Pain shoots up my legs, sharp and sudden. I grit my teeth and force a smile.
• “I will,” I say, my voice steady despite everything, “if you clear my father’s debt.”
• He laughs and reaches for his belt.
• “You really think that’s worth twenty-five grand?”
• Anger flares hot and fast. I almost hit him. Almost. Then my father’s face fills my mind. Tired. Ashamed. Afraid.
• I force the smile wider.
• “Then what will?”
• He grabs my chin and jerks my head up.
• “You’re mine until the end of summer.”
• The sound of his zipper makes my stomach drop. My vision darkens at the edges.
• “A week,” I whisper.
• “Not enough.” He pulls himself free. “All summer. Starting now.”
• My throat tightens. I feel sick. If I do this, I lose something I won’t get back.
• The door slams open.
• The bell rings sharp and loud. Three large men fill the doorway. Black suits. Red pocket squares. The air in the room shifts instantly. Power presses in from every direction. I scramble to my feet, nearly tripping over my heels.
• Xander fixes himself quickly. I finally breathe again.
• “Go,” the tallest man says calmly. His voice is steady. Dangerous. “We need privacy.”
• “Fine,” I mumble, already moving.
• “Lana, wait,” Xander snaps.
• I stop with my hand on the door. I turn back slowly and force my mouth into a smile that feels brittle and thin.
• “If you want the deal,” he calls out, “come back tonight.”
• I nod once. My body feels hollow as I step outside. Then I move fast, whispering prayers under my breath, thanking every saint I can think of that those men walked in when they did.