Page 2 of Poisonous Savage

"Pictureyou in some exotic bazaar," she mused, "bartering like a boss, eyes alight with every new treasure you find."

"Damnstraight."Ilaughed, the sound raw and unchained. "Wannasoak in every culture until my soul's so full it overflows."

"Fuckyeah."Shesat up, plucking a wildflower and twirling it between her fingers. "Me,I'vegot this itch, right?Tocreate something that's all mine.Somebusiness whereIcall the shots, no one else."

"Soundsbadass,Luce."Ipropped myself on an elbow, facing her. "Yougot the brains and balls for it.What'sthe gig?"

"Photography."Hereyes lit up, fierce and bright. "Capturemoments, steal slices of time.SnapshotsthatIcan sell in some dinky market."

"Yourphotos would be the tits."Shereally did have a knack for capturing people at their best.Andtheir worst. "You'dmake the shadows sing."

"Thanks, babe."Shegrinned, a flash of white teeth. "Buthey, let's not kid ourselves.Yourold man wouldn't let you go easily."

"VittoThorncan kiss my ass."Spatthe name out like venom, my father nothing more than a stain on my conscience. "Ain'tno cage that can hold me.Noteven his."

"Rememberthat when the time comes,"Luciasaid, her gaze steady.

"Willdo."Inodded, feeling the weightof her faith in me.

"Let'smake a pact, yeah?"Sheheld out her pinkie, a child's gesture wrapped in steel resolve. "Chaseour dreams, no matter how fucked up things get."

"Deal."Linkedmy finger with hers, sealing our pact. "Tothe future—may it be wild and free as we dare to dream."

"Wildand free."Lucia'swhisper was a prayer, a battle cry, a lifeline thrown into the stormy seas that awaited us both. "Always."

"Shit'sbeen weird at home,"Isuddenly muttered, rolling a pebble between my fingers, feeling its jagged edges press into my skin. "Dad's... he's getting more twisted.SinceMadied, it's like he's unraveling, becoming the very filth he lords over."

"Vitto'salways been a hard man,"Luciasaid, drawing patterns in the dirt. "Butyou're not him,Rosalind.You'resomething else.Somethingbetter."

"Somethinghe wants to break, mold into his own fucked-up image."Mylaugh was sharp. "Thebeatings, the cold stares... feels like he's carving out what's soft inside me, leaving nothing but stone."

"Hey, look at me."Herhand reached out, her touch firm on my shoulder. "You'vegot a backbone in you, but it's your kind, not his.Hecan't snuff out your fire."

"Feelslike he's damn close."Myvoice broke.He'dbeen 'training' me to take over sections of the 'family business' for weeks now.Somehow, it always involved me wearing almost nothing and performing for his men.

"Thenwe burn brighter, babe."Hereyes were fierce embers that refused to die. "Weblaze so fucking hot, he won't dare come near."

"Sometimes,Ijust wanna run.Leaveall this shit behind."Mygaze drifted to the horizon, where the sky kissed the earth. "Befree ofTheBlackHands' grip."

"RosalindThorn.Youwere born with wings.Thatbastard clipped 'em, but they'll grow back.Andyou'll soar higher than he could ever reach when they do.Yourmother didn't raise you to be no wussy."

"Promise?"Theword hung between us.

"Swearon my life."Luciasmiled, but it only half reached her shadowed eyes. "I’llstand by you through hell itself."

"Hopeit doesn't come to that."Ahalf-smile, shadowed by doubt, yet clinging to the sliver of hope she offered.

"Whatevercomes, we face it together."Shepulled me into an embrace, her strength seeping into my bones. "Youand me against the fucking world,Rosie."

"Againstthe world,"Iechoed quietly. "Together."

Wesat there, the remnants of sunlight dying on our skin, the world beyond the lake nothing more than a whisper.Inthe quiet,Ifelt the weight of my future—a crown of thorns waiting to be placed upon my head.

"Shit'sgonna get real ugly,Rosie."Lucia'svoice was somber. "I'vebeen hearing whispers of your father making deals.Workingon shit without your knowledge, even though your mom left you her half of everything."

"Letit come."Myreply was a growl. "I'mdone being the fucking pretty face he thinks he can use whenever it suits him."PerhapsIwas more like my father thanIcared admit, all my previous thoughts of remaining pure, like my mother, gone from my mind as thoughts of brutal violence swirled in my mind.

"Damnstraight."Shelaughed, her head tilted back, those luscious strands of brown falling into the grass. "You'rea queen in the making.Theyjust don't know it yet."

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