Page 6 of Until You Break

I nod, letting his words settle over me, filling the empty spaces that fear left behind. For now, it’s enough. And as the silence settles around us, I close my eyes, clinging to the fragile hope that somewhere beyond these walls, the world is still waiting for me.

Chapter four

His Sinner

Dominic glances down atthe tray the masked man left him, a tray just like mine—some kind of mystery meat, a piece of stale bread, and a small bottle of water. He wrinkles his nose, lifting the bread up to inspect it, and makes a face.

“God, they couldn’t even try with this, huh?” he mutters, poking the meat with his finger. “Looks like something that’s been left in the back of a freezer since the ‘90s.”

A laugh bubbles up before I can stop it, a sound I didn’t think I’d ever make in this place. I can’t help it—he looks so disgusted that it almost feels normal. Like we’re just two people complaining about terrible cafeteria food.

“Don’t think about it too much,” I say, picking up my own piece of bread and nibbling on the corner. It’s dry and tasteless, but it’s better than nothing. “Just… close your eyes and pretend it’s something else.”

“Easy for you to say.” He rolls his eyes, but then he breaks off a piece and pops it in his mouth, chewing with a grimace. “Mmm, delicious cardboard. My favorite.”

I laugh again, covering my mouth, and he grins, clearly pleased with himself. Then he picks up his water bottle and holds it out to me through the bars.

“Here,” he says, pushing it a little closer. “Take it.”

I shake my head. “I’ve got one.”

“Yeah, but yours is half gone,” he says, cocking an eyebrow. “Take mine. I don’t need it.”

I hesitate, but he nudges it closer, his gaze steady. “Come on. It’s not charity. Think of it as… me sharing in the misery.”

Reluctantly, I reach through the bars and take the bottle, our fingers brushing for a second. It’s a small thing, just a bottle of water, but the kindness behind it is enough to make my throat tighten. “Thanks.”

“Anytime,” he replies, leaning back against the bars with a casual air that seems entirely out of place in this concrete prison. He watches me eat for a moment before his gaze shifts, almost like he’s lost in thought.

We sit in silence, both of us picking at the food, neither of us really eating much. The taste doesn’t matter; it’s just enough to keep us from passing out. But then, curiosity starts to tug at me, and I find myself wanting to know more about him, about the person who’s somehow making this nightmare feel a little less lonely.

“So,” I start, trying to fill the silence, “you said you have brothers?”

His face lights up in a way that surprises me. “Yeah. Two older brothers. We’re close, though ‘close’ might be the wrong word. More like‘constantly at each other’s throats, but still always have each other’s backs.’”

I smile, intrigued. “Tell me about them.”

“Ah,” he says, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Real pains in the ass, both of them.”

“Really? How so?”

“Oh, they’ve got a talent for driving me insane since I’m the youngest.” He leans back, crossing his arms and looking at me with a mischievous glint. “Take my oldest brother, Luca. Thinks he’s a damn saint just because he’s a few years older. Acts like he’s some wise sage, all-knowing and untouchable. Meanwhile, he’s the one who’d forget his own birthday if we didn’t remind him every year.”

I can’t help but chuckle, imagining this Luca he’s describing. “Sounds like a handful.”

“Handful doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Dominic says, rolling his eyes. “Then there’s my other brother, Matteo. Mr. Biker Badass. Covered in tattoos, practically lives on his motorcycle, and can’t go a single day without reminding me how much tougher he is. But deep down? Soft as a marshmallow. The guy would give his last dollar to help someone out.”

I laugh, and it feels strange, almost surreal, to be laughing in a place like this, with someone I barely know. But Dominic’s expression softens as he talks, like just mentioning his brothers brings him some kind of comfort.

“They sound like good guys,” I say, smiling.

He nods, a fond look in his eyes. “Yeah, they are. They’d probably burn this place down if they knew where I was.”

For a second, the statement hits me with a pang of envy, but then Dominic’s tone shifts, lightening again. “We all work together, too. They own this little auto repair and body shop on the edge of our town. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s ours.”

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “Wait, so you work on cars?”

He smirks, giving me a look like he’s sizing me up. “Cars, bikes, anything with wheels. Surprised?”

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