Page 46 of Silent Ties

“Why?” It comes out shaky.

“They were all Marissa’s girls.”

I slump back further. Marissa isn’t against taking out her own people, but five in one night is excessive. Especially, if they were left for others to find so quickly.

“She. . .”

His hand squeezes my shoulder. “Breathe.”

I suck in air. “Who?”

He takes his hand back. “Not Daisy.”

The sob breaks before I can stop it. Hard, unyielding eyes watch me and I think he’s annoyed. But I can’t stop the tears.

Partly from relief. Daisy isn’t a casualty. She and the baby should be all right. But jolts of shock sting my chest.

We’ve never talked about Daisy before. He’s never let on that he knew her name, though, I’m not surprised. But I can’t handle a conversation about my best friend right now.

“Who?” I demand.

It might not be Daisy, but there’s still a good chance I’ll know some of the victims. He lists off names and I break further. I spring up from the bed, walking back and forth by the wall of windows. He remains on his side, his brow slightly lifted. I’m not inclined to believe it’s concern.

I press my hand to my heart, willing it to slow down. Instead, it spasms tight and I bend over my knees. “Me-Meena.”

“Stop and breathe,” he orders, feet padding toward me. He’s normally naked when we go to bed or the very least in briefs. A pair of blue striped pajama bottoms comes into view. He lightly touches my back.

My hands remain on my knees, my lungs sucking in air. Hot tears irritate my cheeks. “Someone needs to tell Meena.”

He stares strangely at me.

“That’s her sister,” I say of one of the victims. I grew up with them both and take her devastation as my own. Marissa took her sister from her forever. Brutally too.

“Okay,” Max says in a placating tone. He bends slightly, rubbing my back. “But first breathe.”

I shake my head, but he forces me to straighten and then pushes me to sit on the edge of the mattress.

“Why?” I ask again.

He sighs. “The girls were all favorites.”

The sadness forms into anger, my hands balling intofists. Marissa routinely whores out her girls to various criminal leaders. A peace offering. Sometimes they turn into favorites, and Marissa allows it to happen, always wanting an ear to the ground.

But she killed them. And for what? To prove some shitty point. It’s all a fucking game to Marissa.

Anger nearly chokes me, and tears continue to fill my eyes.

After a while of standing, Max says, “We’re moving you to my parent’s house.”

“No.” I shake my head. “Why?”

“Because. . .” He sighs again and I blink back tears so I can see him. He bends down in front of me. “One of the girls was a favorite of Paublino.”

He runs one of the biggest gangs in the city. But there are no current issues between the rival criminal syndicates. At least not more than usual, bar this new event.

“He knows about you.” Max is on his knees, between my legs as I sit on the edge of the bed. He holds my waist and is serious, but soft-spoken in the night. “And thinks you’re the best way to get back at Marissa.”

“You’ve made it very clear that I’m yours and not Marissa’s.”

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