Again, Lily

In the corner of a small bar.

I opened my eyes.

Where am I?

Glancing around, I found a quartet playing in the corner.

The place was nice. It had an old-era, speakeasy vibe with dark wood, a long bar, and a tailored bartender.

But the air smelled of cheap perfume. Weed. Something metallic—blood, or perhaps rust.

Various men lingered around; most were tatted up and twice the size of those I normally came across in Boston.

They all wore dark suits, and a murderous cloud seemed to weigh down their shoulders.

Under normal circumstances, I could see myself throwing dollar bills and having strippers lick vodka from my belly buttons.

But now I should leave.

"Stop coming to places like this!" Julian Cross's warning words lingered in my mind.

The sound of men and women panting echoed nearby.

I stepped over the entangled couple on the floor.

Just as I was about to open the door—

CRASH!

A wine bottle exploded inches from my head.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

Something sharp tried to claw its way out of my skull.

I pressed my temples, trying to stay awake.

I staggered to my feet, gingerly finding my way in the darkness.

"Miss Rivers, don't you want the money anymore?" a man behind me shouted.

Ignoring him, I walked to the door.

The heavy footsteps echoed behind me.

A man approached and pressed my body against the door.

Then, a hand began to roam over my body.

As buttons ripped open, my clothes were pulled down.

"Miss Rivers, you took my three hundred thousand dollars," the man sneered. "You didn't think I just brought you here to keep me company, did you?"

Three hundred thousand dollars?

The numbers floated in my mind.

The man's hot breath blasted against my neck, reeking of bourbon and mint gum.

His hand caressed my hips.

"Julian!" I screamed instinctively, struggling.

The wandering hand stopped instantly.

It then clamped around my throat.

My face was flushed from lack of air.

I shook my head desperately.

"Help!" The word slipped away from my throat.

Ignoring my request, he slammed me down.

Thrown hard against the floor, my back burned.

I coughed violently.

My hands scrabbled across the sticky ground, trying to find my phone.

"Miss Rivers," the man sneered. "Do you have any clue what situation you're in?"

The man squatted before me, poking my forehead with a cold metal.

It was a gun!

"I call you 'Miss' because it amuses me," he sneered. "Don't mistake it for respect."

"You think you're still being pampered? If I hadn't pulled strings to get you out of Victor Sterling's hands, you'd be dead. Slut!" he ranted on. "If you dare to say 'Julian' again, I'll take you right here, right now."

"Julian Cross!" I shouted, tears streaming down my face.

The man loomed over me. His weight crushed my ribs.

My hands slapped the sticky floor, trying to break free.

I failed, gazing at the neon sign flickering OPEN in the corner, which was mocking me.

"I dare you to say it again," he growled.

Suddenly, my fingertips brushed something cold, metallic, and smooth.

Is it my phone?

I bit my lip, trying to reach for it with every ounce of strength I had left.

CLICK!

My phone was unlocked.

Before I could lift it, a great force yanked my hair, forcing my head back.

SLAP!

A heavy hand collided with my face.

My mind went blank.

My vision became blurred.

My ears rang, like a bell had been struck inside my skull.

"Lily!"

A voice from outside cut through the noise.

Julian?

I squinted through the blur.

A man in a khaki coat stood outside.

I grabbed the cold metal on the floor.

A gun?

My right hand moved on its own.

It was muscle memory.

CLICK!

Safety off.

Trembling, I pointed the barrel at my own temple.

It should be the end.

Outside, Julian's eyes widened in terror.

He grabbed a fire extinguisher from the wall and smashed it against the glass.

"Lily! Drop the gun!"

"PLEASE!"

Ignoring his scream, I forced a smile.

"Thank you, Julian," I whispered. "Bye."

Then, I pulled the trigger.

BANG!