Chapter 4 BLOOD ON THE FLOOR

I don't know how long I sat there.

Long enough that my legs went numb. Long enough that the music downstairs finally stopped.

When I stood, my body felt disconnected. Like I was puppeting myself from somewhere far away.

The hallway was empty. No Marcus. No security. Just me and the distant sound of cleanup crew.

I walked downstairs in a daze. Still wearing the borrowed dress. Still wearing heels that weren't mine.

The main floor looked different without the crowd. Emptier. Sadder. Just overturned chairs and spilled drinks and the ghost of what happened here every night.

A few dancers lingered by the bar. Counting tips. Laughing about something.

Sloane was one of them.

She looked up when I walked past. Eyes narrowing.

"Well?" She called out. "How'd it go? He like what he saw?"

I kept walking.

"Hey!" Her voice got sharp. "I'm talking to you, scholarship."

I stopped. Turned.

She was smirking. Waiting for me to be broken. Humiliated. Ready to confirm what she already thought—that I wasn't any better than the rest of them.

"I got it," I said quietly.

Her smirk faltered. "Got what?"

"The money. My mom's surgery. All of it."

"Bullshit."

"It's done. He's paying for everything."

She stood up from her stool. Walked closer. "How? What did you do? Because I've been with that man and he doesn't just throw money around unless—"

"Where's Marcus?"

She blinked. "What?"

"Marcus. Where is he?"

"I don't know. His office probably. Why—"

A sound cut through the club.

Sharp. Loud.

A gunshot.

I flinched. Every muscle in my body locking up.

More shouting from the back. Male voices. Angry. Overlapping.

Then another shot.

Closer this time.

One of the dancers screamed.

Sloane's face had gone white. "We need to leave. Now."

"What's happening?"

"What do you think?" She grabbed my arm. "Someone pissed off Kaelan Valentino and now he's—"

Another gunshot. Something crashed. More shouting.

"Move!" Sloane dragged me toward the exit.

We ran. Past overturned chairs. Past the bar where the other girls were scrambling. Past everything.

Burst out into the alley.

Cold air hit my lungs. I sucked it in. Gasped. My heart was trying to break through my ribs.

The rain had stopped but everything was still wet. Pavement slick. Reflecting neon from the street.

"What the hell did you do?" Sloane spun on me.

"Nothing! I just—I told him about the bug and—"

"The bug? What bug?"

Right. She didn't know.

"Marcus wanted me to plant a listening device on Valentino. I tried but he knew. He took it."

She stared at me like I was the dumbest person alive.

"You told Kaelan Valentino that someone tried to bug him."

"He already knew!"

"Yeah but now he knows Marcus is working with someone. Someone who wants him dead." She ran a hand through her hair. "You just started a war, scholarship."

My stomach turned over.

Another gunshot echoed from inside.

Then silence.

We stood there. Both too scared to move. Waiting.

Nobody else came out.

After what felt like hours, a black SUV pulled up. Stopped at the alley entrance.

Back door opened.

A man stepped out.

Tall. Black. Well-dressed. Military posture. Eyes that scanned the alley and landed on me.

"Elara Rossi?"

I nodded. Couldn't speak.

"I'm Asher Wright. Mr. Valentino sent me to take you home."

Home. Like I had one anymore.

"I need to see my mom first," I managed. "The hospital."

"Already arranged. I'll take you to St. Mary's."

Of course. Kai had thought of everything.

I looked at Sloane. She was staring at the SUV like it was a hearse.

"You're really going with him?"

"Don't have a choice."

"Yeah, you do. You could run."

And go where? I had no money. No car.

Nowhere to hide that Kai couldn't find me.

And I'd made a deal.

"I have to," I said.

"Then you're stupider than I thought." But her voice was softer when she said it. Almost sad. "For what it's worth... I'm sorry. About your mom."

It was probably the nicest thing she'd ever said to me.

"Thanks."

Asher held the door open. "Miss Rossi."

I walked to the SUV. Climbed in. Black leather. Tinted windows. The kind of car that cost more than my life.

Before he closed the door, Sloane called out.

"Elle?"

I looked back.

"Good luck. You're gonna need it."

Then Asher shut the door and the world outside disappeared.

The drive was quiet.

Asher didn't try to make conversation. Just drove. Professional. Controlled.

I sat in the back and tried not to think about the gunshots. About Marcus. About what "deal with" meant when Kaelan Valentino said it.

My phone buzzed.

maya: sleeping over jessicas again tomorrow if thats ok

maya: her mom says she doesnt mind

I stared at the message. Typed back with shaking hands.

me: thats fine. have fun. love you

Maya didn't need to know. Not yet. Not until I figured out how to explain that I'd sold myself to save Mom.

That I belonged to a monster now.

"You okay back there?" Asher's voice cut through my thoughts.

"Yeah." My voice sounded hollow. "Fine."

"Mr. Valentino asked me to let you know—your mother's surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Seven AM. Best neurosurgeon in the state. She's in good hands."

Tomorrow morning. Less than five hours from now.

"Thank you," I whispered.

He glanced at me in the rearview. "You should know something about Kai."

Kai. Like they were friends.

"What?"

"He doesn't do charity. If he paid for your mother's surgery, it's because he wants you. And when Kai wants something, he doesn't let go."

"I know. He told me."

"Did he tell you what happens to people who betray him?"

I thought about the gunshots. About Marcus. About the bug in Kai's pocket.

"No."

"Good. Then don't find out." His eyes met mine in the mirror. "You seem like a smart girl. So here's some free advice—don't lie to him. Don't run from him. And don't ever make him think you're not his. You do that, you'll be fine."

"And if I don't?"

He didn't answer.

Didn't need to.

St. Mary's was quiet at three AM.

Asher walked me to the entrance. "I'll wait here. Take your time."

I nodded. Went inside.

The elevator felt slower than usual. Or maybe time was just moving wrong. Everything felt wrong.

Fourth floor. Room 427.

I pushed open the door.

Mom was still asleep. Machines still beeping. Same rhythm. In. Out. In. Out.

I sat in the chair beside her bed. Took her hand.

"Hey, Mama." My voice cracked. "Sorry I'm late."

She didn't move. Didn't wake.

"They're gonna do the surgery tomorrow. Best doctor in the state. You're gonna be okay." I squeezed her hand. "You're gonna be okay and I'm gonna figure the rest out. I promise."

A lie. But sometimes lies were kinder than truth.

I rested my head on the edge of her bed. Closed my eyes.

Just for a second.

Just to—

"Elle?"

I jerked awake.

A nurse stood in the doorway. Young. Tired-looking.

"Surgery's scheduled for seven AM. Dr. Long wanted me to let you know. He's the best. Your mom's lucky."

"Thank you."

She started to leave. Paused. "You should go home. Get some rest. It's gonna be a long day."

Home.

I almost laughed.

"Yeah. I will."

She left.

I sat there a little longer. Memorizing Mom's face. The way her hand felt in mine. The sound of the machines keeping her alive.

Then I stood. Kissed her forehead.

"Love you, Mama."

Walked out before I started crying again.

Asher was waiting where I left him.

He didn't ask questions. Just opened the door.

I climbed back in.

"Where to?" he asked.

"I need to grab some stuff from my apartment.

Then I guess..." I trailed off. Didn't know how to finish that sentence.

"The estate," he said. "That's home now."

Home.

That word again.

He pulled out of the hospital parking lot. Headed toward my neighborhood.

I stared out the window. Watched the city blur past. Neon signs. Empty streets. People stumbling out of bars.

Normal people. Living normal lives.

I wasn't one of them anymore.

We pulled up to my building. Crappy three-story walk-up. Peeling paint. Broken intercom.

"I'll be quick," I said.

"Take your time."

I got out. Climbed the stairs. Each step felt heavier than the last.

Second floor. Apartment 2C.

I unlocked the door. Stepped inside.

Dark. Quiet. Smelled like home.

Maya's backpack by the couch. Mom's reading glasses on the coffee table. My textbooks stacked by the kitchen.

Everything exactly how I left it.

And nothing would ever be the same.

I grabbed a duffel bag from the closet. Started throwing things in. Clothes. Toothbrush. The photo of me and Maya and Mom from last Christmas.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

Unknown: Sleep well, Elle. Tomorrow your new life begins. - K

I stared at the message.

Then I finished packing.