I burst out of the pawn shop like I’d been shot out of a cannon, the bell slamming against the door behind .
People were moving all around ...cars honking, voices shouting, but it all muffled.
I ran down the first alley I could find, wedging myself between a dumpster and a brick wall streaked with old graffiti. The sll of trash and wet concrete hit , but I didn’t care.
I pressed my back to the wall, trying to suck in a breath.
My chest felt like it was caving in.
In... out...
But the air wouldn’t co.
Nothing ca.
Images flashed in my head...the serpent tattoos. Liam lying in a pool of blood.
The scary looking n.
My throat closed up.
I couldn’t breathe.
My fingers scrabbled for my phone in my pocket. It almost slipped out of my hand twice before I finally managed to unlock it.
I found Dominic’s na and hit call.
It rang once. Twice.
"Hey, Rivera." He sounded amused. "Aren’t you supposed to be..."
"I—I can’t—"
I doubled over, pressing my forehead to the rough brick. My voice ca out in broken gasps. "Dom... I c-can’t... breathe..."
His tone changed in an instant. All the teasing vanished..
"Ash, talk to please." His voice cracked.
My whole body was shaking so hard that I could barely hold the phone.
"I... saw... them... tattoo... the sa... the guy who... Liam..."
"Omg, Ash. Where are you right now?"
My vision blurred. My voice cracked. "A... alley. Near... Shawn’s... pawn shop..."
"Good. Good. Just keep talking to . Listen. Breathe in for four. Ready? In...one, two, three, four. Hold it. Now out. One. Two, three, four."
I sucked in a tiny gasp of air.
"That’s it. Are you okay?"
Tears spilled over my lashes. "I’m... I’m not okay. Dom, I’m not..."
"Shhh. Listen to . You’re safe. Nobody’s gonna hurt you. I’m getting in my car right now. You hear ?"
I closed my eyes, pressing back harder into the brick, trying to stay upright.
"I’m coming to get you, Ash. Don’t move. Stay in the alley. I’ll be there as fast as I can."
I kept nodding even though he couldn’t see .
"Keep breathing for . Just like that. In. Hold. Out. I’ve got you."
He kept talking, his voice the only thing anchoring as the city roared around , and my world slowly started to pull itself back into shape.
Dominic stayed on the line the whole ti.
"Where are you now? Tell what you see."
"Um... a green dumpster... and a... a cat..." My voice cracked. "He’s staring at like I’m crazy."
Dominic let out a tiny huff of laughter. "Well, you are a little crazy. But you’re my favorite crazy person."
I let out a shaky sound that might have been a laugh. Or a sob.
My breaths started coming a tiny bit easier, though my whole body was still shaking like I’d been electrocuted.
The sll of garbage made gag, but I couldn’t bring myself to move.
"I’m s-sorry," I whispered.
"Hey, none of that is your fault." Dom’s voice sharpened a little. "Don’t apologize for being scared. You hear ?"
I nodded again, wiping my sleeve across my wet face.
I heard a car door slam through the phone. Then the roar of an engine.
"I’m driving now," Dominic said, breathless like he was moving fast. "Which alley are you in? Tell exactly."
I peeked out from behind the dumpster. My voice was still wobbly. "Next to the barber shop on Third. Between the shop and... and that liquor store."
"Keep talking, Ash. Don’t hang up on ."
So I did. I told him every stupid detail. The color of the bricks. The cigarette butts scattered on the ground. The way the breeze slled like garbage. Anything to keep my mind from sliding back into that pawnshop.
About ten minutes later, I heard tires squeal at the end of the alley.
I looked up to see a sleek black car. The driver’s door flew open so hard it bounced back.
Then I saw Dominic.
He jumped out of his car before he even finished parking, his hair was ssy.
"Ash!"
I tried to say his na but my throat wouldn’t work.
He ran over to et , and pulled against his chest.
I pressed my face into the warm cotton of his T-shirt. He slled like clean laundry and cologne and sothing sweet, like cinnamon gum.
His arms wrapped tight around .
"Shhh. I’ve got you," he murmured into my ear. "You’re okay. You’re safe."
My fingers twisted into his shirt.
"I... I couldn’t breathe. I thought—"
"I’m here now." He brushed his lips over my forehead. "I know, baby. It’s over. You’re safe."
He scanned up and down, eyes flicking over my shoulders, my face, like he was checking for injuries.
"I...I saw them, Dom," I choked out. "The tattoo. It was the sa as the guy who killed Liam. It was the sa...."
"I know, I know." His hands were warm and firm on my back, holding tight. "You’re safe. I promise. Nobody’s gonna touch you."
He pulled back just enough to tip my chin up. His thumb brushed a tear off my cheek.
"I’m so proud of you," he said. "You called . You didn’t try to handle it alone. That’s huge, Ash."
I blinked, more tears sliding down. "I feel like I’m falling apart."
"Good." His mouth quirked in a tiny smile. "ans you’re human."
"We’re gonna figure this out, Ash."
"I... I sold my dad’s watch. I sold his compass, his awards. I’m a bad son. My mom is dying."
Dom’s brow creased. "Hey. Listen to . None of that makes you a bad son. You’re doing what you have to do. You’re surviving."
"I feel like I’m drowning," I whispered.
He exhaled shakily and kissed my forehead. "Then I’ll swim for you."
He kept staring at , wiping my tears. Then....He leaned in and kissed .
Reviews
All reviews (0)