Chapter 4

"Fuck." Mabel dropped the razor and scrambled to her feet. "Tommy! Get these idiots to clean up the scene—now!"

The rain kept pouring down on us.

"Drag her to the storage room." Mabel's voice was ice-cold. "Boss can't see this filth."

Rough hands grabbed my arms and dragged me out of the pool of blood.

The storage room door swung open. It was black as hell inside, just a thin strip of crappy light bleeding through the crack.

They threw me in the corner. My body hit the cold stone floor.

Mabel followed me in.

She stopped at the doorway, straightening her clothes and hair, getting ready to greet Arthur.

Then she bent down and leaned close to my face.

"After Arthur leaves, I'm I'm gonna have some fun with you. Real nice and slow." Her voice was soft as a whisper, but every word stabbed into my ears like a knife.

" I'll make you wish you were never born."

I wanted to speak, but could only let out a weak moan.

"And that bastard in your belly." Her gaze fell on my now-deflated abdomen. "Good riddance. Saves Arthur the embarrassment later."

No.

Despair instantly turned into hatred.

I stared at her, using every ounce of strength to memorize her every expression, every wrinkle, every vicious smile. I stared at the faces of those gang members outside the door, memorizing them one by one.

I will make you pay in blood.

I will make all of you pay.

Mabel saw the hatred in my eyes.

Her expression became even more cruel. "What's with that look? Still not convinced?"

She picked up a shard of glass from the floor and crouched beside me.

"Since the baby died inside, why don't I help you 'take it out.'"

The glass shard moved close to my abdomen. I felt a bone-chilling cold.

She cut open my skirt. The sound of tearing fabric was especially harsh in the silent storage room.

"Look at this poor little thing." Her voice was full of mockery. "Died before even seeing sunlight. How pathetic."

I wanted to move, wanted to fight back, but my body wouldn't obey.

Blood was still flowing. The pain made it almost impossible to think.

Just then, footsteps came from outside.

Steady, powerful footsteps.

It was Arthur!

Mabel immediately stopped what she was doing. She grabbed some burlap sacks and quickly covered me with them.

"Don't make a sound." She threatened in a low voice by my ear. "Make any noise and I'll slit your throat."

Then she rushed out of the storage room and closed the door.

I lay in the darkness, listening to what was happening outside through the crack in the door.

Arthur's footsteps were getting closer.

I opened my mouth, wanting to call for help. Wanting to shout his name.

But I couldn't.

Too weak. Lost too much blood.

I could only lie there, and the man I loved most was just on the other side of the wall.

The office door opened.

"Boss." Mabel's voice became respectful, even a bit flirtatious. "The accounts are all ready."

"Mm." Arthur's voice was low and tired. "Tommy just said a woman came looking for me?"

"Oh, that." Mabel's tone was casual. "A woman trying to get close to you. Said something about coming to dress your wounds. I already sent her away."

"Dress my wounds?"

There was a moment of silence.

Then Arthur said, "Before the war, there was a girl who always bandaged my wounds... those hands were very warm."

Tears poured from my eyes.

He still remembered. He still remembered me.

"There are lots of women like that." Mabel quickly interrupted his memories. "They all want to use that kind of excuse to get close to you. I won't let anyone disturb you."

Silence again.

I heard the sound of a chair moving. Arthur sat down.

"Bring me the accounts."

"Yes, boss."

I heard the sound of papers rustling. Mabel was reporting on the profits from the smuggling business.

I desperately tried to make a sound. Each attempt only produced weak gasps...

After a while, Arthur stood up. "I'm going to check on the dock situation."

"Do you need me to come with you?" Mabel asked.

"No need."

Footsteps moved toward the door.

No. Don't go.

Please don't go.

Arthur stopped at the doorway.

"This medical kit..." His voice suddenly carried a hint of confusion. "It looks very familiar."