Through the Cracks - Cairo Sweet X Pip Fitz-Amobi

Chapter 7

POV: Cairo Sweet

Cairo leaned against the wall of the café, the cool night air brushing against her skin as she watched Pippa walk away.

There was a strange feeling stirring in her chest, something that made her feel both protective and possessive. Pippa had opened up to her, had let her in—even if just a little—and that gave Cairo a rush of satisfaction.

She had always been good at reading people, at slipping into their lives and getting under their skin. But Pippa was different. Pippa was a challenge.

And Cairo loved challenges.

But there was something else gnawing at her, a darker impulse that she was trying to keep at bay. The part of her that wasn’t used to being kind or patient. The part of her that didn’t want to just protect Pippa—but own her.

Cairo had always thrived on control. She liked being in charge, liked knowing that people depended on her, that they couldn’t walk away even if they wanted to. She had been like that with everyone—friends, partners, even family. She wasn’t the type to sit idly by while things unfolded around her.

She made things happen. And Pippa? Cairo could see the cracks in her armor, the fear behind her eyes. And she wanted to crack her open completely, to see what would happen if Pippa let go of everything she was holding inside.

But there was also the thrill of danger now. Jamie’s situation wasn’t just a distraction—it was an opportunity.

Cairo’s lips curled into a small, calculating smile. Pippa would need her now. Whatever was happening with Jamie, it was clear that Pippa couldn’t handle it alone. And that meant she would have to rely on Cairo more and more. The thought gave Cairo a sense of satisfaction.

She liked being needed. She liked being the one people turned to when things got messy.

But there was also a flicker of something darker in the back of her mind. If she pushed too hard, too fast, she could lose Pippa’s trust. And Cairo wasn’t stupid. She knew Pippa was fragile in some ways, strong in others.

Breaking her would be easy. But keeping her... that was a different challenge.

The memory of their kiss lingered in Cairo’s mind as she walked through the campus, her thoughts drifting back to how Pippa had looked at her, the vulnerability in her eyes that she hadn’t seen before. It had been exhilarating, knowing that she had broken through Pippa’s defenses, even for just a moment.

But the truth was, Cairo wasn’t just interested in protecting Pippa. There was a part of her—a selfish, twisted part—that wanted to manipulate her, to see how far she could push her before she snapped. Cairo was no stranger to toxic behavior. She knew how to control people, how to get inside their heads and make them depend on her. It was a game she had played many times before.

And now, Pippa was caught in that web.

But this time, it felt different.

Cairo couldn’t deny that she cared about Pippa in a way she hadn’t cared about anyone else. Pippa wasn’t just another conquest, another person to manipulate for her own amusement. No, there was something deeper between them.

Something that Cairo hadn’t expected.

Still, old habits were hard to break. And as much as Cairo wanted to be different with Pippa, she could feel that darkness inside her creeping back in, whispering in her ear, reminding her of who she really was.

Pippa would trust her now.

She would turn to her for help.

And Cairo would be there, ready to play the role of protector, of friend, of whatever Pippa needed. But underneath it all, Cairo knew that she was walking a fine line. She could either let this be something real... or she could break Pippa in ways she didn’t even realize yet.