A young waitress's dating life is a disaster, but her next encounter could be deadly when the alluring tattoo artist she's drawn to reveals himself to be a monster with a twisted plan to own her completely.
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Raya
The air crackled with unspoken tension. Erica's accusations still hung heavy in the small studio, a miasma of resentment and suspicion. Yet, amidst the lingering animosity, a tiny voice, full of innocent wonder, cut through the static.
"Really?" Harmony squealed, her eyes wide with unadulterated delight. She clapped her hands together, her small body vibrating with excitement. The question, directed at me, was clear: could this stranger, this Raya with the interesting skin and kind eyes, really be here for her?
Erica's sharp "Definitely not!" slammed down like a gavel, crushing Harmony's burgeoning hope. The little girl's face crumpled, her lower lip trembling slightly. My stomach clenched. I might not be a natural with kids, but even I could see Erica's words were unnecessarily harsh.
Jamal, caught between appeasing his ex and comforting his daughter, looked at me with a mixture of gratitude and apprehension. "Uh, have you...have you watched kids before?" he asked, his voice laced with caution.
I shrugged, trying to project an air of nonchalance I definitely didn't feel. "Once or twice," I lied, mentally kicking myself. A more convincing answer would have been "Absolutely never, unless you count the time I had to babysit my neighbor's goldfish." But the words were out, and Harmony was watching me with hopeful eyes. It was too late to back down now. "If it makes you feel comfortable, I can stay here with her until you get off. I don't mind."
Jamal's gaze flickered to Erica, seeking her approval like a trapped animal. Her immediate, violent headshake spoke volumes. "I don't know her," she spat, her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "What if she's some kind of weirdo?"
"What else am I going to do?" Jamal retorted, his voice rising in frustration. "I can't watch her, and you're obviously not trying to get her."
"What if she kidnaps my daughter!" Erica shrieked, her voice bordering on hysterical.
I raised my hand, attempting to inject a dose of reason into the escalating drama. "I would never do that. I believe in karma. Besides, what would I even do with a kid?"
Erica scoffed, clearly unimpressed. Jamal, however, chuckled under his breath, a sound that seemed to annoy Erica even more. "What's your goal here?" she demanded, her eyes boring into me. "Why are you really offering to do this?"
"Um...nothing?" I stammered, feeling increasingly awkward. "I'm just trying to help you two out. I don't have anything to do today, and this would be me doing Jamal a favor for squeezing me in." I emphasized the last part, hoping to appeal to her sense of fairness.
Jamal nervously poked his cheek with his tongue, his eyes darting between Erica and me. Erica was glaring at me with enough intensity to melt steel. I understood her hesitation – entrusting your child to a complete stranger was a leap of faith. But it wasn't like she had a viable alternative. She seemed more interested in her own plans than in finding a suitable caregiver for Harmony.
