𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄

CHAPTER II

The manager suddenly tapped my shoulder, and I jumped, letting out a loud gasp as I dropped the utensils I was holding, too caught up in my own thoughts.

"Shit! Aaliyah, why are you so on edge today? I came to tell you it's the end of your shift,go punch out." He sighed, gesturing to the utensils.

"Sorry about that..." I said, taking a shaky breath as I crouched to pick them up and put them back in their place, then punched out.

"Be careful out there, guess you heard the news, huh? Good thing you live just two blocks from the coffee shop." He replaced his glasses with a strange grin on his face.

Disgusting creep.

I only nodded and grabbed my coat, walking quickly toward the door.

Silence. The only sound was the flickering of the overhead lights and the wind rustling outside, biting at the air.

I shoved my hands into my coat pockets, picking up the pace. Just get home.

But as I neared my apartment, a scream tore through the night, sending a jolt of fear through me. I froze, my heart pounding in my ears. I couldn't move, my gaze locked on the direction of the scream.

Blood spilling out. And a figure in the shadow with his hood up. Holding a knife, the blade shining in the dim light.

My breath caught, my hand shaking as I stared, unable to make a sound.

The figure turned, his movements were precise, gouging the victims eyes. Then started to carve something into the woman, his blade making slow cuts with his name. Making it known he was back. That was his signature.

His eyes, ocean blue locked onto me, void of any emotion. His face and shirt splattered with blood, he looked expressionless and I couldn't even imagine what he was thinking.

I took a step back, heart racing, my legs refusing to move any faster. But it was too late. He saw me.

"Way to ruin the party," he whispered in my ear, his voice low and cold. "Better as a little three-way. Was getting boring."

He grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me into the alley, tossing me next to the lifeless body.

I screamed louder this time, but the sound caught in my throat as I gasped for breath, the world spinning. I looked for help, but there was no one.

He laughed.

"Go ahead, scream some more, baby. No one's coming. They never do."

"Wait." He paused, eyes lighting up. "Even better, I'll scream too!"

He mimicked my scream, laughing manically as he closed the gap between us, his grip tightening in my hair.

"Dead or alive, doesn't matter. Could've walked away, you know? Guess you wanted to join her." His grin widened, wiping blood from his chin.

The victim's body twitched, a soft groan escaping her as she tried to move.

Rolling his eyes, he pulled out a gun, and without a second thought, fired multiple times. The sound of gunshots echoed through the alley.

"Jesus fuckin' Christ, this bitch doesn't wanna die." He sounded annoyed as he crouched down again, facing me.

"Please," I gasped, tears streaming down my face, my whole body trembling. "I won't say a word. Please, just don't kill me."

His gaze darkened. "You ain't no fun, cryin' wont make me feel pity. You're scared. You know who I am, don't you?"

He pressed the cold barrel of his gun to my forehead, his finger on the trigger.

"It's time to die die," he said in a high pitch voice with an accent.

I closed my eyes, this was it. I was going to die.

Then, I heard it, footsteps, fast-paced, a car stopping next to the alley.

"Fuck you doin', Em?" a deep voice barked. "Still terrorizing girls? Quit playing that shit."

A man stepped forward, lighting a blunt as he moved toward us.

Em groaned. "Man, I was just starting to have fun. Why you always show up at the worst fuckin' times?"

"Don't even tell me your white ass just got out of prison. I had to hear about it on the news," the guy shot back, his tone dry.

"A man's have his needs," Marshall muttered. "I was coming to find you later, Trick."

Trick? My heart skipped. That was Trick? The name that sent shivers through anyone who heard it? No one had ever seen him in person. The rumors... the fear... it was all real.

Another man approached, shorter and chubbier, with his hands deep into his pockets.

"Ain't that the girl from the coffee shop?" he said, his voice full of amusement. "Em, what the fuck? She's the only one who ever gets my order right."

"Shut your fat ass up, Bizzy." Em rolled his eyes. "Since when do you even drink coffee?"

"I don't. But their smoothies are the bomb." Bizzy grinned.

I was still frozen, my mind spinning in disbelief. How could they be so calm, standing next to a dead body and joking like it was nothing?

Shady, smacked Bizzy's hand away as he came closer to me. "Your ass is trippin'. This ain't recess time, Bizzy."

He pulled something from his pocket, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me. "Shady, take her. She's seen enough." Trick replied, as he dropped his blunt on the snow.

But the next thing I knew, he was close. Faster than I could react, he grabbed me by the throat, his grip firm, and pressed something cold against my neck. My vision blurred, and my body felt like it was shutting down.

"What are you doing?" My voice was barely a whisper, but the dizziness was overwhelming. My eyelids fluttered, my head spinning.

MARSHALL'S POV

"Tranquilizer? When did you get that shit Slim?" Bizzy chuckled.

"You really forgot I got connections everywhere, huh?" I grinned, ignoring Bizzy's teasing.

I lifted her body effortlessly and placed it in the trunk of the car as we drove off.