𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤 | 𝘙𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘯

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟒

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤 |
𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑻𝑹𝑬𝑬𝑻𝑺 𝑾𝑬𝑹𝑬 𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑽𝑬, but in the car, it was just the two of us—Rafe behind the wheel, silent, his grip firm, his focus razor-sharp. I sat in the passenger seat, one leg crossed over the other, watching the world pass through tinted windows.

The plan was simple. Maybe too simple. But it would work.

The stolen gun rested in my lap, its weight grounding me. A quiet kind of comfort. I'd taken it from my father's safe a few days ago, the night right after we made the plan. I'd taken many things from him over the years. His money, his power, his control. Maybe he noticed, maybe he didn't. Either way, he never stopped me. He was cold, but I was his daughter. And in the end, he needed me more than I needed him.

The thing about being the daughter of the most powerful man in town was that problems didn't exist. Not really. A dead body? A missing person? A crime scene wiped clean? Everything could be solved with a few stacks of cash and the right people. That was what I loved most about money. The way it made anything—anyone—disappear.

Tonight would be no different.

Rafe glanced at me, unreadable as always. "You sure about this?"

I traced my fingers over the smooth metal of the gun, my voice steady. "I was sure the moment we decided he was a problem." The words came sharper than I intended. "He made my life hell for weeks. I'm not letting that go."

Rafe's hands tightened on the wheel. "There's no turning back." He didn't sound uncertain. Just stating a fact.

"No turning back," I echoed, my voice calm, my decision final. "I'm not letting one mistake—one bad choice—ruin everything I built. It took me too long to get here."

Rafe didn't argue. He didn't need to. Instead, he reached into his sports bag, pulled out the ammunition, and loaded the gun with quiet efficiency. The click of the magazine locking into place sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine.

We were both ruthless in our own way.

I watched as he checked the safety, his movements smooth, practiced. He wasn't just some rich boy playing gangster. Rafe knew what he was doing. Maybe that's why I liked him. Or maybe it was the way he looked at me—like he knew exactly what kind of girl I was and didn't care.

He looked up, his eyes dark under the low glow of the car's interior light. "Just... be careful," he murmured, his voice quieter now.

I nodded, though I knew my heart was already in this. There was no
"stupid" in me when I knew what needed to be done.

I reached over, running my fingers across his jaw, feeling the faint stubble beneath my touch. "I'm not stupid," I whispered, leaning in to kiss him. The kiss was quick but intense, filled with a tension that had been building all night.

When I pulled away, I looked at him, my voice soft but firm.

"I'll be fine. Just stick with me, Rafe. I know what I'm doing."

Then, I stepped out of the car.

𝜗𝜚

The restaurant was dimly lit, quiet, the kind of place where men like Gustav felt untouchable. Private booths. Heavy curtains. A low hum of jazz playing somewhere in the background.

I spotted him immediately, seated at a table near the back, the soft glow of the candle flickering across his face. He was alone.

Good.

I walked toward him, heels clicking against the polished floor. He saw me before I reached the table, his mouth curling into that smug little smile that made my skin crawl.

"Catalina," he said, standing as I reached him. "I wasn't expecting you tonight."

I shrugged, sliding into the seat across from him, draping my coat over the chair. "I was bored."

Gustav's grin widened, his gaze sweeping over me like he was already imagining things I didn't want to think about. "Bored?" he mused, leaning back in his seat. "That's a shame. A girl like you should never be bored."

I tilted my head, meeting his gaze without flinching. "Then entertain me."

He chuckled, reaching for his glass. "And what exactly do you want, Catalina?"

I let the silence stretch between us. Then, I met his eyes again. "You."

His smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, but he recovered quickly, his eyes darkening. "Me?"

I leaned in slightly, letting my voice drop, the game beginning. "Just for tonight."

His eyes roamed over me, calculating, weighing whatever risks his mind could conjure up. But men like Gustav? They never said no to things like this.

His smile returned, slow and self-assured. "I always knew you'd come around."

I smiled back, reaching for his drink, taking a slow sip. He had no idea.

The conversation that followed was laced with tension, his words thick with innuendo, disgusting in a way that made me want to roll my eyes. I played along, laughing softly at the right moments, letting my fingers trail lightly over his hand, baiting him in the way I knew worked best.

After a while, I leaned in closer, dropping my voice to something just above a whisper. "I think we should get out of here."

He raised an eyebrow. "Impatient, aren't we?"

I shrugged. "You said a girl like me shouldn't be bored. So fix it."

That was all it took.

Gustav signaled for the check, barely paying attention to the waiter as he tossed a few bills onto the table. Then he stood, offering his hand. I ignored it, sliding my coat back on and walking ahead of him, knowing he was watching.

The moment we stepped outside, the cold air wrapped around me, but I didn't shiver. Gustav's car was parked in the back, sleek and black, tinted windows reflecting the streetlights. He unlocked it with a click, holding the door open.

I slid in, crossing my legs, waiting as he got behind the wheel.

As he pulled out of the lot, his hand already resting on my thigh, I caught a glimpse of a familiar car in the rearview mirror.

Rafe was following.