Just as my fingers grazed the door handle, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Before I could turn around, before I could react, a blinding pain exploded in the back of my skull.
CRACK.
I didn’t even see it coming.
The bat smashed into my head multiple time with such force, the everything went black. My legs gave out beneath me, and I crumpled to the floor, the cold concrete rushing up to meet me. My body lay limp as blood pooled around my head, soaking into the dirt and dust.
There were no more thoughts, no more pain, no more fear.
My father didn’t come.
He chose his empire over me.
It had been three days since I was dumped at the market like yesterday’s trash, and my father, Martinez, still had no clue I was gone. His head was somewhere else, focused on the new gang threatening his empire. They were getting bolder, going after his allies and leaving their mutilated bodies as warnings. It was clear—they were coming for him next.
My dad sat in his dim office, his face tight with anger as he scanned the latest report. “This isn’t just a turf war anymore,” he growled, slamming his fist onto the desk. “They’re sending a damn message!”