“She turned you down?”

“I should’ve listened to you,” I said, taking a seat at the bar. “She’s way out of my league. You were right.” Hard as it was to admit, Kieran was right. I had no chance in hell with Cally. I needed a new plan.

“She comes in alone every other Wednesday. I see it all the time. Guys flocking around her, either sycophantic leeches or horny lowlifes. She’s gotten very picky when it comes to men.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I got that when she rejected me. Twice.”

“Can you blame her, though? I mean, you seem great, but she’s a public figure who attracts a lot of unwanted attention.”

I sighed. “I get that now.”

“She was letting you down easy, probably because you’re my friend. Usually she doesn’t even want to chat.”

Cally might’ve already given up on me, but I wasn’t ready to give up on her. I cracked my knuckles. “Thanks, I think. Anyway, listen. I came about the job. Does the offer still stand?”

“Of course.” Kieran reached beside the cash register and pulled out a form. “Just fill this out and you can start tomorrow.” He handed me a ballpoint pen.

I looked down at the empty boxes on the page. The letters and numbers, slashes and question marks overwhelmed me. I’d never been great at reading. I was even teased for being dyslexic as a child. Paperwork always made me anxious, paper trails even more so. I looked up at Kieran. “Do I have to put down an address? I’m…I’m going to move soon, so—” One thing I hadn’t told Kieran: I haven’t had a real address in years.

“Nah, it’s fine. Just leave a number, in case I need to reach you.”

“Thanks, man.” I scribbled down my number and filled out a few other boxes on the form. “Listen, I can’t tell you how much this means to me, Ki. You didn’t have to—”

“Trust me, Ry, I was in those same shoes a few years ago. My brother Cam saved my ass. Now I’m just paying it forward, I guess.”

“Not the same shoes,” I said. No one wore my shoes. Kieran was one of the few people in Northbridge who knew what I’d been through. At least, some of it. But the whole truth would devastate and probably disturb him so much he’d fire me on the spot.

“I know how shitty it can be.” Kieran rested a large hand on my shoulder. “If you ever want to talk, I’m here to listen.”

“Thanks, boss.” I shot Kieran a grateful smile, and Kieran nodded. “You’re the closest thing I’ve got to a friend in this city.”

“Hey, just because I’m the one writing your checks doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, right?” Kieran poured me a beer and slid it in front of me. “On the house. And if you ever need anything, and I mean anything, you know where to find me, mate.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” I picked up the sweating glass and brought it to my lips. The cool froth tempered my nerves. I was doing it. Slowly but surely, I’d claw my way out of hell. Maybe one day I could live a normal life, too.

“And if any of the others give you shit about your past, you tell them to come talk to me,” Kieran said.

Kieran’s generosity thawed my heart like a hearthstone. “I—You’re a good man, Ki. Cheers.”

I was a cold bastard hardened by years of abuse and neglect, but I wasn’t an ungrateful git. Kieran had tossed me a lifeline, and I clung onto that fucking line with everything I had. Because if it hadn’t been for him, I would’ve been on the streets for God knows how long. If Kieran hadn’t offered me a job, I might’ve drifted back to my old ways. I might’ve resorted to crime, because that was the only language I understood. Kindness and generosity had been foreign concepts to me for so long, sometimes I didn’t understand them, even when they hit me in the face. But I wouldn’t backstab Kieran. I wouldn’t betray his trust. I’d put 110% into this bartending gig because it was the only thing that would keep me alive in a city desperate to chew me up and spit me out.

I had a job. Some cash flow. Now I needed a roof over my head and a way to worm myself into Cally’s heart.

I wanted to be a parasite she couldn’t exterminate.

A virus she couldn’t cure.

A cancer she’d never forget.

But I also had to be careful. One wrong move, one false step, and I’d be locked up again. Kidnapping would be my last resort if push came to shove. First and foremost, I planned to use her weakness to my advantage. Cally had a stalker, Anthony. If I could somehow convince her that I could make Anthony go away, maybe she’d let me inside her world. Once she gave me the keys to her kingdom, I’d twist and twist her until she led me straight to her asshole of a father. Once I had Cally under my thumb, Paul Rayner would do anything I asked. He was untouchable. Powerful. Iron Man. But just like Iron Man, he also had a terrible weakness: his daughter. His only child. He loved Cally more than anything and anyone, and I had no doubt he’d lay down his life for her.

It was disgusting, sick really, how much he doted on his little girl, whilst in secret, he laid waste to other girls who were once loved by their daddies too.

I’d avenge Orielle, redeem myself, and put Paul Rayner behind bars. And I wouldn’t quit until I’d succeeded.

If I was going to Hell, I was dragging Rayner down with me.