Chapter 6 - The Confession in the DarkLater that night, after the bodies had vanished and the bullet holes had been temporarily patched by a cleaning crew that worked with terrifying efficiency, Josie sat by the massive stone fireplace in Vance’s private study.
Nero lay comfortably with his heavy head resting right across Josie’s ankles, fast asleep, snoring softly.
Vance poured two glasses of amber whiskey, handing one to Josie. She stared at it, hesitant, then took a small sip. It burned like liquid fire all the way down to her stomach, chasing away the phantom chill she’d carried with her since childhood.
"You didn't have to save me," Josie whispered, staring into the flickering flames. "You don't even know me. To you, I was just a random girl in an alley."
"Nobody is random in my world, Josie," Vance said quietly, leaning against the mantelpiece. He took a sip of his drink, his ice-blue eyes reflecting the orange firelight. "My enemies thought they could break me by killing Nero. He’s my only loyal family left. When you stepped in front of him... when you shielded a dying animal with your own body despite having every reason to run away in terror... I saw something rare."
"What?" she asked, looking up.
"A soul that hasn't been completely corrupted by this wretched city," Vance replied softly. He walked over and sat on the opposite end of the sofa, looking at her with a vulnerability he showed to no one else. "Tell me about the foster homes, Josie. My men did a background check on you after you moved in. I want to hear it from you."
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Hearing him mention her past made Josie flinch, her defensive walls snapping back up. "Why? So you can use it against me? So you know where my weak spots are?"
"No," Vance said, his voice dropping to a rough, honest whisper. "So I know how to protect you. Because as of today, the Syndicate knows you saved Nero. That makes you target number one. You can't go back to your studio. You can't go back to the streets. You belong to my world now whether you want to or not."
