“Test me?!” I exploded, my voice rising sharply. “I thought we were past that stage! You know what? Fuck you, Marcos, fuck that Dom nigga, and fuck this job!”
“Ajori—”
“No! When I get home tomorrow and collect my pay, y’all don’t have to worry about meeveragain! If the contract said I had to work a certain amount of time, consider it null and void! Or hell… kill me! But wait until I give my brother his heart first!”
Silence.
I drew in a breath that wasn’t nearly enough, and my hands trembled like they were having their own conversation about how scared I was.
“You done?” Marcos asked quietly.
“No! I’m tired of risking my life for money that ain’t worth a coffin! I can’t do it anymore!”
More silence—that time it stretched out infinitely.
Then finally, he spoke, “I hear you. I’ll talk to Dom about releasing you. No guarantees, but I’ll do my best. Get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow. Call me before you leave.”
I didn’t respond, letting my silence be the answer he needed.
Marcos must’ve taken the hint because I heard the click as he hung up.
They had booked me a hotel nearby, ensuring I wouldn’t have to drive ten hours back home, exhausted and on edge.
The room was quiet, warm, andsafe-ish.
I laid on the bed, shoes still on, staring blankly at the ceiling, letting my thoughts swirl.
Finally breaking the solitude, I called Kyrin.
“Jo?” he answered, his voice tinged with exhaustion. “You okay?”
My eyes suddenly filled with unshed tears, the weight of my emotions threatening to spill over. "Yeah, sport. I’m okay.”
We talked for a few minutes about normal things that anchored me, preventing me from breaking in half.
When we finally hung up, I turned to face the wall, letting its starkness absorb my stress… and at last, I surrendered to sleep.
This world would kill me without even trying, and I was officially, absolutely, wholeheartedly… done.