Chapter 3 Greed

May POV.

Please. Don't come any closer. Please, I'm begging you. I'm just a broke and miserable woman. Please... spare my life. The words stumbled out of me like broken glass, slicing my throat as they came.

My voice cracked under the weight of sheer despair. My legs trembled violently as I staggered backwards, arms stretched out in front of me like they could somehow shield me from the nightmare unfolding in front of me. The streetlamp above me flickered, throwing jagged silhouettes of my shaking body across the cracked pavement.

I could barely see through my swollen eyes, the aftermath of hours-hours-of crying. And now this. As if the universe had decided to punish me one final time. This was the end, wasn't it? The desperation in my chest clawed its way up to my throat, a raw, animal thing that made it hard to breathe. Death wasn't just a thought-it was right here, looming, a few cruel steps away.

Then one of them stepped forward. He was tall, built like a brick wall, with tobacco-stained teeth and a jagged scar cutting through his left brow. His hand was rough, calloused, and unapologetic as he seized my wrist and yanked me toward him like I was nothing more than a doll. I winced, barely holding in a scream. "Don't worry sweetheart," he said, his voice disturbingly calm, like he was ordering dinner.

"Your life's been paid for. No amount of begging or bargaining's gonna change that." The others behind him laughed. Low, dark chuckles that sent ice down my spine. Their shadows danced around me, predatory and gleeful, like they were circling prey. "We'll make sure you have a pleasurable time before your death," one of them sneered. The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My breath caught. My knees nearly gave out. No. No, no, no. I needed a way out. Any way. And then-an idea sparked. "How much were you paid?" I blurted, forcing strength into my shaking voice. "I'll double it. Just... please, let me go."

I scanned their faces desperately, praying-begging-to see even the tiniest crack of greed. Anything I could exploit. The shortest among them, the one with a crooked nose and breath that smelled like a sewer full of liquor, let out a horrible laugh. "You?" he spat, looking me up and down like I was trash. "You? This lowly wench who just got divorced with nothing to her name?" He leaned in. I gagged at the smell of his breath. "Mrs. Chrissy already warned us you'd try something like this. Said you're a desperate and despicable little thing who'd do anything to worm her way out." Chrissy. The name slipped from my lips like a ghost, barely audible. "Chrissy..." I repeated, louder this time. A fist clenched in my chest. Betrayal. Cold, sharp betrayal. My heart splintered, my voice broke. "After everything I did for you... everything I sacrificed to make your life better... this is how you repay me?" Each word cracked in the air like breaking glass. I could barely stand as the memories surged-nights we laughed, secrets I held, help I gave freely-and now this. She'd paid men to kill me. The men grinned at my recognition like they'd won. "It doesn't matter now that you know," the tall brute said, his voice cold.

"What matters is... today's your end." He cracked his knuckles slowly, with sick anticipation. "And for tricking us into revealing her name... you won't be getting a pleasurable time after all." Their leader-a thick-necked monster with tattoos crawling up his arms-lifted one finger and made a simple gesture. "Do it," he ordered.

Everything happened at once. They lunged for me. I screamed. Kicked. Scratched. But they overpowered me, pinned me down like I was some animal. My heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear anything else. Then- I heard the sound of a belt buckle being undone. No. No. Not like this. And in that second, one more wild, desperate idea screamed to life in my mind. "I... I just got divorced from Smith!" I shouted. "Smith from Swebb Enterprise! I got 50% of the company in the settlement. I can pay you whatever you want. Triple, even." It was a lie. A bold one. Smith had made me sign a prenup before the wedding. I knew I wasn't getting a dime from him. But they didn't. They didn't need to know.

This was my last card. My only card. Please... let this work. I watched them. Closely. Waiting. They hesitated. The leader froze mid-motion. His hands hovered near his belt. Then they all looked at each other. Their stance shifted, their certainty wobbling. Greed and hesitation danced in their eyes. The leader frowned. "So what are you trying to say?"

Before I could even answer- A car flashed by. Its headlights cut through the dark like a blade. It lit us up like a scene from a horror film. All four of them froze. Then-they ran. Just like that. They vanished. Like cowards. Shadows retreating into the dark. I lay there, stunned. Gasping. My lungs on fire.

My body still trembling with terror and adrenaline. Then instinct kicked in. I scrambled to my feet, heart still hammering. I saw the car's red taillights glowing in the distance and chased after them. "Please!" I shouted, waving both hands in the air. "Please stop!" But the car sped off. Just like that. Gone.