I feel heaven when the world is quiet and the gun is warm in my hands ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
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A few weeks later...
Sakai plated the last of the food. He wiped his hands down the front of his old apron, the fabric worn soft from years of overuse, and carried the dish over to the island. Murder was leaned back in the barstool, his phone pressed to his ear, chain catching the light when he tilted his head. His voice was steady, sharp.
"Aight, I'ma be at the club after I drop Kai off," Murder said into the phone.
The name-Kai-hit Sakai like a pebble tossed into his ribs. He froze for a second, fingers curling against the warm plate. Murder rarely called him that. Not Sunshine. Not Sakai. Just Kai. His chest warmed in a way he didn't want to examine.
He set the food down in front of him. Murder ended his call, slid the phone into his pocket, and immediately forked into the meal.
"So... I heard you're going to the club tonight." Sakai's voice came lighter than he meant it, like he was trying to make it casual.
Heat rushed to Sakai's face. "I'm sorry. I just... heard you."
Murder wiped his mouth with a napkin his stare heavy. "Yeah, I'm goin'."
"I wanna come," Sakai blurted before he could swallow it down.
Murder's eyes widened slightly, then narrowed. His disbelief was a slap in the air. "Hell nah."
"Please." Sakai stepped closer, words tumbling. "I've been so bored lately. I don't have anything to do at home."
The weight of Murder's gaze pinned him down. "No."
Sakai's teeth dug into his lip. He closed the distance before he could stop himself, stepping between Murder's spread legs where he sat at the barstool. The move shocked even him, but he stayed there, looking up into those dark eyes, close enough to feel the faint heat radiating from Murder's skin.
"Please," Sakai whispered, softer this time.
Murder sucked his teeth, jaw working as he dragged his gaze over Sakai's face. For a beat, the kitchen was silent, tension stretching thin as glass.
"Okay," Murder muttered finally, the word thick.
Sakai broke into a smile, relief flickering across his features.
"But you stay right by me," Murder added firmly, his voice hard as steel. "Don't wander. Don't talk to anybody. This my club, so I'm checkin' if shit's runnin' good. If I tell you to run, you run. You understand?"
