Money alone wouldn't fix this. I picked up my phone and confirmed what I already knew—completely shattered.

"I can pay you back for your losses," I said, keeping my voice steady. "But you smashed my phone. You owe me for that too."

Laughter erupted around me.

"That piece of junk?" one of them sneered. "What's it worth, a thousand bucks? I could toss you that much like I'm throwing scraps to a beggar."

"But what you owe us?" He leaned in, grinning. "That's not a thousand. That's ten million."

The crowd roared with amusement. In their eyes, I was broke and stupid.

"You're wrong," I said calmly. "My phone isn't worth ten million. It's priceless. Money can't buy what was on it."

That set them off again.

"Did you hear that? This gold-digger thinks her crappy phone is priceless!"

"She's completely lost it."

Lucas looked at me like I was something foul stuck to his shoe—like every moment he'd ever spent with me now made his skin crawl.

The two older men had lost patience. They closed in, backing me toward the wall.

"Cut the act, you little leech. Pay up."

"And if you can't?" One of them smiled, cold and thin. "I'll have someone take a knife to your fingers. A few less digits ought to teach you a lesson."

Daisy's eyes lit up at that. She let out a delighted laugh.

"Just fingers? That's boring." She tilted her head, savoring the moment. "I say we strip her naked, put a dog collar around her neck, and parade her through the streets on a leash. Like the bitch she is."

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause.

"Now that's a punishment! Hit her where it hurts—that'll make any future thieves think twice."

"Brilliant, Ms. Finch. Absolutely brilliant."

My vision went red. I fixed my gaze on Daisy, hands trembling with barely contained rage. She didn't flinch. Instead, she pulled out a slim cigarette, placed it between her lips, and lit it with practiced ease. Then she blew a stream of smoke directly into my face.

"What's the matter?" she purred. "Don't like looking at me?"

She took another drag, exhaling slowly.

"Then choke on it."

Her laughter rang out, sharp and cruel.

Fury unlike anything I'd ever felt surged through me. But I couldn't touch her. Not yet. She'd made it clear—even if I called the police, the law here wouldn't take my side.

First things first. Pay them off. Then settle the score.

"Fine," I said, forcing my voice level. "We'll settle all debts at once. I'll compensate them for their losses. But you smashed my phone. You pay for that too."

Daisy narrowed her eyes, studying me like I was an insect that had somehow learned to speak.

"Fine. I'll pay."

She reached into her pocket, pulled out a wad of cash—maybe a thousand dollars—and hurled it at my face. Bills scattered across my chest and fluttered to the floor.

"There. Is that enough for your precious little phone?"

I didn't bend to pick them up. I smiled instead—cold, thin, dangerous.

"Not even close."

"I told you. Its value—"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Daisy's composure cracked. She ripped the cigarette from her lips and threw it to the ground. "You ungrateful little—"

She snapped her fingers at the security guards. "Grab her. She's stalling. She doesn't have a cent to her name."

I stood my ground as they approached, meeting their eyes without flinching. "Who says I can't pay? The only one who won't be able to afford their debt is you."

"Me? Can't afford to pay you?" Daisy laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. "That's the funniest thing I've heard all year."

She straightened, wiping her eyes. "Tell you what. If you can prove your phone is actually worth something—anything close to what you're claiming—I'll drink my own piss. Right here, in front of everyone."

Her smile turned sharp. "But first? You pay what you owe us."

The guards drew their knives.

I didn't blink. Threats meant nothing to me.

But my phone was destroyed. I couldn't make a call.

I turned to the crowd, looking for anyone who might lend me theirs. Every person I approached recoiled like I carried a disease.

"Get away from me, you filthy gold-digger."

No one would help. No one except—

One of the older men sidled up to me, his gaze crawling over my body with undisguised hunger.

"I'll let you borrow mine," he said, licking his lips. "But you gotta let me cop a feel first."

"I've got money, sweetheart. You've got a nice figure on you." His eyes crawled over me. "How about you keep me company for a while? Play your cards right, make me happy, and maybe you won't have to pay back a single cent."

Before I could react, his hand shot out and squeezed my thigh.

The room erupted in laughter.

Humiliation and rage flooded through me. I shoved the disgusting old man away with all my strength.

He stumbled backward and crashed to the floor. His face twisted with fury. "You ungrateful little gold-digger! I give you an easy way out and you spit in my face?" He jabbed a finger at me. "Ten minutes. If you don't have the money by then, I'll strip you naked and throw you to the wolves. Let's see how long you last."

"I told you I can pay," I said through gritted teeth. "I just need to make a call. Someone will bring the money."

Daisy let out a mocking laugh. "Let her call. Who's she going to reach? Her fellow thieves?"

She turned to the crowd with a vicious smile. "Get the dog leash ready. And the rest of you—" Her gaze swept over the leering men. "—if you want a turn with her, better start lining up. She's not bad-looking, after all."

I forced down my fury and made the call. The moment I hung up, several men closed in around me, their faces twisted with predatory grins.

"Back off!"

They didn't move. If anything, they pressed closer, boxing me in.

"Lucas!" I whipped around to face him. "Tell them to back off!"

He tilted his head, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Why would I? I'm the one who told them to do it."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I stared at him, unable to process what I was hearing. He could fall out of love with me—fine. But this? This was something else entirely.

The seconds ticked by. Someone started a countdown.

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

"Time's up!" The old man rubbed his hands together, grinning. "She can't pay. Strip her! Let's see what she's really got under there!"

Daisy snapped her fingers at the security guards. They seized my arms, pinning me in place. One of them reached for the hem of my dress.

Then the doors exploded inward.

A squad of black-clad figures stormed into the room, moving with military precision. At their head strode a woman whose presence commanded instant attention—Amanda Hughes, the underground queen of South City. Her face was carved from ice and murder as she crossed the room in three long strides and drove her heel into the guard holding me, sending him flying.

"You have some nerve." Her voice cut through the stunned silence like a blade. "Laying hands on my Miss."