Stiletto’s Savior (Reapers Rejects MC: Second Generation #5)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

Stiletto

Five Years Ago . . .

“She’s going to end up dead if we don’t find her!” My sister, Suyin’s, voice rings in my ears, sharp as a blade. We’re standing on the corner of a cracked sidewalk in the Bronx, cars rumbling past us like thunder.

I look away, biting the inside of my cheek. “You really think I don’t know that?” My hands clench into fists.

“She’s been gone for three days, Song. Three days!” Her eyes blaze with desperation. “You know how she gets. She’s using again. It’s only a matter of time before?—”

“Before what? She overdoses?” I snap back. “Or gets herself killed in some dark alley?”

“Exactly!” Suyin takes a step closer, urgency radiating off her. “We have to do something.”

“Why is it always us?” I shake my head, frustration boiling up. “We’ve spent our whole lives picking up after her messes. It’s not fair. We’ve been more of a mother than she ever has.”

“Someone has to care,” she insists, her voice breaking slightly. “If we don’t help her, who will?”

“Maybe it’s time she figures it out on her own,” I mutter, but even to my ears, it sounds hollow.

“Like we ever had a choice in the matter. She’s our mother, Song. We can’t just abandon her.”

The word hangs heavy in the air, a weight I can’t ignore. I feel the heat rise in my cheeks, guilt creeping in.

“Fine,” I relent, dragging a hand through my red hair. “Let’s just...let’s go find her.”

“Thank you,” Suyin exhales, relief washing over her features.

“Don’t thank me yet.” I can’t shake the feeling of dread lodged deep in my stomach.

“Let’s split up,” Siren says, her eyes darting around the street as if our mother might just pop up from behind a dumpster. “We know where she usually works. It’ll be faster.”

I hesitate. “You think so?”

“Yeah. I can check the usual spots. The corners near the old bar.” She nods with fierce determination. “And you can hit the alleyways by the park.”

Our mother, one of the most well known prostitutes around.

“Okay.” I suck in a breath. “That’s a good idea.”

“Meet back here in an hour? Text me if you find anything.”

“Right.” I fumble for my phone, fingers trembling slightly. “One hour.”

“Watch your back, Song,” she warns, her voice low and serious. “You know how things get once the sun starts to set.”

“Yeah, I will. Don’t you worry about me.” I force a smile, but it feels thin.

“Okay, I’ll see you in an hour.” She gives me a gentle shove.

I watch her disappear down the block, her silhouette swallowed by shadows. The familiar streets of the Bronx feel different today. Darker, more dangerous. My stomach twists, anxiety gnawing at me.

“Come on, SuSu,” I murmur our mother’s street name under my breath. “Where are you?”

I start walking, scanning each face that passes.

They all look worn down, like they’ve been fighting a long battle.

My heart races with each step. I push through the knots in my chest, reminding myself why I’m out here.

“She needs us,” I whisper, echoing Suyin’s words. But part of me still resents it. Why should we have to care? She hardly ever cared about us when we were children.

The air is thick with the scent of garbage and something else—something sweet and sickly. I shake my head, trying to focus. No distractions. I need to find her before it’s too late.

I stop by a graffiti-covered wall, catching my breath. The air is thick with desperation. I can almost taste it.

Then, my phone buzzes, jolting me back to reality.

“Yes!” I exclaim, snatching it from my pocket.

A message from my mother.

Meet me at 19832 Monroe St.

“Monroe?” My brow furrows. “That’s not far.”

But why? Why would she be there?

“Ugh, just typical,” I groan, frustration bubbling up. “Can’t just stay put, can you?”

I glance at the time. Less than thirty minutes gone. I can still do this.

“Okay, don’t panic,” I whisper to myself, pushing off the wall. “Just keep moving.”

The streets grow darker as I trek deeper into the neighborhood. An old woman shuffles past me, clutching a plastic bag. Her eyes meet mine, filled with stories I can’t read.

“Be careful, dear,” she rasps.

“Yeah, you too,” I reply, forcing a smile.

I turn onto Monroe, adrenaline coursing through me. The buildings loom like silent sentinels, watching my every move. I spot the address—an old brick house, its windows boarded up, looking abandoned.

“Great,” I mumble, dread pooling in my stomach. “What now?”

Taking a deep breath, I approach the door. My hand hovers over the knob, hesitation creeping in.

“Just check it out,” I urge myself. “You’ve got this.”

I twist the knob, and it creaks open. Dark inside. A chill runs down my spine.

“SuSu? You in here?” I call out, my voice echoing in the emptiness.

No answer. Just silence.

“Please don’t be dead.”

My heart races again. This isn’t how it ends. It can’t be.

“Come on, Mom. Where are you?”

I step cautiously inside, the air stale and heavy. Each creak of the floorboards sends shivers down my spine. I inhale deeply, trying to drown out the stench.

“Think, think,” I whisper, urgency threading through my thoughts. “Where the hell would she be in here?”

And then, I push deeper into the shadows, ready to face whatever awaits me.

“Come on, Mom. You know we’re pissed, but we just want to make sure you’re okay,” I call out, trying to keep my tone steady. “Please, come out.”

I breathe deeply, pushing down the panic threatening to bubble over. I need to find her. Time is running out.

With each step, dread wraps tighter around me. I move deeper into the darkness, straining my ears for any sign of her. My heart races. I can’t shake the feeling that something’s very wrong.

“Please be okay…”

I grip my phone tightly, ready to dial Suyin if necessary. The silence is suffocating, and I can’t help but think of all the risks lurking in this godforsaken neighborhood.

I’m halfway down a narrow hallway when I hear something. Muffled voices drift from a room at the end. I freeze. Four men are hunched together. They look up, eyes narrowing as they spot me.

“What the fuck you doing here?” one snarls, towering over the others. His tattoos snake down his arms, dark ink against pale skin, like vines choking a dying tree.

“Where’s SuSu?” I demand, my voice steadier than I feel. “I’m looking for her. She’s my mother.”

They exchange glances, amusement flickering across their faces. I can’t tell if it’s a joke to them or something darker.

"Your mother?" Another one sneers. He leans back, crossing his arms. “What makes you think she’s here?”

“Because she texted me,” I shoot back, frustration bubbling under my skin. “She said to meet her.”

“Yeah? And what’s it to us?” The first guy steps closer, invading my space. I take a step back, heart racing, sensing danger thrumming in the air.

“You shouldn’t have come here, pretty girl,” another one says, grinning. It sends a chill down my spine.

My heart hammers in the confines of my chest.

Instantly, I’m in fight or flight mode, so I run, and I run like hell.

“Get her!” he barks suddenly.

Hands grab me and I’m yanked backward, pain radiating as one grips my hair, slamming me against the wall.

“Stop!” I scream, panic clawing at my throat.

“Someone shut this fuckin’ bitch up!” Another voice rings out, and dread floods my senses.

This was a mistake. I never should have come here.

He grabs my hair, yanking me again with a brutal grip.

“Let go of me!” I scream, panic flooding my veins.

He slams me against the wall, pain radiating through my body like a wildfire.

“Shut up!” he growls, holding me there, his weight pinning me down.

My vision blurs. My heart hammering even harder in my chest.

“Please,” I plead, desperation spilling from my lips.

“Please what?” he hisses, the others closing in, their laughter ringing in my ears.

“Just let me go! All I came here to do was find my mother. Please, let me get out of here!”

“Not a chance, princess.”

I struggle, but it’s futile. Their strength overwhelms me.

I’m pinned against the wall. The guy holding my hair yanks harder. I’m struggling to breathe, trying as hard as I can.

“Get off me!” I scream, but it’s just noise.

Another man steps forward, a grin splitting his face.

“It’s time for us to have some fun, sweetheart,” he says, eyes glinting with malice.

“Please! Don’t!” My voice trembles.

His hands are rough as they grab my shoulders.

“Shut her up,” the first one barks.

The second guy pushes me down, pinning me against the floor, his weight crushing me.

“Stop! You don’t have to do this!” I plead.

“It’s too late for that,” he sneers.

I squirm, trying to twist away, but it’s no use.

“Hold her!” he commands.

“Get her clothes off,” the tattooed one says, stepping back to watch.

“Let go of me!” I thrash, but their hands are everywhere—ripping fabric, tearing at skin.

“Yeah, keep fighting,” one of them chuckles darkly. “Makes it more fun.”

Fingers claw at my sides, pulling at my shirt, my jeans.

“Stop!” I cry, but the words die in my throat.

“She’s feisty,” another laughs, and they all join in.

“Just enjoy it. I bet you’ve never had a man have his way with you.” The first guy leans closer, breath hot against my ear.

“Get off me!” I kick out, but they’re too strong.

“Can’t have you ruining our good time."“

Their laughter echoes, a sick symphony in my ears.

“Please... please...”

But they don’t listen.

It’s chaos now.

Hands everywhere.

Pain blurs into darkness.

“Stop!” I scream, but the world is slipping away.

I can’t fight anymore.

Every blow, every touch feels like fire.

“That’s right,” one taunts, “scream for us.”

And then it happens.

They take what they want, leaving nothing behind.

I’m lost in a haze of agony.

“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” one finally says.

“She’s done.” Another adds.

“Yeah, let’s go. We’ve had our fun.” Another one speaks up.

Eventually, footsteps fade and silence engulfs me.

I’m finally alone, and I should be relieved, but I’m not.

The darkness closes in, and I’m left here—broken.