Glass Hearts [BL]
Chapter 64: People Like That Don’t Bluff

Chapter 64: People Like That Don’t Bluff

I came back upstairs a few minutes later, balancing the steaming bowl carefully in one hand and a spoon tucked between my fingers.

The scent of ginger, garlic, and chicken filled the room. Dominic had dozed off again, curled up against the pillows with his mouth slightly open.

"Hey." I nudged his leg with my elbow. "Soup’s ready."

Dominic’s eyes lit up the moment he smelled it. He sat up straighter, his hoodie slipping slightly off one shoulder as he reached for the bowl. "Oh my God. That smells like actual heaven."

I set the bowl on his lap, nudging a pillow behind him so he could sit up straighter. "Careful. It’s hot."

Dominic picked up the spoon, slowly took a sip, and blinked. Then blinked again.

"Holy crap," he muttered. "This is... this is amazing."

"Ginger chicken noodle soup. My mom’s recipe. It’s good for fever."

He took another spoonful, then another, faster this time. "I think I’m in love. This is actually clearing up my sinuses. I can breathe again."

"Yeah," I said, folding my arms. "That’s the point."

Dominic paused between bites, then frowned. "Wait!" His eyes flicked to my hand. "What happened?"

"What?"

He pointed with his spoon. "Your hand. Ash, what happened to your palm?"

I glanced down. The skin was red, tender, and shiny. I tried to tuck it away behind my jeans pocket but Dom leaned over, catching my wrist gently before I could hide it. His thumb brushed over the edge of the red burn. "This doesn’t look fine. What actually happened?"

"Oouch. It’s nothing," I muttered. "Just a burn. I wasn’t paying attention."

He stopped eating. "You were thinking about it again, weren’t you?"

I hesitated, then gave a small nod.

Dominic exhaled, sitting back. "About the video?"

"And the message. And everything," I said quietly. "I’m the only one who’s actually seen how scary those people are."

Dominic set the bowl aside and leaned forward slightly. "Ash..."

"I’m serious," I sighed. "You weren’t there, Dom. You didn’t see it like I did. That guy... the one in the video... He stabbed Liam like it was nothing. He didn’t flinch, like he’s done it before."

Dominic watched me carefully.

"And those two guys I saw in the pawn shop yesterday?" I continued.

Dom frowned. "Wait. Who’s ’those two guys’?"

I exhaled slowly. "Baldy and Scar-guy."

Dominic looked amused. "And you named them Baldy and Scar-guy?"

"I panicked, okay? What else do you want me to call them?" I said. "One’s bald. The other’s got a scar across his eyebrow and a stare that could make a child pass out. They looked straight at me, Dom. Straight at me. Like they knew who I was."

"And the stuff they came to pawn?" I whispered. "It was messed up, pretty messed up."

"Like what? And why are you whispering, no one can hear us." He whispered too.

"There was a velvet bag. Inside? Thick gold chains, a blood-stained silver watch... and a ring."

"So?"

I met his eyes. "The ring was still on a finger. A person’s index finger, Dom. It was bleeding, fresh blood. They removed the ring, yanked it off right there, dropped it on the counter like it was a damn accessory.."

Dominic recoiled slightly. "Wait....what the hell?"

"Yeah. Tell me that’s normal."

Dominic winced. "Okay. Appetite fading."

"I’m not saying I know what they’re into," I whispered, "but I’m just saying... whoever those people are? They don’t make empty threats."

He rubbed his face, groaning. "That’s... wow. That’s not even sketchy. That’s, like, horror-movie level criminal."

I nodded slowly.

Dominic went quiet again, swirling the noodles soup with his spoon.

"I’m not trying to freak you out," I whispered. "I just... I feel like I’m the only one who gets how dangerous this is. Like... really gets it. And it’s terrifying."

His eyes flicked up to me, and for a moment he didn’t say anything. Then he reached out and gently touched the edge of my burned hand with the tip of his finger, careful not to press it.

"I get it," he said finally. "More than you think."

I swallowed.

"Just... don’t carry all of it alone, okay?"

My throat tightened. I gave a shaky nod.

Dominic looked at me like he wanted to say something more. Instead, he nudged the soup toward me.

"You want the rest? Promise to tell me the full story."

I raised a brow. "You’re giving me your soup?"

"Only because I feel like you need the comfort food more than I do right now."

I curled my legs under me, the bowl of soup was warm in my lap as I told him everything.....how I walked into Shawn’s shop that day, and how I’d been too broke and too desperate.

"You should’ve seen how I reacted when I saw Baldy and Scar-guy. I froze, Dom. Like, I literally froze."

Dominic raised an eyebrow and laughed again. "That still kills me. Their nicknames."

I gave him a weak smile, then shook my head. "No, listen...it was like, instant panic. They walked into the pawn shop while Shawn was counting my cash. Big, terrifying dudes like they’ve been sent from hell. Walked around like they owned the place, then came up to the counter and stood right next to me."

Dominic stared. "No way. Did they say anything to you?"

"They laughed when I flinched. One of them said ’the kid’s scared.’ Shawn told them not to scare me, but it was already too late. My heart was in my throat. I could barely breathe."

Dominic’s smile faded.

"And then I saw it," I continued. "Scar-guy...had that same serpent tattoo on his neck. Exactly like the one on the guy that stabbed Liam. Then Baldy leaned in to talk to Shawn, and guess what?"

He blinked. "What?"

"He had it too. Matching. Same exact coiling design."

Dominic sat up straighter.

"That’s not a coincidence."

Dominic stared at me like I was telling him a horror story...and I guess I was.

"People like that really don’t bluff.."

He was quiet for a moment.

Then....."Wait, should we report it to the police?"