Born to burn

12. THE PITCH. ______________________

PHOENIX POV

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Silverton, Macy’s Dinner 3.47 pm.

•

„I think you’re the best survivalist I’ve seen in years.” I lean back slowly and take a sip of water. What's he playing at? I should be offended half an hour ago, but I'm still f.ucking sitting here listening to him. Strange.

„You said offer.” I murmur.

„Make it. Let’s see if you’re full of s.hit, or if you're actually worth my while besides buying me food.” His smile widens again. Almost proud.

„Alright, little dove.” He says softly. „Here’s the pitch…” And I let him talk. Not because I trust him, but because I’ve played the game for a long time, and this guy? He might just be playing to win. He leans forward slightly, forearms on the table. His voice is low, like we’re co-conspirators instead of strangers. Like this is neutral ground and everything else? Fair game.

„I throw parties.” He starts simple, like that explains anything.

„So?” I mutter, eyebrow raised.

„Not the kind you’re used to…” He continues, eyes glittering as he knows exactly what kind I am used to.

„Not the fake ID, basement weed, red cup bullsh.t. I’m talking real parties. People with power. Money. Influence. The kind who pay not just to dance, but to forget.” I chew my fry, watching him.

„And that’s where I come in. I make sure things run smoothly. No cops. No snitches. No overdoses unless they’re on someone else’s turf.” He shrugs.

„You sound proud of that…” I say and he grins.

„I’m good at what I do. I know what people want before they ask. I don’t judge. I just make sure the right hands hold the right drugs and the wrong people leave before someone gets shot.”

„How noble.” He laughs. Unbothered.

„I’m not here to impress you. I’m here to see if you’re smart enough to know opportunity when it looks you in the eye.” He leans back, knife slicing effortlessly through steak.

„You’ve got the looks.” He says casually.

„Street confidence. Not too loud. Not messy. You blend when you want. Vanish when you have to. I’ve seen girls like you take over a whole room without speaking once.” My lips part, but he doesn’t stop.

„You’ve got hustle. Smart hands. Sharp mouth. You’ve run product, haven’t you? Pills. Light stuff. Moved it fast. Clean. Didn’t get caught.” That’s when I stop chewing.

„Wait.” I say, smiling slowly.

„Did you do a background check on me, dealer boy?” His eyes flicker.

„I did my homework, yeah.” He admits, unapologetic.

„Let’s just say… you left a trail. Not a big one. Just enough to see how well you’ve been playing the game.”

„So I’m a project now?” I ask. Cold.

„No.” He holds my gaze.

„You’re an investment… and a f.ucking good one. I might add.” My brows lift. I lean back.

„And what’s the return on me, huh? What do I owe, if I say yes?”

„Nothing.” He says without blinking. „You say yes, I give you work. Real money. No street corners. No backrooms. No blowjobs for twenty-dollar bills.” I flinch. This I’m not proud of, yeah… but I did, and I do, what I have to.

„You deserve better Phoenix, and you know it.” His voice softens. I take a slow breath.

„You talk smooth, I’ll give you that.” I murmur, tipping my head just enough to watch him from the side. „But I’ve heard prettier lies whispered by boys with blood under their fingernails.” Fez doesn’t blink. Just lifts his coffee and sips.

„Then you’ll be glad to know I’m not a boy, little dove. And I don’t lie unless I need to.” His voice is calm.

„So tell me what is this?” I say, dragging a fry through the ketchup. „Because you didn’t pull up to my bus stop with a smile and some flirty bulls.hit just for kicks.” He sets the cup down gently.

„I want you on my team.” He says. Just like that.

„What am I? A f.ucking Pokémon card?” I tilt my head.

„You're collecting damaged girls now?” Fez chuckles. Not offended.

„No. I collect talent. Skill. Energy. You’ve got all three. And something else. Something no one taught you, but you’ve got it anyway.” I narrow my eyes.

„That's supposed to impress me?”

„It’s supposed to inform you.” He says smoothly, leaning in.

„Because whether you believe it or not, you’ve been running an operation on your own for years. Underground. Silent. Efficient. I’m not offering pity, Phoenix. I’m offering a partnership.”

„That it then?” I ask. He nods.

„Cash. Resources. Protection if you want it. Autonomy if you don’t. We make money. We stay clean. You call your own f.ucking shots.” I pause. Watch him. He’s not nervous. Not trying too hard now.

„So what?” I ask slowly. This is too good to be true, but right now, I feel, I've got nothing to lose…so f***k it.

„I just say yes and suddenly I’m some kind of outlaw princess with a pension?” Fez grins.

„More like a queen with a bite. You’ve already survived worse than most of my crew. And you’ve done it alone.” I tap my nails against the table.

„Why me?” His smile fades a little. Voice gentler now.

„Because you’re the kind of girl who looks at a cage and sees how to melt the lock. Because you didn’t break when you should’ve. And because I’ve seen what you can do when you’re cornered.”

„You don’t know what I’ve done.” My voice is razor. Fez leans closer, eyes steady.

„I do background checks, remember?” I blink. Then laugh. For real this time. Low and slow.

„You creepy f.ucker.” He smirks.

„Told you. I don’t lie unless I need to.” I lean forward. Smile crooked.

„So what’s the job, dealer boy? You want me for the body? Brains? Bait? Blowjobs in alleyways?” I tilt my head.

„You better be real f.ucking clear, because I don’t do vague.” He doesn’t even flinch. Just says…

„Brains. Guts. Fire. Loyalty. No one touches you without your word. No one owns you. No one commands you. You don't do for me… you’re with me.” Something in me flinches. I’d never expected him to be so bold, but not irritating.

„And if I say no?” Fez shrugs slowly. „You walk away. No strings. No chase. No guilt trip.” Suddenly, the air tastes different, cause maybe… I want to see what happens next.

„Phoenix, I know everything I offer maybe sounds too good to be true, right?” His voice drops low.

„But, it is not. You captivated me at that party. I like your vibe, your style, your energy and that feistiness is just a bonus if you ask me.” He winks at me with that smirk again.

„I’m not asking you to trust me. To be my friend, or to work for me. I like you. You’re volatile. Interesting and f.ucking gorgeous. I just f.ucking wanna see what happens when someone finally lights you the right way.” I smile and he watches me, his gaze never wavering.

„Listen… one party, then you can join or flee.” His eyes stay locked on mine, steady. Honest.

„I’ve seen enough in your system file Phoenix and I’m f.ucking impressed.” I don’t flinch. No one ever said that. Not like this.

„You’ve been through more dirt than most grown men could endure and you still walk as if you own yourself. Head held high and nothing to lose.” He shrugs slightly.

„But I know the look in your eyes. That twitch behind the calm. You want out. Not just from this school, this town, this f.ucked up script they shoved you into, but from all of it.” I say nothing, but something in me twists.

„Well, you need money for something like that...” Fez’s voice stays calm.

„Real money. No chains. Enough to start a dream life on another continent, disappear with a new name and the past behind you.” He tilts his head slightly.

„And I could work with someone like you.” I raise an eyebrow. Still listening.

„Someone smart enough to stay quiet and dangerous enough to make noise when needed. Someone who doesn’t flinch. Someone who knows how to disappear, but doesn’t want to anymore.” He leans in further. Just enough that I can smell the faint mix of tobacco and clove from his shirt.

„Help me make the money. Stuff your own pockets along the way. Walk away when you want. Run when you have to. But while you’re with me?” He taps his finger once against the table.

„No more cages. No more collars. Just choices.” Silence stretches between us. He tilts his head.

„So what do you say, little dove?”

„One party, no strings and just money in our pockets?” My fingers tap against the glass of my water once, twice and then I say it.

„Alright…f.uck it. Let’s do it dealer boy.” Fez’s grin could split the sky.

„Don’t smile at me like that.” I giggle. I f.ucking giggle… and hate myself for it, but it slips out before I can strangle it.

What did I just get myself into?

The drive is quiet. Not awkward. Not strained. Just… loaded. Windows down. Cold air is flowing through my hair. The late afternoon smells nice.

„Stop here.” I say and he doesn’t ask questions. Doesn’t make a face. Just nods once and pulls over like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I open the door. One foot out. But before I can fully slip into the darkness of the street…

„Friday.” Fez says it like a promise. I glance over my shoulder.

„Yeah?” He smirks. Leans just a little closer over the centre console, voice like sin dipped in silk.

„I’ll pick you up at school.” A pause.

„Wear something cute.” His grin curves, wicked.

„I want to test your tongue. See if it’s as sharp as you make it sound.” Then, softer, lower, dripping with mockery.

„And maybe… piss off those f.uckboys who stared at you as if they owned you.” That does it. That f.ucking does it. I laugh.

What the f***k is wrong with me?

„Oh, you wanna play dealer boy? It's f.ucking on!” I purr, one brow arching.

„Let’s see who burns first.” I slam the door before he can reply, but I know he’s grinning behind that windshield. And me? Smiling, cause maybe I just made the worst deal of my life. Or maybe? I finally found someone who helps me to get what I need. Either way? I’m f.ucked. Not in the fun way. No. The kind of f.ucked that starts slow. Creeps in. Lingers. Because I know what this is. I know what men like Fez are. Smooth words and irresistible promises, but he didn’t ask for trust. Didn’t say follow me. Didn’t say obey me. He said choose me. And that? That’s a f.ucking power I haven’t tasted before. The idea that, for once, I get to play goddamn offence instead of defence is for a girl like me? Almost holy, but still... I’m not stupid. He wants something. Everyone always does. But tonight, I’ll pretend. Just for a second. That this isn’t the start of something I’ll regret.