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.
