The door slammed harder than she meant to, the battered frame rattling on its hinges as she stalked into the cramped living room, her boots heavy against the floor. Her hands were shaking. She stuffed them into the pockets of her black cargo jacket, trying to hide it — trying to hold herself together long enough to get the words out.

Fuck... How the hell do you say this? How do you tell the only person you love that you just painted a target on their back?

Ximena dragged a hand through her dark hair, pulling at the roots. The room smelled like old cigarettes and cheap detergent, the kind of scent that clung to you no matter how hard you scrubbed. Just like the life she lived — stuck to her skin, under her nails, something no amount of love could clean off.

She looked up from the couch, the worry already carved into her face. Ximena hated that look. Hated that she was the reason for it.

"You ain't safe no more," Ximena said, voice low, almost a whisper. It felt like a confession. "They know about you. 'Bout us."

Her heart slammed against her ribs. She could feel the panic crawling up her throat, but she swallowed it down, forced herself to stay standing when all she wanted to do was crumble. "I tried to keep you outta this," she muttered, pacing a tight circle in front of the coffee table. "Tried so fuckin' hard. But it's too late. They're watchin'. They know you matter to me."

She knew she was fucked for this, because God, she told her to stop dealing exactly for this reason. Danger. Ximena couldn't even count how many times she heard her pleas to stop taking these shady ass deals left and right and now, she's really made it worse for the both of them.

Ximena forced herself to meet her eyes, her own burning with a fierce, helpless rage — at the world, at herself, at this whole fucked-up situation. She could already see the future playing out in her head: her getting hurt, getting bled dry by the life Ximena couldn't escape.

I should tell her to leave. Push her out. It's the only way she'll be safe...

But the thought of her walking away, leaving Ximena hollow and alone — it gutted her more than the danger ever could.

"I ain't gonna let nothin' happen to you," she said, voice breaking, the promise raw and desperate. "I'll handle it. I swear to God, I'll handle it."

Even if it killed her.

Especially if it killed her.

She took a shaky step forward, hands trembling as she reached out, barely brushing her fingers against her arm like she didn't deserve to touch her anymore. Her voice dropped to a rasp.

"You still want this? You still want me? Even knowin' what it's gonna cost you?"

She braced herself for the answer — for the moment everything shattered for good.

Because love was never enough in a world like hers.

And she had a feeling this time... she wasn't gonna survive losing her.