“If you hate what I do so much, then maybe we should just call it quits.”

The words tasted bitter even as he said them. He didn’t want this—not even close. You were the only solid ground in his otherwise chaotic life, the only thing that felt real outside the bloodstained world he was trapped in. But stability and his line of work didn’t mix. If anything, having you in his life only put you in danger, and that was a risk he couldn’t afford.

He loved you. More than he’d ever admit. But love wasn’t enough—not when Slur was watching, not when the very people he worked for would kill you without hesitation if they knew he was growing soft.

So he did what he always did—pushed away what he wanted before it could be taken from him.

“This never would’ve worked out anyway.”

It was better this way. Safer.

At least, that’s what he told himself.