Velvet Vows & Bloody Oaths

Providence

The rain fell softly over Brown University, turning the brick walkways slick beneath Mora Bennett's boots as she hurried across campus with a coffee in one hand and her anatomy notes tucked against her chest. The cold Rhode Island wind pushed against her curls, making her sigh under her breath.

"Lord, please don't let me fail this exam," she muttered quietly.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket almost immediately after.

Mama Calling.

Mora already knew what the conversation would be about before she answered.

"You eat today?" her mother asked the second she picked up.

"Yes, Mama."

"You sleeping enough?"

"Kinda."

"That means no."

Mora smiled faintly despite herself, stepping under the awning outside the science building. "I'm okay, Mama."

"You say that every time. You graduate in a few months, Mora. Don't let distractions ruin what you worked for."

Distractions.

That word followed Mora her entire life.

No parties. No dating seriously. No wasting time. Her parents immigrated from Jamaica with almost nothing, and they made sure their daughter understood sacrifice from the moment she could walk. Mora respected them deeply for it. Everything she had came from their hard work.

Still... sometimes she wondered what it felt like to just live.

To breathe without pressure sitting on her chest.

"You hear me?" her mother pressed.

"Yes, Mama."

"And church Sunday."

"Mama—"

"Not optional."

Mora laughed softly. "Okay."

After hanging up, she adjusted the strap of her bag and pushed through the building doors. Students flooded the hallways, stressed faces buried in books and laptops. Finals season.

Her season.

Usually Mora thrived under pressure, but lately exhaustion clung to her bones. Between classes, clinical rotations, and preparing medical school applications, she barely had time for herself anymore.

"Girl!"

Mora looked up just in time for her best friend Naomi to grab her arm dramatically.

"You look like you fought for your life this morning."

"I did," Mora deadpanned. "Organic chemistry."

Naomi snorted. "Worse than death."

The two walked down the hall together.

Unlike Mora, Naomi loved attention. Loud, funny, always dressed perfectly. The balance between them somehow worked.

"You still coming tonight?" Naomi asked.

Mora frowned. "Coming where?"

"The fundraiser party downtown? Rich people donating money pretending they care about students?"

"I have work to do."

"You always have work to do." Naomi rolled her eyes. "One night won't kill you."

Mora opened her mouth to argue, but Naomi cut her off immediately.

"And before you say your parents wouldn't approve — your parents are in New York, not Rhode Island."

Mora tried not to laugh.

"I'll think about it."

"That means yes."

"That means maybe."

Naomi linked their arms anyway, victorious.

Hours later, the city lights of Providence glowed against the dark sky as Mora reluctantly followed Naomi into the luxury hotel ballroom downtown.

Everything about the event screamed wealth.

Crystal chandeliers. Live violinists. Expensive perfume floating through the air. Men in tailored suits and women dripping in diamonds.

Mora instantly felt out of place.

"You look too good to be nervous," Naomi whispered.

Mora glanced down at her dark emerald dress. Simple but elegant. "I don't belong around these people."

"Yes you do," Naomi replied firmly. "You literally belong more than half these idiots."

Before Mora could answer, she felt it.

Eyes on her.

Heavy. Intentional.

Her stomach tightened slightly as she turned toward the far side of the ballroom.

And saw him.

Tall.

Dark suit.

Sharp jaw lined with light stubble.

Tattoo peeking slightly from beneath the collar of his white shirt.

The man stood near the bar speaking to older men in Italian, one hand resting calmly in his pocket while the other held a glass of whiskey.

Power clung to him naturally.

Not loud power.

The dangerous kind.

His eyes slowly lifted from his conversation until they landed directly on Mora.

And stayed there.

Mora's breath caught unexpectedly.

The room suddenly felt warmer.

"Okay..." Naomi murmured beside her after noticing. "Who is that?"

Mora swallowed, unable to look away.

She didn't know.

But something about him felt like the beginning of a problem her mother would've warned her about for hours.