BORN TO BE A MAN,FORCED TO BE A GANGSTER

CHAPTER 10

HUNTED BY RED VULTURE

The chain wrapped around Selena’s hand like a snake, cold and biting. She stood firm, her breath sharp, eyes watching each Red Vulture as they circled her, boots scraping glass, sneers sharp as knives.

One big, tattooed man spat on the ground.

“You think that little chain helps? This is our street, not yours.”

Selena’s fingers hurt from gripping tight. Her instinct told her to run, but she stayed rooted. Running made you prey—and prey never survived.

Hidden nearby, Griffin’s men watched quietly. He stood by a black car, smoking, unreadable.

Selena shifted, the chain rattling softly. She whispered, “If this is what it takes…”

Then the first Vulture attacked.

She swung the chain fast, hitting his jaw with a sharp crack. Blood flew as he staggered. The others closed in.

Another lunged from behind. Selena ducked, twisted, and hit him in the ribs hard. She caught his wrist with the chain, yanked him off balance, and drove her knee into his face.

Her shin screamed in pain, but she didn’t stop.

“Kill her!” one shouted.

Two attacked at once. Selena hit one in the head with the chain. The other slammed her into the wall and grabbed her throat.

Her vision blurred. Everything felt crushing.

She clawed at his wrist, found the chain, and swung it into his temple. Twice. His grip loosened. She gasped as he fell.

The alley grew quiet.

The others froze, looking at each other. Selena hadn’t broken—she’d fought back, drawn blood, and still stared them down fierce.

Far away, Griffin blew out smoke, watching her in the dirt, blood on her face and chain. A faint smile touched his lips.

“The streets decide,” he whispered.

The chain wrapped tight around Selena’s fists, dripping with blood—hers and theirs. Her chest heaved hard, but she didn’t give up. Her vision blurred, shadows moving around her, but she stayed strong.

The Vultures circled, surprised she lasted this long.

“Crazy woman,” one spat blood.

Selena’s grip slipped, her knees buckled for a moment, but she forced herself back up. Her arm burned from a glass cut, ribs throbbed from punches, but she gave a shaky smile.

“Is that all you got?” she asked, voice rough.

Her words hit. A thug charged at her. She swung the chain—it caught his arm, slowing him, but didn’t stop him. He slammed her to the wall, knocking the air out of her. Stars flashed in her eyes.

Her body screamed to quit.

But she hit him in the groin with her knee. He dropped with a groan. She pushed away and stumbled free.

The others came closer, slower now, like wolves smelling their prey’s last breath. Selena knew she couldn’t fight all of them anymore. She was running out of strength with each drop of blood.

Her back hit the wall. She raised the chain, arms shaking.

“Not… done yet,” she whispered.

The alley went quiet. Then a sharp whistle sounded.

The Vultures froze.

Heavy steps echoed. Griffin walked out of the shadows, cigarette glowing. His eyes took in the blood, the beaten men, and Selena—barely standing but still fighting.

The leader cursed, spat on the ground. “We’ll fight another night.” He nodded, and his men limped away, dragging the injured.

Selena leaned against the wall, chest heaving like she was drowning. She kept holding the chain until the last Vulture was gone.

Then silence.

Griffin blew out smoke, looking at her. “Barely standing,” he said, quiet. “But still standing.”

Selena met his eyes, bruised and bloody but strong. “Told you… I don’t break easy.”

A quick flicker lit in Griffin’s eyes before his usual coldness returned.

He turned and said, “Follow me. If you can.”

Selena slid down the wall for a moment, gasping, then forced herself up. Her legs shook, body ached, but she moved forward. Quitting wasn’t an option.

Selena’s boots scraped the ground as she stumbled trying to keep up with Griffin. The alley spun around her, but she kept her eyes on his back—the man who threw her into danger just to see if she’d survive.

“Keep up,” he said without looking back, his voice sharp but flat.

She wanted to snap at him, but instead swallowed the pain and pushed forward, dragging herself along.

Her hand gripped the chain tight—broken and bruised, but not beaten.

As she limped after Griffin into the night, Selena knew this wasn’t just a test. Walking with him meant facing a storm bigger than anything before.

But she wasn’t turning back.