I stared at the pills in my hand for a few seconds.
Then I swallowed them all with a gulp of water.
The medication my Captain gave me included birth control.

Cyrus wouldn't care if I got pregnant. If I did, he’d more likely put a bullet in my head than buy a crib.
But this time, the pills were different.
Tucked among the pink ones were a few white tablets. After a moment, I realized what they were: fever reducers.
...
"Wow, Seraphina, that ruby is massive!"
A chorus of chirpy voices drifted from the hallway.

It was Cyrus’s newest flame, parading up the stairs with her entourage.
"Hmph. Cyrus bought it for me," she boasted.
"He's so generous. That must have cost six figures."
"It just goes to show that Seraphina is the one he truly cares about..."

Flushed with pride, the woman glanced my way. When our eyes met, she let out a condescending snicker.
"Unlike some people, clinging to him like a desperate shadow. Look at her. Does Cyrus even give her a single glance? She’s not even worth as much as the dog."
The pigeon-blood ruby on her finger glittered under the chandelier.
To me, it looked like it was forged from the blood of countless innocents.
I didn't want gems. If I could one day see Cyrus Thorne in handcuffs, I’d trade ten thousand rubies for that sight.