He always does when I’m here. Not because he thinks I’ll do something stupid. Or even to talk me out of it. He just wants to make sure that if I do, I’m not alone.
I prospected with the Summit Hill Vipers while in high school. After I graduated, I patched in. I’ve never regretted it.
My brothers in the club have my back, and when the time comes, they will help avenge my mother and take down Mifflin.
I just have to be patient a little longer.
“I really want a fucking smoke,” Bullseye mutters.
“Same. We’ll smoke when we leave.” It’s too dark out now. The cherry will expose us the second we light up.
“Fuck. That’s hours from now.”
“You gonna be okay, sweetheart?” I joke, fucking with him because I can.
“Fuck off,” he laughs. “You’re buying me a pack for this shit.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I’ll buy him a carton. Then he can shut the fuck up. I tell him, and his low chuckle makes me grin.
I might be fucking miserable, but misery loves company.
And I’ve got a whole brotherhood.
Chapter 2 Letty
AGE SEVENTEEN—
“This food sucks,” Ava declares, moving around the overcooked fries, stale bun, and lumpy sauce that’s supposed to be a sloppy joe on her tray. “It should be illegal to serve this shit to us.”
“It’s terrible,” I agree, which is why I chose fruit, yogurt, and chicken nuggets. I ended up skipping the nuggets after the first bite. “I won’t miss this place when we’re gone.”
“Me either.” She sighs and shoves her tray across the table out of reach. “I can’t believe we’re seniors this fall.”
“And out of this hell hole soon,” I add.
Ava opens her mouth to reply, then shuts it, shooting a glare at someone behind me. “Get lost, Theo.”
I never heard him approach.
“I’m not here for you, Ava.”
She flips him off, leaving her finger hovering in the air as he chuckles.
He’s quick to dismiss her, turning his attention to me. “Hey, Letty.” Theo’s hands rest on my shoulders, and I can feel him leaning to apply pressure. It’s one of his tactics to make me feel intimidated and weak.
I shove off his hands and push away from the table, putting space between us. “Don’t touch me.”
He smirks, lifting his hands. “Feelin’ sassy today, huh?”
“She’s just afraid to admit how much she loves her stepbrothers,” Liam adds as he joins us, leaning against the wall to stare in that creepy, hyper-focused way that makes my skin crawl.
It’s nothing like the buzz of energy I feel when Gage stares at me, especially when he licks his lips. My knees weaken with his presence.
This is different. My knees lock in place like I’m unconsciously bracing against an attack. Liam and Theo are assholes. Gage’s brothers, err,half-brothers, are nothing like him. Sure, they’re all sons of the same wealthy man, and they’ve all hurt me. But things have changed.
Gage is gone. He left a year ago, and I haven’t seen or heard from him since he moved out. I don’t know what to make of his promise at the wedding reception, but I’m not holding my breath.
