Theo and Liam? They’re still in high school, still tormenting me, and I can’t escape it because I live in the same house. They seem to enjoy messing with me whenever they get the chance, which confuses me. What’s the point?
The problem is that they’ve both become physical. It’s not just cruel or taunting words anymore. I get shoved or pushed into walls often. I’ve been tripped on the stairs more than once and nearly lost my balance. They’re escalating, and that scares me.
Bravely, I lift my chin, staring back at Liam. “Let’s go, Ava.”
She links her arm through mine and steers me away from the table. As we head toward the cafeteria exit, I know the Blade brothers are still watching me.
“I really don’t get their obsession with you, Letty. It’s fucking weird.”
“I know.”
We walk outside to the grassy area beyond the picnic tables and find a tree with ample shade. The sun is bright overhead, and I reach for sunglasses in my purse, slipping them over my eyes. That’s when a sigh escapes my lips.
“It’s getting worse, isn’t it?”
Ava knows everything that happens because I call here whenever Liam and Theo corner me. It’s nearly every night.
“Do you have to ask?”
She shakes her head and reaches for my hand. “Come live with me. Get out of that fucking prison and stay at my place. My parents won’t care. Dad is always working, and Mom has her floral shop. They’re hardly home.”
I wish I could. “I can’t.”
“Because of Cynthia.”
“I can’t leave Mom in that house alone. Mifflin is cruel. He’ll take it out on her.”
“This sucks,” Ava snarls. “What can we do? Who can we tell?”
“No one,” I admit.
For the first time in months, I let my thoughts wander to Gage.
It’s like she can read my mind. “What about Gage?”
“I don’t know where he is or how to get hold of him,” I remind her.
“But you know he’s one of those bikers now. He’s in that club with the Vipers.”
I suspected it. “That’s not confirmed.”
“What if you go to their clubhouse? Ask for help?”
“Do you even know what you’re suggesting, Ava? That’s dangerous.”
“Worse than Mifflin and his asshole sons?” She fires back.
I flinch. “I don’t know.”
“Babe.” She squeezes my hand before releasing it. “I think you need to tell someone. Your mom isn’t equipped to handle this. She’s too afraid, Letty.”
I understood my mother’s fear. Mifflin controls everything. He bought out her interior design company. Has his name on all her accounts. He owns her. Mom can’t do anything withouthis approval. “I’m sure she’s closely monitored. He probably has someone following her around.”
“Which means we’re on our own.”
Us. Not just me. “You’re too good to me, Ava.”
“Girl, I’m your sista from another mista. We’re in this together.” She lifts her hand and holds out her pinky.
