I inhale a lungful of stale air, hoping it will give me some strength. “You’ve done nothing for me in years.”
The front door clanks, followed by heavy boots on the stairs. I bristle my spine.
Mum sniggers. “At least you won’t be able to flirt with Nigel like the little trollop you are.”
Tears pool in my eyes at my mother’s words. I remind myself that it’s just the drink talking. It’s not my mum. She was never this bitter. It’s as if she resents me because I’m young. I inhale another lungful of air, waiting for Nigel to appear in the room.
The door creaks open and as I open my eyes, a mountain of a man fills the doorway.
Hayden.
Mum spins on her heel, wine bottle swishing in hand. “You?” She turns towards me. “He’s the reason your brother’s in a cell.”She raises her hand as if to slap me again, but Hayden catches her wrist.
“She’s done here,” he says, taking the weight of my bag from my shoulder. “You won’t see her again.”
Mum stumbles back. “You traitor. Filthy whore.”
I blink fast, trying to keep the tears from falling.
Hayden ignores her and turns to me. “Let’s go.”
This time, I don’t look back.
6
HAYDEN
Ipark the bike outside the garage, dusk settling over us like a dark cloud, matching our mood.
Faith lifts the helmet from her head and shakes out her blonde curls, her rucksack hanging off one shoulder, straining her curvy frame. Her mouth’s set in a firm line, but I see the cracks in her posture. Today took its toll.
I take the bag from her without asking. She already carries too much. “Let’s go upstairs. I’ll cook us something.”
Her steps slow. “Let me cook something for you.” She swallows as if a lump is lodged in her throat. “It’s only fair I do the cooking and cleaning. I don’t have any money to pay for my board, but I’ll get a job and pay you back—I promise.”
My chest squeezes. Fuck. She still thinks she has to earn her place. “You don’t need to pay me to stay in this dump,” I say, brushing my fingers under her chin, tipping her face up to meet my gaze. “And you don’t need to earn your keep. Just… let me take care of you, yeah?”
She blinks rapidly, swallowing hard. She doesn’t know that I owe her brother my life. Three years in the slammer Oak’s done—it should’ve been me.
“Hey, Wrath, where you been?” one of the prospects shouts from the garage. “Old man Mick came to collect his bike. He said you promised him he’d have it today.”
“Shit. Something came up. It still needs a new clutch plate. Did the part get delivered?”
He wipes his oily hands on a rag. “Yeah, came this afternoon. Want me to handle it?”
“If you can. Thanks, man.” I trudge up the stairs carrying Faith’s bag.
She follows me into the space above the garage. “I’m sorry I took you away from your work today.”
“Don’t worry about it. Old man, Mick can wait another day.” I drop her bag on the bed in the one room bunk. I’ve had girls over here in the past and thought nothing of it, but now, bringing Faith here, the place doesn’t seem good enough.
As I look around, I realise it’s not fit for a dog, let alone her. Yet, my sunshine girl seems to make everything brighter as she smiles up at me.
Something in my chest stutters as if she’s awakened my heart. It’s been dormant since my little sister died. I should know better than to let Faith stay here. She can’t get involved in my world and she can’t under any circumstances be mine, no matter how much I want that.
“So wrath, huh?” Her lips quirk in the corner. “How’d you get the nickname?”
I shrug, trying to remember. “It’s been a while. It just sort of stuck.”
