A rush of terror spikes deep in my throat. “No, come on.”
We already talked. Why would Dad send Lenin again? It’s because I made him say “please,” isn’t it?
Maybe I was pushing it.Not the first time that’s happened.
My brain is always coming up with shit to test Dad’s limits.
“We can talk it out,” I try to speak in my usual sarcastic way, but my hands are trembling. “Where’s Hayes? We can discuss this with Hayes over popcorn and your favorite gory movie.”
Lenin doesn’t move.
And that motherfucker Hayes, who usually helps me escape the house unnoticed, is nowhere to be seen.
I lift my thumb, sliding it across my lower lip as I bite down on the corner.
Then I let my hand fall to my side, and my shoulders droop.
“I didn’t mean to lose,” I whisper, not really to Lenin in particular, just in general. “I didn’t mean to disappoint him.”
“But you did,” Lenin says, his voice a gruffer version of Dad’s. “You had one job, and it was to represent the family adequately, but you embarrassed yourself tonight, didn’t you, Preston?”
“I liked it better when you were mute,” I grumble, my heart hammering so hard and fast against my chest, I feel like it’ll pop out.
Lenin’s voice carries in the air like a whip. “Get in the car. We’re going for a ride.”
“I’ll take a rain check. Thanks for the offer.”
“Get in the car, Preston. Either that or Miley goes to boarding school.”
I swallow deeply, my throat closing until it’s hard to breathe.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Maybe I should’ve stayed with Dad a bit longer, or like, been less snarky so that he wouldn’t send me with Lenin.
I stare up at the dark window where Miley sleeps peacefully, with no one interrupting her sleep, and I know the decision is simple.
With a sigh, I climb into the car and go with Lenin to his favorite torture chamber.
The one where hecorrectsme per Dad’s orders.
Beats me up a little, a few punches here and there, enough to put me in my place.
Because I messed up.
I don’t really mind the pain. In fact, I like it. The hits, the blood that spills and fills my mouth.
It’s how I feel alive.
But I don’t like that Dad sees me only as a disappointment to be punished and corrected now.
You know whose fault it is, one of my demons whispers.
Right. Of course I know. It’s because of that Wolves’ captain who annoyed me all night long.
I’ll make him pay for that.
