Collision (Portland Street Kings #1) - Evie Harper

Collision (Portland Street Kings) Copyright © 2015 by Evie Harper Published by Evie Harper, First Edition March 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing. Except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For permission requests, email the author at [email protected] This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places are incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy of each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work. Cover Design: Louisa Maggio at LM Creations Editing: Hot Tree Editing

TABLE OF CONTENTS PROLOGUE CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELEVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN EPILOGUE YOU LOVED ME AT MY DARKEST - SNEEK PEEK ABOUT THE AUTHOR STALK ME HERE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Prologue I step into the tiny bedroom I share with my five foster siblings. Four now. Agony explodes under my skin and causes my head to spin. A memory of her small, pale, dead and beaten body slams into my mind and nausea assaults me. I hold my stomach and turn my head to the side, trying to hold the bile down. “Slater? What’s wrong; are you sick?” Hearing my little sister’s sweet voice causes a tear to escape. A warm hand lands on my shoulder and my brother, Pacer, repeats the question. “Slater, what’s wrong?” Just the thought of telling them, breaking their hearts, has me racing to the shared bathroom attached to our bedroom. I kneel at the toilet and just as a wave of nausea hits me, my throat finally releases and I heave the contents of my stomach into the bowl. When I’m sure I have nothing left to throw up, I sit back on my haunches. I sense the presence of my younger siblings behind me and break down. I physically feel the emptiness of one of my family members now gone, the girl I could never call a sister like Della. A girl whose smile brightened even my most terrifying days, one who made living in this dark, frightening house bearable.

Mia. Della’s smile always warmed my heart and made me smile back at her. But Mia... her smile made my heart

pound heavily with excitement and something else I don’t understand. It always felt strange thinking of her as my sister, but she was in our group home so we were all brothers and sisters, through circumstance, not family. I grip the toilet seat and stand on shaky legs before I turn and face my family. All of them are staring at me with fear in their eyes. Pacer steps forward, waiting for me to explain. As the second eldest at eleven, one year younger than me, it’s always been him and me looking after our siblings. I look to Mackson and at nine years old, he’s already been through too much. Mia and Kelso were the only two who are the same age, at eight. We all joked sometimes that they must be twins. And then Della, the youngest at seven... So sweet and gentle, she often offers her food or water to us all, her nature to give and care for others. Even being brought up in this house, all of them are gentle, protective and giving people. We are children who have lost all hope, who had our childhoods stolen away, who don’t smile often and when we do, it’s rare and something worth remembering. This is all we’ve ever known, all we can remember. We see what life is like on the outside through the little bit of TV we have been allowed to watch. We know we aren’t normal; we know our lives are set on a different and more terrifying path than others. I had thought that as I got older things would change and then I could get us all away from here, but that day has come much quicker than I thought it would. I’m scared. I don’t know how to feed or protect my family in

the outside world. I only know the rules inside these walls, but I have no choice now. I will not lose another. I stare at Pacer for strength as I speak, because I know seeing my younger siblings’ faces will break me. “We have to leave, now. Phillip—” I pause as a lump forms in my throat. “Phillip killed Mia.” I find the courage to look to my brothers and sister and find wide eyes and sorrow evident on their faces. Della’s lips tremble and she cries out, “No.” I pull her into my arms as she grieves the death of the only sister she’s ever known. My brothers start falling to the floor one after the other. Cries and moans echo around the bathroom as they grieve for their little sister. My eyes glaze over as I realize I don’t have enough arms to hold them all. Ever since they started arriving, one after the other, I took them as my family and promised myself I would protect them as much as I could. We were all placed here through the system because our parents didn’t want us or couldn’t cope with us anymore. The system, which was supposed to protect children, willingly handed us over to a monster. A group home that held many screams behind its closed doors. I knew the horrors which awaited the kids who came after me, as I was the first. Each of them arrived when they were five, just like me. Any time Phillip neared the boys I would grow tense and prepare for a battle with him. I took many beatings trying to save them from Phillip’s wandering hands. Usually, I would end up in our bedroom, beaten and

crying, knowing what one of my brothers was enduring at that very moment. What I’d failed to prevent once again. I could be more relaxed around my sisters; Phillip’s hands apparently didn’t like little girls. Thank God. But Phillip’s fists found their faces often when they didn’t keep up with their chores. We all did what we could to help the girls when Phillip wasn’t looking, and often we felt the belt across our backs when we interfered with him hitting our sisters. I call to Pacer because I need his help to get us all out of here alive. We need to stay strong for just a little while

longer. “Pace, I need your help and we don’t have much time.” Pacer’s eyes swing to me. His tormented face brings an ache to my chest which attempts to explode from my mouth, but I stop before it can show them how close I am to falling apart. I need to stay strong. I need to get the rest of my family out of here. “Pace, we need to move quickly and quietly so Phillip doesn’t hear us. I need you to silently close our bedroom door and move a bed up to it. If he tries to get into our room, I want time before he gets in here.” Pacer nods and quickly races out of the bathroom. I don’t hear our door close but I hear a soft drag of a bedframe. I pick Dell up, carry her to her bed and place her down. She curls her body into a tight ball and sobs into her knees. I rush back to Mack and Kelso and gently pull their chins up, forcing their eyes to meet mine. “I’m sorry,” I say,

swallowing back the large lump in my throat. “I’m so sorry this has happened, but I promise you, today we’re getting out. We’re leaving this place behind forever, but I need you guys to pull together and help. Can you do that for me?” Mackson is the first to nod in understanding that we need to act now and grieve later. He’s only nine, but he has always been the most level-headed one of us all. My gaze turns to Kelso and his eyes are still wide and glassy. “Can you do this, Kel? I need you, buddy.” “Slate, how? Where is she? We can’t leave her behind.” Kel’s words come out strangled and they gut me to the core.

We can’t leave her behind. I bow my head and take a deep breath before I answer him. “She’s gone, Kel.” I don’t tell him there was blood everywhere, that she was unrecognizable. “Now we need to leave so that doesn’t happen to one of us.” My words must register with Kel because he quickly nods and stands with Mack next to him. “Okay, I need you two to pack all of our clothes into our backpacks, and then take the sheets and pillows from our beds, got it?” They nod quickly, stand and run to the closet where our backpacks are stored, ones we were only ever allowed to use when we went to the store for groceries. Only Pacer and I got to go; the others had to stay behind. Phillip said it gave Pacer and me incentive to come back, and he was right. If he ever let us all go, I would have made sure none of

us ever returned. I scan the room, thinking of a way out without risking going through Phillip. I look to the windows. We are in a lone, two-story house at the end of a dirt road but not far from town. I think back to a movie where a boy tied sheets together to escape through a window. Does that work in real life? I don’t know, but it’s our only hope at the moment. Mack and Kel are already taking the sheets off the beds, moving Dell gently to stand so they can grab hers, as well. I knew it wouldn’t take them long to pack all our clothes. We don’t have much—just a few shirts and shorts we all share and the girls only have a couple of long dresses they shared. “Mack, Kel, pass me the sheets.” They throw me the white sheets and I begin tying the ends to one another. I finish and count the knots; there are four. I look around for the sixth sheet. I find it on Mia’s still made-up mattress with her pillows still fluffed from this morning when she’d made her bed. A sharp pain shoots through my chest at thinking of disturbing her things. I decide to see if five sheets will be enough first. I push the one window in our bedroom open, a chippedpaint, two-paned, wooden-framed, glass window which opens outward and faces the front of the house. Shoving it all the way out, it leaves more than enough room for someone to climb through. A cool breeze from a midday storm, which just passed over us, blows into the room and the fresh smell of rain invades my senses.

I feed the sheets through, slowly letting them fall more and more with the weight of the material. When I’ve dropped all I can, I look down and find the sheets almost touch the ground. My family will have to jump down the last few feet. I call Pace over and tell him he needs to go first and wait at the bottom to catch our siblings. He nods and readies himself to climb down. I wrap the end of the sheet around my forearm and prepare to hang on tightly. Just as Pacer is about to lower himself down, I say, “Pace, when everyone is at the bottom I’m going to chuck you the bags, sheets and pillows. We need to take them with us.” As if just realizing, Pacer asks, “How will you get down without the sheets?” “I’m going to sneak through the house and out the front door or a window, whatever I can find to get through. We’re going to need our clothes and sheets. I don’t know where we’re going, but we will need them for shelter and warmth through the nights. We can’t go to the police because they will put us back in the system, possibly separate us. Or worse, put us with another monster. I’m not escaping one hell just to go to another. And we need money to survive, Pacer. I need to take Phillip’s wallet; it’s our only option. We’re going to need money for food and train tickets to get away from here, far away. We can’t let child services find us.” Pacer shakes his head, not wanting to hear my plan. I place my hand on his shoulder and reassure him. “I will be

fine, Pace. Right now, you need to get our brothers and sister out of here, and I need to get us the money to help do that. Take them to the store, and I’ll meet you there. When I arrive, we’re going to the station to catch the first train that pulls in.” “Slate, if Phillip catches you—” I cut him off. “He won’t, Pace. I promise, I’ll be right behind you.” Pacer pauses, staring at me for a long moment before reluctantly nodding, turning and climbing down the rope of sheets. I grab a tight hold of the sheets and sit on the floor with my back to the wall. I grit my teeth as I hold on with all my strength. After a few minutes, they go slack in my hands. I jump up quickly and let out a relieved sigh as I see my brother safely on the ground, gesturing for me to hurry up. Della goes next, then Kel and last, Mack. I throw down the sheets, pillows and three backpacks stuffed full of our clothes. When they have everything, I mouth a silent, “Go!” They stare up at me with terrified eyes for a brief moment before they turn and start running, racing from this house of horrors, toward the road into town. I turn and walk to the door and as quietly as possible, I drag the bed away and twist the handle softly. Opening it just a bit, I still my body to listen for Phillip in the house. I hear nothing, so I peer out into the hall—it’s clear. I race to the end of the hallway and descend the stairs, stopping halfway down and listening again for any signs of Phillip

inside the house. I hear nothing except the pounding of my heart in my ears. I creep down the last set of stairs and inspect the living room before heading left into Phillip’s room. I take three quick steps backward as my heart crashes against my chest. The door to Phillip’s room is open when it’s usually closed and locked unless he is in there. I freeze on the spot and strain my ears to listen for anything, but when I still hear nothing, no sound of him in the house anywhere, I creep down the rest of the stairs. I move closer to his bedroom and slowly push open his door. Fear slams into my heart as it sounds with a creak as it opens; my pulse races and sweat drips down my face. With the door now wide open, I can see Phillip is not in here. My heart is beating wildly as I rub the sweat away from my forehead with shaking hands. I scan Phillip’s room for his wallet and am thankful when it’s the first thing my eyes land on. I take quick steps, scooping it up and looking inside. I see many bills and cards, cards I have no idea how to use; the bills will have to be enough. I will have to wait till I’m with Pacer to find out how much is in the wallet as he is the only one of us who knows how to count well. I grasp tightly to the wallet in my palm and turn quickly, racing out of the room and heading straight for the front door before I freeze. Mia. I want to see her one last time. I need to say goodbye. I tiptoe through the living room and peer into the kitchen.

I can’t see Phillip anywhere. Where is he? Did he run,

knowing he had killed Mia? Did I send my siblings rushing off for no reason? I crouch behind the bench in the kitchen and look around to Mia’s body still lying lifeless on the tiled floor. Her right arm is outstretched, appearing to reach out for someone to take hold and help her. I stretch my hand out and softly touch the tips of her fingers, still so soft and warm. Grumbling comes from the back door, and I hastily pull my arm back and scurry behind the counter. I hear Phillip mumbling, but no steps coming into the kitchen. I carefully look around the counter again and see him bringing an old blanket and a shovel covered in wet soil just inside the back door. He’s going to bury Mia in the backyard. No! I need to get to a phone, call the police and tell them what he’s done. She needs to be buried in a cemetery where she belongs, where I can visit her one day. I look back to my unrecognizable Mia and my heart squeezes, twisting painfully as I force myself to say my last farewell. Tears fall as I swallow past a lump in my throat and finally I’m able to whisper, “Goodbye, Mia.” Watching as Phillip goes back outside, I decide now is my chance to quietly move back through the house to the front door. I make it and find the door locked as usual, and Phillip is the only one who has the key. The window next to it is slightly opened and has been missing the screen for months now. I quietly, but with all my strength, open the window which hasn’t been touched in years. It squeaks once and I pray Phillip is too busy to worry about any

sounds in this old, run-down house. I jump up and slide my body through the window, scraping the skin off my hips as I barely fit, and fall to the ground with a hard thump. I bite my lip from yelling out in pain.

I’m out. Terror grips my heart as I sprint frantically from the house, not looking behind me in fear I will find Phillip chasing me. As I run from the only home I’ve ever known, the house of horrors, the only thoughts I’m having are ones I’ve never let released before this moment.

I think I was in love with her. Not family love, but a different kind of love. Now I’ll never know.

Chapter One Street Thug Slater My clenched fist slams into his jaw, and bones crack and break under my bloody knuckles. I stand and look down at the almost-unconscious asshole who was making fun of a woman with a stutter. Usually I don’t get involved in this shit, but damn, seeing her beautiful face frown and hurt cross her features, as if it was setting in stone to stay there forever, made me want to kill this fucker. And I’m the one man who’s capable of doing it. A scowl etches its way onto my face at the memory of her eyes lowering to the ground. Watching as her features twist to sadness spurs me to reach down and grip the shithead’s shirt and begin punching him again and again. I’m finally forced to stop when my brother, Mackson, pulls me off the asshole. “Fuck, Slate, take it easy. I’ve never seen you with that pussy before, so if you’re trying to get in there tonight, trust me; you’ve already done enough to get a good cocksucking later on.” “Get the fuck off me, Mack.” I know he’s only trying to help and lighten the situation, but I’m not in the mood for his show of crude. Mack’s two different people: one in front of others and a totally different person when he’s with our family. We all have an image to uphold, one which has to stay in place to keep the vultures off our doorstep and show

them what will happen if they try to cross us or take from us. This, beating a man, is nothing. We’ve all done worse, taken care of business to keep what we have worked so hard for, to keep our turf and our family safe. Our enemies are many and they are always close by. I push away from my brother and storm back inside TK’s Bar. John, the bouncer, nods and walks past me. I look over my shoulder and watch as he picks the asshole up and pushes him out the back door, not caring that he just fell again. He closes the back door and then turns around to shoot the shit with Mack. I continue walking toward the toilets to wash the blood off my hands. I pass the stuttering girl’s table and find her staring straight into my eyes, not once looking down at my gory knuckles, which surprises me. Most girls would run screaming from a man like me, but instead, she meets my gaze and never turns away. We both stare at each other curiously, everyone and everything turning into a blur as only she has my attention. Until I pass her and we’re both forced to break eye contact from each other. I enter the bathroom and find my heart pounding rapidly and my dick hard. Which is fucking crazy since I just got done beating a man unconscious. Definitely not what’s on my ‘what gets me off’ list. I enter the men’s room and wash the blood away. Soap seeps into my cuts and a sting begins. My lips tip up into a smile, the pain a sweet reminder of what I did to that fucker. I sense movement behind me and look into the mirror to find the girl biting her lip and looking around nervously.

I twist my head left and then right, making sure no men are around. Looking at me in the mirror, she says, “Thank you. I appreciate y-your help, but I can handle myself.” Trying to hide my surprise, I say, “I didn’t do it for you, gorgeous. I did it because the guy pissed me off.” I lie, but I’m shocked at her words; I was expecting a thank you, not a, ‘thanks, but no thanks.’ She opens her mouth and then closes it again, seemingly unsure of what to say now. I turn around and lean on the sink, crossing my arms over my chest, examining her while I wait for her to either say something or leave. She’s fucking pure mint, the hottest chick I’ve ever seen. Not because of her long, luscious, tanned legs which connect to a fit body with tits that would fill my hands perfectly, but because she oozes class. Her eyes and lips send me back in time, but I know it’s impossible. It can’t be her. I do this every time, look for her in every woman, wondering what Mia would have looked like. Stutter Girl isn’t even the closest I’ve come to finding a match before. This is just another way I torture myself for letting Mia down, not being there when she needed me the most. I’m forced to push my painful memories away when the woman finally decides to speak. “Okay then. I’ll leave you alone to, umm...” She looks to the urinal and her nose scrunches in disgust, “do your business.” She steps to leave, but the thought of her walking away from me has me stupidly asking my next

question without thinking. “You seemed to talk just fine then. You use it as some sort of attention thing?” She narrows her eyes and her expression turns stony. “So that’s who you are. The unintelligent, m-meat head who just happens to be lucky in the looks department. Ignorance is a disease, asshole. You should really go see someone about that.” I step forward and grin. She thinks I’m good-looking. She begins to walk away, and my chest pounds at the thought of never having her attention again so I gently place my hand on her wrist and apologize. “Okay, that was a stupid thing to say. I’m sorry. I can be an ignorant asshole sometimes. How ‘bout you tell me how it works, so I’m not so unintelligent in the future?” My tone is soft and I hope she can’t hear the plea in my voice. My mind is telling me to let her walk—this isn’t like me at all, coming across as weak— but I don’t want her to walk away from me just yet. Her eyes search my face for what I assume is sincerity and my gut twists as I wonder if it’s because people have tricked her this way before, just to try and hear her stutter.

Fucking bastards. She sighs and turns back toward me, but moves her wrist out of my grasp. I glance down at my hand with a frown, confused that I hate the fact I’m not touching her anymore. However, I’m distracted as she takes a big breath in and out and begins to explain. “I don’t stutter often, or really much at all anymore. I was born with it, but it only happens i-in situations which make

me uncomfortable, afraid or if I’m under pressure. I did speech therapy for years to learn to control it.” I tip my head to the side slightly, examining her, admiring her strength and determination. It’s easy to see her stutter is something she gets frustrated with and that it embarrasses her, as her cheeks flush pink when she does it. “You must be a very strong woman. I can only imagine the shit you must have had to deal with growing up.” A frown appears on her stunning face and she says, “There are plenty of people in the world who have it worse than me. I don’t dwell on what I can’t change.” When she’s finished speaking, she licks her lips and begins to fidget with her fingers. I’m fascinated by her; her strength and thoughtfulness is captivating. I inch closer, desperately wanting to taste her, needing to know what she tastes like. My skin prickles with need as I close the distance between us. I lean down and take her mouth quickly and she suddenly inhales, right before my mouth hits hers, giving me the perfect opportunity to taste her. She grabs hold of my shirt tightly and sighs contentedly as she begins to kiss me back. Fuck. She tastes so sweet, and her lips are wet and soft. She tastes like pears, my favorite fruit. Our mouths continue to crash against each other, biting, licking and claiming one another. We pull back at the same time, both with ragged breaths.

“What was that?” she asks, still trying to catch her breath. “That was me saying I like you,” I reply with a grin. Her eyes widen and she softly questions, “Even after you know I have a stutter?” I stare into her eyes, processing her words. Why the fuck would that even matter? She begins fidgeting with her hands again, and damn if I don’t think it’s the cutest thing I’ve seen.

Christ, I wonder if she will let me fuck her tonight. As if she heard my question, she jumps up, wraps her legs around my waist, and her arms around my neck, and kisses me again. I hold her tightly to me and palm her ass. I groan as a fierce craving explodes inside of me as I feel the heat of her pussy directly over my aching, hard cock. I move us to one of the disabled stalls, slamming the door shut and fumbling with the lock while she begins to grind up and down on my dick. A deep gratifying groan escapes my lips. She feels so fucking good, so fucking right. I drop her and spin her around. “Hold tight to the toilet seat,” I instruct and she does exactly as I ask. I pull her dress up to find a black G-string and two firm, round ass cheeks staring me right in my face. The urge to bite them is overwhelming. “If I’m gonna take this sweet cunt then I need to know whose pussy I’m fucking. What’s your name, Stutter Girl?” “Piper,” she breathes out.

I slide my fingers through her long, dark-brown, wavy hair and grasp it tightly. She whimpers and my dick jumps, begging me to slam into her warm heat. I bite down hard on my lip to stop myself from thrusting in hard and fast. I turn her head to the side and bend to look into her face.

Fuck, those eyes. What is it about them? “My name’s Slater and my cock has been aching for you all night.” Piper giggles at me, and it just makes my dick grow impossibly bigger. I unzip my jeans and drop them to my ankles. Piper looks over her shoulders, her eyes widening as she licks her lips. I groan while haphazardly trying to get the condom out of my wallet as fast as possible. My wallet falls to the ground but I don’t give a fuck. I roll the condom on quickly then I lower her G-string down to her sexy as fuck black heels and spread Piper’s thighs apart. I drag my finger through her pussy up to her clit, fucking loving how drenched she is for me. I circle her clit with her own wetness, causing her to whimper and grind her hips. As I continue the motion, I put the head of my dick at her entrance. The moment she begins to moan louder, I slam into her and she screams out in pleasure. Fuuuuuck! Her slick, warm folds enveloping my cock feels fucking incredible. I grasp her hips firmly and begin

slamming into her. Piper holds tight to the toilet seat while whimpering and begging me not to stop. I push harder and faster until she’s moaning loudly and her sex is pulsating, causing my cock to throb and beg me for its own release. Piper’s legs begin to shake and a shine appears on her back, as sweat trickles down my neck from keeping up the punishing pace. I hold her legs steady as I pound into her harder than I’ve ever fucked a woman before. Piper screams out her orgasm and then I begin mine, roaring into the stall, hearing myself echo through the entire bathroom. Piper’s arms drop to the toilet seat and she rests her head on her hands, sighing contentedly through her heavy breathing. I thrust in and out, slowly coming down from my high. I pull out, and we both begin fixing ourselves up. I glance up and watch Piper pull her dress down. She’s stunning and to top it off, my cock fucking loves her. I’ve never seen stars while blowing my load before, but fuck if she didn’t just make me think the world was ending. And I didn’t care at all as long as I died inside of her. She’s fucking perfect for my dick, but not for my lifestyle.

Why the fuck am I even thinking past tonight? Before I can even be the asshole and leave her standing here alone in the bathroom stall, Piper unlocks the door, walks out and throws over her shoulder, “Might see you around.” And then she’s gone. Fuck, I think I’m in

trouble. Piper

I rush out of the bathroom, and with each step a delicious tingle shoots through me. My panties are soaked through; I’ve never felt such pleasure before. Sure, I’ve given myself plenty of orgasms, but a man never has. I’ve never let go like that, never trusted a man to be so in control and rough with me before. I never knew what I was missing. I head straight for the exit and sense eyes on my back. I instinctively turn around and there he is, across the busy bar, just standing there relaxed, staring at me as if I’m a puzzle to be worked out. I don’t understand what it is about him that I’m drawn to. That he stood up for me tonight? The first person in my whole life to stand up and protect me from a bully...is this what safety feels like? My eyes grow glassy as sadness takes hold of my heart. I wish at twenty-seven years old that I didn’t have to ask myself that question. All I’ve ever wanted was to belong, to feel wanted and safe. Is that what Slater gave me tonight? It seems ludicrous because his whole demeanor screams danger. He’s a street thug, and it shows in the way he carries his body: proud, domineering with a ‘don’t fuck with me’ vibe. Not to mention the group of men he’s with, all of them exactly the same—hard faces and bodies which promise pain even if you just look at them the wrong way. Not to mention beating my bully unconscious. I’m here to save kids from that type of life, not to save a man who’s clearly already lost to it. I scrutinize his face one more time, committing it to

memory before turning and fleeing, promising myself never to return, promising myself never to be this foolish again. But I know I’m counting down the days until I meet the street thug again.

Chapter Two See you. Piper Friday night, one week later, I find myself back at TK’s Pub. Captive, called, an unexplained magnetic pull. I don’t know what it is but I know that even if I wanted to, I couldn’t stop myself. I look around the room, telling myself that I’m not looking for the one person my gut is churning anxiously for. I step further into the crowd of people dancing and drinking, grinding their bodies sensually against each other. A tall, broad back with part of an angel’s wings tattoo peeking out of the top of a blue t-shirt comes into view. I glance up and find the back of Slater’s head, his short, dark-brown hair looking like it’s never seen a brush in its life, only his fingers raked through it. I rub my fingers along my sweaty palms as warmth fills me just from knowing he’s here tonight. The man standing next to Slater spots me and elbows him. Slater turns toward me and at first I’m stuck staring at his face, his eyes, remembering how he took my body, ruthlessly, heavenly. After a moment, I finally see what’s really in front of me: Slater with a blonde under his arm. My heart beats rapidly and my head feels a hundred times lighter than when I walked in. Turn away and leave! My selfpreservation screams at me. My breathing becomes quick and choppy as humiliation

from staring at him courses through me, and I turn and begin walking quickly toward the exit. I’m almost out when I feel a tug on my wrist. I stop and look behind me, my eyes meeting Slater’s. His gaze mirrors my own; one of hunger, need and recklessness. Tingles race up my arm as he slowly glides his fingers down from my wrist and clasps my hand. He doesn’t just have hold of my hand; he has hold of my sanity, of my desire. He begins walking and I follow eagerly, so aware of my body that I feel the strands of my hair moving from one shoulder to the other as I turn. He gestures something to one of his guys and then we enter the men’s bathroom. Slater comes to a dead stop next to a man washing his hands. “Get. The. Fuck. Out.” My head whips up to look at Slater. His tone is deep and threatening, and, goddamn, it turns me on even more. I hold back a groan when all I want is to rub my thighs together to give myself a small amount of relief. The man looks up at us in the mirror, nods quickly and races out of the bathroom, leaving the tap still running. Slater pushes open the other doors, making sure no one else is in here before we arrive at the disabled stall and he pulls me inside. He locks the door and turns to me, pinning me against the wall with his body, and staring at me with his lust-filled eyes. As quick as lightning, he swoops down and kisses me. I wrap my hands around his neck and pull him to me tighter

while I kiss him back. A brutal kiss, where careless passion coats each labored breath we take together. Slater spins me around until I’m facing the wall. Lifting my dress over my waist, he groans when he sees my full ass cheeks and red G-string. I whimper from the rough grasp of his big hands as he begins to palm my ass. One of his hands drives into my hair and he turns my head to the side to look up at him. “Your eyes drive me fucking insane. I’ve dreamed about them every night since I first saw you. I want to see them while I’m fucking you. Don’t look away from me, Piper. I nod quickly, desperately wanting him to enter me. He continues to gaze down at me with an intense stare which both confuses and excites me. What is it about this man who takes me willingly out of my comfort zone? Why have I stopped countless others when I think I can’t trust them to handle me with care, yet I trust Slater, the man who has handled me the roughest? Slater pulls my G-string down my legs and off my body and then pushes my dress up around my waist, leaving me completely bare to him. He turns me back to face him and I glance down to see he’s pulled himself free and already has a condom on. I lick my lips, wishing I could taste him, wanting to hear him yell out in ecstasy from what I could do to him. “I would love for you to have a taste, Piper, but I’m very fucking impatient to be inside you.” I glance up at Slater’s words and see a smirk on his face. I smile as Slater lifts me up, holding me against the wall

with one of his forearms under my ass. I whimper as he begins to circle my clit with his other hand. My head drops back as I savor the sensation of my orgasm building. “Piper.” My head snaps up from Slater’s stern tone, eyes gazing into mine. “Don’t look away.” His voice is firm but soft with a hint of a plea in his tone that has my heart pounding heavily. Slater’s hand moves away from my clit and I whine in protest, but swiftly he positions me over his cock and drives into me, hard. I arch my back in pleasure that he’s inside of me, hammering into me deep. Exquisite. It feels fucking amazing. Our eyes stay locked the whole time, except for the moment when I can’t keep them open any longer, when my orgasm overtakes my body and I scream out his name. Slater follows straight after, groaning loudly with his eyes closed tightly. When Slater’s eyes open, it’s to me staring at him in wonder. He’s beautiful. Others may say ruggedly handsome, but to me he is beautiful. He interrupts our moment by shaking his head, pulling himself out of me and placing me on my feet without another word. I pull my dress down and look around for my G-string, but can’t find it anywhere. Watching Slater flush the condom, I spot the red material in the back pocket of his jeans. I snatch it out and put it on, with a smile on my face.

Was he trying to steal my G-string?

We’re both standing, leaning on the toilet stall walls, neither one of us ready to leave the other’s presence yet. “How old are you, Slater?” I ask. “I’m thirty-one, and you?” he responds with a cocked eyebrow. “Twenty-seven.” “So what has you in Portland? I know you’re new; you’re not a girl who would go unnoticed around here for long.” “A new job,” I reply. “Oh, yeah, and where would that be?” “That would be none of your business. I don’t want you turning up, broken-hearted,” I say with a smile, deciding question time is over. I wanted to know more about Slater, but he seems determined to learn about me and I’m not comfortable with opening up to people. Nobody wants to know about me. I’m nothing special. I head for the lock and Slater chuckles. His deep, smooth laugh instantly gets my attention and I turn just as it dies down to a smirk and he says, “See you round, Piper.” And with those words, I’m out of the stall and quickly walking out of the bathroom, eerily feeling like Cinderella who continues to run away from a man who couldn’t be more different than Prince Charming. Staring down at the floor, I bump into a big body at the exit of the bathroom. It’s the man Slater gestured to, and he’s standing at the entry. Guarding it? He smirks down at me and moves to the side. I make my way quickly through the crowd to the exit when that same instinct to look back hits me. Don’t turn around,

Piper! One step, two steps and then I can’t take it anymore. I turn and Slater is there, standing next to his smiling friend, staring at me intently. Again, as if I’m a puzzle he can’t put together. I’m not hard to figure out, a simple woman who stutters in certain situations. A simple woman who was never wanted, always rejected. Again I turn and flee into the cold night, promising myself never to return. Slater The same sensation I’ve felt for the past three weeks races down my spine. I turn and there she is, my beautiful Stutter Girl, standing by the entrance and staring at me. My cock stirs to life just at the sight of her. Fuck, my life, my meaning for life has become this girl. These few hours every night when she’s mine drives every agonizing hour it takes until I see her again. Each time I take her it’s fucking incredible, every time better than the last. We’ve never made plans to see each other again, just a need which drives me back to TK’s every night, even during the week, in hopes she turns up. And she has, hopefully driven by the same hunger I have for her. My chest tightens at the thought of her not having the same insatiable urge for me that I have for her. Since our second mind-blowing fuck, we’ve sat and talked. I found out she’s from New York, which is where she grew up with her family. Her star sign is Leo. She hates cooked vegetables, but eats them raw. She reads, and

listens to music more than she watches TV. Her favorite color is blue, but that’s not something she told me; I know because every night she wears something with blue in it. Earrings, necklace or rings—always some of her clothing will have blue in it. I motion to Mack to watch the bathroom door again and he looks at me with an annoyed, whiney expression, pointing to the girl under his arm. I narrow my eyes and he mutters under his breath then nods to me. I turn and walk to Piper, both of us already connected through our stares, always looking at each other as if we can’t breathe without the other. I have no idea where these feelings come from. Is it lust? Is it the sex? Is our attraction normal, or is this more? I tell myself it’s just the sex, but that doesn’t tell me why I want to know her, why I keep trying to keep her afterward to talk. I take her outstretched hand without a word and we both move into the men’s bathroom. A quick glance around tells me no one’s inside. We enter our toilet stall and lock the door. I swing around and instantly have Piper in my arms, biting her lip as I kiss her. She groans at the roughness of the kiss, and damn I love that. I let her go and stand back while my eyes take in every part of her. For the first time since I met Piper, I’m pissed off she’s wearing such a short dress. I cup the side of her head, and my thumb strokes up and down her cheek. Each day I find myself touching her more, being myself more around her.

“Something about you. I can’t get you out of my fucking head. See this?” I grab the bulge in my pants. “This is just from seeing you, and that’s not fucking normal.” “I know. I feel it, too,” Piper replies softly. “There’s something between us and it’s strong. I don’t know how, when we’ve only known each other for a few weeks. I thought these feelings for you would have gone away by now.” She ends on a whisper, looking away from me. My gut twists at her words. Gone away. No, I can’t feel this all on my own. I couldn’t handle it if she rejected me. Possessiveness takes hold of my sanity and an urgency builds inside of me to have her now. I look back and find the toilet seat. I shut the lid, sit down, unclasp my pants and pull out my rock-hard cock. I fist it tightly and run my hand up and down the shaft. Piper licks her lips and comes to stand before me. “Pull your dress up and move your panties over.” She flashes me a grin and lifts her dress over her gorgeous round ass. My eyes grow wide and I hiss through my teeth when I see the reason for her grin. No panties. No G-string. Nothing but her glistening, wet pussy staring me straight in the face. “Sit on my cock, now.” My words come out gravelly and rough. Piper positions her legs on the outside of my thighs and takes me in her heat, agonizingly slowly. She fucks me hard, her nails digging into my shoulders as she rides my cock like it’s never been ridden before.

Fucking ecstasy, watching her come apart in front of me, feeling the evidence all over my dick. Piper’s head is resting on my shoulder as we both come down from our high. Deep breathing, my dry throat screaming for a drink of water, but all I care about is when we will do this again. A few more deep breaths and I whisper into her ear, “Go out with me.” Piper’s head shoots up, eyes wide and her mouth parted. “Go out with you?” she repeats my question. I laugh and say, “Yeah, go on a date with me. I like you, Piper, a lot. And I never like chicks I fuck, but you’re different.” She scrunches her nose at my words and I try to explain. “Fuck that came out wrong. Or actually it came out right, but I’m not good at subtle. I’m honest, Piper, and I’ll always be brutally honest; it’s just who I am. How I’ve grown up, I only know how to speak bluntly. I’ve never been taught or had to be gentle in my life.” She nods and I ask, “So is that yes to my date or yes to me being an asshole?” Piper smiles and says, “That’s yes to both.” I grin then kiss her and for a short time we stay connected, my cock inside of her while we make out until we decide to get dressed. Like all the other previous nights, Piper sits between my legs and rests her back against my chest as we ask each other random, not-toopersonal questions. While we talk, she traces and draws on my hands, which is fast becoming something I look forward

to. She’s been in Portland for over a month now. I know she would have heard of the Portland Street Kings, how brutal, unforgiving and merciless we are. Or maybe she’s heard about the businesses we defend from other gangs trying to threaten the owners to pay them for protection. We don’t take handouts; we work for our money or win it. We don’t take what’s not ours and don’t accept when others try to do it in our town. We’ve marked our territory with tags. That way, if any future gangs try anything, they can see who they will be dealing with if they choose to do stupid shit anyway. Anyone who dares come on our turf to sell hard drugs, kill, or steal, we will deal with them. If that means going outside our turf to handle the problem, we will do that. The police are non-existent in Portland—hell, in Louisville. They check things out, but you never see them again and they are just as easy to pay off as any criminal. Most people refer to us as crazy, killers, and monsters. But those who know us, those who we’ve saved, they know different. We protect what’s ours and that includes the people and families living in our turf. If you’re good to us, we will be good to you and when you ask for help, we will do what we can. Sometimes those moments can make me feel even minutely like the man I try to show the world I am. But then when I’m playing ball with the kids in the street, I remember they’re playing with a murderer and I know I’m nowhere near being the man I thought I would grow up to be.

“Slater?” Piper’s voice pulls me from my dark thoughts and I gaze down at her, still tracing my hand. What happens if she doesn’t want a man who’s a murderer and a savior? My chest grows tight at the thought, and I decide to forget about that for now. First, just show her who I am, as a person, then deal with the blood stained on my hands. I refocus my attention on Piper and ask, “Do you like pizza? I know a pizza place around here that will make your mouth water.” Piper nods, and I can tell she’s smiling because I see her cheeks rising. “Tomorrow night, meet here at six p.m.?” I ask. Piper replies, “A Monday night date?” “I honestly don’t think I can go longer than a day without seeing you now,” I reply with a thick voice. Piper’s smile widens massively and she asks, “Can we make it seven? I have to work tomorrow, I don’t finish until five and I’m going to need time to go home and get ready.” “Seven it is,” I agree, kissing her head. Piper stands and turns around to face me, placing a soft kiss on my lips before moving toward the locked door. She opens it and looks back at me with a smile on her lips. “See you tomorrow, Slater,” she says softly and leaves the stall. I hear her as she passes Mack. “Thanks, Mackson.” “Yeah, bye, Piper. This was the last fucking time, too. You two need to find a damn room.” He ends louder than he started as I’m sure Piper is walking away, giggling as she makes her way through the crowd.

I laugh at my brother’s words and then hear his heavy boots walk into the bathroom. He stands in front of me and sneers down at me. “I’m not doing this shit anymore. The chick I had for tonight already left because I look like a fucking creeper standing out front of the men’s bathroom all night. You and Piper are fucking ruining my sex life while I have to hear you two go at it.” Another laugh erupts from my mouth. “All good, brother. From now on, I’m taking Piper home.” Mackson’s eyes widen at my words. “We’re going on a date tomorrow night. Gonna take her to Annie’s Pizza then I’ll bring her home, meet everyone. She’s different. I like her, a lot. Fuck, more than a lot.” “Does she know who we are?” Mack asks. “No, at least I’m almost positive she doesn’t. And I won’t be telling her, not until I think it won’t be an issue or unless someone else tells her and she asks me.” “No one’s gonna tell her. Fuck, no one would be game enough to try and put a stop to a King’s pursuit of pussy. Do you think she could handle being one of us? This life is fucked-up, and she doesn’t look like the type of woman who can handle crazy.” “I don’t know, but I’m a selfish prick because I want her. I’m willing to have her fall for me and then see if she can take being a part of the Portland Street Kings.”

Can she be my moral compass when the days are dark and I lose my way?

Chapter Three Real Life. Slater Grease covers my hands and all the way up to my elbows. I tighten the last bolt while grinding my teeth together when I hear another giggle. I push back and slide out from under my dark blue, 1968 Chevy Camaro, looking around the warehouse and searching for where my sister’s laughs are coming from. I find her behind the reception desk talking to Brett, a guy I’m paying to spy on the Poison Boys. He’s a big guy with tattoos and easily fits in with both gangs, but he’s only in it for the money. Rex thinks Brett is trying to get into his gang, but really I’m paying him a lot of cash to hang around just to get me information. And it’s worked out great because Rex was the one who started using Brett as an in-between to the gangs to get messages across. I’d never send my brothers across the Parkland Borders alone and Rex would never risk his guys either, so he thinks Brett is the prefect person to use, he just doesn’t know Brett’s on my side. The Parkland Poison Boys are our biggest and only enemies right now. Their leader, Rex, used to be my best friend, before his father died. Five years ago, everything changed and ever since, we’ve been at war. Rex’s close group used to consist of eight. Now they are down to four: Kodi, Reed, Corey and Rex. Every time they aim for my family or me, I’ve taken out one of their members and I will

continue to do so until Rex calls off this war. Which I know is likely to never happen. I often think about the day I may have to kill him. It’s going to gut me to kill someone I once called a good friend, someone so lost by grief he can’t even see straight anymore. Rex lost it when his father was murdered, and he won’t listen to the how or why. He just wants to keep at it until he kills me for taking out his father, Jae. Another giggle from Dell drags my attention back to her and Brett. My arms cross over my greasy white undershirt and I say across the garage, “Brett, get the fuck away from my sister.” My tone is stern but calm. Brett’s head whips around to see me watching him. His eyes grow wide and his face pales as he walks quickly over to me. I keep my face hard and blank, wanting him to know I’m not his friend. “Just talking, Slate. Promise. I know she’s untouchable.” Poor guy has no idea how much trouble with a capital T Dell can be. She gets whatever she wants from men. She flutters her eyelashes, smiles, and they are putty in her hands. It’s Dell’s way of keeping them away, by having them think she’s just a stupid young girl. That way, they never bother to look below her beautiful exterior to where they would find a caring, loyal, sweet woman. One who just happens to have a family who will kill for her and have killed for her before. She’s my family, but she has nothing to do with family business unless I need a man distracted. Then Dell gets to play.

Dell’s head swings to me and she narrows her eyes with a killer death stare. My lips tip up into a smirk. My sister is a firecracker and that stare would usually have most men backtracking, but not me. She learned that stare from me. She picks up the workbooks and stomps out of the garage to our two-story, white house just in front of the garage. It isn’t easy for Dell, being the sister of the Street Kings, but she understands why we are the way we are and how we became this way. After all, she was there for the whole ride. Having your innocence ripped away from you alters you, not just for those horrifying moments but forever. We all value the power we have being the Kings family. We need it and we crave the fear. When you’ve lived in terror and waited for a hero who was never going to come to your rescue, you learn to become your own hero or villain. Those who try to place us beneath them will always be put in their place, no matter the consequences. We will never be the weak ones again. Della is twenty-four and loves to go against whatever my brothers and I tell her. Unfortunately for her, we are extremely protective of her. We raised her through Hell, and now we’re trying to give her everything she should have had from a real family. She started college four years ago when we could finally afford it, and this will be her last year. She’s majoring in Business Management and she will help run our family business... well, our legit business. Our mechanic’s garage we’ve owned and run successfully for three years

now. We work on about four cars at one time when we’re busy, but right now, we only have two in for service. Our legit business is good, but it’s never made enough to keep us afloat. It’s not what paid for Dell to go to college, and it’s not what puts food on the table for five adults. It pays the bills and keeps the boys and me busy. As kids, we would go to Rex’s dad’s garage over in Parkland. He would feed us and give us a place to go during the days when we had nothing to do other than walk the streets and risk running into the wrong people. He also taught us how to fix cars. But I soon learned he couldn’t be trusted; he was just another monster on the inside. As we got older and ran with the wrong crowds, we found avenues to make money. My brothers and I have sold drugs and alcohol, and we’ve stolen cars and electronics to sell at pawn stores, at their back doors, not over their counters where anyone could see. When I was nineteen, we were introduced to street racing and Speed Wars. My brothers and I watched and learned, and we would take the cars we stole out to the forest and learn to race, learn to win. I was the first to race, but I lost the race and all our money. None of us ate for the whole week until we were able to steal more alcohol or clothes to sell on the street or swap for food. I swore I would never do that to my family again and I didn’t. From then on, I raced to win, even if I killed myself. We started racing others for their pink slips. Most guys we race are rich assholes who get a new car from daddy

for their birthday and want to show off how big they think their cocks are, but they lose every time. They’re missing one thing my brothers and I have: nothing to lose. We risk our lives every day just by leaving our house. When we started winning and earning good money, we began to make enemies. They thought they could race a street kid and lose and then walk away laughing at us, not give us what we had won, what we had earned. That’s when we went from normal street kids who would defend ourselves in this cruel world to the infamous Portland Street Kings who people now make a point of staying the fuck away from. If you cross us, we have no problem putting a bullet through your head, burying your body out in the middle of nowhere and walking away, and forgetting you ever existed. We don’t fuck around, and people started to learn that about us very quickly. What do the Portland Street Kings live for? Family. What else would someone kill for, do illegal activities and risk their freedom for? To protect our family we need respect, money and power, and I’ll go to any lengths to make sure they are fed, clothed and kept safe. Illegal racing has put food on our table and paid for our clothes; it’s how we have acquired suped-up, expensive cars. How we have a decent house in this deadbeat town and are able to outright own our mechanic business. I want to teach other street kids the same thing: how to fix cars and race to earn or win money instead of having to steal it. We put the word out on the street, if they need a place to come every day, something to eat, people to talk

to who understand what they are going through – they are welcome here. We already have some boys who come by and we teach them how to fix cars, feeding them as payment for helping out. If one of them comes in with ripped and dirty clothes, Dell will buy them new ones. If any girls come in, they get to decide whether to work with us guys in the garage or to go with Dell to help with lunch or dinner. She has a stash of personal items for the girls and we guys give the boys packs of condoms. The number one thing we drum into their heads is to wrap it up because if you can’t feed yourself, how are you supposed to feed a baby? Some of the kids have hidden out at our house from Child Protective Services. If CPS comes to my home looking for any kids, I tell them to fuck off. The system is jacked up and it’s all for show; all CPS workers do is tick a box and say they did their job. They don’t care how the children are afterwards, or if they placed them with a monster. They didn’t come and check on us, because if they had I would have begged them to take us with them, begged them for help. Maybe then Mia would still be alive. I fucking hate them with every ounce of my being. They just as good as killed Mia themselves, and I will always hate CPS for placing us with Phillip. I’m pulled from my thoughts when I hear Brett cough behind me. I need to get this done so I can finish my car and be on time to pick Piper up for our date tonight. Fuck, it’s been under twenty-four hours since I last saw her and already I can’t wait to lay eyes on her again.

I turn around to Brett and ask, “What the fuck is Rex up to this time?” Piper Damn it, I lost him again. Being a Child Protective Services officer is one of the hardest and most rewarding jobs. Seeing these kids on the streets starving, hardly clothed and stealing to make a little bit of money breaks my heart. Hearing the stories of their parents being drug addicts who are not capable of looking after them, or how they ran from a home where they were being abused rips at my soul and shows me this world for what it really is: painful, gritty and unforgiving. But I have people, good people wanting to take in kids. They want to show them there is good in this world, want to give them a small piece of their childhood back and let them be free before they become adults and have to take on the world on their own. However, there’s one thing about these kids you have to learn: an adult stole their trust, and it’s incredibly hard to get it back. They see me as someone who wants to send them back to that horrible place they just escaped, but that’s not true. I want to listen. I want to fight for them and give them a safe place, either with a family I have spent time with and often go back to so I can talk to the kids or in a group home, where it’s just like a huge family. I’ve spent many dinners with my family group homes, even whole weekends hanging out with the kids, getting to know them and making sure they are really okay. I also see if they need extra guidance or counselling for what they have been through.

I grew up in a group home, and it was nothing like the ones I make sure my kids go to. My group home wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either. My foster parents didn’t care what we did, and at ten, I was walking to the grocery store on my own. There was no love, no laughter and no family time, just co-existing and doing our chores. Most of my foster sisters and brothers were adopted through the years. Adults would come to the group home and talk to us kids, but I was never adopted. As soon as I stuttered, they got this look on their face, one that said I wasn’t good enough for their idea of what a perfect family would look like. And then they would sit back, smile and say thank you, and I knew leaving the room I wasn’t going with a family that day, or ever. I don’t remember my parents; my memories from my childhood are few and far between and, like most children, blurry. I was told they had died in a car accident and then I was shipped off to a group home. That’s a time in my life I make an effort not to think about, a confusing time, which still to this day has never made sense to me. I want to save other children from going through the same heartache of rejection and lack of care in group homes like the one I was placed in. I know I can’t help them all, but I will do my damnedest to help as many as I can. Now I’m in Louisville, Kentucky. Portland to be more precise, a small town situated on the bend of the Ohio river, and a place known for being able to disappear amongst the homeless and low income families. It is also home to the notorious Portland Street Kings and the war that has

been raging between them and the Parkland Poison Boys for the past five years. The story goes that the Kings were kids who lived on the streets and they joined forces to survive. They were once friends with the leader of the Poison Boys, until five years ago when something happened, and they have been at war ever since. We have an address for the Kings’ home, as it’s where some of our street kids tend to hide out when we are trying to contact them. That’s the last thing they need, to get mixed up in a street gang and involved in things they don’t understand. My newest case is Jimmy. He’s fourteen and a runaway, and his alcoholic father has physically abused him all his life. His dad didn’t even contact the police to report him missing; Jimmy’s school did. After reading his file and notes from his teachers and friends, there is no way Jimmy will be returning to his father. I found Jimmy when I was going through a tape of a kid who stole food from a grocery store. At some point, these kids need to steal to eat or to keep warm and when they do, they are caught on camera or caught by the police. Then we go through the missing children’s website and usually that’s how we find them. I have an amazing family with three other boys around Jimmy’s age, who also came from abusive homes, who want to take Jimmy in. I’ve already talked to the parents and the boys, all of whom are really excited to meet Jimmy, if only he would stop running from me. Every time I get close

to Jimmy to talk to him, he makes a run for it. I even try not to dress like an office worker, but somehow he picks me out and I can’t get close enough to tell him I just want to help. Now I’m headed for the Kings’ home, just to drive past and see if I can find Jimmy. This is my job, and I chose to move here because of its high statistics of street kids. Louisville is known for its low-income areas with criminal gangs, but I’m not going to let a gang scare me off from helping these kids. And I need to start familiarizing myself with the area. If I see Jimmy, I’ll try once more, but if it doesn’t work out, I’ll give him some space for a little while. Even in my sour mood, a smile graces my face and butterflies begin their fluttering in my tummy at remembering my date with Slater tonight. I look down to my watch and see it’s almost five p.m. One more try for Jimmy and then I’ll head home and get ready.

Chapter Four Collide. Slater I hear the quick shuffling of feet and then my youngest brother, Kelso, yells out my name frantically as he nears the front bay doors. I push out quickly from under the car. “Slater,” Kelso says breathlessly. “Jimmy’s here and he’s freaking out. A CPS worker is after him and he’s freaked. The bitch’s car is out front. Jimmy said he ran from her and then he was on his way here when he saw her drive past, so he ran straight inside the house. She’s parked in front, not leaving or getting out. Pacer said to get you and see what we should do?” “Fuck,” I grind out. I don’t hit women, ever. But there are other ways to deal with CPS workers, because to me they have no souls. “Go to my room, get my bat, and bring it to me at the front door. I’ll scare this bitch and make sure she never wants to drive down our street again.” Kel runs into the house through the back door and I follow quickly. The first thing I see is Jimmy in my kitchen shaking badly with Della trying to calm him, but he’s too lost in his own head, too fucking scared this bitch is going to send him back to his dad. Fury explodes in my veins.

These people never fucking learn. They don’t help; they only make it worse.

I’m walking through our living room and past the stairs as Kel comes running down them and throws me my bat. I catch it easily and place it under my arm. Suddenly, there’s a soft, timid knock on the front door.

Fuck, what a ballsy bitch. She’s actually fucking knocking on my front door. I walk straight to the door and swing it open. “Bitch, you better—-.” My words die a quick death when I see the woman who is standing in front of me: Piper, my Stutter Girl who I’m going on a date with in just a few hours. Piper’s eyes are wide. They search my face and she glances to the house then back to me and the bat under my arm. Shock and confusion contort her beautiful face. “Slater,” she whispers, I think more to herself than to me. “You’re one of them?” I ask, my voice low and hollow. I feel as if I’ve been fooled somehow. “One of whom?” she asks in an uncertain tone. “You work for CPS?” This time my tone is sharp and strained. “Y-yes,” she replies, and my chest tightens painfully at hearing her stutter. “And you’re part of t-the Kings gang,” she states. “I’m the leader and the oldest of the Kings,” I hiss, falling back into my old ways of being hard and uncaring, a scary motherfucker who is merciless. I can’t believe she’s one of them. This has to end, now. She’s part of the system that killed Mia. That ruined my life. She stands for everything I despise.

I can’t fucking believe I fell for someone I hate.

Piper

Is he angry with me? My palms sweat and my heart jackhammers in my chest. Slater, the man I’ve been having sex with for almost a month and am just about to go on a date with, is the leader of the Portland Street Kings.

Oh, my God. What have I gotten myself into? I’ve heard so many stories and goddammit, now that I think about the two together, it does make sense. His demeanor, the way the crowd always parted for us. The distance people keep from him. His constant hard eyes, the ones I would watch before he realized I was there waiting for him. Does it bother me that he’s part of a gang which is rumored to have killed before? I’m searching myself for the answer, for the response I know I should have, the decision any sane woman would make. However, all I feel are the same butterflies flying around in my tummy because he’s near. This doesn’t change the way I feel about him. So many people judge me before they get to know me. I won’t do the same to Slater. But first I need to do my job and talk to Jimmy, who I know came running in here. “Slater, I need to speak with Jimmy. I saw him run inside your house. He’s one of my—” I look around Slater, but he moves to the side to block my view. My head jolts in surprise and I stop talking when he does this. “You are not getting anywhere near that kid, Piper; you

or anyone else. You need to fuck off and stay gone. Do you hear me? Don’t ever come back here again or I swear, you will regret it.” Slater’s words come out harsh and laced with a warning. I back up, suddenly feeling very afraid and confused as to why he’s treating me this way. “I-I don’t understand. I just want to—” Slater winces when I stutter and interrupts me by yelling, “I’ll only say this once more, Piper! Take yourself and your fucking stutter away from here and leave Jimmy the fuck alone from now on. And you and me, we are fucking done. Jesus Christ, I must have had a moment of fucking insanity with you.” I take a few more steps back, disoriented, rejection slamming into me. Old, ugly feelings about myself try to claw their way back into my consciousness to kill my selfesteem. Quickly, I attempt to stave off the emotions, reminding myself I’m not what people perceive me to be. I am enough. I swallow roughly as I stupidly stand here staring at a man I thought understood me, who I thought accepted my stutter. While Slater continues to stand in the doorway staring me down and breathing heavily, I decide to turn and leave. I begin to race down his porch steps straight for my car while silent tears sear their way down my face. Running from my once safe place, the only person I ever trusted with my whole body and soul. He knew exactly what to say to make me fall apart.

When I finally reach my car, I hear his front door slam and my heart shatters, signifying just how far I had fallen for him. I jump into my car, and without buckling in, I speed away from Slater, from the Portland Street Kings, but most importantly from the man who I thought wanted me, stutter and all. *** It’s Friday and I’m finishing up work for the day. Thank God, this week from hell is almost over. Sarah, a woman I work with, has been bugging me all day to go to TK’s after work for drinks. The last thing I want to do is run into Slater, but I didn’t do anything wrong; I’m not the prejudiced asshole here. Why should I shy away from getting out there and having fun? I promised myself a long time ago that I wouldn’t let my stutter hold me back, and I’m going to keep that promise tonight by going out. I leave work and it only takes me ten minutes to walk home. I live one block away from the Community Center. My place is only a small one-level, two-bedroom house with almost identical structures on either side of it. It has a small backyard with brown grass, and a porch out front. It’s nothing special, but it’s one of the nicest houses you will find to rent on this side of Portland. I throw my bag with work cases in it onto the couch and jump straight into the shower. It takes me over an hour to decide what to wear tonight. I tell myself not to dress up just

in case Slater is there, but damn it if he is there, I want to look irresistibly sexy. I want him to regret not chasing after me. I want him to regret so much more, but I’m just not sure what. I wish I understood better what happened between us. Did he play me all along? Was I so easily tricked? I wish he left me when it was just about the sex, but he’d made me crave more when I didn’t even allow myself to wish for it. I finally pick out a dress which makes even me shudder, a red, thigh-length, tight-as-hell dress with thin straps on my shoulders. It’s so tight I don’t even need a push-up bra for my boobs. I look down to my breasts and laugh when I see they are so strapped in they aren’t even jiggling as I walk around my bedroom. I bought this dress over a year ago, and I’ve never worn it. It’s beautiful, which is why I wanted to have it, but I never felt brave enough to wear it. I always wear dresses and skirts, but nothing this slutty. I aim to dress classy, but not tonight. This dress is a big ‘fuck you’ to Slater, whether he’s there or not. A knock comes from my front door. I quickly grab a pair of black heels to match my dress, hurriedly swap my wallet over to a black clutch and then I’m ready to go. I open my door to find Sarah and another work friend, Beth. They’re dressed in jeans and sparkly tops, Sarah’s pink and Beth’s white. I watch them as they look me up and down. I try to smile confidently, “I know—” “Oh, my God! You look so freaking hot!” Sarah almost screams at me excitedly. I feel heat hit my cheeks and I

lower my face as I lock my front door. “Oh, boy, are you going to bring the men to our table tonight! Yay!” she squeals. I laugh and smile widely, sensing her infectious, happy mood take over my anxious emotions. The three of us begin our short walk to TK’s. It’s the only decent place to drink in Portland and it’s in the center of town, so no matter where you live, it’s only about a fifteenminute walk. As we near the bar, my palms begin to sweat and my laughter goes from normal to a horrible high-pitched sound.

Don’t think about him, Piper! We walk through the front doors and I’m met with the cool air-conditioning. I lift my hair from my neck and fan my hand to cool down my warm skin after our walk then begin searching the room. I need to know if he’s here or not so I can calm my rapidly beating heart. Only, before I can even begin my search I’ve spotted him, as if my eyes knew exactly where to look. He’s here and I’m glad he is; fooling myself has never been something I’m good at. Slater’s back tenses and he straightens in his seat. My heart almost explodes out of my chest as I watch him turn around to find me standing here, staring at him. First his expression is gentle, his eyes roaming my face, and then a tortured look crosses his features. My forehead furrows from confusion. What does he have to be sad about? He did this to us. His pained expression soon turns to an irritated one as his eyes survey my body and my tight dress. His eyes

narrow and I swear I can hear him grinding his teeth from here, but the only proof I have is the small tick in his jaw. Of its own accord, my mouth forms a very satisfied grin. Then, as if a cold bucket of water is poured over me I notice the big breasted, redhead sitting in Slater’s lap, chatting and laughing with the others at his table. My heart twists painfully and my knees begin to feel weak. My eyes swing back to Slater who’s still staring at me. His features change from hard to soft and then his eyes move to stare at the floor for a moment before they meet mine again, but this time with an intensity I can’t explain. Time slows, and it feels as if forever passes me by. It decides to start again as I watch Slater grasp the redhead’s waist with one hand and the back of her head with his other then slam his mouth down on hers. A tight grip on my heart steals my breath from me and traitorous tears begin to build in my eyes. A fresh deep cut sears through my once-fighting spirit. I can’t do this. I turn to flee, to keep what dignity I still have left, along with my nowbattered pride.

Slater The kiss is sloppy and tastes like what I imagine kissing a dirty playground slide would be like. I hate it and despise every second my mouth is attached to this slut’s lips. “She’s leaving, asshole. You can unlock your lips from the skank,” Mack says from the other side of the table, but he isn’t finished having a go at me. “You succeeded; she looked like you just stomped all over her heart.”

I pull back roughly from the redhead and instantly turn to where Piper was standing. Mack is right; she’s heading straight for the exit. I squeeze my eyes closed as my gut churns from knowing I hurt her, yet again. I don’t even want to imagine what her face would have looked like as she watched me kiss someone else. I shake the thoughts out of my head. What the fuck is wrong with me? I owe her nothing. We weren’t a couple. Sure, we fucked for a while, but then I found out she works for scum. End of story and end of us. If only it was that easy to forget her. Even now my body vibrates with urgency to go to her. How did I let myself fall so deep in such a short time? I push the redhead off my lap, and she stumbles drunkenly and giggles. Fuck, that giggle is like nails on a chalkboard. I turn back to watch as Piper finally leaves TK’s, but instead, a man stops her when he places his hand on her elbow. He’s fucking touching her. The words are snarled in my mind and the venom in them surprises even me. I stand and take a step, but Mack grabs my arm and stops me. “What the fuck are you doing? You can’t go over there. Don’t fuck her around like this, Slate. She may be a CPS worker, but she’s a good woman. If you don’t want her, then leave her be.” Mack’s right, so I decide to sit back down. I just showed

her she meant nothing to me, and now I need to prove that to myself. But then the fucker turns around. I know him: Peter fucking McRow, the local real-estate agent. And a man I know works for Rex when he needs drugs for his addiction.

Jesus Christ, he’s fucking smiling at Piper like he knows her! I take a tight hold of my seat. I don’t need to look down to know my knuckles are white. Stay, Slater. She’s not yours; not anymore. I continue to torture myself and watch them, but then Peter does something which has my blood boiling. No more can I hold myself down, and the fierce possessiveness I’ve fought off comes back like a burning fire through my veins and has me off my chair and furiously walking toward fuck-face in a flash.

Chapter Five God Help Us Both. Piper “Leaving already?” I turn around at the feel of a hand on my elbow to find a lanky blond man who I realize is my realestate agent, Peter. I’ve only met him once when I signed my lease. My instincts told me he was someone to steer clear of, but he never did anything which made me think my feelings were justified. He was overly chatty and tended to stand too close, but other than that, he seemed like a nice man. I swallow in an attempt to try to speak, but I find my throat dry. I’m scared I’m going to stutter and embarrass myself, more than I already have tonight. I take a deep breath in, which releases some of the tears I begged not to fall before I could leave. I look to the floor and try to hide them as they trickle down. A cool sensation slides across my cheek, wiping at my tears. I flinch at the fingers and look up in surprise at Peter for being so intimate with me. “Touch her again, McRow, and I will break every fucking one of your fingers,” a low, gravelly voice warns. My head whips up to find Slater standing beside me, feet apart and hands fisted at his sides, hatred vibrating off him as if he’s just declared war on Peter. My mind stumbles over itself trying to work out why Slater is telling a man not to touch me. He just kissed a

woman in front of me, and I’m pretty sure he did it just to hurt me. So what the hell? I look from Slater to Peter and see his shoulders slouched in a defeated pose; however, animosity is in his narrowed eyes which are set on Slater. From this situation, it’s easy to guess these two already know each other. My breathing accelerates with the anger which is pulsating through me because Slater thinks he can interfere in my life after everything he has done. I don’t even care if I stutter anymore; I just want to give Slater a piece of my mind. “How dare y-you,” I seethe at Slater. Peter begins to speak at the same time I do, but stops when he hears my words and stuttering. I glimpse his wide eyes and surprised expression. Nothing I haven’t seen

before, yet the force that strikes my confidence never diminishes. I hate people knowing about my stutter. It’s as if they have a piece of my soul from that point, something they can use against me if they choose to. My two biggest triggers are feelings of inadequacy and the thought of exposing my stutter. It’s a vicious cycle when it gets started. I did well for many years, but being in a new place and Slater’s rejection is what’s hindering my control. I knew that moving to a new place could cause my stuttering to come back for a time, but that as I got comfortable, I would be able to control it again. Only with Slater, it’s much harder than I thought it would be. He brings

out emotions in me I’ve never felt before, and I find it difficult to pull myself together around him. To stay calm and breathe, as I had been taught. Instead, my first instinct is to react. It’s so frustrating. Slater turns to meet my angry stare and I detect pain in his features. Pain? Or is it pity for me? Slater’s expression changes to one of irritation, and his lips press together hard as he narrows his annoyed eyes on me. “Go home, Piper. You were on your way out, weren’t you? You should keep going.” He turns and says his next words while staring at Peter. “This fucker is nothing but trouble and you should stay away from him.” Is he serious? Anger surges through me like a tidal wave. He just guaranteed I am now staying, and I’ll do it while talking to Peter just to piss him off.

Don’t stutter again, don’t continue to embarrass yourself, Piper. I may be imperfect, but I can do this, pretend to be normal. For just a moment, I can be the girl he’s going to regret not running after.

Breathe in. Breathe out. “Go to hell, Slater. Walk away, go back to your redhead and leave me alone. I can take care of myself.” I’m surprised by the strength in my words and proud I didn’t stutter. I’d smile if I weren’t shaking with outrage. Slater looks down at me with shock and frustration on his face and angrily whispers to me, “Piper, I mean it; this

guy is bad news.” “Well, it must be my flavor of the month,” I whisper bitterly back to him. He stares at me for a long moment, irritation coating his beautiful face. Finally, he speaks through clenched teeth, “Fine then, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Then he looks to Peter and says, “I got business with you later, so don’t fucking go anywhere.” Without another look my way, Slater marches back to his table and sits on his stool. He glances back to me once before pulling the clumsy redhead back into his lap.

God, he is so annoying! I finally turn back around to Peter and find him staring at me. I’m unsure what to say so I calm my heart, take a deep breath and start with an apology. “I’m really sorry about that.” “You and Slater a thing?” he asks. “No!” I say, a little too quickly and high-pitched. “I-I mean we were s-something... Well, really, it wasn’t anything—” I stop because I realize I’m rambling and my stuttering is getting worse. I glance up to Peter whose face has contorted into a look of disgust. Humiliation floods my chest and I cringe at what he must think of me. I hate that I loathe a part of myself when it is intrinsically who I am, who I was born to be. Peter recovers quickly, a rescue from awkwardness I’ve seen many times before. “Hey, it’s cool. You want a drink? My treat,” he offers and it’s with one of those Cheshire cat

smiles which instantly causes your intuition to scream at you to be careful. Just one drink. I can do one drink and then I’ll find a way to lose him. I bite my lip and look around the room for Sarah and Beth. I spot them at a table near the dance floor, talking and laughing with two other women I recognize from the Community Center. I decide my best option is to invite Peter to our table and hope I can avoid him with all those people around us. “Sure, get me a vodka raspberry please. That’s my table over there.” I point to Sarah and Beth and then turn back to him. “I’ll go wait with my friends while you get the drinks.” Peter nods and lines up at the bar. I take quick steps to Sarah and Beth and they both smile as I approach. “There you are! We were wondering where you got to,” Sarah says. I give them a bright smile. “I ran into my real-estate agent and we talked for a bit. He’s just getting some drinks and then he’s going to come over here. Hope that’s okay?” Beth giggles. “Gosh, you don’t muck around. We just got here. Can I borrow that red dress next week if that’s the result it gets?” The girls laugh and then continue their conversation. A tingling sensation runs down my back and I turn around to find Slater staring intently and possessively at me. I remember that stare, the one he would give me as he’d saunter over and lead me to the bathroom to fuck me until I screamed his name. Shivers race across my body

from the memories now fleeting through my mind. Peter startles me as he nudges my elbow and hands me a drink. I look back to my table and find it’s just Peter and I. Surprised, I scan the room to find Beth and Sarah on the dance floor with the other two women from our table. Damn. I stand alone with Peter and we talk. Well, mostly I answer his questions. He asks me where I moved from and if I like Portland. He brings up Slater again and asks how well I know him. I give a vague answer while bopping my head to the music and pretending I’m preoccupied watching my friends dance. I’m still holding the full drink in my hands, because I was stupid to accept a drink from a stranger. I don’t intend on drinking it, but don’t get the chance to either. A body slams into me and my glass goes smashing to the ground while I stumble backward trying to catch my balance. All the people around us scream, “Cab!” at the sound of glass breaking. I look up at the person who crashed into me and find a beautiful, blonde woman grinning at me. “Sorry,” she says, unconvincingly apologetic as she glances down to her feet and shrugs. “Two left feet.” She turns to face Peter, loses her smile and narrows her eyes at him. With an icy tone, she addresses him, “Peter.” “Della,” Peter replies, his voice dripping with disdain. The woman walks past me, but stops and whispers in my ear, “Woman to woman, he’s a pig. Run very fast away

from him.” I shift my face to Della’s and observe the seriousness she’s trying to convey to me. Goose bumps pop up all over my body as I suddenly realize how foolish I’ve been. She’s right. I knew something about Peter was off and yet, to show Slater up, I invited him to hang out with me. I nod and she leaves as a waitress is cleaning up my broken glass. “You know her, too?” Peter asks, barely controlling the anger in his words as if I have somehow lied to him. I stare down at the table and fidget with my fingers, feeling out of my depth. “No, I don’t, but you two seemed to know each other,” I state. “She’s one of them,” he spits and takes a sip, finishing his drink. His words now have my full attention on him. “One of whom?” I ask, confused. “A Street King. Well, she’s their sister. Still as bold and cocky as they are, but she isn’t involved in their gang business.” I look over my shoulder to Slater’s table and find not just Slater staring at Peter and me, but Mack and Della, as well. I narrow my eyes on all three of them then turn back to my conversation with Peter. “What’s their gang’s business?” I ask, extremely eager to hear what it is Slater does on the days he’s not fucking women or crushing their hearts.

Peter looks my way, his eyes assessing me. I’m not sure what he’s looking for. Perhaps wondering if I can keep a secret. “Speed Wars. Illegal street racing in Louisville, and the Kings have dominated it for years. But it looks like their reign may end soon because if they win their next four races, they qualify for the death race.” I bite my lip, peering down at my fidgeting hands while trying to figure out exactly what he means by that. Peter must see my confusion because he answers my unasked question. “Death race is where the top ten racers in Kentucky go head to head in a race where there are no rules. You can tamper with other’ racers cars or you can pull a gun out and start shooting them during the race. No rules at all. Death race happens once every ten years, and over half of the racers die on the course.” I gasp. “Why would anyone want to enter a race like that?” “Because the prize is two million dollars,” Peter answers with a greedy glint in his eyes. “Oh,” I whisper. “So how come you don’t like the Kings?” It’s clear he hates them, so I decide to come straight out and ask why. “They think they own Portland,” Peter replies as he signals a waitress to get him another drink. “But really they’re just brats who grew up on the streets and now think because they can beat people up, they own the town.” God, I really hate this guy. “But isn’t it because of the Street Kings that businesses

here don’t have to pay for protection, since the Kings give it freely? They protect them from other gangs trying to hustle them for money. They’ve also been able to get back stolen money for shop owners who can’t afford to pay for insurance. And aren’t they the reason drugs aren’t as bad in Portland as they are in other places?” In an attempt to try to understand Slater more, I had asked around about the Street Kings this past week. I’d heard rumors the Kings keep the drugs out of Portland. Not all of them, though; marijuana is everywhere here. I often see people openly selling and buying it on the street as I walk home from work. But I was told the Kings went to a meth dealer’s house, killed the dealer and burned the house to the ground. At the time, everyone was grieving the death of a thirteen-year-old boy who was sold the drug and overdosed. No one has dared start up a similar venture since. Peter grumbles and says, “Yeah, fuckers.” I notice he keeps scrubbing the counter in the same area over and over again. His new drink arrives and he snatches it out of the woman’s hand, gives her a handful of change and then skulls the liquid all in one go. Not looking at me, he continues to mutter under his breath as he fiercely scrubs at the same spot on the table. “Fuckers think they own everything. Wish they would just die. Rex just needs to fucking kill them, once and for all.” I step away from the table at his words and straight away, Peter turns to look at me. I’m pinned to the spot as his eyes penetrate mine with a livid glare.

What the hell is this guy’s deal? Heat hits my back and Peter’s scowl shifts from me to whoever is behind me. I glance down to the hands on my arms and find they are Slater’s. A booming chuckle erupts from Peter. His neck is bent backward, eyes closed tightly with fake and unkind laughter bursting from his mouth. “Something funny, fuck-face?” Slater growls. Peter’s head whips around and his laughter ends. Slater moves me to the side then takes a threatening step forward, causing Peter to step backward and stumble in the process. I shake my head, deciding I’ve had enough for one night, but I’m thankful Slater came over again to give me a reason to escape. I snatch up my clutch from the table and start walking quickly for the exit. I catch sight of Beth at the bar. “Hey, Beth!” I shout. “I’m heading home; tell Sarah I said goodbye.” Beth smiles, nods and waves to me as the bartender asks what drink she wants. I make it out the front doors and the cool night air soothes my heated skin. I make it to the parking lot and then I’m spun around quickly, staring up at an infuriated Slater. “Where’s your car? I’ll walk you to it,” he states in a tight voice, looking around the lot. “I walked here,” I answer, annoyed, and yank my elbow out of his grasp.

Slater’s eyes widen. “Have you forgotten where you live?” he says in a disapproving tone. I sigh. I just want to go home. This kind of drama isn’t something I’m used to, nor am I interested in having it with anyone. He doesn’t want me, fine, but he needs to leave me the hell alone. I want to speak those words, but my heart is beating a million times faster than normal and it has to do with the stupid fact he came out here to walk me safely to my car. Stop caring, Piper; he’s an asshole. A hot-as-fuck,

dominant man who is amazing at giving orgasms, but still an asshole. “Have you always walked home?” he asks, demanding an answer from me. I take a deep breath and pray I don’t stutter. “No, I came with friends tonight. I was supposed to leave with them as well until you and,” I point to TK’s frustratingly, “that idiot ruined my night.” I turn my back to Slater and again start my walk home. I get three steps in before Slater is in front of me, arms crossed and anger radiating from him. I go to step around him and he moves to the side. I try one more time, anger bubbling inside of me when he repeats the motion and blocks me again. I straighten my arms in an angry stance and fist my hands. “What the hell do you w-want, Slater?” “It’s fucking dark, Piper. You are not walking home on your own.” I stare up at him with eyes narrowed and lips pressed

together, trying hard not to start screaming in his face. “You discarded me, Slater. Told me to fuck off. Why the hell would you care if I walk home on my own?” My breathing becomes erratic. “How about y-you just back off and go inside and leave me a-alone for the freaking last time tonight!” I end on a shout and my heart breaks that I couldn’t get through it without stuttering. A growl erupts from his chest and he says, “I fucking wish it was that simple. I liked you, Piper. I fucking really liked you, but now hate is there, too, swirling around inside of me and it’s driving me fucking nuts.” He says all this while waving his fingers around his head in a gesture to say he’s going crazy. “And seeing you with another man...” He stops moving and pierces me with an intense stare. “Seeing another man touch you has me feeling like I’m burning from the inside out.” His words cause my head to jerk back and my mouth to fall open. Hate? “I didn’t toss you aside; you did that to me. Why the hell would y-you hate me? You talking and acting like this is just fucking insane. I don’t know what I did to have y-you just shut me out, but I hope it hurt to see me with someone else, Slater. You kissed a-another woman only a short time ago! If you think you can do that and then tell me who I can talk to, then you need to wake the fuck up right now. Because that is not the kind of girl I am. I will run you over with a car if yyou try that shit with me.” Pain etches its way into Slater’s face as I speak, and

his chest rises and falls heavily as we continue to confront each other. Then out of nowhere, he yells, “Fuck, can you stop stuttering!” I freeze. My body grows cold, tears rush to expel the pain and every crack made in my heart from others’ hurtful words finally splinters and my heart shatters completely. I swing around and start running across the road. I don’t slow; I continue racing home with tears falling from my eyes. I don’t dare stop until I know I’m out of sight of the bar and Slater. I slow down and continue to walk while I wipe roughly at my face, angry that after all these years I still have so many tears to shed over my stutter. When will numbness come? Although, I fear I’m too strong to ever turn off my emotions entirely. I glance over my shoulder and gasp when I see Slater behind me. He’s about one hundred feet back with his hands in his pants pockets, head down, and kicking rocks as he walks. I look forward quickly, hoping he didn’t see me notice him there. I don’t understand him at all. We had a connection, something amazing and unique, and then we cross paths while I’m working and he’s a complete asshole. But then he cares that I’m with another man. Then he acts like an asshole all over again. He’s playing games with me, and I feel like such a fool for letting him in. I can stop them at any time, but I’m playing the game, as well. I’m playing to see if he will realize I’m good enough for him, and that makes me

ill because I know that’s a terrible way to treat myself. Imperfection is a bitch, but I need to stop hiding from who I really am. I’m a woman with a stutter, and that’s never going to change. I need to own it, accept it and move on. I’m one house from mine when a car stops behind me and I hear women squealing and chattering. I turn and see it stopped next to Slater. The women have slightly calmed, and he’s leaning down and talking to them through the window. He spots me watching him and I spin around, rushing quickly through my front fence and up the porch stairs. I don’t want him to think I care, but unfortunately my racing thoughts of him leaving in that car with all those women proves just how much I do. I open my front door and as soon as it’s closed, I throw my clutch on the lounge and run through my house to the back door. I open it, race through it and alongside my house to the front. I stand behind trees which are growing up and around my fence; they let me peek through to Slater still talking to the carload of women. Minutes later, he steps back from the car and they drive off. I let out a big breath that Slater didn’t get in the car with the women and then berate myself. The man just yelled at

me for my stuttering. When did I fall so far? Slater stands still for a few moments, just staring at my house, and then all of a sudden he begins to walk toward it. I step closer into the trees to hide myself as he approaches the area just on the other side, as if he’s also

trying to hide himself from me. For a long moment, he stands still and stares up at my front door. His expression is one I’ve never seen on Slater’s face before, full of longing and sadness. His shoulders and arms slump forward and he grabs hold of the fence while he bows his head. He looks defeated. Tenderness fills my heart and I sense myself wanting to reach out and comfort him. However, before I can decide to do just that, I hear him mutter, “Fuck.” That one word, that one curse is filled with so much misery and regret that I feel tears threaten to fall. Slater pushes off the fence, steps back and once again stares up at my house with a frown set on his sad, beautiful face. Then he turns and walks away from my house, and unknown to him, from me.

Fool me once, that’s your fault. Fool me twice, that’s my fault. Fool me thrice, God help us both.

Chapter Six Weak Spot. Slater I fucked up. Every time Piper stutters, my heart jackhammers in my chest. I hate that I make her nervous. I hate that I make her angry, and most of all, I hate that I hurt her, again. Standing in front of her house was brutal, my whole body vibrating with the need to tell her how sorry I was. I care more for her than I want to admit. Yet I’m unable to keep myself from hurting her, and staying the hell away from her is harder than I thought it would be. For the first time in my life, I want to rein in my harsh ways and try to be gentle with someone. But how can I do that with her when she stands for a system I’ve already judged and condemned. I arrive back at the bar just in time to see Peter trying to slink away unseen. I run across the parking lot, my boots making a loud stomping sound, but Peter doesn’t turn around. Stupid

fucking drug addict. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Mack walk outside and look around; he must have been following Peter. I reach Peter, spin him around and swing my fist to his face without even thinking. Hitting first is ingrained in me, the same as eating food to live. “Humph.” Peter falls hard on his ass and blood spills from his split lip.

I bend to his height and yank him by his collar, growling into his face. “What’s your fucking game, McRow?” Peter starts laughing and says, “You have a weak spot.” I shove him back to the ground roughly and his head bangs on the cement, but he still continues to chuckle. The fucker must be high not to feel that hit to the head. I stand up straight and look down at the pitiful man. “You’re pathetic, McRow. Too fucked up on drugs to even understand when there is a threat right in front of you.” Peter stops laughing instantly, the top half of his body rising off the ground as he sneers, “Fuck you, and fuck your bitch of a sister.” He lies back on the ground and mutters, “Fucking ruined my night. I’d be fucking Piper right now if your sister hadn’t knocked over her drink.” A pounding begins in my ears and my fingers twitch as my body vibrates with rage. My anger begs me to attack, to brutally strike until I know he’s taken his last breath. “You tried to drug her. You put something in her drink.” I state each word carefully, only hanging on to my sanity by a very thin thread. There is more to this; he had to have a reason to go after her. I know for a fact he gets pussy all the time from the other sluts in this city who swap sex as payment for drugs. Peter’s face pales as he realizes what he’s just admitted. Finally the drug fog is clearing and he’s able to see how close he is to death. “Rex was told you got a girl, someone you weren’t throwing away. He told me to approach her with you around

and see how you reacted. He said if you cared about her, to fuck her any way I could.” I’m starting to see red, when I sense Mack over my shoulder. While still staring at fuck-face, I speak to Mack. “Get Della. Take her home and call Brett. He’s going to be taking a package to Rex tonight, with a message. We meet up with the Poison Boys tomorrow. It’s time to end this. Rex needs to be taught a lesson.” I hear Mack walk away, and I stare down at Peter. I’m going to enjoy this. I pull my brass knuckles out of my back pocket and hear Peter’s sharp inhale. He begins stammering and crawling backward on the ground. Yeah, I’d be trying to run, too. The boys and I only ever use our knuckle-dusters if we are caught off-guard in a group fight; never have I used them on just one man. But this message needs to be received loud and clear. I take the three steps Peter has used to crawl away, pick him up by his collar and stand him on his feet. Our faces level, his eyes bulge with the inability to blink as tremors run through him. “Are you going to kill me?” Peter asks with a trembling chin. I hold my angry expression, uncaring of his terror. With a gruff voice, I say, “Not this time, but I’m going to teach you a lesson. This is what happens when you threaten what’s mine, and Piper is mine.” I end on a growl and then I strike, hitting his nose hard. I don’t hear his bones break. I only feel his blood splatter across my face.

*** It’s seven a.m. on Saturday, and I’m standing around my kitchen with my brothers while Della is still asleep upstairs. It’s best we don’t tell her about our meeting with the Poison Boys this morning. She’ll only worry and try to come along, which will result in us all telling her ‘no’ and her stomping upstairs and slamming her bedroom door. She wouldn’t come to fight, but she feels the weight the Poison Boys leave on our shoulders. I know that mouth of hers would have a field day if she got the chance to stand in front of Rex after all these years. Too many secrets we need to keep locked up tight. “So, what are you guys taking today? I want you all to have a weapon. I’m not going to talk to Rex. I’m going to teach him a lesson, so there will be a brawl.” Pace is the first to raise his knuckle-dusters in the air then shove them back in his pocket and continue eating his toast while reading the paper. Pacer is the quiet, serious brother. He doesn’t speak a lot unless it’s worth saying. “I’m taking a bat, and it’s already in my car. After we fuck these guys up and switch vehicles, I’m stopping at a girl’s house, so don’t expect me to follow you home,” Kelso states while shoving Cap’n Crunch in his mouth. At twenty-seven, Kel is the wild one. He loves to party and fuck anything that moves, but with that comes alcohol and Kel has a temper when he drinks. He’s angry at life, as he should be, but he aims it at the wrong people. Usually

we hear that he’s bashed some poor guy who didn’t say a thing to him. He has too many demons lying dormant, slowly seeping out of him when he’s not aware. Mack throws his knuckle-dusters into the sink, plugs the hole and fills it with hot water and soap. “Don’t leave home without them, but they need cleaning,” he says with a smirk and scrubs the blood away, leaving only the silver and the words ‘Street Kings’ engraved into the shiny metal. Mack’s the level-headed one; he always knows when it’s best to act or to be patient. Looking around at my siblings, I can see why people sometimes think we are brothers through blood. We’re all muscular and tanned, due to exercising outside during summer. Each with short, messy, brown hair except for Kel, whose hair is dark blond and Mack who has a crew cut. Mack and I are the only two with brown eyes. Kel has blue and Pace has green. We all have numerous tattoos; each one has a personal meaning to us. I have half a man with wings on my back. It represents me, feeling half the man I thought I would be, looking up to Heaven, always wondering if I will be allowed in at the end of my life. “Ten minutes and then we’re out the door. Don’t forget, keep it quiet so we don’t wake Dell and then rev your engines as we leave just to piss the princess off.” I end with a grin. As I leave the kitchen, I watch each of my brothers smile at the thought of Della going nuts when we wake her up. ***

We arrive at the designated meeting place, Shawnee Park. I instructed Brett to let Rex know we would meet here at eight a.m. It’s outside both our turfs, neutral territory. And it’s a Saturday, so hopefully too early for people to be out in the park. Plus, Shawnee Park is massive at over six-miles long, with plenty of trees for cover for what will go down today. We come to a dead-end street inside the park and I decide to stop here, leaving enough room for each of my brothers’ cars to park behind me. Pacer in the red Nissan Skyline, Mack in the blue Ford Maverick, Kelso in the yellow Dodge Challenger and me in a black Ford Gran Torino. We hide these cars in the mountains, and each has bogus plates. We use these cars when we plan to cause trouble or do illegal shit and don’t intend to get caught. We each have our own ride so if cops arrive, we split up and if one gets caught, at least it’s not two or all of us in the same car. But we always lose the cops because they can never keep up, not when we have Nitrous Oxide System – NOS– in our cars and they don’t. The state police have come to our home with warrants looking for the cars, but they never find anything, and we always make sure we make up new plates before the next time. It gets us through the streets and not pulled up so we can get to our destination. We’ve repainted the cars twice, but it’s a bitch of a job so we try not to use them too often, only when we think we’ll commit a crime.

I step out of my car to find Pace staring at me with a concerned expression. He knows I don’t like the idea of going head-to-head with Rex. Nobody wants to hurt their friends; it’s just what must happen in my world to survive. “I’m good.” I pat him on the shoulder and step to walk away when he says, “So this chick, she worth all this?” “Yes,” I reply instantly, refusing to think about how easily I know that to be a fact. Pace shows a small amount of surprise with his eyebrows rising and then continues. “We killed his dad. We knew there would be retaliation, and we realized Rex would come after us. I know you, Slate. You won’t be able to kill a man who used to be your best friend, much less the son of a man we already killed.” “I hear what you’re saying, Pace.” How can I explain to him I have a connection with Piper, an attachment to her I can’t even understand myself? I look to the ground, trying to find the words I’m searching for. “She works for CPS, Slater. We fucking hate them, and now we’re walking into a war for one of them?” Pacer seems to be questioning my way of thinking, and I can’t say I blame him. I understand his reservations and now I need to be the big brother I’ve always been, the leader I have become, and explain to him why we’re doing this. “She’s special.” I shake my head, uncomfortable with saying affectionate words about a woman to my brother. We don’t do this; we don’t share our feelings about the women in our lives. “She’s kind, fiery and determined, and

she never judged me. She’s under my skin. She may be a CPS worker, but I’ve grown to respect her. And no matter who she is and what she does, I can’t let Rex get away with thinking he can hurt the women we choose to be with.” Pace nods and I see understanding in his eyes. My brothers always have my back no matter what. They would follow me into an inferno even if they knew I was leading them to their deaths. I scan the area and my eyes find Rex’s car with two others about five hundred feet down the road. He’s already here. The boys and I start walking through the park. We pass the Louisville Riverwalk and head through a long line of thick trees, coming out on the other side to a large grass patch right next to the Ohio River. We can still be easily seen by people walking along the Riverwalk, but it’s out of the way enough that we won’t hurt others if guns come into play. Street gangs don’t have rules—it’s anything goes— but the Kings don’t use guns. We use brute strength, bats, knuckle-dusters and knives and that’s it. We grew up fighting with our fists and learning the meaning of honor; if you don’t have the courage to beat someone hand-to-hand, then you shouldn’t become the winner. As soon as we come into view, Rex stops speaking to his guys and they move in front of us in a threatening, united line. Rex is standing in the middle; Corey’s to his left, tapping a bat in his hand; Kodi’s to his right, a bat resting on his shoulder; and standing next to Kodi is Reed, knife out and ready to strike. Each of their faces is blank, ready

for battle, leaving our old friendships on the sidelines. Friendships which died the day we killed Jae. Rex has always recruited new members in his gang and they are the ones he sent after us for revenge. My brothers and I never hesitated to kill them; they dug their own graves the day they aimed for my family. I’m slightly surprised Corey, Kodi and Reed are here, considering Rex usually protects them more than the random members he recruits into his gang. Rex knows he’d be risking their lives. Or maybe until now he didn’t think they would be able to take us out, harm their old friends I smirk at the fact Rex has only brought the three with him today. Cocky son of a bitch thinks he’s untouchable because I haven’t aimed for him yet. He probably thinks I never will. Our friendship goes back a long way and we did murder his father, but this time, he threatened someone I’m willing to kill for in order to protect. Rex steps forward with a grin, about to say something before he stops abruptly and frowns when I pull my knuckledusters out of my back pocket and slide them onto my right hand. Pace to my left does the same. Kel to my right holds out his bat in preparation to slug, and Mack standing next to Kel fits his dusters and prepares to charge. “We didn’t come to talk, Rex. We came to teach you all a lesson.” At my words, the Poison Boys tense and I run forward, heading straight for Rex. I hear my brothers follow my lead and the first grunt comes from my left, unknowing if it’s Pacer or Corey and not needing to look. I know my brothers

can hold their own. I’m first to swing at Rex and he backs off to miss my fist. I let out a loud growl, bend forward and dive into his stomach, taking him to the ground. Rex lets out a loud huff as his back makes contact with the hard dirt. He begins to throw punches left and right. I’m hit twice, once in the jaw and once in the ear, but I feel nothing other than a small amount of pounding in my ears. My pain is suspended through my adrenalin and rage. Rex tries to roll us, but I stop him with my knee and crawl my way up to put all my weight on top of him. From my new vantage point, I begin slamming my fists down, once, twice, again and again. Rex looks up to me in shock, his face swelling and bruising already forming, with splatters of blood down his shirt. I stop swinging so he can hear what I’m about to say. “I’m done with your games.” My voice comes out guttural, and I penetrate his gaze with my severe stare. “I killed those who came at me and my family, and that’s on you, Rex. This will be your only warning. You go near Piper, you attempt to hurt her at all through others, and I promise I will cross turfs with a bat. I will bash your skull in until there is nothing left but a flat surface with your brains spilling out. She is offlimits. I will kill you for her.” “I didn’t tell Peter to rape her,” Rex growls. “He’s been dealt with for his lies. I wanted to see if she could be easily swayed from you, knowingly. I wanted you to hurt; what good would that be to me if she were raped? I wanted her

to rip your heart out just like you did to me when you killed my father.” Rex sneers. “I will repay the deed and rip someone away from you, by heartache or by death. And now, knowing how much she means to you, I know who to aim for.” I pull Rex up by his shirt so we are nose to nose. “Your father was a rapist; he deserved worse,” I spit back. “He raped Della, a girl who once meant something to you. Do you not care at all about her? “Liar!” Rex booms into my face. “He would never do that!” I hear yelling behind me and my clouded vision starts to clear. I turn to find Pace, Mack and Kel bloodied, bruised and all yelling at me to get up. Corey, Kodi and Reed are standing close to Rex and me, their appearance similar to my brothers. It’s then I hear the sirens. Fuck! I stare down at Rex and find bloodstained teeth and a smile on his face. “I promise you, Rex, I’m not playing games anymore. You crossed a line. You do it again, and I will end you.” I shove him back down to the ground, stand and continue to stare down at him as he grunts in pain. His smile dies and he narrows his eyes at me. “See you at Speed Wars, Slate. Perhaps we can make a deal on a race,” Rex suggests, and I’m just about to ask what he means when Pacer yells out to me. “Slater, we have to get the fuck out of here, now!”

I turn from Rex and begin running after my brothers toward our cars. When I reach mine, I catch sight of the Poison crew approaching theirs, as well. I watch as all my brothers fishtail it out of the dead-end street and head for the exit of the park to the main roads. I jump in my Torino, start the engine and put the accelerator to the floor, causing my wheels to spin and rubber to burn. Hopefully the cops will see the smoke and come directly to this spot. I speed off, passing the Parkland Poison Boys. Adrenalin spikes in my blood and this is the feeling I love: lightness in the chest, rapid pulse, dry mouth and breathlessness. It’s almost as good as being inside Piper. I make three quick rights before I hit the road I need and head east, the direction I always go when we’re on the run. We each have our own route we map out beforehand depending on the direction we each choose, and we’ll ultimately meet up in Jefferson Memorial Forest to swap cars. I easily speed through the streets and then slow when I know I’m far enough away and no cops are following me. After a thirty -minute drive, I exit the main road and turn onto a dirt track into Jefferson Forest. It covers over sixthousand acres of land with many camping sites and walking trails, but still so much of the forest is untouched and never ventured into; this is where we hide our cars. Twenty minutes later, driving up to our hiding spot, I scan the area and find all my brothers out of their cars and

standing around, laughing with one another. My body relaxes, all the tension leaving my muscles. No one’s badly hurt, and no one’s going to jail today. I’m thankful the meet went to plan, but I know Rex did not heed my warning and if anything, I think I just put a bigger target on Piper’s back. The urge to protect her is overwhelming. I must keep her safe, and now I just need to figure out a way to do that and still keep her at a distance. I fell for her, but I won’t allow myself to fall any further for a woman who stands for everything I hate.

Chapter Seven You’re wrong. Piper Standing at the sink finishing my dishes from breakfast, I hear a knock on the front door. I go still, unsure who it could be. I don’t have any friends who live in Portland or Louisville, and I’m not close to any work friends who would think they could drop over without an invitation. A salesperson, maybe? Next comes a loud, impatient bang and then a voice. “Piper, you home?” Slater. I freeze, my wet hands suspended in the air with suds covering my fingers. I didn’t think I would hear from him again, or at least not for a long time. I look down to my ripped, tiny cotton shorts and my old tank top covered in different hair dyes I’d used over the years. I look like a mess, and I haven’t even brushed my hair or teeth yet. Maybe he’ll think I’m not home, leave and come back later. A third knock sounds and it’s louder this time. Shit. He’s not leaving. I jump into action, flinging my hands to get rid of the suds and watching as water hits the kitchen window. I race as quietly as I can to my bedroom and straight into my bathroom to begin brushing my teeth and tidying my hair at the same time, but I just make myself look worse. Toothpaste is slung across my face and my hairbrush is stuck in a knot in my hair. I hurriedly wash the paste off my face and plait my hair over my shoulder, trying to hide my

messy waves. Racing into my bedroom, I whip my head left to right wildly, looking for something decent to wear. Oh, hell, really I’m looking for something that will make me look hot, something which says, ‘your loss, asshole’. I freeze again as Slater calls out, “Piper, you home? If you are, please open the door.”

Damn it, he’s going to leave soon. “Argh,” I growl, frustrated at myself for wanting him to leave one minute and then in the next, scared he will. I plop down on my bed and calm myself. What the hell am I doing? He made fun of my stutter, twice ! No more trying to impress him; he either wants me for me or he can take a hike. I straighten my back and proudly walk out of my bedroom, still in my ratty clothes. I swing my front door open to find Slater resting one arm on the wall next to my door with an air of swagger and ease around him. It’s the type where the person doesn’t realize how cool they are, or they don’t even care. He lowers his arm and as he does, his round, tanned and covered in tattoos bicep flexes. Jesus, I should have changed. “What do you want?” I ask, swallowing roughly down my dry throat, proud I didn’t stutter. Slater’s expression is soft as I speak but when he looks me up and down, his expression turns to annoyance. Then he moves his head to look behind him. I tip my head to the side to see what Slater is looking at

and notice Mack at the bottom of my stairs, smiling. His grin widens when he sees me looking at him and he winks. I don’t return his smile, too confused about what the heck is happening right now. Slater mutters, “Christ,” under his breath, and then says, “Can I come in? I don’t think you should be standing in your doorway in those clothes.” He scans me from head to toe again. “Oh, my God. Do you even know what manners are? I wasn’t expecting company, so you can shove your rude comments up your ass,” I clip in a disbelieving tone. I grab hold of my door and intend to slam it in his face, but Slater grips the handle and stops me. He grimaces and his eyebrows squish together. “What the fuck just happened? I’m confused,” Slater states. “You insulted me. Again!” I snap at him. “Move aside, Piper. I’m coming in,” he growls. I quickly try to decide what to do, but before I can finish thinking it over, he’s stepping closer to me. I’m forced to take a step back to move away, and then he’s in my house and shutting my front door. I throw my hands up in the air. Breathe, Piper. Just

breathe. Killing a person for being an asshole is not a socially acceptable approach. Slater makes it to my living room and starts speaking. “I wasn’t making fun of you, Piper. You’re practically wearing nothing. It’s nine-thirty in the morning, so how come you aren’t dressed yet? What if a man turns up on your doorstep and you answer it wearing fucking underwear!”

Slater ends on a growl. Now my eyebrows are all squishy and my nose is scrunched. “Okay, now I’m confused. Why the hell would you care? I could fuck the next guy who comes through my door if I wanted to, and why? Because you don’t want me,” I clarify sharply. Slater’s whole body tenses and his face appears as if he’s going to explode with anger. “Jesus Christ, woman. You drive me fucking crazy.” “Oh, my God! You make no sense whatsoever!” I shout. “Me? It’s you! I swear you live and breathe to torture me!” Slater replies on a yell. My front door opens and Slater and I turn to see why, both of us breathing heavily from our argument. Mack pops his head in through the door and says, “Slate, we came here for a reason. You two need to stop fight-fucking each other and start packing. I got shit I need to do today.” Then Mack is gone and my front door closes once again. I turn back to Slater with a raised eyebrow and ask in a tight voice, “Pack?” Slater sighs. “I got trouble with the Parkland Poison Boys. Have you heard about them before or about the war we have with them?” I nod apprehensively, wondering what their issues have to do with me. “Rex has people watching me and my brothers all the time, but this time, they’ve reported back to him that you are worth hurting to get to me.”

My breath whooshes out of me at Slater’s words.

Hurting. My heart begins beating rapidly against my chest. “You need to tell him I-I’m not.” A frown appears on Slater’s face as he moves in closer to me, raising his hand to cup my cheek gently. “It doesn’t work that way. I’ve already warned him to stay away from you, but Rex is too far -gone. I don’t trust him not to come after you to get to me, so until I can make sure you’re safe, you will come stay with my family and me.”

I’m in that much danger that I need to stay with him? “No, I have work. I have kids I-I need to find and help.” Slater’s eyes close briefly and he rubs his chest roughly. “Shit, Piper. I hate that you stutter all the time because of me. I’m always making you nervous or scared.” Surprise flitters through my chest and caresses the tender wound Slater created with his harsh words. But were

they from a beautiful place? Slater moves his hand away from my cheek and I’m left cold without the warmth which was encased in his palm. He walks over to my lounge and takes a seat, looking up at me while he speaks. “I can take you to and from work this week, and it won’t be long-term. I have a race next weekend against Rex. I’m going to make him a deal he won’t want to refuse and then all this will be over,” Slater informs. “Speed Wars,” I whisper. “Who told you about Speed Wars?” he asks curiously. “Peter. He told me last night.”

“You need to stay away from him, Piper. He’s nothing but a drug-fucked loser and he will do whatever Rex tells him to do. Peter told me he laced your drink with a daterape drug last night. I’ve never trusted him, and that’s why I told Della to knock your drink over. Promise me if you see him, you’ll walk the other way. Do you hear me, Piper?” My hands start shaking and my eyes begin to water. “Ddate r-rape?” I softly stammer. “Another reason why you can’t stay here. He’s your real estate agent so he’ll have keys to this house. I put him out of commission for a long while last night, but I can’t trust Rex won’t get hold of your house keys somehow.” All of a sudden, I look around my new home, my once safe place, and it feels treacherous and threatening. “What about a hotel or a friend’s house? Won’t y-your home be the first place Rex will look?” Slater stands from the couch and comes to me, taking my shaking hands between his in an attempt to try to calm me. “First, Rex would not dare step foot in Portland, because we would know straight away. People talk, and the majority of families who live in Portland have had our protection at one time or another. They are loyal to us, and we would find out through the grapevine that the Poison Boys were on our turf. Second, I won’t trust your safety to anyone else, not fucking happening.” “I thought you were done with me? I’m not a charity case, Slater. If I’m in trouble, I can take care of myself,” I say bravely, my voice even and calm, completely opposite to the way I’m feeling.

“I’m sure you can look after yourself, but I got you into this mess and I’ll get you out. I’m not the type of man who walks away from problems I caused.” I don’t let him get away with not answering my question. “First, tell me why you turned cold on me.” Slater crosses his arms over his chest and narrows his eyes on me with a frustrated expression. I mirror his stance and glare right back at him. Slater grins in defeat and says, “Fine, but later. Go pack your stuff.” I continue staring for a minute longer until I realize I don’t want to be the girl who’s a pain in the ass when I know the best thing to do is to go with him. I do the other girly thing and stomp all the way to my bedroom, slam the door and then roughly change out of my ‘underwear’. I find my favorite gray, boob tube style summer dress, which is long in the back but short at the front, and decide to wear it. When I’m dressed, I pull out my suitcase and mutter loudly about how unfair this is. However, I’m actually excited. A week in the home of the notorious Street Kings, and all those guys with hot, tattooed bodies? I may be in danger, but if a girl had a dream of a way to die, it would be surrounded by those guys, protecting me. I laugh loudly in my head at my sick sense of humor when I hear movement at my bedroom door. I turn to see my door open and Slater standing there, smiling. My once-coherent thoughts are now tripping over themselves trying to take a mental picture of this man

grinning wildly at me. Slater’s head tips to the side just slightly, and his eyes gleam with a hint of the trouble he could get any woman into. Trouble those eyes did get me into. I fell for that adorable smile and his playful gaze, and it wasn’t worth the fall or the pain. I turn and resume packing my suitcase as Slater continues to stand in my doorway and watch me. Neither of us speaks until I pick up my closed suitcase and say, “I’m ready.” Slater takes my bag while I walk to the kitchen and lock my back door. I enter the living room and find him holding a picture of my foster family and me, which was taken on my last day in the house. I left for college that day and never looked back to that gloomy time in my life. But I have the picture out to remind myself why I strive so hard at my job, that I will make a difference for other kids. “You don’t look like them,” Slater states honestly. “They aren’t my real parents. They were my foster parents,” I inform him. Slater turns to me with wide, shocked eyes. “You were in the system? You didn’t tell me that.” “Uh-uh, I tell you my story when I get yours.” I quirk up an eyebrow waiting for him to argue, but he doesn’t. Slater puts the picture down and carries my suitcase out the front door. I take a big breath and follow him. A week, Piper. A week and then life will go back to normal. A life without Slater, a life of wanting a man who

doesn’t want me. *** We arrive at Slater’s home, and it feels surreal. To be back at the place I ran broken-hearted from just a few days before is strange. Slater carries my suitcase through the front door and we’re met with a fuming Della. “You,” she sneers at Slater. “You knew I would want to be there.” “Not now,” Slater growls in return. At his words, she seems to blink out of her angry rampage and glances to me then back toward Slater. “You can’t protect me forever, Slate.” Her words are soft; her eyes fill with anguish before she jogs up the stairs. Both Slater and I stare after her and don’t move until we hear the almost-silent close of a bedroom door. Feeling the heaviness of Della’s words but not understanding them, I turn to Slater and say, “It’s times like this I’m glad I don’t have any siblings.” Slater laughs and turns to me with a cheerful expression, but after a moment, the stare turns heated and I look away quickly. I know that look, and it’s a dangerous one for him to have. It’s what got me into this mess in the first place. I step back from Slater and watch as his lust-filled expression changes into a frown. With a tight voice, he says, “You’re sharing a room with

Dell, so I’ll have to show it to you later. Come on. I’ll show you around the house and then you can just do whatever it is you do.” He ends on a shrug. Slater leaves my suitcase in the entry and shows me around the house. He then takes me to the backyard where I see a large, white shed with four garage doors. “This is Portland Mechanics, my family’s business.” My eyes widen and I inhale sharply. He owns his own

business. “Yes, the Street Kings have normal jobs just like everyone else. Did I wreck your perception of us?” he asks with a laugh. Mack comes out of the shed with an elderly man and they walk toward Slater and me. Mack winks at me, and I smile brightly back at him. Mack is scary. He puts off a ‘don’t fuck with me’ vibe and he’s a big guy. He’s the poster boy for arm porn with tattoos on his forearms and biceps, but at the same time, he still manages to be adorable. I’m still confused by how he pulls that off. The man walking with Mack nods and says, “Slater.” Slater returns the gesture but doesn’t say anything. “Slate, I’m taking Mr. Malcolm’s car for a drive to see what’s wrong with it. Ah—” Mack cautiously looks over to me then back to Slater. “Jimmy’s in the shed working on a timing belt.” My back straightens at his words. Jimmy. I look around Mack and the man as they walk toward a silver sedan. “Piper,” Slater growls as I start walking quickly toward

the garage. I enter the shed and I’m blown away by the cleanliness and expensive-looking parts of cars positioned in what looks like the shop front and reception area. I scan the large shed looking for a boy working on a car when Slater grabs my elbow and turns me around to face him, furious. “You need to stay away from Jimmy. You scare the shit out of the poor kid.” “Why? I just want to help. I have a home for him, Slater. A good home with people I personally know who will care for him and give him everything he needs. He will go to school, be able to be a normal kid before his childhood is over. He shouldn’t have to rummage through trash for food or sleep under the stars freezing.” We both hear a gasp beside us and we turn to see Jimmy standing there in a pair of jeans, and an oversized white shirt covered in grease. His eyes are wide and staring straight at me, face pale and his hands shaking. My heart twists painfully at seeing this amazing kid so frightened of me. I step forward slowly and softly say, “Hello, Jimmy.” Instantly, he drops the tool from his hand, the clank echoing around the shed as Jimmy sprints past Slater and me, heading toward the road. “Stay here,” Slater demands angrily. Tears fall from my eyes as I watch Slater chase after Jimmy, calling out his name. I’ve had kids run from me before, but never have I seen

one physically frightened of me. Terror filled his gentle soul, and it kills me he thinks I’m here to take him back to where he escaped. A few minutes later, Slater returns, eyes cold and both hands rolled into fists, his whole body tight with anger. “He’s okay, but next time I tell you to stay away, do it, Piper. You think you know this world, these kids, but you don’t.” “You think this job is easy, Slater? All I can do is try to approach these kids who keep running away over and over again. How else can I get to them, offer them candy?” I respond, frustrated. “Why don’t you and your kind just stay the fuck away from them? You aren’t helping them; you’re just damaging them further.” Slater’s tone is critical. My kind? “What?” I whisper, confused. “Then who would help them? You? A gang member who’s killed people?” I end on a shout. Slater physically flinches at my words and I would feel bad if he hadn’t just majorly pissed me off and told me my reason for wanting to help children was to hurt them more than they already had been. “How can you so easily disregard what social workers do for the children who are lost and helpless?” I ask, wanting an honest answer. “Very easily. You hand them over and then forget about them,” Slater growls. “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but I’m not a fucking

lazy social worker who just dumps kids with anyone who applies. I work my ass off to get to know these foster parents, and I visit their homes regularly. I’ve stayed overnight and weekends with the kids to make sure everything is as it appears. I watch, Slater, and I watch very carefully. If I think any foster home is not what the parents make it out to be then I would pull my kids out of there as fast as lightning. I have the resources to do just that. What decent person wouldn’t, if they had the ability?” Slater’s face pales, and his expression of shock and vulnerability breaks my heart. “Our CPS workers, that’s who.” He glares at me. “My brothers and sisters were given to a monster because our social workers left us and never returned. They didn’t care about us, or what he was doing to defenseless children.” Slater roars into the garage, storming away from me and over to a blue car. He leans forward on the vehicle and bows his head. I watch as his back rises and falls heavily while my heart shatters at hearing his words. What he was doing to defenseless children? Oh, God, they were abused. I wipe away a lone tear that has escaped and decide to give him a minute to cool off. When I go to him, I approach cautiously, finally having some understanding for his hatred toward me. Well, toward my job and anyone who works for CPS. “I’m not that person, Slater. I care.” My sight becomes blurry as I try to stop more tears from falling. “And if you would just help me, I know I could get through to Jimmy.” Slater shakes his head and squeezes his eyes closed

tightly. Someone let him down greatly, and now I’m going to pay the price for that. I don’t want to, but I understand why Slater is the way he is now. I would hate the person, as well, and if I didn’t have the actual person to hate I would hate the institution as a whole, which is clearly the route Slater has chosen to go. “Is that why you rejected me?” I ask softly. “Because you think I’m like the CPS worker who left you behind?” Slater looks up at me, uncertainty clearly shown in his expression. I place my hand gently on his arm. “I’m not, and I never will be. I come from a foster family that was loveless. Not a bad place or bad people, just not a home. It was a house filled with lots of people, but it was never my home. I want different for other children. I know I can’t help them all, but I will help as many as I can.” I end with a small smile for him and find his gaze piercing mine, his emotions exposed to me; vulnerability, hope and need. In a flash, I’m pinned between Slater and the car. The air crackles with anticipation and lust. Slater cups my ass and pulls me up until my legs are wrapped around his waist and my hands have nowhere to go but around his neck. Neither of us speaks a word while he holds me to him. Slater’s eyes show hesitancy but mostly desire for me. Finally, I’m seeing things for how they truly are. Slater has told me time and time again that he’s a harsh man because he’s had to be. He’s grown up on the streets and before that, in Hell; those experiences have crafted the man he is today. Nothing else matters anymore except the truth shining in his eyes right now. He wants me, but he needs to

move past a belief he’s held tightly to for so long. “Gonna fuck you now, Piper.” Slater’s tone is urgent and low. “Okay,” I agree eagerly with a smile. My mind is telling me not to let him in again, but my body begs my thoughts to quieten. It’s my desire that wins out, the need too great. Slater’s serious face twists to a full-wattage grin and then I’m falling backward onto the hood as Slater starts lifting up my dress. “Six days without your gorgeous cunt, Piper. Fucking thinking about it, dreaming about it. I need in, now,” Slater growls. “I’m about to slam into paradise, baby, so hold tight.” And I do. I hold tight to my heart and let this be just what it is, just sex... for now.

Chapter Eight Let Her Go. Slater I hear the shower turn on. Knowing Mack and Pace are in the garage and Dell’s left for college, I check who’s in the living room watching television. I find Kel splayed out on the lounge, lost in his TV show. So that leaves only one other person who could be in the shower, and I smile as I race up the stairs to join Piper. My dick grows hard with every step, imagining Piper glide her wet, soapy hands up and down her delicious body. I want to lick and taste her. I want my mouth on every part of her. I take out a coin from my pocket and turn the lock on the bathroom door. It’s a basic lock, and my brothers and I worked out how to unlock it through the years of playing jokes on each other. I quietly open and close the door while sneaking inside the steamed room. Piper’s humming and I have to shove my fist in my mouth to stop myself from laughing at her offkey notes. I strip and glide into the shower behind Piper, who still hasn’t noticed me as she hums and wiggles her ass. I begin fisting my cock at the sight of her. I could get off right now just watching her, and she wouldn’t even know. That’s one of the things which fucks with my head the most: Piper is buried so deep under my skin I could get off like a

fifteen-year-old kid just by watching her. This week, her living in my home has been fucking amazing. Seeing her at my breakfast table every morning, smiling and laughing with my family and then fucking her every night until we both pass out. What more could a guy ask for? Well, there are those eight hours in the day when she’s working a job which I fucking despise. I’m trying to come to terms with her being a good CPS worker and that some may be different like Piper, but it’s hard to get my head around. Could I really ever fall for a CPS worker? No, Piper and I could never have a real future, but I’m happy with what we have right now. I need to fuck her right out of my system and move on, which is what I’ve been doing this whole week. I’ve also been begging to wake up the next morning and know that I’m over it, over her, but that morning has yet to come. It better fucking happen soon, though. I’m staring at her swaying ass when she turns around and screams loudly. My lips tip up into a smile, enjoying that I surprised her. My eyes skim down her body and I can almost physically feel the heat behind them as they lower to Piper’s full, heavy breasts. She says nothing, just stares at my hand fisting my cock and then she fucking licks her sexy lips and I’m done for. I groan and move straight for her, slamming my mouth onto her wet, cool lips. I suck the water from them and groan again, desperate to be inside of her. Piper My skin erupts into goose bumps as Slater kisses me,

his hard dick now pressed firmly against my stomach. I grasp hold of his cock and start stroking him up and down, slowly at first, but then gradually clenching him tighter and faster as my body begs me to fill myself with him. It begs me to slam down on him as hard as I can and watch as he’s forced to close his eyes in pleasure. Orgasms are delicious; they rule my world for moments at a time when I know nothing can ever be better than what’s running through my body, claiming it for its own pleasure. But my heart and my mind crave to see the pleasure on Slater’s face. Just the knowledge that I can take him to the edge and have him fall over, losing all control, is an equally gratifying experience. It’s beyond the best foreplay I’ve ever had. Slater’s fingers dig into my ass cheeks and it’s a delicious pain. I place my hands on his shoulders and push down, signaling for him to sit in the shower. He does so without a word. I lower my body over his outstretched legs and his sprung cock. My pussy lips surround his dick, and while holding on to his shoulders, I rotate my hips while Slater groans at the movement. He grasps my waist to push me down harder as he watches me with lust, adoration and need in his eyes. It’s intoxicating to know I’m fucking a man who needs and respects me all at the same time. I lean down and suck on his neck. Slater rumbles deep in his chest as I bite him then lick to soothe the sting. Suddenly, Slater grasps my ass and lifts me, slamming me back down and then he’s everywhere: inside me,

staring at me, sucking on my breasts, kneading my ass. I can’t breathe, or perhaps it’s that I’m breathing too fast. Too many sensations race through my body, and I can’t grasp a hold of any of them long enough to even think. I just experience and it’s fucking amazing. “Oh, God,” I whisper as my body builds to the breathtaking moment only Slater can give to me. My head falls back while I dig my fingers into his shoulders and hold on for the ride which is about to send me spiraling into ecstasy. “Fuck, you’re sexy,” Slater growls. My heart comes close to bursting but I hold it in, unwilling to let it take on those words and truly believe them. Not yet, but hopefully soon. My orgasm hits me hard and I arch my back as a wondrous sensation races through me. I scream out Slater’s name and it seems to spur him on, slamming into me at a punishing pace as my pussy continues to contract around his cock. I pray it will never end. But it does, like it always has, and instantly, I’m wondering when I can feel that miraculous sensation again. “Piper, look at me. I’m gonna go off, and I need to do it looking into your eyes, baby.” I lower my head and pierce Slater with my gaze. It’s the most truthful moment of my life, and I show him everything: how much he means to me, how much I crave him. As much as it kills me to admit that and unmask myself to him, I can’t stop the outpouring of emotions even if I tried. He’s who I want, who I feel I’ve waited for all my life. He’s my safe

place, even though I know he doesn’t want to be. It’s ingrained in us both; we never had a choice. The only control we have is whether we take our fate with a tight grip and hold on for dear life. I intend to do just that, and I can only hope Slater wants to do the same. Pain slices through Slater’s eyes and I push away my thoughts and try to stay in the moment. He roars out my name as he releases inside of me. His eyelids clench and his moans of pleasure wrap around me like a tight embrace. That’s what I love, the ability to make him lose himself for the briefest of moments in life. Slater letting go is a beautiful thing. He has a tight hold on life because he has to, to protect his family and what he’s built. However, to be the person who can take that away unconsciously while I give him pleasure is the best aphrodisiac in the world. We both calm our breathing and then Slater opens his eyes. I search them for an answer, for a small light to show me which way we are heading. I hate that he has all the power, the ability to crush me, but mostly, I hate the reason for it: a perfectly understandable, unchangeable reason for not wanting to be with someone like me. But I will not change my career for him. I will never change for a man, no matter how much my heart may beg me to. Slater lowers his eyes and dread twines its way through my chest. I’m left feeling cold, exposed and disorientated. Slater slides his arms around my waist and pulls me to him. One hand reaches up and holds me at the neck and his other winds around my waist, my head resting on his shoulder. As his hold of me is iron-tight, all I can do is hold

him back with equal strength for as long as he will allow me to. My heart beats twice as fast, worrying itself with what this moment may mean. A few tears fall, but the shower’s spray washes them away before their warmth can hit his skin. Slater kisses my neck and whispers, “Amazing, as always.” Then he’s untangling his body from mine and stepping out of the shower, leaving me alone, just as I was before he came. But now, I have an empty feeling in my chest. I’ve never felt this lost before, even when I had no one in my life.

How can I lose something I never had? I hear the door quietly close and look up. The water falls heavily down onto my face.

God, why must you take everything from me before I can even revel in knowing what it feels like to hold it in my grasp, to enjoy the feeling of having before knowing the heartache of losing? Silent screams escape my mouth. Only God and I can hear my pain. *** Dry and dressed, I head down to the kitchen to grab some breakfast. I notice how quiet the house is and look out the kitchen window to watch as Pacer drives Chevy out of the shed and beside the house. I’ve recently learned the blue car which sits in the shed, the one Slater fucked me on, is

Slater’s pride and joy. It’s his race car which they all call Chevy, the same car he will be racing against Rex today for terms he hasn’t yet told me about. Slater is over by the toaster as I fill my mug with coffee. I take a seat at the table and just stare into the grooves on the wooden top. If Slater wins today, then I go home. Was

that what the hug was all about, a goodbye? “You want some toast?” Slater asks. I reply softly, distantly. “No, thanks. Not very hungry.” I’m feeling adrift, out of control because this has been the best week of my life. This one week stay has become so much more to me than a place to hide out for a while. These men and Della are a real family. They fool around, make fun of each other, laugh all the time and if you look hard enough, you can watch as they take care of each other, in a way only a family can. Small things like Della putting out each of her brothers’ favorite cereal in the mornings, Pacer making Della lunch for college and Mack telling Kel his favorite jeans are washed and dried on his bed, knowing he will be heading out that night. And Slater, vacuuming the floors after each of his brothers walks around the house with a plate of food in their hands while doing their thing. They can be the toughest men in this town, city or probably the state, but at home with each other, they’re just a family, just being and doing what they’ve always done: living as best they can. For children who had no parents and grew up on the streets, they are amazing people. “I must not have worked you hard enough, if you don’t

have an appetite after that round.” Slater pulls me from my thoughts and I look up to see him grinning at me, but his eyes are questioning. I’m usually better at hiding my disappointment. I’ve had plenty of it in my life, but leaving this house, which is so clearly a wonderful home, is more than I bargained for. This is what I always wished for: a family to laugh with and to lean on. But instead, I was told I had to take what I got in life, and really, it wasn’t much. Parents who died before I was old enough to remember them and a cold, sterile foster family. “Piper.” I look up to Slater quickly when I hear my name. “Everything okay?” I want to nod and smile, but this weight of bleakness is just too strong. I want Slater. I’ve known that since the moment he stuck up for me and now understanding why he rejected me in the first place, I want him even more. I want to show him what I do, how I do it, and possibly even bring him in to help me. I’ve seen four street kids here this week go to the shed with Slater and his brothers then come out and have dinner with us. Does Slater even know he’s halfrunning a foster home? Just without the commitment of saying he’s actually responsible for those kids. Just one more reason why I’ve fallen even harder for this man who refuses to acknowledge that he’s falling for me, too. I need to know if he wants me as much as I want him. I need to know if I hang on, he will be able to accept me in the end, for the long haul. “No, everything is not okay, Slater. I feel horrible, lost.” I

sit back in my seat and look up to him as I speak. “This week has been amazing, with you and your family. My chest feels heavy as if I’m about to lose it all. Am I? If you win this race today, am I going home and then we pretend this week never happened, pretend what we have doesn’t exist? I don’t want to do that.” I end on a whisper, staring into Slater’s eyes while hoping he sees how much he means to me. “I never made any promises, Piper. I acknowledge we have a strong attraction, but—” “A strong attraction,” I interrupt, repeating Slater’s words. “And what about the times we’ve laughed at each other’s jokes, the times we’ve found we like the same songs, the times we cooked together silently, co-existing and happy just to be in each other’s company? The times we talked about our days or what we ate for lunch? That’s not just attraction, Slater; that’s friendship. Then when you add in attraction, you get a healthy, loyal, sexual relationship, one which can be built into so much more. We just have to reach out and take it.” Slater just stares at me, surprise written across his face. With my figurative heart on my sleeve while the literal one is jackhammering in my chest, I say, “Did you think I-I’d walk away from you so easily? Without a fight?” Slater’s handsome face wears a frown, and I see him struggling to figure out what to say. The first dagger to my heart is when I see it isn’t easy for him to say, ‘yes, I want you, too’. Slater stands and throws his plate filled with half-eaten

toast to the sink, the porcelain flying all over the kitchen. I jump from my seat, utterly shocked at his actions. Slater spins around to me and speaks. “This what you want, Piper? A man who makes you stutter, makes you nervous and scared? Go on, speak!” he yells. “I bet you stutter again.” He ends on a growl. Tears prick my eyes. “Argh!” Slater roars into the kitchen. “This week has been the fucking best, but you’re forgetting why you’re here, Piper. A man is trying to kill you to get to me. That is my life: fights, drugs, death threats and killing those who get in my way. That’s my fucking life. You think you won’t get scared again, nervous, or worse, actually hurt? I know you will, and I can’t fucking stand that you stutter because of it. It fucks with my head, and it fucks with my heart!” Slater shouts while punching his chest hard once. “Why do you do that?” I scream back. “You make everything about my stutter when really you’re the one hiding behind it. Y-you’re just scared to want something yyou hated for so long.” I take a big breath in and slow my racing heart. “I see now you hate to see me hurt or worried, but that’s life and I can’t hide from it. I’m going to have those feelings with or without you, Slater. I’m going to stutter for the rest of my life whether you are beside me or not. But I would rather you be there with me than to not have you at all. You were willing to bring me into your life after you found out I stuttered and before you knew what my career choice was.” I step toward Slater, taking another big breath as I ask, “The real question here is can you be with me as a

CPS officer, not if you can handle my stutter. Can you, Slater? Can you be with me knowing I work for the same system which hurt you so badly?” “No,” he responds instantly. “You can fuck a CPS officer, but you can’t love one,” I snap at him. “I can use one, yes,” he sneers back at me. My heart cracks and shatters once again in his presence. Used. Why do I torture myself this way? Haven’t

you had enough yet, Piper? Yes, yes, I have. I hear the back door open, but neither Slater nor I look away from each other to see who it is. “Slate, Pace wants to show you the new turbocharger in Chevy.” “Not now, Mack,” Slater orders. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I was just heading upstairs to start packing,” I state angrily, leaving my now-cold coffee on the table and quickly walking up the stairs to my shared bedroom with Della. I enter the room I haven’t slept in once, but my things have exploded all over the place as it appears Della has taken a real liking to my clothes and has worn something of mine every day this week. I begin picking up my stuff and throwing things haphazardly in my suitcase, angry tears escaping. The fact that I can’t stop them makes me even more furious with myself. After a few minutes, I hear Slater’s voice and move to the window. I peer down and view Slater and Pacer with

their heads under Chevy’s hood. The bedroom door creaks and I turn around to see Della standing there, smiling at me. I quickly wipe my tears away as she walks over to me. We both stand by the window, watching the boys work on Chevy. “You know, we used to have another sister,” Della says to me out of nowhere. I look to her, surprised, but don’t speak as I’m not sure what to say. “She died when we were young. She was killed, and Slater’s never forgiven himself for not being able to protect her. But mostly, he blames CPS for putting us in the group home and never coming back. He views them, you, all CPS workers as the same woman who abandoned us. Mia and Slate had a special bond. They were close, and not like the rest of us who are true brothers and sisters. I think Mia and Slater would have fallen in love if they had been given the chance. I was too young to understand it all, but I hear my brothers talking about her and when Slater drinks too much, he speaks of her as if she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.” My heart grows heavy. A girl, someone Slater cared so much for, was taken from him. I can’t even imagine how much that must have hurt him. “I loved her,” Della continues, staring out the window. “I remember she would read to me, always the same story over and over again because we only ever had one book. She would hug me tightly through the night when I was scared. Hum beautiful songs to me. I remember the

moment Slate said she was dead. I felt like someone had ripped my heart in half.” Watching Della talk about her sister is too much for me. A sob falls from my lips and I hold my hand over my mouth, trying to calm myself. This isn’t my story and I want to be here for Della, not fall apart. Della looks over to me and gives me a sad smile. “Your eyes and smile remind me of Mia. Her sweet face is one which never dims, no matter how many years pass by. I think that’s why even though you work for CPS, Slate has fallen for you. Don’t get me wrong, you look nothing like Mia. She had huge dimples on both sides of her face, and her nose was slightly pointy while you have a perfect button one,” Della says with a smile, tapping my nose. “But you are the closest I’ve seen anyone look like her. Then again I’ve lived in Louisville almost all my life, so I really haven’t seen much of the world and the people in it.” Della shrugs, walks over to her bed and begins to help me pick up my clothes. “Thanks for lending me your clothes; I’ve never had a close friend to do that with. Not many of my friends are game enough to get close to me, come to my home for a sleepover, or pick me up to go see a movie.” Della laughs off her words, but I can hear the sadness in her tone. She looks at me intently. “Not many perks to being in the Street Kings if you’re a girl.” “I’m sure one day you’ll be able to move out and have those things,” I say, trying to be positive. “No, it’s too dangerous. Poison Boys or another gang

would just use me as a bargaining chip against my brothers, and they are more important to me than those normal moments most people get in life. Plus, I don’t think I would like it. I’ve never been without my brothers. My earliest memory is of Mack and Kel showing me how to make my bed.” Dell gives me a smile as I watch her remembering that particular moment. “We aren’t normal, and we won’t just go our own separate ways like most families. This is us, forever. When you’ve watched most of your family almost die from starvation or no warmth and shelter, you tend to want to be a part of their lives for as long as possible.” I nod in understanding and say, “I think you have a beautiful family, Della. I wish I had a family like yours, brothers to protect and look out for me.” “Well, if Slater pulls his finger out of his ass, one day we may be family,” Della says. “Once you’re in, you’re in for life with us.” “That’s not going to happen, but there’s nothing stopping us from being friends and me picking you up to go see a movie,” I reply sadly, but still with a smile. Slater I head up to Dell’s room to say goodbye to Piper. After Speed Wars, I’ve planned to have Mack drive her home before I get back. It’ll be easier this way, saying goodbye and that being it. I reach Dell’s room and just as I’m about to walk in, I pause when I hear them speaking. I walk closer to the doorway but stop before I can be seen, just listening.

“I think you have a beautiful family, Della. I wish I had a family like yours, brothers to protect and look out for me.” “Well, if Slater pulls his finger out of his ass, one day we may be a family,” Della says. “Once you’re in, you’re in for life with us.” “That’s not going to happen, but there’s nothing stopping us from being friends and me picking you up to go see a movie,” Piper replies, a hint of sadness in her voice. I sigh and lean my forehead against the wall. It’s not enough she’s entombed herself in my chest; she has to do the same with my family. “I’d love that, Piper,” Della exclaims, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “Okay, now I need to pack. The almighty Slater wants me out of his life, and I’m not the kind of girl who sticks around where she’s not wanted.” I hear the girls moving around the room and know now’s the time I need to tell Piper that Mack will be taking her home as soon as he gets back.

Just walk in there and do it. I take one step toward the bedroom and stop. I can’t do it. I don’t want to. But how can I make this work? I can’t be okay with her career, the people she works with or for. I’ve come to know Piper, and I know she will never give up her career. And I don’t want her to, because how could I live with myself if I took one of the good CPS officers away from the kids who need her? I’d be no better than the woman who left us and never returned. Piper believes in what she does because of her own

fucked-up past, and I can’t be with her because of mine. We’re at a crossroads, and I don’t see an exit or a hidden shortcut. What would Mia think of Piper? I shake my head in confusion, wishing this was simple. Why can’t I just take what I want? I close my eyes and remember a time when, even though my life was dark, it was filled with light.

“Slate, are you okay?” I turn and see Mia’s head poking through the bathroom door. Her gentle face and concerned eyes stare at me while I sit on the sink and clean a deep cut on my chin. “Yeah, Mia, I’m okay. Nothing I haven’t had before.” Mia enters the bathroom and walks over to me. Her long, dark hair flows over her shoulders. She gets close and I jump off the counter and yell, “Boo!” Mia screams, grabs her chest and then starts laughing. God, I love those dimples. Seeing Mia’s smile is all it takes to hold off the hopelessness feelings I have for my life. When I feel as if the dark is never-ending, all Mia has to do is smile and it’s as if a window has been opened and all the light which has been blocked out for so long bursts in all at once. I take her hand and entwine our fingers as warmth spreads up my arm and to the rest of my body. Mia gifts me with another smile, but this one’s different. It turns her cheeks pink and her eyes drop to the ground. One day, I’m going to kiss my Mia. I grab at my chest where my heart should be and whisper brokenly, “Mia.”

“Slate.” I spin around fast to find Mack standing there with a frown. He heard me. “You have to let her go,” he says gently. “I have let her go. I mean I thought I had, until,” I shoot my arm out and point to Della’s room, “she came into my fucking life,” I angrily whisper and shake my head, wishing I didn’t have so many conflicted feelings. “Maybe the reason she’s reminding you so much of Mia is because you feel the same way about Piper that you did for Mia,” Mack quietly offers. “Everyone has a job, Slate, and you may not like Piper’s, but at least she’s one of the good ones. You gotta move out of the past to see what you have standing right in front of you. Unless you enjoy the torture, and if you do, then keep doing what you’re doing.” Mack strikes his blow and then walks back down the stairs. Focusing on Piper and Dell again, I listen as they talk and laugh. I decide to come back after the race and talk to Piper. First things first, I need to get through this race alive and win. Then maybe, just maybe, Piper and I might have a chance at a future.

Chapter Nine What if? Slater It takes forty-five minutes to get to Mason Valley, where there’s an old airstrip on Elk Creek Road. It’s where we race through the year, where we’ve won most of our cars. It’s three hundred and fifty dollars to enter, but that’s a small price to pay when you make inside deals for pink slips. But that’s not what I’m here for today. I’m here to wipe Rex from my life once and for all. We come up on the airstrip and the first thing we see is a long, tall, silver wire fence which can be seen for miles. Trailers, tents and trucks are parked all the way along the fence line. This is a weekend event and most people stay from Friday to Sunday, drinking and watching all the events. I’d love for my brothers and me to be able to do that¸ but we can’t; with Rex and his crew always at Speed Wars, we have to be on our guard. Same with other gangs who come to race and love to start shit because they live for that crap. Usually, they’re fucked-up on drugs and looking to start trouble. But they always aim for my brothers and me thinking they can take us, overpower us. But they haven’t been through what we have, haven’t walked our path in life, so they will never understand how far we go to protect each other and the life we have built for ourselves. Power and respect are the reasons we do what we do. Both were denied and stolen from us as children, and now we’ll hang

on to it with a death grip if challenged. I drive into the strip and find a place to park in the middle of a long line of racecars. Mack and I step out of Chevy and see Pace and Kel two cars over, getting out of Pacer’s green Dodge. The loud chatter I heard when I climb out of the car has turned to hushed whispers and anxious stares. We’re here only for the four-hundred meter race. We’ve won every other race this year and have only four more to win or come in the top three positions—which is the top three fastest times of the day—to get to the death race, the two million dollar race so many people have died trying to win. Death race only comes up once every ten years, and this has been our first chance to be eligible for it. The Street Kings are in the lead, and we’re the team everyone knows they need to kill on the track to have a chance to win. And since we are in the lead, we only have to drag race once a month against the team with almost as many points as us. We need to win at least the next two races to stay in the lead for death race. It will give us a head-start in the deadly race, one we need for a chance against nine other racers desperate to knock us out of their way. And, of course, the team with almost as many points as us is Poison Boys. Rex and I are desperate to win the money, because that much money brings a lot of power to our game, power we both crave. Mack and I wait for Pace and Kel to reach us before we all start walking toward the registration office as a united

gang. We stop short of the office when Rex and his crew come into view, striding purposefully toward us. I sense my brothers tense and prepare for battle so I keep my eyes firmly placed on Rex as he approaches, muttering, “Calm, brothers. Today, the battle is going to happen on the track.” I watch as Rex moves closer, his eyes cold. I know Rex; he’ll have a smart-ass remark just right on the tip of his tongue, so I decide to beat him to it. “I have a bargain for you, Rex,” I state. Rex grins and says, “Go on.” “You win, you get me. I will come with you and you can take your revenge. I won’t fight you, and neither will my brothers,” I assure him. Rex looks disbelieving to my brothers. “Bullshit,” he spits. “I give you my word, and so do my brothers,” I state, and at the same time my brothers say in unison, “We do.” This is the biggest risk we’ve ever taken with one of us, but I believe the outcome will be worth the chance we’re taking. “But if I win, you let go of this vendetta against me and the Street Kings for your father’s death. And we’ll pull out of the death race, give you a clear shot at taking the title and the money. Either way, you win somehow.” When Rex mentioned a bargain at Shawnee Park, I was confused, but it didn’t take long for me to work out that his aim would be for us to pull out of the death race. There have been rumors that he needs the money, and he will do

whatever it takes to win. I’m hoping the rumors are true and it’s enough for him to accept this deal. Rex looks to the ground then left and right as he curls his hands into fists over and over again. The tension running through his body is easily seen, I knew this bargain would be hard for him. I wonder if Rex knows what he will do with his life when revenge didn’t dictate it anymore. “Deal,” Rex growls. I nod, my body relaxing. First step done, now just to win

the race. Rex and his crew walk away to ready his car. I pass my keys to Pace and say, “Take Chevy to the line-up; I’ll be right there.” Kel goes with Pace while Mack comes with me to register for my race with Rex. At the starting line, Chevy is lined up next to Rex’s red Nissan Skyline. Mickey, the president of Speed Wars, comes over and looks under both our hoods and then in the trunks to make sure we aren’t packing any more than the allowed two tanks of NOS. When Mickey is done, he pulls Rex and me to stand between our cars to talk. “Now, boys,” Mickey starts in his croaky voice. “This is an illegal event, so no shit from either of you. I don’t want to be calling the cops or the morgue to come pick your bodies up off the road. Straight-lined races, no running each other off the strip. You feel me?” he says in a serious tone.

I look to Rex with hard eyes until he nods, and I look back to Mickey. “We’ve already made a bargain. We’re in this to race and nothing else, so no trouble from us.” Mickey nods and Rex walks off. Right before I’m about to do the same, Mickey grabs my arm and pulls me to him, slaps me on the back and mutters, “Good luck, kid.” I tilt my chin to him in gratitude and walk over to my car. A blonde chick in a tiny bikini yells out, “Get ready, gentlemen! Light goes green in five minutes.” I walk around to the driver’s side of Chevy, all the while watching Rex as he stares right back at me. Each of my brothers hoots and pats me on the back. Fear and excitement rush through my body, both battling each other to have the upper hand. I sit in the driver’s seat, buckle up and start Chevy. I look over to my left at Rex as I hear his car begin to rev. Mack moves around Chevy and sprays water on each tire. When he’s out of the way, I make sure my handbrake is up and my foot pushes down on the accelerator. The engine revs and it’s all I can hear. My wheels begin to spin and smoke billows from my tires, causing them to stick to the cement and improve our traction. Rex does exactly the same before we both move up and sit on the starting line. We release our accelerators and let the cars idle, waiting for the racing lights to turn green. I try to steady my heartbeat, but I can’t calm the furious

storm. So much rests on this race, more than I’ve ever bargained with before. Ten seconds that will decide my fate. I grip the steering wheel firmly. My breathing increases.

Orange light. I stare down the long cement strip in front of me. Fourhundred meters to win this race, to end this war. Too much to lose and so much to gain.

Yellow light. Rwar. Rwar. I shift into first gear as sweat trickles down my neck, and I tighten my grip on the steering wheel once more.

Green light. I shift up to third and stomp on the accelerator. My wheels spin and Chevy shoots out from the starting line. Wind slams into my face. I’ve never felt so alive. As I quickly change through the gears, Chevy swerves slightly to the right and I gently correct her steering before pushing my foot all the way to the floor, changing up into fourth gear. I look to my left and see Rex is winning by about half a meter. I switch my gears up to fifth and shoot past him. Finally, a smile graces my face when I can see the finish line in sight. But as I’m about to hit my button for a push of NOS to ensure my win, Rex shoots straight past me. “Fuck!” I push my button and I’m flying past Rex, but I know he will push his second NOS any time now and we’re only

seconds away from the finish line. I push my second just as Rex comes up beside me. I shoot off and cross the finish line with Rex right behind me. My heart is jackhammering in my chest as I begin slowly braking and shout, “Yeah! Wahoo!” I fucking did it. I beat Rex. Fucking finally, this shit can end. I turn Chevy around and watch as Rex does the same. I follow him and park just to the left of his car. Kel, Mack and Pace race over and begin hooting and banging on Chevy in unison as a beat of celebration. I exit my car with a huge grin and am congratulated by each of my brothers. I turn around and find Rex standing there, arms crossed and a huge smile on his face. Surprise doesn’t cover what I’m feeling. I thought he’d come at me with a knife for losing, but instead he’s grinning. What the fuck? “What’s so funny, Rex? You lost. You do know not coming first means you lost, right?” I mock. “I know I lost the race. But have I lost the battle? No, I don’t think I have.” “We had a deal,” I seethe. “Oh, I will live up to that bargain, brotha. I’ll let the death of my father go.” I calm slightly at Rex’s words. “But I will not let your betrayal go unpunished. You deceived me, Slater. You were my best friend yet you plotted against my family. I will have my revenge,” Rex sneers and then grins. “What if I’ve already evened the

score?” Rex’s smug smirk tells me he’s talking about Piper. A roar pounds up through my chest and out my mouth as I lunge at him. I slam Rex against his car and grasp both sides of his jacket, nose to nose, both of our chests heaving. “You won’t touch her,” I sneer. “What if I already have, brotha? What if she’s already dead?” Rex’s grin is devilish, one I know all too well. He got

to her. I push off him, hard, causing Rex to slump to the ground roughly. My chest explodes and my whole world falls apart. I look around me at the people staring, at the dust in the air, at the cars in the distance.

Piper. I grab for my chest at the exact moment I know my heart plummets to my stomach, as if I thought I could catch it first. My mind is screaming at me to get to Piper to try to save her, but my panic is holding me back. Laughing at me, taunting me, reminding me that I actually thought I could let her go when really I can’t even bear the thought of living in a world where she doesn’t exist. In a blur, I hear Pace yelling that the home phone isn’t connecting. I look to see Rex on the ground, laughing, almost cackling. In a split second, the harsh world comes back into focus and I see everything for what it is: a world where I never win, where I’ll always be the underdog. I look to Rex and growl, "I told you why I did it! Why your

father had to die. He was a rapist, and he deserved to die. Now you've gone after my girl? I can't let you walk away from this." I look down to him with what I'm sure are black eyes, murder running through my veins. I feel it pumping through my blood like worms sucking me dry. "If you’ve gone after her, if she’s hurt, you better run," I growl. "You better run fucking fast, because I'm coming for you. I'm coming for you and your whole fucking crew. By the end of the day, I'm gonna to be washing your blood from my body and laughing. Laughing because your daddy still controls you even after his death. You won't take off your fucking rose-colored glasses and see him for what he was, a fucking sadistic asshole!" I end on a roar. Rex's veins pop and his nostrils flare with anger. "Liar!" he booms at me. "My father was a leader. He was going to own Louisville and that's why you killed him. You wanted the turf for yourself. You are nothing but a greedy, motherfucking murderer and when I have my chance, and I will one day, I'm going to do the same to you. My life's mission is to kill you and your whole gang. But first, you will feel my pain!" Rex’s crew stands beside him as he gets off the ground, united and willing to die for Rex’s doomed revenge. “I will destroy whoever gets in my way to find you and desecrate your body if you have taken her from me!” I yell as my brothers pull me back toward my car. Breathing heavily, my muscles are tensed and ready to strike, to knock my brothers to the ground to get to Rex and beat the smile off his face.

Mack’s hot breath hits my ear. “Slater,” he whispers angrily whispers. “Get in the fucking car. The house phone is a dead dial tone. We need to get to them now. We will deal with Rex later but right now, Piper needs you.” At his words, I turn my murderous eyes from Rex to Mack. Piper. I push my brother away from me and get in Chevy. I start her up and before Mack has his door shut, I’m reversing and fishtailing out of the airstrip and away from Speed Wars. I feel as if my blood is physically rising from my veins, spurting up like hot lava. The car sways so I pull her to the left to correct my direction and end up swerving all over the road. “Fuck, Slate,” Mack growls. A horn blares from behind us and I know it’s Pace telling me to get my head on straight.

I can’t lose her. I can’t lose another. It’s a forty-minute drive home. I’ll do it in twenty, but every second will be fucking torture.

Chapter Ten Hum to me. Piper After Della and I have packed my suitcase, we decide to head downstairs and make some sandwiches. We heard the guys leave about half an hour ago, so we decide while we wait for them to get back, we’ll watch a movie in the living room. I take a seat on the single sofa to the left of the flatscreen TV which sits in a large wooden unit. Della begins to search through the DVDs in the cabinet to the right. She pulls out How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days , and I smile and nod. I love that movie. Della laughs and says, “I don’t know who I have more of a crush on, Matthew McConaughey or Kate Hu—” Della jolts forward as if someone just pushed her. Her eyes widen in shock and she holds her stomach as if she’s going to be sick. “Della?” I ask and stand to help her stay upright. I’m almost to her when glass explodes around us. It’s then my hearing picks up the sound of bullets, and they’re everywhere. I run and hide in front of the wooden TV unit as wood splinters and sprays all over the room. I grab my head to protect my eyes and face and begin screaming loudly, over and over again, but the bullets don’t stop and nobody runs inside to save us. My body shakes furiously while I scan the

room for Della and find her lying on the floor, unmoving, with blood seeping through her pink top from her stomach. I remove my trembling hands from my ears and begin crawling over to her. Suddenly there is quiet and nothingness, only the ringing in my ears. I reach Della and pull her top away from her stomach. She cringes at the movement and blood spills from her wound. I look around for something, anything to stop the bleeding, and I spot a t-shirt laying over one of the lounges. I jump up, grab it and place it quickly over her bullet wound to slow the blood flow. Della is shivering, crying and staring down at her bloodied stomach. “Della, y-you need to hold this to y-your wound. I need t-to call for an ambulance.” Della nods, pushes down on the t-shirt and lays her head back down on the ground. I hear her let out a sob as I’m sprinting into the kitchen. I pick up the cordless phone and begin dialing 911, leaving behind bloody fingerprints on the keys. I stutter badly to a woman who picks up the call and she tries to calm me, but it doesn’t work. I just keep screaming and stuttering for someone to come now, that Della is shot and she needs help. Finally, she says the ambulance is only two minutes away. I race back to Della and drop the phone to the ground with the operator still on the line. I kneel by her body and my eyes widen at the blood that has spilled in the few seconds I was gone.

Della has paled and is now ghostly white. I close my eyes briefly and tears escape from both sides. No, no, no, no. This can’t be happening. I gently remove Della’s hand from the shirt to her chest and press down firmly with my own on her wound. “I-It’s okay, Della. An ambulance i-is almost here,” I whisper to her and begin stroking her hair gently. She looks up to me with a small smile and glassy eyes. “Hum to me, Piper,” she requests, just above a whisper. My heart’s breaking, but I do as Della asks. I take a big breath and start to hum a song from my childhood, something I’m sure my mother used to sing to me since it’s always stuck with me. I still when I hear sirens and glance to the broken window. The ambulance is here. I look back down to Della and see her eyes are now fully closed. “Della.” I shake her shoulder but she doesn’t move, and her hand slides away from her chest. “Della!” I scream. Suddenly, there are two men in the living room surrounding us and one of them is talking to me, but I don’t hear his words. I continue to shake a lifeless Della and scream her name. Slater I see my house in the distance. Speeding down my street, I swerve up onto my front yard and don’t bother turning off the car before I’m out and jumping my fence. Mack is right beside me, and we both freeze at the same time as crunching noises come from underneath our shoes. A tingling begins to spread all over my skin and

suddenly I feel as cold as ice. There are holes everywhere, all through the front of my house. The windows are smashed. Drive-by. “Fuck. Della! Della!” Mack shouts and runs up our front stairs. I’m right behind him and we find the door is wide open. Mack keeps shouting while he races up the stairs to Della’s room. Pace and Kel are in the background yelling out for Della and Piper. I feel as if my throat is frozen; I can’t yell, talk or swallow. My breathing is shallow because I refuse to openly take a breath until I know what I’m about to face.

Please, God, don’t do this to me. Haven’t I been through enough? I enter the living room and the first thing I see is blood on the wooden floors. I fall to my knees and heave in a heavy, destroyed breath, a loud sob escaping. Pace kneels beside me and looks to the blood. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” he screams. He picks something up next to him and I look over to see it’s the house phone, covered in blood. Did they get help? He puts it to his ear, presses End Call then hits re-dial. “It’s 911. They must be at a hospital.” “Clarke Memorial,” I stay with a strained voice. “It’s the closest hospital they would be taken to.” All my brothers race out of the house but I stay for a

second, staring down at the blood.

My sister’s or the woman I’ve fallen for? Life never gets easier; each battle won just means another waiting around the corner.

Chapter Eleven A promise. Piper “Argh!” I punch the stupid pay phone, not noticing the pain I’m sure is there but can’t be felt over my aching chest. How the hell am I supposed to tell Slater what’s happened when I don’t have his mobile number, and the stupid telephone operator won’t help me because apparently his number is private? I glance down to my blood-soaked shirt and a sob rips from my mouth. They took Della away and they won’t tell me anything. She was unconscious all the way to the hospital, her body limp and lifeless. Another cry escapes my mouth and this time I don’t stop it. I let them go and lean on the wall next to the pay phone. Those bullets were meant for me, not Della. Slater could lose another sister, and it’s going to destroy him. I turn and look around the waiting room. It’s empty, only stark white walls and uncomfortable grey seats. I slide down the wall and sink to the floor while I continue to cry. There’s nothing else to do. Della could be dying right now, and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it. My tears flow relentlessly for a long time, making a stream down my face, hitting my chin and then descending, falling wherever tears fall. I wish they would take this overwhelming sadness with them.

Will Slater hate me? Will he wish it were me instead of Della? I do. My heart splinters while I imagine Slater’s face when he finds out he may lose another family member. I look to the ceiling and whisper, “Haven’t they been through enough? Your games are too much for some.” A beep sounds around the room, which means someone is coming through the doors. The anxious wait to see if it’s Slater and his brothers is torturous. Time moves painfully slow, and it’s not until his body is halfway through the door that a cry bursts from my lips and my torment bounces off the walls around me. Slater’s eyes slice straight to me. He races across the room, sinks to his knees and cups my face with his hands. His eyes search my body then goes back up to my face, his focus landing on my glassy, red eyes. The anguish and terror in his expression causes another sob to burst from my lips. “I-I-I’m s-s-so sorry. I-I-I’m so sor-r-ry,” I stammer as I shake my head in his hands. “Shhh, baby, shhh,” Slater soothes as he scoops me up and places me in his lap. “She’s going to be okay.” Slater repeats those words in a thick voice as he rocks us both. Slowly, my ragged breathing calms and I glance up at Slater and detect how frightened he is. My heart twists at seeing him so lost, this out of control. He has always shown his strength, boldness and courage. This side of him, his weak side exposed, his vulnerability... it’s beautiful yet painful to see.

It’s time for Slater to have a safe place; it’s time for me to be strong. I even my breathing and sit up in his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck so his face is hidden with my body, and I allow Slater the ability to let go, privately. Minutes pass by before I feel his shoulders rise and fall and a wet sensation begins to slide down my chest, but no sound is made from him. Slater finally has a moment where he can lean on someone, if only just this once. It’s then I notice Mack, Kel and Pace are also in the room with us. All three men are sitting on grey chairs, their heads resting in their hands. All four brothers are in one room but not here as a whole, each of them fighting their own fears of what may happen to their sister. The beep sounds around the room and Slater’s head whips up, showing his bloodshot eyes. He wipes roughly at his face and licks his dry lips. A doctor walks into the waiting room and I’m up and standing in seconds, letting Slater go straight to the man as his brothers follow. They all stand in a line, a united family desperate for only one answer. “How is Della?” Slater asks, his voice strained and thick. “She’s alive, luckily. We removed two bullets, one in the lower right side of her back and one in the right side of her stomach.” The doctor looks to me. “She’s very lucky she had you close by. Any longer and Della would have died.” Chills race through my body. He looks back to Slater and his brothers. “The bullets didn’t hit any major arteries or organs. From what the

paramedics told me, they went through wood and glass before they hit Della, so they were slowed. For that reason, they didn’t make it through the first layers of skin and fat. They are only flesh wounds. However, the amount of blood Della lost was great. She is being stitched up at the moment, and then we will give her a blood transfusion. She will be taken from critical to recovery when the transfusion is complete, which will take up to six hours. I’m sorry you can’t see her any sooner than that, but I promise you, she is in good hands.” The doctor gives us all a small smile, turns and is gone, leaving silence in his wake. No one speaks and all the guys take a seat. I watch as relief crosses their features, but it doesn’t stay long; their eyes turn hard and they now wear grim frowns. “The police were here earlier,” I state, not sure why I felt someone needed to say something. Slater and each of his brothers’ heads dart up to me. “Piper, you didn’t talk to the police, did you?” Slater reprimands me. Confused, I answer, “I only told them what happened, nothing else. They asked me who I thought it might be and I gave an honest answer, which was I have no idea who was shooting at your house.” All of the men’s tense bodies visibly relax at my reply. “Slater, someone shot bullets through your house. You need to tell the police,” I advise, disbelieving he wouldn’t want the person who did this to be caught. “No fucking way,” Pacer interrupts and stands. “We will

deal with Rex and his crew on our own terms. The same way we’ve handled everything else.” His voice promises vengeance. That’s the most Pacer has ever said to me. I try not to take his harsh tone to heart. “Kel, head downstairs and call Brett. Get a location on Rex. We need to know what he’s up to and make sure he’s not planning on running when he finds out he hit Della and not an unknown woman he thinks is disposable,” Pacer instructs. I flinch at his words. Okay, now that one hurt. Slater stands and growls, “Pace, watch your mouth.” I place my hand on Slater’s arm to calm him. This isn’t the time for them to argue, and definitely not over me. I understand this is the time in life when people should be forgiven for their rash actions, because they stem from fear and sadness, not true feelings. Pacer stares at the ground for a moment, inhales and then looks at me with pain in his eyes. “Sorry,” he mutters. “It’s fine,” I assure him. Kelso stands quickly to leave the room, but Pacer stops him first and whispers in his ear. I only hear part of Pacer’s words, but he is asking Kel if he’s doing okay. Kelso nods and then leaves the waiting room. Pacer turns to his eldest brother and asks, “Slate, what’s our first move?” Slater gently kisses my forehead and wraps me in his arms, then turns to his brothers. “First, we need to hide Piper, somewhere Rex or his crew won’t find her. And I

want Kel here with Dell. He’s not to leave her side until we deal with Rex.” Hide me? What about my life, my job, what about Jimmy?

They almost killed Della, so get a grip, Piper. You need to hide somewhere until it’s safe. I become lightheaded and my legs grow weak, so I move out of Slater’s arms to take a seat. He stares at me curiously for a moment, but when he sees me lower myself into a chair, he turns back to his conversation with his brothers. Mack shakes his head. “Kel is gonna hate to miss the action, Slate.” “Yeah, I know he’ll be pissed, but he’ll come to understand he needs to stay with Dell. She’s priority.” “Woodforest cabin,” Pacer says out of nowhere. “The abandoned cabin we pass every time we drive through there to swap cars. We’ve never seen anyone there. It would be perfect. Piper can take some things of hers up there and make it comfortable for a few days.” Slater looks to me with his eyebrows pinched closely together. “I’m not sure. It’s in the middle of nowhere.” “I’ll stay with her, Slate,” Mack volunteers. “You and Pace go looking for Rex. I don’t want to miss seeing him suffer, but I know you won’t be on your game if you’re worried about Piper.” Slater nods and they fist-bump. Slater turns to me and says, “We’ll wait to see what Kel finds out and then if all is good, we’ll head out and grab some things for the cabin. You okay with this?”

I nod and my body begins to feel the weight of the day. All of a sudden, I’m exhausted. A few days in the middle of nowhere may be just what I need. Mackson and Pacer leave the waiting room saying they need something to eat, and Slater takes a seat next to me. I’m leaning back on my seat, my head resting against the wall. Slater is sitting forward, forearms to his knees, rubbing his hands over his face like a man who hasn’t slept in weeks. “I don’t know how to make this up to you,” he says, and I’m confused by his words. I sit forward and turn to him, “What are you talking about?” “Hurting you, pushing you away, and saying things about your stutter. I’m as bad as the guy I beat up on the night I met you.” Slater sighs while dragging his hands through his hair before he turns to me, his expression full of sadness and remorse. “When you stutter, it hurts,” he states as he places his hand over his heart. “It feels like a personal attack on my ability to be able to make you feel safe, secure and looked after.” Slater’s voice is thick with emotion, so much so that tears begin to prick my eyes. “I’m so fucking sorry, and I swear to never attack you that way again when we argue. It’s a reflex for me to go for someone’s weakness.” Slater pauses, showing utter sincerity in his eyes. “I will work on dealing with your job and accepting it as a part of who you are. I promise from now on, Piper, I’m gonna pull myself in line and treat you the way you deserve to be treated.” He stares at me intently and

then tracks a tear which escapes my glassy eyes. I nod, unable to speak through my surprise and absolute happiness. “Just remember, it will be street-gang style, so cut me a little slack,” Slater declares and ends on a grin. In a flash, our significant, heavy moment has turned light as I burst out laughing. Slater’s grin widens to a full smile and my laughter dies from the beauty of it. This harsh man in front of me is all mine, and he cares for me as much as I care for him. His concern strikes like an attack, but his unkind words do come from a special place. As crazy as it seems, it only makes me want to possess him even more, to soften his hard edges yet keep the no-nonsense man I first fell so hard for. “Are you saying you’re finally going to take me on a date, Mr. King?” I say through a massive smile. A laugh expels from Slater and he moves off his chair to his knees. He spreads my legs wide and moves between them. “No, Miss CPS officer, I’m not going to take you on a date.” Slater’s eyes darken and he licks his lips. “I’m going to claim you, Piper. I’m going to own you, body and soul. I’m going to bring you into my world and you’re going to be my queen.” My breathing quickens and my fingers itch to touch Slater, to run my hands though his hair. I lick my lips purposefully, torturously, slowly. “Fuck,” Slater mutters. He continues to stare at my lips

for a moment longer and then in a flash, he’s on them, biting, sucking and tasting. Slater pulls me forward on the chair until my sex is pushed right against his abdomen. I begin to grind against him, and the pressure of his hard abs on my clit is heavenly. He palms my ass roughly and I moan at the delicious line of pleasure and pain. “Shit,” a voice sounds near us. I jump back from Slater and find Mackson, Pacer and Kelso all standing in the door, grinning from ear to ear. “Get the fuck out,” Slater growls at his brothers. “Fuck no. I was just about to blow my load watching that. Keep going,” Kel says while chuckling and soon enough, the room is filled with all three brothers’ laughter. I scrunch my nose at Kel’s words and that’s when Slater sighs, stands and mutters, “Assholes.” He turns to his brothers. “What did you find out, Kel?” he asks, taking a seat next to me and holding my hand in his. “Brett said Rex knows a woman from our home was taken to the hospital with multiple gunshots and she’s critical. Brett said Rex is assuming it’s Piper and he’s not planning on running anywhere. He thinks you’ll be standing vigil by her bedside while she’s vulnerable. He also said Rex is so sure it’s Piper because he had a guy on Dell this morning making sure she wasn’t home at the time. I don’t know what the fuck happened there, but someone made a big fucking mistake.” All the guys have confused expressions, and I’m unsure if it’s because Rex was watching Della or because

someone obviously gave Rex the wrong information. “Kel, did Mack tell you you’re on Dell duty?” Slater questions. Kelso crosses his arms over his chest and narrows his eyes on Slater. “Yeah, he did. I get it, but it fucking sucks. Dell is lucky I love her. Any chance you can video taking out Rex?” Kelso asks with a serious face. “I’m not gonna take him out,” Slater states, and all his brothers’ joking behavior halts instantly. “We can’t let him get away with almost killing Dell!” Mack shouts into the room. “Calm down. We’re not, and when I get to him I’m gonna aim to break his arms and legs. But the cops are going to be circling after the drive-by. We’ll get our frustrations out now, but we plan the kill properly. None of us are going to prison for that bastard.” *** When it was time to leave the hospital, Slater had me wait in the undercover emergency bay parking lot. He told me to stay unseen and behind an ambulance until he drove up and I could quickly jump into Chevy. Slater wants Rex to keep thinking it’s me in the hospital bed where Della lies. He wants the element of surprise when he goes after him. We take back-roads to Slater’s and he parks around the back between the shed and the house. Slater instructs me to grab my suitcase, toiletries and the sheets and pillows from his bed.

I walk quickly through the house to the stairs. I halt when a metallic stench hits my senses, and it’s then my eyes fall to the wooden floors still covered in Della’s blood. My lips tremble, remembering those moments when I thought she was gone, lost to this world forever.

It’s okay. Della is going to be okay. I shake off my gloomy thoughts and race up the stairs to grab everything I need. Drive-by, Della being shot, Slater talking about murder. It’s all too much, but in their world this is how things are done and how they handle their problems. I can’t say I care what happens to Rex, as far as I’m concerned he deserves whatever is coming to him for hurting Della. After I have the items Slater said to bring with me, I pick up other things I want, such as my Kindle, Slater’s iPod and tablet. I’m pretty sure the cabin will have no power, which means no television, so I also choose two paperback novels off Della’s huge bookshelf for when those devices go flat. “Piper, we gotta jet!” Slater shouts from somewhere in the house. I pull my suitcase behind me, exit Della’s room and meet Slater at the back door. As we’re walking to Chevy, I ask, “What will happen if Jimmy comes by and no one is here for him?” Slater’s face softens. “We have a key hidden out back behind the shed. He knows to use it if we aren’t home, and he understands he’s free to eat and shower. He’s also aware there are a pile of clothes in a box Della washes for

the kids who come by.” “You do realize you’ve pretty much taken him in, don’t you?” Slater grimaces. “No, I haven’t.” “You feed him, buy clothes for him, he sleeps over sometimes and you let him work with you in your business. And he has a spare key.” I raise an eyebrow, waiting for Slater’s response. “We do that for all the kids. Quint, Bridge and Connor, too,” he answers. “I know, Slater,” I say softly. “Those boys are lucky to have you all. Imagine how much better their lives would be if your house became their home full-time.” “This isn’t a home for children, Piper. What if one of those kids had been here today during the drive-by?” Slater raises an eyebrow at me, waiting for a comeback, but dammit, I have to admit he’s right. “A slight snag in my plans, but nothing which can’t be worked around,” I say unconvincingly, scrunching my nose and showing him I realize I’m reaching for the impossible. Slater chuckles. “I love that you want to help them, but my family is not a safe place for kids. Not full-time anyway, and I have my hands full with you,” he states with a smirk. Slater kisses me gently on the lips and takes my suitcase from me, and places it in the backseat. We both climb into Chevy and before Slater can start the car, I ask, “So, before I hide away while you go and be a badass thug, what are we now? Boyfriend and girlfriend?” Slater buckles up and focuses his eyes on me. “Yeah, I

guess you could say that.” He shrugs nonchalantly. My heart squeezes firmly. Did I misunderstand him? “I don’t care what label you use, Piper, just as long as you’re mine.” He reaches over, cups my cheek and runs his thumb over my lips. “I have a feeling you always have been.” Silence fills the car as Slater and I stare at one another, hunger circling us like an electric fence. If anyone dared penetrate the moment, they would surely be struck down. “And every man in this goddamn city is gonna know you are untouchable. A man dares look at you with desire in his eyes, I will bend you over right in front of him to show him who you belong to, who you will always belong to.”

My panties are soaked right through! Aware he’s now sent heat racing through my body, Slater grins and says, “Is that enough of a label for you?” Breathless and squirming in my seat, I reply, “You would not bend me over and fuck me in public.” Slater laughs. “No, but Christ, I would want to. I’ll have to compromise with just kicking the guy’s ass.” As I slide down in the front seat so I can’t be seen, I laugh. “Pfff, Slater, you can’t kick every guy’s ass who checks me out.” Slater shakes his head playfully and then pierces me with an intense glare. “Oh, baby, you have so much to learn about me.” I scoff at his words but can’t stop the smile which brightens my face. The sensation of belonging is intoxicating. I finally have a safe place in this intimidating

world.

Chapter Twelve Vengeance, but whose? Slater Coming up to the secret entrance to the forest, I peer into the rear-view mirror. Through the black night, I spot a red SUV coming up behind us. I pull over to the side of the road and wait for the car to pass us. When it does and it’s far enough away, I turn onto a dirt road into Jefferson Forest. “Baby, you can sit up now.” Piper rises and begins stretching her neck and shoulders. She’s been asking me for the last twenty minutes how much longer the trip would take. She would have been fine to sit up after ten minutes, but I just couldn’t do it. As I looked to her to tell her¸ I noticed her dress had ridden up her thighs to just below her pussy and damn, I wasn’t going to give up the sight of her gorgeous, tanned legs until I absolutely had to. My cock was near exploding, and after the amount of times I looked down to her legs, I’m surprised we didn’t have an accident. “That was horrible! Half an hour of sitting like that and my neck is killing me,” she says as she massages her shoulders. “I promise when I get you in my bed after all this, I will pay special attention to your neck.” Neck, back, ass and so

much more. She points her finger at me and says, “I will hold you to

that. You could have told me the trip would be that long, Slater. I could have just lain down in the back seat.” “And miss staring at your long, beautiful, tanned legs? No fucking way,” I admit. Piper giggles and the sound causes my heart to lighten, something I don’t think it’s ever done before. I turn right at the fork in the road where I would usually go straight ahead to our hidden cars. I spot the cabin in the distance from the crossroad, and we drive for a moment longer before we arrive. I park next to Mack’s black Camaro in front of the cabin. Mack should be here somewhere checking the place out, making sure either no one else visits the cabin or no one will be back anytime soon. Piper and I step out of Chevy, a cool breeze and the smell of fresh air hitting me instantly. I open the back door and pull out Piper’s suitcase. Then I hear the front screen door to the brown wooden cabin squeak open and Mack walks out. “So, what’d you find?” I call to him. “It’s full of stuff, fully furnished and there’s not one speck of dust. This place is used but not lived in. There’s no food or working electricity. My guess is it’s used as an on-again, off-again place to vacation. Maybe a weekend getaway, but since it’s Saturday and no-one is here, and there’s no bags or food, I’d say it’s clear until next weekend.” Mack shrugs and continues, “It will do for now. If they come back I’ll drive Piper into the forest, call you and we’ll come up with a new plan.”

“So, how did you get in if it’s being used?” Piper asks, a hint of mischief in her tone. “Never mind your pretty little head about that,” Mack says with a wink. I take Piper’s hand and lead her into the cabin. The theme is clearly wood. It’s filled with wooden benches, shelves, cabinets and wooden furniture. There are long, red rugs in each room and thick, white curtains over each window. There’s only one bedroom with a double bed, a kitchen, one bathroom, laundry and a living room. No television, but many fishing poles in the laundry room. The owner must stay here while they fish down at Yatesville Lake. I pull Piper into the bedroom, snake my hand around her waist and hold her to me while I kiss her forehead and sigh. “I have to head out now.” I pause and say, “See you round.” Piper smiles, signaling she remembers our first goodbyes. I say it now because each time it was spoken, we always saw each other again, so I’m telling her ‘I will see you again very soon’. “Now that I’m safe, will you promise to keep yourself unharmed for me?” Piper asks. Well, it sounds like a question, but I sense it’s more of a demand. “As safe as I can be,” I whisper as I gently brush my lips against hers. Piper relaxes in my arms and I grin at being able to placate her so easily. I grab her ass. Fuck, I love this ass. I lift her against the wall and take her mouth, using my own to promise I will return for her. Piper whimpers, and I know I

need to stop now or I’m not going to be able to leave at all. I pull back from the kiss, both of us breathing heavily. I stare into her eyes, brown depths I swear I’ve gotten lost in before when I was a child. Maybe God decided to give me a little slice of Heaven with Piper. Maybe he made her just for me and gave her my favorite part of Mia. Maybe this is his apology for giving me such a shit life. Piper Slater left a while ago with a firm, “You’re on the couch,” to Mack. Mack saluted Slater with a grin and then walked him out to Chevy. I watched them from the window while they chatted. Slater looked to me in the window, his face full of concern and apprehension. He doesn’t want to leave me, but we both know he has to. Besides, I’m safe. I’m deep in a forest with Mack, who is as strong as Slater and can also give off a mean ‘don’t fuck with me’ vibe. Slater has made sure I’m safe, and I can only hope he keeps his promise and comes back to me in one piece. *** I’m out on the front deck of the cabin, reading a book in the morning’s cool breeze. My eyes feel as though they’ll close at any minute after such a horrible, restless sleep last night. I couldn’t get the image of Della hurt out of my mind and when I did finally find sleep, Della turned into Slater and I would wake up in shock, dripping in sweat. I gave up trying and have been out here ever since, reading and watching

the sunrise. One of the most glorious things I have ever seen is this forest come alive with the morning sun and breeze. Mack steps through the screen door and says, “I’m gonna get the barbecue out back going. Do you want bacon and eggs for breakfast?” “Sounds delicious, Mack. I’ll hop up and grab the food out of the cooler and bring it to you.” Mack nods. “Sweet. Grab the rolls, too.” “Okay.” I stand and follow Mack into the cabin. Mack leaves to turn the barbeque on as I go to the cooler he brought with him last night and pull out the bacon and eggs which rest just under the steaks. I spot the barbecue sauce and grab that, as well. Who can have

bacon and eggs on rolls without sauce? With my hands full, I push open the back screen with my back and place the items on the side of the barbeque. “Thanks,” he mutters as he takes the plate from me. “You’ve been out front reading for a while. Notice anything weird or any cars drive by?” Mack questions. “Nope, nothing weird, and only one car drove past a few tracks over. A red SUV, but that’s it and they didn’t stop, just kept going north.” “How long ago?” “Umm, an hour, maybe a little bit longer.” He nods and begins to place the bacon and eggs on the hot plate. “So, you were in foster care?” Mack tries for subtle, but his curious eyes tell me he wants to know more about me. I

smile on the inside, excited one of Slater’s brothers wants to get to know me. I casually lean on the outside of the house next to the barbecue and tell him the same thing I’ve told everyone. “Yep, my parents died when I was younger. And then I was put into a foster home and stayed there until I could go out on my own.” “What were your parents like? Good people?” “Umm, actually, it’s hard to grasp hold of memories from that part of my life. I remember friends or other kids around my age. I have flashes of blurry faces and I’m sure my mother sang to me, or maybe it was me singing to her.” I shake my head, frustration taking hold. I wish I could remember something about them, even if only something small. “It’s okay, Piper. I know what it’s like to block out traumatic events from your childhood. Losing your parents must have been a horrible thing to witness.” “I don’t think I actually saw them die. I think I was just told. Argh, it’s so frustrating. I would love just one memory of them, you know?” “Well, since my parents tossed me aside and didn’t want me, I’m happy I don’t have any memories of them,” Mack says in a matter-of-fact tone. It breaks my heart that anyone would treat him that way, because he’s such a gentle soul. Well, to his allies anyway. “I’m so sorry, Mack,” I say softly. He shrugs in a manner which tells me he’s fine and continues to flip the eggs.

“Is that how you and your family ended up together, in the foster home?” I inquire, watching Mack carefully, not wanting to push him too hard, aware of the horrors that went on in that place. “Yes, we were all tossed aside. Our foster father, Phillip, always enjoyed reminding us that we were unwanted and our parents couldn’t stand the sight of us.” A tear escapes, but I quickly wipe it away before Mack can see. “I’m sorry your CPS worker was a lazy bitch who never checked up on you all.” Mack nods, but says nothing. I feel this is the end of our conversation; he’s had enough. I look around awkwardly, not sure if I should start a new topic or just keep my mouth shut when I realize I forgot the rolls. “I forgot the rolls. I’ll be right back,” I inform Mack and walk back into the cabin. I’m in the kitchen picking up the bag of rolls from the bench when something red catches my eye. I peer out the front window and find a red SUV parked across the track.

Is that the same one that drove past an hour ago? Chills race through my body and I jump as I hear my cell phone ring out. I drop the food to the ground, pick up the call and begin running through the cabin to tell Mack about the red car. “Piper?” Slater asks when I don’t say hello. “Slater,” I answer, my breathing erratic and my voice shaking with fear. “What’s wrong?” he demands, and I can hear the worry

in his tone. I run through the back door and just as I’m about to tell both Slater and Mack about the red SUV, two figures to my left grab my attention. I turn and gasp. Jimmy. “What the fuck,” Mack growls low, angry and deadly. An elderly man is holding Jimmy in a headlock with a gun to his head. Jimmy is pale and his eyes are wide, clearly terrified. “Well, hello, Piper and Mackson,” the man says in a gloating tone. “You,” Mack growls. It’s an animalistic sound, like a caged animal which is desperate to attack its victim. Mack moves to stand in front of me, his feet apart and arms tensed as if he’s ready to strike as fast and deadly as a snake. The old man straightens and pulls Jimmy against him tighter. Jimmy moans in pain and I grab hold of Mack’s arm, hoping he can hear my thoughts screaming at him to please not push the gunman while he has Jimmy. At the same time, my cell falls from my hand. Slater. Shit, I forgot he was on the phone with me. At least he’ll know what’s happening; hopefully he’s on his way right now to save us. Mack doesn’t move an inch more, and I look back to the old man, wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. He’s medium height, small build with light grey hair and a wrinkled face filled with pigmentation and dark circles under his eyes. Still holding on to Mack’s arm, I sense when his thin thread of rage snaps and his muscles bunch up in

preparation to lunge. “Phillip, I’m going to fucking kill you,” Mack threatens. I inhale sharply. Phillip. Their foster father. The monster. “Oh, I thought that might be my reception, which is why I brought this.” He squeezes Jimmy tighter around the neck and pushes the gun harder into his head. Jimmy’s face cringes in pain. “Let’s move this party inside, shall we?” Phillip advises with a malicious grin. Slater Positioned outside the Poison Boys’ house, Pace and I are waiting for Brett to text us with details of who’s inside and if Rex is one of them. We snuck into Parkland in the back of Brett’s car. Just as Portland is loyal to us, Parkland is loyal to the Poison Boys. Through gossip, myths and changed stories, each area has their own twisted reasons for siding with the Poison Boys or us, yet no one knows the truth and probably never will. My phone vibrates in my pocket. Rex and his top three are in the building. He’s sent everyone else to Portland borders to watch for you all to cross over. Rex found out it was Della who was shot. He’s destroyed the whole fucking house almost, and Kodi and Corey had to hold him down. He’s fucked-up over it being Della, so now would be your time to strike.

I’m not surprised he’s going insane that it was Della shot and hurt, because both our sisters have been off-limits. Rex did love Della at one time, and he showed her how to draw, play basketball. He taught her Math and English since, being on the streets, we were never able to go to school. Rex and his sister, Lana, did and when we went to work for Jae, Rex and Lana would sit and teach us what they had learned at school. Rex is part of the reason Dell could get into college. He helped her get her GED with no schooling at all, just her natural smarts and his help. I roll my bat in my hands and say to Pace, “Rex, Kodi, Corey and Reed. Three on four, since we can trust Brett to jump in if we need his help. You ready?” Pacer nods and says, “Let’s go break some bones.” I return the gesture, but first we need to do something. “We’ll call the others and make sure everyone is where they’re supposed to be. I won’t ever let Rex have the upper hand again.” Pace nods in understanding and pulls his phone out to check in with Kel. I dial Piper’s number. It rings three times before she picks up but there’s no hello, just a rustling in the background. “Piper?” I call out. I listen carefully for what’s happening and then my whole body stills, time freezes and fear spirals out of control in my mind. All of sudden, the call ends and all I hear is dead air. “Holy fuck,” I mutter, still frozen and unable to

comprehend what’s happening in my world right now, to my brother, my woman. “What?” Pacer asks, concerned. All I can manage is to whisper, “It’s Phillip. He’s got Piper and Mack.” When I don’t hear Pacer’s response, I’m taken out of my stupor. When I look to my brother, his face has turned ashen. The man in front of me turns into a small boy right before my eyes, but not for long. Rage quickly takes hold and his whole body goes rigid. We’ve all waited for this day for so long, the ultimate revenge. I’m staring at Pacer when we hear footsteps coming toward us. Pace and I brace ourselves to attack, but it’s only Brett who steps around the corner. “I came out to see if everything was all right. I thought something must have happened.” “Give me your keys, Brett. Now,” I demand harshly. “Someone else has found Piper, and we need to get to Jefferson Forest fucking yesterday.” Brett tosses me his keys without question, and Pace and I sprint as fast as we can up the road to Brett’s parked Skyline. We jump in and I start the car. Within seconds, we’re speeding through Parkland’s streets and my mind begins to imagine the worst.

What if we’re too late? My heart beats frantically, pounding furiously with what ifs. What if Phillip takes Piper from me, too? I won’t be able to take the loss again. It will be the end of me.

Chapter Thirteen Found. Slater I park the Skyline amongst trees just left of the fork in the road. Pace and I race through the forest to a spot right across from the front of the cabin. We see a red SUV parked out front. Is that the same SUV that passed me when I dropped Piper off? Fuck! Phillip had been following us all along, and I didn’t even fucking realize. “Any ideas?” Pace asks. Bent low to the ground, watching for any movement, I shake my head. “Not apart from how painfully that bastard is going to die.” “We’ve got no weapons, Slate, and we don’t have a clue if Phillip does.” “He does, a gun,” I reply instantly, remembering what I heard on the phone. “He has Jimmy too, which is why Mack hasn’t killed him yet.” “Fucker,” Pacer growls. “He’s had to be watching us closely to know to pick Jimmy up and use him as leverage.” “Yeah, but what does he want? We haven’t seen him since we were children and we escaped his house. I called the police, but I never heard any reports of a man with his name going to trial or prison for murder.” I shake my head. This doesn’t make sense. “If he’s been watching us, he

knows he’s a dead man, so what’s he after then?” “Shit, this unknown bullshit is fucking with my head,” Pacer admits. I turn to my brother with a serious look. “The world’s full of the unknown, brother, so hold on to the one thing we know will happen today.” I point to the cabin. “That motherfucking pedophile will be dead before the sun sets today.” My voice is full of promise, a pledge of murder and wrath, vengeance so close I can almost taste it. Pacer nods, and we decide to cross the track and walk around the cabin until we can find a way in unseen or hear where they are in the cabin. We step out of the trees and begin to run across the road as quietly as we possibly can when we hear a gunshot and a high-pitched woman’s scream. I don’t stop to think, just start racing up to the cabin’s stairs and turn the door handle, but it’s locked. So I kick. First kick. My heart bangs harder and harder against my chest, almost ripping through the layers of my skin. Second kick. The lock splinters and the door flies open. Breathing heavily with sweat covering my forehead and neck, I stop dead at the sight in front of me. Phillip is to my right, standing over Mack with a gun but staring at me. Mack is tied to a chair with his legs spread wide, bullet holes in the chair inches away from Mack’s manhood and legs. Mack’s hard, stony glare stays on Phillip, staring him down and showing no fear at the obvious torture the fucker

is trying to put him through. Phillip’s face distorts into an ugly smile. The first thing I notice is he’s aged terribly and he’s fucking thin and short, a little worm I could squish under my boot. Was he always this puny? Probably not through a child’s eyes. Hysterical crying penetrates my hearing, and I look to my left to find Piper and Jimmy on the other side. Jimmy’s tied to a chair, but Piper isn’t. She’s sitting there, sobbing, holding on to her chair with white knuckles. “Just in time to enjoy the show, boys,” Phillip says mockingly, and it’s then I realize Pacer must be behind me. “Every time Piper moves on her chair, even a small amount, I shoot at Mack.” “I’m not moving at all, you asshole! You just keep fucking shooting!” Piper screams across the room. Phillip chuckles and it’s a sound I can’t wait to extinguish forever. “Oh, maybe I’m seeing things, who knows, but this is fun anyway.” Pacer and I begin moving around the room slowly, me in front of Phillip, Pacer behind him. He notices and quickly darts across the room, aiming the gun at Piper. I freeze. “I’ll shoot her if you come any closer. Straight through the head if you take one more step.” Mack begins jerking around in his chair, trying to get free. “I’m gonna fucking kill you, you piece of scum, motherfucking bastard,” Pacer promises and takes another step forward.

“Pace, back off!” I yell to him. “Slate, you know what he did to us. I’m not letting him leave here alive.” “Oh, I don’t want to leave here alive. I’m done with this life, done with being beaten and abused,” Phillip admits. I don’t need to look around the room to know everyone has the same confused expression on their faces. “You?” I sneer. “ You are done with being beaten and abused.” Phillip’s lips tip up into a snarl. “For eighteen years I was raped, demoralized, mutilated and weakened. And I’m here for revenge on the one who forced me down that path, the one who had me imprisoned.” I inhale sharply. He did go to prison. Was Mia found?

Does she have a grave? Phillip swings his gaze to Piper and cocks the gun. My body tenses to run and jump in front of her, to save the woman I’ve fallen so hard for. “You!” Phillip’s voice rattles with hatred. “Such a stupid bitch all the time, always pushing and pushing me until I couldn’t hold in my rage any longer. Always begging me to leave the boys alone and crying when I struck you. Why couldn’t you just stop crying?” Phillip screams hysterically, spit flying from his disgusting mouth. A headache begins to form as I grow more lost with every word out of the fucker’s mouth. I’m hearing his words, but they aren’t making sense. Has he grown insane during his deserved, grisly prison life?

Piper’s staring up at Phillip with wide, confused and terrified eyes. It’s then I’ve had enough, enough of this world treating Piper as its punching bag. She has me now, to take those strikes, to protect her from harm. In a split second, I’m between Piper and Phillip, and the gun is pointed right at my heart. “No!” Piper screams and before I know it, she’s beside me and Phillip swings his arm away from me right before the gun goes off. My heart explodes as I twist Piper around in my arms so my body is covering hers. The room is deathly silent; I can only hear my rasping breaths. Distantly, I sense wooden splinters fall from the roof around me. It takes a moment, but eventually I feel Piper’s chest rise and fall in my arms. I quickly turn her over and check her body. Her face is pale and she looks as if she can’t speak out of fear. She’s fine; her body is clear of wounds and there’s no blood anywhere. The moment and thought of losing her comes crushing around me and I hide my face away in her neck, begging my body not to fall apart right now. It’s then Piper finally comes back to life and she grips my shirt tightly, pulling me to her with a grip which defies the strength I know she has in her small, beautiful body. “Stay the fuck back, or I’ll kill them both!” Phillip roars and I spin around with Piper still in my arms. I push her behind me when I see the gun is still pointed toward us. Pacer is advancing on Phillip like a predator, stalking his prey. “I’m not leaving here or dying without my revenge!”

Phillip shouts hysterically, his face puffed up and bright with rage. “Take it then,” I offer. “It was me. I saw Mia’s dead body and got the others out. Before fleeing, I called the police and told them what you’d done. I’m the reason you went to prison.” As I carefully speak to Phillip, I watch Pacer out of the corner of my eye move out of Phillip’s view and begin slowly making progress toward Phillip’s back. Piper digs her nails into my back and whispers powerfully, “Please stop, Slater. Please, he’ll kill you.” “Oh, that much I guessed when I was on trial for only one child,” Phillip states. My mind begins racing, searching for answers to his insane words. “I want revenge on Piper,” Phillip says while tilting his head to the side to look right at her. “Or should I call you Mia?” I freeze. Every single person in the room except for Phillip stills in disbelief. Did I hear him wrong? He begins moving in a circle around me to clearly talk to Piper. “You put me away. You were all the evidence they needed, you and your fucking statement. Why couldn’t you just fucking die, you little bitch,” Phillip snarls. His threatening tone wakes me from my shock and I match his steps, keeping Piper safely behind me. "I'm not Mia, you delusional fuck!" Piper screams from behind me. My world begins to spin. "You killed Mia!" I roar at

Phillip. "I saw her body myself. She was dead, bloody, pale and cold." "Oh, I know Mia died that day," Phillip finally admits. "Stop with the riddles and just spit out whatever the fuck you came here to say." My voice drips with a deadly warning, but Phillip barely registers my presence. His entire focus is on the woman standing behind me. And then he speaks. "Mia ceased to exist that day because Piper was born. Or should I say... Piper was found.”

Chapter Fourteen Twisted Memories. Mia – Nineteen Years Ago My head hurts badly, pure agony. I slowly open my eyes, but shut them tight again when the bright light hurts them. “Poppet,” I hear a woman say and I slowly open my eyes. This time instead of a bright light, I view a woman’s gentle face. A smile on it grows wider on it the more my eyes open. She sighs. “I’m so glad you’re awake, poppet. We’ve been worried about you.” At her words, I look around the room expecting to see my family, but I don’t see anyone I know. There’s just the strange lady and a nurse by the door. The movement hurts, and I’m suddenly aware of bandages around my face and head. I lift my hand to feel my face, but I’m stopped all at once as I examine my hand. Bruised fingers and wrists are also covered with bandages. I whimper when my body registers it feels pain everywhere. “Shhh, I know. You will be in a lot of pain at the moment. I will get the nurse to give you some more medication to relieve you.” I watch as she glances to the nurse who quickly comes to my other side and begins fiddling with a big, yellow box and tubes. The lady takes my attention away from the nurse when she asks, “Do you remember what happened to you?” I stare up at the lady and search my memory. My body

begins to shake violently and tears start falling.

“You’re lucky I even keep you here. Girls are of no use to me except to cook and clean. Other than that, you’re just a waste of space.” I continue to wash the dishes. I dare not let my body shake with the tears which are falling down my face. If he sees me crying, I will be in so much more trouble. I feel liquid dripping from my nose, and I quickly swipe it away with the sleeve of my ripped shirt. “Are you crying?” I freeze and then my body starts shaking with undiluted fear. I can hear the disdain and anger in Phillip’s voice. This is it. Yet another beating there will be no getting away from. I eventually get the nerve to turn my head toward the monster we call our foster father. But I never get a chance to see him because I’m hit on the back of the head with something hard and fall to the floor. I feel pain to the right and left side of my face, but I can’t grasp what it is. It’s coming at me too hard and too fast. My eyes shut tightly while silent screams are torn from my throat. Suddenly, he stops and my eyes painfully open of their own accord, desperate to see what is happening. And then I see him. Phillip is leaning over me and just before I go into the darkness, I see a silver belt buckle right before eyes. Gentle hands swipe tears away from my face, and I see the nice lady in front of me. I hear the soft buzzing sound in

the room get louder and louder as my heart races with my thoughts.

My brothers and sister! I grab the lady’s hand from my face and squeeze hard. Her eyes widen with the pressure and I begin shouting, “My brothers and sister! You have to save them. Slate, Dell, Mack, Pace and Kel. Please, you have to help them!” “Shhh, Piper. It’s okay.” Piper? “My name’s not Piper. It’s Mia, and you have to get to my house and help my family.” The lady’s eyes soften and her lips thin as she presses them together in thought. “Poppet, your real name is Piper. That bad man who did this to you has been arrested and is going to prison. He will stay there for a very long time, if not forever. He stole you, Piper. He stole you from your family when you were five years old.” I frown while trying to process what she’s saying then shake my head, not able to believe it. “No, my parents gave me away. They didn’t want me. My home is a group home, and I have brothers and a sister whose parents gave them away, too.” “Oh, poppet, you’ve had hard hits to your head and I think you are very confused. There were no other children at the house Phillip held you in. It was just you and some of your things there.” I begin shouting wildly. “No, there are other beds, other sheets, clothes, books, some toys! They are my family’s things! I don’t understand what you’re saying.” I’m crying,

trying and failing to understand what is happening right now. “Yes, there were other beds but no sheets, no other clothes and no other children or anything which would tell the police other children were kept there. You need to rest, Piper. You’ve been through so much in the last three years, and now you will have to go through many surgeries to fix your broken bones. The doctors are also talking plastic surgery for your face. Unfortunately, some of your features aren’t salvageable. I think you’re very confused right now and you need time to heal. Then you can remember what really happened in the last three years.” My heart begins to race and I try to move. I need to make her understand they were real. My brothers and sister

are real. “Don’t move, Piper.” “Stop calling me that! I’m Mia!” I scream. “I have a family and you need to help them!” My shouts turn into hysterical screams. I try to sit up, but the woman pushes me back down by my shoulders. “Nurse!” “Piper, please calm down. You’re going to hurt yourself more doing this.” The woman repeats this to me over and over again while I flail around on the bed, trying to free myself to get to my family. I need to make sure they’re

okay. “I’ve upped her dosage, so she will drift off soon,” the

nurse says to the woman holding me down.

Drift off? What does that mean? I soon find out when my body becomes limp and my eyes slowly close against my will.

Chapter Fifteen Stolen. Piper My head’s spinning and I’m holding on to Slater to stay upright as blurred images continue to assault my mind. Nothing’s making sense to me, though. Are they memories? “Mia only existed in my world and she died the day you little brats ran away and called the police!” Phillip ends on a roar. “They arrived, arrested me and realized the bitch still had a pulse. She survived,” he snarls. “And then they found out who she really was, a missing child. My accomplice and I, a woman who I paid a lot of fucking money to take children, were arrested for kidnapping and assault.” Chills race through my body, and I inhale sharply. “Yyou’re the man who stole me?” “Finally, now we’re getting somewhere.” “What the fuck is going on?” Slater growls, turning to look at me. “I-I was stolen as a child. A woman took me from my parents. She and a man were arrested for kidnapping and assaulting me. That’s all I know; I-I don’t remember that far back in my childhood. But I know when I was found my parents had already died in a car accident. I-I don’t remember them at all,” I end on a whisper. “I-I spent a few months in the hospital, from the injuries I sustained, and then I was placed in a foster home.” I take a big breath,

trying to control my stutter. “I had dreams of other children. I thought I had brothers or sisters, but everyone kept telling me I must have imagined them.” My head whips up to Phillip. “You stole them; y-you stole all of us. Y-you took us all from our families,” I state, barely able to control my anger. “We have families,” Mack says with a disbelieving tone. Phillip looks to Mack and Pace but with only disdain. He offers no apology for what he stole from them, no sorrow for his sins. “Slater,” I say, my chin trembling uncontrollably. “Did Mia stutter?” His eyes pierce mine and all I see is anguish, unmistakable suffering from finding out his childhood was not only a living hell, but also a lie. “No,” he says in a tight, pained voice. I step around Slater and face Phillip. His gun is aimed at me, but I don’t care at all. He took everything from me: my parents, the family I distantly remember loving even if I thought they were all just a dream. He took my face, my speech and he snatched away any chance I ever had at a normal, happy life. “Y-y-y-you did this to me,” I accuse, my body shaking with murderous rage while tears fall unbidden and unwelcomed. “I had heard through the trial the extent of your injuries included plastic surgery on the face, and brain damage which resulted in your speech being impaired.” He shrugs, uncaring. “Sounds painful.” He smiles. “But that’s not

enough punishment for what you did to me. I’ve been out of jail for seven months searching for you. When I finally found you three weeks ago, I started following you, and to find you with the other children I stole... Not knowing who you were to them or them to you, what are the odds? I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tell you the truth and then take away the life that should have ended nineteen years ago.” Wildly shaking, pounding head, physically feeling your spirit shatter inside of yourself and realizing you have irreparable damage... this is what uncontrollable rage feels like. Worry for my own safety disappears with my fury and desire for revenge against this cruel man. No, not a man.

Not even a human being. My whole miserable life of feeling rejected, unsafe and unworthy is because of him. Strength I’ve never felt before flows through me as if lightning struck its target, and it gifts me with the courage I’ve always begged to have. It’s time to take a stand to make a sacrifice for everyone.

Slater Mia’s alive. But it’s not possible; I saw her dead body. I race through my memories: her lifeless body lying on the kitchen floor, her face unrecognizable. Did I touch her and

was she warm? Did I check to see if her chest rose and fell? I can’t remember! Did I leave her there alive? Did I leave Mia behind?

I cup my head within my hands in despair. “No, no, no,” I whisper brokenly. My head whips up when I hear Piper’s voice boom through the room. “Pacer, take him! Don’t worry about me! Kill the son of a bitch and do it now!” Phillip looks around the room, wildly unsure whether to kill the one he came for or aim at the one who’s coming at him. I shout, “Pacer, stop!” I grab hold of Piper’s arm to move her back from Phillip. When the fuck did she move? But she shakes me off, furiously stepping away from me and holding her arms out, gesturing for me not to come near her. I look to her face in shock, except I don’t recognize her at all. She’s vibrating with anger and agony. She shifts her heartbreaking stare back to Phillip and says, “Come on, Phillip. Do what you came here to do! Or are you really just here to whine and bitch about your poor excuse of a life, a life you deserved in prison? This is what you get off on, isn’t it? Belittling and frightening people. Well, I’m not afraid of you or of dying. Kill me so I know your death will quickly follow.” Betrayal shoots through my core. How could she ever think of leaving me? “Kill her and I promise you, Phillip, you will not die today. I will keep you alive and in pain for a very long time. I will make what you experienced in jail like child’s play if you dare harm a hair on her head.” Piper looks to me in irritation and Phillip starts bouncing

around on his feet, fear creeping into his features. Pacer is tense, waiting on the decision we all know is coming. Soon, someone is going to move first.

How the fuck do I get the aim of that gun off Piper? How the fuck do I stop my brother from going after his tormentor, which will in turn kill the woman I love? Piper takes a huge breath and screams, “Don’t let him live a-another second, Pacer! Don’t worry a-about me. Kill him!” she cries. “He took everything from us. I-I don’t care iif I-I live or die, just kill him.” Piper’s broken speech and toofar-gone attitude has my heart breaking in two. I run to Piper.

BANG! Piper screams. Pacer tackles Phillip. Mack and Jimmy shout. I turn Piper over roughly, patting her down. She’s breathing so fucking heavy that I struggle to see where she’s been shot. I’m lifting her top in search of a bullet wound and blood I’m sure will quickly follow. “No,” she says breathlessly. “Slater.” She says my name and swallows roughly. “He missed. He missed me.” I fall to my knees and bury my head in her lap, trying desperately to calm my shattered heart. I wrap my arms around her waist, around Piper, around Mia—both alive, both safe and in my arms. “Don’t fucking ever do that again, Piper,” I growl to her while tightening my arms around her.

Piper rests her hands on my back, but I shake them off and face her. I want to scream at her for being so reckless with her precious life. Instead, I slam my mouth down on hers and savor her taste. The kiss is hard and rough as if it’s the last one I’ll ever get. I’m trying to show her how much I need her alive and with me, but I’m too angry to put those emotions into words. Grunts come from behind us. I turn and find Phillip on his back and Pacer with his boot to Phillip’s neck, pushing down hard, and forcing Phillip to grunt in pain as blood spits from his mouth. “I’m going to torture the fuck out of you,” Pacer growls. I stand, walk over to Mack and Jimmy, and untie them. Mack goes straight for the gun and picks it up. Phillip must have lost it when Pacer tackled him. We both position ourselves beside Pacer, standing over the pathetic old man. “No amount of torture would ever be enough,” Mack states, his voice dead with no emotion. “Kill him now. Let’s be done with him, once and for all.” Pace doesn’t move for a moment and then reluctantly nods in agreement. Mack checks the gun for more bullets, cocks it and aims at Phillip’s skull. Phillip’s skin turns white and his eyes widen. The sight is ugly as is everything with death, but even more so on his face. He extends his arms and goes to sit up with his mouth open to scream, but he isn’t fast enough. BANG!

His eyes roll back and his mouth appears as a soundless scream when his head slams back to the floor. We watch as his body falls, lifeless. Exterminated. I turn to Piper as she begins to cry and wraps her arms around her body. I’m lost. I don’t know what to do, how to help her. My mind refuses to believe what Phillip told us, but my heart knows she’s Mia; it’s always known. And me, the fool, never listened to what it was trying to tell me. I kneel next to her and tilt her chin up with my fingers. I inhale sharply at her beautiful, devastated face. I’m hurt she tried to end her life just so Philip would die, but right now, she needs me, and I admit to myself I need her just as much. “I can’t remember,” she sobs. “I want to remember. I want to know who I was, who you all were.” “Trust me, baby; you don’t want to remember your... our childhood. Leave it be. We know the truth now and that’s all that matters.” “You have a family, Slater,” Piper says softly through her hiccupping cries. A family. Parents, possibly siblings. Would they want to know the man I’ve become? Could they forgive all the evil things I’ve done? I feel numb from the day’s events and decide now is not the time to think about this new information. I cup Piper’s face and explain, “I have all the family I need and apparently more than I realized.” She gives me a small smile and I kiss her softly, but deeply. I pull back and gaze into Piper’s eyes, the same brown

eyes I stared into when I was an abused little boy. The same eyes which shone light into my dark world. “Piper or Mia, it doesn’t matter, I’m never letting you slip through my fingers again,” I powerfully pledge to her. Piper shakes her head and whispers, “I’m lost, confused. I knew who I was an hour ago, but now...” “You’re my girl and I’ll help you figure out the rest. I’ll tell you about who you were as a little girl, how much of a fighter you were, how loyal and caring you were.” I shrug. “A lot like who you are now.” Piper flashes me a brilliant smile. “I think I’m falling in love with you, Slater.” “That’s a good thing, Piper, since I’ve loved you my whole life.”

Chapter Sixteen Family. Slater We drive away from the cabin and watch as the cottage begins to collapse, and become engulfed by flames. We could have taken Phillip out somewhere unknown and buried his body, except he didn’t deserve the effort. We could have left his body there for the owners to find, but I didn’t think that would be right, either. We decided to burn the cabin to the ground with his body inside. I imagine if the owners knew someone had died in their vacation cottage they wouldn’t want to stay there any longer. Hopefully this way, they have insurance and can rebuild. And Phillip died the way he deserved to: frightened, cowardly and shot by his own gun, his body burned. His ashes will be gone with the wind as if he never existed, the way it should be. Piper Slater drove us straight to the hospital to see Kelso, wanting to tell him what happened as soon as possible. Della will be told when she’s back home and well enough to handle the news. Walking into the hospital, I catch Pacer and Mack staring at me with wondrous looks on their faces. It’s strange. To them this is remarkable, a miracle, but to me, it’s a piece of history I never missed, yet they are the most

important moments of my past. I wonder if I broke through the fog, would I remember my parents? The likelihood of that ever happening is slim. I’ve tried most of my life to remember something, anything. But I’ve never gotten close enough to ever think there might be a chance at a memory. They are locked up tight. Perhaps it’s for the best; that way, I can’t miss what I can’t remember ever having. I wait in the main waiting room while the boys talk to Kelso in the next one over while still staying close to Della’s room. I hear a bang and jump in my seat, looking around for what made that sound. Kelso storms into the waiting room, his face hard and his fists clenched. He walks over to me and I stand, starting to back away while wondering why he’s so angry with me. But instead of anger, he scoops me in his arms into a warm, gentle hug. “Missed you, sis,” he whispers. Tears begin to fall as I wrap my arms around Kel and hang on to him with a death grip. Family. A family that was mine all along, a family which accepts me for who I am, my stutter and all. One after the other, the guys wrap me in strong, warm hugs. Tears continue streaming down my face, as the moment is too much for me to handle. I’m turned into Slater’s arms and he takes me, my chest wracking sobs, crying out my pain from the constant rejection and feeling alone for so long. “You’re not alone anymore, Piper.” I look up when I hear Mack’s voice.

Slater whispers in my ear, “Whether you were Mia or not, the moment I heard your cute-as-fuck stutter, you were mine and you were a part of this family.” My heart can’t take anymore; it’s so close to bursting. “The moment you beat up a guy for teasing me you became my everything, Slater,” I respond truthfully. Slater grins and says, “Time to head home.” He kisses my forehead, unwinds his arms from around my body and takes my hand in his. “Kel, you good here?” Kel nods and Slater continues, “We’re hitting Rex and his crew tomorrow.” “And how are we doing this?” Pacer asks. “By breaking his bones one by one, and if he still wants this war to continue, I have a back-up plan.” “What’s that?” Kel asks. Slater looks to me quickly then back to his brothers. “It’s last resort and nothing any of you need to worry about, because hopefully, it doesn’t come to that.” Uh-oh, that doesn’t sound good. “Can we go now? I want to check on Jimmy. If he’s run, God knows if he will ever come back after this.” They all nod and we head into Della’s room where all the guys give her a kiss on the forehead. She’s still unconscious; the doctors said she will wake when her body is ready. I stare down at Della and in this moment, I promise to be the best sister I can be. I’m going to give her everything I know she wants in both a sister and a best friend.

*** We arrive home and find Jimmy is still here. When he wasn’t in the house, I started freaking out and screaming his name, but he came in through the back door from the shed with grease on his hands. He actually smirked at me for the first time ever. Apparently, me freaking out makes him happy. Males! So annoying. Slater tells me he’s taking Jimmy out to the shed to ‘talk.’ I nod and say I’m going to have a shower. A massive grin explodes on his face and he winks at me. “Good memories in that shower,” he remarks. I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile which spreads across my face. They really are good memories. I spend a long while in the shower, trying to wash away the day and wrap my mind around all the secrets which were revealed. I wonder if Slater will try to find his family. I wonder if any of them will. After a while, I decide to get out and go in search of food. It’s dark outside so my stomach must be trying to tell me it’s dinnertime. I hop out of the shower, dry myself with a towel and wrap it around my body. Then I walk to Slater’s room, where he told me he put my suitcase. I open the door and gasp when I see his room illuminated with lit candles. Slater stands in the center, smiling at me. I scan the room and look at every burning candle. To my right, many sit on his chest of drawers and to

my left, a heap more rest on top of his TV unit. I look back to Slater and see the flowers on his bed. “Oh, my gosh,” I say, my voice full of surprise. “This is all so beautiful, Slater.” I move to his bed and inspect the flowers, seeing they are pink Peonies with dirt clumps still stuck to their roots. I grin and say, “Are these the flowers that are planted in your neighbor’s front yard?” “Were,” Slater whispers into my ear, and his deep tone instantly has shivers racing around my body. Slater pulls the towel from my body and his eyes narrow on my chest as they fill with need. He stands behind me and places kisses along my neck and shoulders while he cups my breasts. His calloused fingers rub over my nipples until they harden, my body begging to be filled with his cock. Slater lowers one of his hands and begins rubbing my clit, instantly causing my legs to weaken as pleasure begins to build. Out of nowhere, Slater slaps me on the ass and it stings, but it doesn’t rival the pleasure swirling through my body. He slaps me three more times and after each, my pussy contracts with need, the delicious sting pushing me further and further over the edge. I desperately want his cock filling me. Slater turns me and lays me over his bed face down. He palms my ass like he always does. “Fuck, I love this ass. I have no fucking clue what it is about it, but it drives me crazy. And now with my handprints marked on each of your gorgeous, round, ass cheeks, claiming you as mine. Shit, I think this is gonna be quick.”

I spread my arms out wide, getting ready to grab a tight hold of the bed. Slater moves between my legs and enters me slowly. “Hold on tight, baby.” I do as he says, grasping the side of the mattress. Slater keeps his promise and begins to pound into me at a punishing rate, causing our bodies to slam together. We both moan loudly at the ecstasy our bodies are experiencing. He pulls out and thrusts back in again. “Fuck,” he groans, and the vibration from his deep voice sends pleasure soaring through me. Slater brings us to the brink of pleasure and pain and we both tip over together, screaming out our release. Slater’s heavy body falls on mine, his hot breath fanning across my cheek. He rolls off my body, pulls me into his, and wraps his arms around me. “Fucking heaven,” he says softly against my head. I sigh, wrap my arms around him and kiss his chest. After a while of lying in Slater’s bed, spent and satisfied, I decide it’s time to talk to him about my living arrangements. “So, I’m going to have to go home soon,” I voice quietly and cautiously. Slater jolts up in bed and pierces me with a curious stare. “Just to get your stuff, right?” “Well, I’m not going to keep living there. I know Peter has a key, so I’ll have to find somewhere else to lease. I can’t just keep paying rent there and sleeping here, Slater. I have things I actually want of my own, actually a whole

house of things which are mine, things I have worked hard to acquire for myself,” I inform. “No,” Slater says and shakes his head. “Fuck no, you stay here. You live here now; you’re a part of this family. We can decide out of the two houses what material items are better and keep those, and then you can sell the rest.” “That’s huge, Slater, me moving in. I’m not sure about that. Would I have my own room?” I make myself sound worried, but damn if this isn’t exactly what I would love to happen. But only if it’s truly what Slater wants, not just what he thinks I wish to happen. Slater’s forehead creases and he grimaces at my words. “First, you’re moving in even if I have to tie you to my bed, and what the fuck would you need your own room for? This room is huge,” he says while throwing his arm out, gesturing to its size. I giggle at his adorable confusion. “Slater, I’m all for moving into this house and getting to know my family... again.” I mutter the last part. “But moving into your room... don’t you think that’s moving us too fast?” Slater falls back to the pillows and laughs aloud. I stay quiet, and he eventually stops and speaks. “You can have your own room.” His voice is matter-of-fact. “But,” he continues while positioning himself over my body, “your pussy is mine every night, whether it’s your bedroom or mine.” Slater begins to kiss me along my jaw. “I will hunt you down and take what is mine. I don’t give a fuck about moving too fast, because as far as I’m concerned, we’re

already nineteen years behind.” He says this while continuing to kiss softly along my jaw and positioning his body between my legs. “I don’t want to waste any more time with you, Piper, but if you want your own room, then I will make it happen. Just know it won’t stop me from claiming you every night, every morning and if you make me those cute triangle sandwiches again, probably every lunchtime, too.” I laugh loudly at his last words and then gasp when Slater’s hard cock pushes against my entrance. I stare up into his eyes and then he slams into me. Heaven. Piper “Piper, I’m done arguing about this. You’re staying here until I come back for you. End. Of. Fucking. Story.” Argh. Slater’s dropped me off at the hospital to be with Dell since he’s picking up Kelso. Brett is to stay with us while they go to face off with Rex. I want to be there; I want to meet this Rex. I understand it won’t be safe, but when have I ever been safe since Rex noticed me? I want to tell the asshole to go to hell, but Slater refuses to listen to me. We’ve been arguing all morning and all the way to the hospital. Unfortunately, Mack and Pace were no help. I asked them to understand and all they did was laugh at me.

Jerks! I stomp over to the chair in the corner and fall into it, my arms crossed over my chest and a pout on my lips. I pretend to stare out the window while tracking Slater’s

every move from the corner of my eye. He walks over and kisses me on the forehead. I don’t move, just stay in my pissed-off stance. “You have no idea how fucking turned on I am right now. If I had the time, I’d take you into a storage room, lift your dress, spank you and pound the fuck out of you.” Heat explodes below and my breathing becomes erratic. He grips my chin and tips my head up to look into his eyes. “Your beautiful ass stays here so I know it’s safe and I can look forward to pounding it later.” I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. I’m too busy remembering all the times Slater has fucked me deliciously, brutally hard. My body is useless to me right now, too busy getting excited about what he will be doing to me later.

I’m a melted puddle. The man turned me into goo. Slater grins and kisses me once more, but on the lips this time. A deep punishing kiss which speaks of what’s to come when he gets back. Slater pulls back and turns to a once-sleeping Della, now wide-awake and smiling massively at the both of us. She surprises us, as this is the first time she’s woken since her blood transfusion two nights ago. I jump up from my seat as Slater takes Della’s hand, kisses her head and sighs. “Missed you, Dell. You scared us. But you’re gonna be okay.” Della nods very slowly as her eyes close then flutter open. “Is everyone okay?”

“Yes. Now you just rest and get better, Dell,” Slater answers. Her eyes slowly close again and she tries one more time to fight it, but sleep wins out when her eyes don’t reopen after a few moments. “The doctor said she would be like this for two days as the anesthetic leaves her system,” Slater mutters to me as he stares down at his little sister. “Please be safe today,” I whisper, suddenly feeling very foolish about my behavior earlier. Looking at Dell, I realize I’ve forgotten just how dangerous Rex is. What if this is the last time I see Slater alive? My heart begins to beat rapidly, “Promise me you’ll come back alive to me, Slater,” I plead. Slater turns to me with an intense look. “I promise to always do whatever it takes to come back to you.” I nod and hug him tightly, never wanting to let him go. “Slate,” Kel calls out from the doorway. Slater pushes me back slightly and takes my mouth again, and this time, the kiss is slow and sweet. The differences in Slater from moment to moment are dizzying and intoxicating, but I wouldn’t want him any other way. “Watch over our sister,” he whispers. I press my lips together and nod. As I watch the man who holds my heart in his bloodstained hands walk out of the room, I pray to God to keep him safe, even if he is going to do the Devil’s work. Slater’s heart is pure and good, but his spirit and fight for life is fire, blazing strong and not afraid to burn those who

attack what he holds dear. Slater I walk out of the hospital room and leave my heart behind. It belongs with the two women I can’t live without, and I won’t take it where I’m going. Rex deserves nothing less than my complete hatred. “Ready?” Kel asks me. “Dell just woke up and she smiled,” I inform him. Kel’s eyes widen and he goes to walk around me, but I grasp his arm. “She fell back to sleep straight away, but she’s on the mend.” Kel pulls me into him and we slap each other’s backs, relieved our sister is going to be okay. “Now we need to go,” I say and turn to Brett. “Anyone comes, you call me. Anything suspicious at all, you call me. You think a ninety-year-old woman is a threat? You call me. Got it?” Brett nods. “Got it, Slate. I promise I’ll protect them with my life.” I lift my chin to Brett, then Kel and I walk toward the exit. “You sure about leaving Brett here?” Kel questions. “Who do you know who’s crazy enough to go between Poison Boys and us?” Kel laughs. “No one.” “That’s right. I’ve seen the way he looks at Della; he’s in love with her. I believe he would die to protect her. He does it every day by giving us information. I trust him to watch over her and Piper.” Kel nods and accepts my reasoning as we exit through

the hospital doors and straight to Chevy. Time to go to war.

Chapter Seventeen A life for a life. Slater Getting into Parkland unseen would have been difficult without Brett’s help, so my brothers and I decided to make a statement and cross the borders in Chevy. She’s well known and will not go unnoticed. Doing it this way, we know Rex and his crew will be ready for us, but we’re not here to hide. We’re here to show everyone what happens when you fuck with the Portland Street Kings. We aren’t cowards and we’ll face them all, head-on. Deep down, Rex does have honor for the streets, so if there’s anything still left inside of him, he’ll call out a brawl, one on one. Just me, him and our fists. But if he’s too fargone and he decides to try and sacrifice us to his whole crew, we’re prepared. Guns. We don’t normally carry or use them until they’re used against us. It’s one thing to live by a code, but it’s another to live by the code so desperately you die by it. Life changes all the time so we change with it, and sometimes that means following new rules. We drive through Parkland’s main street, which is almost identical to Portland: low-income area with minimal shops, run-down homes, and drug dealers on corner blocks. But these dealers deal the hard shit, the stuff which kills, Rex’s merchandise.

As we pass the corner stores, we see people with wide eyes and shocked expressions. Looking back in the rearview mirror, we watch as they get on their phones. Rex will already know we’re on our way. A few minutes later, we turn down Rex’s street and see four guys standing in front of his house, bodies tense and on alert. I bring Chevy to a stop across the street from Rex’s one-story house. I step out, facing a deserted skate park, one I know very well. I spent a lot of time at this skate bowl learning how to ollie and kick flip with Rex by my side, cheering me on. Each of my brothers steps out of the car. Each of us has a bat and knuckle-dusters in our back pockets and we’re carrying, our guns tucked into our jeans at our backs. Poison Boys have already seen us, but they aren’t moving toward us. We walk up to Rex’s white, wooden fence and stop while the two men try to stare us down. Looking left and right to my brothers and seeing them with smirks on their faces has me grinning from ear to ear. We are the fucking Portland Street Kings; these new kids on the block ain’t gonna have us shaking in our boots. “We’re here for Rex, and he knows we were coming. Is he inside? Too afraid to come out and face us!” I shout out the last part. At my words, the front screen door swings open and Rex strides out with an angry expression and narrowed eyes. Corey, Kodi and Reed follow closely behind.

“You’re on my block now, Slate. My turf, so watch your mouth,” he says and looks to my brothers. “I hope you all came to leave with broken legs because crossing my boundaries will not go unpunished,” Rex exclaims then looks to me. “And you, Slater? You just walked into your execution.” I chuckle. “You keep saying that, Rex, and yet here I stand once again, alive and unharmed. Too bad I can’t say the same for Dell,” I growl. Rex flinches and I continue, “You’ll be lucky to only get broken bones today. And if you don’t concede to my demands, you won’t live through the day.” Rex smiles snidely. “So cocky, Slate.” He extends his arm and gestures to my brothers and me. “Four on my six with only bats plus knuckle-dusters, I’m sure. Fools, your code will be what gets you killed.” All at once, Rex and his crew pull out their guns and aim at them at us. “Is that how you want this to go down, how you want to be remembered? Gunning us down, six to four? Why don’t you fight me like a real man? Put your toys away and fight me with honor, strength wins. Or don’t you think you could beat me?” I goad him. The screen door squeaks open and my eyes search the porch for who walked out. It’s Lana, Rex’s sister. I haven’t seen her for almost five years. She’s taller than I remember and her blonde hair is now long and straight when it used to be short with a wave to it. She has a tattoo on her left wrist and one further up on her forearm, but I’m too far away to see what they are. I wonder if she’s still the same gentle girl

who would laugh at anything and always play jokes on us boys. Mack steps forward then suddenly, as if remembering where we are, he steps back quickly. I look over to him curiously. “Get inside, Lana,” Rex demands. Lana moves from the front door further out of the house and to the end of the porch. Rex sighs in frustration from her obvious refusal to listen to him. “What will it be? Shame or knowing you took down your father’s killer with your bare hands.” Rex snarls. “Fists only. This time you aren’t walking away unharmed, Slate. Corey,” Rex mutters and Corey steps down from the porch to Rex’s side. Rex hands Corey his Glock and he places it in his jeans behind his back. “Everyone, move aside,” Rex orders his crew. I step forward through Rex’s fence. My brothers stay put, understanding the meaning of honor, of fighting one on one. If something does happen to me, they know it’s how I would want to go out, like a man. I reach around to pull out my gun to give to one of my brothers when Rex lets out a war cry and comes straight at me. A throbbing pain explodes on the left side of my face, and I stumble back from the assault before righting myself. Rex comes for me again, a murderous look on his face. I duck and throw out a punch that connects with his gut. “Ooof!” Rex bends in pain, but still manages to catch himself quickly. I take the opportunity to throw out another

hard punch, which lands on his left cheek and sends Rex flying backward to the ground. I dive on top and punch him then shake him to become alert quickly. “How does it feel to know you almost killed Della? You loved her once, before your heart grew cold and froze over. You taught her how to spell, how to fucking beat up the kids who made fun of her, yet you were the one she needed protection from. Does that mean nothing to you?” A furious growl explodes from Rex as he quickly throws me off him and has me pinned down, throwing punches left and right. I bring my forearms up to block his fists and it works to protect my face and me from getting knocked out. Rex then begins to punch the sides of my abdomen. I throw my head forward into his and knock Rex off me and into a dizzy state. He’s on his back, holding the front of his head with his eyes clenched closed. All I can hear are grunts coming from the both of us as I’m swinging my fists down brutally, left, right, again and again. Rex’s body starts to go limp and I keep hitting, each punch harder and harder. Adrenalin is driving me, my heart powerfully pounding and telling me I’m invincible. “Slater!” I hear Lana scream behind me. Below me, Rex’s breathing is rapid and he’s struggling to get a breath in and out. He’s still thrashing, but he’s not able to budge me. I move my hands to his throat and begin squeezing. Rex grasps my wrists and starts pulling. I clench my teeth, using all my strength to hold on to his neck.

I sense movement behind me. “Slater!” Lana screams again. Mack growls, “Lana, move the fuck away.” I look over my shoulder and find Lana standing there, fear covering her once-gentle face. “Please, don’t take my brother. You already killed my father. I’ll have no one left,” she pleads with me. Mack moves forward and grasps her arm. She looks at who has her and narrows her eyes before yanking her arm free from his grip. “Don’t you dare touch me,” she sneers. “Never again, Mack.” Her voice is laced with anger and I watch as regret flashes in Mack’s eyes. What the fuck? Lana turns back to me, her eyes changing from hate to guilt. “I’m sorry for what my father did to Della. I don’t want to believe it, but we were all friends once, best friends. My heart tells me you wouldn’t lie about that.” “Lana,” Rex whispers and then continues on a shout, “Don’t believe their lies!” She looks to Rex. “Rex, please. I can’t lose you, too.” Corey moves to Lana and grabs her shoulders. In a flash, Mack is there, slamming him to the ground and snarling, “Don’t fucking touch her.” Everyone moves forward, surrounding Rex and me, ready for an all-out brawl. I tighten my grip on Rex’s throat as my mind races.

What the hell is going on with Mack? Lana looks to Mack then back to me with a frustrated

sigh. I’m missing something. And I don’t like to fucking

miss things. I turn back to Rex and squeeze his throat tighter. “Give up this war, Rex. You go your way and we’ll go ours and never cross boundaries again. This can end differently,” I try to convince him. “Never. A life for a life,” he pledges. “You almost took Della’s!” I yell. “Make that enough.” I squeeze his throat tighter and Rex begins to claw at my hands. I loosen my grip, waiting for his answer. Rex swallows roughly and with a croaky voice, he replies, “I haven’t even taken anyone from you and here you are, ready to kill me. Yet me wanting revenge on what you actually did to my family is not acceptable? I need to give it up and move on?” he says with a rough voice. Rex’s face softens and suddenly I find my hand loosening out of surprise. “I hurt Dell and if she had died, I would have ended my own life. And here you are avenging her, defending your family, yet you can’t understand that I need to do the same for my own.” Rex’s bloodshot eyes become glassy and I abruptly pull my hand back and sit on my haunches. “You killed my father,” he whispers fiercely. “Then aim for me,” I say with a thick voice. “Me, not the ones I love. Stop going after Piper.” I know I promised Piper I would return to her, but giving her a future is my first priority. He looks up to me with an agonized expression, “That’s too easy. You need to feel my pain, grieve as I have had to do.”

“She’s innocent, Rex,” I say savagely, my anger starting to reignite. “Your father was not.” “You didn’t just leave me and my sister fatherless, Slate. You left us so much worse than you know. And I want you to suffer for that!” Rex shouts, shifting from calm to explosive within seconds. We both jump to our feet, ready to strike. I shake my head. “So we fight today, but you won’t take my life? You’ll fight until I have to kill you?” Rex nods. “I will, Rex. I will kill you for Piper. She’s my life. You kill her, you kill me.” “That’s the point, brotha,” Rex spits out. “Rex!” Lana yells. “What are you doing? Stop this! I can’t take it anymore!” Lana’s tears are heard in her screams.

Can I take another from her? For Piper? Would Piper be able to love a man who has killed half a family and left someone an orphan, alone in the world? Fuck! There has to be another way. I wildly look from Lana back to Rex. I need time to fucking think, before I do something I will regret. I take my Glock from the back of my jeans and aim it at Rex. At the same time I sense his crew around me, all with their guns aimed at me. Rex smirks and says, “Really, Slate? You’re going to take the coward’s way out and shoot me?” I hear and sense Lana struggling behind me, but

someone must be holding her back. I swing my gun around and aim it at her. Everyone, even my own brothers, inhale sharply and curses. Kodi is the one holding Lana back, but when I turned to her she froze, fear covering her features. I take two steps backward, keeping everyone in sight: Rex to my left and Lana to my right. “You dare fucking harm her and I promise I will murder your whole family. No one will be safe,” Rex warns. “Again, one of us is threatening the other to protect our family. This will never end until one of us changes the course of this dead-end trip.” “No,” he snarls, and I realize there’s nothing else I can do. Rex is a stubborn fucker, and he’s left me with no other choice. I unclick the safety and all at once, my brothers pull their guns from their jeans and aim them at Lana. Mack grabs the back of Kodi’s jacket and shoves him away from her. Thank fuck my brothers know me and can figure out my next move, because this will be our only way out of here alive with what I want to take. Lana twists her head, looking around her. Her gaze stops on Mack and her face falls instantly, silent tears flowing. Mack’s face stays blank. "What the fuck,” Rex growls. I move quickly and stand beside Lana then spin around, aim and shoot. The bullet goes exactly where I intended it to, straight into Rex’s left thigh. Rex groans in pain and grabs at his leg.

Lana screams and Rex's crew start shouting at my brothers and me to put down our guns. They won’t shoot at us while we’re standing close to Lana but just in case, I say, “Anyone shoots my brothers or me, we will release a clip into Lana.” A breathless and pained Rex yells, “Put your fucking guns away!” Rex looks to me and says, “What now? More bullshit talking?” “No, now we’re leaving.” Rex’s face pales. He doesn’t know what to do. This is unexpected, and he’s not sure how far I’m about to go. Still staring at Rex, I say, “Mack, grab Lana and bring her with us.” Rex jolts upright. “You are not taking my fucking sister, Slater!” he roars. “Watch me. You have seven days to agree to my terms, Rex, or Lana won’t leave Portland alive. You crossed a line bringing my woman into this war. You crossed a line by almost killing Della.” Breathing heavily, I boom, “Now bend and take my terms or lose Lana. It’s an easy choice I could make in a heartbeat. Can you do the same for your sister?” Rex looks to Lana, anguish written all over his face. “Rex,” Lana whispers brokenly. His eyes shift back to me, panicked. “Our sisters have always been off-limits. Dell wasn’t supposed to get shot; that was an accident,” Rex tries to explain with a plea in his voice. “You tried to kill the woman I love!” I roar. “Unless you give up your revenge, no one is off-limits.”

My brothers and I begin taking careful strides backward to Chevy. Kel has Lana still in his grasp, pulling her with him. Rex and his crew watch our every step, Rex with indecision written all over his face. They begin advancing when we make some ground. “Kel,” I grate out and Mack curses loudly. Kel knows exactly what I want him to do. He grasps Lana’s arm and bends it behind her back, hard. Lana screams out in pain. Rex narrows his eyes and stops advancing, holding his hand out to stop his crew. “Slater,” he growls. “Don’t come any further. You follow us, and Lana will have more than a sore shoulder,” I advise. “Fuck!” Rex roars into his street. “I get word you or anyone in your crew steps foot in Portland in the next seven days, I will end Lana’s life just as fast as I did your father’s.” The expression on Rex’s face changes into a murderous gaze, but he doesn’t move. Kel and I turn our backs on Rex and his crew and take a thrashing Lana to Chevy. “Get to your cars and follow them!” Rex booms, and I look over my shoulder to see Rex struggling to stay upright on his injured leg and Kodi, Corey and Reed racing to a silver Dodge Challenger, Kodi in the driver’s seat. Mack and Pacer keep walking backward, keeping watch. We reach Chevy, and Kel pushes Lana into the backseat as Mack follows, both of them positioning her in

the center. Pacer and I are the last to climb in. I turn the key and Chevy roars to life. Pressing the accelerator down, I make a hard right and my tires squeal as we drive away from Rex and his crew, with the silver Dodge on our ass the whole way through the streets of Parkland. When we hit the suburb between Portland and Parkland, Russeltown, Kodi becomes desperate and taps our backend on the right side trying to spin us out, but I’m ready for it and I correct the steering and speed even faster through the streets. We pass Portland boundary doing one -hundred miles per hour. I look in my rear-view mirror just as everyone in the car, including Lana, looks behind us to see the silver Dodge brake and spin to the side, to stop just before crossing our border. Good to know they are taking my threat seriously. No one says a word all the way home, not even Lana. She’s in the back with her knees drawn to her chest and her face down. Through my mirror, I see Mack staring out the window with his elbow leaning on the door and his hand resting on his mouth, fisted so tightly his knuckles are white. I’m going to be talking to him later to find out what the fuck is going on with him. I hear Kel next to me talking to Brett, checking in and letting him know we are on our way. I drop Mack and Pace off with Lana at our house to get her sorted with a room, which will become her home for the

next seven days. I need to get to Piper and Della then figure out what the fuck I have done. Rex will not sit idly by for long while I have his sister. He’ll need to remove the bullet from his leg and then he’ll start planning on getting her back, or hopefully thinking over my proposition. For the first time in my life, I’m hoping someone is scared I will kill their loved one. I hope Rex believes my threat and that Lana means more to him than his revenge for his father. Kel and I arrive at the hospital and I make a quick stop at the reception desk to talk to the ladies. I explain my sister may be in danger and with a lot of money passed between hands, they agree to change Della’s name on her medical files, so if anyone comes looking for her, there will be no record of her being in this hospital. I walk to Della’s room and find Kel sitting in the waiting room with Brett. As I walk past, I ask Kel, “Piper in there?” He nods and I continue forward to see my girl. I walk through the door and stop abruptly before quietly walking into the room as my eyes admire my two girls. Both safe and fast asleep, Piper’s in a chair next to Della’s hospital bed. Watching them peacefully resting, I’m reminded that I failed today. I didn’t solve anything and I didn’t end the war. Had I killed Rex, would it be Lana who came for me next? Do I need to wipe out their whole family to make sure mine is safe? I walk up to the woman who has changed my life, not once but twice now, and gently shift her hair that’s hiding

her beautiful face. Piper and my family are why I will always cross the lines others wouldn’t dare touch. To be feared means crossing boundaries which others won’t. To be respected means abiding by my words even if it comes down to crossing Hell’s gates to do it. To be king means to do the dirty work.

Epilogue My Street Thug. Piper “Adjust the steering, Piper!” Slater yells at me. “I’m trying!” I shout back at him, trying to drive straight, but with each slight shift of the steering wheel the car goes out too far. We’re in the middle of nowhere and Slater thought it would be an awesome idea to teach me to drive Chevy, his very fucking fast car which has a NOS button on his steering wheel. The one he didn’t tell me about and I accidently hit. “Fuck, tree! Piper, fucking tree!” Slater shouts. I look up and spot a massive oak tree right in our way. I scream and freeze. “Push down on the brake, now!” Slater yells and pulls the steering wheel toward him. I slam my foot down and brace. The car spins rapidly. Dirt kicks up and hits me in the face and head through my open window as I’m thrown around in the driver’s seat. I’m still pushing down on the brake and shaking when I realize the car has stopped spinning. I pry open my eyes and look over to Slater quickly to see if he’s okay. He’s staring at me, grinning. I narrow my eyes. “What the hell are you smiling about? We almost died,” I wail, possibly over-dramatizing my

feelings a little. Slater chuckles and replies, “Baby, seriously, we were fine. I’d never let anything happen to you. You just need to swerve next time. Big tree equals big crash,” he says with a laugh. “Argh.” I unbuckle my seat belt, throw open my door and step out of Chevy, who obviously hates me or just doesn’t like a woman driving her. I stomp away from the car, frustrated, kicking dirt on my short walk down the road. After a moment, I calm down and turn back to find Slater leaning on Chevy, staring at me. “I am never driving her again,” I inform him. “She doesn’t like me.” Slater grins. “I’m pretty sure Chevy never wants you to drive her again, either. I don’t think she wants a smiley face permanently dented into her hood.” I try to fight the smile which is begging to be released at the thought of his muscle car with a smiley dent in her, but I know I’ve lost my battle when my laughter bubbles up through my throat and I giggle. Slater’s expression quickly turns from joking to intense. “Come here, baby. I want to taste that mouth where your beautiful giggle comes from.” I walk to Slater and place my hands on his chest. He cups my right ass cheek with one hand while he uses the other to wind my ponytail around his fingers. Then he tips my head back and slams his mouth down on mine. Slate’s lips are soft and demanding. They give and take

as he slips his tongue into my mouth, and I instantly take it to suck gently then release. Slater groans and pushes my ass forward, causing me to feel his hard cock against my stomach. I push backward breathlessly. “I know where this is going, but we need to talk first.” Slater groans and licks his lips. “Okay. Talk, baby, but make it quick.” “Something’s wrong with Mack. Ever since you brought Lana back with you all, he’s been off. He won’t go near her and when he’s forced to, he’s cranky. He never looks at her, yet she watches him like she wants to rip his balls off. But she doesn’t look at us the same way. Her face softens when you guys are with her. She cares for you all.” Slater sighs. “I know; I’ve noticed all of that, as well. I tried to broach the subject with Mack, but he told me in no uncertain terms that any discussion about him and Lana would not be happening. I have to respect that he doesn’t want to talk about it.” “You aren’t even curious?” I ask. “Yes and no. They were very close when we were kids, and at one point, we all thought they had already slept together. Mack was always very protective of Lana, but then everything happened with Rex’s dad and we all were separated, battling each other across town borders. Mack never mentioned Lana again. It could be as simple as him not being able to look at her knowing we killed her father and her hating him for it,” Slater says with a shrug. “That doesn’t explain why she doesn’t look at you all the

same. She only has hatred for Mack,” I say while biting my lip, really wanting to work out the Mack and Lana puzzle. “Baby, can we leave Mack and Lana to their problems and get on with ours, which is that I’m not fucking you right now?” “Wait, what did happen between you and Jae?” “It’s a family secret and now that you are family I’ll tell you, but not now. Tonight, okay?” Slater asks, his tone begging me to let it go. I give in and nod. “Okay, now you can fuck me and do it on Chevy. The bitch needs to learn who’s boss.” I yelp as Slater slaps my ass hard. “Did you just call my car a bitch?” “If I say yes, will you spank me again?” I ask with a sultry smile. “Fuck, yes.” Slater’s voice is now thick with need. “Yes,” I tease, and before I know it, Slater grasps my waist, turns me around and pushes me face down onto Chevy’s hood. He lifts my summer dress, spanks me again and I whimper, loving the feel of the sting. I hear Slater lower his zipper and he pushes his hard cock against my ass. He leans down and whispers in my ear, “God made you just for me, Piper. I’m going to fuck and own what Heaven has deemed me worthy of. Nothing will ever keep us apart again.” My heart swells until I think it may burst and rip through my chest, leaving only an oversized organ, open and vulnerable to the harsh world. But that’s okay, because now

I have Slater to guard and protect it. And in that moment, as Slater enters me and pleasure races through my body, I know irrevocably I’ve fallen in love with my street thug.

SNEEK PEEK AT YOU LOVED ME AT MY DAREKST Book #1 in the YOU LOVED ME series.

PROLOGUE Hopelessness wraps around my body like a tight cord. Alone and beaten, each breath comes quicker. My eyes are almost swollen shut, with only tiny slivers of light shining through to let me know it’s daytime. Thick, rough rope scrapes harshly against my wrists. A dirty white dress, held up on my shoulders by thin straps, covers my shaking body. What have I done? I failed in my escape, caught in the grasp of evil again. Have I failed Lily too? Will I die down here—never being able to let my sister know how thankful I am that she did everything she possibly could do to save me? I would give up anything in this world to tell her how much I love her, and to tell her to keep fighting. So many hits to the head has left it pounding like it never has before. I've vomited twice already. I dread more may be coming up. My lip quivers and my chest expands heavily. Tears squeeze through my swollen eyes and spill down my face. I hear the door opening, and I sense movement near my body. Hot breath heats my cheek letting me know someone’s there. "Sasha, you need to reveal to us who helped you, or things are only going to get a lot worse for you." A gruff voice I know all too well causes bile to rise and threatens to empty again. I turn my head away and say, “I will never give up who helped me.” Only my words come out all wrong and slurred.

What's wrong with my speech? He sighs. "Fine then, the hard way it is." I laugh in my mind. Given what I have already been

through, I thought that already was the hard way. I'm pulled upwards by the ropes around my wrists, and he begins walking. I fall to my knees as soon as I try to take my first step. "Get up," he growls. My hands are yanked up, and my shoulders scream from the pain. A whimper tries to escape but can't get past the lump in my throat. He grips my elbow and pulls me along with him. Light explodes between the tiny cracks in my swollen eyes and heat from the sunshine hits my skin. I realise I’m outside. I smell the salty ocean air and feel the chilly breeze. He continues to walk me for a moment, and then stops. I'm pushed to my knees, and then my hands are lifted above my head and tied to something round. I feel it with my fingertips; it’s hard and rough, and feels like a wooden pole. "Now, boys, watch and learn. This is what we do to slave girls who try to escape and protect traitors." I can hear the sick excitement in his voice. He has been gunning for me ever since I arrived. My head is still thumping painfully, and my chest is rising and falling fast, waiting for the first punch to come. Trying to predict from which angle, so I can brace for the pain, I feel it. A scream is ripped from my throat as a searing sensation runs down my back. I arch in response to the blistering pain. I sob when I realise he's whipping me. I try to move forward to get away. When I feel it again, I

scream. My back forces itself forward, trying uselessly to get away from the attacking whip. Trying to force my hands out of the ropes to defend myself has caused my wrists to throb with pain. I want to crawl into a ball and try to protect what piece of untouched flesh I have left. I scream again as the whip slashes through my thin dress and skin. The pungent smell of metallic fills my nose. The sliminess of my blood as the whip flicks down my back, seeps downward. The pounding in my head is growing. My eyes are begging me to open them to see, to escape. My body arches again along with a piercing scream from another strike. Tears overflowing through my swollen eyes, I can taste the saltiness on my lips. My head sags to my chest, my breathing heavy. I sense my body going faint. I'm so tired. The promise of unconsciousness whispers on the edges of my mind. Darkness begins to envelope me. All of a sudden, I hear screaming in the distance. I recognise that voice. It's Lily. She's getting closer. Oh, thank God, I can tell her how much I love her. How much she has been the best big sister anyone could ever ask for, and demand that she keeps fighting. Suddenly, I'm turned over. I hear her sweet voice talking to me; she's crying. Lil's arms feel so warm around my body. Home. I'm finally home. I love you, Lil. I try to say except my mouth won't move. I scream it in my mind to her. I love you, Lily! These are my last thoughts as darkness

surrounds me and the light drifts away.

CHAPTER ONE Carefree and Flying High Taking a seat and looking through the enormous glass window, I watch a plane move down the runway, building up speed, until it's up, and flying into the sky off to some exciting place in the world. I look down at my bags, butterflies fluttering around in my stomach. Finally, a packed suitcase and passport in my hands. I'm finally here, Sydney airport, and I'll be getting on a plane and leaving Australia, my home. I love my home, but seeing the world has always been a dream of mine, and today that dream is finally coming true. I, Lily Morgan, will be getting on a plane to travel the world. Excitement vibrates through me like fireworks ready to show the world just how happy I am. I look around the airport terminal at the people bustling around me; some on their phones, a couple trying to get their children to behave, and others just sitting, looking out at the runway. I wonder if they are like me, in awe of doing something they have only ever dreamed of. I feel movement on my denim shorts and look down past my white shirt to see Sasha poking me. I look over at my sister. She looks like she's ready to burst with joy as well. "Lil listen." Sash is jumping on her bum like a little kid, her yellow dress bouncing with her. She points to the ceiling, and I hear the man on the voiceover announcing our gate is ready for boarding. People start walking over and lining up with their tickets. We've been talking about going overseas since high

school, but we kept putting it off. Then three years ago, our parents were killed in a car accident. A drunk driver ran a red light and hit my parents, striking the passenger’s side of the car. They both died instantly from the impact. Sasha and I crumbled when we lost our parents, but we managed to pull ourselves through some pretty tough times and have slowly moved on with our lives. My eyes start to water and I feel a familiar palm squeeze my hand. I look over, and Sash gives me a sad smile. She knows what I'm thinking about, and like always, she is there for me. I bury my pain and put a smile on my face for her; she has suffered enough. I don't want to remind her of how much we have lost. When our parents passed, the first place we went was the family farm. We climbed up into our childhood tree for the first time in many years. We cried together and said our goodbyes to our parents. Sash may be my little sister, but she is also my best friend. Living on a farm far away from any neighbours, we only ever had each other, and that's all we needed. Being only two years apart, we were always into the same things. We shared secrets and practiced kissing on the back of our hands, giving each other tips. All of this in our favourite tree, we would climb, sit and talk in our willow tree for hours after school until mum would call us in for dinner. Many people ask if we are sisters, but we can never understand how people pick us out. We don’t think we look alike. Sash has Mum’s beautiful straight, light brown hair, blue eyes, and her outgoing personality. At twenty-eight, I

have more of my dad's dark blond, thick straight hair and his green eyes. Sasha’s and my body types are similar though, generous in the bust area but not over-the-top. We're both tanned and athletic from growing up working on the farm. With our parents gone and no one to keep the wheat farm going, Sasha and I decided to move back home. It’s been in our family for four generations. One day we knew one of us would take it over. It meant too much to our dad to just see it go to a stranger. It was hard at first to live where our parents had. Sometimes I think I can still hear my mum call us in for dinner or hear my dad's laughter. My parents were in love; not just any love, they were soul mates. They never fought. They argued, but not for long, and usually only if they believed the other was going to get hurt or letdown. They would have done anything for each other. I suppose it was right they died together. I think if one had lived, they would have died of a broken heart anyway. After working the farm for three years and acquiring some trustworthy employees, Sasha and I decided it was time to do some travelling. We didn't want to keep putting it off and one day regret never doing it. It's what our parents would have wanted. Mum and Dad were both adventurous. They wanted Sash and I to see the world before we settled down. We have no set plans, but our first stop is New York City. It's the one place we both want to visit first. "Lil, let's go line up," Sash’s excited voice sends

butterflies to my stomach. We stand from our seats, pick up our suitcases and start toward the ticket desk. My heart beats wildly, and I have a huge smile. I glance at Sasha and see she has the same sized grin on her face. Yep, this is going to be a trip of a lifetime. ***

I clock her as soon as she gets off the plane, fucking perfect. One of the most stunning smiles and perfect bodies I've ever seen. Every man turns his head as she walks by. It helps she has a mini version right next to her. Country girls, easy to pick with their clothes. And firsttime travellers. The dumbstruck look on their faces says it all. She would be fucking perfect for what Marco’s looking for. He’d probably fall all over his feet to have her. A pang hits my chest, knowing these happy, carefree girls would soon be caught and caged. *** After stepping out of JFK Airport in New York, we quickly realise we have made the journey to a whole new world. It doesn't take long to get a cab; they are everywhere. Half an hour later, we are at our hotel checking into our double room. After a quick glance around and look out the window, we decide to head to the bar downstairs to have one drink

before calling it a night. Looking around the bar, I'm in awe of all the different types of people. No one seems to be relaxed. Everyone is dressed up in suits, sophisticated dresses and heels, just to a have a drink at a bar. I peek over at Sasha and grin at our clothes. Sasha is in a denim skirt and a tank top. I’m in ripped Levi jeans and a plain white t-shirt, and we’re both wearing our flat sandals that we wear everywhere. This is what everyone wears back home at our local bar or pub. "What?" Sash asks, seeing me smiling widely. I laugh while I explain. "Look at us and look at everyone else. We stick out like sore thumbs." Sasha looks around. Realising what I’m saying, she smiles and says. "We do, don't we. Maybe we should have dressed up a little bit." We both burst out laughing and I reply, "Next time we will. Lesson learned." We finish our drinks and head back to our room. After our showers, Sash and I lay in bed, facing each other, both giggling and talking about what in New York City we want to see tomorrow. Sash drifts off to sleep first, and I follow soon after, thinking of all the wonderful places we’re about to experience and will remember for the rest of our lives. ***

Days, I've watched her. Her smile lights up a room, people can't help but look when they hear her soft, sexy

and musical laugh. She senses something. She looks back now and again, and I see her shiver when I imagine undressing her. She feels me, without even knowing I'm here. Her light hair flows like fucking silk. I almost touch it when I get too close. Clenching my hands, I need to remember to keep my distance. It's becoming harder and harder every day I watch her. She's fire, and I am a stupid motherfucking moth who wants what I can't have. And what I can't have is Lily Morgan. I searched their room while they were out and found their passports. My contacts have been able to tell me they’re from New South Wales, Australia. Lily and her sister Sasha own a wheat farm, no known relatives, only employees looking after it. My contact has checked their mobile numbers and there have been no calls home to anyone to check in. They are making this too simple. Two girls, travelling the world and having not one person to care if they are okay. Stupid girls, you have a fox chasing you, and you are going to be so easy to catch. *** I’m awoken when my bed starts to bounce. I then see light brown hair whip past my face and hear a giggle. "Wake up, Lil. It’s another beautiful day in New York City," Sasha booms across the room as she enters the

bathroom. I roll over and look out the window, a smile gracing my lips as I take in the beautiful view of a warm, sunny New York day. We shower, dress, and head out of the hotel ready for day five in this marvellous city. A truck drives past with a sign saying P!nk will be at Madison Square Garden tonight. I grab Sasha's hands and start bouncing on my feet, pointing and shouting about it. Sash sees what I’m so excited about and starts squealing with me. We end our squeals and look around to find people staring. We huddle together and giggle as we begin our walk to the Liberty Island ferry. What's that saying, when in Rome, well, when in New York, squeal because you can't contain your excitement. On our five-minute walk to the ferry, I get goose bumps and that same strange feeling I’ve felt had a few times. I can’t pinpoint what it is exactly. It’s an instinct that tells me to look behind me and search the area. I tell myself it's nothing, just being in a new place; that's all. We get on the nine-thirty ferry. It takes only twenty minutes until we step onto Liberty Island. Looking up at the Statue of Liberty feels like a dream, like I still see it through the TV screen or in the travel brochure. Until we are inside the crown. Looking out over the water, it finally hits me that we are really here. My parents’ smiles flash through my mind. They would be proud of Sasha and me. The hard work we have done on the farm to get it back on track after their deaths. So many things we had to learn, that we didn't realise our

parents did while we went off and played, enjoying our childhood. But we’ve done it, and now we are seeing the world. I know my parents would be happy. My smile grows as I glimpse Sash to my right, taking millions of pictures. I close my eyes, and for just a moment, I let myself feel the loss again, the devastation. Knowing I will never see my parents again, never hear them say they are proud of me and that they love me. When I feel the tidal wave about to take me under, I lock my emotions back down, pull on all my strength and turn around to smile at my sister. ***

Two torturous weeks I have followed her. I've seen her happy, watched her squeal all girly shit with her sister. Laughed my ass off when they touched the fucking central park grass for ages. When her sister isn’t looking, she breaks down, silently. Why is she in pain? Wanting to know almost has me introducing myself. Fuck, this girl has power over me, and she doesn't even know I exist. *** What a day! Every day in New York is full on and different. Today we visited Times Square, and it was amazing. Another place and another memory I will always cherish. We get back to our room and drop to our beds

exhausted. Our legs are killing us from all the walking. On our way back to the hotel, Sash and I decided it’s time to move on. The last two weeks have been wonderful, but it's time to see more wonderful places. New Orleans will be our next stop. We booked a flight for tomorrow night. Excited about heading to a new place, the air hums with our renewed energy, ready to leave New York with a bang. We settle on a rave party we saw signs for today. Bring on our

final night in New York City! ***

Standing on the balcony looking out over the sea of dancing, sweaty bodies, all I can think about is her. I need to get her out of my head and feel another woman's warm pussy around my cock. Yeah, that will make me forget about her. I need to burn this energy off, so I don't go back to the hotel and wait around like a pathetic loser to catch a glimpse of her. I’m scouring the dance floor, looking for any woman who looks like she will be an easy fuck, someone who won’t want the bullshit talking beforehand. That’s when I spot Mick walking up the stairs to the balcony. "Well, fuck, you eventually decide to turn up when I ask. Where the fuck have you been for the past two weeks? You haven't answered any of my calls. Marco's been asking for progress reports, you find anyone?" I have. She's perfect. But I can't do it. She's too

innocent, too fucking special. "No, I didn't find anyone who matches what Marco wants," I reply, still scanning the dance floor. “Well, I found someone an hour ago, and she is exactly what Marco asked for. She comes with a bonus as well, plucked them right off the street, easy as pie.” Mick pats my shoulder and says, “So it's time to go home now." Thank fuck, they finally found someone. I can leave this fucking city and stop my growing obsession for this woman from getting any worse. I push back from the railing and follow Mick down the small hall and out the exit doors, where we walk down the stairs on the outside of the building. There're two black vans parked at the underside of the stairs. "Take the second van, Jake. It has the package. I'll lead in the first van, with the bonus package." I nod and walk to the van. Opening the door, I take a step in and freeze. All the blood drains from my face, and my heart completely stops. I'm looking straight at her, Lily Morgan. Bound and gagged, she’s staring up at me with wide, terrified eyes. In the end, the innocent lamb was caught by the blood thirsty fox, just by another fox.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Evie is an Australian author whose passion for reading lead her into writing. Evie spends her days writing angsty, heartbreaking love stories and creating happily ever afters. Evie's characters are strong alpha's with even stronger heroines who bring sexy, sass to the relationship.

YOU LOVED ME You Loved Me At My Darkest (Lily and Jake) You Loved Me At My Weakest (Emily and Kayne) You Loved Me At My Ugliest (Alexa and Joseph) releasing July 2015

PORTLAND STREET KINGS Collision (Slater and Piper) Fatal (Mack and Lana) Tail (Della and Dom) Pursue (Kelso and Ivy) Drifting (Pacer and Sophie)

STALK EVIE HERE: Facebook Goodreads Twitter Pinterest TSU Website Amazon

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to my family and friends for your constant support through Collisions journey to being published. I’m eternally grateful that you all understand how busy I get and you give me the space I need to make my deadlines. Thank you and I love you all. To, my C.O.W's... still the place I go to every day to vent, to laugh, to spit my food out when pictures pop up in the messages ;) you know which ones I mean. You guys are my safe place in this crazy industry, thank you. xx To my amazing, awesome, fabulous, Betas... Gill, Amber, Bel, JJ, Brie and Natalie. Thank you all for putting your lives on hold to help me. Each of you gave me an enormous amount of help and guidance and I thank you for that. To my amazing PA, Jen... Thank you for putting up with my forgetting passwords and usernames and not sharing my posters and links with you when I should because I’m so used to just doing it myself. Thank you for making me laugh and thank you for whipping me when I played around on FB for too long. You brighten my day. To my editing team at Hot Tree Edits, thank you to Kristen for doing an amazing job on my MS and a huge thanks to Becky for never yelling at me for bugging her and always doing her best to accommodate my outrageous requests. Lol! Thank you to Hot Tree betas for taking the time to read my story. Thank you to Mandy who is still with

me on book three, I love your pickiness and your ability to be able to be honest with me even when your freaking out and trying to be super nice about telling me something isn’t right. Lol!!! To, Evie’s Collection... thanks for your support and buying my books and loving my stories. Thank you for loving my characters as much as I do. Thank you for voting for me in competitions and always being there to comment and make me feel like a valued author who is on the right path. To, my author group... I want to say thank you for always being there when I have a question and for showing me that we are only human and we can only do our best and that our best is good enough to succeed. Thank you for your ideas and honest opinions. Thank you for your wise advice and helping out an author that is very much still learning the way of this always-changing industry.