Page 34 of Deadly Little Games

“Just tell me what I need to do,” I say, finishing off another glass.

I hate using a substance to block it all out, but it’s the only thing keeping me from running. Running as far away from here as I can.

I find myself in the same situation I warned my brother about, surrounded by three heirs of The Brotherhood. Stuck until I somehow come up with fifty grand. Fuck. I can’t do this on my own. I need them and I hatethat more than anything. The last time I needed them the most, they didn’t protect me. They let him kick us out like trash.

Ten years old

My peaceful slumber is abruptly interrupted as a bag is violently thrown over my head, disorienting me. My screams are muffled by the bag as if swallowed by its suffocating embrace. The more heavily I inhale, the tighter and denser the air becomes, making it harder to breathe. Fuck.

I’m yanked up by my armpits, soaring through the air until I collide with a solid surface. A wave of pain surges through my stomach, eliciting a groan from deep within me. It’s still healing from the knife wounds from last night. The memory of the pain is so intense it makes my whole body shudder, and I black out.

An engine humming to life jars me back to reality, and I instinctively reach out for something to steady myself. But before I can react, the vehicle jerks forward forcefully, causing me to lose my balance and collide with a jarring impact against a hard object. Strong hands hoist me upright, and my body quivers uncontrollably.

What’s happening? Where are we going? Everything’s gone to shit, and I don’t know what will happen to us now. Dominic doesn’t want us here anymore. I can see it in the way he looks at my mother—he’s done with her. Is he going to kill us? I don’t want to die.

It feels like we’ve been on the road forever, the monotony broken only by the occasional rumble of the engine. Abruptly, the car stops, and the doors pop open. I’m yanked out roughly and met with the wind whipping all around me as if it’s beckoning me forward. With each step I’m forced to take, the hard gravel road sends a jolt of impact through my feet. I’m pulled forward, and without my sight, I struggle to keep up with the rapid movement. As I trip andlose my balance, a strong grip on my arm saves me from falling.

I am forcibly halted, and the voices around me fade in and out like distant whispers, their meaning lost in the noise. The sound of ringing echoes in my ears, and my body trembles with an intense sensation. I want this to stop. For everything to go back to the way it was before. I don’t understand. With a sudden yank, the bag over my head is torn off, and I blink repeatedly to clear my vision.

We’re on the edge of the tracks that divide our towns, from Daringville, where we are, to Daringhood—the bad side. Where the poor live, along with those The Brotherhood deem not good enough.

My heart races as Dominic locks eyes with me, and the overwhelming emotions cause tears to brim in my eyes. He scares me, and I hate him. Someone interlocks their hands with mine, and I glance over to see my brother standing beside me, his eye swollen and bruised. No. I try to move, to run, but he shakes his head ever so slightly and I freeze, attentive to his silent command. My brother always knows what to do. He’s my protector, my best friend.

Standing behind Dominic are Hazen, Gage, and that blond-haired boy, Lucas, who I haven’t really talked to before. They watch, unmoving, with their arms crossed. What’s happening? There are those Brotherhood men everywhere, even that blonde-haired lady who looks like Lucas.

“Get her,” Dominic snaps to one of the men near the white van across the street. He disappears behind it, and my heart skips a beat as he emerges, leading my mother by the hand. As I take a step forward, my brother’s firm grip pulls me back. My mother desperately struggles, her body thrashing against the man’s hold in a desperate attempt tobreak free. She’s wearing a torn white nightgown, the fabric revealing a glimpse of her chest.

Her gaze shifts between us and Dominic, filled with intense hatred.

“Fuck you,” she spits at Dominic, and the other guy pushes her. She lands on her hands and knees between Dominic and us.

“I’m done with you and your family. You are a disgrace to Daringville, and you belong over the tracks. You are nothing but a hood rat,” Dominic says with so much hate that my body trembles. With a shake of her head, my mother reaches out to him, pleading for him to reconsider.

I glance at the boys behind Dominic, desperate for their help and hope they can rescue me, but they remain motionless, shattering my heart in two.

As Alec scoops Mom up from the ground, he reaches for my hand, and we venture across the tracks together. I leave behind my old life, desperately clinging to the hope that this will be good for us, for Mom.

Hazen’s phone pings, bringing me out of my memories, and he looks from me to the phone.

“Well, will you look at that for timing? A job just came in and it’s paying exactly what you need,” Hazen says, standing up.

A wave of unease washes over me, settling in the pit of my stomach. Whatever the job is, I’m not going to like it, but I’ll do whatever it takes to clear Alec’s debt. Then he might come back home if he knows it’s been taken care of.

Hazen shows the phone to Gage, who nods in agreement before leaving the room and walking down the hallway. Lucas and Hazen talk in hushed tones at the bar, and I sit there sipping my drink.

“Are you going to tell me what it is or just stand aroundgossiping like little teenagers?” I snap, standing up quickly. A momentary dizziness overtakes me, but quickly subsides. No more alcohol for me. Whatever the job is, I need to have a clear head for it.

“We’re going on a little bear hunt and you’re going to find your prey,” Hazen explains, before looking down the hallway, and Gage appears carrying a large black duffel bag. He drops it at my feet and all kinds of guns fall out. I take a step back, shaking my head.

“And kill it,” Gage finishes, and a wave of nausea rises as I struggle to keep the bile down.

“No way, anything but this,” I say, my eyes not leaving the bag of guns.

“It’s a fifty grand reward and time is ticking,” Gage insists, his voice filled with urgency. He takes out a small handgun from the bag and hands it over to me, the weight of the weapon adding to the gravity of the situation. With the cool metal in my palm, a rush of emotions floods over me, making me want to let out a scream. I want to run. But there’s no running away from them.

“There has to be some other way!” I blurt out, looking from the gun to Gage, Hazen, and Lucas.

“We could rob the diner you work for?” Lucas smirks, and I shake my head.

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