Page 39 of Hate Game

I look down at my hand in his. Small to large, and they are not harmless. I used mine to steal, and he’s used his to cause pain. He should come up with a better plan for making money.

I slip my hand out of his. “I have a job.”

“Cool. That is cool, Hard Knocks. Is anything else bothering you? ’Cause you look mighty bothered.” He scoots back on the bed and grabs the pillows, putting them behind his back and his head.

I shake my head, not in the mood to bring up Red. Isaac has a love-hate thing going on for my friendship with Red Sterling, and giving Isaac the latest will have him hating Red more.

“Okay, I’m fine with not talking. Silence is golden, yeah?”

It’s not. Hurt feelings and unspoken words fester in the silence. I hug my knees to my chest and spill the last two days’ events. Bad idea. Isaac shoots off the bed and stomps to the door, his large hands balled at his sides.

“When I get ahold of Red, I’m gonna make him regret ever guilting you into jumping off the cliff.”

“Leave him be. I’m the one who lost the bet.”

“And what bet would that be, Hard Knocks?”

“I’m not telling. He’ll kill me.”

“I’ll murder you both if you don’t tell.”

I mime zipping my mouth and throwing away the key.

He huffs and puffs. Finally, he realizes I am not betraying my best friend. He takes his old spot on the bed.

“Isaac, with what money I get, I’m going to hire a private investigator to look for my mom.”

“How do you know she wants to be found? Didn’t Riley tell you to mind your own business?”

“Why would she say that? Doesn’t she want to know where our mom could be?”

“Or she does and thinksyoushouldn’t.”

“That’s messed up.”

“Just saying, Rue. It’s not like our parents are up for the parents-of-the-year award.”

He’s right. His mother died of a drug overdose when Isaac was seventeen. Isaac is twenty-two, the same age as Riley.

“Do you wonder where Dad is?”

“Yeah. Between another woman’s legs. That’s where he likes to be.”

“Not fair, Isaac. We don’t know what his story was.”

“I couldn’t give two fucks. He left me. Left my mom to deal with her habit. He leftus, Rue.”

I can’t deny the obvious.

“You haven’t told anyone, have you?”

That he is my half-brother. I glance sidelong at him. “Why? Are you ashamed of us?”

“It’s not shame, Rue. I’m keeping you and Riley safe. You two are the best thing that’s happened to me.”

“Aw, you’re so sweet.” I throw my arms around him. He tips over, pulling me down onto the bed with him, and that is how Malice finds us.

15

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