Page 47 of Hate Game

“She does.”

“Why would Courtney throw me off course?”

“She had a thing for Midnight, and Midnight has a hard-on for your sister.”

It makes sense. Crushes and matters of the heart make people do crazy things. Case in point: Midnight and my sister. He burned down a guy’s house for staring too long at Riley.

It starts raining. I roll up my window. “I can fight my own battles.”

“That’s not what I’m seeing and hearing.”

“I thought you didn’t care what anyone thought?”

He deflects my question about him back to me. “Aren’t you tired of them talking about you behind your back?”

“I’m used to it.”

“You shouldn’t be.”

“What do you suggest I do?”

“Straighten up your life. Hang out with the right people.”

“You’re the right people?”

“Leigh. Seven. Your crew. Yes. But stay away from Isaac and his group. They’re no good.”

“Yetyoumade a deal with him.”

“I can deal with guys like him. You can’t.”

“And what kind of guy is he?” I ask, my annoyance rising at how quickly Malice makes a judgment based on where my half-brother lives and the outward appearance of him and his friends.

“He is someone who will never go far in life. He’ll take his last breath in this small backward town.”

Wow. “Just because he wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth doesn’t mean he doesn’t have dreams for something bigger and better.”

“You think putting together illegal underground fights is a step in the right direction?”

“It’s a present-moment thing but not something Isaac plans to do forever.” I cross my arms. “You wouldn’t understand what it’s like growing up poor and without two loving parents.”

“You’re right, I wouldn’t know anything about absent parents.” He shifts gears and speeds up. I glance sidelong at him. Locked jaw. Straightforward stare. I understand that expression well.

“They love you.”

“They love their work more.”

“They give you your space. Theytrustyou.”

“Remind me again why you’re here?”

I sigh. “You’ll regain their trust. We’ll work on your grades and staying out of trouble. They’ll be so proud, Malice.”

I hadn’t realized how much Malice missed having his parents around. All this time, I thought he liked being left alone by them, especially after hearing Shay complain about his father’s behavior on the sidelines at the football games. Or hearing how hard Winslow’s dad pushes him when he’s practicing his jumps and turns on the dirt track at the back of his parents’ property.

Malice downshifts and turns down a road opposite the one to Leigh’s place. Where is he taking us? “We’ll both get what we want. You’ll get your parents’ trust, and I’ll get everyone’s respect for a job well done.”

“Life doesn’t work that way.”

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