Page 56 of G.O.D.S Omnibus

Before I leave the driveway, I switch off my phone and then head east towards the location Summer sent me. I am good at recalling random things—memorising numbers, addresses, and directions. Once I know a route, I just know it. I’m not sure if it was something I could do before the accident, but it has come in handy ever since the first foster house that took my phone. They didn’t believe children should have electronic devices.

The directions lead me out of town, where the houses get smaller and smaller, the new turning into the old. Well-lit streets give way to darkness, with shadows that could scare grown men.

Slowing, I pull over to the curb and pick up the faint sound of “Godzilla” by Eminem through the sealed car windows. I swallow back my nerves... Why the fuck am I nervous? Living the life of luxury for all of two minutes, and now I’m scared to get out of the car? Fuck that.

Swinging the door open, I jump out, hitting the beeper to lock the car as I walk up the drive—mainly because I like Sinclair and don’t want to get her in trouble for her brother’s car getting stolen.

Taking the front steps two at a time, I’m up in four strides, using my momentum to bang hard on the old wooden door. I’m starting to think that maybe I have the wrong house when the door swings open and a cloud of smoke slams into my face, the smell of weed thick in the air.

“What?” the guy standing in front of me snaps, his eyes glassed over. I take him in. He is shirtless, covered in tattoos,and doesn’t look much older than I am. “Are you here for any reason other than to eye-fuck me? Because I have better shit to do.”

“Yes, I’m here to speak to Summer.”

He snaps to attention at the mention of her name.

Stepping out of the door at lightning speed, he grabs me by the hair and drags me inside. My hands fly up to my head on instinct to stop the burn. “You’re the bitch who is going to get us killed.”

“What the fuck?! Let me go now!” I shout, not realising there are others in the room.

Everyone freezes as I’m thrown towards the couch, hitting the threadbare material hard enough to bruise. I laugh, knowing that while I came here to make a truce and keep Laughn from hurting them, now that they want to leave marks on my body, we are playing a different game.

“What the fuck are you laughing for?” another guy asks, squatting in front of me.

“The fact that I came here to try and save your asses, but your friend is game enough to leave a mark on my body. I don’t know if Laughn will give a fuck what I say now when he finds out.”

The lights flick on, and my eyes are assaulted by the reality of what trouble I have found myself in. These guys may not look as scary as Laughn, but he isn’t here to save me now.

“What the fuck guys! I told you to let her in when she got here, not intimidate her,” Summer yells, running to my side. “Do you all have a death wish? Laughn will take us all out without blinking.”

That statement, while shocking for me, sounds believable coming from her mouth.

“I’m so sorry,” Summer says as she turns towards me.

“It’s okay, we were just getting acquainted. Mr Tattoos was just about to apologise for his behaviour.”

“That’s Khale,” she says.

“Like the green leafy shit?” accidentally slips from my mouth.

“Yeah, close enough,” she says, glaring towards Khale, arms crossed over her chest.

“I’m not sorry,” he snaps and stalks from the room.

“Excuse him, I’m Leland,” the guy who was squatting in front of me says, holding out his hand. “The other three ugly mugs playing pool are Atti, Ry, and Nolan.”

They all look my way and narrow their eyes as Khale stalks back into the room.

“Everyone out,” he yells, and everyone else in the room besides the guys I have been introduced to make themselves scarce.

The remaining guys all make their way into the modest lounge room and take seats on the other chairs available.

“So, tell me, how do you plan to keep Laughn away?” Khale starts.

I smile to myself, because Laughn can certainly be persuaded.

“With her pussy, that’s how.”

“Ry, enough,” Summer chastises.

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