Page 26 of Deadly Little Hearts

I slam my fists on the desk, interrupting him.“Enough.It’s done.Remember your place, Samson,” I growl, and he pinches his lips together.

Lucas laughs, bringing the glass to his lips, and I look away, not having the patience to deal with him.

“What did Dominic say to you last night?”Zeke asks.

“Don’t worry about Dominic.You pledged your allegiance to the new leaders,us, not Dominic,” I say, and Hazen stiffens.

Zeke nods.“What do you need?”

“Get the town hall ready.Send out a text message to all residents about the mandatory meeting tomorrow at seven.”

Samson and Zeke nod before leaving and shutting the door.I fall back into my chair, squeezing my eyes shut.

“Well, that’s settled, then,” Hazen says.

“This is either the stupidest fucking plan we’ve had or the best.”Lucas chuckles, and he’s right.

I hope to fuck this goes to plan and those in Daringhood show up and are fucking grateful for this.If not, then I’m done playing nice.

Chapter 14

Freya

Myfeetdangleoverthe edge of the building, and the sun kisses my skin.Rows of trailers line the horizon and the peaks of the roller coaster from the old, abandoned amusement park create shadows in the distance.I close my eyes and breathe in and out.Pictures of Lucas fill my mind.The way he wrapped his fingers around my neck yesterday, cutting off my air supply.The way he held that bottle to my neck.The disgust in his gaze.The cut that will probably scar and leave me with the reminder of his hatred toward me.

Space isn’t the answer.He may hate me now, but he won’t forever.He can’t.There’s this magnetic pull between us that will never fade.The more he withdraws, the closer I’ll move toward him.I won’t let go.There’s enough room, and once he lets me back in, we’ll deal with our heartache together.

“You going to sit up there and sulk all day or kick my ass in basketball?”Kai’s voice bellows from below the building.

I open my eyes, peering down.Kai’s in a basketball jersey and shorts, bouncing a ball on the old basketball court.His mousy-brown hair fans out from his black cap as he waves me down.

“You know I’ll kick your ass,” I yell, and he grins.

I pick up my phone from the ledge and shove it into the back pocket of my denim shorts, then move toward the fire escape.The wind picks up, and the whole structure sways slightly.My grip on the rail tightens and my heart races.

I’m tempted to stay here, to be stuck in this feeling forever, the way my heart races and my mind screams at me to move.Everything is heightened, and I fucking love it.It takes away the pain, the heartache, and replaces it with adrenaline.

“Hurry the fuck up,” Kai yells, and I laugh.

With a heavy exhale, I climb down, and my feet hit the gravel.Kai wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me in before shoving me away playfully.I grab his arm.A new tattoo snakes along it—a moth with a skull as its head.

“Nice,” I say.

His arms are covered in gray-scale tattoos of random things, like guns, knives, and reapers.Almost every time I see him, he’s got another one.Soon, he’ll be covered from head to toe.

“You itching for more ink?”he asks, moving toward the basketball court.

“Yeah, I want something for Alec,” I say, and Kai’s shoulders tense.

He tosses the ball back and forth between his hands.“I fucking love you, Freya.We’re family, but I just don’t understand why you’re with them.They killed your brother.”

“How many times do I have to tell you?They didn’t kill him; it was Nadine, Lucas’s mother.”I sigh, grabbing the ball from his hand, bouncing it, and taking a shot from the three-point line.It goes in and I grin.

“Do you blame the soldier who pulled the trigger, or do you blame Hitler in World War II?They’re the leaders.They’re responsible,” he says.“It’s still them, and there will come a time when you have to choose what side you are on.”

“Don’t be a dick.”

We shoot hoops in silence for a while longer.It’s nice to spend time with one of my closest friends again.I wish life was easier, that we could all get along ...Although, that reminds me.A message went out on social media last night about a meeting today for residents of Daringville and Daringhood—together.The boys are going to share the news of my plan!

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