Page 27 of Deadly Little Hearts

“Are you coming to the meeting today?”I ask, and Kai scoffs, bouncing the ball and switching it between his hands.

“Fuck no.”

“Come on, please.This was my idea to help us,” I say, standing in front of Kai and blocking him from the basket.

He dribbles around me, and I swipe out, trying to grab the ball, but he’s too quick.He barges past me, knocking my shoulder before launching into the air and dunking the ball.

“Money isn’t going to change much, and you know it,” he snaps, retrieving the ball and passing it to me.“You can’t trust them.They all need to be killed.”

I swallow hard.He’s wrong.

“But it’s a start.Please come?”I push out my bottom lip, and the corner of Kai’s mouth lifts before the smile disappears again.

“Over my dead body will you see me at one of their events.Now, drop it and shoot.”

I release a heavy breath but decide not to push it.Kai is my best friend, my chosen family, and if I push too hard, I might lose him too.He’s right about one thing, even though I wish he wasn’t—there may come a time when I have to choose between my best friend and the guys I love, and I won’t be able to.

I shoot the ball, and there’s the satisfying swish of nothing but net.We keep playing until sweat drips down my back and my legs start to wobble.

“I’ve gotta get home and get ready.Last chance to come with me?”I ask, and Kai rolls his eyes, snatching the ball from my grip.

“See you soon, Freya.”

I flip him off over my shoulder and his laugh follows me.

Trash litters the sidewalks, along with several tents, and homeless sleeping on the streets—this is exactly why I want to help.Everyone deserves a second chance at life.Yeah, some might fuck it up, but if they aren’t given an opportunity for a better life, then they’ll continue as they are now.

There’s a girl around my age bent over her knees, her eyes closed, her legs tucked under her, and I want to help her.To make sure she’s okay.I kneel in front of her and push her arm, but she doesn’t move.Her body slumps over, and I shove her more forcefully.I check her pulse and there’s a light thud.

“Leave her alone,” a deep male voice snaps from behind me, and I jump up.An older guy wearing a black beanie and pushing a trolley stands in front of me, half of his arm wrapped up in a garbage bag, and a shiver runs down my spine.He glares at me, wrinkles creasing his forehead.

I raise my hands up and take a couple of steps back.If I’ve learned anything from my mother, it’s that if someone’s on anything laced with ice, they can be unpredictable, ready to snap with one wrong move.

“I was just checking on her,” I say, taking a couple more steps back to the road.

He scoffs.“I’ve seen you before, hanging around with those evil cockroaches.Now, piss off.”

The girl slowly raises her head, a manic smile on her face.She looks first at me, squinting, then at the man.“You can’t tell Kai’s girl what to do.”

I blink.“I’m not Kai’s girl.We’re friends.”

“Whatever.She’s not to be messed with—he said.”The girl shrugs and goes back to hunching over her knees, but her words have power.Angry homeless guy ambles off.

My mind’s a blur.Kai’s always had people who follow him, and he’s had Bear and Zion by his side to help enforce things when needed.But when did Kai get so much respect from the homeless around here?

A thought lurks in the corner of my mind.What if he isn’t just against The Brotherhood—what if he’s leading the uprising?

I turn away and walk the rest of the way back to the park, constantly glancing over my shoulder.News travels fast around here, and the more time I spend back in Daringhood, the more I feel like it’s not home to me anymore.Without Alec here, everything’s different.

When I’m with Hazen, Gage, and Lucas, they make me feel protected, even though I’ve always protected myself.Kai is my best friend, and I want to protect him, too, but now I’m torn between him and my lovers.I won’t choose sides—I can’t.I’ve already lost one loved one, and I’m not losing anyone else.

Kai will just have to, one day, realize that me spending time with my boys doesn’t mean I care for him any less, and it won’t change who I am.I’m still here to shoot hoops and shoot the breeze whenever he’d like.

I just hope thatone daycomes sooner rather than later.

The door to our trailer is ajar, and I push it open and step inside.Cool air brushes against my skin, and I curse under my breath; Mom’s left the air conditioner on again.

I move into the living room, grabbing the remote off the kitchen counter before spinning around and aiming it at the unit.Movement catches my gaze, and my whole body locks up as though someone is squeezing me so tight that I can’t breathe.My heart angrily pushes against my chest.

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