Page 38 of Deadly Little Hearts

“Huh?”I ask, confused.What’s that supposed to mean?

“Don’t you ever wish there was a sisterhood?”Amirah asks, and I guess I’d never thought of that before.

“I mean, sounds pretty cool.”In the background, I hear Kai talking on the phone to someone, his voice getting louder.“But I don’t want to sleep with the leaders of the sisterhood—just saying.”

Amirah swats me with a pillow, and we laugh.

I don’t reassure her that we’ll all make it through, because after what happened to my brother, I can’t promise anyone tomorrow.Our life can be ripped from us in an instant.

Amirah stays for ten minutes, then leaves after I promise her I’ll come to her place to rest tomorrow.She wanted me to go with her now, but I can’t.I need to talk to Kai first.

Kai kicks open his door, carrying a bag of food in one hand and a bottle of water in the other.He passes me the bag, and I sit up, leaning back against the pillow.I pull out a burger from Jerry’s and my stomach rumbles.

“I haven’t had one of these in ages.”I groan before taking a massive bite.My eyes close and the peppery mayo runs down my chin.My tongue swipes out, collecting every last drop.

Kai laughs, sitting down next to me on the bed.“You’re a mess.”

After I finish eating the burger, Kai hands me a couple of painkillers.I pop them into my mouth and drink from the water bottle before handing it back to him.

We stay silent for several heartbeats.I can practically feel Kai thinking, and I can’t take it any longer.“Just spit it out,” I say.

“They killed all those innocent people in that hall, and you’re still with them?”Kai shifts on the bed, moving away slightly, and faces me.

“They didn’t do it.”

“But they organized the meeting, knowing full well how many people from our side of the tracks would be there.They fucked up, and the consequences are going to be deadly.”Kai grips the comforter in his fist.

“The meeting was my idea, and you know that.Some of The Brotherhood, and plenty of people from the Ville, died.”I choke back a sob.

Kai shrugs.“Still, they organized it.It was no doubt a calculated risk.They were obviously hoping more Hood people would have been there.”

“Kai!You don’t know that,” I say, raising my voice.

He shakes his head and bites into his bottom lip.“Most of the dead were women and children, so they were expendable for The Brotherhood.”

“Please don’t start a war,” I beg, reaching for Kai, but he rolls off the bed and stands, facing me.

His eyes turn a darker shade of brown.“The war’s already begun, and you’ll have to choose your side.”

My stomach drops, and I want to throw up.“You know I can’t choose between them and you, and I won’t.”

Kai grimaces and shakes his head.“Frey, if you don’t choose, the choice will be ripped away from you.I can’t protect you if you’re with them, and fuck, I can’t lose you too.”

“You won’t.”

Kai blows out a breath before he turns and leaves.I push my head back farther into his pillow and squeeze my eyes shut.Fucking hell.I’m doomed if I do and doomed if I don’t.No matter what I do, I’ll hurt someone, and he’s right—the consequences will be deadly.

Kai didn’t blow up the town hall.The guys didn’t either; so, who the fuck did?Could it have been a random from the Hood, unhappy with their lot?Seems unlikely.Usually, when big things happen around here, Kai knows about it.

The guys have been watching Dominic, but I wouldn’t put this past him.He doesn’t want them leading The Brotherhood; he wants to take back the reins.This is the perfect distraction, but would he risk killing members of The Brotherhood in the process?Although I don’t think he would, I can’t be sure.

I spend the next couple of hours asleep in Kai’s bed before the sun starts to rise and I decide to leave.My mom’s been blowing up my phone, and I need to go see her.This is the kind of thing to send her spiraling, unless she’s already there.When I left her yesterday, I didn’t know if she decided to use or not.It’s all too much.

Kai’s trailer is quiet as I walk down the hall and out the front door.The early morning sky has an orange hue that’s hazier than usual, thanks to the fire.It’s just past six, and I’m tired, but I can’t sleep with all the thoughts swarming around in my head.How can I save everyone and avoid this war?No matter what, someone always gets hurt.I’m fucked if I do and fucked if I don’t.

I take the short walk back to our trailer and push open the front door.It squeals and the lights flick on.Mom rushes toward me, pulling me in for a hug.I bite down on my bottom lip, hissing through the pain as her hands touch my burn marks.

“Oh my God, Freya, are you okay?”She pulls back, inspecting my arms, and when she sees the pain in my eyes, she steps away.“Shit, sorry.”

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