Page 48 of Hate So Deep

It’s kind of hard to take this wannabe thug seriously when he’s sitting on a ten-thousand-dollar couch across from a custom home theater.

Asshole.

“What about my brother?” I ask and he dips his chin.

“Yeah, I know the fool. Why? Fucker wants to come at me again?”

Although his tone is full of bravado, I find it interesting that this is the first time he’s avoiding my gaze.

“When was the last time you saw him?” I ask.

I don’t know where this discussion is going but I do know that if I want to prove whatever I stepped into didn’t involve Buck, I have to ask the people I was with.

“Ain’t seen him, girl,” Gage interjects. “Not for a while.”

“So, he wasn’t here the night I was?”

Gage’s eyes narrow and I see the wheels turning. He’s going to lie to me, and I have to head him off at the pass.

“Fine. I’ll let the police handle it,” I say, splaying my hands. “I was hoping to avoid telling my parents, but…”

“C’mon, Gage,” his little mini-me says.

“Yeah, he was here,” he finally says with a shrug. “Bought some shit. Surprised you don’t remember since you was standing right there.”

The confirmation that I did see my brother presses at my chest like a lead freaking weight, but I summon a bitchy smile and say, “Whatever. He leave after getting the “shit”?”

“S’pose so. Dunno didn’t see him after that,” Gage says, eyeing me steadily.

Did I text Buck? Is that why he showed up or was it more likely for the drugs?

“Did I leave with him?” I whisper.

“Dunno,” he says, and Caro takes my hand.

We’re halfway to the door though when she pauses and looks over her shoulder to ask, “What about the roapies?”

Roapies?

“What the fuck are roapies?” I ask but no one answers me as Gage and Caro exchange a look that I can’t say that I appreciate.

“Why you asking when you already know the answer?” Gage says and Caro looks away nibbling her lip.

Since I don’t want to be here a second longer than I need to, I wait until we’re in the car to say, “Caro?”

“Yeah?”

“You said Dirk stormed in. You thought I left with him?”

“He did. He went straight to the back though where you went with Gage.”

Shuddering, I take a swig of water, but I don’t know what I’m washing away because I don’t fucking remember.

“But you said Buck wasn’t there,” I mumble.

“He wasn’t, Lala,” she says, and I eye her sideways.

Rubbing my aching brow, I mumble, “Why do I feel like I’m missing something?”

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