Page 102 of Volatile

Val comes to my side and tilts his head to whisper, “Isn’t he the prosecutor?”

For fuck’s sake. She could have chosen a better target to pickpocket. I regret teaching her how to now and I interrupt their glaring contest.

“Kristi, give it back.”

She turns her glare on me.

“Now.”

Rolling her eyes, she pushes her hand into the waistband of her jeans and pulls out a phone that doesn’t belong to her. I gave her one with all of our numbers so why the fuck didn’t she call me instead of resorting to stealing? Becca has enough money to afford anything they’ll need in the account I set up for them and the house is paid for.

The prosecutor lets her go and she’s dramatic as fuck as she pretends to fall. I step forward, catching her shoulder, then pull her into my side. She remains glued to me as we leave and Val stares at her with his brows together. She ignores all of my previous warnings about his mouth as she snaps, “What the fuck are you staring at?”

His brows go up, eyes widening, as we step into the cold air again and he shakes his head. “Calm down, bitchy, we just helped you.”

I lead her to my car before she can attempt to fight him since she doesn’t have self-preservation where pain is concerned, and Val doesn’t have a line he’s not willing to cross. The glare doesn’t lessen as I sit her in the passenger seat and my brother is a fucking clingy bastard as he stands at my side like a shadow.

“Why were you stealing?”

No answer.

“Why aren’t you with Becca?”

The glare lessens and she looks at Val so I officially introduce them.

“Val, Kristi. Kristi, this is Val.”

“Is he the one who has tantrums?”

I nod as he punches me in the arm, proving I’m right. “What the fuck? I don’t have tantrums.”

She knows I’m not going to let her get away without an answer and I can’t see her arms. I won’t check in front of my brother because he’s a prick and he’ll end up making her feel like shit, even accidently.

“Becca dropped me off at home,” she says, pulling on her sleeves. “I haven’t seen her in two weeks and none of the lights have been turned on in the house.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“My mom took my phone,” she shrugs.

I nod then close the door. Val thankfully waits until she’s trapped to ask, “Who is she?”

“A friend,” I sigh.

He doesn’t ask anything more and I get in the car. She wouldn’t have had anything to eat while she was with her cunt of a mother, so I stop and get her food. Kristi doesn’t say anything until I drop it in her lap and she asks, “Where’s yours?”

“Not hungry, eat.”

“Tali?”

I hum and drive to the house I bought for her sister.

“Are you okay?”

I nod and change the topic. “You know the deal, lift your sleeves.”

She hesitates and I pull over on the side of the road under a streetlight to watch her.

“Kristi, pull your sleeves up or I’ll do it myself.”

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