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  I shocked him. He didn’t see me coming and the first hit lands. I pull my fist back ready to do it again when he grabs my fist in his hand. Squeezing to the point of pain, I hiss between my teeth. Ace grabs me, wrapping his arms around my body to pin me against his.

  “You son of a bitch!” I scream although my anger shouldn’t be directed at him. He didn’t do this. I did this. Lifeless eyes drift before my eyes as I heave. Acen drops me like I’m poisonous. My body hits the concrete hard.

  “Jesus!” Brody roars dropping down next to me as I throw up my lunch.

  “What the hell is going on?” Fox asks looking between all of us. Fuck them. Fuck all of them. They had to have done something. Why does Rico give a shit about them? I don’t understand any of this. All I know is I ruined everything.

  “I fucked up,” I whisper as vomit sticks to my lip. Brody shrugs out of his shirt and wipes my mouth as Acen growls low in his throat.

  “What happened, Lala?” Brody asks softly.

  “I killed her,” I whisper. I should have known better. I should have known! But I didn’t listen. He gave me time. It’s been a month! I should have tried at least to get the information he wanted. What is wrong with me?

  “You what?” Cato asks kneeling next to me.

  “I killed her. I killed her!” Shoving Brody away from me, he stumbles back nearly falling as I stand and run.

  I run. I run harder, faster, further. I run until my body hurts. I run until there aren’t any tears left in my eyes, no sobs left to catch in my throat. I run until everything else seems to fade and there’s only me.

  Chapter 11

  Acen

  Nothing she said before she ran made sense. Whatever was on that phone surely freaked her the fuck out. Clarissa had been pacing the house worried about her but it all began to be too much for me. The party is starting soon and we’re all expected to be there. I light the joint that hangs between my lips and stare out the lake. The water is unusually cold for this time of year which is why no one is swimming. I need to clear my head and focus. I know I shouldn’t be out here alone either but I needed some space. As I blow the smoke between my lips I see someone. Squinting my eyes, I watch as they stand in the water, facing away from me.

  “What the fuck?” I mumble as I take another long drag. That’s when I notice who it is. Layla is wading into the water slowly, fully clothed. Tilting my head to the side, I watch her. She seems lost in a trance. Her focus on the water in front of her. It intrigues me. I shove myself up and stroll closer to the water wanting to see what she’s doing.

  “You know you can’t drown by submerging yourself in the water,” I say when I’m close enough that she can hear me. She doesn’t respond. In fact, she doesn’t even move at first.

  “You don’t need water to drown,” she finally says. Her voice, it’s darker, lost.

  “You have to learn to swim.”

  “How poetic,” she snarls. I chuckle and slip my hands in my pockets as I watch her body tremble from the cold.

  “Our lives are the water. If you don’t learn to raise your head and take a breath, you will drown and there won’t be anyone that can save you then.” Layla slowly turns to face me and all the pain, hurt, anger shows on her face. I’ve never seen another person as lost, broken as she is right now.

  “I didn’t ask to be saved.”

  “Is that what this is?” I ask nodding toward the water. Layla slowly looks down before bringing her gaze back to meet mine.

  “Have you ever felt the entire weight of your world on your shoulders? Every life, every death, every single fucking breath someone takes is on top of you?”

  “Your world? What is your world?” I ask cocking my head to the side. She stares at me before a smile tugs across her face. It’s a dark smile that should set off all kinds of alarms but I don’t care. She isn’t mine to worry over. So why the hell am I standing here talking to her?

  “You would know. Our worlds aren’t much different.” She turns around and takes a few more steps into the water. She zones out. She goes into her head and that’s where she’s lost. Slowly she keeps going until I can no longer see her. Bubbles flutter to the surface as she slowly floats up. She’s face down, her long hair splayed out around her like a fucking angel.

  “What the fuck!” Brody roars from somewhere behind me. I can’t move. I’m shocked, stunned into silence. It isn’t even eerie that she is floating there. There’s a peace that can be felt if only you were waiting for it. The splashing of water jerks me from my trance as Brody carries her onto the shore. He lays her body on the ground, leaning over her. I watch him. Frozen in place. He leans down, pressing his mouth over hers and for some fucked up reason I want to snap his neck as he saves her. It takes a little bit. She’s gone if only for a second before she coughs and sputters, maniacal laughter bubbles out of her.

  “Jesus, what the hell were you doing?” Brody yells at her but she just laughs harder.

  “Next time I jump,” she says narrowing her eyes at Brody. “Let me fall.” Shoving to her feet, her body trembles from the cold. She wraps her arms around herself as she starts walking back up the hill. Brody grabs her, spinning her to face him.

  “What is with you? Huh?” He rumbles in her face. Something nags at the back of my mind but I can’t place it.

  “I’m fine,” she says as her teeth chatter.

  “You just died, Lala!” Brody growls pointing toward the water.

  “Did I?” She asks cocking her head to the side to look up at him. She’s an enigma. She’s slowly cracking. I can see it in her eyes. Brody sees it too. He reaches for her, pulling her into his arms and lifting her body from the ground. He turns his eyes to me but there’s nothing to say. He stalks past me with Layla as I watch them disappear up the hill. When I look back at the water, I see something lying by where Layla was. Walking over, I reach down and pick up a picture of a little girl, a baby. What is this? Who is this? Glancing over my shoulder in the direction that they went, I sigh. Without overthinking it, I shove the picture in my pocket and head back up the hill. When I get there, Brody has Layla in the front of the car, a blanket wrapped around her but her eyes. Fuck me, her eyes. They’re gone. Lifeless. Void.

  “What the hell was that?” Brody yells as I come closer.

  “What?”

  “Don’t do that shit! You saw her go in there and you didn’t even try to help her?” He’s pissed but at the wrong person. I wasn’t there to stop her. I’m not her friend. I’m not her lover.

  “She did what she wanted to do. Who the fuck am I to stop her?” Raising an eyebrow, he shakes his head. I reach up and run my hand through my hair.

  “You feel something for that girl,” he finally says.

  “Yeah, hatred.”

  “No. It’s something else. I can fucking see it in your eyes.” Shaking my head, I move to the driver’s side and climb in. Brody doesn’t take long to climb in the back when I look over at Layla.

  “Where to dead girl?” I tease.

  “Jesus fucking Christ,” Brody mumbles in the back. Layla doesn’t even look my way as I put the car in reverse and head out.

  Chapter 12

  Layla

  The longer I kick the ball around, the more I become agitated. This place is bullshit. My mom knows it too. I don’t care that she grew up here, doesn’t mean I want to. I peek around the corner when the yelling becomes louder. I can see the guys standing there and just like at school the crowds part for those four. Not me. I won’t back down from anyone and it doesn’t matter to me what they do. I’ve dealt with the shitty hand I was given. After they dropped me off at home last night I had an epiphany of sorts. No one and I mean no one will run my life for me anymore.

  I watch the interaction between them all when I notice the glint in the back of the other guys jeans. You can’t mistake the way the street light reflects off a gun. The conversation is becoming heated and I don’t know if Ace can see the way this guy is reaching behind him. Not that I
give two shits what happens to him but I’m not the type to just sit back and watch as some punk ass bitch like this kid puts a cap in him. I bounce the ball on the top of my foot just as he begins to grab the gun. Kicking the ball into the air, I spin around and nail it. It sails through the night sky, hitting the guy in the side of his face before I take off running. I hear the commotion and I know shits getting real right about now, but I don’t turn back to look.

  Climbing the porch to Clarissa’s house, I knock. I see the curtain move to the side before closing again before the door opens.

  “What took you so long?” She snaps at me. I shrug and walk past her inside.

  “I was busy,” I tell her.

  “Yeah okay. You’re supposed to be braiding my hair. I thought we were friends for a reason,” she huffs and stomps her foot. Clarissa makes me smile. She’s a good girl that deserves the best things in life. Better than I deserve. She sought me out the first day of school and has followed me around like a lost puppy ever since. We don’t mesh. I don’t know what she sees in me that makes her want to be my friend. She’s all…girly. Not that I’m not but where I’m dark eyeliner and mascara, she’s glittery eyeshadow and nail polish to match.

  “You got the stuff ready?” I ask as I walk over and drop onto her couch. Her mom sits at the table in the kitchen, rocking in her seat. Clarissa just ignores her but I know an addict when I see one. Kind of hard not to.

  “Yes. What the hell do you think all that is?” She asks pointing at the table in front of me. I smirk and motion for her to come sit on the floor in front of me.

  “Clar, can I ask you something.”

  “When you stop calling me, Clar you can.” I giggle. I know it pisses her off, that’s why I do it.

  “Why do you even talk to me?” I ask her as I grab the water bottle and spray her hair down lightly. Reaching for the comb, I begin to section her hair out, tying off each section as I go.

  “Why wouldn’t I? You’re badass. You don’t take shit from anyone. I like you.” The way she says it like it’s nothing. She just likes me. No one has ever just liked me before. I don’t ask anything more. I think she said it all right there.

  I begin to braid her hair, taking one section at a time when I ask, “Why the braids?”

  “Why not the braids? Everyone has braids,” she snorts as if that should matter to me.

  “So don’t be everyone else, Clar.” She snorts another laugh. I smile and shake my head when the door flies open. Angry eyes lock with mine. The heat in Ace’s stare doesn’t unnerve me the way it would most people. I don’t think it ever has.

  “Clarissa, go to your room,” he hisses his eyes never leaving mine.

  “No. Layla is doing my hair,” she says blowing him off. I reach for her head once more when he moves. He flies across the room, ripping Clar from the floor and tossing her aside. In five seconds flat, he has me around the throat, jerking me from the couch before spinning us and slamming me against the wall so hard my head thumps. Yet, I hold his glare.

  “What the hell, Acen!” Clar screams next to us.

  “Go to your room, Clarissa!” This time his voice thunders through the room and Clar back steps and turns to head toward her room. I hear the door slam shut and then there’s just the two of us. His eyes burn with a fire that I’ve never seen before.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The door opens once more and the others walk in. The four of them in the same room is electric. The others move around, coming to stand on either side of Ace. All eyes on me. A smart girl would cringe, a weak girl definitely would but I’m not weak.

  “Lala, come on now. Let’s not play stupid,” Fox says as he pops a chip into his mouth. Brody moves closer, reaching in to tangle my hair around his finger as he watches what’s happening. The same Brody that was so sweet and caring. The one that was so worried about me.

  “I don’t know shit,” I snarl this time. Ace’s eyes are heated, never leaving mine even though I bounce mine between the four of them.

  “You picked the wrong people to get mixed up with, Lala.”

  “I’m not mixed up with anyone,” I say through gritted teeth.

  “Yeah, sadly for you, you are,” Cato adds as he lights up a cigarette.

  “What should we do with her?” Fox asks stepping closer now too. Once again, my eyes bounce between the four of them just waiting for one of them to make a move.

  “I think we should teach her a lesson,” Ace finally speaks up. His hand, the one around my throat tightens as he leans in closer. “Would you like that? Would you like the four of us to teach you a lesson you little slut?” Ace’s words are like a fist to my stomach. Even as I draw in raspy breathes around his hold, I keep my eyes on his.

  “Do your best.” I wait. I stand here locked in a showdown with four of the baddest fuckers in town and I refuse to back down from any of them. Ace laughs and Cato follows. The other two just stand there watching me as if I’m some kind of mirage. Ace leans in closely, his warm breath dancing against my flesh.

  “You have yet to see my worst or my best, Lala. You better keep in mind that our business is just that. Stay the fuck away from us.”

  Chapter 13

  Acen

  “You okay?” Shadow asks as we sit at the party. He’s drunk and I’m not far behind him. The guys are scattered around, hanging out and having fun but it’s her that makes my blood boil. I don’t typically let Clarissa come around the parties but this is a family oriented one and of course she brought Layla.

  “Yeah. Just dealing with some shit.”

  “The girl?” He asks pulling my attention to his.

  “What do you know about her?”

  “Not much. Figured you did.”

  “I’m just as in the dark as you on this one. She goes to school with us. Friends with Clarissa. The girl is a little off.” Shadow chuckles, bringing the bottle of beer to his lips.

  “She’s a hot one,” he adds.

  “She’s fucking insane too.”

  “Got some news on the bastards that jumped you.” That has my attention.

  “Who is it?” I ask leaning forward resting my elbows on my knees.

  “You were right. They weren’t Brick’s crew. We don’t know who they are but from word on the street, they are somehow connected to Consuelo’s.” That isn’t what I wanted to hear. I crack my neck from side to side and inhale deeply.

  “We still don’t have word on where he is?” Shadow shakes his head. “This is fucked up.”

  “It is. That ain’t even all of it.”

  “Fucking hell. What else?”

  “Someone is in with Consuelo’s. Giving him intel on the GV Crew. Someone close.” Anger burrows deep in my chest as I swing my eyes around the party. Who the fuck would be doing this? Why?

  “We don’t have a fucking clue?” I ask him. Shadow shakes his head from side to side as I shove out of the chair and charge for the guys. Clarissa and Layla smile and laugh with some of the other guys. Layla’s smile doesn’t meet her eyes. Not even close to a real smile. Huffing out a breath, I shake my head once more when Brody steps up next to me.

  “What’s the look?”

  “Get the guys, we need to talk,” I tell him pulling a cigarette from my pack and lighting it up. I lean against the side of the house and look around. Who could it be? Who would be going behind our backs?

  “What’s happening?” I look over and see the guys all crowding around me.

  “There’s a snitch. Don’t know who but they are giving intel back to Consuelo’s.” All sets of eyes are on mine, anger sizzling between the four of us.

  “What the fuck?” Cato hisses. I know that feeling.

  “We need to watch our asses. We need to be careful who we talk around,” I tell them. They all nod.

  “This is bullshit. That means that someone that’s been with us is fucking us over. They likely already know too much,” Brody curses under hi
s breath.

  “We have no idea who it could be?” That comes from Fox this time. I scrub my hand over my face as I shake my head.

  “No clue. Shadow has guys looking into it but that’s going to take time.”

  “Shit. Just what we need.”

  “That’s not all either,” I say not wanting to do this tonight but they deserve to know.

  “What now?” Fox snaps.

  “My dad got word to me. He wants to see me.” All of their faces pale as they look from each other to me. They all know this can’t mean anything good to come.

  “You’re good with this?” Narrowing my eyes at Cato, Brody slaps the back of his head.

  “Hell no he isn’t good with this, dumb fuck!”

  “No. I’m not. This can’t mean anything good, man. Dad hasn’t talked to me in four years and let’s be honest, I have nothing to say to him.” The thought alone of going to see him pisses me off. I blame him for a lot of things. My mom’s drug addiction is the main one. He used to pump her full of that shit just to keep her quiet and pliable. Now me and Clarissa are the ones left to deal with it.

  “So don’t fucking go. You don’t need his drama, Acen,” Brody says casually. He’s right but there has to be a reason my dad has asked to see me.

  “We all know I have to go, man. Even if I don’t want to. He has something to say and I need to know what.”

  “He’s right. Just because he’s in prison doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have information. We all know how that shit goes,” Cato adds nodding his head.