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“I said no. I’m staying. These are my friends. I’m allowed friends.”

“Not when they’re the law you’re not.”

“It shouldn’t matter who they are.”

He shook his head. “We ain’t like these people,” he said. “And we don’t need the law around.” He tugged on his cap again in frustration. “Now come on. Billy’s waiting for you.”

“Billy’s fine.” He was working, doing his daily ritual. He was doing well. He no longer needed her all the time. It was as hard for her to admit that to herself as it was to admit it to Mo.

“Brynny, I ain’t playin’ here.”

“She isn’t either,” Kat said. “You heard her answer.”

He glanced at their enclosed hands. “Brynny, it’s us or them. You choose. Right here, right now.”

“No.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I shouldn’t have to choose between those I care about, and I won’t. I love my family and I love my new friends.”

“You can’t have us and have them,” he said.

“Just watch me.”

“Don’t come home,” he said. “Ever again.”

“I’ll come home when I damn well please. That house is in my name and so is the lot. Billy’s my brother, and I’ll care for him. Unless…you want to take him on? Pay for his food and clothes, care for his needs?”

Mo looked away and she knew she had him. “Have a nice night, Uncle Mo. I’ll be home tomorrow.”

She turned and pulled on Kat. The surrounding cops squeezed her arm and shoulder as they moved through them. Brynn shook from the confrontation, and when they were enclosed with friends, she fell into Kat and held her tight. Tears threatened, but she fought them, concentrating instead on Kat’s heartbeat.

When she finally pulled away and nodded to everyone that she was okay, she looked back down the road to find Mo and her cousins gone.

And for the first time in her entire life, she felt free.