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Restless and anxious, I took the long way home, winding through the shabby shacks near the defunct railway station rather than taking the main roads like I would usually do. But I needed more than anything to clear my head and it was a heck of a lot easier doing that without the distractions of cars and people.

My phone interrupted my anxious thoughts and with a groan, I pulled it out of my pocket and looked at the screen. It was Dad, because…well…because of course it was. I sighed, and for a moment, debated on whether or not to answer the call. Deciding that I wasn’t really up for a fight and that that was exactly what I’d get if I went home and left the phone unanswered, I pressed it to my ear.

“Hello?” I said, my heart beating anxiously.

“Bring beer home,” he said shortly.

I rolled my eyes and altered my direction so that I was no longer walking amongst the silence of the trees. I headed toward the route that would intercept the store before hitting my street. “Isn’t it a little early for beer?”

“Tell that to the stupid supervisor at that stupid call center,” he growled. “He’s the one who decided to cut my damn hours.”

I sighed. “What happened?”

Dad started ranting about how stupid technology was, but I could barely hear him over the sounds of a fight which had broken out in one of the houses next to me. Before I could say anything to Dad, a door slammed. My attention shot to the direction of the sound and my jaw just about hit the damn concrete as I saw the back of a person heading down the step, as though he was superman without the cape, flying backwards. With a thud that shook the earth, he landed on the concrete. It took another two seconds for me to realize just what – or rather, who – I was looking at. Kash!

“You like that, big boy?” A man growled and I straightened. He wasn’t talking to me, but still, his voice spoke to me.

That voice.

I knew that voice.

To my horror, I watched as that balding drug dealer—Danny? Dave? Dayle, that was it. Dayle launched himself out of the front door, landing on Kash’s chest, and started throwing fists.

“Kash!” I screamed.

Dayle paused, looking up at me with something dreadful in his eyes. I should have taken a hint then and bolted in the other direction. Instead, I ran over there, forgetting all about my phone.

While the man was distracted, Kash lobbed a jab at his face, snapping his head back. He was back on his feet in a flash, but the other guy was faster.

“You fight like a bitch,” Dayle shouted. “Just like that idiot Hunter.”

My heart sunk. My stomach sunk right with it. I felt pain and anger and everything in between as I drew nearer, still hearing my brother’s name in Dayle’s voice long after he’d insulted him.

“You keep his name out of your goddamn mouth,” Kash growled, kicking at the guy’s feet and swinging at his face. “At least Hunter didn’t smoke out of his own damn stash, you piece of shit.”

“Which is why he got his ass kicked into the ground,” Dayle said, lacing his fingers into a single fist and raising it above his head. “Just like you!”

“Stop!” I shouted and shoved my way between them. By the grace of god, I managed to push them apart, bracing for impact. Dayle didn’t touch me. Instead, he just backed up with a leering grin at Kash.

“Look at you, with your very own guard bitch,” Dayle said. “Hey, sweetheart, why don’t you stay out of my business before you get yourself hurt?”

“Kashismy business,” I snapped.

He raised his brows and chuckled nastily. “Oh, I see. I hear Hunter was your business too. Look how that turned out.”

Kash exploded. “Because of you, you sack of shit!”

Dayle’s grin faded and he growled. “Listen here you little prick. You’re barking up the wrong damn tree. I didn’t touch your little boyfriend. Sure, I took advantage of his absence—I’m a businessman, not a murderer—but you listen to me and you listen clear. You better step off before I decide to expand my horizons.”

Kash flinched like he was going to hit the guy again, and I put my hand on his chest. “Kash, let’s go.”

“Get out of here, Daisy,” Kash said. His voice was shaking with fury. “I’m gonna finish this.”

Dayle chuckled. “Listen to your girl, Kash. She seems to be a heck of a lot smarter than she looks.”

Kash tensed and I pushed him firmly back, locking my gaze to his. “Kash. You’re bleeding, let’s go.”

Kash frowned at me for a moment, then wiped blood away from his mouth. “You don’t understand, Daisy. Go home. Let me handle this.”