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“Nothing,” I reply, picking at my nails.

“You never call. You never text. You never come by the house. Gwen told me that you work seven days a week, and most of the time it’s doubles. She has to make you take time away from work. Now, I know you have always been a hard worker, but something’s going on,” Oscar speculates. When I don’t say anything, he continues. “You look tired every time I see you, and not just in need of a nap kind of tired, but you are emotionally exhausted.”

“I’m okay. Money is just tight,” I say, still tearing up my fingers to avoid looking at my brother.

“Money wouldn’t be tight if that piece of shit would get a job,” Gunner remarks.

“He’s trying,” I say defensively, even though I know he isn’t. He doesn’t even have a fucking license.

“Cassidy, I’m trying to be gentle about this, but you are being stubborn,” Oscar says.

“I said I’m fine,” I shout at him. He raises his eyebrows at me in surprise, but I sink back down into the chair and resume picking at my nails. Two of them are bleeding, but I can’t stop.

“Cass,” Oscar says softly as he carefully takes my hands into his to force me to turn toward him. “You don’t think I see what he’s doing to you?”

“I love him,” I whimper.

“No, you don’t,” he says, keeping a calm and gentle tone. “You love the idea of not being alone.”

“I’m okay,” I say, sniffing back tears.

“No, Cassidy. You aren’t,” he says, taking my face between his hands. “You are my little sister, and I love you so fucking much. But I have no problem hogtying your ass and throwing you into the bed of my truck to get you away from him. What do I need to do to get you away from him?”

“I’ve tried,” I say as I start crying.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve told him to leave over and over again, but he won’t. He won’t leave. I never wanted him to move in, but he… he… tricked me. I don’t know. I’m in too deep, and he won’t leave me alone,” I say as my resolve cracks and pain pours out of me.

“Has he hit you?” Oscar asks.

“Uhm… no,” I say. “Not really.”

“What do you mean, Cass? What has he done that you don’t like?”

“You’re my brother. I can’t… Please don’t make me say it,” I beg tearfully.

“You might be my sister, but you are also my best friend, Cassidy. What does he do that you don’t like?”

“He… hits me with a belt… Like a punishment.” I say through tears. “He… He makes me have sex when I don’t want to. He’s always so… so… mean about it. When we argue, he makes it hurt more… I don’t know how I got here. I swore I wouldn’t be like Mom. I didn’t want this; I just wanted someone to love me. He said he did. He promised me he would… he lied. He’s like a fucking demonic leech that won’t fucking let go. Why won’t he just let go? Why did I have to go for the one person in the world that was exactly like dad?”

“Jesus, Cass,” Oscar sighs and pulls me to the center seat to hug me tightly. I bury my face in his chest, and sobs wrack from my body. All the pent-up pain and anguish that Trey has caused meover the last year is dumping out quicker than I can stop it. Once the floodgates open, there is no stopping it.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Oscar asks, pulling back to wipe my face.

“I don’t want you to go to jail for me, Oscar. I know you. I know what you are going to do. I can’t lose you. When you… when Dad… I can’t lose you, Oscar, I can’t. I won’t be the reason that you throw your life away. You have worked your ass off to break the family cycle of alcoholism, and you have done well for yourself. I won’t destroy that.

“I’ll make you a deal,” he says. “You go home, pack your shit, and leave. Tonight. Wait until he is asleep and run. Okay? We will sit in the lot across from your apartment building and wait all night if we have to. Okay? Just get what you can carry, and leave. I will replace anything that I need to. Okay? The alternative is I go over there and blow his goddamn brains out for hurting my little sister.”

“Okay,” I sniff. “But… you can’t text me or call me. He tracks what I do on my phone. I don’t know how, but he always knows what I do and where I am. He probably knows where I am right now.”

His jaw tightens, and he closes his eyes for a second before looking at me. “I’ll give you until the sun comes up, and then I’m coming to get you. Okay?” he says softly.

“Okay,” I whisper. “I’m sorry, Oscar.”

“You have absolutely nothing to apologize for, Cassidy. You have done nothing wrong, and none of this falls on you. Just play it cool, wait till he’s asleep, and get the fuck out. Okay? Leave your phone and car there,” he tells me.

“Okay… He’s going to be mad that I went with you guys tonight,” I admit.