Page 6 of Shallow

“Shut your mouth, or I’ll shut it for you,” Barry bites out between clenchedteeth.

“Your Honor,” Little Bitchy Annie blurts out, her face beet red and ready to explode. “I have to object to these terms. The defendant was found guilty of felony vehicular manslaughter. A woman is dead. With all due respect, this is atravesty.”

“Objection overruled. And with all due respect, Mrs. Travers, this a sentencing hearing and not a trial. I make the final decision and you abide by it. Are weunderstood?”

Little Bitchy Annie slinks back into her chair, her throat bobbing from swallowing what I assume to be her pride. “Yes, yourHonor.”

“Miss West will be released to the supervision of her mother, Bianca West, while the paperwork processes, but once all legal documents have been signed and notarized, you will begin community service at the Elizabeth Kincaid CommunityCenter.”

Can one’s heart stop and still be able to speak? Because I think minedid.

“I’m sorry, I thought I heard you say the Elizabeth KincaidCenter.”

“That’s exactly what I said, MissWest.”

“But that’s in South Carolina, yourHonor.”

“Miss West, you’ve proven that living in Los Angeles provides illicit temptation for you. I’m taking it upon myself to eliminate that temptation.” I focus on his black robe so I don’t pass out. “You are to be transferred back to your childhood home in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where you’ll begin your service at the Kincaid Center. Should you violate any part of the probation I’ve set forth, all terms will be revoked, and you’ll be given the maximum sentence of ten years in state prison. Have I made myselfclear?”

Gut punch. Kick to the ribs. Either would knock less breath out of me. I find myself thinking of prison. Would it be so bad? Would the chair? Would anything other than walking into thatcenter?

“MissWest?”

“Yes, yourHonor.”

Did I speak? I think I spoke. I have noidea.

“Good. The defendant is released and will report to her probation officer in five days. Court adjourned.” I can’t help but watch his hand as he reaches for the gavel and raises it higher than normal. He wants a big show—a loud bang to seal my fate—and he getsit.

My mother sobs louder, praising a God she’s never spoken to in her life, and Barry has a goofy smile plastered across his face I don’t understand. Why are they happy? I didn’t win my case. I may have escaped jail, but I’ve just been sentenced to something farworse.

Imagine answering for every wrong you’ve committed in your life. Facing every person you’ve turned your back on since you were a child. Returning as a freak to a place you graced as aqueen.

As I’m led out of the courtroom, I brush my hand across my left cheek—the rough, jagged feel on my fingers wilting away any hope left ofsurvival.

Judge Oliver sentenced me to my own judgmentday.

Two

Cary

Present Day

“What kindof half-assed swing was that, junior?” Easily deflecting the right hook, I grin because it’ll piss Frankie off even more. He hates that nickname, and knowing he hates it only eggs me on. I bounce around the ring, the tape on my wrists pulling at my skin. “We gonna fight or hug itout?”

Running a forearm across his brow, Frankie licks a drop of blood from a gash on his lip. “Fuck you,Carrick.”

I laugh. Probably not the smartest move, considering Frankie has about three inches on me, but I admire the way he meets my dig with his own. Unfortunately for him, my given name means nothing tome.

Carrick Kincaid no longer exists. He died the minute she stole my future. I’m Cary, plain andsimple.

“I wouldn’t mind a face full of those.” Off to the side, Romeo groans like a man saddled up at a stripper buffet. A hum of whistles and curses rustles in the background, but I tune them out. Frankie has that look on his face again, and I know laughing at him pushed him over the edge. I’ve taught himwell.

“You’re finished, old man. You’re leavin’ here in a body bag.” Frankie bounces around, flaring his nostrils like I haven’t seen that move a hundredtimes.

Stopping mid-block, I raise an eyebrow and throw my arms out in a dumbass, vulnerable move. “You gotta stop watchingThe Karate Kid. You gonna sweep my leg too,Johnny?”

Frankie answers with an animalistic growl from the back of his throat, and I brace myself for the hit. He doesn’t disappoint. A solid, over-hand right punch lands square on my chin, swinging my head backward. Before I have a chance to recover, he’s on me, slamming into my left shoulder until he has mepinned.