Page 28 of Up in a Blaze (Polished P & P #4)

Hate pumped through my veins over how weak I sounded and acted.

I ground my teeth together as I walked back out into the diner.

My head hammered again, but it wasn’t the worst pain I’d had.

I’d put up with beating after beating whenever Mom had a boyfriend over with a violent streak.

There were also the times I got my ass handed to me at school, usually after I’d found enough courage to smart back with a comment.

Those beatings had worn me down to a point where I didn’t see a reason to fight back or say anything. When I did, they only got worse.

Sighing, I picked up another set of dirty dishes and forced those depressing thoughts from my mind.

I had survived.

I was surviving on my own two feet and away from her.

One day I would get away from here. One day I would think back to these situations and laugh at them because I’d be rich, smarter, and worth something.

My future would be better.

My stomach twisted and my lunch threatened to show up. I placed the bucket down on the table I’d been cleaning and sucked in some deep breaths. I flicked my hair away from my eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall. There were still another twenty minutes to go. I had to make it for the money.

Sucking in a breath, I picked up the bucket, cringing when my stomach clenched.

“Hey,” Tanika said from my side so suddenly, I jumped. She smiled apologetically. “Sorry. Look, I think you should get going. It’s not long until your shift ends, and I’m sure Ivan will still pay you for it.”

Shaking my head, I rubbed at my stomach. “Then I feel like I’m cheating him.” My head picked that moment to throb painfully. I closed my eyes and sucked in a sharp breath.

“That’s it.” She took my arm in one hand and the bucket in the other. My gaze flared at her strength. How could she carry it with one hand, especially since I’d found it so heavy with dishes?

Tanika marched me out into the kitchen, where Ivan was laughing at something with his wife, Flora. Once they saw us, they stopped.

“Micah’s leaving a little early,” Tanika announced.

“Micah, are you all right? You do look a little green.” Flora approached and rested her hand against my forehead. “And clammy.”

Taking her hand from my skin, I patted it to show my appreciation for her concern before letting go.

Flora was a sweet soul, but I wasn’t close to her as I was Tanika, and I didn’t enjoy people touching me.

I’d only grown used to it with Tanika, as she was super affectionate, and over the years, she’d gotten me used to it.

“It’s just a headache and a slightly twisted stomach. Nothing I can’t handle. I can still finish my shift.”

They all shared a look. Flora’s lips thinned in worry while Ivan’s brows dropped in confusion. About what, I didn’t know.

“Tanika will walk you home.”

No!

“No, I’ll be fine.” Quickly, I undid the apron, pulled it over my head, and stalked to the cubby where I stashed it before I grabbed my wallet and keys.

If Tanika accompanied me home, and Lax showed, he would see her and somehow drag her into something horrid. I didn’t have a doubt about it at all. I couldn’t let that happen.

“I’ll get going. See you all tomorrow night.” I opened the back door.

“Micah, wait. I’ll come.” Tanika tried pulling her own apron off but got stuck in it.

“No, stay. No one’s here to take both our shifts. Bye.” I waved lamely and quickly stepped out, shutting the door behind me.

In a rush, I started my walk home. I kept glancing over my shoulder to check Tanika wasn’t there. Thankfully, she hadn’t followed. It wasn’t until I neared the trailer park that I realized I’d forgotten to pick up my pay.

“Shit,” I muttered.

A whistle sounded, startling me. “That’s a naughty word for a guy like you, Micah.”

Stuff me in the ass with knives.

Anything would be better than facing Lax when he realized I didn’t have any money for him.

Turning slowly, I caught Lax moving out of the shadows and into the light of the streetlight. Four other guys followed him. Usually, he had about ten guys with him. Maybe he noticed I didn’t put up a fight and told the others to go deal with someone else.

God, I’m weak.

“Lax….” My head throbbed as I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants. “I, ah, wasn’t feeling well at work. I left early and forgot to get my pay. Can I give what Mom owes your boss tomorrow?”

Lax laughed. The others quickly joined in when he shot them a look.

Tension tightened my shoulders as I drooped them more, trying to make myself invisible but knowing it wouldn’t work.

My stomach clenched and my head pulsated.

Slowly, I rubbed at my temples.

“Aw, look, guys. Poor little Micah has a headache.”

More laughter rang out.

My stomach warmed in anger. I was sick of this. Sick of going from one messed-up situation to another. Sick of being weak. Sick of all the self-loathing, and the “I wishes,” and the “I should haves.”

“Hey, I’m talking to you.” My shoulder got shoved. I stumbled back, lifting my gaze to Lax. “You go back to work and get me the goddamn money.” He looked down at his hand. “Why the fuck you wet?”

I knew I’d been sweating from the pain, but I hadn’t realized how much.

“Jesus.” He wiped his hand on his jeans. “Just go back and get the money.”

“No.” My tone was soft but snappish. It even surprised me. If my head wasn’t crying out for aspirin, I would have patted myself on my back.

Lax crossed his arms over his chest. “No?”

Nodding, I rubbed at my forehead.

“You’re not listening again,” Lax yelled, and I flinched, snapping my gaze up to his livid red face.

“Lax, please. I’m not well.”

He leaned in and snarled in my face, “I don’t give a fuck.”

My head rocked back from the force of his punch that followed. Blood sprayed from my nose. Covering it, I stepped back.

“Go back to work and get your money. Last fucking time I tell you, else I’m sending the boys into your trailer.”

They would take everything.

Pain stabbed at my temples and stomach. I took another step back.

Lax’s jaw clenched. “Right, guys, teach him a fucking lesson, and I want his keys.”

“No,” I cried out, moving back further. The trailer was all I had. “No!” I yelled, throwing my hands out in front of me.

His people suddenly flew back from where they’d been standing and landed on their asses; groans filled the area.

Lax wasn’t the only one with wide eyes. Slowly, he looked at me. “What did you do?”

“N-nothing.”

He started for me. I backed up over and over and didn’t stop until a new voice, a voice I knew, said, “Stop right there.”

Ivan and Tanika moved out from within the trees. Lax looked to them and back at me before he ran at me.

“Stop.” I threw my out hand to the side, and Lax shot the same way my hand moved.

Dumbfounded, I looked down at my hand as I heard Lax drop to the ground with his own groan. It was then I noticed the pain in my head and stomach had vanished.

“You’re all right,” Tanika said from right in front of me. I saw her shoes first, then lifted my gaze to hers. She smiled softly. “Hey, it’ll be fine now.”

“Did… did I do that?”

She patted my shoulder and nodded. “Yep. Bit of a late bloomer, but that was all you.”

“What? How…. I….” I shook my head and looked over to Ivan, who helped Lax to his feet. I called out quickly, “He’s armed. He’s always armed.”

Tanika curled her arm around my shoulders and steered me toward the trailer park. “Don’t worry about him. Ivan will have it covered.”

It was fine to say don’t worry, but fear still formed a pit in my gut.

I looked over my shoulder to see Ivan leading Lax over to his guys. Surprise shot through me?Lax moved willingly. He didn’t put up a fight, didn’t say anything, just walked beside Ivan like I hadn’t just thrown him across the ground.

But I had.

Somehow, I’d moved him. I just didn’t know how.

Facing forward and with my heart in my throat, I stared down at my hands again. I swallowed thickly.

Excitement and fear churned inside me.

Glancing at Tanika, I wondered why she wasn’t freaked out. “Did you see what happened?”

“I did.” She stopped at my trailer.

Wait, how did she know where I lived?

When she looked my way, she laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m not a stalker. Open up, and I’ll give you some answers while you pack.”

My head jerked back in shock. “Pack?”

“Well, yeah. There’s a place where you can learn how to use your powers.”

“Powers?’ I whispered.

“Yep. I don’t know if you’ll have more, but it looks like you have telekinesis.”

As I tripped up the steps, all I could think was that I didn’t want to faceplant. I put my hands out to stop my fall but found myself flying backward into Tanika. She grunted before I was suddenly weightless again and my butt hit the ground.

Tanika stood beside the door, grinning.

I glanced to my doorway and back to her. “How… you were behind me.”

She knelt beside me and placed her hand on my shoulder. “There’s a lot you need to learn, young grasshopper.”