“The fuck you doing, Wrench?” a voice growls.
Reality splashes over me like a bucket full of ice for the ASL challenge.
“What’s up, Echo?” Wrench says.
I pull back and see the frown on Wrench’s face.
“The fuck is this shit?” Echo’s face is flushed, and his hands clench into fists.
“Playing catch up with Dixie Rose,” Wrench answers.
“With your tonsils?” Echo spits.
“She ain’t got your mark on her, brother,” Wrench drawls.
“The fuck she doesn’t,” Echo says. He grabs my arm and yanks me away. “Show him or I will.”
I want to scratch his fucking eyes out. “Fuck you.”
“That can be arranged.” Echo reaches out and yanks at my jeans until I give in and pop the top button. There on my hip was an ornate crown with a bold English letter E in the center of the base.
“Shit, man,” Wrench holds up his hands, “I didn’t know.”
“This means nothing. It was a mistake,” I say.
“Doesn’t fucking matter, little girl. That shit is for life, and you know it,” Echo retorts. “This stays here, you feel me, brother?”
Wrench nods. “Yeah, I got it.” He slips away.
I was left on my own. “You’re a real asshole.”
“And you’re a crazy bitch if you think I was going to let this fly.” He grips my wrist hard and drags me thorough the crowd to a secluded corner not touched by the lights. “You won’t give me the time of day, but you want to give my shit away to him?” he snarls.
“It’s not your shit. It hasn’t been your shit since you bailed on me.”
“It wasn’t like that—”
“What was it then, Echo?” I ask and turn to him, praying he’ll answer.
“Doesn’t matter now.”
“Always with the copout.” I shove him away. “You don’t get to hold me hostage. I will do whoever, whenever I please.”
“Not in this town you won’t,” he deadpans.
“You turned out to be a bully, just like your father.”
“The fuck did you just say?” He advances toward me.
I step back until my back meets the wall.
“You think you know me? You don’t know shit about me or the life I live. You knew the rules when you got my mark. Yet, you come here and blatantly disrespect me.”
“Please…no one knows,” I say flippantly.
“I fucking know. That’s all that matters. We both know your place is here with me. You might be pissed, but I bet your body knows who it belongs to.” His voice lowers an octave.
My nipples peak and my tummy quivers.