Chapter One
Ace
I look around at the only home I’ve ever known and feel conflicted. It’s a shithole, but it’s our shithole—the only place I and my brothers have ever called home. And if I wasn’t convinced that this move would benefit them, it wouldn’t be happening.
They throw their bags into the trunk of their heap-of-shit car without a word. Dread sits heavy in my stomach as I move on autopilot, as if we aren’t about to leave our home. The feeling isn’t an unusual one, nor is the fury that fills my veins on a daily basis.
Our uncle should have been here ten minutes ago to take us away to start our new life in Sterling Bay. Maybe he’s decided we’re not worth it after all. Chance would be a fine fucking thing.
I’m just about to tell them to give up and go back inside when the crunching of gravel by the trailer park entrance hits my ears.
Fucking great.
A black town car with equally blacked-out windows comes to stop in front of the three of us.
“I hope he’s not planning on staying long, that thing’ll be on bricks in minutes,” Conner mutters, his eyes locked on the driver’s door.
We haven’t seen our uncle in years, not since he left us with our shit show of a mother. It seems family only matters when his hand has been forced by the state.
I’d have quite happily been my brothers’ guardian for a year, but apparently an eighteen-year-old with a rap sheet like mine isn’t a responsible enough adult to look after others.
The door opens and I lean to the side to get my first look at the man who abandoned us to this life instead of fighting for his family, but the guy who stands isn’t one I recognize.
“Who the fuck are you?” I bark, much to the guy’s irritation if the widening of his eyes is anything to go by.
“I’m your uncle’s driver. He sent me to pick you up.”
“Fucking brilliant.” The laugh that accompanies my words is anything but amused.
“If you’d like to put your bags in the trunk, I’ll take you home.”
Home. This is my home.
My body tenses, my fists curling at my sides, as I step up to the man. He already looks totally intimidated by his surroundings, and I delight in him taking one step back as I approach. Slamming the door as I go, I stop him from an easy escape should he feel he needs it.
No motherfucker, you’ve probably not dealt with anyone like me before.
The scent of his expensive aftershave fills my nose, and it only makes me want to hurt the privileged asshole that much more.
“Let’s get a few things straight.” I don’t stop until I’m right in his face, so close I see the fear in his eyes. Now that’s something I can work with, something I can feed off like a fucking leech. “Firstly, that place you’re meant to be taking us to is not our home. It’ll never be our home. And second, we’re not getting in this fancy-ass fucking car. Where the hell is James? I thought he was coming to collect us.”
“He’s been called out on business.”