They’d been kids themselves, only a few years older but smarter and a hell of a lot more street-hardened.
I’d seen them in the neighborhood from time to time but avoided them since they were bigger and intimidated me. The moment they saved me, I’d given them my unwavering loyalty. Then, less than three months later, Rey joined our crew, and the four of us became inseparable.
Whatever life tossed our way, we handled it together.
I used to wonder how we never ended up in juvie for the number of times we scammed and robbed stupid tourists who wanted to visit authentic New York City neighborhoods. Even on that fateful day our lives completely changed because of Arin King, we had all been together.
We’d been so fucking stupid. And I still couldn’t believe Nik, Kir, and Rey went along with my dumbass plan to rob the asshole who walked around as if he owned the neighborhood.
I thought I’d planned every detail out, from the distractions and the bumps to the pickpocketing. I hadn’t expected the trained eyes and skills of Arin’s security or for Nik to trip as he made the swipe for Arin’s wallet.
To say we thought we were dead that day was an understatement.
But instead of killing our asses as we well and truly deserved for being idiots of the highest caliber, Arin surprised the fuck out of us and took us in. He gave us a home. He turned us into the men we were today.
And he gave us plenty of shit when we were “dumbfucks,” as he liked to put it.
When Arin adopted us, he’d investigated our pasts and learned every fucking detail about us. He’d never kept anything hidden, giving us the cold hard facts.
That was when I learned Nik, Kir, Rey, and I had ended up on the streets because of one specific incident. An incident I’d known was the result of my existence, even if I couldn’t prove it. And the fact that Arin pulled me aside to tell me about what he’d discovered told me he believed the same thing.
I clenched my jaw and pressed my foot down on the gas pedal as I shifted gears.
I could still remember the conversation I had with Arin that night.
“I want him dead. We know he’s behind it.”
“I’m not disagreeing, but tell me this. How are you going to prove it?”
“I share his blood. That’s proof enough.”
“Use your head. That means nothing.”
“He hid what he did to my mother and wanted her dead to keep his money.”
“Again, what does that have to do with proof? You’re acting like an idiot kid.”
“I am a kid.”
Arin sighed and shook his head. “Okay, so you want this revenge. How do you expect to get onto his property, let alone through his security, to complete your deed?”
“I’ll manage it.” I paced as tears streamed down my face.
“Sit down, boy. You’re not even fifteen years old. You have more hormones than sense.”
“I have a right to avenge my mother.”
“You want revenge?”
“Yes.”
“Then get smart. Raging and carrying on like a dumbass without sense isn’t going to solve anything. That’s not how this world works. Cold, hard ruthlessness is how you get fuckers like Shah to pay.”
“Am I supposed to accept he murdered all of our families? How will I face Nik, Kir, and Rey, knowing I’m the reason their parents are dead?”
“Did you kill them?”
“It’s because I exist.”