Page 66 of Silent Damage

I’m gonna bang on the door and ask for a meeting with Tobias Kay, the leader of the HellCats. I’ll make the case for myself. Whatever I gotta do, I’ll do it.

All I know is I can’t stay here—Gabe is my connection to the very few moments in my childhood that didn’t hurt, and I know what will happen if I let him in.

I’ll get comfortable. I’ll want to stay.

Then the rug will get pulled out from under me.

His comfort is a trap that will keep me in this place if I’m not careful.

And I’m getting out.

Mom, Dad, and this awful trailer park will be a distant memory soon enough.

And so will Gabe.

Gabe

The shower water is hot, and I scrub my skin raw.

He slept on the couch.

I reached out—invited him in. I spoke for him.

And he still left.

Just like before.

That’s what he does—he fucking leaves. Even when I need him the most, he bails.

Scrub him away, Gabe.

I need to get out of here.

Just leave and go to work.

It’s earlier than usual, but I don’t care. I’ll catch an earlier bus and wait for Torren to wake up so we can get a cup of coffee.

Maybe I’ll calm down once I see Torren and Felix.

I shut off the water and snag a towel, drying myself so I can get dressed and get out of this stifling trailer as soon as possible.

When I whip the door open, I crash right into Jason. He falls backward against the closet opposite the bathroom.

“Watch it,” he scolds.

I stand there frozen for a moment before the heat in the trailer envelops me like a plume of steam, making my blood boil.

Watch it?

Watch. IT?

I push him so hard he falls to the floor.

“Ow! What the fuck is wrong with you?” he screams.

In a flash, I’m leaping onto him, arms flailing as I grit my teeth and try to beat the holy hell out of him.

“Gabe! Get off me!”He rolls us over and ends up on top of me, pinning my arms above my head.