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I dug my forearm into his throat. “What the fuck do you care? You bet against me last night. The whole Pit was talking about it.”
His eyes darted to the right, and I looked with him, spotting Grandma Marie standing between the frames of the kitchen entrance. Her body was so weak, her face so pale. She was getting worse by the day, the cancer stealing away every ounce of her energy—every spark of life.
“Drake,” she murmured, with a shake of her head. “Son, calm down. What do I tell you everyday?”
Be calm. Be brave. Be better than him.
I ignored the chant of her daily words, snatching my gaze away and focusing on Flex again. His smirk made my blood boil. “Go on. Listen to grandma now.”
Rapidly, my hand went to his throat, squeezing tight. He tried not to flinch, but I knew he wanted to react. I could have squeezed the life right out of him, right there. I was taller than him now. Bigger than I used to be. I was so fucking close to doing it, but when Grandma Marie called my name again, I caved.
Her voice was gentle. It reminded me of my mother’s. She reminded me of her so much. I could see where Mom got all her beauty and kindness. I just couldn’t understand how she’d let a fuck-up like Flex ruin her. She was so much better than him.
Nostrils flared, I finally yanked away, stepping back as Flex stepped away from the fridge. He poked his chest out as if he were going to take action now. He fucking knew better. He wouldn’t touch me. He wasn’t stupid. The last thing he wanted to do was lose his moneymaker.
We stared at one another, and I hated that my eyes were the same color as his. I hated that we looked so much alike. I hated that we shared the same blood. I wanted nothing to do with this fucker. Nothing.
“Go now, Frank, before I call the cops.” Grandma Marie went for the telephone on the wall. She picked it up, and started to dial but Flex moved quickly, knowing that if she called once more, he would be tossed in jail. It was the last straw.
Flex hurried for the screen door, but before he was out, he called, “See you tomorrow night… Doom.”
The door slammed closed, and he left us in the wake of his mayhem. Grandma Marie blew a breath, swallowing hard as she came my way. Her eyes caught mine, and guilt flooded me like water in a dam.
“I hate him,” I grumbled.
“Don’t say that. You don’t hate your father. You just disagree with him.”
“No, Grandma, I hate him. He’s done nothing for me. He fucked up my life. He fucked up Mom’s life. Why the hell does he keep coming here, anyway? We agreed that he wouldn’t come here anymore as long as I kept fighting for him! He got what he wanted!”
Grandma dropped her head, squeezing my hands with emotional eyes. She gestured towards the two-top table, ordering me to sit as she did. I sat, but she kept my hands in hers, sighing.
“Honey, we both know I won’t be here long. And we both know you won’t be able to pay the bills here if you do decide to stay.”
I frowned, yanking my hands away. “What are you trying to say?”
She studied my eyes, the gold flecks in her hazel reminding me of Mom’s. “I’m saying that… I may have asked your father to look out for you once I’m gone.” I pushed out of my chair, starting with a protest but she yanked me back down, continuing before I could even speak. “I have nothing left, Drake. Nothing. I used all of my savings on your mother’s funeral, as well as Papa Jacob’s. I haven’t come close to paying off my mortgage. I’m behind on my bills from the clinic.” Tears rimmed her eyes as she sighed. “Trust me, baby boy, this was a last resort. But you know we have no one. I know Oscar and Otto will help you when they can, but they have their own problems. Your Aunt Jane won’t be able to provide much. So that only left me one person to ask. Someone that is, unfortunately, closer than you want him to be.”
“Flex,” I spat.
“I know this isn’t what you want—”
“No, it’s not what I want. You’re right! We can find a cheaper place, Grandma. I don’t know. We can do something. I just don’t want that motherfucker back in my life. I don’t want him thinking he has any control over me outside of fighting. You and I both know if I’m around him for too long, one of us will end up dead… and we all know it won’t be me.”
