Page 14 of Beautiful Fiend

“Whatever,” I huff again. My sister wouldn’t put me in danger. “Just give me his address.”

“You’re a lifesaver,” Emma adds. “I’ll text it to you. How’s Mom?”

“You’d know if you visited her,” I snap.

“Don’t be like that, please.” The guilt in her voice annoys me. “You know I can’t take it. It’s too hard for me to see her.”

But somehow, she assumes it’s fine for me.

“Just text me,” I say before hanging up.

It comes a few seconds later. The guy lives two minutes from where I am, so I guess it makes sense for me to head out.

Once I knock on his door, he opens it like he’s been waiting. He shoves the bag at me and shuts the door in my face.

“You’re welcome, fucker!” I shout at his door. Dick.

I had to park my car down the road and I’ve got a few minutes to walk, so I put the backpack on my shoulder as I stroll back. I haven’t walked for thirty seconds when I see blue lights in front of me. I turn around, my heart already beating out of my chest. There’s a warning siren. A shortwoothat tells me they’re here for me.

“Fuck.” I break into a sprint as I realize this is a setup. Not by my sister, of course. No, their dealer has switched sides and is attempting to take us down in the process—typical Kings’ style.

I hear behind me, “Stop right there!” But I keep running. My lungs burn as I get in an alley they can’t reach with the car and sprint through. On the other side, I take a sharp left and enter a residential area. I keep looking for the street sign but don’t have time to slow down. I have no idea if I’m entering Kings territory or not.

I run some more as I see blue lights not far away. I jump over a cemented wall and hide the bag under a bush. I fucking hope this is an NSC street still. Now lighter, I jump another fence and end up in someone’s backyard. I exit through the front and run until I can’t anymore. I hear another shout, and I know this isn’t over.

Barely catching my breath, I cross into the woods and come out the other side. I run into a new street and my heart stops.

Shit.

I’m in Kings territory. I don’t know the name of the street; I just recognize the crown spray-painted on the sign. A cop car comes my way as I’m about to turn around. I have no choice but to keep running. I take another turn, but I know if I don’t hide, they’ll keep coming after me. If a King finds me, my life is at risk. I try to ignore the memory crashing back of the last time I got caught by people from the Kings crew.

I jump into someone’s bush and fall onto the other side. The branches scratch my face, arms, and neck, but I roll onto my stomach and plaster myself against the yellow grass. I wait until the car drives past and then until the blue lights disappear before releasing my breath.

“Well, well, well. Would you look at what the pigs dragged in?”

I recognize all too well the sound of the smug voice. Out of all the Kings that could have found me in their backyard tonight, it just had to be Caden.

3

BILLIE

MY HEAD - Layto

My heart stops and I roll onto my back, hurrying to my feet so I don’t get caught in a weak position.

“I swear,” Caden smiles. “We’ve spent the evening wondering who we could blackmail into doing a shit job for us. And here you are, falling into our laps like a godsent gift.”

I gulp, noticing the people with him. Elliot and Ethan are sitting on plastic chairs on Caden’s left. On his right is some girl I don’t know. I’ve seen her before, although have never dealt with her directly.

I eye the backyard, looking for the exit, while Caden gets off his chair and approaches me slowly. He’s got that predatory way about him that I hate. I’ve managed to avoid being in his vicinity for two years. Since that night, I have done everything in my power to forget and move on. Now here I am, choosing hisfuckingbackyard to escape the cops.

Noticing the trash cans on the other side of the yard, I take a slight step to the left. His smile widens, and he shakes his head. “No, no. You ain’t going anywhere, little Scott.”

Deciding to ignore him, I make a beeline for the exit. I kick a trash can out of the way as I sprint onto the street. I don’t make it a few yards before one of them whistles down the road. A few seconds later, members of their crew are coming out of two different houses on the street. A group of them blocks my way, and I spin around, but I’m forced to stop dead in my tracks.

Caden and his friends are waiting patiently, not far from me.

“Is that Billie Scott?” someone asks.