I’m pretty sure my rib is bruised. I try to get up, biting my lip as white-hot pain radiates through my ribs. “Help me up.”
He looks like he wants to be sick, but he helps, giving me the support of his weight until I’m standing.
“Do you live up there?” His nose crinkles as if he's just seeing the place. I guess he is. Sometimes I forget that not everyone lives in a place like this.
“Yeah. I’ve got to find Jack.”
His eyes widen. “But you’re hurt!”
I snort, shaking my head. He doesn’t understand, and that isn’t his fault. In his world, people don’t get beaten up for not paying their debts, their loan sharks. Angels of Death don’t exist.
“I need to find Jack, Hayden or Malachi. Before he does.”
I watch as his teeth grind together, the vein in his forehead coming out. “I’m not stupid. He had the tattoo on his neck. The Kingston tattoo, the one with wings.”
He’s right. Compound enforcers, Angels of Death. It doesn’t matter that Jack works for them, that I call Gage, Uncle, that Hayden and Malachi are best friends. None of that matters in this world. The only things that do are money and power. The twins of evil.
Taking another deep breath, I start walking down the steps. Each jerk brings tears to my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall.
“Go home, Callum.”
There is so much hidden in my words, and he seems to get it. He takes one last look at me before nodding. “Sorry, Lil.”
What does he have to be sorry for? But I give him a twisted smile.
Just as I turn the corner, it starts to rain. I look toward the sky.
“Funny, very funny,” I shout to all the gods I don’t believe in. I try to pull my coat around me as the rain bites into my skin like ants and make my way across the estate. I come to Devil’s Turn and stop. Do I chance going across the park with no lights? The sun is being chased away by the night sky, and I don’t know who might be lurking in the shadows. A girl got raped in there a year ago. I could carry on through the estate, but I’ll come across at least one gang. The decision before me is why it’s called Devil’s Turn; it doesn’t matter which way you go, either can take you straight to hell. The real name is Primrose Lane, but no one has called it that for years.
I flick my gaze to the park once more before carrying on. Even if that way can cut my time in half, it’s too much of a risk. I turn the corner, almost falling into Barry, one of the estate’s alcoholics. He staggers around the place, never to be seen without a can in his hand. His clothes stink and are wet, yellow where he has urinated all over himself and hasn't realised. Barry is harmless. He bumps into me, causing a sharp pain to shoot through my ribs and me to grab onto the wall to steady myself. He apologises to the air before staggering on.
I wrap my arms around my side and pick up speed. My gaze darts everywhere, and I see Riley. He’s the leader of a gang and has started claiming pieces of the estate as his own. He’s the new generation coming through, a wannabe gangster. He has already started making a name for himself, and he’s just a few years older than me.
I keep my eyes to the floor as I walk past him, my heartbeat racing and my breathing coming heavily, even though the gang nowhere near holds the same fear the Kingston name does. I know I never want to fight them off, and if Riley is here, the rest aren’t far away.
“Lilliana?” I stop, frozen yet at the same time feeling hot, clammy. I bite my bottom lip to stop my chin trembling as he draws closer. I know I need to look at him, to show respect, so I raise my eyes until they gaze upon his face. His black skin and green eyes are a stark contrast. He is good looking. His hair is long, to his shoulders, in dreads, and his lips lift into a tight smile.
“Lilliana.” His voice is rich and smooth. I blink up at him rapidly, looking at anything but his eyes, biting my cheek until a metallic taste fills my mouth, trying to find the answer to a question I don’t understand.
He grabs my arms. “What the hell are you doing walking through here? I thought you were bright, girl. A girl as beautiful as you walking around this place… it is asking for trouble, sugar.”
His jaw clenches and his lips thin, making me take a step back. His eyes narrow. “I’m not going to hurt you!”
My eyes flick to his, then back to his hands on my arms. He lets go straightaway, and I rub at the sore spots. What is it with everyone manhandling me today? Today sucks!
“You shouldn’t be out here.” There is genuine worry in his voice, and that's when I realise no one else from the gang has approached us.
Tears spring to my eyes. “Angels came for Jack. I've got to find him! I’m going to the compound to get Hayden.”
His eyes soften and something that resembles a smile pulls at his lips. “How is H?”
I frown at the conversation change. “Good.”
He looks around, rubbing his chin as he studies me. “You shouldn’t be protecting Jack. He should be looking after you.”
A laugh escapes but there’s no humour in it. I shake my head. “He’s my dad. He could have left, just like my mother, but he stayed. I owe him for that. None of us have parents that would win an award, but it doesn't mean we won't save their arse.” Because maybe, just maybe, if they see how much we love them, they will turn it around, become the parent they should be. Maybe they’ll love us. If they don’t, what chance has anyone else got? I add silently.
He lifts two fingers and four of his men walk out of the shadows. I recognise some, others I don’t. I swallow hard, my gaze flicking between Riley and the four men approaching. I shove my hands in my pockets so they can't see them shaking.
“They will take you to Dead Man Mile.” It was called that after bodies started appearing in the alleyway off the side. I blink up at him. He’s giving me security to cross the estate. I swiftly glance at each of them. They look scary, but one stands out more than the others. He’s around 6’’2, standing a head above everyone else. His hands are on his hips, a deep frown covering his face, and then his eyes turn lethal. He comes toward me at speed, and I squeak, but he pushes past, making us all turn.
A girl is arriving. She has long blonde hair, smoky eye makeup, and is wearing clothes that she must be freezing to death in.
“Emmie!” His voice bounces off each tower of flats surrounding us. The girl stops, crossing her arms over her chest, full of attitude. Whoever this man is, she's not scared of him. That's when she turns, looking over at the group of us.
“Is that Emily Parker?” I ask before I can stop myself. Riley turns, his eyes flicking toward mine.
“You know her?” I nod. She is in my year at school. She’s always quiet, shy even. But this last year she changed, wearing dark colours all the time, which matched her smoky eye makeup. She now gets in trouble at school, has become wild. “She’s his best friend. One day, he’s going to realise she doesn't want to be saved.” He looks at me as he says it, full of double meaning. I must have hope for Jack, because if I don't, what else is there?The guy storms back over, cursing the whole way, his body primed. He falls in line with the rest of the guys, like a soldier awaiting command. They could overpower me on their own. Together, I will never survive. I’m like a lamb circled by wolves.