“Shark, they’re kids,” she pleads, her eyes darting around at all the neighbors who have started watching.
“You don’t get to speak, whore. And Dolly, if you don’t want something really bad to happen, I’d shut up too. You don’t have any idea about love. But I can tell you that instead of this”—he jabs the gun into my head—“you better aim higher than Fuse’s kid.”
My hands ball into fists. I’m so sick of always paying for my dad’s sins. I’m not him, nowhere near like him, yet I’m constantly feeling like I have to prove it every day.
“I’m not scared of you.” It’s disrespectful, but he’s already crushed me so I have nothing to lose.
“No?” He starts to laugh.
“Daddy, please put the gun down. What if someone calls the police?”
“I said go inside. This don’t concern you anymore. This is between Edge and me.”
“No,” she shouts. “I can’t leave him. It’s my fault.”
“Misty, get some fucking clothes on and get my daughter into the house.”
“She’s gonna be my old lady,” I say. Fuck him. I follow all the rules. I work harder than any of the boys to be a solid Disciple and he’s got a Glock to my head trying to tell me that Dolly deserves better. For a second, I almost want him to pull the trigger. The betrayal stings and the lonely, scary feeling that he might very well take away my Dolly pushes aside the fact that he could kill me. I’ve seen him do it. Shark doesn’t usually dirty his hands, but he did once and I saw it.
He takes a step even closer and I can smell the cigarettes on him. “See, this is the problem, Edge. Dolly is mine. You seem to have some creepy idea that I’d ever think you’re good enough.” He pushes the cool metal of the tip of his Glock harder into my head. “I will do everything in my power to see that she isn’t a whore. It don’t matter if she was spawned by one—that shit stops here.”
“You son of a bitch.” Misty pushes Dolly aside and throws herself at Shark who does nothing but grab her hair while her towel dangles from her hands.
“This is what a whore is.” He shakes her as if she’s nothing more than a naked doll. His hand, the one holding the gun, is steady as ever, not moving from my head. “Even though Dolly favors her in looks, I think she can do better. And that means no to you.” He gives my head a shove with the gun, but I don’t fall back and I hold my ground. Always have. I learned a long time ago you never show weakness.
Never.
He sneers and turns, pulling a screaming Misty toward the house, laughing at her as she tries to get away from him.
“I’m your fucking VP. I don’t think I need to take this up with Prez. You don’t go near my daughter until I say so.”
I don’t speak. My face is red enough to give away my humiliation. I give him a nod and he nods back as he drags Misty inside, telling her to spread her legs like the whore she is.
“No.” Dolly covers her mouth as she stumbles over to me. “This can’t be happening. Edge?” She throws herself at me. “Are you okay?”
I look around at all the neighbors who are still watching. The sun is starting to set and my life has changed in seconds.
“Edge? You’re scaring me.”
I whirl to face her, almost dizzy as the facts dawn on me: everything that I need is being taken from me and I can’t fight back.
“Do you get what just happened?” I snap.
Her teary eyes look too big for her beautiful face. “He’ll get over it,” she breathes out. “And screw him and his crazy behavior. God, listen to them.” She covers her ears with her hands.
Misty’s porn star moans pour out the open window along with Shark’s loud grunts.
Grabbing her wrist, I give her a small shake. “Did you not see what happened a few minutes ago? Didn’t you hear your dad? He’s the VP of our club, Dolly.” I’m not even trying to be reasonable. With Shark saying “No,” that means No.
She shakes her head. “He’s stupid. It’s not like we’re going to listen to him. You and I can do our own thing.” Her tears have stopped as if all this has finally made her think about what needs to be done.
“Fuck.” I release her. “This is bad.” I start to pace because she’s right—I’m not going to listen. I can’t be without her. She’s what matters, but I can’t get caught either. “Give me a second to think.” I pick up my backpack. The spot where the Glock was on my forehead still tingles from the cool metal.
“We’ll be careful. This changes nothing.” She nods as if she’s trying to convince me, reassure me, yet it’s all over her face that she’s trying to convince herself.
“You’re mine, always mine. No one can take you from me.” I reach up to wipe away some of her tears and kiss the top of her dark head. She clings to me as I block out the snickering of the neighbor kids, block out everything for one moment. Because when I walk away, both of us have to change, have to become something that is not fair, and yet what in my shitty fifteen years has been fair?
“I have to go.” Pulling back, I look down at her tear-filled eyes that tell me she’s trying to stay strong.
She nods. “Crazy day. Tomorrow will be better.” Her voice cracks.
I look over at her slum of a house and vow this won’t be me. I’ll make sure I take care of Dolly, buy her what she wants and deserves.
“We’ll make it work. I’ll take care of it.” I say all this for her because if Shark wants to be a dick, he’ll call my dad.
“Yes. I love you.” She reaches up for me to kiss her. And as much as I want to, this needs to be in private.
A dirty secret is what we have become. Pulling away, I motion with my head. “Give them ten minutes before you go inside.” Turning, I walk toward my street. I don’t look back, not even when I hear her tortured plea. Our fate, for now, is sealed. If I’m honest, this is the day that changes everything for both of us.
Turning the corner toward my house, my stomach drops.
My dad leans against his piece of shit truck, smoking a cigarette, the phone to his ear, and I know what’s gonna happen.
For her, I’ll take the beating, but this will be the last time.
DOLLY
Seventeen years old
“Hey, can you look for me?” Morgan pops her head out of the bathroom stall and hands me the pregnancy test.
“Um, gross.” I roll my eyes and reach for a paper towel before I take it.
“God, please say no. I can’t handle another abortion.” Morgan flushes, pulls her short skirt down, and exits the stall.
“What?” She looks in the mirror and frowns, then leans close as if to check her lipstick.
“Why are you so casual about this?” I point to the stick and look at her. She stares back like I’m some strange, disgusting creature.
“Well, I guess because I’m not judgy. Jesus, some best friend you are.”
“Morgan.” I lean on the counter and look at her for any real sign of emotion that would make me feel like she’s not a crappy person.
Nothing. I see nothing. No regret. If anything, I sense an angry vibe that I’m even daring to question her.