Jace (Deranged Ink #3)

Prologue

I spent the majority of my childhood fighting for my next meal. I have the scars to prove it. Nothing came easy and everything, came with a price.

I had shit parents, no living grandparents I could turn to, and to be truthful I’m not even sure the man that claimed to be my father truly was.

I was a mistake and my cracked-out mother reminded me of it often. She blamed me for all her wrongs, claiming I’m the one that led her to be the worthless person she became. Fact is she was gone long before I ever existed.

There was never any food in the house, but if you wanted to get high, hell you could pick your poison. It would have been so easy to go down the wrong path and become as useless as those surrounding me. I’ll admit I have my share of wrongs. I’ve fucked up more times than I can count.

Mr. Mcleary, the nosy neighbor across the alley was a bastard. But it was that bastard who saved my life. I never got the chance to tell him that, because eight years later when I finally made it back to my old neighborhood he’d already passed away.

I was just shy of ten years old when I was placed into foster care. A skinny, malnourished little asshole who treated everyone like the enemy. I’d been dealt a shit hand, and though getting passed around in the system sucked, it was better than the first ten years of my cursed existence.

Daxton Ford and Oliver Riggins, two of the greatest guys I’ll ever know. They didn’t owe me a damn thing but they both treated me like I was worth something. I’d never felt that before them. I never thought I had a purpose, never felt like I deserved anything good, but they refused to let me believe I couldn’t make something of my life.

They forced me to find the good within me, and I owe them everything.

I don’t believe in angels and the greater good but still like to consider the idea that I’d been blessed with them. Maybe by accident or some glitch in the grand scheme of things, but I’d take the fuck up. I’d take that win.

With Dax and Olly, came Zac, and Luna—my people.

They’re loud, opinionated, and we all think we are the boss; we clash on most days but damn it we’re a family of five.

I’d give my life for any of them, together we are strong, together we are unbreakable.