Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
REID
I t had been a long week. Logan and I spent most of it at the community center, learning the ropes of what was expected of us, which honestly wasn’t anything that we didn’t already know.
We had contacts given to us for places that could help the locals, and for once, they weren’t full of shit either. The list had been created by Diesel and Marco, carefully vetting each company to ensure they could do what they said they did, giving us so many opportunities for people who were struggling.
Free mental health consultations, drug and alcohol counseling, and food assistance.
Those who desperately needed it would thrive, and those who took advantage would lose it, which I thought was fair enough.
Poor Ander had mostly been stuck home alone with Raven since Zavier had been busy with Psychos business all week, and I wasn’t sure what I was more relieved about.
Raven’s period arriving, or me not being the one at home dealing with her demonic behavior.
I’d brought her home chocolate and ice cream all week. I was trying to make it easier for her, but it seemed Ander wanting to curl up on the couch with her was doing the job more than anything.
She was an emotional mess, but I hoped this was the start of her hormones balancing. Watching her give herself emotional whiplash sucked, and she’d randomly had meltdowns throughout the week.
Zavier had brought flowers home and made her cry on Tuesday night. Logan put too much milk in her coffee on Thursday which had made her cry, and I’d accidentally woken her up when I got up to pee last night, somehow upsetting her enough that she’d cried over that too.
So far today, she’d been fine though, like a switch had been flipped.
It was Saturday, the community center opening day, and I really hoped the day out would cheer her up a little. She seriously needed it.
I made my way towards the bathroom, pausing before my knuckles could tap on the door when I heard her sobbing on the other side. Then she cried out, relief filling me.
She wasn’t having a meltdown, Logan was just making up for lost time.
“Guys, we’re going to be late!” I called, opening the door and finding Raven bent over the sink, her eyes finding mine in the mirror.
“What time is it?” she panted, and Logan groaned as he slowed his thrusts.
“Why couldn’t your period finish yesterday? Do you think I’ll get fired if I skip my first day?”
“Yes. Be fucking quick,” I warned, closing the door to let them finish, grabbing my hoodie and wallet from the bedroom.
“You nervous?” Zavier asked, pulling his Psychos jacket on as Ander sprawled out on the mattress with his face in his phone. He’d been harassing the Thieves for updates on Dante, but so far, no one could find a trace of him.
I didn’t want to say it, but I was starting to think Stefano had either killed his own son, or sent him back to Italy with a broken jaw or something.
“A little. I’m not good at public speeches. What if no one shows up? Or if they don’t trust me now we’ve started staying in Ashburn and you’re a Psycho?” I asked, more panic filling me. “What if I can’t actually help people?”
“Those people don’t want a fancy speech, Barron. They want to know you hear them. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, and don’t make it seem like you’re better than them. Focus on the fact that you want better for the Heights as a whole,” Ander answered without looking over, and Zavier nodded his agreement.
“Exactly. Marco went over a bunch of questions they could ask you, right? You’ve got answers to a lot of wild things they could throw at you.”
“You’re right,” I sighed, trying to mentally shake off the nerves.
“Of course we are,” Zavier grinned. “Nothing’s going to ruin today. It’s a major step forward for the Heights, and having someone oversee it all who has lived that life will make people trust the system a little.”
I rolled my eyes and glanced at the time on my phone when I heard both Logan and Raven apparently finish, their lack of anxiety for today only making mine worse.
Maybe I should’ve been the one in there railing her to calm myself.
The shower kicked on and I pointed at Ander. “You can come with me. I’m not going to be late because of those two. Zav can wait for them and they can take Logan’s car.”
Having his car back made things so much easier. Ander’s car was fine if only one of us needed a ride, but the extra seats were usually needed.
Logan’s looked good as new, and they’d even fixed a dent that Logan had put in the back of it one night when reversing in the dark.
“You’ll do fine,” Zavier repeated, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “You guys go. I’ll hurry the other two up.”
“Liar. You’ll join them,” Ander grunted, getting to his feet and grabbing his things.
Zavier didn’t deny it, and I gave him a dirty look on the way out, really wishing they’d take today more seriously. If we were going to change our lives, that meant appearing more responsible.
Like showing up on fucking time.
I’d intended on driving, but Ander pointed to his car and jiggled his keys. “You’re going to crash with how freaked out you are. You’re a passenger princess today.”
“Thanks,” I said as I blew out a breath, not arguing with him.
“Want me to throw questions at you while I drive so you can prep more?” he offered, making me nod.
“Please. I swear my brain’s losing information.”
He started throwing random questions at me as we hit the road, some simple, some personal, and some stupid, just so I knew the best way to approach them all. I could do this, I was quick to answer and I sounded professional.
The drive didn’t feel long enough, my palms starting to sweat as we pulled up to find the place insanely busy. People wandered around outside, kids ran around laughing, and I could see the main doors had one of those fancy ribbons across it.
“Why does cutting that ribbon freak me out more than the speech?” I asked out loud, and Ander chuckled, patting my arm.
“This is the start of big things for the community, dude. That ribbon is just the beginning.”
We eyed our surroundings as we climbed out and headed towards the building, and I tried really hard not to run back to the car when I saw reporters among the crowd.
“Is this going to be on live television? Won’t this attract Stefano?” I asked under my breath, but Ander shook his head.
“Stefano doesn’t give a shit about the community center. He wants me, Zav, and Raven. Beckett said they scanned the place for explosives this morning, and there’s been people here all day since. Slash has the Thieves set up out of view around the perimeter with snipers, and with so many of us here he’d be spotted too fast to actually do anything. None of us should wander off alone though, just in case. I’ve already told Raven she won’t be using the bathroom alone today, and neither will we. Buddy system.”
It sounded like it was all under control, but I had a really bad feeling that I couldn’t shake.
Slash waved at me as he spotted us, and I was thankful that Ander had glued himself to me. I wanted to throw up.
“Good morning. Where’s Logan?” Slash asked instantly, making me cringe.
“On the way?”
“Why did that sound like a question?” he asked with amusement, glancing around the growing crowd. “Don’t look so nervous. You’ll do fine. You know these people.”
“I’m used to telling Logan and Raven what to do, not a whole fucking town,” I grumbled, earning a smirk.
“If you can control those two, this will be a piece of cake. Remember, it’s not like you’re running the town, Reid. You’re just a little bit of extra support. You can run for council if you want though.”
“Not today,” I deadpanned, relief filling me when Ander showed me his phone.
Zavier: Just about to leave. Be there in a few minutes.
“You know what to do,” Slash continued, ticking things off with his fingers. “We’ll do our speech and introduce you and Logan as the people to go to. You do your speech, which you’ve gone over a million times, then you say it’s your honor to open the community center to everyone and cut the ribbon. That’s it. Mingle among people inside and make sure they feel welcome. Security is handled, catering is handled, and everything else that you could possibly think about is handled. Stop stressing.”
“I’m not stressed,” I lied, and he gave me a knowing look before pointing to Diesel.
“Go stand over there. Take Lavaro with you. I’ll send Logan over when he graces us with his presence.”
I gave him a jerky nod and did as he said, and Ander gave me a nudge with his elbow.
“You’ve got this, Barron.”
I didn’t feel like I did, but I definitely relaxed a little more as a few of the local kids stopped to say hi and expressed how cool the play equipment was out the back.
They were taking the changes well, and that was all that mattered.
We used to be these kids, so knowing how much better their childhoods could be made all of this panic worth it.
We stood off to the side of the front steps where a microphone was, and I tapped my finger against my leg as I waited for it to start.
“You’re going to snap a tooth,” Diesel said as he eyed me.
“He’s nervous and the other’s are late,” Ander answered for me, glancing at his phone. “Raven said they’re just parking.”
I didn’t relax until they walked over and stood beside me, blowing out a breath as Slash moved to the microphone to get everyone’s attention.
“Good morning. Thank you for joining us today for the opening of the Hawthorne Heights Community Center. It has been a privilege to work with the community on upgrades and improvements, and this is hopefully only the beginning.”
People were smiling and some even cheered, calming me more. They were happy about this, they weren’t being hostile about the changes.
Despite them being good changes, a lot of people didn’t like it when rich people appeared and did things, so I’d expected more uncertainty.
“We have been working with the government and local council to try and make necessary changes to the community that benefit everyone,” Slash continued, talking to the crowd with ease. “The community center will bring help to not just students, but those who need help with mental health, hygiene, and every day matters like contraception and sexual health. We have been speaking with many of you for months, asking what would impact the community the most, and a lot of people mentioned how hard employment and education can be. We hope that having a place to help with that will be beneficial to each and every one of you, and we also hope to bring more to the community in the future. In saying that, we don’t feel like we have the same understanding for what you need, so we have decided to hand the reins over to some people who do. It is my pleasure to introduce the manager of the center, Reid Barron, and the manager of our youth program, Logan Donahue.”
Chatter started as both Logan and I walked towards the microphone, but clapping broke out and a few whistles too. I forced myself to stand straight, looking out at the daunting crowd as I took my place.
“Thank you, Slash. I think I can speak on behalf of Hawthorne Heights when I say we appreciate the time, money, and passion you and your family have put into making our community a better place.”
More cheers calmed me, and Raven gave me a thumbs up when I glanced in her direction. She was grinning wide, boosting my confidence more.
“As many of you have seen, the new addition of the community center has also given us a much needed playground for children, a laundromat and bathroom to those without power or running water, and new technology for students or people who are trying to find employment. This is life-changing to a lot of families in the area, and I am personally honored to have had a part in it. I know we can all be wary when people come into our town and start making changes, but I truly believe we have hit the jackpot. As someone who grew up in this town and struggled with putting food on the table or keeping the lights on, it makes me proud to see us all coming together today to celebrate the start of change. I invite you to drop in whenever you want just for some company, a cup of coffee, or to use any of the services provided. I will be here from nine AM until five PM, Monday to Friday, and Logan will be around alongside me to bring some assistance to our youth. Hopefully, if the government and local council see the changes causing positivity, they will invest in us more.”
Logan nudged me, and I hesitated before stepping to the side so he could speak. He wasn’t supposed to say anything, and it was risky letting him have the floor like this.
Slash shot me a look of warning, but Logan knew how important today was. He wouldn’t ruin it.
“I’d also like to thank Slash and his family for providing these things for our community. They have become really good friends of ours lately, proving that they have our backs again and again. If you want more youth programs for our town, please stop by and hang out to show that it’s beneficial to us all. We have pool tables, dart boards, and other fun activities for teens to just hang out, and if you just need somewhere to study or to find new friends, you’ll find that here too. Come to us for anything, and we will help in any way we can if it’s within our power.”
I was so glad he added that last bit. I knew not to make promises, but he hadn’t had that drilled into his head all week like me.
He let me have the microphone again, and I cleared my throat to continue what I’d been saying. “If there are things you think the community needs, bring your ideas and concerns to me. We might not be able to make changes instantly, but I can bring them to the council and advocate on your behalf. As of right now, we have both male and female staff who you can speak to, whether it's about domestic violence, sexual health, addiction, or even just to check in. If you have any questions about the services, please raise your hand and I’ll answer as many questions as I can.”
Hands shot up everywhere, my stomach twisting with anxiety all over again.
I pointed to a kid in the front who looked to be no older than nine, his voice firm. “Does this mean social workers will be in the community more? We struggle, but we get by. Why should I have to lose my home because these people think we can’t manage on our own?”
“Good question. This won’t change child services. We are hoping that providing these services will ease the strain on families, and will help children be fed and clean. If you are struggling and need help, coming to me won’t result in a call to get you removed. I grew up avoiding child protection services, sheltering Raven and Logan as best as I could from their radar. I know what it’s like to go hungry just so they were fed, and I promise you that I have no intention of having children removed from their homes.”
“What if they want to get removed?” someone called out, and I scanned the crowd but couldn’t see who spoke.
“If you have concerns for your safety, my door is always open. We can work closely alongside foster homes to ensure anyone who does need somewhere to go is looked after. All homes are regularly inspected and careers are vetted to the max. We don’t want anyone taken out of a bad home, just to be placed in another one.”
One woman scowled, her voice irritated as she stepped forward. “I heard you called CPS and the cops on Viktor Mathers. That doesn’t sound like you mind your own business. Your mother told me all about it.”
Murmurs went around the crowd, but we’d prepared for this.
“As someone who grew up being constantly let down by my mother, starving while she ran off to get high, I know just as much as anyone how terrible some parents can be. I grew up seeing my friends beaten and abused, and I couldn’t stop it. If you are an addict who is struggling to put your children first, this is a safe place for you to ask for help. If you have anger issues and are hurting your child or partner, we have services here to help you too. Yes, I called the cops on Viktor. He was beating his children, and Lara, who is only a baby, ended up with a broken arm because of it. That’s no life for a child, and I will advocate for them to ensure they have a better upbringing than me or my friends. Frank and Lara have been given a second chance, and for kids like Frank, who have been an adult their whole lives, this is a huge change for them. Access to education, food, and they just get to be a kid.”
“You bailed on your mother. Why didn’t you help her?” the woman spat, my heart starting to beat harder. I’d been having an internal battle about Mom since she’d passed, but I knew I couldn’t blame myself.
“Why are you angry that I stopped giving her the time of day, but you aren’t angry that kids like me sit in the window waiting for a parent to come home that never do? She bailed on me from day one, leaving me in my own filth to starve. That should be what you’re angry about, not at a kid who finally realized their parent would never change. I loved my mom, I always will, but she was an addict who refused to get help. I stuck by her my whole life, but she didn’t respect me or my boundaries. I walked away from her for my own sake, and I did nothing wrong in doing so.”
Someone cursed so quietly close by that I barely heard it, but then Frank was pushing me out of the way and reaching for the microphone. Rory appeared with an apologetic look on her face, but I shook my head and let him talk.
This was what the community center was supposed to be. A safe place for people to vent.
“Isla Barron was an awful person, just like my dad,” Frank said, the speakers crackling at how loud he’d spoken. “Dad would hurt Lara for crying whenever he was home, which wasn’t often, and was saying horrible things about what money he could make off her in a few years. I was so mad at Reid when he called the cops, but I’m grateful for it now. The Donovans took me in, and their friend has decided to adopt both me and Lara.”
I didn’t know they’d decided to adopt them, and I glanced at Rory to find her smiling.
She acted like him running over her was a mistake, but I’d bet money on her allowing it to happen.
“I get to go to school, and I don’t have to worry about how I can find money to feed my sister anymore. She’s safe when I’m with friends or at school, which means I can get a better job in the future. I know we’ve always been wary of the crews around here, but Rory saved us. They’re actually the best people ever, and I really hope people see that. No one had to step in and help the community, but they did anyway. Even if they stopped today, they’ve given us a place to go when we need help, and they’ve handed it over to Reid and Logan, who can actually understand your concerns and troubles. Bad people don’t do things like that.”
He looked back at me and I nodded, wanting him to know I was supporting what he said.
“Thanks, Frank,” I said as he motioned for me to speak again, but he stayed next to me. “Like Frank said, Rory has been an asset to children’s safety. Did you know they’ve taken in hundreds of children over the years? They drop everything for a struggling kid, and that’s the kind of people we want helping us. We lost our home recently, and they’ve helped us every step of the way.”
“We don’t need their money!” someone shouted, a few mumbling their agreement.
“No one is forcing you to ask for help. Feel free to continue on with your lives as if this never happened, but don’t sabotage someone else’s future who wants the help,” I warned, motioning to Rory. “Thanks to Rory and her family, Logan and I have jobs. Raven is attending college next year to chase her dream of teaching. With their help, we can put pressure on the government to give us a better education system here too. Don’t you want your children to be taught by adults who have had a police check? Who actually teach? Our kids suffer here, and it destroys their chances of a good future.”
“You just took a handout and owe them. You’re too blind to see it,” the woman from earlier called out. “Zavier’s wearing their jacket now too. Do you really think we want our kids joining gangs?”
“Your kids are already joining gangs,” I said calmly, motioning around the crowd. “You remember Raven’s brother, right? Josh died when he was twelve because he was trying to make money within a local gang. Those gangs were the cause of so many deaths, but the crew system changed that. Zavier has joined the Psychos, yes, but how is that any different than the way of life we already have? They keep other gangs out of our town, which keeps our children and women safe from human trafficking. They don’t allow children to join, they don’t condone child substance abuse or sexual abuse, and they stand up for those who don’t have a voice. You and the rest of the world might see a bunch of dangerous felons, but if you took the time to get to know them, you’d see them for what they really are. They’re just a family trying to help. I guarantee if you called them for help, they’d show up for you. If you have concerns about anything, please come and find me inside so we can talk more. If I don’t have an answer, I’ll find one for you. If you want to know why they give a shit about us, ask them. We asked questions, and we discovered that Rory spent most of her late childhood here, struggling just like the rest of us. She gets it, and she doesn’t want the cycle to continue. It starts with us, and it ends with us. We can change our futures, we just have to try.”
Frank was grinning, and when Slash offered me the scissors to cut the ribbon, I took them and spoke again. “Today marks the start of change, and it’s my honor to let Frank cut this ribbon and officially open the Hawthorne Heights Community Center.”
Frank’s eyes widened on me, and I held them out to him with a wink as he stammered. “Me?”
“Yeah, dude. Where’s Greg?”
He pointed towards Rory, and I spotted Gregory and his siblings behind her as they watched. Knowing what I was intending on doing, Rory ushered them in our direction, carrying Maggie and one of the twins over, while Jade joined us holding Lara.
Gregory held Sia, the other twin, his face bright as they all huddled around the ribbon.
“You want to announce it’s open?” I asked quietly, waiting for him to nod before taking the microphone in my hand and holding it down to his level as Frank got the scissors ready.
“The community center is open!” he said with excitement as Frank cut the ribbon, his face only getting brighter as people cheered and clapped.
Slash took the scissors from Frank as the boys soaked everything in, and I lifted the microphone to my mouth.
“Come inside and help yourself to food and drinks.”
People weren’t going to wait now they knew there was food, and we moved out of the way to let people through.
“Told you it would be fine,” Slash chuckled as he gave me a nudge, and I couldn’t help but grin back.
“Yeah, you did.”
Raven
Reid spoke so well, and as much as I wanted to congratulate him, he was swarmed with people pretty quickly, so it could wait. Logan was dragged into it, and before long, the place was packed with people.
I knew not to wander off alone, so I stayed inside in view of everyone, enjoying the excitement that was radiating off of everyone. Teenagers were in the other room playing pool, small children had found the toys and drawing tables, and adults mingled as they talked to Rory and her guys about things.
“I need to go and help near the computers, apparently,” Zavier murmured as he leaned down to talk over the noise. “Cruz said if you go outside to smoke or anything, stay within the property and they’ll have eyes on you. Ander’s having a deep conversation with some kids about cars, but he’ll come and find you in a minute.”
“Go have fun. I’ll be fine. There’s more security here than I can poke a stick at,” I promised, grabbing the front of his jacket and tugging him down for a kiss. “If you talk to Reid or Logan, tell them I’ll find them later when they’re not so busy.”
“Will do. Be careful,” he said as he walked off, leaving me on my own.
Psychos and Devils were everywhere on top of the hired security with the Thieves, so I did as Zavier said and ducked outside for a cigarette, finding a quiet bench just off to the side near the parking lot.
I got a peaceful two minutes maximum before it was ruined by Cami as she stumbled over, already crying. “Raven, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean?—”
“Bite me, Cami,” I replied bluntly, flicking ash on the ground. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“They made me!”
I frowned, blowing out smoke as I eyed her. “Who made you do what?”
“He made me tell him about your dad and your house. He kept asking all these things, and then he threatened me and?—”
“Woah, slow down. Someone was asking you about me? Why?”
“He had an accent. Said he’d kill me unless I told him all about you. I didn’t know he was going to burn your house down. It was him, right? He found your house because of me and burned it down!”
She was getting louder and louder, a few eyes darting in our direction.
I stood and snagged her wrist, tugging her towards the parking lot more.
“Would you be quiet? Calm down and tell me everything.”
She sniffled, unlocking her car and reaching inside for a bottle of vodka, and I didn’t bother scolding her for it. I needed her to fucking tell me everything.
“He seemed nice and said he was your uncle. He paid me to tell him about your house and stuff, but when he wanted me to bring you to him, I knew something weird was going on. I told him I wasn’t going to tell him anything else, then he pulled a gun on me. I didn’t want to die, Raven. I told him about Josh, and that you’re dating the guys. He was really curious about the stuff with Josh.”
“You fucking told him about Josh?”
“It’s not like he can go and hurt him or anything. He was going to kill me, Raven,” she slurred, chugging from the bottle. “He knows you’re here today and asked me to bring you to him to talk or he’ll kill me. I’m sorry, but I’m not going to end up in a ditch because of you.”
I turned to ask her what she was talking about, and she grabbed my arm to try and pull me towards the car. She was way too drunk, and it was easy to escape her hold on me.
“Would you stop it?” I bit out, shoving her back. “We can help you.”
“Only if you get in the car and talk to him. Please, Raven,” she begged, trying again to put me in her car. Her hands lost grip and she stumbled backward, bracing herself on the side of her car.
“Come inside and talk to Rory. I’m not helping you, Cami. We’re not fucking friends, but they can keep you safe. I know who you’re talking about, and he’s full of shit. He’ll still hurt you when you do as he says,” I warned, watching her as she opened the car door and climbed in to rummage in her bag. She got comfortable in her seat, lighting a cigarette with shaky hands as she continued to drink from the bottle.
“I’m just sorry,” she choked out, staring at the dash blankly.
I sighed, turning and walking towards the community center as I spoke over my shoulder.
“Come inside then and ask for help. I’m not going to get in that car, Cami.”
I only made it halfway towards the door when an explosion rang out, knocking me over from the force of it. My ears were ringing, and I winced as I tried to sit up and look behind me, finding Cami’s car completely alight.
Dread filled me as I stared at it, seeing the destruction around it. Cars parked close by were blown back from the force, one was on fire, and others around it were destroyed.
All I could focus on though was the arm that had landed on the ground in front of me, nausea swimming inside me. Hands touched me and I was aware of Reid talking as he dragged me back further, but I couldn’t hear him.
Confusion hit me as Ander appeared without his shirt on, pressing the material to the side of my face.
Was I bleeding?
The ringing in my ears dulled slightly, and I could hear people screaming and kids crying around us.
“Raven?” Reid said as he took my face in his hands, forcing my eyes away from Cami’s arm. “What happened? What hurts?”
“I don’t know,” I managed to get out, my body feeling too numb to notice if I was injured. “Cami’s dead.”
My phone buzzed, and Ander reached into my pocket to look, his face turning thunderous.
“Definitely Stefano.”
My body swayed but Reid held me steady as I blinked at the screen Ander was showing us.
Unknown: An eye for an eye.
“He’s here?” I asked and tried to stand, failing as my head swam and my vision flickered in and out.
Why couldn’t I get my balance?
“Get her inside,” Diesel bit out, his gun out as he moved to stand beside us. “Security’s been compromised, and Stone’s taken out a guy already. They were tampering with Logan’s car, so Cruz is heading over there now to confirm there’s no bugs or explosives attached. They want everyone in the community center where it’s safe so they can do their job.”
Ander wasted no time lifting me against his chest, and I became aware of what felt like blood trickling down the side of my face.
“Hold the shirt on it, Bluebird,” he murmured, carrying me past people and inside as fast as he could, and then I heard him curse before I passed out.