Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Kraven
May the bridges I burn light the way… -Dylan McKay
Two months later.
One year, seven months together.
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Julius! Happy birthday to you!”
I stood in the background, leaning against the column, watching everyone sing. It was early Friday afternoon. There was no school for teacher planning day, and Isla had thrown Julius a surprise party for his nineteenth birthday.
I didn’t want to be there.
Let’s just say, the past two months had been hell to pay. There was no going back from that night.
It changed everything between us.
I spent even less time there, making sure Julius was working when I did show up for clothes for school and stuff. Those nights, I’d play for Isla through the wall. It was basically our way of communicating these days. Although she always left me a plate of food in the fridge.
In a month, I’d be eighteen…
Not only that, but Isla would be too. Our birthdays weren’t far apart. We’d legally be adults, and for some reason, it felt as if that would cause a further divide, especially between Julius and me.
There were about twenty people there, and it was the last place I wanted to be, but Isla insisted.
Roland stood next to me, bumping his shoulder into mine. “You’ve been awfully quiet tonight. What’s up?”
“I’m good.”
“You having problems with your brother?”
I glanced at him. “When are we not having problems?”
“Yeah.” He nodded, deeply inhaling. “You’re too hard on each other.”
I shrugged. “What can I say? It’s our love language.”
He scoffed out a chuckle before giving me a serious expression. “So it’s not about the girl?”
Playing dumb, I cocked my head. “Isla?”
He arched an eyebrow with a who do you think you’re talking to face that made me laugh.
No matter what, Roland always came through for us.
When we were kids, he’d sometimes sleep on our couch.
Always made sure we had food, even if he had to share his.
He was a good man, and I hadn’t met too many of those.
“Is it that obvious?” I asked.
“You tell me.” He laughed. “You’ve got that look about you.”
“So I look like a dumbass?”
He grinned. “At least your wit is still intact.”
“It’s about the only thing I have going for me these days.”
“I heard you’ve been doing better in school.”
“Isla told you that?” I nodded to her. “Don’t get too used to it. She hasn’t been tutoring me lately.”
“Kraven, you’re smart. You applying yourself is what got your grades up.”
“Debatable.”
“By just you,” he clarified. “I know what you’re capable of. You graduate this year despite everything you’ve overcome, and you know Julius is a big part of that.”
With a snide smirk, I snapped, “He doesn’t let me forget it.”
“You’re not being fair.”
“Fair to who?”
“Listen,” he reasoned, grabbing my shoulder. “At the end of the day, you’re brothers.”
“And sometimes blood isn’t thicker than water.”
“Kraven…”
I stepped back. “I don’t expect you to take my side.”
“There are no sides. You’re on the same team.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Don’t give me that shit. I’ve been here since the beginning. Julius bends over backward for you. You should appreciate him.”
“You see me getting into trouble?” I held my arms at my sides. “I’ve turned a new leaf.”
“Is that her influence?”
“What if it is?”
He agreed. “I’d say it’s about damn time.”
I grinned, but it faded when he followed it up with, “But she’s your brother’s girl.”
“I’m aware.”
“Are you?”
I rolled my eyes, mocking, “All’s fair in love and war, right?”
He jerked back. “You’re throwing around words like love and war, and you’re telling me you know she’s taken?”
I zeroed in on him. “Is she, though?”
“Kraven…” he warned in an authoritative tone. “Don’t lose your brother over a girl.”
I smiled. “But she’s such a good influence.”
He folded his arms over his chest. “You’re being for real right now? You’ve managed to stay out of trouble?”
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“Kra—”
The doorbell rang, cutting him off.
It was when I noticed how everyone was so damn happy, and there wasn’t anything to be happy about.
At least not for me.
Isla opened the door, shouting, “Welcome to party central!”
It didn’t take long to see who was standing there.
“The fuck?” I hollered.
Everyone turned, following the direction of our gazes.
Two police officers walked in, announcing, “Good evening. I’m Officer Maylor, and this is Officer Kincaid. We’re with the New York Police.”
For a mere moment, I feared the loss of one of our parents in a way I never expected to feel.
It wasn’t until he continued with, “We have a warrant for Kraven Knightly,” that I instinctively fought.
“What the hell did I do? I haven’t done shit.”
“Kraven.” Julius stepped out in front of me, shielding me behind him like he always did in situations like these.
“Not a word without a lawyer present.”
“Lawyer?” I exclaimed, “I didn’t do anything!”
The cops moved swiftly toward me. “We’re here to place you under arrest for assault in the second degree.”
“Assault?” I spat, confused. I narrowed my eyes at them.
“We’re going to need you to step outside, and your parents are welcome to join.”
Julius intervened. “Assault on who?”
They ignored him. “Hands where we can see them. You’re under arrest for assault. Do you understand?”
“No, I didn’t—”
“Kraven…” Isla chimed in with a tone that immediately shot through me, sparking my memory.
“Fuck,” I murmured, shaking my head.
Once they realized I wasn’t going to put up a fight, they cuffed me.
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney… If you cannot afford one, one will be provided… Do you understand these rights as they are given to you?”
I nodded as he shut the cuffs.
Julius’s stare met mine, mouthing, “I’ll find Joe.”
That was all that needed to be said.
“Now, Officer.” Roland stepped in, taking a stance beside me. “Can you please—”
“Sir, unless you’re the parent, I advise you to step aside.”
“Where are you taking him?” Julius asked, making them look at him.
“He’s going to the courthouse for an arraignment before the judge.”
Isla and I locked stares that night at the party, which quickly played out in front of us.
She screamed, “Is this who you are? Is this what you do?”
Her voice was smooth like silk, but it still sliced me open like daggers on my skin. Her words hit me as hard as my fists had laid Justin out.
She fervently shook her head, scowling. “Do you even know who you are?”
“Yeah,” I firmly argued. “I’m the guy who just beat his ass for fucking talking to you that way.”
She stumbled back, winded.
All the fight in her was gone like it was that night when she first spoke to me. When she first spoke to anyone. It was her sympathetic expression that hurt me more than getting arrested.
We were reliving it all over again, there in a room full of the closest people to us. The fear was evident on her face, but in a much different way. This time, I knew it wasn’t from her possibly being scared of me. She was terrified of where this was going to lead me.
They finished handcuffing me and escorted me out with everyone’s prying eyes on me.
I wish I could say this was the first time, but what could I say…
I got in trouble a lot. They placed me in the back of their cop car.
Too many times to count on how many occasions I’d sat in the back of one of these.
I hated it then as much as I do now.
After we arrived, I was fingerprinted, a mug shot was taken, and then I was set in front of the judge. I took a deep breath, sitting on the bench with my head leaning back against the wall.
Waiting for him to arrive.
My entire life flashed before my eyes, a movie reel I couldn’t pause or stop.
I heard footsteps down the hall, and I didn’t have to wonder who it was.
Justin… you fucking pussy.
His revenge was served on a cold platter.
After over a year, he finally got the last word, fully aware I wouldn’t have the funds to get a good attorney.
I didn’t know much about the law. However, I knew enough.
I was almost eighteen, and I’d spent years dreaming about the day I’d finally be an adult.
I just never imagined it’d come with handcuffs and a warrant for my arrest for defending her.