Chapter 3
D evi snuck into the trailer later on that afternoon.
She didn’t want to risk waking her father up if he was asleep. But she needn’t have worried. As she stepped inside, the scent of bacon made her stomach rumble.
Aaron wouldn’t let her stop for lunch today. It was probably illegal, but she didn’t want to argue with him. He’d been fuming over the number of mistakes she’d made today.
Like staring too long at Mr. Tragic Eyes aka Hayes. She liked her name for him better, though.
And then she’d fallen over that damn chair leg.
That had been so embarrassing. Devi blew out a breath as she moved further into the trailer.
It had once looked pretty nice, back when her mom was alive.
But now, neglect and age had worn it down.
She opened a window to let out the smell of bacon.
She liked the scent, but she didn’t want the trailer to stink of bacon for the rest of the night.
And the fan above the stovetop was broken. Not that her dad would have remembered to turn it on.
“Hey, Mouse,” her dad said, turning. He was wearing a pair of shorts and a ripped singlet.
At least he had all of his bits covered.
There was only so much a person wanted to see of their dad. And she’d seen way too much in her twenty-eight years.
“Hey, Derick,” she replied as she put the milk she’d bought on her way home into the fridge. The bread went onto the counter.
“Good, just what I needed for my bacon sandwich.”
She gave him a tight smile. “I haven’t seen you in a couple of days.” She wasn’t sure if she’d been worried that he wouldn’t return . . . or that he would.
He was a terrible father. He could be neglectful and sometimes, downright mean. However, she didn’t want him dead. Well, most of the time anyway.
“Been busy, Mouse.”
Devi hid her wince. She hated that nickname. She’d been given it in high school. All she’d wanted was to blend in. To have no one notice her.
Her brother had been a legend at school. People were always shocked that they were related. But one of the teachers had a grudge against him and she’d turned that anger onto Devi
She’d started calling Devi Mouse, saying that she flitted in and out of her classroom as quietly and meekly as a mouse.
It had stuck. And somehow, her father had heard it and thought it was hilarious.
Yeah, there were definitely times when she wished that he would just . . . disappear.
“You know I don’t like being called Mouse,” she told him quietly as she washed her hands then started buttering bread.
Her stomach was rumbling. Damn Aaron. Part of the reason that she’d taken that job was because he had promised her a meal for every full shift. Bastard was always going back on his word.
“Oh, don’t be so sensitive, Mouse.”
“I’m not being sensitive. My bully gave me that nickname.”
“I thought it was a teacher,” he said as he put a sandwich together.
“It was,” she said tightly.
“Then how could it be your bully?”
“Teachers can be bullies too, Dad,” she told him.
He made a scoffing sound. “Don’t be so fucking ridiculous and get me a beer, will you?”
She fought the urge to tell him that he shouldn’t be drinking at three on a Tuesday afternoon. But she knew that would go down like a lead balloon.
So she checked in the fridge.
Shit. Shit.
She closed the fridge with a sigh, bracing herself.
“Where’s my beer, girl,” he demanded.
“There isn’t any.”
Damn. She’d really wanted to eat that bacon sandwich before she headed out for her second job. But she knew that she had to grab her uniform and get out of here. Unfortunately, she had to get past her father to get to her room.
Lord, she missed Rohan at times like this. Her brother had always been her protector. At times, he’d been her only friend.
“What do you mean there’s no beer?” Her father thumped his fist down on the table. Then he stood. She scrambled backward, away from him as he strode past her toward the fridge. “And why are you acting like that? Do you really think I’d hurt you?”
God.
How could he make it sound like she was the one in the wrong? How many times had he hurt her in the past? Sure, maybe he hadn’t put his hands on her, but emotional pain could be worse.
Maybe he’d forgotten. Maybe that’s what the alcohol had done. It had removed his memories, warped them.
As he opened the fridge door, she took the opportunity to rush into her bedroom and lock the door behind her. Then she quickly got changed.
Her hands were shaking and she willed them to stop. She wished she didn’t have work again tonight. That she could go to the studio to work on her pottery. But in order to pay for her supplies and the kiln, she needed a second job.
It was that or give up eating. Or paying the bills.
“For fuck’s sake, girl!” her father roared as he knocked on the door. “Open this door! How hard is it to remember to stock the fridge with my fucking beer!”
Devi bit her lip. She’d have to go out the window. She rushed over and unlocked it, slipping out.
Her stomach was still rumbling, but at least she was free. She ran through the trailer park, glancing back over her shoulder.
Devi knew that she was likely going to pay for running off like that later. Just as she turned around again, she smashed straight into something hard and big.
And fell backward onto her ass.
Ouch.
That hurt.
How unfair was it to fall over twice in one day? How was this her life? It sucked.
“In a hurry, Mouse?” a cruel voice asked.
Great. Someone else calling her Mouse. Just what her day needed. She stared up at the person looming over her. Unlike Mr. Tragic Eyes, this guy didn’t bother to crouch down and check on her, to ask if she was all right or help her up.
Although, she probably didn’t want Vega touching her.
She managed to pull herself up. Even though he was still looming over her, at least she was on her feet.
And she could run if she had to.
Vega a few years older than her, closer to Rohan in age. She’d always thought he was jealous of Rohan. Everyone loved her brother. He was charismatic and handsome and smart.
Nobody liked Vega.
He could have been handsome if he wasn’t so terrifying.
“I’ve got to get to work,” she muttered, attempting to move around him as her heart raced. He shot his arm out, capturing hers in his large hand.
His hold on her hand was tight, nearly to the point of pain. Her breath caught in her throat.
Had she fallen out of the frying pan and straight into the fire?
It kind of seemed that way.
“You banged into me, Mouse,” he told her.
So what? Did he want an apology?
Give him the apology, Devi and get out of here.
Devi didn’t always take the safe path. The smart one.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “It was an accident and I’m pretty sure it hurt me more than you.”
“Hmm. I don’t find that apology very satisfying.” He tightened his hold on her arm. “Apologize nicely.”
Or what?
She held back those words. Barely.
God, she hated this. She was sick of being other people’s punching bag.
Remember the plan. You’re going to get out of this life. You just have to stick to the plan.
So she swallowed her attitude and gave him a cheesy smile. He started to relax, a smirk crossing his face.
Idiot.
He thought he’d won. That he’d cowed her.
Seemed she was a better actress than she’d thought.
“I’m so sorry, Vega,” she told him, trying to sound sorry. “I didn’t mean to crash into you.”
“See it doesn’t happen again.” He ran his gaze over her.
A shudder of revulsion ran through her. Why was he staring at her like that? As if he was cataloguing every inch of her?
For all she knew, he’d stepped into her path on purpose. Sucking in a breath, she gave him another smile. She knew that this smile was more wobbly, which no doubt that bastard enjoyed.
“I’m sure it won’t happen again,” she said. “In fact, I doubt we’ll run into each other. We’re hardly in the same social circle.”
“Don’t be so sure of that.” He strode past her, his shoulder knocking against her and sending a wave of pain through her arm as she stumbled back and nearly fell on her ass again.
Was he serious?
He’d just forced her to apologize for accidentally running into him and then he went and slammed into her?
What a dick.
It wasn’t until she’d reached the bus stop that she started to think about why he was in the trailer park. She knew that he didn’t live there.
Vega dressed well and drove around in a nice car. Besides, she’d lived in the trailer park for most of her life and she knew everyone here.
So what the hell was he doing here?
Devi pushed that thought from her mind. She didn’t have time to worry about fucking Vega and his threats. Climbing onto the bus, she settled in and tried to ignore her grumbling stomach.
Luckily, she still made it to her second job on time. Although Mac was a completely different boss from Aaron.
He took one look at her as she walked into the bar and pointed to a bar stool.
“Sit.”
“I’ve got to get to work. I’ve got to take over from Silla,” she protested.
“You’re fifteen minutes early,” Silla called out as she walked over to grab an order. “Sit.”
Devi sighed and sat on a stool. She actually enjoyed working here. Well, when she wasn’t so tired that she felt like passing out.
“Sandy, cook Devi something quick. She looks like she hasn’t eaten in a week,” Mac bellowed.
Sandy stuck her head out of the kitchen and glanced at her. “Girl, you look like shit.”
Wonderful. Now everyone in the bar knew that she looked terrible. Since Mac and Sandy had just yelled every word.
Devi sent Mac a look. “I’m fine.”
“Yeah? Then why is your top on inside out?”
She glanced down at herself in horror. “Shoot. I’ll be back.” Devi rushed into the bathroom to fix her T-shirt. She stared into the mirror.
“God, you really do look awful.” There were dark bags under her eyes. Her skin was pallid and her dark brown, thick hair looked lank and lifeless. Her knees and hands still ached. And now she had a bruised ass to add to the list of injuries.