Chapter 1
Chapter One
Freya
One year later
A lec pulls his car into the dirt parking lot. It’s full of a mixture of cars from both sides of the tracks. Some belong to those who are rich as shit, and some are absolute bombs that look like they’re about to fall apart.
Before Alec can give me another lecture about being safe, I’ve unbuckled my seatbelt and am out, slamming the door shut. He curses, following me. We usually go to these parties together, and I always feel his eyes watching me. It is a little annoying. I can’t really let my hair down when my brother is here.
I follow the concrete steps down into the forest, and the music echoes louder around the trees. People come into view as the forest clears. A massive bonfire sits in the middle of the area, and tonight there are people everywhere. They’re talking in groups, with the elite sticking to their circles and a lot of hood people mingling in between, passing around the elite’s drugs and God knows what else. Even if it’s neutral ground, we’re still running after them.
That familiar curtain of black hair moves in my direction through the crowd, meeting me as I jump off the last step. The person it belongs to crashes into me, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“About fucking time. You know how much I hate being here without you,” Amirah huffs out. Then she pulls back, and I smile at my best friend.
She waves over my head at Alec, and we head into the sea of people together. I look back over my shoulder and catch Mia, his girlfriend, running into his arms. He smiles down at her like she’s the only woman in the world. I’m happy for him, but I don’t trust her. Every time we chat, she manages to rub me the wrong way.
Amirah shoves a red cup already full of something into my hands, and I chug most of it in one go. These parties on the tracks, a mix of the elite and the everyday people, are the best I’m going to get for a while. After everything that happened last year, I don’t want to go back to her house again, afraid Gage will be there, and Amirah thinks that’s for the best. It’s part of our treaty, the reason she forgave me—I’m never to be alone with her brother again. That hasn’t been a problem for me, given the hateful words that spilled from his lips, anyway. I’m better off staying on my side of the tracks. Fuck him and The Brotherhood.
“Ahh, what are they doing here?” Amirah blurts out, pointing across the fire. “They never come here.”
His eyes clash with mine. He licks his lips, and I fight the urge to flip him off. A redhead runs her fingers down his chest and jealousy flares deep within me, but I shake it off. Next to him are Hazen Hendrix and Lucas Fox. They both watch me intently.
Hazen runs his tattooed hand over his chiseled jawline. Lucas grips his bottle, bringing it to his lips. His blond hair is brushed back out of his face, and his throat bobs up and down as he swigs his drink. For a moment, I’m caught like a deer in headlights. It’s unfair that three friends should be so incredibly good-looking.
My eyes move of their own accord back to Gage, and he pulls the redhead forward, his lips touching hers. I look away before I do something stupid. There’s no way I’m going to be pulled back into that drama.
I won’t be losing my best friend again. He wasn’t worth it; he still isn’t. Nothing good ever comes from The Brotherhood.
“I wish he’d just fuck off and let me have one night.” Amirah huffs, glaring at her brother.
“Just pretend he’s not here. Don’t let him ruin our night,” I say, finishing off the contents of my red cup while trying to take on my own advice. The strong booze in my last mouthful burns a trail down my throat. It’s a welcome distraction.
“You know what it’s like having an overprotective brother. But at least Alec doesn’t watch your every move—he lets you have your own life.” Amirah sighs, and she’s right. Alec’s here somewhere, probably keeping an eye on me, but he’s not overpowering like Gage is. He actually lets me live my life without interfering too much.
More people come down the dirt track and into the pit. Music pumps through the massive speakers and the DJ from Daringville mixes up some dance beats. Before I can reply, Amirah moves toward the sea of people dancing in front of the DJ. She dances up against a cute guy, and he grabs her hips, moving to the beat of the music.
I grab another drink from one of the open coolers, twist off the cap, and sit on a log next to a couple of guys from Daringhood. They nod and I smile back. One of the guys pulls out a glass pipe and a lighter. He takes a hit then passes it my way, but I shake my head. No fucking way I’m touching that shit, not after what it’s done to my family.
I sit back and watch Amirah, not having any desire to dance. I’d much rather people watch—at least until I have more alcohol in my system.
The guy dancing with Amirah freezes, looking past me. He steps back, throwing up his hands, then moves my way. I look over my shoulder and roll my eyes. Gage beckons the guy over with a lazy smirk. Hazen’s arms are hooked around a preppy girl’s shoulders, and Lucas looks bored as he flicks his lighter.
A hand lands on my shoulder, and I jump, whirling back around and coming face to face with a pissed-off Amirah. Oh shit. She stands in front of me, staying quiet, watching her brother and his two friends talk to the guy she was dancing with. Then she crunches up her cup, throwing it into the fire.
“I’m so over this. He needs to learn a lesson,” she snaps, grabbing my hand and pulling me closer to her brother. I try to pull back, but it’s useless—Amirah’s grip is too tight.
The air around us changes the further we get from the fire. Goosebumps scatter over my arms, and I have no idea if it’s from the chill in the air or because we are getting closer to Gage.
Amirah lets go of my hand and pushes against her brother’s chest before she grabs his drink from his hand and throws it at his top. I snort-laugh, covering it with my bottle of alcohol. The guy she was dancing with runs off without a backward glance.
“What the fuck, Amirah?” Gage growls and looks wild. He snatches a bottle from Lucas, who’s laughing at him. He downs the rest and throws the bottle to the forest floor. He catches my gaze before lifting his soaking top over his head in one swift movement and chucking it into the flames of the fire. It’s gone, evaporated in the blink of an eye.
My gaze runs over his tattooed, muscular chest, and my core clenches. I want to run my fingers over each and every muscle. Fuck, I need to get laid—but not by my best friend’s brother. He’s off-limits, and I won’t put Amirah in danger with her family again.
“You deserved that.” Amirah smirks, and Gage steps closer toward us, giving me a better view of his chest. Fuck. I need more alcohol to deal with this.
“Why? Cause I fucked your best friend?” Gage asks so casually I choke on my drink.
Amirah scoffs. “No, you idiot, because you won’t let me have one night out without scaring away anyone who dares to get too close to me. I’m so over it. Just leave me alone.”
“Never,” Gage growls. “They just want to use you. Then they’ll throw you away like you’re nothing, and you’re better than that—and them.”
My eyes widen, and I look at Gage in a different light. I never thought I’d see the day something that nice would come out of his mouth.
“Unless you like being the town whore, then I could arrange a job for you with the Daringhood hookers.” He smirks, running his thumb over his bottom lip.
All thoughts of him being nice vanish. Amirah shoves his chest again, and I’ve just about had enough. I drop my drink and step between them, placing my hand on Amirah’s and then Gage’s chest. Ignoring Gage, I look at Amirah .
“Can we please just drop this and keep the peace for one night?” I plead, and Amirah huffs but nods.
She takes one last look at her brother and then walks away toward the drinks in the coolers. I go to follow her, but someone grabs me around the waist, pulling me into a hard body. Goosebumps scatter over my arms and the hairs on the back of my neck raise. His breath tickles my nape, and it takes everything in me not to lean into his touch.
With a deep inhale, I elbow Gage in the ribs and step out of his embrace. He holds his side, the corner of his mouth lifting, and his stupid fucking dimple sits there on his perfect face.
Gage, Hazen, and Lucas surround me, blocking off my view of the fire and my escape.
“I thought I told you to stay on your side of the tracks?” Gage says, resting his finger on his jaw.
Hazen studies me with interest, his gaze heavy on my body as he slowly eye-fucks me. I frown, unsure how I feel about his attention.
I should be afraid of them. They rule Daringville, which in turn means they own my side of the tracks, Daringhood. But I’ve always liked playing with trouble.
“This is neutral ground, Gage. You, of all people, should know the rules. After all, wasn’t it your family who created them? Hmm?” I raise my eyebrow with a smirk.
Lucas laughs, not bothering to hide it from his friend, who smacks him over the head. He curses, rubbing the back of his neck.
Gage steps forward, right into my personal space once again, and I don’t dare move an inch. The air around us changes like I’ve been shoved into the fire. My skin burns when his chest meets mine. I feel like the whole party is staring at us, judging our every move. What will Amirah think? I block out everyone around us, focusing on Gage. He looks down at me with a heavy glare.
“Stay the fuck in line, or you’ll be sorry, little Freya from Daringhood trailer park, lot number 138.” He pauses, and I try not to show any emotion, but inside, my heart’s beating rapidly. He knows where I live. Fuck. I should be afraid, but I live for the fear; it keeps me breathing. “It would be too easy to burn you and your trailer to the ground. I’m sure you’d love to see your junkie mother burn down with it, wouldn’t you?” he asks, and I hold back from revealing any emotion. He doesn’t know shit.
I go to open my mouth, but my brother sweeps in next to me.
“Back off, Gage,” Alec says, and Gage steps back slightly before chuckling under his breath.
Hazen studies my brother with a heavy stare, running a hand through his short-clipped hair. “You’ve got some nerve, kid, I’ll give you that. Come see me later. I’ve got a job for you.” Hazen nods at my brother, who swallows hard. This isn’t good—this isn’t good at all. My brother working for them would be trouble. Fuck.
Hazen’s eyes come back to me. He slowly looks me up and down. My traitorous body burns with need or hate—I have no idea. But I won’t be going there.
“Bye, Freya. Be a good little hood rat, won’t you?” Gage grins, and I glare daggers right through him.
They all leave, moving into the crowded dance floor, and I finally release the breath I was holding in.
“What the hell have I told you, Frey?” Alec snaps. “Stay away from them.”
“Did you not notice? They stopped me from leaving,” I snap, crossing my arms over my chest.
Alec rolls his eyes. “You know everyone from Daringville only uses us for their benefit. It’s how our town works.”
“What about you? Hazen just asked you to come see him about a job,” I say, raising an eyebrow.
His fingers wrap around the necklace I got him that mirrors my own. It’s one you give to your best friend. I gave it to him when I was ten, and he’s never taken off his half of the small heart pendant with our initials on it. Neither have I.
“Don’t worry about that—I’ll handle it. We need to lie low. It’s only six months until we are out of here and can start fresh. It’s not ideal, but you know how much we need the money. I’ve lined up a place to stay with Levi and it’s more than I thought,” Alec says, and I nod.
He’s right. Doing a job for them shits all over a shift at the diner. I just hate the thought of him getting caught up in Daringville politics.
Amirah bumps into my hip. “What did my brother want?” she asks with a hint of suspicion. She’s got nothing to worry about with him and me. One and done. Never again.
“Just to remind me of the rules and to threaten me. You know, the usual.” I shrug, watching the guys leave. Everyone in their path moves aside. I shake my head. Pathetic.
Mia, my brother’s girlfriend, pushes through the crowd, grabbing Alec’s hand. “Come on, baby, let’s go.”
He shifts uncomfortably, taking a step backward. I have no idea why he doesn’t just break up with her already. She’s way too needy, and besides, she’s from Daringville.
We are allowed to fuck each other, but only if they initiate it first. The whole system is fucked, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. That’s why there are riots happening almost every night, mostly initiated by fans of 18 Hood music. Those guys sure know how to rile up the masses.
Alec presses a kiss against my forehead.
“I’ll see you later,” he says, and I nod.
There’s a ball in the pit of my stomach as I watch him go up to Hazen, Gage, and Lucas. As they walk up the hill, Lucas looks over his shoulder. The corner of his mouth lifts and he winks. Then they are gone, and it takes everything in me not to race after them to see what they are going to do.
A loud bang followed by rattling wakes me from a deep sleep. Opening my eyes, it takes me a moment to remember where I am. Bottles and butted-out smokes line the surface of the coffee table in front of me, and the TV plays in the background. I grab the remote, turn off the TV, and flick on the living room light.
There’s more banging, and then the door of the trailer swings open. My mother falls onto the dirty carpet floor face first. She laughs with her face on the ground and ass in the air.
I groan, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Fucking hell, not again. Every night is the exact same. When I turned eighteen, I swore I’d get my own place, but three years later, I’m still here under the same roof, putting up with the same shit. If only money did grow on trees.
I push myself off the couch and head to the door, then lean down and try to lift her up. She pushes me away, digging her nails into my flesh and mumbling something under her breath. I should leave the bitch on the ground. If the roles were reversed, she’d do that to me, but unfortunately, I have a heart.
Loud, heavy footsteps sound behind me. “Aren’t I glad to see you?”
Every part of me freezes, turning to ice at the sound of his voice.
Oh, fuck.