Donovan

Standing here in the cold I watch as my girl hugs her brother. All I want to do is pull her into my arms and never let go. I know she needs me as much as I need her. Tonight, really scared the fuck out of me. The thought of something happening to Shorty makes me want to set the world on fire and watch those fuckers burn alive.

Shorty really held her own tonight. She's endured so much more than any other teenager should have to deal with. Despite all the shit that happened tonight, Shorty was free and fun. She let herself go and didn't care what others were thinking. This is her world and I hope she will let me be part of it just as much as I want her in my world.

Josiah makes his way toward me with Shorty right behind him. "Listen man, thank you for taking care of my Sis." He holds his hand out and I grasp it for a shake.

"Always."

"Yeah, well, my guys will follow you until you're in the safe part of town." He lifts his chin to the black SUV with tinted windows. The passenger steps out of the car and gives Josiah a half bro hug. He's covered in tats from face to his arms. He's built like an MMA fighter with a short buzz cut.

"Hermano," he greets Josiah.

We all nod to one another without saying a word, getting a good glance at the Glock tucked in his shirt that his leather jacket is doing a horrible job of keeping hidden.

"Say your goodbyes," Josiah addresses Shorty as he walks toward the end of the driveway watching us.

Shorty walks up to me and smiles, but she looks sad.

"What's wrong?" I take her little hands into mine.

"What happened tonight shouldn't have happened."

"Shorty, it's n—"

She holds up her hand to stop me from talking.

"I put you both in harm's way tonight." She glances between Ash and me.

What the hell is she talking about?

"I love you both," she whispers, looking down at our hands while my thumbs caress the top of hers.

I love you too. So much.

"Shorty, what's going on? What happened tonight was not your fault."

"Yeah, Shorty. That's crazy that you even think that." Ash jumps, in standing beside me. The sound of a screen door opening pulls my attention away. Tia stands on the front stoop wrapped in an oversize sweater. For a second it looks like she was staring at Shorty, but her eyes are fixated on Ash. It's not lust in her eyes this time, but fear and sadness.

"Come on, Sade," Tia says in a hard tone. Shorty turns to her and responds by nodding.

"It's not safe for us to be seen together. I need you both to stay safe. This world"— Shorty turns back to me and waves her hand around us— "you can't handle this life. And I wouldn't want you to because it's not worth it. I'm not worth it."

"What are you saying?" My heart beats erratically against my chest.

"Don't you see? I have to let you go in order to save you," she chokes out, tears spilling from her eyes.

"Don't do this," I beg, gripping her hands tighter and pulling her closer to me.

"Please," she whispers. "Don't make this harder than it has to be."

"Shorty, please don't walk away from me. I won't be able to handle it. I just got you back." My voice is beyond panicked. Ash is stone cold silent, but I can feel the fear emitting from his body.

No, I won't accept this. I can't lose her again. I won't.

"Baby, look at me, please." I stroke her cheek with my knuckles. "I need you just as much as you need me." I lay my forehead against hers and shut my eyes shut, trying so hard not to shed tears. I can't let her see how she's breaking my fucking heart.

"I'm so sorry, Doni. I just want you to be safe. I'm sorry." She starts to pull away, but I refuse to let her go so I pull her closer to me. I hold her tight letting her know I'm not giving up—not on us.

"I can't let you go."

"Stop," she pleads.

"I'm not walking away."

"Please."

"I need you."

"Doni, please."

"I can protect you. I can keep you safe."

"No! You can't! Can't you see that?" She pushes me backwards with all the strength she can muster.

Shaking her head, she says, "No one can keep me safe. And no one I love is safe. I just put a target on your back. I will never forgive myself if something were to happen to you. I need to walk away, and so do you. Our worlds don't mix. We don't mix." She gestures between us.

"No. I don't fucking accept that, Shorty." My voice rises. I feel Ash pull me away by my arm, but I yank it from his grasp.

"I lost you once, and I'll be dammed if I lose you again. I can't go through that again! It's going to be fucking torture knowing you're alive and I won't be able to be near you."

She stares at me as the tears sparkle in her beautiful dark brown eyes. She gives me a half smile and places a soft kiss on the side of my mouth. "I love you, always," she whispers as I stand there frozen and unable to move, afraid I'll shatter into a million tiny pieces just so she can step all over me.

She gives Ash a hug, but he doesn't reciprocate.

"Don't fucking do this, Shorty," Ash snarls, holding back his anger, but I know he's hurting.

"I'm sorry," she cries.

"Stop saying you're sorry! Don't do this. Please. Shorty, please. I'm begging you," I plead like a fucking baby. I don't care, I can't lose her.

Tia suddenly appears next to Shorty and wraps her arms around her shoulders, leading her toward the front door.

"Don't," I warn Tia as Josiah holds the screen door open as I watch Shorty disappear into the house.

"It's for the best. Trust me. Trust her. You don't know what it was like for her when you left."

It's not my fault I left!

"If anything were to happen to either of you. The guilt will bury her. You won't survive in this world. Not even all the money in the world can save you. I'll take care of her. I always have. If you love her, if you care about her, you will let her go."

And with that, Tia gives Ash a half smile and walks into the house, leaving Ash and me standing in the cold.