Chapter 7

Daelyn

At five in the morning, I’m not logged into my computer like I should be. Instead, I’m lying in bed, with a delicious ache between my thighs, and enough confusion in my brain to make me feel hungover.

Dmitri .

That crazy, sexy stranger broke into my house last night and fucked me so good I’m still reeling with the pleasure.

Look, I’ve been in a lot of dangerous situations where I’ve done some shit, seen some shit, and had to clean up some shit. Last night should have scared me more than it did, which speaks volumes as to how desensitized I’ve become.

I blame Kaleb for a lot of it.

Pulling the covers over my head, I close my eyes and sigh.

Dmitri .

His soulless, glacial blue eyes will haunt me forever. To think last night I’d nearly convinced myself that I was delusional and had made him up, only to have the ache between my thighs, and the condom wrapper still on my floor to prove that he is very much real.

And he must very much like me.

They say it’s better to work with the devil you know than the devil you don’t. What kind of devil is Dmitri? Better than Kaleb, or worse?

I didn’t get to see him fight in the cage that night, but there was an obvious shift in the crowd when he arrived. That much I could hear from my position on the wall in the room with a bed and small closet.

Ugh, speaking of that room. I can’t believe that old man lied to me about the building. He totally gaslighted me! And the worse thing is, even with all the proof I had, his stonewall nonsense still almost worked on me. I was doubting myself left and right, and he added to it.

Kaleb’s cronies are the same way. They act like they don’t know what you’re talking about, even though they know everything. They play stupid. Lie. Ignore. Deflect. It’s the only game they can play and win. Losing could get them killed.

Is Dmitri playing the same game, or a different one? A worse one?

How on earth did he know I was there looking for him? The only security cameras I saw were busted and hanging off the sides of the building as if someone had knocked them with a baseball bat or something. But he knew I was there looking for Dmitri, or last night would have never happened. That old man must have told him I was there.

“ I’m not here to hurt you ,” Dmitri had said last night. “I want to know why you’re so fucking desperate.”

“I’m not desperate.”

“Yes, you are . You’ve been looking for me.”

He’s right. And I’ll be back at the warehouse tonight to find him again.

Kaleb told me Dmitri killed his father. Simple math puts them at the same age or close to it. Not that I can really tell how old Dmitri is, but he doesn’t look much older than Kaleb. Can a kid kill a grown man and get away with it, especially if that man was a convicted felon with a rap sheet a mile long?

I met Kaleb when he was sixteen, and I was twelve. Six months after I moved in with my foster family, he and I became two peas in a pod. He lived down the road from my school, but I never knew where exactly. He always either came to my house or made me meet him out in public somewhere.

Dmitri’s kind of playing that same game. He came to me last night and I have no clue where to find him still.

Jeez, my head hurts. This is too much braining before sunrise. Time to start the day and make some money.

Rolling out of bed, I throw away the condom and wrapper still on my floor, then head into my bathroom. Twisting my hair into a messy bun, I wash up, remembering what it was like to do this last night after Dmitri smeared his cum all over my face. It was disgusting. Degrading.

I loved it.

Just one more surprise I wasn’t prepared for, honestly. I’m usually a slut for praise. Call me a good girl, and I’ll do just about anything you want me to. Kaleb knows that and uses it to his advantage.

Dmitri just stormed in, railed me, degraded me, and left.

But there was something about it that made me feel, I don’t know… appreciated? Respected?

Wowwww. I need to get a grip.

Tell that to my pussy. It’s already whining that Dmitri’s not here to do it all again.

Okay. Shower, coffee, and work. No more dirty thoughts of the enemy of my enemy.

Twenty minutes later, I’m in comfy shorts, a ripped, oversized t-shirt, and at my desk, logging into the portal so I can get started on my day. I’m a medical coder. It’s not the greatest job, but it’s interesting and I get to do it from home, which is perfect since I don’t like the idea of Addie being home alone. It’s not safe here anymore.

Which is entirely my fault .

Three hours later, the front door opens and Addie steps in, looking rough.

“Good morning.”

“Hey.” She drops her bag on the floor and kicks her flip-flops off. “Coffee still on?”

“Yeah.” I open the next patient case and start working on it. Stacks of books with colored tabs poking out of the pages line both sides of my laptop. I’ve scribbled all over a notepad, making reminders for myself. Sticky notes are everywhere. It looks messier than it is. I have a system.

“How are you working on a Saturday?” Addie asks from the kitchen.

“Money don’t make itself, babe.” I rub my tired eyes. “I fell behind this week and need to catch up.” The money isn’t great yet, but the flexibility makes up for it. I get paid per chart I complete, but as the newest member of the private company I’m working for, I somehow always end up with the charts that are long and take me hours to finish, which means others have already snagged the shorter cases they can complete quickly and get more done in a day than me, thus making more money than me.

It is what it is.

“Want to go to the movies later?”

“Can’t,” I say with a sigh. “I’ll probably be at this all day.”

“Girl, you work harder than an ugly stripper.” Addie trudges past me and into the living room, plopping down on the couch. “You need to take breaks.”

“Taking breaks is why I’m behind.” Finding where I left off, I start my project again. It’s tedious work, but I get to learn new things each day and that’s kind of cool. The chart I’m on now is for a one-hundred-and-fifty-five-day hospital stay. Poor dude.

I grow quiet while concentrating again. Addie eventually turns on the TV and settles on the couch like she has no intention of getting up for the day. Ah, to be sixteen again. “Do you have work later?”

“Nope. Thank God.” She stretches out on the sofa. “I’m exhausted.”

“When did you go to sleep?”

“I haven’t yet. We stayed up all night binging anime with some friends and then I just decided to come home early.”

Worry makes me lose my place on the chart I’m in. I thought it was just Addie and Tasha hanging out last night. “Who were the other friends?”

Addie doesn’t respond.

“Who were the other friends?” Tasha rarely has more than one person over at a time, and her parents don’t allow big slumber parties. “ Addie .”

She’s passed out on the couch already.

Tip toeing over, I grab a blanket from a stack we keep on a chair in the corner and cover her with it. There’s a new thick leather bracelet on her wrist. Guess she added to her collection. My girl has bracelets going halfway up both arms. I don’t know how she sleeps with all of them on. Her makeup’s smudgy and hair is falling out of her messy bun. The nail polish on her fingers has almost worn completely off, too.

While Addie sleeps peacefully on the couch, I won’t allow myself to sink into the depressing thoughts that always harp on the fact that I’ve failed her. I’m not equipped to take care of a teenager, but here I am doing it. I’m not even qualified to take care of myself half the time. But here I am.

Here… I still… am.

Fighting back the crushing weight of being the world’s biggest disaster, I walk over to a window so I can open it. Fresh air will do us both some good. Then I head to the sliding glass door in the kitchen and open that one, too.

Hang on. What is that?

A small, folded piece of paper is tucked beneath the handle of the sliding door. With shaky hands, I open it and read the message.

Put a bat on the slider as a stopper next time, Firefly.

Unless you want me to come back and mess that pretty face up again.

- D

So, this was how he broke in. Last night I’d checked the front door and didn’t see a single mark on the lock or doorjamb. None of my windows had been broken, either.

Kaleb used to sneak into my bedroom back in the day. He now has a key.

Dmitri made his own entrance and left no trace of his existence behind.

One was my god. The other is a ghost.

Okay, I need to stop comparing the two of them. It’s not helping, and I need to concentrate on my work so I can get a fatter paycheck. But even as I sit down and stare at the laptop screen, my mind is already elsewhere…

“What are you doing?” I spring up from my bed and gawk at Kaleb. “If the Brenner’s find out you’re in here, they’re going to be furious!”

“So?” He slips into my bedroom like a demon.

“They’ll beat me.”

“I’ll kill them before they touch you, Dae.”

Kaleb’s disregard for authority isn’t scary, it’s inspiring. He sneaks in through my window all the time, and I never know when he’ll visit, so it’s always a terrifyingly fun surprise. But I keep my window unlocked all the time for him, just to make it easy.

Dressed in black chucks, dark jeans, and a grey hoodie, he sits on my bed and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a bracelet. “Happy birthday, babygirl.”

I gawk at the pink threads strung together with a little knife charm dangling off the end. My stomach gets a bunch of butterflies in it. “Thank you.”

His smile is spectacular as he slides it onto my wrist and makes it snug. Then he brings my hand up and kisses my palm. Kaleb does little things like this all the time. It makes me feel special.

He makes me feel special.

“Were you my good girl today?” he asks in a low, quiet, sexy voice.

My belly flip flops because… it always does with him.

“Yes.” Reaching under my pillow, I pull out the fat envelope of money given to me in exchange for the package I handed over this afternoon. Dropping the brick of cash into his waiting palm, I chew on my bottom lip, wondering how long it’ll take for the Brenner’s to find out about me and Kaleb and kick me out of their house. If that happens, Kaleb said I can live with him. He has the money to take care of us, obviously, but as bad as I want to pack up and move in with him now, I can’t. There’s a damn good reason for my staying as long as possible, which he understands.

“You’re incredible, Daelyn.” Kaleb cups my cheek and runs his thumb along the sore spot under my eye. I’d been in a fight with another kid in the house two days ago and it still hurts. “Did they give you any trouble?”

“No.” I lie. They scared the shit out of me, but I’m not going to tell Kaleb that. I need to be strong, so he’ll keep me. “They wanted to know where you were, though.”

His right eye twitches a little. “What did you tell them?”

“I said it was none of their business and that if they didn’t want the product, I had another buyer lined up.”

“Clever girl.” His features soften as his gaze lowers to my mouth. “You’re always looking out for me, aren’t you?”

“We look out for each other,” I whisper with hope in my tone.

“That’s right. And do you know why?” He leans in, our mouths super close to each other now. “Because that’s what love is.”

All the butterflies in my belly crash into each other and fall to the pit of my stomach, flopping on the ground.

“You love me?” I’m too caught up in his proximity that I no longer care about the light turning on in the hallway.

“Of course, I love you. Would I be here if I didn’t?”

No. He was going to move away but talked his mom into staying here. For me.

He works hard every day and returns night after night. To me.

And everything he has me do makes me a better partner for him.

“I have to go away for a few days,” he says. “But I’ll come back with a present for you.”

I don’t want a present. I want him. He’s always running off for days and days and I hate it. I hate that he never tells me where he goes. I hate that he doesn’t call while he’s gone. I hate that I have no power in our relationship.

“Take me with you this time,” I beg in a whisper.

The light in the hallway turns off again. I hold my breath as we listen to the soft footfalls of my foster father disappearing back into his room and his bedroom door clicks shut.

“You know I can’t.” Kaleb swipes the hair from my face. “I’m still getting everything ready for us.”

Us . There’s an us . I cling to it like the love-sick fool I am.

“But you getting this,” he says, shaking the envelope, “helps me a lot. Thank you, babygirl.”

I love when he calls me that. I feel like I can do anything, be anything, endure anything.

“You’re welcome.” My bravery fortifies because I’m Kaleb’s good girl. His babygirl. He only calls me that. He only sneaks in, risking his life every time, just to see me. Only me .

“Can you be quiet?” he asks, tugging the strap of my tank top down my shoulder.

I nod, wondering how far we’ll go this time. He loves to eat me out. Does it a lot. And I try to reciprocate the favor, but he acts like it’s an honor to go down on me and never wants anything back in return. He’s such a giver.

“That’s my good girl.” Kaleb gently presses me down on the bed and pulls his hoodie off.

Blood rushes to parts of my body that make me hot, shaky, and ooey-gooey all at once. He unfastens his fly. My gaze flicks to the door and I pray no one hears whatever we’re about to do.

He pulls my sleep shorts down, taking my underwear with them. My heart kicks like a wild animal in a cage.

“I don’t have a condom,” he says. “But I’ll pull out, okay? Do you trust me?”

My mouth goes dry. I can’t swallow. This is scary and dangerous and exciting and stupid. “Yes, I trust you.”

“I’m clean.” He shoves his jeans down, and his dick juts out, long and hard, as he crawls on top of me. I spread my legs to make more room for him. “You’re clean too, right? I have to be able to trust you, Daelyn.”

“Y-yes. I’m clean.” Of course, I am. I’ve been saving myself for Kaleb. And now everything I’ve been wishing for is about to happen. He has more money, he has me, he has what he needs to build us a future together, and I helped him get there. All I have to do now is wait until he gives me permission to run, and I’ll be on my way. Straight into his arms. Into the life I’ve helped him build. We’re so close.

He's… so close.

I stare into his eyes, falling under a spell as he aligns us. Then he spits on his fingers and reaches between my legs, swiping my pussy to wet it. My heart kicks wildly in my chest and the butterflies fluttering in my belly turn into hornets buzzing through my bloodstream. I’m scared, but I want this. Every time I face something terrifying, I think he likes me more.

“Happy sweet sixteen, babygirl.” Kaleb holds me down and shoves into me…

“—starving.”

I rub my eyes for the umpteenth time and finally log out of the system for the day.

“Hello. Earth to Daelyn.” Addie waves her hand in my face. “Did you hear a word I just said?”

“Sorry. I was in a zone. Repeat it.”

“I said I’m starving .”

“Then make yourself something to eat.”

“Ugh, we don’t have anything.”

“Yes, we do!” I close my laptop. “We have so much food, it’s crazy.”

“No. We have ingredients. This isn’t a food house. It’s an ingredients house.”

“Good thing you know how to put ingredients together to make a meal, boo.”

Someone knocks on the door, making me jump.

Addie peers out the window and smiles. “It’s Ace.” She opens the door for him before I can stop her.

Ace steps in like he lives here too and holds up two pizza boxes and a paper bag. “Who’s hungry?”

“We ate already,” I lie, hoping he’ll leave.

Addie rolls her eyes. “She’s full of shit.” She snags the bag from him and squeals. “Burgers too? You’re my hero.”

No. He’s a villain.

“We were just leaving,” I say, standing up. Ouch, my knees hurt from sitting for so long. Geez, what time is it?

“Where are you two going?” Ace asks, shoving a slice of pizza in his face.

“Yeah, Daelyn. Where are we going?”

Addie is so unhelpful. And that’s because I’ve kept way too much from her. She has no clue Ace is a snake. She has no clue that I’ve been roped into criminal activities just to keep this house and put food on our table. Her ignorance is causing me more misery than I can handle lately.

“The movies.”

Addie’s brow arches. “But you said—”

“Well, guess what? I changed my mind. Let’s go.”

Ace watches our exchange like a wolf studying its prey’s behavior.

“I can’t, Dae. I’m going to Tasha’s tonight.”

My heart falls. “Again?”

“Well, yeah. It’s summer. That means midnight swims and sleeping in.”

“But you didn’t sleep at all there last night.”

Ace stays quiet, chewing his food. I don’t like him hearing anything we talk about. He’ll read into it or report it to Kaleb. Nosy snitch.

“Sorry, babe. I made plans with her already and I’m not flaking.” Addie chomps down on a burger. And now I’m taking in her outfit. She’s showered and painted her nails a fresh bright blue. Jesus, how long did I ignore her today? Checking the time on my phone, I can’t believe seven hours passed by and I didn’t say a word to her.

I’ve neglected her .

Guilt makes me nauseous. I took this job so I could be here for her, but I’m not present like I need to be. Guilt makes my shoulders sag. “Okay. I’m sorry. Time got away from me and I…”

What can I say? She’s sixteen and I’m not about to burden her with grown up shit. I took her in to help give her a better life. That means letting her go to her friend’s house, midnight swims, and anime all-nighters.

When living with the Brenner family, it was lights out at eight and we couldn’t make a peep, or we’d risk the belt. There were no sleepovers or friends hanging out at the house, and our rooms had to be spotless at all times. We had surprise inspections.

Addie has the opposite of that now. Whenever I feel like I’m being difficult or strict, I remind myself that it’s okay to ease up. My life is not hers. I can’t blur the lines or our childhoods.

“What time are you supposed to be there?”

“Whenever I get there.” Addie inhales more of her burger.

“Who else will be there this time?”

“Just me and Tash.” Addie grabs the soda Ace holds out for her. I don’t like that he’s so attentive. Or that he brought burgers from her favorite restaurant. “She got overwhelmed with having more than me there last night. Said she’s not doing that ever again. But I’m super proud of her for trying to step out of her comfort zone, you know?”

I almost suggest Tasha spend the night at our house tonight, but we don’t have a pool. And my house isn’t safe if strange men are sneaking into it in the middle of the night to fuck me.

Dread lands like a brick in my belly.

Maybe the more Addie stays away, the safer she’ll be.

I’ve royally fucked up. Even though this last job for Kaleb will set both me and Addie free, she doesn’t know about any of it, and the further I can keep her out of the hole I’ve dug myself into, the better off she’ll be.

Addie is my only priority.

“Okay. Well… let’s finish eating first.” I shake off the tension that has my shoulders cramping and head over to the kitchen table with them. “What are you even doing here, Ace?”

“Gee, Dae.” He folds another slice of pizza in half and takes a big bite. “You’re shit at being appreciative.”

Addie chuckles from across the table. “She’s just hangry. This is awesome of you.”

No. It’s sneaky of him. I glance at the new bracelet on Addie’s wrist and suddenly want to throw up my one bite of pizza. “Where did you get that bracelet?”

She glances at it and shrugs. “Me and Tash got matching ones. Her mom ordered them online for us.”

Addie doesn’t lie to me. She’s never had to. It’s just a friendship bracelet. Nothing more. It’s not like the one Kaleb gave me for my birthday all those years ago. It’s not the same.

I need to get a grip.

“Let me see it.” Ace reaches forward and the way he takes her hand makes my skin crawl. “Sweet.”

He’s not Kaleb. Addie’s not you. Chill, Daelyn .

Addie pulls away from him and takes several big gulps of her drink before polishing off her burger. Her cell goes off and she checks it under the table. Wiping her mouth with a paper napkin, she kicks into action. “Well, bye, guys. Behave yourselves. Thanks for dinner, Ace.” Addie puts her flip-flops on and grabs the bag she’d packed while I was engrossed in my work and not paying attention to her earlier.

Ace leans back to watch her. “Need a ride there?”

“Nope.” She heads out, and the front door slams shut.

Unfazed, Ace grabs another slice of pizza.

Am I supposed to just eat with him like we’re friends? I chew slowly, watching him like a hawk. “What are you really doing here?”

His jaw clicks as he chews. He looks tired and annoyed. “Can we just eat in peace, Daelyn?”

Fine.

We silently polish off one whole pizza and he eats the other two burgers in the bag while I pick at the fries. Then he leaves without saying a word.

My gut sinks with more worry.

Something else is going on here.

I don’t know what it is, and I don’t fucking like it.