In the SUV

Dassy

T he car rocks over the uneven road as we make our way through town. Hutch has been quiet the whole drive, allowing me to think about my favorite things: Everly’s hot mouth and Mari’s beautiful hair.

My fingers flex as I remember the way Mari’s hair felt as I braided it. The golden strands shimmered so vibrantly as they slipped through my fingers. I wish I had savored the moment a bit longer. I should have wrapped her braid around my fist and maybe forced her head back so I could admire her soft, pale neck. It’s going to look so lovely with our marks on it. I want them all to overlap the same way they do on Everly, each one touching.

“We’re almost there,” Hutch says as he cuts through a rundown apartment complex. The neighborhoods out here are rough. They’re mostly filled with young alphas, looking for work and fights, but there are a few families. Mostly betas.

“I need you to focus.” Hutch glares at the road.

“I am focused,” I say, not sure what his problem is. He’s been on edge all fucking morning.

“Really?” He cuts me a hard look. “You’re not thinking about sucking Mari’s slick off of Izan’s cock last night?”

“Well, I am now.” I smirk, and Hutch shakes his head. Her slick was so sweet. “I can’t wait to feel that tight omega pussy bouncing on our cocks.” I hum at the thought.

“Dassy.” Hutch’s tone is a warning, clearly not amused. The fuzzy feeling in my balls instantly vanishes as he drones on. “Fucking focus. We’ve got too much shit to do today.” His jaw clenches and his hold on the steering wheel tightens, turning his knuckles white. “I want to get in, get out, and get back home.”

“Fine.” I snap right back. “I don’t know who pissed in your cornflakes, but it wasn’t me.”

Hutch groans, gritting his teeth as we turn down a very familiar road. I know these streets. There are only a few packs in this part of town that Izan might do business with, but I have no interest in talking to any of them. I stare as we drive, taking in the rundown corner store that only sells snack cakes and cigarettes, the bowling alley that shut down years ago and has been broken in more times than I can count, and the old barber shop with the cracked front window. People used to say someone tried to shoot the place up, but it honestly looks like a brick bounced off the plexiglass, leaving behind a spider web of cracks. It all still looks the same.

But there’s a reason I haven’t been back.

Too many hard memories.

You’d think I’d be over it after so many years, but I don’t have my brother’s ability to turn off my emotions. He’s definitely stronger in that way.

Hutch makes a quick right and dread punches my gut. There’s only one place we’d be going on this street, but hopefully, I’m wrong.

“Where are we going?” I regret not asking before we got into the car.

“The Chop Shop,” Hutch says, and my fists curl tight.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I yell, my nostrils flaring.

“We’re just picking up a collection,” Hutch says, giving me a stern look. “We’ll get in, get out, and head home.”

Rage pumps through my veins, and I turn away from my brother. I hate that I’m here . “You should have told me.”

“You wouldn’t have come,” he says simply. “I needed backup.”

“You could have brought Carlos or Della,” I say as we pull up to the fenced-off junkyard.

“Izan sent them on a run.”

He turns the wheel, pulling onto the gravel driveway. The old garage still looks the same, but maybe with a few more chips in the faded red siding. The neon “open” sign in the window is black—I honestly don’t think the thing has ever been on. This banged-up place matches the rest of the neighborhood—falling apart—but I know what’s actually going on behind those doors.

The river of money that runs through this place is almost shocking.

“Do you want to wait in the car?” Hutch gives me a shitty look as he parks in front of the open garage. I want to say yes, but I also don’t want to look like a little bitch.

“I’m fine,” I say, trying to prepare myself. “Let’s make it quick.”

“Izan said all the logistics are already worked out. We’re here to pick up a collection.” Hutch gives me a reassuring nod, then he hops out. He usually gives me a rundown of what we’re collecting, but I guess he decided it doesn’t matter this time. After all, I don’t plan on saying a fucking word…that is until a familiar voice hits my ears.

“Holy shit.” Kida Mack strolls toward me with the biggest smile on her face. The she-alpha looks good. Her once-long hair is short and spiky, and she’s got some new ink on both of her arms. Flowers twisting around two daggers cut up both forearms, disappearing under her short sleeves. “What the fuck are you doing here?” She smacks my bicep, then crosses her arms. She’s always been fit, but it looks like she’s put on a few pounds of muscle. She’s looking good.

“I can’t believe you’re still here.” I point at the garage.

A few alphas inside the building have stopped what they’re doing, staring intensely at me and Hutch. I don’t recognize any of them. I’m sure all my old friends have moved on. Places like this aren’t built for commitment. They’re for earning some money, getting laid, then moving on when you’ve had your fill of the violence and mindless sex.

I guess Kida never got tired of it all.

But I’m glad I got out. You can’t live like this and expect to grow old.

“What have you been up to?” I ask, happy to see my old friend.

“Not much.” Kida grins at me like I’m the greatest thing she’s seen in years. And maybe I am. After all, what we had wasn’t bad. It wasn’t mind-blowing either, but plenty of good moments. “We’ve got some asshole out back that tried to snatch up some of the inventory,” Kida smirks as she leans in. “Want to help me handle him? Or are you too good to get your hands dirty anymore?”

“I still love a good fight,” I say, cracking my knuckles. A bloody brawl sounds like heaven right now. “But not this time.”

“We’re here on business,” Hutch says, done with the pleasantries. “Where’s Andros?”

Kida’s expression shifts and she straightens her back. “You two gonna bust him up?” She cuts a suspicious glare from Hutch to me.

“He’s expecting us,” Hutch says, eyeing a handful of young alphas leaning against the building. They’re all staring at us, waiting to see what’s going to happen next. I’m sure they’re all hoping for a fight.

“I’ll go get him.” Kida looks my brother up and down, before walking off.

Hutch never ran with this crowd. He was pretty much a loner until he met Izan. I’m not sure how things would have ended for me if Hutch hadn't introduced me to him. It completely changed my life. Izan gave me a safe place to live, then he gave me his companionship, followed by Everly and now Mari. I don’t deserve this life.

“Boys.” Andros marches up to us like he owns the fucking place, but he doesn’t. He’s just a lackey for his shitty pack alpha. “What can I do for you?” His gaze bounces between me and Hutch. While he looks much older than the last time I saw him, there’s still a lot about the fucker that hasn’t changed—his ratty black hair is still pulled into a shitty ponytail and the asshole has an attitude you can see from a mile away.

“We’re here to collect,” Hutch says, his expression hard as stone.

Andros’ dark eyes snap to me and they narrow, then they bounce back to Hutch. The fucker can’t tell us apart. It makes me want to laugh.

Most people can’t tell us apart, but I’ve noticed that Mari doesn’t seem to have that problem. It’s because she was made for us.

“Are you sure you’re supposed to be here today?” Andros asks as he stares past us. He’s trying to look too unbothered to even grace us with his attention, but it just makes him look scared to make eye contact.

“I’m positive,” Hutch says. I don't know how he keeps his tone so flat and hard at the same time. “Do you have the money or do we have a problem?”

“Look.” Andros cocks an attitude, straightening his back like he’s something impressive. But we both tower over the asshole. It’s almost laughable. “I don’t have it right now, but I’ll get Izan’s money?—”

“You’ll get it right fucking now,” I interrupt, done with this shit.

Andros’s eyes flash as he zeros in on me, finally able to tell us apart. “I don’t talk to defactors.”

“Defactors?” I balk at his bizarre insult. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“You know. Defactors!” He repeats like that makes it any clearer. The wind kicks up, whipping up the flyaways around his face. The lines around his eyes are much deeper, making him look so much older than he is. “You’re a traitor. An abandoner. A deserter.”

“Do you mean a defector?” I ask, shocked this fucker has made it this far in life. “I love the way you’ve re-written history. You leave me for dead and tell everyone that I’m the one that defacted .” I exaggerate the mispronounced word. “Real fucking nice.”

Andros’s pointed canines display as he growls. “You fucking piece of shit! You’re lucky I don’t call my boys over to teach you a lesson.”

“You don’t want to threaten my brother,” Hutch says in a dangerous growl.

“Why’s that?” Andros’s chest puffs out, his fists curling tight. “You gonna do something about it?”

Excitement and rage pumps in my veins. I’m going to get a reason to punch him.

“Here you go.” Kida marches straight toward us with a thick envelope in her hand. “You’re welcome to count it.” She places it in Hutch’s outstretched hand.

“No need.” He pushes it into his back jean pocket.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Andros grits out to his packmate. “Don said?—”

“Don said that he didn’t want any problems,” Kida says loudly before turning to Hutch. “Anything else?”

“This will do.” Hutch scans the yard, glaring at the crowd of alphas gathered around the broken-down cars. “I’ll let your alpha know how you handled this,” Hutch says to Andros, before tapping my chest. I don’t want to leave just yet—not while this asshole is still breathing—but throwing a punch right now would only cause problems for Izan.

“See you around, Dass!” Kida yells as we make our way back to the SUV.

I don't bother answering her. I’m too pissed. “He’s such a piece of shit,” I snarl as I climb into the car.

Hutch starts the engine, then glances over at me. “I don’t want to point out the obvious, but they were your pack at one point.”

I scowl, crossing my arms as I turn to look out the window. “They were different back then.” I watch as Kida and Andros disappear back into the garage. “Don was different.”

Hutch doesn't say a word as he backs out of the parking spot. He doesn't have to. He’s already said everything when he dropped me off at rehab five years ago. I damn near died from my addiction, but I got out.

No thanks to my fucking pack.

I can’t believe I was ever a member of their shitty family.

Fuck, Donovan Tenus.