PROLOGUE

Prologue

KAI

18 YEARS OLD

“Kai, you remember my brother, Zac. These are his asshole friends, Dean and Tex,” my best friend Jez says. We’re currently standing in his brother’s apartment, which stinks of weed and body odor. To say this place is a dump would be putting it mildly.

“Hey,” I say, nodding in acknowledgment to the three dudes sitting on the most obnoxious green sofa, which is covered in cigarette burns and stains that I don’t even want to know about.

Jez was the first friend I made when me and my mom moved to the area when I was fifteen. School has been a complete failure, as I’ve spent most of my time hanging around with Jez and a few others at school, where learning is not as important as it may be in other schools. The teachers couldn’t give a shit, the school is on its last legs, and every student runs with the attitude of ‘what’s the point.’ Jez and I, along with a lot of others, didn’t graduate. My mom wants me to retake a year, but I’m not gonna do that. Jez assured me that now we’re eighteen, his brother will have work for us. I’ve only met Zac a handful of times, but I’m not under the impression that what he wants from us will be anything good, based on the vibe that I’m getting from him and his friends.

Zac and Jez look nothing alike. Jez has shoulder-length brown hair, hazel eyes and is tall and thin. He dresses like a skater boy and takes nothing seriously. His brother is also tall and has a little more muscle but is bald and edgy. He has large gauges in his ears, dull brown eyes, and dresses like he’s in a biker gang. He also has a hygiene problem, but I sure as shit ain’t gonna say anything.

The other two dudes don’t say anything other than to give us a chin up in greeting. They are similar to Zac in height and build, Dean is blond and Tex a brunet. Nothing to write home about in the looks department. I’m bi, and a hot guy never passes my notice. Which never happens in this small town because finding another guy that likes dick and is semi-attractive is as likely as finding a leprechaun at the end of a rainbow.

“So, you ready to work with us, Kai? Jez says you’re up to the task,” Zac says.

I quickly glance at Jez, who smiles in reassurance. He hasn’t told me what we would be doing, only that we can earn some money working with his brother.

“I think so, although I’m not sure what work it is,” I say. Zac smiles at me, and it makes me fucking uncomfortable. It’s predatory, shark-like, all teeth and grit before it goes in for the kill.

“Don’t worry about it. Just go along with it and all will be good. Besides, it’s not as if you both have many options, and college will never happen. You still living with your mom?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, won’t it be nice for you to be able to pay your way and help her out?”

“I suppose. Hadn't really thought about it.”

“We got this, Kai. Don’t worry, Zac has our back,” Jez says to me as he rubs my shoulder.

I take a moment to study him. His eyes plead with me to go along with this. But when I look at Zac and the other guys, my internal panic alarm goes off, telling me that this is a bad idea. Then I think of my mom and how tired she is, working all hours with our heads barely above water. Maybe this is a good thing. That I can finally help my mom and take some of the responsibility, because Zac is right, what the fuck else am I going to do?

“Okay.”