Hood River Rat (Hood River Hoodlums #1) - K Webster Page 0,27
my internal thought.
“I spoke with him today,” Mom says with false cheer. “As soon as he gets a few days off. He can’t wait to see you. Maybe later you can call him and talk about it.”
Penny nods, revealing a rare smile.
The food I did manage to consume roils in my gut. It feels as though my stomach is on fire. Nerves. Worry. Stress. They seem to settle there and pulsate with energy. I grab my glass of tea and gulp it down, hoping to put out the internal fire. All it does is make me want to throw up.
Dad is coming.
Sooner rather than later.
I dread that day with every fiber of my being.
Roan
“I have to pee.”
I crack my eyes open and stare up at Roux’s sleepy face. “What time is it?”
“Time to pee.”
“Smartass.”
She laughs. “I can’t move that thing on my own.”
With a grumble that she woke my ass up at four in the morning, I climb out of bed and walk over to the dresser. Last night, after Ms. Frazier dropped us off, we made a beeline straight for our room. Alejandro was partying with some of his friends and I didn’t want to deal with any of them.
I move the dresser out of the way, and she bolts into the bathroom. Leaning against the wall next to the bathroom, I wait for her. Music plays from the living room, but I imagine everyone’s gone home or passed out. I’m yawning when I sense a presence.
Alejandro.
“Fucking pussy decided to come out of his cage?” he sneers, taking a menacing step toward me.
“Mom!” I bark out. “Call off your dog.”
Alejandro’s lip curls up. “She’s out.”
“Mom! Wake up!”
“Not asleep, dumbass. Out.”
Where in the fuck would she be at four in the morning?
“Leave us alone,” I warn.
Roux opens the door and steps out behind me. Alejandro’s eyes drop to her and he grins like a motherfucking wolf about to devour a bunny.
“Go to our room,” I hiss at her.
“Roan.” Her whine of terror is my undoing.
“Go!”
She scurries off and slams our bedroom door shut. I wish she were strong enough to move the dresser. Fisting my hands, I square my shoulders and glare at Alejandro.
“Leave us the hell alone.”
“This is my home, boy,” he sneers. “My rules.”
“Last time I checked, it’s HUD housing under Mom’s name and you’re not even supposed to be here.” I take a step forward, cracking my neck, ready to beat this motherfucker’s ass if need be.
His dilated pupils glimmer with hate and then he rushes me. I barely get a swing before I’m shoved into the wall, something cold digging beneath my jawbone at my throat.
“I could blow your fucking head off right now,” he threatens, grinding the barrel harder into my flesh. “Make your sister clean your brain matter off the wall.”
“You’d go to prison,” I spit back at him.
“So?”
“You don’t think my old man won’t find you and gut you like the pig you are for killing his son?”
His eyes narrow, but I know he contemplates my words. My dad is a mean bastard. Alejandro is nothing in comparison. With a cool expression, he takes a step backward. And then with a hard swing, he pistol whips me with his gun.
Pain explodes across my cheek and I stumble. He cracks me over the back of the head with the gun, sending me hurtling to the floor. I groan and blink away the dazed feeling. When I hear a scream, I get on my hands and knees, adrenaline fueling me. I rush into the room after him, ignoring the dizziness. Alejandro, with his gun in hand, swats at Roux like she’s a pesky little sister and they’re playing. This fucker is twisted, so I don’t want him playing anything with Roux. I tackle him, sending him crashing into the dresser. He snarls as I start wailing punches on his back. I manage to get one good one to his head and knock his ass out. With a grunt, I drag him out of our room and into Mom’s. Once the door is shut, I make my way back into our room, pushing the dresser back into place. I hide the gun under the mattress. The room spins and I crash into the end table, knocking over the lamp.
Roux is crying, but I’m so fucking tired.
I fall onto the bed now that she’s safe and pass out.