Vicious Rebel (82 Street Vandals #2) - Heather Long Page 0,56

the time we pulled into the warehouse. My jaw cracked with the force of them. I barely even got my seatbelt undone before Vaughn had my door open, and he reached in to tug me out.

“Dove,” he said with an almost relieved sigh. “You are a sight for sore eyes.”

“Hey,” I managed before he lifted me clean off the ground and kissed me. The warmth of him invaded every sense. The warehouse and the chill faded away, even as the hum of danger lurked there. I’d missed him, and there was relief tangling up in the knot of feelings these guys were dragging out of me. For a few brief seconds, I stopped worrying about anything and sank into the contact as my whole body went soft and slick. The ache Rome had sparked earlier roared back to life.

Then reality crashed in, as Jasper’s voice cut through the haze. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

Fight or Flight

Vaughn

The group home had a whole different set of rules from the fostering I had been doing. They kept trying to place me, and I kept getting sent back. It had all kind of rolled off me at this point. Most people thought I was a lot older than I was, ’cause I was big. Lots seemed to expect me to do or know more. Then they decided I was slow or stupid because I wasn’t who they thought I was.

Most of the time, I let it roll off me. Other times, I got into fights. I wasn’t looking for a fight, but I’d gotten pretty good at it. Better to not start anything. I’d promised Mom the last time I saw her to not start fights. Just finish them. I kept telling myself that. I already owed her one apology, but that kid deserved a pop in the mouth for calling her the B word.

Mom was not a bitch.

“Boys,” Ms. Stephanie called as she opened the door to my ‘new’ room. It was a little crowded. There were three bunk beds in there, for six beds total. The other kids in the room paused mid laugh to swing their gazes to the door. It was early. Ms. Stephanie had let me have one last breakfast with Mom before she had to go. I didn’t know how she’d arranged it, but I was grateful. “This is Vaughn Westbrook. He’s new to Channing House, and he’s going to be your bunkmate.”

That earned me even more suspicious looks from two of them, while a third barely glanced at us before he went back to whatever he was drawing. A kid who looked just like him leaned against the table next to where he worked, and the last stood nearest the door, his dark eyes locked on mine thoughtfully.

“He’s huge,” the kid said without an ounce of aggression, sounding more puzzled than anything.

“Milo,” Ms. Stephanie scolded. “Manners.”

“Ma’am, he’s bigger than we are. Shouldn’t he be with the older boys?” At least he asked and didn’t assume. That was something.

“I’m nine,” I informed the other kid, and he blinked.

“Bullshit,” one of the others said as he pushed his way forward to stand next to Milo.

“Jasper,” Ms. Stephanie said with a sigh, and Jasper actually shot her a sheepish look.

“Sorry, Ms. Stephanie. I know. Manners. But I’m nine. How can he be nine too?”

I shrugged. “I’m just big. Still nine.”

“I’m Milo,” Milo introduced himself. “This is Jasper.” He indicated the kid next to him that Ms. Stephanie already identified. “That’s Kellan. The kid drawing, that’s Rome and his brother, Liam.”

Kellan gave me a little smile and a shrug. Liam eyed me, but then transferred his attention to Ms. Stephanie. Rome didn’t even look up. That was cool.

“Thank you, Milo,” Ms. Stephanie said with a warm smile before she glanced at me. “Vaughn’s not entirely new to the system, but this is his first time in a group home long-term.” She rested a hand on my arm. “I trust you will look after him for me?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Milo agreed. Jasper’s lip curled, but the moment Milo elbowed him, his expression smoothed. Jasper didn’t want me here. That was fine. If he left me alone, I’d leave him alone.

“Which one of the beds is open?” Ms. Stephanie asked. I’d guess it was the only one not made, which was the bottom bunk closest to the door.

Milo scratched the back of his neck. “I’d say this one, but Jasper will probably want to be closest to the door, and Liam