“Take your time,” she says, sliding in the seat. Nora gets in the passenger side and she cranks her engine, warming up the vehicle.
I approach the guys, who are standing around the Jeep. “I’m going to need to be there in the morning when you talk to Sierra.”
“No way,” Dexter says, his jaw tight. “Bad idea.”
“She’s going to find out about them staying at the cottage. I need to own up to my part of it. Then we have to tell Leelee.” And my mom.
“Your grandmother?” Jake says with his eyes wide. “I hate disappointing her.”
They all look pained at the idea.
“It’ll be fine.” I inhale. “I think it’s just time we came clean. We were looking out for our friends. There’s nothing more to it.”
Dex finally gives me a sharp nod of approval, although I can tell he’s not into it. I think he’s going to say something else when his eyes shift over my shoulder. Before I can turn I hear a voice shouting and he’s jumped into action, pushing me out of the way. I land on Jake’s chest and spin, only to find Dexter and a large man—Mr. Evans--face to face. Dexter stands between him and the twins, his posture defensive.
“Son,” Mr. Evans says, looking at the boys, “get the hell out of my way.”
“Dad!” Charlie shouts. “What are you doing?”
The alcohol is strong, wafting on the breeze. Mr. Evans looks bad—deranged. His clothes are dirty and wrinkled. His hair disheveled. “This has gone on a long enough. It’s time for you to come back home.”
“We’re not going anywhere with you,” George says. He walks over to the car and opens the door. Mr. Evans roars with rage and charges past Dexter, going for his son. Dexter gets a hand on him, but he’s off balance. Jake spins me out of the way and lunges for the man. Dexter may have a temper, but Jake? Jake is a beast, and knocking down people is his job.
“You need to calm down, because these are my brothers that you’re threatening, and I don’t like it,” Jake says, gritting his teeth. “Guys, get in the car.”
They both go, not wanting another altercation. The problem now is getting Dexter and Jake out of here in once piece.
“Of course they need a real man to fight their battles for them. Both of them ran away like babies. Crying over games and artwork.” He rears back and hocks spit in the air.
It lands on Dexter’s shirt.
“Dex,” I warn, using every ounce of strength. “Don’t do it.”
His eyes flick toward me and I’m thankful to see reason beneath the rage. He’s come a long way. He straightens and walks over to the twins' dad. “You’re a sick bastard.”
“Ha!” Mr. Evans cries. “She’s got you wrapped around her pussy, too. What does this girl taste like to get all of you to come at her beck and call?” His eyes glint and a dumb, drunk smile rolls across his lips. “You must give amazing head.”
The next moments are a blur. Not only does Dexter explode but so does Jake, releasing his grip on Mr. Evans and slamming him into the car. The twins jump out, venom blazing in their identical eyes, and even Claire and Nora hop out of their car trying to stop it.
Everything goes crazy. I shout. Scream. Cry and yell, but nothing stops the fight until sirens appear and everyone, including me and the girls, are dragged away.
I’d had hopes that the new year would bring something different. Something brighter, but as we’re shoved in the back of the police cruiser, the boys' faces and knuckles bloodied, I realize that hell has opened up and swallowed us whole.
We may never get out of this one.
39
Starlee
I don’t know what to expect from a police station, but due to the circumstances it feels like we’re given a little leeway. After everyone is checked over by the EMT, our parents or guardians are called. We’re separated, girls and boys, and placed in different rooms. The station is small and there’s not much going on in this small-town precinct, even if it is New Year’s Eve.
Claire, Nora, and I are called into an office with a female officer. She asks a lot of questions.
“Who started the fight?”
“Have you been drinking?”
“Who threw the first punch?”