They’d almost done it too, but my Faith had gotten close to one of the women at the shelter and she ended up going for custody of Faith and got it. She moved in down the road from us. We’ve been inseparable since—going from friends to everyone knowing she's my girl.
“Everything is fine, Ace,” Dad says, drawing my attention back to him.
“You know what’s going on?” I take my eyes off the road for a second to glance over at him. I can’t wait until I’m sixteen and can drive myself. It will make seeing Faith a whole lot easier.
“I always know what’s going on.” He shrugs.
I’m not shocked, being that he and Faith’s dad, Oz, are close. I don’t think they really have much of a choice since our moms are best friends. Which means all of us are always together. I love it because then I get to be with Faith all the time. We even spend the holidays together. It has worked out perfectly. Sometimes I think too perfectly. It’s as though I’m waiting for a shoe to drop or something.
“And you’re not going to clue me in?”
I know Faith better than I think she knows herself at times. Something is up. I could tell from her tone. I’m just not sure if it’s good or bad.
“We’re here already,” he responds as I pull into the parking lot. I toss him the keys before bolting out of the car and toward the front entrance to get buzzed in and go through the security protocols.
“She’s in the rec area,” Sherrie says as she lets me through the last door to enter the shelter. I pick up my pace, getting to the rec room in record time. I come up short when I enter and see Faith standing there. She’s got her arms wrapped around some punk covered in tattoos. He’s about my same size.
I’ve never seen him before. He shouldn’t even be here. Only women and children are allowed in the center or people that work here. I’m in motion before I realize what I’m doing. The only thing running through my mind is that she’s mine and no one is going to take her from me.
He sees me coming, releasing Faith and pushing her behind him. Who the fuck does this guy think he is? I’m going to make him pay for handling my girl like that. Trying to pull her away from me and block my path to her.
“Why the fuck you got your hands on my girl?”
“'Cause I want to.” He smirks. I know he’s itching for a fight when he says that. I’m more than willing to give it to him.
“Calm down, both of you…” I don’t catch the rest of what Faith is saying because I’m already in the process of throwing a punch. The asshole blocks it and throws one of his own, turning it into a full-on fight. One I plan to win.
“Stop it, you jerks!” Faith shouts, but we keep going.
He lands a blow to my jaw a moment before I hit him square in the nose. The taste of blood fills my mouth, but I swallow it down. When he stumbles back, I go for him again. He knocks my feet out from under me, but I don’t go down alone. I take him with me. We hit the ground hard, both of us grunting. The motherfucker knows how to fight, but so do I.
We each get a few blows in before we are being dragged apart by my dad and one of the security guards. I glance around to see where Faith is. She’s standing off to the side with tears in her eyes. I want to lunge for the guy again, but my focus is now on making sure Faith doesn't cry. Shit.
“What is wrong with you?” she huffs, coming over to me. The second her hand touches me, I relax, and my dad releases his hold on me, knowing I’m under control.
“He was touching you.”
“Actually I touched him.” I grind my teeth together.
“How would you like it if I was hugging up on some girl?”
“Well, you do it all the time with Lily,” she points out.
“That’s my little sister.”
“Well”—she turns to look over toward the guy covered in tattoos—“that happens to be my brother Knox.” It takes me a moment to process what she’s saying. “Twin brother, in fact.” What fifteen-year-old is covered in ink like he is? I swear I thought he was at least eighteen.
He’s got his arms folded over his chest, glaring at me. I can tell from his stance he is trying to keep people at bay. Not wanting anyone to come near him or confront him either. If this is Faith’s brother, then I have no doubt he did in fact end up in the foster system.