Fast Burn (Burned Duet 1)

I shook my head, not willing to voice an answer. There was no way in hell Jax knew because if he did, the boyfriend wouldn’t have been able to walk. Elodie was keeping things secret from Jax, and I wondered if she was keeping her dancing a secret from Leo. If she was, it meant I was the only one who knew what she did. Did that mean she was only honest and open with me?

I blinked at Leo and turned away, watching as Dad wrapped his arm around Mom’s shoulders and pulled him to her. They’d been through so much over the years, everyone surrounding me had, but they all had someone who was there for them no matter what. Dad had Mom, Belle had Ford, and Cade had Aria.

But I had no one.

Elodie had no one.

Maybe this was a sign. Maybe our paths were meant to cross, and we were meant to be each other’s someones. Or maybe I was overthinking yet again. I rubbed at my chest as a burning sensation flowed through me, and I knew then I couldn’t stand by and let things lie. I had to do something, even if that something was making sure Elodie knew I was there for her. Because if I was dealing with her shit, I didn’t have to deal with my own.

I turned back to face Leo, who was still watching me, but I didn’t know what to say to him, and I didn’t know what to do. “He’s dangerous,” Leo said, leaning back in his chair. “Knox is a bad guy, Uncle Asher.”

I leaned my arms on my thighs, staring at nothing. “I’ll sort it out, Leo. You concentrate on school and being Elodie’s friend, yeah?”

I didn’t know how I was going to sort it. I didn’t know what to do, but what I did know was I had to keep her safe. I had to make sure she was okay.

* * *

ELODIE

I stared at myself in the mirror, turning my face left and right to check I’d covered the multiple shades of bruising I had. It had been nearly a week since the “incident,” and I had barely gone out of my trailer—or out of my room. All I wanted to do was hide away so no one would see me, but by Thursday, I hadn’t had a choice but to venture out. I’d worn a cap and some old sunglasses that only had one arm, but it was enough of a disguise not to get noticed when I went to the store for some food. This time, though, I’d kept it all in my bedroom so Mom and Remy, her boyfriend, wouldn’t eat it all.

My money was running low—lower than it ever had, and it was because I hadn’t been able to pick up any shifts this week. So, it didn’t matter that I still had a twinge in my ribs and some bruising on my face, I had to do my best cover-up job and grit my teeth so I could go into work and earn some money. I’d stretched as best as I could, but I wasn’t sure if it helped because every time I took a breath, it was like someone putting a needle into my chest. I knew I probably should have gotten it checked out, but I didn’t have the money to pay to see a doctor, so I managed. I’d always managed.

Usually, I did my makeup backstage at the club, but there was no way I was going to go in there barefaced for everyone to see the bruising on my face, so I’d decided to get completely ready before I left, which included the strips of fabric for underwear. I pulled on some sweats and a hoodie over the top of them, and as I was grabbing my backpack, someone knocked on the trailer door.

I halted in the middle of my room and waited to see if anybody would answer it, but when the silence ensued, I stepped forward. I’d just made it into the living room when the knocking turned into banging, and a voice shouted, “You have five seconds to open the door before I break it the fuck down!”

Tony. Fuck.

My gaze clashed with my mom’s, where she was in her usual seat on the sofa with her eyes half-closed as she came down from her latest high. Remy was nowhere to be seen, and it was only then I’d realized the more time I’d spent at home this week, the less he’d started to come by. If I’d really thought about it, I would have been able to put it all together, but I hadn’t. I’d just been relieved he wasn’t here.

“Two!” Tony shouted.

“Mom?” She slowly turned her head to face me, and it was as if she was staring through me and not at me.

“One.”

“Shit.” I rushed forward and flung the trailer door open. “Tony,” I breathed out, my eyes wide as I spotted the two men behind him. He’d brought backup, and he only did that when—

“You’re evicted,” he ground out, stepping past me into the trailer. I couldn’t do anything but shuffle backward as they all barreled inside. “Rent hasn’t been paid again. I’ve had enough of your bullshit.”

I wasn’t sure whether he was talking to Mom or me, but she pushed up into a sitting position and gripped on to the arm of the sofa to keep herself up. “What?” she asked, her word slurred. I couldn’t even remember when the last time I saw her completely sober was. Maybe six months? Twelve?

“Get your shit and get out,” Tony ordered, and finally looked over at me. “You have fifteen minutes.”

“Please, Tony, I…I can get the money.” My hands started to shake because I knew I couldn’t. Even if I had a good night tonight—an amazing night—there was no way I could make this month’s rent, not all in one go. And not after I’d already paid last month's.

“No.” He crossed his arms over his chest, his frown deepening as he stared at me, then turned to my mom. “Get your shit and go.”

“Whatever.” Mom laughed and slowly stood as if this was all a big game. We were getting kicked out, and she didn’t give a flying fuck. “I already got another place to stay anyway.”

“That right?” Tony asked, tilting his head to the side. “Then, you’ll have no problem getting the fuck off my trailer park, huh?”

“You’re a fat dick,” Mom spat, but not once did she look at me. Not once did she tell me I had another place to stay.

“Mom?” I ventured, my voice small. “What do you mean you already have another place?”

“Remy has a new place.” She looked at me, her empty blue eyes making my stomach dip. My mom wasn’t there anymore, she hadn’t been there for a long time, but she seemed more alert than she had in months.