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As I stared at my little brothers, both of the into my feet, my insides felt like they were on fire

"Axe?" Austin’s beaten face was looking up at me from the couch He was scared

"Stay with Lev," I ordered and rushed out of the trailer I was so angry So dah the trailer park I keptthe Heighters all watching h the entrance to the bar

I stood still and looked for h,on Papa’s lap

Stor over to where he was, I stood beside hiust built on his face

"What the fuck are you doing here, boy?" he slurred drunkenly

Sucking in a deep breath, I said, "I need money Austin and Levi need clothes and we need food"

My papa’s gaze darkened as I said that and he pushed hed

Gritting my teeth, I ran at my papa and pushed him back "They need clothes! It’s not fair!" I shouted "Austin’s getting beat up at school because of it!"

The bar went silent asred and I started backing away My stomach dropped as I realized what I’d just done I’d made him mad Real mad

In a second Papa had thrown the half naked woged h the doors out into the cool night

Papa’s free hand gripped onto my hair and he pulledwith o of s weaken then drop to the ground My scalp burned as ain into protect myself from the kick I kneould cohters, holdingto that kid, old et free

"Get the fuck off me, you piece of shit!" he shouted back But thenpunches

I tried to sit up, not knohat to do, when a hand pressed on ht, when I saw Gio Marino beside et away frohter crew, said they were nothing but trouble

"Relax, ragazzo," Gio said "I ain’t gonna hurt you"

"You’re not?" I asked My voice was croaky andered to my feet Gio joinedfro in pain on the ground, covered in blood I’d never seen aze never left my papa, but when someone moved in front of me I looked up Remo Marino

"Axel Carillo, yeah?" he asked and I nodded hters watching hters because of the black star on their left cheeks

"He hit you like that a lot?" Rehter leader and I nodded my head I didn’t dare lie to him

"I… I needed money for ive me it" I dropped my head in shame "I lost it and came after him… I was stupid It’s my fault he hitto get to his feet and shook his head "Fucking hate assholes like that And you ain’t stupid, kid You did good" Gio’s arhtened around my shoulder and I saw Gio nod his head to Remo’s raised eyebrow

I didn’t understand what that look uy stood beside him Filippo reached into his pocket, pulled out a roll of cash and placed it in iven me It ain "You wanna keep earning soldi like that?"