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“Get away from me!”

“Daisy!” Miss Anderson scolded, running up to us “I saw you hit hi lady That is not acceptable behavior You need to come with me to the principal’s office”

I bowed ainstin my eyes as I trailed behind her to face my punishment

Except in that situation, the principal wasn’t who I was concerned about

They called my uncle a few times to no avail The principal said I was suspended for a week There was a zero fighting tolerance and my behavior would not be accepted at the school I pleaded with hiive me another chance I tried to tell him that this was the first time I had ever acted out like this, but he wouldn’t let me explain He didn’t care that I wasn’t the one who started it or that the boy was being mean to me

Esteban picked me up shortly after The school must have called him when my uncle didn't answer They handed him an envelope with a letter that explained I wasn’t allowed back on school property for an entire week after telling hiin to describe how I felt about the whole situation

I gazed out thethe entire car ride back to the house that wasn’t my home Never had been, never would be I could sense Esteban's stare through the rearview lance

“Well if it isn’t h voice filled the foyer when I walked into the penthouse I i what to expect

I peered up at hi to keep eye contact like I was required to do I stood there not saying a word, sing the lump that had suddenly formed in my throat

Esteban closed the door behind hi noise startled me

“I’m… I’m sorry… Uncle,” I stammered

He folded his ar his head to the side and arched an eyebrow Only e stature

“What exactly are you apologizing for, Briggs?”

He’d been calling s since the day I told him to at my parents’ funeral, Daisy died in the car accident as far as I was concerned

“For fighting or for getting caught?” he vaguely added

I looked all around the room as if the ansritten on the walls

“I told you to look s I won’t warn you again,” he viciously spoke, snapping my attention back to him

My mouth parted as I peered into his eyes like he ordered My eyes widening in shock

“I expect an answer You’re wearing very thin on irl”

“I—”

“Señor” Esteban stepped forward, away fro me “I’ll vouch for her The boy started it all”

Uncle Alejandro didn’t make a sound He didn’t evenbeside me An eerie silence filled the room It was then that I realized my uncle was like a veno but once he struck, it was too late

You were dead

His lip curled upward but not in a shtening sensation I felt deep within my bones that I swear radiated all around us He nodded and then brought his right hand up to his jaw Tilting his head to the side, he cracked his neck before placing his ar them there His eyes showed no e as always His expensive suit jacket perfectly in place, as he set one foot in front of the other with precise and calculated steps His Armani dress shoes echoed off the tile floor, one stride after another, until he was up in Esteban’s face, who didn’t cower down either

“If you cherish the legs you’re standing on, I suggest you walk the fuck away”

I jerked back, stunned My stare inadvertently moved to his hands that were still locked behind his back Realizing he wasn’t holding his hands behind hiun More than ready to follow through with his threat

“Señor,” Esteban coaxed, “I believe you asked oes” He nodded toward me

My ot caught,” I lied, praying that it would take the heat off Esteban

Uncle Alejandro snidely grinned, ignoring my outburst “La peladita te tiene cariño, Esteban,” he lare never left Esteban’s face

“Con todo respeto, yo también,” Esteban replied, “With all due respect, I do too”

My chest rose and descended with each word that fell from their lips, terrified of how this would end Neither of them backed down My uncle narrowed his eyes at hi his gun I ju in the foyer He stepped back fro a mile a minute

It was now my turn to answer to him

“So armor, Daisy”

He said my name to hurt me, to make me remember who I really hich was inferior to him

“Briggs,” I si that it had the desired effect he wanted

I saw a gleah it was quick, I caught it He put his hands out in front of hi his head

“By allfriends here, how about we cut the bullshit? Yo se que usted habla y entiende muy bien el espanol, peladita,” he added, “I know you speak and understand Spanish very well, little girl”

I didn’t falter

I couldn’t

He didn’t want me to

It was now or never I could tell aured out existed, so desperately wanted to please hiratification, support, knowing deep infor was…

Love

“You never asked You never askfor that matter,” I countered “But I know all about you Mythat in there for affect

His eyes glazed over for a split second, and then he blinked it away Just like that, the cold obscurity in his dark blue eyes was back like it had never left, even if it was only for a moment

“She loved you”

Another glaze Another blink

“She also said you lovedout all the bullshit,” I cussed for the first tinored the lingering sentiment and finally said, “You don’t love me You barely even like me You tolerate me because you don’t have a choice I’ less So let’s not get it twisted You’re not the hero in this story You’re not the victim either To me… you look more like the villain in an expensive suit”

He smiled

Big and wide

It lit up the entire room

It was first time in three years that I saw theif I said it didn’t make me happy that I was the reason behind it He took a seat on the leather couch, with a look I couldn’t begin to understand He brought one leg up, resting his ankle on the opposite knee His ar the back of the sofa The massive couch suddenly seemed small in comparison to my uncle

“Bueno,” Uncle Alejandro rasped “I guess we can thank Esteban here for finally letting your balls drop Trust odda solely onation to your late ht Whether we

like it or not, you’re here to stay”

I took in his words for what they were

My uncle was not a typical uncle Maybe not even a typical man He proved that then more than any other time He was proud when I stood up to hi pleasure in seeing h side that I never knew existed He condemned all the traits my parents had implemented all my life

That wasn’t h, which only

I co beside me He hadn’tto Uncle Alejandro as intently as I was

“Letabout me”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees Hands clasped in front of hily He looked rin spread across his handso the silence, he spoke with conviction,

“I’ the bus to Hell”

Chapter 4

Austin

Two years went by, a fewThe waves were supposed to be at an all-tiiven day, I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to surf either, but this day was different

My dad was a proist and my mom was a pharmacist They were the ultimate power couple I told the boys I had to watch my nine-year-old brother, Hunter, while my parents worked late

The truth was I just wanted to be alone

I heard footsteps descending down the dock, and I didn’t have to wonder who it was Alex took off her flip-flops, pulling up her dress to sit besideher feet in the water like ht Lucas and Stacey on the beach, she showed up at church wearing a dress,us that she was growing up too I told you, she always had to keep up with the boys, re me that ere one in the same

I glanced up fro notebook, bea

“Whatcha got there?” I asked, cocking my head to the side An amused expression was evident across my face

She shrugged not payingthe notebook on her lap

“I’ to draw, too”

I perceptively nodded, letting her hold onto her pride, knowing that she was just trying to keep up with me

We sat in co the blue waters