Page 111 of Explosive Prejudice

“But he can’t be here.”

Pushing his hand away, I took a step back.

“Why?”

“It’s not fair to Andrei.”

“Andrei can get over it,” I snapped. “Unlike Shay-Lee, who can’t. He needs help, Chief. He has no one but me.” Just saying it out loud ripped my heart to shreds. Not only did he have no one, but he was haunted by monsters.

“I’m not trying to minimize his problems, and I have no doubt he’s struggling, but I can’t help him. I’m sorry.”

“He’s not struggling.” I spat out my words like poison. “He’s being tortured.”

Chief looked aside. “I understand that you’re angry, Diesel, but—”

“You clearly don’t understand shit,” I shouted.

For years, he’d told me to come to him if I ever needed help, and when I finally did, he disappointed me just like every other adult. Not wanting to waste another second in the same room as him, I walked out.

I found Shay-Lee sitting at the dining table with Kai.

“We’re going,” I said, putting my jacket over his shoulders and then helping him to stand.

“Diesel, wait,” Chief called after us as he walked into the kitchen.

Ignoring him, we made our way to the front door before I stopped and spotted the guys in the living room. Icing his face, Andrei gave me one angry look before he tore his eyes away while the others observed me with… fear.

I didn’t blame them.

I’d be scared, too, if I were them.

“What’s going on?” Kai asked as he followed us.

“Ask him,” I hissed while looking at Chief with pure disgust.

I opened the front door, waiting for Shay-Lee to step out first. Instead, he stopped and met my stare, hurt shining in his eyes.

“Camilo,” he whispered, ever so softly.

I gave him a slight smile because how could I not? He was so damn beautiful and kind. “Don’t worry, Llorón,” I said low enough so only he could hear before turning to face Chief. “This is the last time you’ll ever hear from me.”

I gave Shay-Lee a small nudge so he’d get out, with me right behind him, before I shut the door to what used to be my home.

Only that it never was. Not really.

Over the past few years, there were times I thought I had found myself a family. One that worked. One that cared. I was wrong. Eventually, they were no different from my real family in which everyone only cared about themselves.

Shay-Lee

After we left their house, Camilo helped me to the car, then got into the driver’s seat and drove away. I had no idea where we were headed because he hadn’t said a word since we left. Eyes focused on the road, he had one hand clenched around the steering wheel while the other rested against the window.

He was tormented by thoughts, and I felt guilty. If it weren’t for me, Camilo wouldn’t have been in this state. He wouldn’t have had injured hands with torn skin and bruised knuckles. He wouldn’t have lost his best friend, and now he wouldn’t be driving away from what used to be his home.

We drove in complete silence until he pulled into the parking lot of a small motel not too far from the highway. Getting out of the car, he still hadn’t said a single word, but he helped me get out.

“Thank you,” I said as he lent me his hand, and he hummed in response. My muscles were sore, and my body hurt, but I was used to it and knew I’d be fine in a couple of days. My father always knew how to hit me in the right places and how much force to apply to make me hurt but not permanently injure me. This time, he went a bit further but still remained as composed as a devil like him could.

“Wait for me outside,” Camilo said before he walked to the check-in desk. A few minutes later, he returned with a key and asked me to follow him. After taking the stairs, we entered a small room on the second floor that had one bed, a bathroom, and hideous carpeting that smelled of mold. There was also an old wooden cabinet with a TV that looked like it was twenty years old.

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