I kick upward to gain momentum and say, “They can have him.”
She gets to the same height and asks, “Joey?”
“Yeah. He’s a thug. A nothing. Lucky me gets to marry a criminal.”
Erin remains quiet for a bit. “To be honest, he’s not so bad.” I give her a sideways glance. “You haven’t been in our environment for a while.”
I shrug. “Our world breeds nothing but thugs. I don’t need to be around to know that.”
Our swings lessen until we’re no longer moving. My cheek presses against the chain link and I let out a heavy sigh.
Erin touches my hand to get my attention. “I understand where you’re coming from. I do. These aren’t the surroundings either of us wants to be in, but in Joey’s defense, he’s the best one you want in your corner. He’s loyal, doesn’t screw around, and if you can ever get him to talk, he’s smart. Of course, some of this I’ve witnessed, and some is hearsay from my brother. One thing is true, though, people admire him.”
My lip curls in a snarl. “Please. The Joey I saw today did nothing to stop this marriage. He sat by and listened as our fathers talked of marriage and the alliance.”
“There’s something you should be aware about Joey. He does more than he says.”
“What do you mean?”
“Joey’s extremely quiet, but he watches and listens. It helps him in his fights. He can guess what his opponent will do before the opponent even figures it out. He evaluates situations. Joey also can detect a losing battle. Arguing with your dad and his is futile, and he knows it.”
“So, you’re saying I don’t?”
Erin sweeps a thumb under my eye to get rid of the mascara. This doesn’t help, so she sighs and says, “You’re strong-willed, Teagan, and have a fiery temper. Sometimes you don’t know when to call it quits.”
I get off the swing and turn to her. “You’re saying I should give up?”
She stands in front of me and rubs my arms. “Marrying Joey isn’t giving up. It’s biding your time until an opportunity arises.” She slips her arm through mine. “Besides, he’s hot as hell.” My head falls back, and I laugh. “Come on, let’s have a pity party by getting wasted and eating crap food.”
We head to the car, but she runs back for the vodka bottle. When she returns, she wraps an arm around me, and I rest my head on her shoulder as we make our way to the car. I’m unsure where this whole mess is going to lead, but I’m glad to have Erin by my side. And later tonight, I’ll do the inevitable breakup with my boyfriend, Ashton.
Chapter 2
MY OLD MAN DEMANDED AND threatened that I attend the meeting at Pavilion Café, except he didn’t tell me anything about it. When I see William Malone, I stop in my tracks. Two rival gang leaders of Cooper’s Crew and Malone’s Disciples in the same café at the same time is unheard of. I eye them both while they exchange pleasantries, which is something I have no intention of doing. Then the door opens, and a mixture of morning dew and fresh grass wafts in. Teagan. I’m the only one who stands, but it’s to be expected when it comes to women in our world because they don’t carry much weight. Women are bartering chips for the family and serve their husbands.
Teagan Malone stands in front of me, short and tiny, with a bear of a confidence seldom seen in women raised by leaders of the streets. Her hair is a fusion of toffee and streaks of copper highlighting her faded denim blue eyes. As natural as they come, her long lashes fan out and those glossed bow-shaped lips wrap up the gift in front of me. All through grammar school I had a crush on this girl, who didn’t give me or anyone else the time of day.
She sits next to me, offering a small smile. Whatever words come from Malone and my old man are impaired by Teagan’s presence. Ever since we were young, I fantasized about her. Her refusal to abide by our families and crime is brash and separates her from the rest of us. Teagan has always stood her ground, which is dangerous and commendable.
Through part of their rambling, she drops her napkin, and as I pick it up, I hear my old man say Teagan and I are getting married. I whack my head on the table, shooting up with my back ramrod straight, glaring at my sick father. But Teagan isn’t going to stay quiet. Like when we were kids, no one pushed her around or told her what to do. I loved that about her. She refuses their plan and won’t back down. Malone grabs her by the hair, and fury burns through my veins. I rise, but my old man commands me to sit. He continues to strangle what little freedom I have by resorting to blackmail.
Malone and my old man would never win father of the year. Madness has ripped into them. This proposed marriage to Teagan is proof. They think it will strengthen our families and stop the other criminals from encroaching on our territory. The leaders and the heads of family divvy out duty and law to the rest, and we’re required to obey without complaint.
When Teagan returns to the table, there’s blood and tears on her face. My eyes flick to William. He’s lucky my old man has me on a short leash, because I’d kill him right now. I dip my napkin into the water glass and clean her face. And she lets me. But when I try to hold her hand, she doesn’t want any of it. I don’t blame her. This situation is nuts. Not that I wouldn’t love to be married to her. It’s gang life I want out of.
Once she leaves, my best friend and bodyguard Sean and I head toward the riverwalk. We need to stop in at some businesses to collect our dues. This is one of the most hated and embarrassing parts of my obligations. Some of these business owners are just getting by, and my old man squeezes everything he can from them. A threat of no protection from other criminals and the police, and they’re more than happy to open their safes to us.
The riverwalk is a distance from where we are, but I need to dispel the anger spurred on by this forced marriage and Malone hurting Teagan. Hands shoved into my front pockets, fog breath billowing in the wind, Sean and I don’t talk for several blocks. Car horns and crowded sidewalks add to the city’s congestion.
Sean says, “She looks good.” I nod. “We haven’t seen her in years.”
The crowds thicken around Michigan and Monroe, and Sean tugs me across the street to Millennium Park. We get hot dogs from a vendor and sit on a nearby bench.
Sean tosses his pickle in the garbage as he mumbles, “I said no pickles. How hard is it to make a hot dog without pickles?” I smirk at him. “Don’t laugh. You’re going to be married in a month.” This wipes the smirk off my face.
I throw my wrapper in the garbage, jam my hands in my leather jacket, and pay attention to what’s going on around me. A homeless guy huddles against a garbage can, petting his dog. By the doors of a restaurant, a couple argues, and near the monument, an elderly woman feeds the pigeons. This is what I do. Watch people’s behaviors and body language. In a street fight, it helps to be a step ahead of your opponent and figure out their next move before they do. It has won me plenty of fights.
My focus wanders over to the couple who hasn’t let up on the arguing. The woman is bowing her head and shaking it while the guy clenches his teeth talking to her. He has a hold of her arm, and she’s trying to wiggle free of him. It’s obvious she wants to escape. With long strides, I’m standing in front of them, glaring at the guy. She gives one last yank of her arm and he releases her. I don’t have to say anything. He swallows hard, eyes averting mine, until I look at her. She mouths athank youand walks away from us. The guy attempts to follow her, but I block his steps. He glances around, then heads off in the opposite direction. Sean is standing next to me.