Page 62 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

Apollo looks up at me. “You still got it, right?”

I nod. “Some of Cass’s best work.” I study the blunt between my fingers. “She’s stronger than we thought. Braver. We might have to change tactics.”

I take a last hit of the joint. It’s almost down to the filter, but I offer it to Rube like I always do. I’m already retracting my hand on automatic when he takes it from me.

Apollo’s jiggling leg freezes. Cassius turns to stare.

Reuben studies the joint, and then eviscerates the last quarter-inch of weed. I almost dart forward and retrieve it before he inhales the fucking filter too.

He drops it to the floor and crushes it out under a massive shoe.

When he exhales, Cassius and Apollo disappear behind the smoke cloud.

“She’s not brave, she’s just stubborn,” Reuben says. He shifts in his seat before glancing hesitantly in my direction.

“What do you mean?”

“I know you said I shouldn’t go near her?—”

I’m on my feet in a second. “What did you do?”

“Nothing.” Reuben spreads his hands. “She came to me.”

“What? Why?” Apollo demands.

“Doesn’t matter,” Rube tells Apollo before turning back to me. “I didn’t do anything. I just…prayed with her.”

“Rube…” My voice is dangerously low. “What did you say to her?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing. But I saw she was more scared of me than Sister Miriam.”

“If she’s so scared, then why hasn’t she ratted us out?” Cass demands. “I mean, all she has to do?—”

“Shame. Denial. Fear of the consequences. I could go on.” I take my seat, sitting back and spreading my legs. This isn’t comfort, but when the four of us are together it’s like I’ve come home after a long day. These brief meetings in the crypt are our versions of Sunday lunch.

Out there, we’re just a bunch of kids.

In here, we’re motherfucking assassins.

Unfortunately, Trinity Malone only sees us as we are outside these walls.

“Textbook behavior,” I add.

Every eyebrow twitches at this—even Reuben’s.

“So what do we do? The girl’s not budging,” Apollo mutters, sitting back and crossing his arms over his chest.

“That’s just it…” I swing my leg up, resting my ankle over my knee. “We’ve been treating her like a girl. Like a delicate piece of glass we don’t dare break.”

Cassius chuckles. “I can break her for?—”

“Cass!”

His eyes flick up to mine. “What? She suddenly so fucking special or something?”

“That’s a bit hypocritical, don’t you think?” I ask, tilting my head. We’ve been down this path of reason before—Cassius always ends up in the fucking bushes.

“She’s a slut anyway,” Cassius says.

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