Page 2 of Dmitri

Biting back a snarky response, I bring my groceries inside and drop them on the counter. “Fucking asshole,” I whisper to myself.

Addie’s sitting on the couch, watching me like a hawk. “He’s not as bad as you think, Daelyn. Ace is actually really sweet.”

Her defending him makes me queasy. “That’s what he wants you to think, Addie. Stay away from him.”

“God, you’re such a hypocrite.” She pushes up and heads for the front door.

“Don’t—”

She slams the door so loud it shakes the walls.Brat.

I rush over to the window and see her stuff her hands in the back pockets of her tight black cutoff shorts as she talks with Ace again. He says something that makes her laugh and my heart trips on itself. Skipping putting the food in the fridge, I run back outside to break them up again.

It’s futile. I can’t keep my sister away from Ace and the other guys any more than I can escape the Hell I signed up for.

But I have to try.

“Addie, come inside and put the groceries away.”

She ignores me.

We got into a fight last night, and I wanted so badly to make up with her today. I’d gone out to buy all the ingredients to make her favorite dinner, but at this rate, it’s a lost cause. IfI have to talk with Kaleb now, he’ll likely keep me out late, and Addie will be home alone again.

I hate this.

“I’m going to Tasha’s,” she says, turning to face me.

Good. This at least takes the guilt of me not being home tonight a little more bearable. “Okay,” I say in a lighter tone. “Have fun.” I hope my smile looks easy-going and real. I hate when there’s tension between us. I don’t like fighting with her. And I don’t like being the bossy bitch in the house. But sometimes I have to be the bad guy, damnit. It’s a necessary evil.

Ace takes another puff of his vape and stuffs it back in his pocket as he heads to his car. “Come on, Dae.”

Walking forward, I mentally tick through my responsibilities, rearranging their order of priority.Kaleb. Ace. Bills. Apology dinner for Addie.

My sister stares at me while I do this, and after a few heartbeats, she shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Dae.”

I want to cry. I want to scream. “I’m so sorry, too. I shouldn’t have yelled at you last night. That wasn’t fair.”

“No, I shouldn’t have taken cash out of your purse without asking. It’s my fault.”

We hug and I want to say a million other things.Do better than me. Stay away from danger. Put the groceries away before the milk sours on the counter and our money is wasted.“Have fun at Tasha’s, okay? Be home by noon tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Addie hugs me tight. “Love you.”

“Love you more.”

And just like that, I can breathe easier.

Ace lays on the horn, and we both jump back from each other, startled.

Asshole.

Addie flips him the bird but he doesn’t let up on the noise.

“He’s such a dick,” she says, but there’s humor in her tone.

I change the subject before we get into another fight again. “Can you put the groceries away for me before you go? I bought the ingredients to make your favorite.”

Addie’s eyes brighten. “Sweet! Yeah, no problem. I gotta work from two to ten tomorrow night, but maybe we can make the lasagna together the day after?”

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