Page 21 of Between Passion and Revenge: Part One

“I’m not sixteen anymore. I don’t need a babysitter, and if someone tries to step to me, I know how to handle myself.”

Riale gives me an offensively disbelieving look.

“Oh, so you a regular gangbanger now? Okay, Urkel.”

I kick his knee with my Air Force Ones.

“Nigga, you know not to test me. How many times have I knocked your ass out cold in the ring?”

“Once, nigga. You did thatonce.And I had the fuckin’ flu when you did it, so stop frontin’.”

I shrug and crack open my beer.

“What did Chuck do this time?” Riale takes a long swig after he asks.

I put the plate on the side table, suddenly not hungry.

“What’d he do? He fucked me over, that’s what.” Recalling my anger, my knuckles tense around the glass bottle, tension shooting down my spine.

“You’re gonna have to say more than that, chief.”

I run my free hand down the side of my face. “Stratos. He just named Lakeland as his successor.”

Riale releases a descending whistle. “That’s fucked up.”

“Yeah,” I reply. Riale knows how hard I’ve been working to prepare myself to step into my father’s shoes, and even thoughhe frequently argues that I should give my father the middle finger and do my own thing, I ignore his suggestions.

Stratos is mine. It belongs to me.

“This isn’t over. I’m taking Stratos back.”

He takes another long sip in response.

“No shit?” His eyes narrow, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I’m not sure what he’s thinking.

“I have no fucking clue how I’m gonna do it, but I’ll figure it out,” I say, more to myself than anything.

“Sure,” he says, unable to mask the skepticism in his tone.

“I’m not dumb, Riale. Something’s going on between my dad and Lakeland. He’s always had plans for me, just like he had plans for Rainn. He wouldn’t just…abandon them.”

Riale takes another drink at that, and I copy him, gulping down half of the bottle.

He leans forward, slapping the beer down on the glass coffee table.

“You’re not Rainn, man. You’re you. And I’m telling you, chasing afterwhateverthe fuck you’ll get by running Stratos? It’s not worth it. Live your damn life. Don’t let him or fuckin’Lakelandmake you a puppet.”

This argument. This is always his argument.

Riale has never been in my shoes, so maybe that’s why he doesn’t get it. His parents are a lovely, simple couple.

They live a lovely, simple life in their lovely, simple home.

Riale has never had to win his parents’ affection because they give it freely.

My mom, for all her love, is nearly suffocating with her need to keep me safe, especially after Rainn died.

My dad? Well, he wants to be there. I know that’s true. But there’s always something that comes before me.

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