Page 197 of King of Pain
“I didn’t like how you sneered at me leaving school today. If you don’t watch that attitude and that mouth, Little Tony,” he says, looking down at me, “it’ll be so much worse than this. For you. For your family.”
I don’t even realize I’ve started shaking until the bike rattles against me.
“I know you wouldn’t want that.”
He turns back toward the car, and I think—hope—he’s done.
But at the last second, he glances over his shoulder.
“And Little Tony,” he says, voice smooth as glass, “I expect to see you in church this summer.”
Then he slides into the Lincoln and pulls away like nothing ever happened, gravel spraying behind him.
And I lie there.
Alone.
Crushed.
Broken.
Silent.
TRACK SIXTY•ONE
Live to Tell
Chance
I’m lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Sleep won’t be happening tonight.
Not with this rage boiling my blood, not withhimstill out there—some sick ghost from Ant’s past, calling him, threatening him.
No one gets to touch the people I love. Not again. Not after Ma.
I let that monster of a father linger in our lives for far too long, and it cost her everything. I’ll never make that mistake again. I should’ve stopped him sooner. I won’t fail Ant like that.
Like I failed Ma.
I won’t survive the pain of losing them both.
Beside me, Ant starts mumbling in his sleep. It’s low at first, like he’s whispering to someone in a dream. Quickly, it grows louder, choppier.
“No… don’t… no, no…”
His legs twitch under the covers. Then kick. Hard.
I roll onto my side. “Ant. Wake up, baby.”
His head thrashes slightly. He grunts, legs kicking again, more erratic now.
“Ant,” I say louder, placing a hand on his arm. “You have to wake up.”
He screams again.
“No! No!”
