Page 26 of Rocked: The Price of Dreams

“Asshole got me though.” Kyle sniffled as he wriggled and rubbed his jaw. “But thank you for kicking his ass and hammering his balls. I hope he can never piss again.”

“I don’t think I hit him that hard.” Disappointment hovered in Hunter’s tone. “But my fucking hand hurts. I busted a few fingers.” He held out his shaky hand. His knuckles were bruised and cut, but nowhere near as bad as Kyle’s.

I rested my cheek against Kyle’s head. “You can’t go back there.”

“I have to.” Distance hovered in his voice. “I can’t leave Mom alone with him. I can’t report him. His work buddies will cover his ass. I’m afraid if I say something, I’ll be taken away by child services. I can’t risk that. I can’t lose you two.”

“You won’t. Not ever.” I clutched his hand. “But it’s too dangerous.”

“Every day, I’m terrified the fucker will kill me...and Mom. But she won’t leave him.” He straightened. Leaning his head against the wall, he pressed the icepack against his eye. “Like always, she’ll defend him. Say it was my fault. She’s so fucking terrified of what he’ll do to her. But maybe this time, when she sees this”—he pointed to his battered face—“she’ll have the guts...no, he’ll have the guts...to admit he has a fucking problem and get some help. Go to rehab or something.”

Nausea bubbled in my belly. What if William didn’t? Would this just go on and on and get worse until he killed one of them? Hurt them beyond repair?

I never wanted Kyle to have to go back home. “I don’t want you to go through this ever again. Whenever you need to, you can stay here with me.” I curled against his side. “My mom and Derek are hardly ever here. If they were, they wouldn’t care.” My mother would be ecstatic, thinking Kyle was my boyfriend and I had some interest other than music. No chance of that happening.

“Thanks. I might take you up on that.” He wiped the dampness from his cheeks with his palm. “I just want Dad to stop.”

I cuddled him harder. My heart cried. Kyle had stayed less at Hunter’s house these days. Mr. and Mrs. Collins had enough challenges with Jenny—Kyle didn’t want to burden them with his problems. Not that crashing on Hunter’s bedroom floor was an issue. He just never wanted to raise alarm and draw attention to his horrid homelife.

But Hunter and I had known the truth. Six months ago, when Kyle had turned up to school with fresh bruises and bad scratches on his arm, he’d finally admitted that his dad had a temper when he was drunk, and it often involved Kyle being hit. It broke my heart that there was nothing we could do. The neighbors and the local community loved William. Claire was scared out of her wits and blinded by love. Kyle loved his mom, us, and music too much to say anything.

How fucked up was love?

“We have just over a year of school left, then we’re out of here.” I rubbed Kyle’s arm and glanced at Hunter. “You guys cool with that?”

“Fuck yeah.” Hunter ruffled his fingers through his hair. “I’d leave tomorrow. No question.”

“Is it that bad, Hunt?” I asked.

“Dad doesn’t talk to me anymore. If he does, he just yells about my crap grades and to stop wasting my time with music. Mom is slightly better, but she still devotes every hour of her day to school and Jenny. They don’t give a shit about me. I can’t wait to get out of there.”

Since we started volunteering at the after-hours care program at Jenny’s school last year, Lillian had been more open to Hunter...no, us...helping with Jenny. Once a week, the three of us looked after her at home, while Lillian ran errands. But Kyle and I never had to do much. Hunter was amazing with his sister. He always played Jenny’s favorite songs on their upright piano, danced around with her and read her stories. But the minute Lillian came home, she shooed him away and took control. Her overprotective nature and big heart almost never filtered through to acknowledging Hunter’s help or showing her appreciation for him. Lillian was a beautiful person, an incredible cook, and I got on super well with her, but she put everyone else first before Hunter.

I felt for him. I knew what being deprived of parental love was like. I understood how empty and unworthy and pained it made you feel on the inside. I had no doubt Lillian was grateful and loved Hunter—she just hardly showed it. All he wanted was some love and recognition, but he never got any.

“We will get out of here.” I placed my hand on Hunter’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “We will. I swear.”

“How?” Kyle shuddered as he held up his bloody, bruised knuckles. His fingers shook as he twisted his wrist this way and that. Grabbing my hand, he brushed his fingertips over the cuts and grazes on my knuckles and clutched it to his chest. Then he clasped onto Hunter’s battered hand that was resting on his thigh. “We can’t play at the festival like this,” he sobbed. “Dad’s fucked our chance to be seen.”

My heart shattered across the floor. Kyle was right. We couldn’t play. Our injuries were too severe. Tears trickled down my cheeks, but nothing would dent my resolve or my determination to follow my dream. “Maybe this time. But never again. We will never give up on music or each other. You guys are my everything.”

Hunter nodded. Reaching across Kyle, he clutched my knee. “Gem, we would’ve never formed a band if it wasn’t for you. You’ve made us. You’re our life. We owe you so much.”

“Same goes.” I blinked, my lashes wet with too many tears. “You’ve taught me so much. I can never thank you enough. Music is who I am.” I swiveled to face the guys. Kyle’s head rested against the wall, but his gaze connected with my soul. I would give my life for him. And Hunter. Tonight had proven that. I caught their hands in mine. “I don’t know what this connection between us is, but it’s magic. It’s like I can’t breathe without the two of you in the room. I come alive when we play.”

Our bond was uncanny and powerful. It could never be broken.

“I feel that way too,” Kyle whispered.

“Yeah...we were meant to find each other.” Hunter’s eyes glistened in the soft light.

Squeezing their hands, I sucked in a deep breath. These two guys had become my family. We were stronger than blood. “Then let’s make a pact. The three of us will be best of friends for life. Music will be our lives. We will love and support each other through everything. And nothing...I mean nothing...will ever tear us apart.”

“Together. Forever.” Kyle nodded.

“And always,” Hunter added.

We fell into a hug, wrapping and entwining our arms around each other. Closing my eyes, I inhaled the mixed scents of the guys’ deodorants and our sweat from running and playing. It encircled me like a warm safety blanket. These two guys were all I’d ever need.

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