Page 3 of Endless

He didn’t look back, but I knew that prick. He was the main dealer Walker used for this street. Son of a bitch. Mom had been clean, in treatment. What the hell?

I touched her neck. No pulse. “Mom!”

“Having trouble, kid?” Walker, my gang leader, stepped into the alley.

“Walker. What—”

“Cut all ties. That’s the rule, Damon. All ties.”

“She’s my mom!”

“You don’t have a mom. You have me and your brothers and sisters. That’s it.” He loomed, looking down at me with dead eyes.

Dead fucking eyes.

But mine, they were clear as a bell now. At that very moment I saw him for what he was. Not a father I longed for or a friend. And my so-called brothers and sisters. I shook my head. Shit!

I set Mom down and tackled that asshole around the waist. A hard knock collided with my skull, and I swore I heard a ringing. And it wasn’t inside my head.

Flailing, I groped for his hand. Crowbar. Of course, how could I forget? I’d seen him do plenty of damage with that thing.

Another slam to my back this time, and I rolled off. A strong fist to the face had my head spinning, and my cheek rammed into the hard, cold ground.

“Take care of him.” Walker pushed off me, and that was when the real pain started. “He lives…but barely,” was the last thing I heard.

A sharp gasp yanked me from that memory. What happened after that? Damn crowbar. Damn Walker. Mom. Where was Mom? And Drey?

The subtle hum of that now-familiar voice started up again. By the way it hitched up at the end, I knew I’d been asked a question. Who was that talking to me?

I told myself to turn toward the soothing sound, and I zeroed in on it. High-pitched, so I knew it was a chick. But who? I didn’t know any chicks. Well, any I’d want lying next to me. Where the hell was I?

“Hello?”

A wave of sweet-scented air wafted over me, and I almost moaned. Maybe it was true when you couldn’t see, you smelled things more intensely, because I nearly busted out of my pants. Wait, was I wearing pants?

Focusing on the feel of something against my body, I decided I had on a thin layer of clothing. And the air smelled sterile. I knew that smell—hospital. Yes, that’s where I was. I’d gotten the shit beat out of me.

Wait, maybe I was dead.

Walker had told whoever kicked the crap out of me to leave me alive, but maybe he didn’t.

I could be stuck in limbo. I sure as shit didn’t deserve heaven. And hopefully hell was one of those scary things parents told their kids to keep them in line. Or churches did to get money from people.

Because I didn’t want to burn for all eternity either. I hadn’t done such terrible things to earn that. But yeah, whatever.

Fatigue rammed into me like a Mack truck. One minute my mind was racing, the next it shut down. Slight pressure against my shoulder perked me up, and if I could have, I would have looked. Maybe some nurse was taking advantage of me while I was sleeping. I’d be okay with that, as long as she was nice.

The gentle touch against my cheek felt pretty good. It wasn’t skin. No, there was a rougher texture to it. Hair. Yes, it tickled along my face, neck, and even my nose. There was more of that raspberry scent mixed in with some peach and powder fresh smell. As if someone patted baby powder along my skin, the scent wrapped around me, settling my nerves.

Someone was cuddling with me, and I was a fucking vegetable. So not fair. I wanted to see her. “Who are you?” I asked in my mind. I knew I didn’t ask aloud because I didn’t feel the vibration in my throat.

Why the hell couldn’t I wake up? It was like I was trapped in a box. “Drey?”

Hopefully he was okay. Damn Walker was obsessed with him and his girl. Sarah. He wanted something from Sarah. But what? Shit, were they okay? My heart hammered again, but after about two seconds, it died out.

So tired…

A quick rest, then I’d kick through this darkness suffocating me. I’d kick its ass tomorrow.

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