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Chapter 1

Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you

-Things Royal says to her father under her breath

Royal

I reluctantly trudged up the steps of my father’s home and hated every freakin’ second of it

Thankfully, The Judge was likely at work already Not thankfully, I was sure that hi on time for work meant that he’d left Jiet up until ten in the et help until well after ten-thirty, sometimes eleven

And, since I had today off from work, I had the time to help

My brother was also helped into bed around nine every night by my father, so I kneithout a doubt that he was , if not earlier

Walking through the door without announcingto let ain, it was quite a bit out of my way She was so far on the opposite side of the house that it ht as well be not in the house at all

That wasout for help because he’d been in one spot too long and things started to really hurt, he would have to yell for Torri Torri ent out of her way not to be bothered—ie,sound-proofing installed just in case

I knocked on the door and waited

“Come in,” Jimmy’s deep, husky voice drawled from the other side

I grinned and threw the door open, laughing when Jiaze met mine

“Hey, little brother,” I said “What’s up with that scowl?”

“Torri is gone,” Jie appoint, and she knew you had the day off She cah to tell me that and jet out She didn’t even let me call you first”

I gritted ain

“What a bitch,” I snapped “I waited until eight to come over here just on the off chance that I woke her She could’ve told me, and I’d have been here at six”

Jihed and patted my hand

I grinned at hiht his hand up to my face

“Let me call your mom,” I said jovially

Jimmy fist-pumped as he reached for the rope that was above him

I watched as he slowly pulled hirabbed onto the pole in front of hiht

The phone rang in my ear as I watched him move

“Marta?” I said into the phone