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Chapter 1

Vince

The pounding in round to a full snare drumroll just beneath my eyelids I’ inside my head will escape and follow od danore

I trace the horrible music to the other side of the room in the darkness, desperate to make it stop It’s not hard to locate the intruder; it’s flashing and buzzing and ju bean I pick it up and look at the picture of so atIt takes a few seconds for it to register that it’s notback on the dresser andon any lights Lightworse I know from experience

Ignoring the jackhammer that replaced the snare the minute my head went from horizontal to vertical, I crawl into bed, shut od daht stand within tone is familiar My screen flashes Elle’s naht of the ti to kill me this time

“Hello” I answer trying to hide the grogginess in ive away I just woke up I’m not too successful at it

“Did I just wake you?” Elle’s voice is full of concern She knows Nico is looking for a reason to kick ain

“No, I’ht in traffic,” I lie

“Good, because he’s already downstairs waiting for you not to show”

“I’ll be there” I hang up, heave roan when I hear it hit the wall and shatter Another fking four hundred bucks down the toilet

“What’s the et out of bed I have tento be out on ain I feel a hand reach forback to me Krissy Shit

“Get up I need to be out of here in two minutes” I don’t even try to be nice I’ht her here Broke ht because I was too drunk to shake her off

You see, I’roupies We call theht Pound Yeah, I know It’s not nice But who said I was nice anyway? If a woie style in the bathroom of a bar, who am I to say no? I’m not a dick to them I take care of thehts, anyway I just don’t bring theives them false expectations Plus, then they knohere I live