Ki

morning, my exhausted mind su

into my room to shake my shoulder. It was the shock of the col

the hell?" I spl

ing an empty glass in his hand. "I've been callin

umbled, rolli

tioned, widening his eyes serious

e guy had zero patience, and I knew better than to keep him waiting. After hurrying into the bathroom to

f town. "You need fuel in that belly of yours." He glanced down a

stored back to its former glory and resembled a construction site. The old town hall was having a major overhaul. There was scaffolding all around the clock to

expertly carved and constructed by hand. My eyes flared wide with all the wonder and intrigue of a child's ambition. All I eve

wice your build at your age. You sure as hell don't look li

me breakfast and packing my lunch for school," I told him all he ought to know. I saw how his fingers gripped the steering wheel, tu

the Cage. As far as he knew, the full paychecks he was sending home every month were being used to

t disgusted, but the sho

me, horrified. "Your mom

a series of profanitie

ll honesty. "Rest assured, things are gon

me," I told him. "Mom's dif

t then she's climbing the walls." He shook whatever thoughts away, then shot me a rueful smile. Those were

selves. I gotta keep a roof over our heads, and by Christ, I ought to be putting food in your belly. It fucks me off to high heaven, hearing that my own boy isn’t being taken care of. This i

hat he cared so much. It was all

ve. We'll go eat breakfast first, then we'll begin your training

heard it now than when our house got repossessed. At least he could set right any damage that may have incurred through

looked different in broad daylight. Less intimidating and much more relaxed. We l

rooms and quaint boutiques was the underbelly of Satan himself. Rundown buildings stood side by side like a mouth full

iss carried on the air, making it unpleasant to inhale. The grim sight of hypodermic needles laying on the ground brought a whole other leve

earing leather waistcoats, jeans, and heavy boots stood around a row of parked motorcycles. The i

cked the butt of his cigarette, then gripped the top of my arm, pulling me along to match