Trey
"You know, it would have been safer for you to stay in the house."
I'm currently speeding down the road with Kiara sitting in the passenger’s seat. I made sure her seat belt was secure before we left because I knew I would be driving a little wild.

William wouldn't give details on the phone, but he said it was urgent. I can only guess he didn't call 911 because it involved something illegal.
"Don't be ridiculous," Kiara asserts, "Your alcoholic stepfather just asked if you could help him with an "emergency" with no context. What do you think it could be?"
"Who knows. The way he's got me by the balls, I might end up burying a body tonight," I mutter bitterly. The truth of that hurts, but I'll endure this shit if it means my brother is happy.
Why did I even pick up the phone? Kiara and I were just about to have sex again, and William ruined it. I didn't expect tonight to happen, but it proves her guard is slowly coming down. I see that she likes it when I open up to her, so I'll continue doing that, and hopefully she'll realize how deeply I want her to be mine.
I grip the wheel tighter, wishing it were William's neck. If he hadn’t interrupted, I could've at least shown her physically.
"Seriously, after he comes to the game on Friday, you need to end this. He's using you, and you're too good of a person to be taken advantage of like that."

I smile, like genuinely smile for the first time in a long time, and it's because of her.
She thinks I'm a good person.
I don't know if I really am or not, just like I don't know if I'm capable of love, but I want to learn...for her.
I pull up to the trailer and turn off the engine. Taking a deep breath, I brace myself for whatever shitshow awaits inside.

"Stay in the car. I'll be right back," I say firmly.
"No, I'm coming!"
Her defiant gaze makes the corner of my mouth twitch. I can tell if she wants something, she won't stop until she gets it. Just like me.
"Fine. But if there are signs of any danger, get out of there." I pass her my keys. "Promise me, Kiara."
She nods curtly. "Okay."
As we approach the trailer, I position myself in front of her, leading the way. I give the door two firm knocks, and William promptly opens it, as if he has been waiting right there for us.
He's wearing a filthy wife beater and boxers. His face is a canvas of guilt and fear, making me really curious about what he's done this time.
His gaze darts all around like a paranoid idiot before settling on me and Kiara. He scowls at her, hissing, "I told you to come alone."
"Well, I wasn't alone when you called. So just deal with it," I retort with just as much venom, "Now tell me what the hell is going on or we're leaving."
He looks around once again before rushing us inside. The trailer is worse than it was last time, and I didn't think that was possible. It looks like a Budweiser factory exploded in here with the amount of empty cans covering the floor and tabletops. The couch is buried underneath a mountain of dirty clothes, making it impossible for anyone to sit.
It's not like he could've paid me enough to sit on that filth anyway.
I grab Kiara's arm to keep her close to me as we stand against the wall. Something's wrong, I can practically feel it in the room. And where is the woman who lives with him?
"What did you do, William?" I ask through clenched teeth.
If he even thinks about asking me to bury a body, I'm going to kill him myself.
"She's in there," he says, a tremble in his voice, pointing to the back room. Kiara tenses next to me, her thoughts mirroring mine.
"Is she dead?"
His eyes drop to the ground. "I, uh... I'm not sure," he stammers.
Fuck.
My jaw tightens. "What do you mean you're not sure?" I ask, frustration creeping into my voice.
He sweeps his hand over his bald scalp. "Well, when I woke up, there was blood all over the bed and Lucinda didn't respond when I called her name."
"So you just left her in there alone knowing she's either dead or dying?" Kiara exclaims, showing concern for someone she doesn't even know.
William's face turns as red as Georgia clay in the blazing summer sun. "I don't recall asking you to be here, Bi-"
I cut him off. "Disrespect her, and you're on your own," I warn menacingly.
I shouldn't help this motherfucker, but I can't shake the image of my mom, beaten and bleeding. What if I hadn't saved her in time? She would've ended up exactly like Lucinda.
His jaw clenches, but instead of arguing, he heads to the bedroom door. "Could someone just hurry up and see if she's dead or not?" he asks gruffly.
Kiara glances at me. "I'll do it," she says confidently.
Hell no. I can't let her do that. What if that woman is really dead? It's going to traumatize her for life!
But I know her mind is already made up.
"I'll go with you."
Let's be traumatized together, I guess.
We walk into the room, just as filthy as the rest of the trailer, and see Lucinda lying on a bare mattress in her undergarments, face down. There's a concerning amount of blood under her head.
We step over heaps of clothes, approach the mattress, and squat, careful not to disrupt anything in case this becomes a potential crime scene. The smell in here is so unbearable, forcing me to hold my breath.
How the fuck do they live like this?
Kiara's trembling voice escapes her lips as she places two fingers on her neck. "She's breathing, thank goodness," she says, relieved. "Can you help me turn her over?"
I nod and carefully roll Lucinda onto her back to check the source of the bleeding. There's a large gash on her forehead, exposing white flesh. I also notice fresh bruises on her arms and stomach.
"What's she taking?" I question William, still lingering in the doorway, guilt etched on his face. A change from his usual demeanor post my mom's beatings.
"Xanax."
That explains why she isn't waking easily.
Kiara gives Lucinda a firm shake, urging her to wake up. I would suggest slapping her or something, but it's not an option, considering the trauma she has already endured.
Shaking her a bit more vigorously, she finally stirs. She lets out a pained groan, appearing confused as she looks up at us. As she struggles to sit up, her breasts topple out of her bra, causing me to quickly avert my gaze elsewhere.
Kiara keeps her cool and grabs a shirt from the floor, helping her put it on. "You've got a big, deep cut on your head. Do you remember how that happened?" she asks softly.
If I didn't find her attractive before, I definitely do now after today. She's fucking amazing!
Lucinda seems even more perplexed. "I-I can't remember exactly. I think me and William were having a big fight last night, and I accidentally banged my head on the wall."
Which means he either knocked or slammed her into the wall. So wait, after he knocked her out, did he casually toss her onto the bed like everything was fine?
"Ugh, my head is throbbing," she groans, attempting to get up, but Kiara gently pushes her back down.
"Please sit down, it's not safe for you to get up on your own." Kiara looks at William. "You have to take her to the hospital. She needs stitches."
"What? I can't bring her to the hospital. Another strike and I'll end up in prison," he snarls.
Typical. He only cares about himself and not about the woman he could've killed with his violent behavior.
I clench my fists, feeling the heat of anger coursing through me. It takes all my willpower to restrain myself from giving him a taste of his own medicine. Would he finally learn to keep his fucking hands to himself if I beat him to the brink of death?
As if she can read my mind, Kiara's hand gently lands on my chest, accompanied by a knowing gaze. "Not worth it," she murmurs, her voice filled with understanding.
Her touch is like a gentle rain shower, extinguishing the flames raging within me.
William steps into the room. "Trey, you know if I go to prison, it will only hurt Jeremiah," he warns.
There is it again, the guilt gnawing at my stomach. The kid I saw laughing and smiling last night will be gone once again. It's all on me, just like that day. I hold William's fate in my hands, and I'll be the one to decide if I take Jeremiah's father away from him again.
"Trey, you don't have to do this," Kiara whispers.
"I do, Cupcake," I say, stroking my thumb across her cheek, "for my brother's sake."
I don't miss the smug look on William's face when I say that, but now is not the time to kick his ass.
I gently lift Lucinda's fragile body from the bed and carry her through the trailer. "Here is her wallet and ID. Not sure if she has insurance," I hear him murmur to Kiara behind me. She quickly catches up with me and opens the front front, unlocking the car so I can place her in the backseat.
"W-Willy," she groans.
I glance at the door and notice he hasn't come outside with us. Seems like the coward doesn't want anyone to see what he's done to his girlfriend.
I grab a blanket from my trunk and wrap it around Lucinda. She doesn't look like she's doing to well, but I don't know if it's from the wound or she's having withdrawals. I just hope she doesn't throw up in my fucking car!
I assist Kiara into the passenger's seat and then jump in myself. The air feels heavy as we rush to the hospital. "I can drop you off before I take her to the hospital," I suggest.
She shoots me a glare. "No. I'm going with you."
I'm honestly relieved by her answer. I didn't want to do this alone, and possibly be accused of being the one who hurt this woman. I guess I mostly suggested that to see if she actually wanted to stay. I wouldn't blame her if she wasn't to get as far away from this situation as possible.
"Lucinda, you okay back there?" Kiara asks, glancing back to check on her.
"Y-Yeah," she stutters. Checking the rearview, it's clear she's far from okay. She's shaking and drenched in sweat.
"We need to turn William in," Kiara says to me, "we can't just let him get away with this. I know you don't want Jeremiah to lose him again, but we need to help her!"
I grip the wheel tighter, clenching my jaw. "I know."
It's not like I don't want to help Lucinda, but just like my mom, I know she's too dependent on William to leave him. She'll just let him abuse her over and over again until one of them dies.
"I-I need Willy," Lucinda whimpers, "Where is he?"
"We'll stay with you and make sure you're okay," Kiara assures her.
"You gotta make sure these doctors think I just slipped and fell, okay? Don't let them take my Willy away!" she begs desperately.
Kiara is silent for a long moment before she responds. "Why don't we get you to the hospital and then we can talk about that?"
"No. You have to lie for him!" she yells, gripping her arm tightly as I abruptly park the car by the roadside.
I'm ready to interfere until Kiara places a hand over hers. "Lucinda, you have to see this isn't safe or healthy in any way. He could've killed you," she says gently.
"No! You can't take him from me!"
"She's in pain and having withdrawal symptoms, maybe this isn't the best time to convince her that her love life is toxic," I murmur.
Kiara exhales, acknowledging my point. "Fine. The hospital is only about a mile away. You can get out here and I'll get her checked in. By the time you walk there, you can act like you just found out your aunt got injured so we can be there together without them assuming it was you."
"Wow, that's a great idea," I say, genuinely impressed. I hop out of the car and she climbs over into my seat. She looks so sexy and confident as she starts up the engine again.
"Don't fuck up my car, Cupcake," I say with a playful smirk.
She giggles. "Just for that, I will."
Without thinking, I lean down and press my lips against hers, savoring the intensity of our connection. It's a feeling I've never known until she entered my life.
Well, this definitely isn't good friend ettiequte.
She immediately reciprocates the kiss, a moan escaping her lips, but Lucinda's groan completely disrupts our moment.
"I'll text you so you have my number, okay?"
"Wait, how did you get my number?" she asks, pursing her lips.
"From J."
Her brown eyes widen. "How does he have my number?"
I chuckle. "Now that I don't have an answer for."
She shakes her head like she's trying to clear her thoughts. "Uh, we'll talk about this later." I nod and step onto the curb. "I'll make sure your car gets there in one piece, okay?" she says with a wink before speeding off.