I lean in, close enough that my breath ghosts across her cheek. “Everything.”
Her breathing changes. I can see it—the way her chest rises and falls faster, the way her lips part just slightly. She’sremembering what it felt like to have my hands on her. I can see it in her eyes.
“What if he can get it elsewhere?” she asks, voice barely above a whisper.
Oxy laughs from the doorway.
I smile. “Baby, do you know who the fuck you’re talking to?”
I turn to Axel, who’s still struggling on the couch. “You’re fucking cut off. And if you go out of town, I’ll know.”
Axel shouts, “You literally fucking sell it! You know how it is. I can’t just fucking quit!”
Lexi walks up to him, gets right in his face. “You told me you were only using a little bit, you fucking liar! You’re just like Dad! You piece of shit!”
She starts hitting him again—fists to his chest, his arms. I grab her around the waist, lift her off the ground, and carry her toward the door.
“Get him the fuck out of here!” she screams, still kicking. “I can’t handle this shit!”
I set her down outside, hold her shoulders. “You’re not transferring to another college unless I say so.” I’m too hard over this girl right now. She hates everything I stand.
“What?” She gasps, staring at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“I’ll have Oxy take him home.”
“Oxy?” She looks back at the trailer. “Even your friends are named after drugs?”
I almost laugh. “Maddox. Ox. Oxy.”
She blinks. Processes. “Oh.”
Oxy steps out, and I toss him my keys. “Take Axel home. Search him for his shit, take it all. No one is to sell to him. Spread the word.”
Oxy nods, catches the keys mid-air. “Got it.”
He walks back inside. Moments later, he comes out dragging Axel, who’s fighting the whole way. Oxy shoves the gag back intohis mouth, ignores his muffled protests, and hauls him toward the car.
Lexi watches, fascinated. “So he just... does whatever you say?”
I nod.
She starts laughing, but it’s not a happy sound. “If you think I’m going to obey like that, you have some adjusting to do because I will not—”
I brush her hair out of her face and that quiets her. I let my fingers trail down to her lips and trace the bottom one with my thumb.
“Now,” I say, voice low. “Are you going to let me kiss you?”
Her eyes blink up at me. Wide. Shocked. “You can’t be serious?”
“I cut your brother off for good. He won’t be able to buy from anyone.”
She narrows her eyes, scoffs. “Because you’re the big bad drug dealer? I am not—I absolutely fucking refuse! Guys like you belong behind bars.”
“Because?” I question, dropping my hand.
“You sell drugs!”
“I distribute. It’s like any other business.”
