Me: Well, thanks, I guess.

Harlow: You’re totally welcome. I gotta go. My dad is making me organize his files. TTYL

By the time we finish texting, I have a huge smile on my face. But that smile fades when I glance up and see that I’ve arrived at my house. Not that I’m not relieved that I no longer have to walk, but I have this unsettling feeling. Maybe because all the lights are off in the house. Or maybe because Dixie May hasn’t gotten her revenge on me for not meeting her at lunch. Or perhaps it’s because my aunt is pissed off at me.

Yeah, there’s a lot of reasons for me to be skittish right now.

Sucking in a breath, I hike toward the front door, open it, and then enter. The instant I step over the threshold, my guard goes up. Only the hallway light upstairs is on. The air is quiet, too.

Where is everyone? Did they go out for a family dinner or something?

Pressing my lips together, I step inside, shut the door, and tiptoe for the stairway. I’m not even sure why I’m tiptoeing other than I don’t want anyone to know I’m home. That is, if anyone is home.

Right as I reach the top of the stairway, I pause as my phone buzzes. I assume it’s Harlow again, but nope. It’s a text from Dixie May.

I almost don’t read it, but curiosity gets the best of me.

Bitchy Bitch of the West: Found your little stash. Didn’t know you were such a drug addict. Good thing my dad’s a cop. Have fun in jail, beotch.

“No, no, no, no, no,” I whisper in horror.

My heart slams against my chest as I rush to my room and shove the door open. The lamp is on, revealing the stash of drugs that I stole from my uncle scattered across my bed.

Shit.

I spin around to run, but my uncle steps out from behind the door and blocks my path, anger blazing in his eyes.

“So, you thought you could steal from me, huh?” He crosses his arms and stares me down.

He’s not a very tall man, which is strange since my dad was really tall, but he’s bulky and has a mean right hook. That I know personally. He’s also still dressed in his sheriff uniform, even though he’s probably been off work for a couple of hours. He wears it when he’s trying to intimidate me. I don’t know why he thinks it does.

“I didn’t steal that from you.” My voice comes out even. I’ve learned not to show fear when he gets like this. That it only seems to rile him up more. “That’s stuff I bought.” Yeah, I’m basically admitting that I bought drugs, but I’d rather have him believe that than know I stole from him.

He gives a hollow laugh as he steps toward me while reaching back for the door. “How stupid do you think I am, Raven? I’m well aware that you’ve been stealing from me. But do you want to know what pisses me off even more?”