Levi sits beside Mom and pretends to scroll through his phone, though we both know he’s listening to every word. Darren sets down his coffee mug and approaches. His suits are expensive, but he doesn’t wear them like a god the way Callum does. Darren reminds me of a snake. A fancily dressed snake.

“You. Fraternizing with the enemy.”

“The enemy? I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” My tone is shrill and I sound defensive. Well, I am defensive. I don’t want to get into trouble for something I don’t even understand.

“Don’t take that tone with me, young lady.”

“What tone?” I shriek.

Darren moves so fast, I don’t have time to think. His hand swipes the air, connecting with my cheek. It’s not hard enough to bruise, but certainly hard enough to not only sting but bring instant tears to my eyes.

“You hit me,” I say with a whimper.

Levi smothers a grin. Mom doesn’t even look at me.

“You’re out of control, Willa,” Darren snaps. “And I won’t have you messing things up for me.”

I touch my cheek, still in shock that I’ve been hit. “Mom?”

“Your mother agrees,” Darren bites out. “Don’t you, honey?”

She mutters out her agreement. It’s a knife to the chest. In this house with three other people, I’ve never felt so alone as I do right now.

I want Callum.

I need Callum.

“I’m sorry,” I say because I don’t know what else he wants from me. “I won’t see Dempsey anymore.”

“No, you won’t,” Darren replies. “You will also not bring attention to our family anymore. I expect you and Levi to be on your best behavior while at school.”

“Yes, sir.” I focus on the hardwood floors, unable to look into Darren’s hard eyes.

“Good. You can start today by riding with Levi to school. It’s about time this family becomes a united front.”

I stare through the windshield, thankful that Levi is blasting his music. At least I don’t have to make conversation with him. I’ve never had a problem with walking to and from school, so it’s frustrating that I’m being made to take a ride from my douchebag stepbrother.

I’ve never liked Darren or Levi, but it hasn’t reached this degree of hatred before. I feel like Darren’s prisoner and Levi’s plaything.

I’m nothing to Mom.

Not anymore.

I have one semester left of school and then I can leave. My grades are good enough to get into any college, really, though I never saw myself ever leaving Park Mountain. Freedom, to me, was getting my own place near PMU and studying finance. It just feels like a lifetime away now.