“Fuck you!” he yells at the top of his lungs, jumping up and down and punching the air. “You ruined my fucking life!” he yells louder, not caring that he’s making a scene and everyone is watching him. “Get your fucking ass back here, you fucking bitch.” He jumps up and down again, trying to get to them, but we aren’t letting him anywhere near them.

“Enough!” I yell, and my father grabs one of my arms to pull me back as I advance on him.

“Fuck you, man!” He looks at me and stands straight. “I’ll fucking kill you, man, and you won’t even know what is happening.” He smirks at me and pretends to come at me, then turns back and yells right before Caroline steps foot in the church. “Get back here, you fucking bitch! You ruined my life!” he spews, this time spitting everywhere. Caroline and Dylan just look at him. “You and that fucking piece of shit kid you forced me to have.”

Everything happens so fast that I don’t even realize it’s happening. But my hand just flies up out of reflex, gripping him by his neck and stopping him from speaking or breathing. He sputters, and his hands go to his throat on top of mine as I squeeze without even thinking twice.

Matthew pounces, yelling my name. “Justin!”

“Justin!” Caroline yells from the top of the stairs. Allison holds her hand to stop her from running to me.

At the same time, my father grabs me. “Justin, let him go,” he says in my ear, and Max and Viktor are beside us.

“You stay away from them,” I say, and he just tries to get my hand to loosen from around his neck. “Fucking far away from them.” I finally let go, and he coughs as he tries to catch his breath. His scrawny hands go to his throat.

“You are going to be sorry about this,” he says, turning away. “More than you know.”

“Get away from here,” Viktor says. “Do yourself a favor, man, and don’t make your son see you like this.”

“Fuck you!” Andrew says. “Fuck all y’all!” He laughs and then turns to look at Caroline, who is holding Dylan while he sobs. “And fuck you two!” He puts up his middle fingers and then smiles, showing off rotten teeth. “I’ll see you soon,” he says and motions with his hand a gun shooting me. “Sooner than you think.” He turns to walk away, and I push through everyone to run to Caroline and Dylan.

She finally lets go when she’s in my arms and sobs out. Father Rolly steps outside with us. “You should take her home,” he says and then looks at her. “You go home and take care of yourself.” Then he looks at me. “It’s about time she found someone who is going to carry her instead of bury her.”