Shane"Because I'm the oldest, I should always be entitled to get the last one.""That's a bunch of bullshit if I've ever heard any.""Look you little shit, mom made these cookies because Candy told her she had been wanting some. My woman, my cookies."I roll my eyes as Austin and Max go back and forth for the hundredth time about these goddamn cookies. Normally I would simply walk in, grab the last one they always fight about, and end that shit right then and there causing an uproar between the two brothers, but tonight I have no strength. Since the moment Lyla broke me in half last night, I have been walking around with a stick up my ass. I decided to come with Max and Austin to visit their mother Julia. Partly, to get out, and partly because I could never say no to seeing Julia. She was there for me when the cruelty of my father's life ending was too much to bear and my mother was too busy latching onto whoever gave her attention.Julia is a strong woman, someone I have always felt

ShaneAnger and frustration work their way equally through my body as I try and comprehend someone speaking in front of me."Shane, we need you to concentrate brother." Austin says but my eyes keep wondering over to the destruction of the house the woman I loved called home. "C'mon brother, snap out of it. We need to work together on this."My gaze follows to the small little mermaid blanket crumbled to the floor, a small rabbit doll next to it. There are red marks on it from the time Adrianna thought she would try to put her mother's nail polish on her furry best friend."Tell me we got somethin'." I whisper starring at the chaos near the door where it's clear there was a struggle.She fought for her daughter.She fought them."Torque might have something, he said he was able to tap into the street lights and is looking for any suspicious vehicles, including the one that followed her the other day. In the meantime, we need to get out of here brother. We don't know if the neighb

ShaneI hold Lyla as she wails on my cut. The pain I hear in her cry is enough to create my own tears."He was drunk. He never ever got that bad, but this night, he was completely wasted. I kept telling him repeatedly, that I didn't want it, but he wouldn't listen. I have never been hit that hard in my life." She sniffles, and I tighten my hold on her."What happened babe?""I was tired, he had kept hitting me and I didn't want to be hurt anymore. He's hurt me before, but nothing like that night. I let him do whatever he wanted that night, then he proceeded to pass out. As soon as I realized he was asleep, I ran out of there and straight for my mom's. I told her everything, and she didn't believe me. Figured I was acting out. Accused me of acting like that since we had gotten engaged. A blind man could tell I was only marrying Rory because it was what everyone expected of me. Our families were lifelong friends and partners. My family needed the money, and the Mitchelson's needed th

VOLUME THREE: CHANCEAbby Age 5I hold daddy's hand as I walk behind the men from his club. There is a total of six men holding mom's casket. One of them is Tom Stone, my daddy's president. Three days ago, my mommy and I went and visited daddy at the clubhouse. I love being there, and even though Max, Austin and Shane are a lot older than me, they play with me and buy me stuff all the time. Mommy and I were getting ready to head to the kitchen so that we can get some food ready for the men, when we heard daddy yelling.There was a loud noise after that and then a lot of people running in the clubhouse. That's pretty normal, but that day was anything but. They grabbed mommy and I, then put a gun to my head. I was so scared. I kept crying and screaming while the guy holding mommy was getting mad at me. I couldn't stop. There was so much noise. People yelling, daddy yelling, me screaming and mom just sitting there. I remember looking at her and seeing her smile at me. Why was she smi

ChanceThe roar of the bike rumbles under me as I ride hard and fast down the long narrow street. What would normally take me a good forty-five minutes, is now going on fifteen. The roads are slippery and still damp from the small snow we got this morning, but I let nothing stop me as I rush to my target.My bike speeds down the suburban neighborhood, car alarms go off as I pass them, but my focus is on one thing and one thing only.Abby. Normally the road keeps my mind free of conflict and aggression, but not tonight. Tonight, my anxious form is hunting, and my bike is merely a means to an end.I can still remember the day I met Abby. Austin was giving me a tour of what would be my new home within the Nightmare Warriors compound. I was done with life, ready for it to take me away. I had hit rock bottom and wanted nothing, but something in her called to me. Some kind of deep darkness that she tried hiding behind the depths of her blue eyes, but I saw right through it. Only certai