Page 32 of It Runs in the Family

He leaned closer, his beer breath blowing in my face as he said, “I need you to have a vision.”

“I’m not a fortune teller,” I spat at him, lifting my free hand to wave the stench from his breath. “Now let me go.” I tugged on my arm, but he still held on tight.

“It’s just one little vision, cuz.” The words sounded good-natured, but I saw the hard look in his eyes. “Don’t be such a stingy bitch.”

“You know I don’t do that anymore,” I said in a snotty tone. “Not since you tried to drown me.”

He laughed again. “God, you’re so over dramatic. I’ve told you a million times, I was just playin’ around.”

I wasn’t getting into this with him, and I definitely didn’t want Boone to see what was happening and try to come to my defense. Billy was a hothead who wouldn’t think twice about throwing a punch.

“Okay,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “Come a little closer so I can whisper it to you.”

His eyes lit up with greed, and he took a step toward me and leaned his face closer to mine.

“I need you to—” he started to say, but I cut him off.

“Nope! Don’t tell me.” I closed my eyes, pretending to concentrate on a vision. He was obviously buying it, because his grip on my arm loosened.

Before he even realized what I was doing, I reached for his crotch and squeezed tight, not an easy task given he was wearing jeans, and I was nearly as drunk as he was. But I must have grabbed the right area, because he released a high-pitched squeal as he released my arm.

“What the fuck?” he slurred, reaching for my hand.

“Put your hands in the air or I’ll squeeze even harder,” I said, trying to keep my voice even.

He did as I said, but he shot me a glare. “You’re gonna be sorry for this, Iris.”

“Maybe I will, but it will be a cold day in hell before I ever have a vision for you again, you fucking prick.” Then I gave one last squeeze for good measure and released him, taking a few steps backward as Billy doubled over, grabbing his crotch.

I probably had about thirty seconds before he came after me, which meant I had to find Ava and Mary Ellen—fast.

I turned around and pushed my way through the crowd, trying to find my cousins on the dance floor, but there had to be close to fifty people out there. I decided to try texting them as I made my way through the crowd.

“Hey,” Boone said, sneaking into my peripheral vision. “Where are you going?”

I jumped, startled at his sudden appearance. “I’m looking for my cousins.”

“Are you trying to ditch me?”

“This isn’t about you,” I snapped as I pulled up my text stream with my two cousins. “Jesus, why do men always think everything’s about them?” I quickly tapped out a message and sent it.

I beed to leabe. AssAp.

“Hey,” Boone said, turning serious. “What happened? What are you running from?”

“It doesn’t concern you,” I said, trying to see through the crowd as I waited for a response. I held my phone tight in my hand, my heart racing. It had been stupid to grab Billy by the balls like that. He wasn’t the kind to forgive and forget, and he didn’t hold any “old-fashioned” beliefs that men shouldn’t hit girls. Too many of his exes had the bruises and broken bones to prove it.

My phone vibrated and I quickly glanced the screen, my heart sinking when I read the text from Ava.

How drunk are you?

Mary Ellen’s text pinged a second later.

We already left T-Birds. Get Boner to take you home.

I was going to kill them.

Chapter Ten