“She returned to the writhing man at Kyle’s feet. “These women are with me. If you even look at them again, I’ll turn your balls into Swiss cheese.”

“As she left the church, shaking her head, she heard Cole saying Kyle’s name again and again. It was like he’d just discovered fire, and Kyle was the main ingredient.”

“Looks like you dropped your phone,” Livia challenged. As soon as it skittered to a stop, Livia brought one of her sturdy boots down on top of it with a satisfying crunch. “And lookie there. It broke. If you ever talk about my future children again, I’ll feed you your own balls, assuming you have any.”

“Cole returned and took her hand. “Kyle, will you promise me something? It’s all I’ll ever ask of you, please?”“Yes. I’ll promise you anything.” Kyle looked into his eyes.“Don’t let that girl inside you win. Ever again. Be the real Kyle. Promise me you’ll be you.” Cole looked desperate.Kyle shook her head, eyes pleading, but she responded in the affirmative. “I promise. Cole, what’s next?”Cole looked around the room sadly. One man was clearly dead and the other moaned softly.“My sweet, beautiful Kyle, I have to atone for what I’ve done here. I want you far, far away when they put the cuffs on me.”

“Kyle’s shrill voice interrupted their moment. “Figured you two would turn this into a scout meeting. Will you get your asses up here? People are waiting. I mean Beckett here has maybe a fewhours before he’s bent over a metal toilet getting it up the ass from aguy named Bubba. Do you want him to have fun now or not?”The streetlight illuminated Beckett as he appeared next to Kyle. “Why would I be the bitch? I don’t think that’s a fair f*cking assumption.”Kyle refused to look at him and crossed her arms. “Of course you’d be the bitch. You have dimples. Bitches have dimples. And I bet your ass is soft like two pillows. Bubba’s going to love bouncing off of you.”Beckett stormed away, dragging Kyle with him. “I’ll be the f*cker,” he told her. “Not the f*ckee. The f*cker.”“Fine, a$$hole, you’re the f*cker,” Kyle’s voice faded away as they returned to the party.”

“Livia patted Kyle’s shoulder condescendingly. “Look at that! You did all that complaining without cursing. That’s a good girl.”

“I’ll see him buried,” Beckett said again, slightly less confidently. “I’ll see my brothers. I have to. I can’t not see them. I…” Beckett looked at his reflection in the mirror. “My life is worthless if it’s not about them.”