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and then forced my face into a neutral mask.
    â€œThe dream dealt with my dad. He recently passed away, but at the end a Phoenix rose out of the fire. Why did you get that tattoo?”
    Oh, he wanted to know about my tattoo. Most did, and I didn’t have a problem sharing its meaning. I’d gotten it as a statement, after all. “Sometimes when a girl is young and stupid, she makes mistakes, and pretty big ones at that. Me—I fucked up something big.”
    Teddy’s face flashed in front of me and I pushed it away.
    â€œWho was it?” Epic asked.
    â€œThat’s not your concern. I got it to remind me that no matter what, I’ll always rise from the ashes. No one will ever keep me down. No one.” I practically growled the last part, my emotions taking control of me for a moment.
    â€œI understand that, but not all men are the same.” Epic’s forehead creased in the middle with worry. “You should remember that.”
    I gave him a sickening sweet smile. “Oh, how sweet. Are you offering to be the one who opens my eyes up to how great men can be? And maybe you even really believe you’re the guy for the job, but things would change. Eventually you’d want to control me, own me, and break me. And it would drive you insane when you couldn’t. It would end badly for everyone.” I shook my head to rattle some sense into myself. “It’s best if we have a business relationship only.”
    â€œYou call what just happened between us business?” He took a step my way.
    â€œWhat else could it be? We don’t even know each other.” I narrowed my eyes at him.
    Did I make a mistake? Is he the type that thinks just because we shared a few bodily fluids that he has some kind of claim on me?
    â€œSo what was it then?”
    â€œThat was just a thank you, like I said. It meant nothing.”
    Epic stared at me as if at a loss for words, his nostrils flaring with anger.
    â€œOkay. So I’ll let you know about the job.” I waved at him. “Bye bye now.”
    Epic opened the door, stalked through, and slammed it behind him without another word. I was going to have to give some serious thought to whether or not working with him was a good idea. I might have already complicated things beyond repair. But, fuck, I needed out of this shit hole and off this planet for good. I had enough money to move to a better room now, but I didn’t want to waste it in case I decided I was going to continue on with my original plan and not work with Epic and his brothers.
    Fuck, that man is trouble .

CHAPTER 7
    Epic

    She’s not coming. Fuck her.
    I snorted some quake in the transport bathroom. The cold powder dusted my nostril, blasted up my nasal cavity, and entered my bloodstream with a rush of speed and dominance. Next came the smell of sugar mixed with vanilla and butter, then that numb sensation, the reason why I preferred the drug out of all the others. My body deadened to nothing—no feeling or emotions, no worries or insecurities. A soothing fog twirled around me. Deadness and Mom’s cookies. I closed my eyes and leaned back against the wall.
    â€œEpic, you done? I got to potty.” One of my little brothers pounded at the door.
    â€œThere’s another one down the aisle.”
    â€œI gotta go b-bad.”
    I can’t even get peace in the bathroom.
    â€œOkay. Hold on. I’m coming out.” I checked the sink.
    No trace of the yellow powder on any of the chrome surface. My head spun. I swayed and bumped into the metal wall. It should have hurt, but quake swam in my system. No pain would come for hours. I put on my sunglasses. Since they were artificial, my eyes never turned red after using, but I hated the worried glances from Mimi and the upset glares from Shade and Toy. Somehow they knew I was doing something, but they didn’t know what or how. But paranoia always pulsed through my veins when they glanced my