Read Online Made by J.M. Darhower - Free Book Online Page B

strode past, heading straight for the back door. His eyes followed her, something about the expression on her face urging him to shadow her. Quietly, he stepped out back, squinting from the sunshine as he followed his sister toward the creek. The DeMarco kids were sitting beneath some trees, forming a makeshift track for Vincent's toy cars. Corrado loitered a few feet away, leaning against a tree trunk and watching as Celia dug in the dirt with her bare hands, pulling up grass and tossing twigs aside. Smudges of dirt covered her flushed cheeks, her hair falling out of a ponytail as sweat beaded along her forehead.
    Katrina walked right past them without speaking and sat down on the bank of the creek. She grabbed some rocks from around her and tossed them in the water, the plop echoing out. Celia glanced behind her, eyes narrowed suspiciously as she studied Katrina, but she shrugged off her presence.
    She dug a bit more, extending the track so it weaved around a small tree in the shape of a cloud.
    "There," Celia said, climbing to her feet. She brushed the loose dirt from her knees. "All done."
    Excited, Vincent dumped out his bucket of cars and lined them up on the track. Celia turned then, and Corrado felt her gaze. His eyes shifted from Vincent to Celia, seeing the smile on her lips.
    "Hi," she said.
    Hello . The word was on the tip of his tongue when his sister shifted position in his peripheral. Before he could react, the loud whack sounded. Celia cringed, stumbling a few steps as she reached behind her to grab her back.
    " Ow !" she hollered, spinning around. Corrado looked over at Katrina, seeing the rock in her hand. Without even hesitating, she launched it at the girl, smacking Celia in the chest with it. Celia cried out, hardly having time to defend herself before Katrina grabbed another.
    "Hey!" Vincent shouted, jumping to his feet. "Stop that!"
    Katrina glared at him defiantly as she launched a third rock at Celia. This one struck her arm as she held her hands up to block herself.
    "I said stop it!" Vincent yelled.
    "Make me," Katrina sneered, throwing another, hitting Celia right in the knee, the blow making her stumble.
    Determination marred Vincent's young face. Growling, the boy picked up one of the rocks.
    "Don't do it, Vincent!" Celia hollered, but it was too late. Vincent launched it straight at Katrina with all his might, the rock hitting her in the face.
    Gasping, Katrina clutched her cheek as tears sprung to her eyes. Scampering to her feet, she let out a strangled sob. "I'm telling!"
    Katrina sprinted off through the trees, back toward the house, knocking into Corrado as she ran. He let out a frustrated sigh, closing his eyes. Vito's lectures about not being a rat never seemed to sink into Katrina's head.
    "You shouldn't have done that, Vincent," Celia said.
    "She was hurting you!"
    "I'm fine," Celia said. "You're going to get in trouble, though."
    "So?" Vincent said. "I don't care. She's mean, and she shouldn't hurt you!"
    Corrado opened his eyes, sparing them a glance, before following his sister to diffuse the situation. He scarcely made it out of the trees when Mrs. DeMarco's shrill voice rang out through the yard. "Vincenzo Roman!"
    Corrado's footsteps slowed, coming to a halt when the woman stormed out the back door, clutching a belt. Katrina stepped out behind her, still holding her cheek.
    His stomach sunk. He knew from experience what would happen next.
    Vincent didn't cry. His body was rigid, his shoulders squared as he marched through the back yard to face punishment. Celia ambled behind him, a troubled look on her face. Her breath painfully caught, a tear streaming down her cheek, when Mrs. DeMarco grabbed Vincent and raised the belt to strike him.
    It happened so fast, yet in utter slow motion, as Corrado opened his mouth, his commanding voice echoing through the yard. "You shouldn't hit him."
    All eyes shifted directly to him. Mrs. DeMarco hesitated. "Excuse me?"
    "People should never be