Page 27 of Takedown Teague (Caged 1)

Stupid name for a stupid little shit.

“You need to go,” I told him. “Get the fuck out of here right now!”

“I’m not going anywhere!” Keith yelled. “We were having a private conversation—”

; “Which you made public by fucking screaming at her!”

“I am not putting up with this shit.” Keith tossed his arms up in the air and turned around to walk further back inside. I should have taken the opportunity to knock him out cold since he had his back turned, but Tria’s hand found its way once again to my chest and tensed against my skin as if she knew what I was thinking.

I looked at her, and her wide eyes pleaded with me.

“You should go,” she said. “It’s okay—really.”

“Bullshit,” I replied. “I’m not going anywhere as long as he’s acting that way.”

“The way I’m acting?” Keith snorted. “Do you even hear yourself?”

“I wasn’t talking to you, fucktard.”

“Liam!”

“Yeah, Liam.” Keith sneered. “Why don’t you go crawl back into whatever hole you came from?”

“Keith!”

“Very clever,” I replied. “Did you go all the way through sixth grade just to learn that one?”

“Demmy, you cannot be serious about staying in this dump with this idiot!”

“Keith, I’m not going anywhere,” Tria said. Her voice was soft but cold. “This is my home now. I’ve got classes, I have a job, and I can afford it just fine. Liam’s been helping me out—”

“Yeah, I bet! Helping himself, more like.”

Yeah, I was going to kill him.

“Keith! That is enough!” Tria turned and moved toward him. I started to follow her further inside, but one glare over her shoulder stopped me in my tracks. “He’s been a good friend. I’m just fine here, and I’m not going back home—not until I get my degree.”

“That’s four years, Demmy,” he whined. He fucking whined.

“At least you can count.” I sneered at him. “Now why don’t you try counting the steps outside? I’d be happy to accompany you.”

Tria glared at me again, and I huffed a long breath out my nose.

“Yeah, he’s obviously a great guy.” Keith crossed his arms over his chest. “I bet your dad would be really proud of you shacking up with—”

“Shut your mouth, Keith Harrison!” she shrieked. “Don’t you dare bring my father into this!”

“Truth hurts, huh?”

“That’s it,” I said. I tried to keep my voice even, but it wasn’t easy. “I’m sorry, Tria, but I’m not going to stand here and have you listen to any more of this shit.”

“Then why don’t you walk out the door and go away?” Keith crossed his arms in front of his chest.

“You are the one who needs to get out,” I said. Before he could start arguing with me about it anymore, Tria said the only words I really needed to hear.

“He’s right, Keith—you need to go.”