A Whole New Crowd by Tijan

strode towards me and I was unsure what he’d do. “I told you to stay away the last time you were here.”
    “Yeah.” I rolled my shoulders back, ready for whatever was about to happen. “Then your brother showed up in my town—”
    “Your town.”
    I heard the mocking from him. “Yes,” I clipped out. “My town. You’ve made that abundantly clear. My town. My life. My future. You want the lines drawn and you want me on the other side, don’t you?” I sneered. “Screw you. I came back for one thing. Gray. Is his dad working for you or not?”
    There was silence for a beat. Then a soft laugh came from him and the cold from it sent chills through my body. This was the gang leader Jace. This was the mastermind behind the Panthers who kept them from being touched by the police. Cunning. Ruthless.
    He said, “Leave, Taryn. You were given an out and if you don’t take it, it might not be there anymore.”
    I snapped to attention. “Is that a threat?”
    “Yes.” There was no hesitation from him. “Stay out or I will fix things so there’s no longer an out for you to go.”
    “Jace.” My family member was gone. He had been gentle with me, but that was gone as well. “I’m here for a friend. How can you be mad at me for that?”
    “Because this isn’t your life. He’s not your friend. Stay out, Taryn. I mean it.”
    I shook my head, pushing past the lump in my throat. “Stop. Please.”
    “Get out.”
    “I take care of my friends and family.” He started coming for me, and my voice rose. I didn’t have much longer. “It’s the same quality in me that loved Brian.” He took my arm and we were going towards the door. “Please, Jace. Please.” He didn’t have the cement hold like earlier, but his hand would still leave bruises.
    He wasn’t being gentle anymore.
    I shook my head, clearing that thought as he opened the door. “Please, Jace. I know his dad must be working for you. Cut him loose. Send him away. Gray always gets hurt.” He was taking me out into the hallway. I slammed a hand against the door to stop us and lowered my voice, “He abuses him.”
    Jace stopped.
    “He hurts him. Please get rid of him. I don’t want my friend hurt. That’s all. That’s the only reason I’m here.”
    A guard straightened from the wall. He’d been waiting. “Boss?”
    Jace held my arm out and the guard took it.
    “Jace.” I strained against the hold. “Please.”
    The small light in the hallway cast his face in shadows. He was unmoving, a cold stranger He said, “Go home. This is no longer your home. These people here are no longer your concern. Get out and stay out. This is my last warning.”
    I frowned. My heart leapt into my chest. It was pounding with fear. What did that mean? “Jace—”
    “STOP!” He gestured to the guard. “Get her out. If you see her again, shoot her in the goddamn leg. I don’t want to deal with her again.” He stepped close to me. His eyes were primal as he stared into mine. “Do you hear that? I don’t want to deal with you again. I gave the order, Taryn. They will follow it. Come back again and you’ll lose a leg. Keep coming, I’ll have them shoot every fucking limb. It’s your decision. Get lost.”
    Then he disappeared inside, locking the door behind him.
    I stood there, staring at the door for a while longer until the guard led me out. I didn’t pay attention until we were in the cold and the door was shut in my face. I couldn’t believe what had just happened.
    Jace threw me out. He meant it.
    I drove home that night and went straight to bed. Tray called, but I didn’t call him back. My heart was breaking. I didn’t even notice if Mandy was mean to me or not the next morning. I remembered a faint good morning from her. I didn’t care. Then I got to school and I almost got back into my car as I looked up.
    It was homecoming. Fuck me. I already had a headache and when I got inside, another headache came at me. Mandy darted over. She grabbed my