I slammed the door shut behind me, threw my helmet at the wall hard enough to leave a small dent. I ran up to my room and started throwing whatever I could. I collapsed on the floor, curled up into a ball and cried. It wasn't until my door opened that I realized I wasn't home alone. I looked over my shoulder and the furious look on my stepdad's face alerted me that something beyond the wall and the destruction in my room had angered him.

"Downstairs. Now." he turned on his heel, listening to hit footfalls down the stairs into the living room.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and followed after him. "What are you doing home?" I asked as innocently as I could. He turned around, his eyes narrowed at me.

"Doesn't matter why I'm home. You're grounded." He crossed his arms over his chest.

"For what?" He couldn't possibly know. I looked at him with furrowed brows.

"Someone named Walsh told me something about you. I went to your school, you weren't there, but the word is, you sell yourself for sex." I looked away, my cheeks burning hot. I nodded slightly, there was no use in lying.

"No phone, no tv, laptop, nothing. You are to put a stop to your 'activities' immediately. No more missing school, and no more ditching." He walked over to me and held his hand out. I pulled my phone out from the pocket in my skirt and slipped it into his hand. "Keys." I glared at him. "You're walking. ." I dropped my keys into the palm of his hand.

"I invited Liam from work, he'll be bringing his brother Killian. You are to remain in your room while they are here. Am I understood?" My breath hitched in my throat and my heart clenched.

"Yes." I kept my eyes down staring at the floor.

"Good." I walked to the staircase.

"When are they coming?" I stepped onto the first step, gripping the railing tightly.

"Tonight. I leave again in the morning." I nodded. "Don't think about disobeying me. You're not staying here while I'm gone, not anymore." I had an idea as to why Killian and his brother were coming now. It made sense. "Is there anything you want to say to me?"

I looked over my shoulder at him, the anger no longer gracing his features. "Such as?"

"Why it looks like you're trying to strangle the banister?" I let go of the banister and looked away from him. "Bree?" the sound of concern in his voice made me want to tell him about Killian. At one point, we had been close, but had lost that parent-child relationship when he started working at a job which required him to be on the road for weeks at a time.

"It's nothing." I muttered, climbing the stairs to my bedroom. I heard him sigh and walk away in the direction of the kitchen.

That night I heard Allen talking with who I assumed was Liam, since I knew it wasn't Killian.

"You're sure you can do this? If not -"

"I've got the extra room and it's not a problem, mate." After a few moments, he continued, "What are the details of her grounding?"

"No tv, phone, laptop, and her motorcycle." Allen answered him. "She's not to ditch or drop out."

"What did the lass do?"

"That, Liam, is a long story and one I don't wish to discuss. Killian?"

"Um, yeah?"

"Make sure she doesn't ditch. She has a tendency to leave school or not show up at all."

I rolled my eyes. Great, I now had two babysitters, as though one weren't bad enough.

"I'm to be an 18 year old's babysitter? She has a mind of her own and can't be -"

"Killian! Aye, we'll make sure Briana goes to school and won't ditch." I snorted. This should be interesting.

"If you'll excuse me, may as well get this over with." I quickly ran to my room and closed the door as quietly as I could. I flopped down onto my bed staring at the ceiling when I heard him knock on my door. "Bree, pack your things. You'll be staying at Liam's."

I climbed off my bed and walked to the door, "When am I leaving?"

"Tonight. And leave your phone and laptop here since you won't need them." he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I know. And what makes you think this is a great idea?"

"If you would tell me why you reacted the way you did when I mentioned Killian's name, I might be able to find someplace else for you to stay."

"It's nothing." I looked away from him, the sting of tears developing in my eyes.

"Bree." he sighed. I shook my head no and wiped the tear that fell. "He hurt you." I turned my head and glared at him. "I can see it in your eyes, Briana."

"Why does it matter?" I clenched my jaw.

"Is this going to be a problem? I'm sure I can talk to Granny." I shook my head. She had enough problems with Ruby and her own activities.

"I'm a big girl. I can handle this."

"Bree," he rubbed his face in his hand then through his hair. "We used to be close, what the hell happened?"

"You should know, you're the one who wanted to leave me here alone all the time." I slammed the door in his face and dumped out the boxes in the closet to pack.

I grabbed the essentials I would need, and since I wasn't going to be alone, plenty of leggings as well. As much as I wanted to disobey Allen and bring my laptop and phone with me, there was no point. The only person I would want to talk to wanted nothing to do with me.

I pushed the boxes out to the landing and walked downstairs. Allen and Liam both looked up when I walked into the kitchen.

"Bree, this is Liam. Liam, my step-daughter, Briana." Liam held his hand out for me to shake. I slid my hand into his and grasped lightly. "Killian you know." I pulled my hand away and wrapped my arms around myself. I turned my head away from Killian and gave a short nod.

After several awkward moments of silence, Allen cleared his throat. "Need help, Bree?"

"My stuff is at the top of the stairs." I watched as Liam grabbed his brother by the arm and dragged him away.

I looked at Allen who was giving me a raised eyebrow. "I'm fine." I lied. I was far from fine. This entire arrangement was a fucking nightmare. "When are you coming back?"

"Two weeks." He rounded the counter and stood in front of me, placing his hands on my shoulders. "Are you sure about this?"

"I'm not sure about anything, but I will be fine." I gave him a fake smile, he pulled me into a hug, "Behave over there. If you need anything, talk to Liam." I nodded, wrapping my arms around his back. He pulled away when I heard the commotion Liam and Killian were making, but couldn't hear what they were saying.

"Take care of her." Allen was looking at Liam.

"She's in good hands, mate." Liam smiled.

I gave Allen another hug, "Drive safe."

"Always do." I pulled away and grabbed one of the two boxes Liam was carrying and followed the two of them out of the house. I heard the door close behind me and took a deep breath. I dropped the box into the bed of Liam's truck and climbed in first, Killian behind me. When I sat down, I noticed he sat as far away from me as he could. I sat so close to Liam we were rubbing arms.

Liam showed me to the spare bedroom, which was diagonally across from Killian's. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, taking in the emptiness of the room. Even the bed was unmade. I pushed myself off the door and opened it when there was a knock.

"There's a blanket in the closet, and if you need anything, let me know." Liam handed me a stack of folded linens. "Is there something going on between you and my brother I need to know about?"

"You mean besides the fact he hates me?" I wasn't angry at Liam, but I was angry.

"Aye, besides that." Liam leaned against the door frame.

"It's a long story, and I'm sure it will be more colorful if he told you." I glared at Killian as he opened his door, and seeing me, he quickly shut his door closed.

"I wanted your explanation." I shook my head. Liam sighed and stepped away from the door. "All right, well, make yourself at home, since this is your home until Allen returns." I nodded and gave Liam a small smile in return for his.

"Thanks." I muttered and gently closed the door.

After I made the bed, placed my clothing into the dresser and closet, my essentials laid scattered on the dresser top, I changed into leggings and a tank top. I stretched out my limbs and muscles and started my nightly exercise routine which consisted of pushups and sit-ups, followed by yoga.

An hour later, I opened my bedroom door and peeked out. Both lights were on in the men's bedrooms, and walked out, making my way to the kitchen. I opened the cabinets looking for a glass, upon finding one, I filled it with water and drank, staring out of the kitchen window. I looked around the counters and found a notepad and pen.

'Went jogging'

After leaving the note out in the open, I double-checked to make sure they were still in their rooms, quietly unlocked the front door and closed it with a silent click, and started my jog. I ran to the park since it was a little ways away and I wouldn't be disturbed for a bit if either of them came looking for me. I sat on the bench in front of the pond, staring at the water.

"Surprised your new warden let ya out this late." my friend Will, who was rarely in school and didn't count as a friend, joined me.

"Left a note." I shrugged a shoulder.

"How are ya? Now that you're staying with him." He sat back, resting his arm on the back of the bench behind me.

"Do you ever want to have a new start?" I sat back, feeling the warmth Will was radiating.

"Aye." he turned his head towards me, his eyes boring into mine. "What's going on in that head of yours?"

"It's hard. To let go." I wiped the tears that were threatening to fall. He didn't say anything, but moved his arm around my shoulders.

After a few moments, I cleared my throat then chuckled, changing the subject, "Think he knows. He said he wanted to hear my side of the story. Curious how much Killian divulged." I gritted out.

"As angry as he is, more than likely every bloody detail."

"Lovely." I leaned my head back against his arm, closing my eyes. Well, this was certainly going to make things awkward.

"Why do you give a damn if he did say something? The Briana I know wouldn't give any fuck's what other people think of her." Will turned towards me.

"Yet, I never told anyone what I did." I quirked an eyebrow at him.

"It's high school, love. Better to be out of the student populace's eyes than be the center of it all. But those of us who do know, you don't care what we think or say." He rolled his eyes.

"I'm staying there, under his roof. It's gonna be awkward as hell." I turned my head back and stared at the inky sky above.

I felt his finger under my chin forcing me to look at him. "You know I love ya, but be the Briana I know. She doesn't back down, she isn't afraid of a bloody thing and she's strong."

I leaned over to him and pressed my lips to his. He immediately kissed me back, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me closer to him. I climbed onto his lap, our lips not parting and deepened the kiss as I lowered myself onto his lap. I ran my hand through his short hair, scraping my nails along his scalp. His hand grasped my ass pulling me closer, the other gripping my hair tightly.

We pulled away, breathing harshly against each other's lips. "Am I to assume we're reinstating our previous agreement, love?" I ground my hips down onto him, his hips jerking up and a moan escaping from his mouth. I grinned and brought his mouth back to mine.