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Benji, she didn't mean it, she was just having fun, being a kid."  Daddy shoves me face down on the couch, turning away from me directing his anger to Betty. She should have kept her mouth shut, she is going to get it now and it is my entire fault.  I should have just minded my own business, never should have said yes to playing with those kids. 
    Grabbing her by her hair, he steers Betty towards his bedroom. Curling into the fetal position I put my hands over my ears, I cannot stand to hear the sound of the belt hitting Betty's flesh.  Squirrel takes a seat beside of me; wrapping his arms around my shoulders, he tries to console me. His touch makes me sick, but I welcome it right now, anything to get my mind off what is happening behind that bedroom door.
    "It's alright Sarah, he won't whip you tonight," Squirrel 's rough calloused fingers grip my arms, so tight he leaves red splotches on my skin.  "Take a sip of this, it'll make you feel real good and Uncle Squirrel is going to make you feel even better." The bitter liquid hits the back of my throat and he tilts the bottle sending it rushing down my throat nearly gagging me. It wouldn't do any good to say no, he'd make me drink it one way or another.  He presses his lips to my temple and pets my hair, pulling me closer to him, my head feels dizzy, and my thoughts are swimming, as the room grows black with the sound of Betty crying out in pain.

 
    Chapter 3
     
    Drag Creek Kentucky 
    Grim
    "What are you doing brother? You are dancing with fire." Romeo asks as we load the delivery truck for tomorrow's run.
    "Don't know what you mean." Truth is I do know what he means, just don't want to talk about it. Closing the back of the truck and securing the lock, I continue evading his inquiry.
    "Slim know you're fucking his old lady?"  He goads me again.
    "Don't care if he does, ain't a permanent attachment." When Foxie and I fucked last month, it wasn't in my mind that I ever wanted to travel that road again. Fucking Slim, he had everything I wanted—a good woman and a family. Now look at him, throwing it all away for piece of ass, and not a very good one at that. Motherfucker doesn't appreciate a damn thing and he has got it made.
    I met Foxie first when we were teens, was the first to fuck her. If it weren't for me Slim would have never stood a chance with her.  She wanted to be my top bitch, but I didn't love her. I was just a messed up kid looking to get laid. Foxie was a kid looking for a way out from under her daddy's thumb. Slim was willing to marry her so I walked away, thought I made the right choice for her. Slim was my best friend and a damn fine brother at the time, but these last ten or so years, the bastard has changed.
    Damn, I can't wait to get back on the road again. I've been here too long; Foxie is pursuing me, always wanting me to fuck her.  Shit isn't gonna happen no more, got enough problems without worrying about her and Slim's issues. 
    "Well alright brother, fire up that smoke." Taking out my lighter from my cut, I set fire to the joint that is hanging from my bottom lip.
    "You coming to Chicago with me or are you still too much of a pussy to be face to face with LL?"  I take a long toke off my smoke. My lips curl into a devious smile as I watch Romeo struggle for words at the mention of LL.
    "Don't be a prick Grim. Quit being a bogart, and let me hit that joint." Romeo has not changed a bit, still a pussy and always changing the subject when LL's name comes up. "Man, you fucking wet lipped it, I hate when you do that shit." Romeo kicks at the tires on the truck and hands back a roach.
    Looking down at what's left of my joint or rather what's gone, "And you call me a bogart. Asshole. Roll up another." I take out my hollowed Black and Mild and toss my weed down on the hood of the truck.
    **
    Chicago 
    The ride here was a nightmare; the delivery truck got a flat tire and Romeo about damn near killed himself. The rain was a torrential downpour.