![\"sustain1\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/sustain1.jpg?resize=600%2C240&ssl=1\")
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Tijan’s picks up the story of the band Braille, now known as Sustain, who caught everyone’s attention in earlier Broken & Screwed Series<\/a> books. Brielle Masterson will be familiar to you as the bartender from The Shack, the dive bar where Jesse brought Alex to hangout and where she met the guys of Braille in Broken & Screwed 2<\/a>. Now Sustain has found stardom and a return trip home to Grant West for a short break is a time for Brielle to see the guys she grew up with after a year away. Only looking at all the things that have changed, there are so many of the things that are still the same.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sustain hit global stardom. They\u2019ve been gone a year for a worldwide tour, but they need a vacation so they\u2019re coming home for two weeks. When they come home, it\u2019s not the break they thought they were going to get. Old problems rise up again. Old wounds are reopened. Denied lust can\u2019t be repressed. And one will sink to a new low, threatening everything they\u2019ve worked towards. How do I know this? Because I used to be one of them. I\u2019m a sister. I\u2019m a cousin. I\u2019m a friend and I am still in love with one of them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The below excerpt was posted on TijansBooks<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n CHAPTER 1:<\/strong><\/p>\n (This is not the finally edited version)<\/p>\n Working at The Normandy was one thing, but studying there at night was preposterous. It wasn\u2019t my first choice, but instead of spending my Thursday evening earning some money at the college bar, I was trying to cram whatever last scraps of information I could into my brain before our chemistry test the next day. The study group of twenty was stuck in the middle of all the action. Large television screens took up one entire wall with more mounted in the corners around the place. There was a dance floor. There was a dj booth. There were couches, pool tables, hockey tables, even some foosball tables. There was even a kitchen on one side of the bar to get any type of food dipped in grease. People had to go and line-up to put their order in, one thing I loved about the bar when I showed up, asking for a job.<\/em> When I pulled in our driveway after a half shift that night and headed inside, I hadn\u2019t even cleared the gate around our yard before I saw him. Standing with his back towards me was Luke Skeet. A guitar rested on his back with the strap across his chest. He was holding his arms out for something from someone still inside.<\/em> <\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n Tijan’s Web Tracks:<\/strong><\/p>\n Facebook<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Goodreads<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Amazon Author Page<\/a><\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n Tijan on All The Things Inbetween:<\/strong><\/p>\n Book It – In News Today: Tijan Releases New Sustain Teaser<\/a> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n Tijan’s Books:<\/strong><\/p>\n Broken and Screwed Synopsis: <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong>Alexandra’s older brother died the night he graduated. That day changed everything for her. No longer was she the party girl. No longer did she care about being popular and no longer was her family the happy unit she always thought existed. The only person who could help her heal is the same person who loved her brother as much as she did, his best friend. She only hopes to keep her entire heart from breaking when Jesse will move on, and she knows he will.<\/p>\n After Ethan died, Jesse excelled at basketball, partying, and girls. He used it all to turn his emotions off, but the irony was that Alex was the only person who could do that for him. She helped him forget, but she was the one person he shouldn’t be with because the secrets he knows could shatter everything. They could shatter her.<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n Purchase Broken and Screwed:<\/strong><\/p>\n Amazon<\/a> | B&N<\/a><\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n New school. New friendships. New life.<\/p>\n Not so much.<\/p>\n Alexandra is pissed about her parents abandoning her. She’s beyond pissed that her friends did the same. She’s enraged because things are unclear about her brother’s death now. So her first stop is at Jesse’s house to demand answers. She wants to know why her brother was friends with the criminal crowd before he died and she knows he holds the answers. But when she sees him, she doesn’t get the answers she expected. Instead, she finds out that their chemistry never faded and soon heats up again!<\/p>\n Some habits die hard. Soon Jesse and Alex are back to their ways of sneaking around. He’s a near-celebrity at school and she doesn’t want to deal with the backlash of being his girlfriend. Alex is tired of being hurt so she’s learned the lesson not to confide and lean on others. However, she can’t seem to help herself when it comes to Jesse Hunt. The big question isn’t if she will survive if their relationship goes public, it’s if she will survive when the real truths about her family and brother come out? Or when she learns that Jesse knows more than what he’s told her?<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n Purchase Broken and Screwed 2:<\/strong><\/p>\n Amazon<\/a> | B&N<\/a><\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong> (Follow all the updates for this blog by visiting and liking the All The Things Inbetween<\/a> Facebook page.)<\/strong><\/p>\n All The Things Ali Web Tracks:<\/strong> ![\"Sustain\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Sustain.jpg?resize=210%2C315&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Synopsis:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n I\u2019ve been tending bar for a long time, longer than it was legal for me to do, but a year and a half ago I quit at The Jukebox. It was dive bar, but known in Grant West as the band bar. If someone wanted their band to get noticed, they tried to play there. Their reputation was stellar. It was where a lot of the scouts came for labels or agents looking to pick up a new client. It was where my brother\u2019s band, Sustain, got their first notice before they went onto global stardom. I should know. I was the one who organized the entire thing, but that was before I decided to go the normal route.<\/em>
\n Dropping my last name, my ex-boyfriend got me a fake passport, social security card, and drivers\u2019 license with my new name. Brielle Collins. It wasn\u2019t original. I picked up my middle name, but that got me into the school. Paying everything out of pocket was expensive and when I scouted the campus, I got my lucky break. The manager at this bar was an old friend, someone who owed me a bunch of favors. Dustin agreed to give me a job and I would get paid in cash. The less of a paper trail the better, and no it\u2019s not because I\u2019m some criminal. It\u2019s because if anyone knew who I was, my life as a normal girl would be over.<\/em>
\n \u201cDouchebag!\u201d someone shrieked behind me, following that up with a giggle. A masculine grunt sounded next as he replied, \u201cOh, you like that.\u201d<\/em>
\n She giggled some more. Score one for the douchebag.<\/em>
\n \u201cUgh.\u201d The girl next to me threw them a glare after they bumped into her chair. \u201cWe\u2019re studying here.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cOh.\u201d More giggling and the guy tried to apologize, \u201cMy bad.\u201d His friend whispered, \u201cIt was your fault too.\u201d Again. More giggles.<\/em>
\n Once more\u2014studying at the Normandy was preposterous.<\/em>
\n Checking my phone, I had two more hours before I had to go to my second job, the one I hadn\u2019t quit because people there kept their mouths shut. They were mostly older nurses and nurse aides and they had been working with me since I was sixteen. They worked with my mother as well and the few students who got a job at the nursing home never became my friend. That was how I kept my two lives separate. Brielle Collins who went to school at Grant West University and the one who worked at The Normandy had no friends. I was never chatty with anyone and if I did have to talk to them, like now during a study group, no pleasantries were exchanged. Dustin was my one friend at college and he was too scared of me to socialize. The other girl, Brielle Masterson, sister to Braden Masterson, the esteemed drummer for Sustain, that girl had a few friends but still kept to herself. It wasn\u2019t a great life, but it was real. I\u2019d gotten too sick of the fake people who only befriended me to get to my brother. And the other way I kept everything separate? No facebook. No Instagram. No twitter. No anything else that was considered social media. I had email and I used the internet for school. That was it. It was old school, but it worked for me.<\/em>
\n What else worked for me? Silence. I needed it to be quiet when I studied. I was ready to slice someone if I heard one more giggle from the douchebag\u2019s future-one-night-bag.<\/em>
\n \u201cOh, William, you\u2019re so big.\u201d The same girl gasped in an awed whisper this time.<\/em>
\n That was it. Decision made. I didn\u2019t want to go to jail so I reached for my bag and stood up. A few of my study group gave me startled looks, but I didn\u2019t give a damn. Hadn\u2019t been friendly while we were studying, wasn\u2019t going to be now. I was almost to the door when the music suddenly stopped. My hand touched the door handle to open it when I heard, \u201cThis is Derek Starr from KGBLN103 and guess who we have in the studio?\u201d He leaned closer to the microphone. \u201cThat\u2019s right, folks. They\u2019re back from the last worldwide tour. This is your last stop before home, right, guys?\u201d<\/em>
\n I let go of the door.<\/em>
\n Someone answered, \u201cYes, it is.\u201d<\/em>
\n I closed my eyes. My hand shook. No words were said, no names had been told, but I knew that voice. I knew that voice more than I knew my own.<\/em>
\n I was definitely leaving now.<\/em>
\n \u201cIt\u2019s Sustain, everyone! That\u2019s right, the global superstars are in the studio with us this evening.\u201d<\/em>
\n There was one nanosecond of silence. Only one nanosecond and then the screams erupted all around the Normandy. If a person went to Grant West University and they didn\u2019t know the local connections from Sustain, that person was a social hermit like myself. Everyone knew.<\/em>
\n \u201cLuke, tell us about the tour and what\u2019s next for the band?\u201d<\/em>
\n More excited squeals erupted.<\/em>
\n \u201cOur plans are a two week vacation before the festival,\u201d Luke\u2019s voice silenced the room. His smooth tenor had the same magical effect when he spoke as when he sang to thousands in an arena. They were spellbound, but that was Luke. He had charisma up the ass. Three years ago I would\u2019ve added the comment of \u2018what a fine ass it was too,\u2019 but that was three years ago. I wasn\u2019t that girl, but I still couldn\u2019t say anything about his ass. The room spoke for it. They all wanted to pounce on it.<\/em>
\n \u201cAnd by festival, you mean the Grant Festival in your home town?\u201d The deejay continued, \u201cYou guys started that festival two years ago and it\u2019s grown tremendously, hasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cYeah,\u201d my brother spoke next.<\/em>
\n A quick grin came to my face, but I had to stop it. The less I showed, the better.<\/em>
\n Braden added, \u201cWe started it so that the local bands could be spotlighted. There\u2019s some great bands in Grant West, but the response from everyone was huge.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cYeah, yeah.\u201d The deejay\u2019s excitement grew. \u201cIt\u2019s phenomenal now. You guys have artists like Kara and Money coming.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cYeah and bands like FordPlay, Crisis of Junction.\u201d Braden\u2019s excitement grew as well. \u201cWe heard today that Jory committed too.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cThat band is huge. Well,\u201d the deejay reigned himself in. \u201cThey\u2019re not as big as you guys. I don\u2019t think anyone is as big as you guys right now.\u201d<\/em>
\n Luke chuckled, \u201cRight now is the key term.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cWhatever.\u201d Braden had leaned even closer to the microphone. \u201cWe\u2019ll take it. This is our glory days right now.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cIt certainly is,\u201d the deejay chuckled. \u201cI\u2019ve heard you guys have some new music coming out soon. That\u2019s not normal. Bands usually have to rest for awhile after their tours.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cWe\u2019re not normal.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cNo, you guys certainly aren\u2019t. I believe, Luke, you wrote this song, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/em>
\n Luke spoke, \u201cYes. I wrote it on tour when we were flying to Tokyo.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cAnd you recorded it just like that?\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cJust like that.\u201d<\/em>
\n My heart stopped, only for a second. I could hear the smile in his voice. Taking a deep breath, there was no way I could go anywhere without hearing this song. He was proud of it. It meant something to him.<\/em>
\n \u201cAll right. Without further ado, here\u2019s the latest and greatest from Sustain, folks. Luke, do you want to give them the name of the song?\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cSure. Everyone, here is Silence.\u201d<\/em>
\n A small bubble burst up inside of me at that title. The one word was all it took. I was floored and then the music began and his soft voice came next. It was like he was singing straight to me as I heard the words,<\/em>
\n \u201cVoices all around me. People saying this, meaning that. None of them know<\/em>
\n None of them understand<\/em>
\n All I need is some silence beside me, right beside me<\/em>
\n All I need is you, you\u2019re the silent one who never needs<\/em>
\n You never demand<\/em>
\n You never bargain<\/em>
\n You never need, but I do. I need<\/em>
\n And I need what only you can give, is your silence\u2014\u201d<\/em>
\n Luke wasn\u2019t singing to me, but that was the power he had over most of the female population. They all felt he was singing to them. Grabbing my bag, I pushed through the door and darted down the stairs. I didn\u2019t want sit around and hear all of them gush over the new song. They\u2019d be gushing over it for the next year. That song was going to top the charts, like a lot of their other songs.<\/em>
\n They weren\u2019t even home and I was already sick of them.<\/em>
\n \u201cYeah, they\u2019ll probably be at Red Dawgs tonight even.\u201d<\/em>
\n Going through the last set of doors to the outside, the cool air didn\u2019t shock me as much as hearing another voice I recognized. He was standing on the other side of the post and a puff of smoke floated in the air. I rolled my eyes, but heard two girls ask, \u201cYou think so? Seriously? Sustain\u2019s coming tonight?\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cOh yeah. Definitely. They hang out at the bar all the time.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cHow do you know that?\u201d The second girl was breathless.<\/em>
\n Another puff of smoke floated up before he replied, \u201cI grew up with them.\u201d<\/em>
\n The first one gasped. \u201cYou did?\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cSince we were little. Emerson\u2019s one of my best friends.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cAnd they hang out at Red Dawgs?\u201d<\/em>
\n The second girl grew more cautious. \u201cWhat is that?\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cIt\u2019s a bar, a little dive bar, but they hang out there all the time.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cErica,\u201d the first one hissed. \u201cWho cares? Sustain might be there.\u201d<\/em>
\n He added after taking another drag on his cigarette, \u201cThey play there too sometimes.\u201d<\/em>
\n That was enough to seal the deal. Both of them squealed and then ran off. The first one waved over her shoulder as I stepped around the post. She shouted back, \u201cThank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.\u201d<\/em>
\n Her friend caught her hand and urged her to go faster. \u201cCome on, Tess. We have to change.\u201d<\/em>
\n They both shrieked as they disappeared around a building. Then I turned with my eyebrow arched high and took in the sight. Elijah grinned at me. A corner of his lip curved up and he ground out his cigarette before lighting another one. He was leaning against the post. Baggy jeans that had the ends torn, a black tee shirt with one gaping hole in the side. It gave a peak at the tattoo he had put on his lanky body long ago. It was a weaving pattern of lines that formed an image of a gun from far away. When the tattoo was inspected closely the lines were made by a form of script from another language. Elijah never told me that language, but I never asked. That had been one of the reasons we were friends from childhood until four years ago. Neither of us enjoyed talking.<\/em>
\n He straightened now after taking a second drag from his cigarette. \u201cHeya, Bria.\u201d<\/em>
\n I bared my teeth at him. \u201cIt\u2019s Bri or Brielle. No Bria anymore.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cNo?\u201d His eyebrow went up.<\/em>
\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cThat\u2019s too bad.\u201d I could tell he didn\u2019t care as his grin only widened.<\/em>
\n I gestured in the direction of the two girls. \u201cWhat are you doing here and what are you doing telling those girls about Red Dawgs? Luke and Braden will never step in foot in that bar.\u201d<\/em>
\n His grin flashed into a full-fledged one before he shoved one hand into his jean\u2019s pocket. \u201cI wasn\u2019t lying about everything. Emerson is my best friend.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cBecause you were his drug dealer once and he\u2019s hoping you\u2019ll start selling again.\u201d<\/em>
\n He shrugged. \u201cDon\u2019t matter, but I know those girls are going to tell their whole floor and the rumor will spread all over campus that Sustain hangs out at my bar.\u201d<\/em>
\n Of course. It was making sense now. \u201cYou spread the rumor so that you\u2019ll get more customers.\u201d I shook my head. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t even be surprised.\u201d It was ingenious and something Elijah would do when he saw the opportunity. \u201cIs that why you\u2019re here? To spread that rumor? You\u2019re the new manager there, aren\u2019t you?\u201d He\u2019d been security before that.<\/em>
\n He stood over me at six feet, and his green eyes narrowed as he saw something I wished he hadn\u2019t. Elijah was like that. He fooled a lot of people. They perused him at a quick glance, saw his skinny frame, pretty-boy looks, and dismissed him as anything except threatening. That was always their mistake. He might\u2019ve always wore an easy grin, but he could be lethal and a genius. He could also read me how only three other people in the world could.<\/em>
\n \u201cI came here to check on you,\u201d he murmured, still studying me intently.<\/em>
\n I tensed. I didn\u2019t ask why. He had heard the interview on the radio. \u201cHow\u2019d you know I was here?\u201d The only person who knew I had a job on campus was my mother and there was no way she had told. Elijah helped me get into school, but that was it. He wouldn\u2019t know the rest. It had been a favor I cashed in. Things were still tense between us and I knew I had never been chatty with him.<\/em>
\n He shrugged again, finishing his cigarette and returning to his deceptive relaxed state. Elijah was never relaxed. \u201cI might know someone who knows someone who knows you.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cBullshit.\u201d<\/em>
\n A smooth chuckle came from him. \u201cIt\u2019s true. I know you\u2019re all anti-social here and don\u2019t want anyone to know you\u2019re Braden\u2019s sister, but there were a few people who do know you.\u201d<\/em>
\n I didn\u2019t believe him, but I shook my head. This was typical Elijah. He wasn\u2019t going to give me a straight answer. \u201cSo you really came to check on me?\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/em>
\n There it was. I heard the soft undertone in his voice. He\u2019d been telling me the truth. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to check on me. I\u2019m not going to fall apart.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cHe\u2019s coming back to town.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cSo?\u201d I glared even though I wasn\u2019t feeling it. \u201cAnd you don\u2019t know if he actually is coming. His dad lives in Los Angeles now. He moved out to help with their last album. If they have vacation, Luke won\u2019t come here, he\u2019ll go there.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cHe\u2019ll come here.\u201d There was that same soft tone from Elijah.<\/em>
\n My glare wasn\u2019t forced this time. He didn\u2019t need to be concerned. \u201cStop it, Eli. Luke and I are friends. That\u2019s all we\u2019ve ever been. This is all for nothing.\u201d<\/em>
\n He laughed and shoved his free hand into his other jean\u2019s pocket. Wearing a black sweatshirt, he pulled the hood so only his pretty-boy face was seen. His green eyes narrowed for a second, but then I saw him decide against something. He shrugged again. \u201cTo each their own, I suppose.\u201d He began walking past me towards the car lot.<\/em>
\n I waited.<\/em>
\n Then he turned around and walked backwards. He winked at me, \u201cWhatever you have to say to make sure you sleep at night, but we both know why you broke up with me all those years ago.\u201d<\/em>
\n I rolled my eyes, but he had already turned back around. I raised my voice, \u201cI dumped you because you sold drugs.\u201d<\/em>
\n He kept going, but lifted a hand in the air for a casual wave. Then he began jogging across the road into the next lot. Even though he couldn\u2019t see, I flicked him off before I headed in the opposite direction. For that night, I wished that I was going to work at The Jukebox again. Bar fights always broke out there. I could\u2019ve used a good old-fashioned one. There was some energy I needed to work off.<\/em>
\n <\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/em>CHAPTER 2:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n I had two seconds to savor this moment.<\/em>
\n Oh hell. He looked good.<\/em>
\n Lean build. Trim waist. Slightly defined shoulders. He wore what he always wore growing up. Jeans that hung a little low from his waist, but not low enough for most females\u2019 appreciation. He had a nice six pack under there. I couldn\u2019t see it where I stood, but I knew it was there. He was blessed with great genetics. He barely exercised and maintained all those muscles. The simple tee shirts he wore accentuated the curves of his shoulder blades. The shirt was pressed against his back now as his arms were in front of him, waiting, so I could see how his back was still sculpted even around the guitar. He wasn\u2019t too muscular, but his lean frame was mouth-watering.<\/em>
\n \u201cHere, mate.\u201d Braden\u2019s voice sounded from the opened doorway. \u201cTake these to the truck. We can come later for the rest or see if Bri will bring them .\u201d<\/em>
\n That was my brother. It\u2019d been a year and he was here. I must\u2019ve let out some sound because both turned to me. Luke\u2019s grey eyes widened a fraction of an inch, but I couldn\u2019t look at him, not just yet. Focusing on my brother, I was surprised to see the shaggy black hair was gone. It had been buzzed down, but it showcased his dark eyes and dimples even more. Shit. I was taken aback at Braden\u2019s transformation. Everyone gushed over his good looks before, but he looked like model material now. My days of being the pretty twin were over. A bright smile lit up his face and he jumped around Luke to run to me. I hadn\u2019t taken one step forward before he caught me in his arms and lifted me in the air. Twirling me around, I felt him breathe into my neck. He hugged me as tight as I was hugging him. \u201cBrielle.\u201d<\/em>
\n I wound my arms around his neck and clasped onto him. I didn\u2019t want to let go. There were tears in my eyes, but I didn\u2019t care. Snot could\u2019ve been hanging from my nose and it wouldn\u2019t have mattered at all. No matter what problem, no matter who hurt us, it was Braden and me. Always. I couldn\u2019t talk for a moment. The tears had moved into my throat and they were choking me. I held on tighter. It was all I could do at that moment.<\/em>
\n Skimming my hand over his buzz cut, I asked once he let me go, \u201cWhen did this happen? You never said anything about it.\u201d<\/em>
\n His hand replaced mine and he ran it briskly over his hair before letting it drop to his side. \u201cYou don\u2019t like it?\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cNo. You\u2019re prettier than me now.\u201d<\/em>
\n A side of his mouth curved up and he winked. \u201cBri, I\u2019ve always been the hot twin. Just never told you. I didn\u2019t want to hurt your feelings.\u201d<\/em>
\n I hit his bicep, laughing, but he bent and wrapped an arm around my waist. \u201cBraden!\u201d Lifting me in the air, he maneuvered me so I was bent around him. One arm went around my legs and the other went around my shoulders. I was horizontal to the ground now and once the breath came to me, I tried punching him in the air. Hard. \u201cPut me down.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cNo way.\u201d He began moving in a circle.<\/em>
\n \u201cBraden!\u201d Oh god. I closed my eyes as he sped up. \u201cYou\u2019re going to make me sick.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cThat\u2019s the point.\u201d<\/em>
\n Shit. The vomit was starting\u2014\u201cBraden, if you don\u2019t put me down I will grab your nuts and rip them off.\u201d<\/em>
\n I was dropped the next second.<\/em>
\n Oomph. My shoulder hit the ground first, but I rolled away. It was just like Braden to grab somewhere else, somewhere I couldn\u2019t hit his groin and he could still torment me. When I stood, he\u2019d been bending for my feet. Fucker. I rammed my foot up into his face. His eyes went wide, but he ducked in time and jumped back. \u201cBri!\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cDon\u2019t do that shit,\u201d I growled. Then my stomach growled again. Oh god. I was still going to throw up. Flinging my hand out, I tried to grab for the fence. It was somewhere behind me, but I couldn\u2019t find it. I was going to fall again. I was so damn dizzy, but someone grabbed my arm. The world was steady again.<\/em>
\n I was thankful in one second and tormented in the next. That hand had been etched in my memory for years. Luke was watching me under his eyelids. The old intensity was there in his grey eyes. I wanted to move away. I needed to, but my feet weren\u2019t moving. No part of my body was going. There went my control. My body was staying. It knew where it wanted to be and my brain wasn\u2019t moving it.<\/em>
\n Braden was glaring and grinning at the same time. The grin won out. He threw his head back and started laughing. \u201cI should\u2019ve flown you out over the past year. Why the hell didn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/em>
\n He started coming for me, but I held my hand out. \u201cYou stay there.\u201d<\/em>
\n He did. The same wicked grin was still there. \u201cMissed you, sis.\u201d<\/em>
\n The world was still spinning around me and my stomach wanted to upheave. I groaned, \u201cMissed you too.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cBri,\u201d our mother spoke from the house. She had stepped through the open doorway in a robe. Tugging it tighter around her, she said, \u201cBraden and Luke said something about a welcome home party. Do you work tomorrow at the nursing home?\u201d<\/em>
\n I nodded. The world had stopped spinning, but Luke\u2019s hand was so welcoming.<\/em>
\n \u201cI\u2019ll cover for you.\u201d She gestured to a large truck in the driveway. \u201cYou go out with the guys tonight.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cYes. Go.\u201d She gave me a reassuring smile. \u201cDon\u2019t worry. Shelly mentioned wanting a double shift. She\u2019s on tonight. I can give her a call to see if she\u2019ll take it.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cAnd if she doesn\u2019t?\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cThen I\u2019ll work it for you. Go and have fun with your brother. Say hi to your cousin too.\u201d<\/em>
\n Emerson. Who was probably going to Red Dawgs, where Elijah worked, who Braden and Luke would not be happy hearing about. I was tempted to stay home and keep my shift at work. I sighed as I thought about that conversation.<\/em>
\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d The quiet question came from beside me. He had spoken so no one else heard.<\/em>
\n I shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s nothing.\u201d<\/em>
\n Braden went to hug our mother.<\/em>
\n \u201cYou still twitch when you lie.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cDon\u2019t make me rip your nuts off either,\u201d I warned, though my heart had sped up at the reminder from him. In some ways Luke knew me better than my brother, better than Elijah too. A slight surge of panic came over me. They were here for two weeks. I wasn\u2019t going to be able to handle it.<\/em>
\n He laughed, the sound of it was intimate and intoxicating. I found myself swaying closer to him.<\/em>
\n He murmured, his breath teasing my skin, \u201cYou look good, Brielle.\u201d<\/em>
\n Oh god. The way he said my name. I felt doused with ecstasy.<\/em>
\n Pulling me closer to him, he bent his head so I felt his breath against my lips. \u201cI\u2019d like to talk to you about some things. Can we talk later?\u201d<\/em>
\n About what? The slight twinge of panic had increased, but I nodded. \u201cSure.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cYou ready, Bri?\u201d<\/em>
\n Braden had gone to the black truck. The door was open and he was standing on the foot step. Carla had gone inside. As I glanced at the house, the kitchen light turned off. Then Luke released my hand and moved away. I shivered from the absence of his warmth, but gritted my teeth. Goddammit. I wasn\u2019t going that route. Again.<\/em>
\n \u201cBri?\u201d<\/em>
\n I clipped my head in a nod. \u201cYeah. Coming.\u201d<\/em>
\n Luke went to the front passenger door and Braden gestured to the backseat. \u201cClimb in. Don\u2019t be afraid of Hank.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cHank?\u201d<\/em>
\n Hank was a big guy. As I got comfortable in my seat, I couldn\u2019t stop staring. He was really huge. His shoulders were scrunched forward and his legs wouldn\u2019t fit behind Luke\u2019s seat. His left leg was in my space. Shit. Giving me a tentative grin, he ducked his bald head down and tried to fit better in his seat. I didn\u2019t know how he could. He was too big for the entire truck. Since this truck was on bigwheels, I wondered how big this guy really was.<\/em>
\n \u201cHank\u2019s our muscle,\u201d Braden answered my unspoken question as he reversed out of our driveway. \u201cSay hi, Hank.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cHi.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cBri, say hi back.\u201d<\/em>
\n I lifted a hand in a wave.<\/em>
\n He waved back before looking away.<\/em>
\n \u201cYou guys have muscle now?\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cYeah, Peter wants us to have security. We told him that we didn\u2019t need any in Grant. It\u2019s our home town and we don\u2019t go anywhere mainstream anymore, but he wouldn\u2019t drop it. So Hank gets a free vacation for two weeks. You hear that, Hank?\u201d Braden said to him, \u201cYou get to party with the rest of us.\u201d<\/em>
\n He didn\u2019t respond.<\/em>
\n The dude was scary. I\u2019d been privy to a few events where the crowds went nuts for Sustain, but I agreed with my brother this time. When the last time things got crazy in Grant West? Then I remembered everyone\u2019s reactions at the Normandy during their interview. \u201cDon\u2019t go to the college.\u201d<\/em>
\n Braden laughed. \u201cNot planning on getting an education yet, sis. One day maybe, but not today.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cSo where are we going?\u201d If they weren\u2019t going mainstream that meant the little dive bars or private homes. \u201cThe Shack?\u201d<\/em>
\n Luke glanced back at me.<\/em>
\n I tried to ignore the feeling of being burned by his gaze.<\/em>
\n \u201cEmerson said he was headed to Red Dawgs.\u201d He narrowed his eyes as he saw my reaction. I was biting down on my lip. \u201cWe thought we\u2019d go there for a little and then head to the Shack.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cNo. Don\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cWhy?\u201d both Braden and Luke asked.<\/em>
\n \u201cNo reason.\u201d I scoffed at myself. I was being stupid. \u201cOkay, you\u2019re going to be pissed, but Elijah works at Red Dawgs now.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cWhat? I thought he was at Club T.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cHe got fired.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Braden bit out as he kept driving. \u201cDid they catch him trying to sell drugs?\u201d<\/em>
\n It was the opposite, but I didn\u2019t say anything. Braden and Luke wouldn\u2019t believe me anyway, hell, even I didn\u2019t believe it at times. \u201cHe\u2019s manager at Red Dawgs now and he put out the rumor tonight you guys would be there.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cHe did what?\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cYeah, so if you want to hide from the crowds, don\u2019t go there.\u201d<\/em>
\n Luke cursed. \u201cEmerson\u2019s going to be skinned alive.\u201d<\/em>
\n Braden didn\u2019t respond, but he asked, \u201cHank, you want us to drop you off? You should go in and see if he needs help.\u201d<\/em>
\n Hank nodded.<\/em>
\n \u201cPeople are going to see you in the truck,\u201d I pointed out. \u201cIt won\u2019t matter if you stay in the truck or how big it is. They\u2019ll still swarm.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cWindows are tinted. I got a special permit for them. No one will see us.\u201d<\/em>
\n He was right. When we went there, a group that was smoking outside watched the truck, but the line of girls waiting to get in didn\u2019t give us a second look.<\/em>
\n Luke shook his head. \u201cDidn\u2019t know Red Dawgs was the place to be in Grant West anymore.\u201d<\/em>
\n Braden grunted. \u201cThink we can thank Elijah for using our name.\u201d<\/em>
\n Pulling into the parking lot, Braden started to park towards the front, but I saw the back door. Correction. I saw who was next to the back door. Hitting his seat, I told Braden, \u201cPull to the back.\u201d<\/em>
\n Elijah was standing outside having a smoke. A girl was pressed against his front. She had his shirt lifted up and was pressing kisses down his chest as he watched, still smoking. When our truck lingered, he watched us instead, but nothing changed in his demeanor. I rolled my window down and called out, \u201cIs my cousin in there?\u201d<\/em>
\n A lazy grin came over him. He knew who else was in the truck with me. \u201cThat\u2019s a new ride for you, Brielle.\u201d<\/em>
\n \u201cShut it, Eli. Where\u2019s my cousin?\u201d<\/em>
\n He took a long drag off his cigarette before blowing it out. \u201cE\u2019s getting some action right now. Leave him be. He\u2019ll come along when he\u2019s ready.\u201d<\/em>
\n Braden growled and started to roll his window down.<\/em>
\n \u201cNo, Bray,\u201d I stopped him. \u201cElijah wants to piss you off. He wants you to show your face cause that girl will freak out and tell. That\u2019ll only help his bar.\u201d I rolled my window back up. \u201cWhat do you guys want to do?\u201d<\/em>
\n Luke and Braden shared a look. We were at a loss. Emerson wasn\u2019t the easygoing type. If he said he was going to do something or stay somewhere, he did. He didn\u2019t care about the consequences. Then Luke turned to Hank. \u201cYou stay here. Bring him when he\u2019s ready.\u201d<\/em>
\n The big guy clipped his head in a nod and then climbed out of the truck. As he stepped down, the truck moved with him, going down an inch. When he cleared and stood on the ground, the entire truck lifted back up an inch.<\/em>
\n He started around the truck. His pants had moved down an inch, showing a good patch of ass crack, but he pulled them back up and pulled his black shirt down to cover everything. I knew the girls would be thankful inside.<\/em>
\n Rolling my window back down, I told Elijah, \u201cLet him in. He\u2019s security for my cousin.\u201d<\/em>
\n As Hank walked past him, Elijah saluted him with his cigarette. I expected a smart reply from him, but for once, my drug dealer ex-boyfriend remained quiet. When he met my gaze again, I saw the hidden message in his depths. He jerked his gaze to the front of the truck.<\/em>
\n I shrugged. He was asking if I was alright. The truth was that I didn\u2019t know.<\/em>
\n He frowned, but the silent conversation was done. The girl went back to kissing farther down his chest. His free hand went to cradle the back of her head and Braden gunned the engine, tearing away from Red Dawgs.<\/em>
\n When my window had been raised and I leaned back in my seat, I was startled. Luke was staring right at me in the rearview mirror, and he didn\u2019t look happy. He was pissed.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAny Day That Ends In YA – Fallen Crest Public by Tijan<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Broken](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/BS.jpg?resize=255%2C400&ssl=1\")
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<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Broken](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/BS2.jpg?resize=255%2C400&ssl=1\")
Broken and Screwed 2 Synopsis:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nIf you are an Indie author and you would like to be part of the All The Things Inbetween Weekly Indie Word Slinger Project 2014<\/a> I\u2019d love to hear from you! Contact me via email<\/a> after reading the requirements and details on the Just The Facts, Ma\u2019am<\/a> post. All dates are scheduled on a first collected, first claimed basis. Get your packet into me early to claim your slot to be a Word Slinger!<\/strong><\/p>\n