Hell's Angel: Devil's Backbone (BK 2)

Ten Years Earlier

Dani's POV
(Nightwing27th)

TEN YEARS EARLIER...

"Dani?" Foggy waved his hand in front of my face. I shook my head and blinked. He smiled, laughing. "Wow, Dylan. You really zoned out there. To where did your mind wonder?" I smiled, playing along. Yeah, I slightly tuned him out. He makes it too easy. But I'm not used to that name, yet. Even though he's said it a thousand times.

"Nowhere important," I shrugged. "I've got a lot to do today. I should get going."

"You got a ride?"

"Yeah, my brother's picking me up."

"Ah," he sighed. "The brother I've never met." I smiled. "What was his name, again?" Yeah, which one? I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole half-brother thing. Since I was born, it's just been me and my twin brother. To throw another person into that...it's just weird. "Um, Andrew," I said.

"Andy and Dani?" he asked skeptically. "And you two are twins?" He laughed. I smiled, chuckling. I know it sounds weird. It's supposed to be Elizabeth and Andrew. Unfortunate circumstances won't allow that. But, I am not changing it again. I've had enough names to last me a few life times. My new name is my middle name, because I wanted it to mean something.

"Okay," I sighed, moving toward the door. "I have to go now."

"Fine," he said, in mock disappointment. He got up and came over, giving me a quick hug. "Alright, well," I said. "You better hit those books if you ever plan on being a lawyer." He sighed, exhausted. I patted him on the back. "Hang in there, buddy." I opened the door and stepped out.

"See ya later, Dani," he said before closing the door. I stared at the closed door, my chest starting to tighten. Just remember, it's for the better. I nodded and then walked away. I headed down the hall, reminding myself that that's the last time I'll see him. Ugh. Maybe I should've told him I was leaving. But if I did that, he'd have questions I don't have answers to.

I stopped and turned back toward the room in indecision. I'll probably hate myself for this. I turned and left. This has been the worst week of my life. My mother died, I have a half brother (who's only twelve), Dad showed up wanting more money, and we lost the house because of a lean he put on it and didn't pay back. Shocker.

Moving is the last thing I want to do. But between us, Andy and I only have two hundred dollars. That's how much our wonderful father left us with. Barely enough to get out of the state, out of Hell's Kitchen. I don't know why we came back. Andy's insisting we leave, and I agree. We need to go somewhere our father can't find us. If that's possible. My head is filled with too many thoughts. My heart has felt too many feelings. I can't decide which to land on. I want to hit someone and then I want to cry till I die. I'm such a woman, I hate it.

I shoved the front door open in my frustration, meeting resistance halfway and it slammed into something. I peeked around the door and saw a person stumbling back. "Oh, my goodness!" I stepped out of the building to look at the guy. "Are you okay?" He adjusted his glasses as I looked down and saw the walking stick on the ground.

Ugh. I'm an idiot. I just plowed into a blind guy. See? Worst week of my life. I quickly bent down and picked it up. "I am so sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going." I stood.

"Now, I'm supposed to say that," he joked. But I really had to study his face to see if that was true. "It's alright. No harm done."

"Oh. Uh, here you go." I held out the stick. He reached his hand out and I put it in it.

"Thank you."

"Please," I sighed. "I just tackled you with a glass door. Are you sure you're okay?"