Free Into the Blackness (Blackness Series Book 4) by Norma Jeanne Karlsson Page A

boys and their language, but I don’t give a shit. Have you heard my mouth?
    “Jake,” they respond in unison.
    I pull up to a stop sign at this announcement and turn my gaze to Jake with a deep scowl on my face. Yeah I may not be a mother, but I’ll be damned if anyone mistreats Jake…ever.
    “Aunt Kay, it’s not a big deal,” Jake says softly.
    “Jake, you better start talkin’ and I mean now,” I growl.
    I drive through the stop sign and wait in a silent car. Either he talks or I’ll find out on my own and he knows that’s what I’ll do.
    “He’s a senior and his ex-girlfriend mentioned she thought I was hot or some shit. He didn’t like it and got in my face,” Jake mumbles.
    “Got in your face how?”
    Again, silence.
    “Jake!” I bark.
    He closes his eyes and drops his head. My blood is boiling.
    “One of you tell me what happened…now,” I command.
    “Will slammed him into a locker and then choked him with his forearm in his throat while he said nasty shit like he always does. He let Jake go before any teachers or staff saw anything,” Cole explains.
    I grab Jake’s chin and rip it toward me at the next stop sign looking at his throat where there’s a small bruise. I’m going home and getting my gun!
    “I’m okay,” he whispers squeezing my wrist trying to soothe me. “Just let it go.”
    “He touches you again and I’m gonna rip his fuckin’ balls off and feed ’em to him. You think about lyin’ to me about it or not tellin’ me, you and I will have problems,” I say pointedly holding his chocolate eyes long enough for my words to soak in.
    He nods and I let go of his chin, continuing the drive home in tense silence.
    When we pull into the garage, the boys pile out quickly, moving into the house, no doubt in search of sustenance.
    “I’ve got chicken nachos in the warming drawer and caramel pecan popcorn. You boys grab some seats at the table,” I instruct.
    I wasn’t expecting a house full of teenagers so I hope this is enough food to satisfy them. They look like they could eat me out of house and home. They all bolt for the table and dig in the moment the plates hit the table. It’s like they’ve never seen food.
    “Did you not eat lunch?” I ask appalled at how ravenous they seem.
    “Fight happened at lunch,” Cole says through a full mouth of…too much food.
    So not only did Will Burke bruise Jake he also ruined his lunch. My blood is back to boiling, but I play it off and move into the kitchen.
    “I’ve got a pot roast in the oven. You’re all welcome to stay for dinner if your parents don’t mind.” I know they won’t go home hungry that way.
    Dane snorts around a mouth of popcorn.
    “Our parents don’t give a shit.”
    “Maybe you should call or text to be sure,” I suggest not wanting to step on unknown parents’ toes day one of school.
    “Our parents aren’t like you, Kat. We eat alone most nights while our parents go out or aren’t even in town. They don’t care if we aren’t home,” Sawyer explains blankly and my stomach drops.
    I had a vision of wealthy attentive parents fawning over their children. Why wouldn’t you when you make enough money to not have the stressors of the typical middle class family? I’m out of my depth here and yet again getting pissed the fuck off.
    “Then you boys will come here after school every day and eat a good dinner and then you can do your homework or hang out or whatever it is you boys like to do,” I command a little harsher than intended.
    “Your aunt’s the shit, Jake,” Dane says through a smirk.
    “I know,” Jake says tenderly, holding my gaze with an adoring look.
    They go about eating while I fix a salad and wash some dishes, listening to the conversation between the boys.
    “Regan’s hot, Jake,” Dane spouts when the conversation turns to the ladies.
    “She comes with too much baggage,” Jake dismisses.
    “It’s not her fault. Her parents and Will’s parents put them together from