The First Three Rules by Adrienne Wilder Read Free Book Online Page A

streak of blonde caught Rudy’s attention. The woman ran across the parking lot, a row of cars over.
    “Rudy.”
    Ellis watched her too. “Get in the truck.”
    “I wasn’t doing anything.”
    “Don’t argue with me. Just get in the damn truck.”
    “I wasn’t touching. I’m too far away. I’m being good.”
    Ellis curled his hands into fists. “Please. For once. Just do what I tell you to. Get in the truck and stay there. I have to put the buggy up.”
    Rudy got in the truck. Now the woman stood next to a big gray Dually talking to a man named Lenny. Rudy knew him because he was friends with the two police officers who took him to jail once.
    The woman wiped the tears from her face and pointed. Lenny’s angry expression twisted into rage.
    Oh no. This was bad. This was really bad. With a big van on one side and a bigger SUV on the other Rudy couldn’t see where Ellis had gone. When Rudy looked back, there was no one at the Dually anymore.
    Just as he turned around, his door flew open. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, retard?” Lenny yanked Rudy out buy the front of his shirt.
    Lenny was as tall as Jon. Maybe as big as Jon. But where Jon made Rudy feel safe, Lenny made him scared.
    He slapped Rudy on the side of the head. “I’m talking to you. What the fuck do you think you’re doing going after my girl like that?”
    Rudy pressed himself against the truck. “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t. I’m sorry.” He slapped Rudy again and again. Tears blurred Rudy’s vision. He tried to duck away but Lenny kept shaking him and hitting him until every thing spun.
    “Do I need to teach you a lesson, retard? Do you need me to show you what happens when you go after what’s mine?”
    “No, no. Please. Please, stop.” Where was Ellis? Maybe he was so mad he didn’t love him anymore. After all, Rudy had broken the third rule, the most important rule. Don’t touch.
    “Hey!” Ellis ran from behind the van parked next to the truck. “Let him go.” He grabbed Lenny’s arm. He slammed his hands into Ellis’s chest. Knocking him into the car beside them.
    Lenny pointed at Ellis. “Stay out of this, faggot. This is between me and the tard.”
    “He didn’t mean to hurt her. She panicked. It scared him. He—” Ellis was almost to his feet when Lenny backhanded him. A streak of blood smeared across Ellis’s upper lip.
    “Stay down if you know what’s good for you.”
    “I’m sorry.” Rudy hoped if he said it enough, Lenny would go away.
    A darkness swelled behind Lenny’s eyes. A big and terrible darkness.
    Ellis needed Jon. Jon could protect him.
    Lenny cocked his fist and Ellis grabbed his arm again. “Get away from him!”
    The punch struck Ellis in the face. Blood poured from his nose and down his chin.
    “What was that, Queer Boy?” Lenny took a step. “I didn’t quite hear you. Sounded like you was telling me to do something and I know that ain’t right.”
    Ellis wiped his face with a trembling hand. “I said get away from my brother.”
    A nasty grin spread across Lenny’s face. “Yeah, and if I don’t, what are you going to do about it?” Ellis didn’t move and Lenny laughed. “That’s what I thought. A big fat nothing.”
    In a voice that was too calm, Ellis said, “Get in the truck, Rudy.”
    Rudy opened the truck door. When Lenny tried to grab him Ellis charged, knocking him off balance. Rudy slammed the door shut and locked it.
    Ellis landed a punch to Lenny’s face and he stumbled. He pressed the back of his hand to his lip. Then he stared at the spots of blood like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
    “That was real stupid, Queer Boy. Real stupid.” Lenny stalked Ellis to the rear of the truck.
    Why didn’t anyone help Ellis? Rudy beat on the window but Lenny wouldn’t even look at him.
    Ellis ran around the other side. He had his hand on the driver’s side door when Lenny grabbed him by the hair and yanked him back. He threw Ellis against the SUV.