Threat Read Free Page B

the second I hear him call
me that name again. The one he devised to torture and
humiliate me. The name that followed me all through middle school and
high school. The last six years of my life were made a living hell by
the asshole standing in front of me. And now that same
good-for-nothing bully is back in my life? And worst of all he's my
new step-brother?!
    No. Hell no. This shit is not about to happen.
    “But I only go by Threat now,” he says.
    I've put up with a lot of shit over the years but this is where I
draw the line. My face burns and my fists clench, two things that
Threat seems to be getting a kick out of. I turn and storm out of the
shop, pulling my cell phone from purse and dialing furiously.
    “Hey there champ,” I hear my dad's voice on the other end
when he finally picks up. “Everything all right?”
    “No!” I shout into the receiver, my voice breaking with
tears. I hate that I let David fucking Banducci get under my skin
again. He went out of his way to make me beyond miserable for so many
years. After he was kicked out of school, I thought it was over, but
it wasn't—the torment continued. But at least David was gone,
and I would never have to see him again. Or so I thought.
    “Hey, hey, what's wrong? Weren't you supposed to meet Threat
today?”
    I hold my forehead in my hand, attempting to shield my eyes from the
few passerbys. I take a deep, shuddering breath, willing myself not
to cry. I won't give him the satisfaction.
    “Hun?” he asks again, sounding concerned.
    “Dad it's him! It's that asshole who bullied me since, like,
sixth grade!”
    “Huh? What guy? You were bullied?”
    Oh God. Does he seriously not remember that? Oh, that's right, I
barely even mentioned it to him. Because I was too embarrassed to
admit it—silly me. I let out a loud, frustrated groan that
sounds more like a growl.
    “Hun, calm down, okay? Can you explain what happened?”
    “I told you about him once. He tormented me from junior high
through high school, calling me names and getting his dumbass friends
to join in. Dad, he tried to ruin my life!” Tried? He did ruin it.
    “Lots of people called you names. Which one are you talking
about?”
    Thanks for reminding me. “He was the main one. His name was
David Banducci. David and Threat are the same fucking person. You
just married the mother of my bully!”
    “Shit, my bad. I didn't know. Like I told you, she didn’t
even tell me she had a son until after.”
    As if that makes this situation any better. “Dad please tell me you're not going to let him come live with us. This is
serious. I can't live with him!” Even if it's only for the next
two and a half months.
    He sighs on the other end. “Well, problem is I already made a
promise to Janet. They've been living apart for a few years and she
really wants a chance to reconnect. Maybe you two could try and find
some common ground?”
    “No!”
    “Okay, but you haven't tried yet. So how do you know you
can't?”
    “Dad, he made my life hell ,” I reply through
gritted teeth. He doesn’t seem to grasp the severity of this
situation, and it makes me that much more frustrated.
    “But that was in middle school. That was a long time ago and
you've both grown up since that. People change. Maybe Threat has
too.”
    I can't help but let out a high pitched, bitter laugh. The irony of
the idea that someone who renamed them self “Threat” has
changed is so preposterous it's funny.
    “Dad. His name is fucking Threat,” I holler into my
phone.
    “I know, I know and I'll admit I was alarmed too, especially
after Janet told me he spent some time in juvi, but—”
    My eyes flare. “Juvi? Juvenile hall?!”
    He pauses for a moment. “Okay, let's calm down just a bit,
okay?” he says. “Janet says he's a good kid now, he's
cleaned up his act and he's a hard worker. So maybe just give him a
chance. Maybe he has changed...despite the name and all.”
    I fall back against the hard stucco wall of some