Rachel Dyken - Elect

First, I have to thank GodHe is totally the reason I am able to do ANYTHINGand Im so thankful every morning that I get to wake up and do what I love.

HusbandIm sorry I keep bringing my computer to bed, but thank you for being awesome enough to kiss me anyway and turn out the lights even when Im typing away at two a.m.!

Also, I feel terrible In my last acknowledgments, I never once said thank you to Erica Silverman, my amazing, amazing agent. Shes like the soldier you want on your team during Capture the Flagshes that awesome. And Im THAT competitive, so it works.

To Grand Central PublishingI heart you guys big. Youve been so amazing in this process. Words cant even begin to describe how amazing my experience with you guys has been!

Laurenfriend, editor, fellow Tom Hardy fan Your input on my last two books has been incredible! Ive never had such a positive editing process, so thank you for not only making me better, but making it so fun!

To my street team, beta readers, and all the bloggers. To thank each and every one of you individually would take page and pages. Just know that I appreciate your love and support so much. I would be nowhere without you guys and Im so thankful and humbled that you not only keep readingbut keep encouraging me! Love you guys!

I hid in the shadows hoping he wouldnt see me as he hit Ma again. Hed promised Ma hed stop drinking. Hed promised he wouldnt be mean anymore, but he never kept his promisesnot anymore.

You stupid bitch! I know you were looking at him tonight! You think I cant tell?

I wasnt! My mom wiped her eyes and tried to reach for my fathers hands, but he pushed her to the ground and kicked her stomach with his foot.

Afraid, I looked around the room for help. Chase was right next to me; I could see his knuckles turn white as he clenched his hand into a fist. He was just as helpless as me. I swallowed as my eyes fell to Uncle Tony; slowly he shook his head at me. He stood motionless in the corner, his gaze without emotion. Did he want me to sit there and watch? Watch while my father killed my ma? Werent men supposed to protect those they loved? I felt my nostrils flare in silent outrage. Someone had to do something.

I heard another shriek and then the sound of glass hitting the floor. I turned just in time to see my mom hit the ground, blood spewing from the side of her face.

Ma! I ran toward her, pushing my father out of the way. I had to save her, I had to protect her. Ma!

Nixon. A hand reached out to stop me. Dont.

I looked up into Chases sad eyes. I have to save her.

You cant.

But I can! I have to

Nixon, youre my best friend in the whole world, but Dad said if you make your father angry again hes just going to turn on you. The way I see it, is hes gonna pass out soon anyway.

But I looked over at my mother. She gave me one terrified silent nod before my dad landed a final blow to her face. Her eyes fluttered closed as her head hit the ground. I watched for her lips to move so I could tell she was still breathing.

Her chest rose and fell.

Alive. She was alivethis time. Paralyzed with fear, I kept watching, counting the seconds between each weak breath, hoping, praying, that it wouldnt be her last.

Nixon, come on. Chase tugged on my arm and led me outdoors. The minute my feet touched the grass I took off running.

I pumped my legs until they hurt, finally stopping at the tree on the farthest edge of our property.

Nixon. Chase was behind me, out of breath, but still behind me. Im sorry, Nixon. Im so sorry.

I nodded. I knew it was the right thing to say, that he was sorry; I was sorry, too. Sorry that I wouldnt listen to Chase and that one day, I would kill my father for what he was doing to my ma. I would kill him and I would go to Hell for itbut I didnt care. Dad said I was going there anyway.

Lets make a pact. Chase put his hand on my shoulder.

A pact? I sniffled and turned to him. What kind of pact?

One thats forever. One that protects people rather than hurts them.

How do we do that? I was suddenly interested. What if I could make all the hurt go away? What if I could save everyone!

We do this. Chase pulled out his pocketknife and cut open his hand, then nodded to me to do the same thing. Without pausing I cut open my hand and handed back the knife. Blood brothers. Were never gonna hurt each other and were gonna save those like your ma, Nixon. Ones who cant save themselves. Were going to protect them.

How? I watched as the blood dripped from my open palm.

Rules. Chase shrugged. They keep people safe, right? At least thats what my mom says. He smiled. We make rules and we start our own club. That way, we dont have to listen to anyone but us.

I liked it. I chewed on my lower lip. What do we call ourselves?

The chosen? Chase offered.

No, that sounds lame. We have to sound more powerful than that.

My eyes flickered to the road, and a sign poked into the ground. It said election. Elect. I pointed. Lets call ourselves The Elect. It made sense; after all, the president was elected, wasnt he? We werent exactly chosen, but we were making the choice, we were electing ourselves protectors. Thats what we were.

Who else can join? Chase asked.

Tex and Phoenix. Theyll want to. A weight suddenly felt like it was being lifted off my twelve-year-old shoulders. Should we shake on it?

Yeah. Chase smashed his hand against mine as our blood mixed. No going back, Nixon.

No. I shook my head. No going back.

I pressed my fingers to my temples and watched, replaying that moment over and over again in my head as the outline of Chase and Tracey flickered in the moonlight. Would he really do this to me? After all the shit wed been through?

I gauged her reaction, hoping that I would be wrong. Praying to God that Trace would just this once listen to me. Her eyes flickered with interest for a few brief seconds before she looked down at the ground.

Shit. I waited in the shadows. A part of me knew this would happen. The part that told me to damn my feelings to hell and ignore all the warning signs that Id been seeing. But now it seemed like it was too late. I stayed, planted where I was, watching, waiting.

Chase, you cant Trace shook her head. You cant be like this. We cant do this!

We arent doing anything, Chase said in low tones, reaching for Traces hand. Dont you? He looked directly at me, although all he saw was a shadow. I knew I was well hidden. Dont you feel the same way?

Trace jerked her hand away from Chases. It doesnt matter what I feel. Its not about me, Chase.

But it is. Chase reached for her again. This time her hand grasped his in such an intimate embrace I thought I was going to vomit all over the ground. The outside air was cold as hell as little pieces of ice tried to find their way into my wool coat.

It isnt. Trace sighed. It never was.

Chase jerked her toward him. She fell against his chest and looked up into his eyes. What are you doing?

Chase sighed. What I should have done a long time ago. He grabbed the back of her head and pulled her in for a kiss. Their lips touched.

I had to look away.