Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas

“Thunder Bay,” I replied in a low voice.
“You can have so much more.”
“Leave,” I ordered, ignoring him. “Or I will make you
leave.”
He just laughed and sipped his drink. “It would take a lot
more than that to bring me down.” And then he looked at me,
his long face adorned with a smirk. “You’re still a shit kid.
Always tough with everyone but me.”
Winter gripped my jacket behind me, and I felt her
forehead touch my back, reminding me that she was here.
But I stared at him, knowing he was right. Even when I
finally started opening my mouth and talking to people as a
kid, beating down whatever tried to beat me down, hurting
others so I wouldn’t hurt, he was the one I feared, because I
needed him. How much worse would it have been for me
without his money and influence to protect me?
At a certain point, I started wondering—did I behave the
way I did because I could? Or did I behave the way I did
because it was the only thing keeping me alive in that house?
Because eleven-year-olds shouldn’t be thinking about how to
end their lives.
Commotion started filling the room as I held his eyes, and
I knew without a doubt—with my friends back and Winter
with me—that nothing he could threaten me with would
change my course of action. I didn’t need him, his money, or
his protection. I just wanted him gone.
Away from this town and away from us.
And if he didn’t leave willingly, I would not hesitate to use
that little flash drive to send him away. It might not take him
down, but I wouldn’t feel badly about trying.
Blue smoke drifted up around us, and I heard people start
to exclaim as the room filled, the two cans Will covertly
dumped pouring thick clouds into the small, tight space.
Our gazes stayed locked, guests shuffling and moving
about, trying to get away from the mountains of smoke as they