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"I told you to go back to the party," he hisses at me.

"I'm sorry but I didn't want to leave you! He's such a fucking creep."

Dante glances back over his shoulder to make sure that Mamba isn't following us. "I know."

When we get to the front garden, I'm reminded as to why I was trying to get into contact with Dante in the first place. Dani and Killian are arguing in the front of the house, alone.

"Dani has a black eye," I tell Dante quickly. We're a few metres away and they haven't noticed us yet. "I think Killian hit her."

Dante shakes his head quickly. "He wouldn't!"

"She was terrified, D," I whisper to him whilst keeping my eyes on the fighting couple. "I asked how it happened and she practically begged me to drop it and she kept looking at Killian."

Dante's face is one of anger and disbelief. No one wants to think the worst of their friend, I get it. I was as surprised as he is now. He looks back over at his friends.

Dani tries to walk away but Killian grabs her forearm and pulls her back. Immediately Dante is running over to them, I follow after him. He shoves his friend who staggers backwards, shock on his face.

"What the fuck, man?" Killian shouts.

I go and stand next to Dani. I put my arm around her shoulders when I spot the tear tracks shining on her face in the street light.

"Did you fucking touch her?" Dante asks.

His voice is deceptively calm, it scares me. Killian's face drops and he visibly swallows.

"It was an accident, I didn't mean to. We were fighting and I got so wound up, I lashed out," he confesses, his voice breaking. "I felt so guilty, I still do. Dani knows how upset I am."

"Then why are you shouting and grabbing at her right now?" Dante demands to know.

"She was yelling too, man! She was talking to that Ian prick, you know I hate him. Dan knows it too, but she still spoke to him. She was trying to wind me up!"

"You're fucking disgusting for hitting her," Dante spits angrily and then punches his friend, becoming completely hypocritical.

I wince at the punch and Killian falls backwards to the ground.

"Come on, let's go," Dani whispers to me. "I don't want to watch this, I just want to get out of here."

I hesitate, reluctant to leave Dante scrapping with Killian.

"They won't really hurt each other, Allie. They're brothers, they're just fighting it out."

Neither of them appear to have a weapon, so I help Dani into an Uber two minutes later whilst the boys are still swearing and throwing punches at one another. I don't want to leave Dante but Dani is shaking as she silently sobs. I watch out of the window as Dante pins Killian to the ground.

"Do you think he would hit you again?" I ask her quietly.

She shakes her head immediately. "No, he wouldn't. It was my fault, I let this guy pick me up from school when Killian couldn't. I knew it would annoy him but he'd annoyed me by talking to this redhead the other night. It's pathetic, I know, but I was jealous," she explains.

"It all got out of hand. He accused me of cheating on him and I took that badly. I threw a bowl at him, we kinda grabbed at each other, I slapped him and his elbow caught my eye as he shoved me back. It wasn't a proper punch, it was a scuffle that went wrong."

She sniffs and I pull her into my side. She cuddles against me and I stroke her hair, trying to comfort her.

"We shouldn't have gotten physical with each other. It's what we were arguing about just now, that and me talking to Ian. He's jealous but he's not abusive, Allie, I promise."

I don't believe her. I want to, but it's so hard to believe people when they say they will change.

"Your relationship isn't healthy like this, Dani," I reply gently. "You two need to get some help. You can't hurt each other."

"I know, I told him we should go to counselling at school but that only pissed him off more." She lets out a small cry. "I don't want to lose him."

I drop Dani off at her house. Her mother comes out, thanks me and then ushers her daughter inside. I get back in the taxi and give the driver my address. As I'm texting the girls to update them on the situation, I get a call from an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Allie? Baby, it's me. I've been arrested. Can you come to Eastside police station, please?"

Are you fucking kidding me?

I get the taxi driver to turn around and take me to the station. When I get there, I find out that Dante and Killian have been arrested for fighting and he used his one phone call on me.

I have to wait an hour for him to be questioned. One of Mamba's men who is over eighteen comes in as their 'appropriate adult' because they're both under eighteen. The police release them without charge at midnight.

Killian gets straight into the car with the gang member and Dante pulls me in for a hug.

"I'm sorry," he mumbles against my neck. "I fucked up."

I take his hand and pull him outside, where I've ordered a taxi. It takes us back to my house because I don't want Dante at his house tonight, Killian might be there. I text Dani with an update on what has happened, I don't think Killian called her.

When I get home, I sneak Dante inside and we get into my bed. He cuddles up against me and I hold him gingerly, wondering if this is what my life is going to be like now.

"Can you stop working for him?" I ask quietly.

"Who? Mamba?"

"Yeah."

Is it too much to want my boyfriend to have a legal job? A safe lifestyle that keeps him out of prison?

"I'm not sure. When I turn eighteen he won't want me to do as much cause I can be charged with longer sentences if we get caught. Why?"

"I don't want you in that life, D. It's trouble that we don't need."

He looks at me for a long moment and I wonder if he's going to reply. "I know, but it's all I know. What would I do?"

"I don't know. You take photography, can't you try selling photos? Teaching photography classes? Anything other than selling drugs."

"I don't know, baby."

"Speak to the careers counsellor at school, they might be able to help," I suggest. "I think Dani and Killian should see one of the counsellors about their relationship, too."

At the mention of his friend, Dante grits his teeth. "He seriously fucked up. I can't believe he put his hands on Dani like that."

"She hit him, too, and threw stuff. It was an explosive fight and they both need to take responsibility for it."

"I would never hit you."

"I know, I would never hit you, either."

His grey eyes meet mine in the darkness. "I love you, Allie."

Tears well up in my eyes. Only two people have said that to me my whole life and they're both asleep down the corridor. I don't need to hear it from my birth parents when I have such an amazing group of family and friends around me.

"I love you, too," I reply, my voice is heavy with emotion.

Dante's eyes shine with unshed tears, too. He pulls me in for a hug.

"I can't remember the last time someone said that to me," he mutters.

I feel the wet drops of tears on my neck and I hold him tighter. "Well, I do. So fucking much."

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My parents are not best pleased to find out that Dante stayed the night without permission. He is incredibly charming and apologetic, but I know that I will be getting a lecture when he leaves.

Dante goes in the afternoon, just after lunch. He promises to speak to Killian and clear the air. He's going to suggest counselling and I'm going to mention it to him again myself on Monday. I really hope they go for it. Their relationship is too special not to work at, but they can't allow physical abuse into it.

I sit on the sofa and wait for my parents to start with my lecture. They're both sat opposite me, disapproving looks on their faces.

"You should have asked," Dad starts.

"I know, but it was midnight and there was a last-minute change of plans. I'm sorry."

"Why was there a change of plans?"

How truthful should I be?

"Dante and his friend had a falling out. They live together and it didn't seem like a good idea for them to stay in the same place overnight. They needed some space."

"Do you think they will be able to sort things out?" Mum asks me.

"Yeah, hopefully."

After a mini lecture from both of them, I'm excused. As I'm heading for the stairs, Mum catches my wrist. I turn to face her and she pins me with a no-nonsense look.

"You love him, don't you?"

I nod slowly. "Yes."

Her lips purse into a thin line. "That tattoo he tried to hide, the one on his neck. I know that is the logo for one of the gangs around here. He's not into dodgy things is he, Allie?" She glances cautiously over her shoulder to make sure that Dad can't hear. "You're smarter than this, Allie."

"He's getting out of it, Mum," I reassure her. "He's a good guy, I swear to you."

"He appears genuine." She sighs heavily. "I can't tell you who you can and can't love, but I can tell you that he is only welcome here whilst he is good for you. If he gets into any trouble or, God forbid, gets you into any, he is never allowed around here again. Got it?"

I love my mum.

"Got it. Thanks, Mum."

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I walk into the kitchen to get myself a glass of water. Dante comes up behind me and flicks the back of my skirt up, making me squeal and tug on the hem. He chuckles and wraps his arms around me from behind. I turn in his arms and kiss his nose. That isn't enough for Dante, he lowers his lips and kisses me.

When he turned eighteen two months ago, he quit working for Mamba. It was a struggle at first, Mamba couldn't understand Dante wanting to be cut off from the gang completely instead of just losing his job. He called and showed up at the house a lot, but he eventually got the message that Dante wanted out.

There's plenty more young, impressionable kids joining the school every year. The perfect fresh meat for Mamba's recruitments, perfect for crossing county lines without drawing attention. Fingers crossed that they make it out like Dante has.

Speaking of that, Dante has decided what he wants to do when sixth finishes this year. He's going to train to become a young person's guidance counsellor. He's going to use his past of drugs, broken homes, social care and gang experience to help other students keep on the right track. I think it's perfect for him.

Dani and Killian worked things out. Killian conceded and agreed to counselling each week. They worked through their problems and managed to turn their relationship healthy again. They're talking about having a baby after sixth form.

My parents were pleased when I told them of Dante's plans. They have loved seeing me so happy for the last year and a half. They approve of me dating the gang-member turned budding counsellor.

As Dante's tongue swipes across my mouth, my hands find the button his jeans and lower the zipper. I break the kiss and keep eye contact with those stormy grey orbs as I drop to my knees in front of him and take out his cock for an afternoon treat.

Sucks to be me...

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Please talk to someone if you ever experience any kind of violence in your relationships. I was trying to highlight that women do not get the same backlash for being aggressive/physical in a relationship that men do.

Dani threw things and slapped Kilian. His elbow caught her eye yet were demonising him? She hit him first.

Violence is not acceptable from either party.

That being said, I hope we're okay with the ending angels! L x