Chapter 90

“And I’m not asking who or what happened, but―”

“I live with my aunt and uncle,” Jack said brusquely. “Don’t that tell you something about who and what happened?”

“Maybe,” Luca allowed. “But whatever did happen, it’s fucked you up. And that bit isn’t your fault. But what you’ve done to me an’ Tav, what you’re going to do to other gay guys if you don’t change, Jack…you’re gonna kill someone, for real, for just being gay. I mean, you know, killing someone who raped you, maybe…I mean, you know, I’m not some pacifist, I could see that being maybe not so bad, but killing someone just ‘cause you found out they’re gay? That’s retarded. What you gonna do if, you know, you come out of juvie and you try having a standard life, and then your neighbour is gay? Or your boss? Or your doctor? What if you have kids, and one of them’s gay, you gonna kill your kid?”

Jack’s grey complexion was turning into some mash-up of green and white, and Luca pressed his advantage.