They call it a junkyard.
But for the kids who live there, it’s a kingdom.
When Barbara escapes the kind of man no girl should ever belong to, she finds herself in a rusted-out scrapheap on the edge of nowhere — living under the uneasy protection of Sal, a silent enforcer with a code, and four boys. The problem is that nobody lives this life without paying a price.
Frankie is trying to play big brother, but the fear behind his eyes tells its own story.
Donnie jokes to keep from punching walls.
Vinnie barely speaks.
And Leo — Leo watches everything.
There are no heroes in this place. Just kids learning the rules fast, and men who’ll kill you slow if you get them wrong. When an old threat turns violent, and a new one comes smiling, Barbara has to decide who to trust — and how far she’s willing to go to keep them safe.
In a world where survival means staying useful and staying quiet, one thing becomes clear:
There’s only room for one king in a kingdom.
And the junkyard already has too many.