The Space Between

by Victoria H. Smith

  I now knew the reason for Lacey’s need of the job. Paying to treat her mama’s disease couldn’t be easy and her living in a neighborhood like this confirmed where she was financially. I felt like an idiot for giving her such a hard time about keeping her job. She’d no longer have any problems from me. I’d do what I could for her to keep it.

  “Is it too late for her?”

  “With this job, I can afford her new treatments, so we can keep trying. But even with what the doctors have recommended. . . ” She shook her head, gazing at the floor. “She’s not getting any better. She gets worse everyday.”

  “Well, I’d like to help in whatever way I can. Whether it be financially or whatever. I’m here.”

  Clasping her hands together, she sat up and finally looked at me. “That’s very sweet of you, Drake, but I don’t want your money. Mama and I have been on our own for a while. We can take care of ourselves.”

  I could respect what she said, but it didn’t stop the fact that I wanted to help.

  “What are you doing here, Drake? You didn’t have to come all the way down here because of what happened.”

  “Actually, I did. And you need to quit downplaying the situation like what my father did to you wasn’t a big deal.”

  “That’s because it wasn’t. I was just thrown off. I didn’t expect it and got a bit frazzled. That’s all. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened.”

  “So that makes it okay? Because it’s happened to you before, it’s okay for people to treat you like you’re beneath them?”

  She let out a breath. “No, it’s not okay, but I understand that’s how the world works. It is what it is. I stepped into your world, Drake. I’m not ignorant. I knew something like this was a possibility when I took this job.”

  “You have the right to come into a safe work environment. Factors outside of that environment can’t be helped, but inside they can.”

  “Look, you’re just upset because you haven’t been exposed to the world like I have. You don’t normally have to deal with anything like this.”

  Her generalization could have made me laugh if I wasn’t so pissed. I was still that poor, naïve little rich boy to her, ignorant to the world around me in every way. “And what makes you think that I, personally, don’t have to deal with ignorance and bigotry when I live with a bigot. They don’t turn that stuff off just because they’re at home. He isn’t shy about reflecting his classism, his racism behind closed doors.”

  Her eyebrows narrowed. “But he’s your father.”

  “That’s right. Father. A general word for my guardian. Something for the world to see him as in relation to me. But the man I live with has never been a dad to me. I have a mom, and I have sister. That’s it.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “No, you wouldn’t, would you? Because you’re too busy making generalizations and snap judgments about me and my ignorance. I’ve had to deal with bigotry my whole life in ways you couldn’t possibly understand. It’s worse when it comes from inside where you’re supposed to be safe from it. The one place you shouldn’t have to deal with it. So don’t you dare let my father off for what he did to you. It wasn’t right, so don’t treat what happened like it was.”

  Deep in the frustrations of my thoughts and words, I grew lost. Weighed down by fury. I only became apparent of the world around me when a warm hand touched mine, a perfect hand.

  “Talk to me about it, Drake.”

  I couldn’t look at her and stared at the floor.

  She scooted closer to me and laced her fingers in mine. “Please.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Lacey

  Putting my other hand on top of Drake’s and mine, I squeezed. I didn’t know how to react to everything I’d heard, but I knew the best thing to do in the moment was listen. That’s what he needed, someone to listen.

  “My mother couldn’t have children at first. They tried for years,” he said, staring at our hands.

  I didn’t say a word, letting him know I was here to hear him.

  “That’s when the talks of adoption started. My mom wanted a baby from overseas. My father wasn’t really for the idea. Not knowing what to do, she played at a desperate angle.”

  “Which was?” I asked, keeping my voice gentle.

  “His image. In other words, how people would see him if he were to adopt internationally. She convinced him he’d be looked to as a humanitarian, a do-gooder. I’m the product of my father’s attempt at a boost in his image, and everyday my existence does its work.”

  How horrible. “How do you know that was his intentions for adopting you?”

  “It would usually come up when he had a rough day, or I annoyed him by getting into trouble. If he were particularly heated at me, I got the usual ‘how grateful I should be that he chose me’ or ‘how most people in my situation would kill to have the life I have.’ After he was done with me, I got to overhear him barking at my mom about the sacrifices he made when she suckered him into adoption. Then she’d calmly remind him why he did, so he’d stop going on about it. I doubt my mom knew I used to listen, though. I’m sure she never would have said those things if she was aware I was in earshot.”

  I shook my head.

  “Even without overhearing his tirades I’d have figured out his distaste for me. Once Adele was born the fact became pretty obvious. I actually used to think the lack of attention I got from him was normal. The fact that I could count on one hand how many hugs I’d gotten from him in a five-year span was normal. Well, when my sister came around I could no longer write off those things. She had that gentle voice when she was scared or hurt, those paternal chats when she needed to be cheered up. Those hugs. Those touches. I didn’t. I only got those from my mom.”

  He did seek something that night I met him, and he was right, his situation wasn’t as black and white as it seemed. This guy in front of me was lost. In his life he was missing something and somehow ended up on my side of town. I couldn’t have regretted how I treated him the night we met more. I only made things worse for him with my own ignorance of his situation. I planned to teach him a lesson that night, but now, I was the one doing the learning.

  Gazing up, he reworked our hands until mine were in his large ones. “And I refuse to let my father make you feel any shred of what I felt growing up. As long as you’re at my house and in my world, I’m going to protect you. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. Not ever, Lacey.”

  Smiling, I studied our hands. “You’re so different from what I thought.”

  His lips tipped up to one side. “In a good way, I hope?”

  “In a great way.”

  “I want you to feel safe, and I promise you will be if you continue to work for my family. I guess what I’m saying is I don’t want you to leave. I know I was a jerk when you were first hired, but hopefully, I can make amends for that right now. We can cancel the deal. No more blackmail. I’ll be back home when I need to be, and follow the rules. Whatever I need to do, I’ll do to make you stay. Please say you won’t leave.”

  Biting at the spot of my lip ring, I watched his smile, that smile that had to have broken many hearts, but only sent a leap into mine. “It would take more than what happened tonight and a few jabs from you to get rid of me, Truman Drake. I’ll stay.”

  He let out a sigh of relief. “Great.”

  “But, you should probably get back home before your mom finds out you were here. I’m sure you didn’t log my place in before you left, right?”

  He grinned. “I didn’t. But I’ll only feel comfortable leaving if you’re okay.”

  “I am. I promise.”

  He squeezed my hand once, then stood.

  Not allowing him to let me go, I held tight to his hand. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

  Following behind me, Drake let me guide him outside. When we made it out to my stoop, he put one foot on a lower step on the stairs, but he still didn’t let go of my hand.

 
“So I’ll see you tomorrow, then?” he said.

  “With bells on. Well, not literally, but you know what I mean.” I laughed.

  “I’d take just the return of your lip ring.” He winked.

  When he did that, my cheeks burned. “I’ll think about it. Maybe just when your mom isn’t around.”

  He gave me a nod. Stretching out his fingers, he finally let me go and went down one more step of my stoop.

  “Drake?”

  He turned.

  “I, uh,” I stuttered, rubbing the back of my neck, “never intended to call Cooper. I just feel like you needed to know that.”

  He didn’t say a word, just smiled.

  When he made to leave again, I grabbed his shoulder.

  I pulled on him until his height rose above mine as he came back up the steps. Before he could question what I was doing I threw my arms around his neck. I missed that smell of juniper and spices that made me feel warm, and after tonight, let me know I was safe with him.

  He wrapped his long arms around my waist. Holding me close, his body enveloped mine. This touch was far from platonic, but I was far from caring with the way it made me feel to be in his arms once again.

  Pulling in even closer to him, I made sure he didn’t let go. Once he did, it was over for us again, and I couldn’t bear for that to happen. Not again. Not so soon. I just needed a moment, one moment longer before the second goodbye.

  A bottle crashed against the side of my house, and that request was denied.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Drake

  Lacey screamed when the glass bottle exploded to the side of our heads. Everything happened so fast. My only reaction was to grab her to protect her from whoever attacked us. They could go for a second round, and I refused to let her get hurt, especially only moments after telling her she was safe with me.

  When I heard laughter, I eased up because following the sound no other bottles came our way.

  I still kept Lacey close when I turned around to see who it was. I wasn’t surprised by who I saw.

  With his boys, Tyrone stood in the street in front of Lacey’s house. His crew’s laughter filled the air, but the only one who didn’t find anything funny was Tyrone. He stood there stark still, eyes blazing at me.

  “Tyrone! What the hell is your problem!” Lacey fought from behind me, but I pulled her back.

  Seeing my action, Tyrone’s heated stare turned piercing. Ignoring Lacey, he kept his focus on me. “We knew you were around here somewhere. Your fancy car parked up there gave you away.” He nodded off in the direction of my car. “What do you think you’re doing, Mini Warbucks? You crash our poker games, come up in our hood eating our food, and now you’re trying to steal our women. Nothing is safe from you, is it?”

  Hearing his accusations, I now became abruptly aware of what issue he’d developed with me. In his screwed up mind, I’d taken something from him.

  Lacey still tried to push from behind me, so I held her arm. “Lacey, stay up here. I’m going to go talk to him.”

  Her cheeks went red hot. “I will not. He’s out of line and has no right to come up in here acting like a fool.”

  “His issue is with me. Not you. You heard what he said.”

  “Drake—”

  “Please, just stay up here. If I need backup, I’ll ask the feisty girl on the stoop. I promise.”

  She couldn’t stop her smile when I said that, but despite what I said, she still followed me into the street. I shook my head but didn’t stop her.

  When we got into the street, Lacey stood by my side. Tyrone and his crew remained directly in front of us.

  “You’re standing by him like he’s your man, girl. Is your own kind not good enough for you? Or are you just above us down here on the West Side?” Tyrone barked out.

  Lacey put her hands on her hips, nostrils flaring. “Tyrone, you’re completely full of it. You know this has nothing to do with me and Drake. You’re just pissed because I wouldn’t date your ass.”

  Well, that explained his connection to her. Great.

  He pointed a finger at her. “Now, you shut your mouth, bitch, before you get yourself fucked up like your boyfriend is about to be.”

  Her eyes widened. “Bitch?!”

  Putting my arm out, I kept her back. “Now, you’re going too far, Tyrone. There is no need for any of this. Lacey and I are just friends. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Don’t feel the need to justify anything to him, Drake,” Lacey said, eyeing Tyrone up and down. “He has no say in who I’m friends with, and he’s on my block. So take your thugs and get the hell out of here, Ty.”

  Tyrone spit down at his feet. “You’re overstepping your boundaries, bitch. Shut that mouth before I shut it for you.”

  When he raised his hand like he was going to strike her, I grabbed his forearm. That set him off, and he swung at me with his other fist.

  “Drake!” Lacey screamed.

  I ducked underneath the swing. When it cleared, I clocked him in his jaw.

  He stumbled, and his boys pulled out their guns, all aimed at me.

  Stepping back, I held up my hands.

  Lacey grabbed my waist, and tucked herself into me. “Stop it! There’s no need for this.”

  “She’s right, guys,” I agreed, my heart pounding. “Just let us go. None of this is needed. I’ll head out, and never come through here again.”

  The tension in the air rose during the stand off, Tyrone and his boys against little Lacey and me.

  Holding his jaw, Tyrone gave me a hard stare. “That’s where you’re wrong, Mini Warbucks.” He split bloody saliva to the ground. “This is needed, and it’s the only way to insure you never roll through here again.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Lacey

  Nothing could describe the immense dread that rushed through me as I was ripped from Drake and forced to watch as Tyrone’s boys grabbed his arms.

  “Stop it!” I screamed bloody murder; my voice straining my throat.

  They didn’t stop it. Securing Drake’s arms, Ty’s boys made sure he couldn’t get away as Ty approached him.

  Ty didn’t hold back.

  One after the other, his fist went into Drake’s gut. His face. His sides.

  Everything moved in slow motion.

  I pulled at the arms holding me, trying to run in between Drake and Ty. Ty’s thug wouldn’t let me go, though. I was forced to see it all. Tears streaming down my cheeks, I screamed out with every blow as if I was the one who received them.

  As my lips moved, I couldn’t hear anything. Words became inaudible in response to my fear and dread.

  When Drake buckled over, Ty’s boys dropped him to the concrete.

  Ty’s foot aimed for Drake next.

  So weak, Drake couldn’t move away from the blows. All he had was the small use of his arms, covering himself to evade the worst of the strikes. He didn’t fight back. As I watched the scene play out, the awareness of Ty’s plan hit me like a bus. I already knew Ty was a coward, but watching him kick Drake as he was completely defenseless below him, confirmed the fact. Ty made sure Drake was weak. He took out his blows on him so he wouldn’t fight back.

  And he didn’t relent.

  He went for every visible area that Drake couldn’t protect. But Drake’s arms wouldn’t hold up forever. He’d eventually be too weak to even do that. After that, I didn’t want to think about what would happen. With the heated aggression swept across Ty’s face, I knew he wouldn’t let up. He’d wait for that moment of Drake’s vulnerability and then keep going. He’d go until the effort either killed Drake or himself from the exhaustion of the attack, and deep down I knew Ty wouldn’t be the one to die.

  With a gust of adrenaline, I shot my heel into the instep of Ty’s thug behind me. He cursed, and I elbowed him in the gut. Finally let go, I ran toward the house. Getting in the scuffle wouldn’t do me any good. There was only one way to help Drake, and I was going to use that option.
>
  “Looks like your girl left you,” Ty said from behind me as I opened the door.

  The son of a bitch couldn’t have been more wrong.

  I went in Mama’s room. She was sound asleep. Thank God she was a heavy sleeper. I screamed so much outside, and I didn’t want her to hear.

  Going into her closest, I got her hatbox. Her playbills weren’t the only thing I saw the day I snooped.

  I quickly found what I needed, then rushed outside. Ty still wailed on Drake. His arms had fallen from around himself, and he cried out as Ty’s boot pulled back from his ribs.

  After giving a short laugh, Ty looked to his boys for approval. He then pulled back his leg, rerouting his boot for his next attack—Drake’s face.

  I didn’t think as I ran back into the street. I just went, and so distracted by the spectacle, none of Ty’s boys, or even Ty, saw me coming.

  With a steady hand, I raised the gun straight at Ty’s head. It wasn’t until I clicked back the hammer of the revolver that I finally got the attention I sought.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Drake

  The next blow I expected never came. The strikes from above stopped entirely. The only sound was the ringing behind my ears. Pain surged throughout my body with an intense heat. Everywhere ached. Everywhere hurt. But despite the pain, I forced myself to stay aware of the current situation. I made myself stay aware of the beauty who sought to protect me from above.

  Holding a dated pistol, Lacey aimed the gun at Tyrone.

  The determination etched on her face; her hand didn’t waver at all. She was going to kill him. She was going to kill him to save me.

  Ty’s boys drew their arms, but Ty held up his hands to stop them. He wasn’t stupid. If they shot at her, she’d shoot at him. He’d die. She’d die. The end result wasn’t good for either party.