by M K Dwyer
She picked up her mug and stood. “I’m going to let you two talk.”
Before she could slip past Mark into the apartment, he grabbed her by her upper arms and pulled her to him in a bone crushing kiss. He even jammed his tongue down her throat for good measure. She knew he did it to stake a claim on her in front of his brother and she hated him for it. She felt cheap and used, like a piece of property instead of his equal. She was ashamed of herself for just taking it, but she knew better than to pull away from his kiss. The last time she’d tried to pull back from his arms, he’d slapped her for “disrespecting” him.
Even before she met the man, she hated that word. Growing up, she’d been taught that respect was something one earned, not demanded. That people who accused others of disrespecting them often hadn’t done anything worthy of respect in the first place. Mark had certainly not earned it from her.
He let go of her and sat on the chair she’d vacated. She ghosted a glance in Blake’s direction. He had his head turned away from them like he was purposely giving them privacy, and that made her even more uncomfortable for reasons she didn’t want to identify. She just went inside and shut the sliding door as quickly as possible. She didn’t shut it all the way though because she had every intention of eavesdropping. She wanted to know exactly what was so important that he came to his brother after staying away from his family for so long.
She stood with her back against the wall next to the sliding door where the curtains hid her body. Sometimes being on the skinny side worked in her favor. She would be able to hear them, but not see them. They sat in silence for a few minutes until Blake spoke up. She smiled imagining the silence wasn’t nearly as easy between the brothers as it had been between her and Blake, but she didn’t know why that made her smile.
“So, what do you want, Mark?”
“What? No small talk?”
Blake didn’t answer, but she could imagine the look he gave his brother like he was asking, “Seriously?”
“Fine. I need some cash.”
“Figured. How much?” That question surprised Theresa. Blake sounded like he was already resigned to loaning his brother money that he’d probably never see again.
“Five-grand.”
“And what’s it for this time, Mark? Are you about to lose your non-existent house again?”
“What are you talking about? Did Theresa tell you I didn’t have a house? Because I had a house.” Theresa’s heart rate kicked up a notch afraid Blake would tell Mark what she said. She hated being afraid of Mark—but damn it—she was.
“No. I found that out on my own shortly after you disappeared with Mom and Dad’s money. You promised to come around more, and when you stopped answering Mom’s calls, she asked me to check on you.”
“What did you tell them?”
“I told them you were fine, and that I was sure you would show up again eventually. I didn’t tell them not to expect their money back, though I think they assume that at this point, and I didn’t tell them that you lied about why you needed it in the first place.”
Mark didn’t have anything to say to Blake’s blunt words.
“So, what is it for this time, Mark? And don’t lie. I’ll give it to you as long as I don’t think you’re lying.”
Mark stayed quiet for another couple of minutes, Theresa thought he’d never answer his brother and that the trip really would have been for nothing.
“I’m in over my head with some debts.”
“What kind of debts? And don’t say credit cards or your car. You wouldn’t be here if it were that mundane.”
She heard Mark sigh and it had to be a pretty big sigh for her to hear it from her vantage point. “Gambling.” What? Theresa had no idea. “I made some bad bets, and then I made some bigger bad bets to cover them. And then some even bigger bad bets to make up for those. I thought I could get myself out of it, but I was wrong. I’m not proud of this, but I need help.”
It was Blake’s turn to go quiet for a moment. “All right, Mark, I’ll give you the money. I won’t delude myself thinking this is a loan, but this is the last time. Mom and Dad are tapped out, and so am I. Amber certainly is in no position to help you out. She has school to focus on, and I won’t have anything interfering with that.”
“Thanks, bro. I appreciate it. You have my word that this is the last time.”
Theresa laughed to herself at that statement and she wondered if Blake found it as funny as she did. Nothing about Mark’s words or his tone conveyed sincerity. She moved away from the wall and headed towards the spare bedroom she shared with Mark. She’d heard all she needed to hear and the paranormal romance book she’d started the night before about a tribe of weretigers in Colorado was calling her name.
Chapter Three
Blake
He wasn’t sure if Mark believed the dribble coming out of his own mouth, but Blake sure didn’t. It was not the last time that his little brother would find himself in a sticky situation with his bad habits, but he allowed Mark the lie.
“Do you plan to see Mom and Dad while you’re in town?”
Mark took his eyes off Blake and looked out at the skyline. “No. I don’t think Theresa and I are at the meet-the-parents stage yet.”
“Just at the meet-the-brother stage.”
“Something like that.” Blake was kidding, but he got the feeling that Mark didn’t take it that way.
“Well, at least call them. I know Mom would love to hear from you.”
Mark didn’t answer, and they sat in silence for a while. It wasn’t the easy silence he’d had with Theresa. It was awkward and tense. He probably should have eased into conversation after not seeing his brother for two years, but that’d never been Blake’s style.
Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and got up. “I’m going to head to the bank and get that cash for you. If I go early, I can beat the Friday paycheck rush. Are you and Theresa sticking around for another night or are you heading back tonight?”
“We’ll go home today.”
“Suit yourself, but you’re welcome to stay. Catch up on old times. I miss you, brother.”
Mark smiled at Blake, but it didn’t reach his eyes. His last bit of hope that he and his brother could reconnect one day finally succumbed to reality. The man sitting in front of him was, without a doubt, no longer the brother he knew. His brother was all but dead, replaced by a stranger. “I’ll talk to Theresa, maybe we’ll stick around for another night or two. We have to be back in Yuma by Sunday though.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be back in a bit. There is a spare key to the front door in the top drawer of the end table by the couch, so you can lock up if you need to leave while I’m gone. Or if you need something, call me and I can pick it up on my way back from the bank.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Blake shook his head as he walked back into the apartment. He hated the awkwardness with his brother and the Grand-Canyon-sized irreversible rift he felt between them.
In his room, he added a little gel to his hair and ran a comb through it. He was a pretty low-maintenance guy, but he still liked to look presentable when he left the house. He grabbed his wallet and keys off his dresser, and as he turned to leave the room, he saw the door to the spare room close. Walking down the hall, he heard indiscriminate voices and assumed Mark brought up staying another night with Theresa. What he heard though as he passed the door made his feet stop and his blood run cold.
“Get up. I want breakfast.”
Then he heard shuffling.
“What do you want for breakfast?”
“I don’t care surprise me.”
“But you don’t like surprises.”
Blake heard a female yelp and something hit the door causing it to shake.
“Just get in there, figure it out and be quick about it.”
Blake realized someone was about to come out of the room and tried to move away so they wouldn’t catch him eavesdropping, but the door swung open and he nearly collide
d with Theresa in their mutual haste. Hers to leave the room and his to vacate the doorway.
She looked up at him with fear clear in her eyes, but there was something else too. A look imploring him not to react. She gave a slight shake of her head like she knew what he’d heard. He realized he’d only make matters worse if he blew up at his brother.
“Hey…” He plastered a fake, but convincing, smile on his face. “I was just about to knock. It’s still early. How about I pick up some breakfast on my way back? You still a pancake guy, Mark? There’s a great place nearby that does take-away orders. Sound good?”
“Yeah. Bro. Sounds good.” He could tell by the look in Mark’s eyes that he didn’t believe Blake had formed the breakfast idea on his own, but he didn’t care.
He turned to Theresa. “And what about you, beautiful? Pancakes?”
He didn’t know why he added the endearment, especially in front of Mark, but the genuine smile on her face was worth it.
She nodded and started to say something until Mark spoke up. “Just get her whatever you get me.”
Blake held Theresa’s gaze for another moment before he looked up from her to Mark and said, “All right, Bro. Will do.”
He walked away and headed straight out the door. He knew if he lingered that he’d launch himself at his brother for being such an asshole. He couldn’t believe his brother would treat a woman that way. It made him glad that Mark hadn’t been coming around. If their mother saw the man he’d become and the way he treated Theresa, it would break her heart. He wasn’t sure what to do next, but he had to do something to make things better for Theresa. He could tell she was a spitfire, and he couldn’t let Mark steal her spark away.
∞∞∞
Three weeks later
He always left his apartment in the dark to go to work, either after sunset or before sunrise.
That morning, it was before sunrise when he stepped onto his front stoop and just as he was about to turn the key in his lock, a figure stepped behind him. Blake was a big man, but the man at his back was bigger. In one practiced, fluid motion, the man not only stopped Blake from locking the door, but he twisted the knob and pushed Blake back into his apartment as well.
He allowed it just long enough to cross the threshold. Then, he put distance between him and the big guy, turned around, and pulled his service weapon just in time to see another man walk in behind the bigger man.
Racking his brain for which one of his undercover missions had finally caught up with him, he aimed his “Who are you and what do you want?”
The big one held up his hands barely above shoulder height but kept a small smile on his face. “Woah there, cowboy. No need for all that. I’m Vince. This is my pal, Victor.” The silent one did a head-nod. “We’re just looking someone. Figure you might know where he is.”
“Who?”
“Your brother, Mark.”
“What?” That was not even close to what he’d expected to hear.
“Are you as stupid as he is? Your brother. Where is he?”
“No idea. I haven’t seen or spoken to him in weeks. Why?”
“We need you to get a little message to him. Boss wants the money he owes. eight-grand. If you can’t get him to pay, then we’ll come back to you for it. Or maybe, we’ll pay another visit to that little girlfriend of his. I’d love to see her again.” He winked at Blake.
“I’ll tell him if I see him. Now, get out of my apartment.”
Chapter Four
Theresa
She heard a knock at the door and groaned. She wasn’t expecting anyone, which meant she was going to be annoyed by whoever was standing on the other side. It was her day off. The last thing she wanted to do was deal with door-to-door salesmen or more thugs like the ones who accosted her in her driveway on her way to work the day before. She peered through the peephole and instantly opened the door when she saw who was standing there. However, for a number of reasons, her unexpected visitor left her speechless.
“Where is he?”
She knew exactly who he was looking for.
“Did you get a visit from the scary-squad too?”
He gave her a funny look but didn’t comment on her alliteration for the goons who’d come looking for Mark.
“Yeah. Two guys said Mark owed them a lot of money which is funny considering the two of you were on my doorstep less than a month ago begging money for the same reason. What happened to the money, Theresa?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I’m not his keeper. I haven’t seen him in a few days. And he certainly wouldn’t have told me what he did with the money. The only reason I even know what you’re talking about is because I overheard you two talking when he dragged me out to Vegas. Did you check his apartment?”
“Of course, I checked his apartment. I’m not an idiot. That’s the first place I checked!”
Theresa flinched at his outburst and hated herself for it. She was no shrinking violet, but angry men made her wary thanks to Mark.
Blake’s features softened when he realized he scared her, and she saw pity replace his anger. She hated pity. She’d rather have his anger.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. Those assholes on my doorstep bright and early this morning left me on edge.”
“Yeah, same here.” She was more scared than she wanted to admit. She hoped if Mark stayed away that the thugs that he owed money to would stay away too, but she couldn’t be sure, and she worried for her son’s safety if they didn’t.
She suddenly realized they were still standing in her doorway. “Would you like to come in? I have no idea where he went, but he left a few things if you’d like to go through them. It’s all headed for the trash on the curb anyway.”
“Sure.”
She stepped back so he could walk over the threshold. As he passed her, she inhaled his cologne and had to admit that he smelled delicious even after sitting in a car for hours. If she weren’t so attracted to him, she’d tell him exactly how good he smelled. She usually had no filter, except when she cared what the person that she was speaking to thought about her. She shut the door behind Blake and ushered him to the living room where she’d left the box of Mark’s items.
Pointing to the box, she said, “You’re welcome to search through it. Get comfortable on the couch and take as long as you need. Can I get you anything to drink?”
He gave her a warm smile as he appraised her and the room that they were standing in. “Yeah. Some water would be great.”
She grabbed a bottle of water out of her fridge and brought it to him.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
She sat down in the recliner next to the couch and channel surfed while Blake searched through the box.
A few minutes later, Blake put everything back in the box and set it aside. “I don’t think there’s anything in there that’s going to tell me how to find him.”
“It was probably a long shot. So, what are you going to do now?” She didn’t mean to pry or sound so lost, but she was. She’d never had to deal with anything even close to the position Mark had left her in, vulnerable and in the crosshairs of a loan shark who thought she could pay off his gambling debts “one way or another” according to the words of his goons. Just the memory made her shiver.
“I’m going on vacation.”
Shocked didn’t begin to describe her reaction. She did not expect that answer. “What?”
“I’m leaving town and I think you should too. Leave Mark to sort out his troubles with these guys. I already tried to help him. I’m not doing it again, and I’m not taking my chances with whatever Mark got himself into.” Her head was spinning. She’d been contemplating the same thing, but she thought she was overreacting. She’d wanted to get away from Mark, but disappearing seemed like overkill… didn’t it?
“I don’t know. I have my kid to think about. I can’t just disappear with him. His dad would tear
the world apart looking for him. I don’t even know where I’d go anyway.”
“You have a son?”
She smiled the first genuine smile since she opened the door. “Yeah. Joe. He’s eight. Who did you think the kid in the picture on the mantle was? I know you saw it.”
He smiled back like her smile pulled it out of him. “I figured but didn’t want to assume.” He chuckled and seemed nervous. Like he was afraid he’d said the wrong thing or was about to say the wrong thing. It was endearing. “Is his dad in the picture?”
Her eyebrows knit together. She hadn’t expected that question. “Yeah.”
He took a deep breath like he was about to say a string of sentences really fast, so she couldn’t interrupt him. And then he did. “Any chance he can take care of your son for an extended period? Then he’d still have a stable home while you got out of dodge for a little while. I doubt these two-bit goons have any idea he exists yet. At least, you’d know he’s safe.” Then his eyebrows knit together to match hers. “That is, at least, assuming he’s a stand-up guy with a stable home for Joe.”
She thought about that for a moment, too stunned to respond to anything he’d just said. Blake had a point. If she sent Joe to San Diego, he’d be with a house full of Marines. She’d never admit it to Will’s face, but he was a great dad, and no one would keep him safer. Maybe not even her.
“Assume for a moment that I don’t think that’s an incredibly terrible idea. I still don’t have anywhere to go. I have a few friends scattered around the country, but I could never impose on them, and they would have too many questions.”
“Well, as much as I wanted to beat the five-grand out of Mark first, it doesn’t look like I’m going to find him unless he wants to be found. I’ve been planning to visit a friend up north. I figure now is as good a time as any. I’ve got a trailer that I can park on his land for a while. Why don’t you come with me?”
She looked at him like he’d grown six heads. She didn’t even know the man and he wanted her to go God-knows-where with him and live with him in his trailer for God-knows-how-long. Is this the twilight zone where bad ideas sound like good ideas?
