Page 87 of Spark

“We pooled our money, our savings, and paid him in full,” Matty added. “He is off our backs, gone.”

Mia didn’t know what to say. To think she could go back home. She could see her brothers anytime she wanted, to be free. She knew the feeling Aurelio had been craving to feel for 10 years. She breathed deep; it was suddenly easier to take in breath. A weight she hadn’t known was there was suddenly gone. “I don’t know what to say.”

The boys nodded.

“Just say you will think about it,” Melvin insisted, reaching out to pull her into a hug. “We don’t leave for a bit, you have time to think and decide.”

“Okay.” Was all she could manage to choke out, tears spilling over.

Mia felt Mikey and Matty wrap their arms around her. They stood like that for a long moment, just letting the feeling last as long as it could. A sudden knocking interrupted them, and she was scared it was Oliver. Melvin slid Mia behind him as Mikey walked to the door and slid it ajar.

“Can I help you?” Her brother’s voice was much deeper than she knew it to be.

“Hi.” She heard the smooth voice of Oliver. “Mia home?”

“Who are you?” Mikey inquired; his face was hard.

“Just her friendly neighbor.” The sound of his heavy boots shifting on the other side of the door, itching to look in and see if she was there, was audible. “I was wondering if she had a moment to talk about some trash that needs taking out.”

Mikey, using his body to block the door, shook his head no slowly. “She’s not here, pal. In fact, how about you act like she never is.” Mikey started to pull the door closed, but Oliver’s hand shot out to stop it.

“I don’t know who you are,” Oliver said with a dark edge in his voice. “But a muscled-up jack-off isn’t going to stop me from talking to her.”

His foot moved past the threshold, and Mikey reared a fist back, letting it fly. Mia cried out as it connected, and Melvin kept her behind him, his large hand on her arm.

Matty walked up behind Mikey, tapping his shoulder as Oliver stumbled back. “There a problem?”

Mia couldn’t see Oliver but knew he was seething, and his nose was most likely busted. Her brothers stood in the semi-closed door; the small crack was only wide enough for half of each of them to be seen.

“I’m a detective,” Oliver said, his voice nasally. “I can arrest you for assaulting an officer.”

“Assaulting an officer?” Mikey wiped his knuckles on his shirt. “Don’t know what you’re talkin’ bout. Do you know?” He turned to Matty, who shook his head no.

“Not a clue,” Matty agreed. “As far as I saw things, you were trying to force your way into this loft. A loft that’s not yours.” They crossed their arms, looking like bouncers at a club.

Melvin glanced at Mia, his eyes telling her to stay there. She nodded. He stepped forward, his height putting him above his brothers and looking down at Oliver. “There a problem, officer?”

She wished more than anything she could see Oliver’s face when he grasped there were three large men in her loft, protecting her. She was sure he was cowering, but what she heard next made her realize he felt untouchable. A scoff, a snorting indignant sound.

“How many muscled heads is she fucking?” Oliver’s voice sneered out.

Mikey and Matty moved at the same time, pushing toward the door until Melvin placed a hand on their shoulders to pull them back.

“That’s our sister,” Melvin said calmly. “You sick fuck.” He pushed past the others, having at least a few inches over Oliver. “And if you were to talk like that about her again…” He brought his knuckles up, cracking them audibly. “…or even so much as think of her, I will ruin you.” The threat was calm, even, and rang out quietly.

Oliver’s foot falls backed away towards the stairs. “Did you just threaten a police detective? Because…”

“No.” Melvin shook his head calmly. “No threat.” His body moved halfway out into the hall, face tilted to the side a little. “Just simple promises.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

After the showdown with Oliver, Mia felt much better in the loft. Her brothers helped pick up what little mess remained, and Melvin was able to get all the glass out of the couch finally. She didn’t know where they were going to sleep, but they told her not to worry.

“We love camping; the ground’s fine.”

She laughed when Mikey said that, pulling out every blanket she owned to help set up a makeshift bed on the floor. “We can go get an air mattress tomorrow.”

Melvin called the couch since he was the one who got it clean. By seven, all of their bellies were rumbling. Mia wanted to take them to the diner, even if she didn’t work there anymore, because she wanted them to meet Flory. They all grabbed coats and put on their shoes, and Melvin went out first to check the hallway in case Oliver came back for round two.

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