Page 36 of Street of Dreams
“What about the people who have a gambling problem and bet the mortgage?”
“Hey. If they don’t go to me, they’re gonna go to someone else. I’m no one’s mother. Besides, I don’t have a choice. This is what my family does. Bruce made it clear. With his fists. That this is how we live.”
“And the twins?”
“They work under me. I try to keep them out of it, but it’s inevitable. I’m trying to do the right thing. I’m trying to keep them out of trouble by taking the heat. I intervene when my old man sends them to pick up gun money.” Jake raised his hands and shook his head, exasperated. “I don’t know what else to do, Mac. You tell me, what the fuck am I supposed to do here? Because other than what I’m doing, I ain’t got a clue.”
“Why don’t you just leave?”
“I can’t leave my brothers here. With him.”
“Take them with you. I know they’re only 16, but can’t they get emancipated?”
“Bruce would fight it. Don’t you think I’d leave if I could? There’s no leaving. I’m an earner. Without me, his pockets wouldn’t be as full. He’s told me a million times that there’s no getting out. The only way I’m leaving is in a box. Or until he’s done with me.”
“Go to the cops. He’ll get arrested.”
“Yeah. He will. I’ll be free, but what about my brothers? Danny and Henry will go to a group home. You know what that’s like? It’s rough. Even for them. No code. Everyone’s out for themselves. They might not even make it out.”
Between Jake’s revelations and trying to figure out an answer, Mac’s head was reeling. He honestly had no idea how to get Jake and his brothers away from Bruce King, and now he knew why Jake felt so helpless. There was no way out. None that he, or Jake, could think of. “I don’t know what the fuck to say, Jake.”
Vulnerability and raw honesty, tinged with a tiny bit of fear, shown in Jake’s humble expression. “You wanted me to let you in. Well, this is it. This is me. I’m a fucking mess, and I know it. I wouldn’t blame you if you ran out the door right now and never came back.”
The horror that engulfed Mac by Jake’s admissions immediately evaporated, and warmth filled his chest. “You’re not a mess. You’re making the best of a fucked-up situation. That’s all. I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here with you. You’re my boyfriend. Even if no one else knows it, we’re boyfriends.” He wanted to wrap his arms around Jake and offer a consoling hug, but knew he’d push boundaries that Jake might not be ready to cross. There was only so much Jake could take at once. The guy was opening up little by little, and Mac didn’t want to push Jake’s threshold too far. So, he settled his hand on Jake’s shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. “What’s your plan?”
Jake shrugged. “I have no plan. The only thing I can do is hang on for the next 10 years.”
Mac furrowed his brow as he did the math in his head. “Ten years?” The twins would be 18 in less than two years. “What are you talking about? Why 10 years?”
Jake exhaled loudly, and his chin fell into his chest. “Did you forget that I have a little brother?”
It took a minute before a vague memory resurfaced. It was of Mac’s parents talking at the kitchen table about the death of the King boys’ mother. “Such a shame for those lads. Especially the wee one losing his mum before he’s even out of diapers,” his ma had said, all those years ago. Another memory flashed in Mac’s head. It was an anniversary dinner for his parents at an upscale restaurant several years ago. Jake and the twins were walking through the parking lot with a young boy who couldn’t be more than three or four years old. “You have another brother? Where is he? Why don’t I ever see him?”
Before Jake had a chance to reply, the front door opened and shut. Footsteps padded through the downstairs area, and a young boy’s voice echoed through the house with excitement. “Jake! I got an A on my math test! Where are you?”
Jake flashed a smile and spread his arms to the side. “That’s Ben.” He walked to the doorway and called down to his brother. “Up here, buddy. I’ll be right there.”
“Can you watch Ben?” Henry called up the stairs. “Me and Danny want White Castles.”
“Go ahead,” Jake called back, from the hallway. “I’ll be down in a sec.” Jake strolled back into the room. “Do you want to meet my little brother?”
“Um. Yeah.” Today was full of revelations, and Mac wondered what the hell else was going to happen.
“He’s a great kid,” Jake told Mac. “Smart. And sweet. I don’t know how the hell he’s related to the rest of us.”
Ben clearly resembled his three brothers, with his mop of black hair and dark eyes, only this sibling had an air of innocence. He wore a uniform of dark blue chino pants and a light blue button-down shirt and had the carefree smile of a happy little boy. He ran to Jake, waving a piece of paper in his hand. “I got an A! Because you helped me.”
Jake took the paper from the boy’s hand and studied the large letter A marked in the top margin with a red pen. Pride beamed from his face like a light. “I knew you could do it. Good job, buddy.”
“Only because you helped me study.” The boy shifted his gaze to Mac. “Hi. I’m Ben. Who are you?”
“H-Hi. I’m Mac.”
“I’m helping him restore a car,” Jake explained to his little brother. “Like the shows we watch on TV sometimes.”
“Can I help?”
Jake ruffled the kid’s hair. “Nah. The car isn’t here. When it’s done, maybe Mac will show it to you and take you for a ride. Go start your homework, and after dinner, we’ll go to that ice cream place you like.”
