Page 19 of Slaughtered Firefly
JUST TALK TO ME
Present day—he’s thirty-one
Her face was pale as she whispered his name, the same shade of ghostly white it had been all those years ago. She wouldn’t look at me now despite my efforts to pull her out of her mind.
“Midas is in Riven, I should know as his lawyer.” My tone too overconfident.
I knew that what I was saying was optimistic at best. Of course, she wouldn’t go against Midas. She never did; whatever hold he had on her was ironclad.
“I think you should go, call the fiancé and leave. I will have another lawyer take over.” Her tone was bitter as she pulled away, turning on her side to face the opposite wall.
How did she know? I hadn’t even proposed yet.
“Mia, I am not leaving your case to some imbecile. Do not push me away like last time.” My tone was pleading, but she didn’t answer, only pretending to be asleep.
I stashed the folder I had in my hand back into my bag, my head dropped into my hands as I contemplated all the things I could have done differently to not wind up in this situation, begging a woman who probably didn’t give a shit if I lived or died to just talk to me.
Fourteen years ago—he’s seventeen
“Once you’re in;there is no turning back.”My uncle urged me to reconsider, but I couldn’t just sit and do nothing; Mom was dying. We needed the cash, and I would sell my soul if it meant she could breathe another day.
Uncle was heartless; he had no reason to take care of Mom. She wasn’t blood; she was an in-law. Dad bound him to us, andwhen Dad died three years ago, he hardly showed his face. He didn’t even show up at his own brother’s funeral.
He was a principal at a private school in a predominantly rich area, but I knew it was a cover for his mafia career. Dad let slip the things he did for the organization one night when he was drunk. Coming home and started beating on Mom, I couldn’t stand it. I would draw his anger onto me, taking blow after blow until he’d stumble backwards onto the couch and rattle off things he had done that day for the mafia.
It was Uncle who came and silenced him. I knew it. How else do you explain the timing, Uncle’s visit and Dad’s crash? Cold, calculated move of a less important brother. I was on his doorstep begging for a loan, anything to help Mom, but he just didn’t care. She wasn’t blood; she wasn’t rich, and she was nobody in his eyes. He agreed to meet with me only because I was blood; otherwise, I wouldn’t have had a chance. See, one thing I learned in the many visits between Uncle was that our family was ashamed of Mom and me; we were the black sheep. Her skin was a stunning dark mahogany, and well mine was a pity mix. ‘Passing’ color, but on a second look, I was a distinct warm and light brown. I yearned to be one or the other, Dads' family was full of fair-skinned socialites, and they screamed privilege. Mom never talked about her family, and I hadn’t pushed. Tainted blood, but still blood. The only thing that held me in place was the knowledge that Uncle could help me.
So there I was on his doorstep, freezing as the harsh icy rain chewed through my layers. He didn’t offer me a room; I knew better than to ask without first giving something in return.
“Please! Help her. She’s my mother, your brother’s wife!” My voice felt raw from all the crying out I did.
“That bitch is not my family, I am not a charity.” Uncle James’ icy gaze bore into me.
I racked my brain trying desperately to remember anything Dad had said in his drunken stupor that would entice my uncle to give me the money. Then it hit me; I could fight in his rings. Earn the money to pay for Mom's transplants.
“Uncle, I’ll fight in the rings, if that’s what it takes for you to pay.” I couldn’t keep the desperation out of my voice, but he looked interested enough.
Fighting wasn’t what I did. I could take a beating, but I hadn’t had the slightest clue about how to fight. He laughed, looking at my size. I was starving; that was true, so there wasn’t much to look at.
“You wouldn’t even last a fight with those scrawny bones.” He continued laughing.
“If that’s true, what’s the harm? Either I’ll be dead by the fight or you’ll earn the money back.” I responded as my teeth chattered, the rain now having soaked through my last layer.
“I swear I’ll do whatever it takes just sign the goddamn papers and save her.” I pleaded entirely ready for this conversation to be over.
“You know once you’re in your in, there’s no turning back.” He looked sober, as if this was the only true care he gave to me.
“I don’t care, as long as you pay for the surgeries.” My face froze as rain pelted harder and exhaustion was seeping into my bones.
He stood there in his fancy robe, a cigar still gripped in his hand as he looked me over once more.
“Fine, but if you lose me so much as a cent I will pull my support. Now get out of here before I call the cops.” Uncle James’ tone was strict, unwavering, but it was the yes I needed.
“I won’t disappoint you, I s-s-swear.” I managed.
11
A NORMAL DAY
