Familiar Ground

by Michelle Lynn

“I have no one, Mom. My life is in shambles. Shane is…”

  “Nonsense, you have a man’s love, an adorable niece, a wonderful grandma, and Shane, well, don’t worry about him.”

  “Mom, every time I think it’s going to be good, something bad happens. I’m just not meant to be happy,” I whine, bearing my heart to my mother.

  “You will be, darling, give it time. Keep that guard down and enjoy life. You always were too high strung.” She laughs.

  “It’s so peaceful here. I want to stay.”

  “You can’t, Leah. It’s not your time. Now go back. I love you.” She hugs me tight, and then she’s gone again. Why won’t she stay? Why can’t I?

  Then she appears again, walking further back into the field, toward a man waiting for her. “Dad,” I murmur. He waves and smiles at me while holding his hand out for my mom to take. They both turn their heads toward me again smiling, and then they walk further into the field until together they all disappear.

  “Mom…Dad. Come back!” I scream and startle myself awake. My eyes pop open.

  “Leah, baby. It’s okay.” He places his hand to rest over mine. I instantly know it’s Adam. That electrifying touch elates me every time.

  My eyes find his, and those gorgeous honey-colored eyes are heavy with worry, but he manages to give me a smile. Adam leaves my side to tell the nurse I’m awake, and a few minutes later, she comes in.

  A young blonde nurse checks on me and asks me how I’m feeling. Other than my body feeling sore, I’m surprisingly good, which Adam remarks about the pain medication they’re pumping into me.

  She instructs me to press some button if I need her, and shows Adam just in case he would need to. After she leaves, I focus on Adam.

  “What happened?” I ask.

  Adam tells me the story of how he found me, and then the memories come flooding back of the fight in my apartment. He informs me they still don’t have any leads, and the police have been waiting to talk to me for more information. Adam picks up his cell phone, calling someone and says I’m awake.

  Without any preparation, the police come by and interview me. Asking me height, weight, and build of the man who attacked me. I give the information I can remember. The doctors said my memory may be foggy for a while, but will most likely come back fully. I ask Adam for my phone, but he tells me it’s at the apartment still, and that it’s part of the crime scene, making me cringe thinking about my apartment being invaded by strangers.

  Adam fills me in on Dani and dials my grandma from his phone. After a back and forth argument, she finally relents, and she’s okay with waiting to come down after I get out. She asks me to hand the phone over to Adam, and he goes off into the corner, whispering to her.

  Then Adam calls Shane and demands he comes down to the hospital tomorrow when he’s able to leave the residence. Adam’s tone with him is curt and demanding. We already assume it has something to do with Shane. I fear this could set Shane back, since I’m a hundred percent positive the man who beat me up was after him. He lied to me again or didn’t divulge all the information.

  “Now, just relax, Leah,” Adam says. “We’ll get to the bottom of it. Dani’s safe. You’re safe, and that’s all that matters right now.”

  Adam curls up in bed with me and devotes himself to me as my servant for the night. He fetches me water, helps me to the bathroom, and fawns over my every whim. He even watches some movie on Lifetime, and he never complains once. It isn’t until the next morning that I hear him on the phone.

  “You’re telling me you don’t know who did this?” Adam’s accusatory tone can be heard three rooms down I’m sure.

  I hear a muffled voice on the other end. I keep my eyes shut, pretending to still be asleep.

  “That’s bullshit. Listen, I don’t care what you have to say, if you did have anything to do with this, I suggest you keep away. Anyone who hurts her again will have me to contend with and let’s remember last time we squared off.” He ends the call and slams it on the table.

  “Fuckers,” he murmurs to himself.

  Waiting a few minutes before I pretend to flutter my eyes open, not wanting him to know I overheard his conversation. When I do fully open them, he’s on me immediately.

  “Baby, how do you feel?” He grabs my hand with both of his and kisses my dry lips.

  “A little better, but still really sore.”

  “Here, I had big plans for us yesterday,” he jokes, and I grab his shirt, bringing him down to me.

  “My lips aren’t too sore, neither is my tongue.” He doesn’t wait before his lips to mesh with mine, and my tongue initiates the contact this time around.

  Just as our kiss begins turning more R rated, we get interrupted. A little too cheery of a nurse comes in to take my vitals. “I’ll be right back, babe. I’m going to run and grab a coffee.” He kisses me again, and his hand cups my cheek. “I love you,” he whispers.

  “I love you,” I say in return.

  I watch Adam leave, let the nurse take my blood pressure and temperature then settle in to watch television. I miss Dani so bad. I hope that she’s having fun with Adam’s parents.

  Shane texted me the minute after Leah talked to him. Asking me to meet him down by the house, but since I have no plans of leaving Leah alone, I told him to get his sorry ass here. I don’t have to hear the words come from his mouth to know this whole situation screams his involvement. So help me God, if he’s using again, I’ll kill him myself. I can’t stand to see Leah or Dani hurt anymore.

  Using the excuse for coffee wasn’t easy. The guilt consuming me for lying to Leah isn’t settling easily within me. I don’t want our relationship to have any deceit in it, but in this case I’m stuck without a choice. She needs to heal, and I need to make us all safe.

  Shane walks into the cafeteria with another guy about five minutes after I get down there. Shane’s eyes focus on anything but mine until he reaches the table. He and the guy take a seat, both uttering a friendly greeting. “Hey, Adam.” He nods his head to me.

  “Hey.” I take a sip of my coffee, wanting to know what shit is about to come out of his mouth.

  “This is Clark, my roommate at Meadows Chicago,” he introduces the guy, who is most likely around thirty or so.

  “Nice to meet you.” I direct my attention to the guy, holding my hand out for him to shake, which he does.

  “You too,” he says in return and then turns back to Shane.

  A second or so passes, and Shane’s knee is bobbing up and down, while the nervous energy just bounces off him like a damn dodge ball.

  “Shane, what’s up?” I bring us back to the topic.

  “How’s Leah?” he asks, and this is not what I want to hear. He’s diverting the topic, which scares the hell out of me because it makes me believe he’s hiding something.

  “She’s better. You can see her after we talk,” I remind him, and he nods. “Jimmy, Shane?” I question my instinct on who’s responsible.

  He nods again and looks over at Clark who gives a silent motion with his hand to continue. “There’s a debt that needs to be paid.”

  “Figured,” I say, waiting for more information. “How much?”

  He glances to Clark, as though he’s the one giving him the encouragement to do this. “Fifteen.”

  “Hundred.” Perfect, I can handle that.

  “No—thousand.” My stomach drops, and my shoulders slump. No way can I find money like that.

  “Shit, Shane.” I sigh, staring out the window to the Chicago horizon. “What’s he threatening?” I know all too well, Jimmy plays dirty.

  “Dani. He said Leah is the first and next he takes Dani.”

  “I guarantee that will not happen.”

  “Adam, he’s offered for me to—.”

  “No, Shane,” I say, and Clark agrees with a shaking head. “I’ll handle this. I’ve known Jimmy a long time. Leave this to me. Concentrate on getting yourself healthy.” I can’t believe the words are coming out of my own mout
h, but Leah needs Shane in her life, and he’ll be no good if he gets involved in that life again.

  “Adam, this is mine and Cassi’s problem,” he argues.

  “I’m thinking it’s more Cassi’s. She made a debt she couldn’t pay.” I’ve bailed her out more times than I can count with Jimmy, and I know what he’s going to want in return. Now I just have to decide if I’m willing to do it. It will lead to more deceit and omission on my part to Leah, though. I’ll chance losing her.

  “Cassi kind of started taking more without ever paying. Then she said she’d deal for him, but—.”

  “She never paid him,” I release a breath, shaking my head at my sister’s usual behavior.

  “Nope,” he says.

  “Okay, I’ll take care of it. Go up and see your sister. DO NOT tell her any of this. Claim ignorance. She doesn’t need the worry.” I stand up. “Tell her you ran into me, and I said I was going to run home and grab a bag for her.”

  He and Clark both follow suit and stand up. “Thanks, Adam.” Shane holds out his hand, and I shake it. “Just get healthy, Shane. If I do this all for nothing, I’ll be the first one to take Dani from you. Do you hear me?” I stare him directly in the same green eyes of the woman I love.

  “I promise.”

  “Okay, because I’m putting everything I love on the line here,” I remind him.

  “I know, Adam, I know,” he says as his head falls again in defeat.

  “If you get yourself better, hopefully, your sister won’t kick my ass.” I chuckle, and Shane gives me a tight smile. “Go visit your sister. Don’t forget, she can’t know ANYTHING.”

  “I know.”

  I watch the two men go to the elevators, and I pick up my coffee, tossing it in the trash. Once I escape to the cold air, I pull out my phone.

  “Yeah, it’s me. We need to talk. I’ll be there in an hour.”

  I pull down his street, and to my amazement, it’s even worse than I remember. Homeless people huddle under the bridges with their carts in tow. Kids are hanging around on the street corners, obviously selling or buying, probably a little of both. I grip the steering wheel, thinking about Dani being down here when Cassi left her. Back in the day, this street had been nice, when we were growing up, Jimmy’s parents worked their asses off to buy that house. But, after they passed away our senior year Jimmy destroyed it in less than a month. Not that I can say anything, I was right there with him.

  What used to be a nice well-kept Chicago bungalow now has shutters that need painting and cement that needs repairing. The usual gang still hangs out on the front porch, talking about nothing important. Pulling up behind the nice black BMW, I wonder if that’s Jimmy’s new ride. Still reaping the benefits of those hooked on the drugs he supplies.

  I don’t hesitate when I walk up to the house; it’s all in how I present myself that determines how they’ll react. If I show up all reserved and unsure, they’ll push me more.

  “Look, its college boy,” my once friend Pete yells out from the porch. All three of us where close once upon a time, but Pete went Jimmy’s way.

  “What’s up, man? Haven’t seen you around here since the last time?” Another friend Tom shouts down at me.

  I put up a wave. Hopefully, this won’t go as bad as I think it might. “Hey, guys, Jimmy around?” I get right to the point, not wanting to waste time with small talk.

  “Does he know you’re coming?” Pete questions me, halting my entrance with his hand in the air.

  “Yeah,” I say.

  “I’ll have to check,” Pete says.

  “What? Did you get promoted to bodyguard, or are you just the doorman?” I ask sarcastically, purposely trying to piss him off.

  “What the fuck, McAllister? Why are you here?” He looks confused, but then those final few brain cells connected together. “Ohhhh…you’re here for the girl.”

  “Girl?” I question. Shit, do they have Dani? My blood starts boiling, and I don’t wait for Pete to allow me in, but, instead, shove him with both hands away from the door, so I can enter. Their footsteps stomp behind me, following me. I panic when I see the living room empty. God, how could he take her downstairs? Walking from room to room, Pete is already at my side, trying to stop me, but I have him by at least three inches and forty pounds. He knows I can take him, so he isn’t trying too hard to stop me.

  It’s amazing how the house hasn’t changed in five years. Maybe a couple more holes in the walls and stains in the carpet, but everything else is the same. Luckily, I know this house almost as well as my parents’, I know where Jimmy hides out. I head through the kitchen, turning left to go down the basement stairs. This is where Jimmy handles his business; that way if the police come, he has a secret escape, which I know about as well. Since he’s too lazy to change things, I’m sure I can remain one step ahead of him. I take the stairs two at a time sideways, and all those footsteps stop at the top similar to dogs at an invisible fence line. They know they aren’t welcome down here unless Jimmy invites them. Well, all stop, except for Pete’s. Yeah, I was right, he must have gotten a promotion in this shit hole.

  When my feet land at the bottom, I see no sign of Dani, praying to God, Pete was messing with me. Pete bypasses me, knocking on the door to my right.

  “Who the fuck is it?” Jimmy yells through the door.

  “Pete,” he answers.

  “Go the fuck away, man.”

  “I need you to come out here,” Pete demands.

  “Give me five,” he yells back, never opening the door. Pete knows better than to argue. He’s been a follower his whole life, and that’s why Jimmy likes him. It was the reason we kept him around, even after his numerous fuck ups.

  Five minutes later, Jimmy walks out of his office and starts chuckling to himself when he sees me. “What the hell do you want?” He slowly walks over to the black leather couch and sits down.

  Walking over, I take the seat on the chair diagonal from him. “To talk,” I say, sitting on the edge, trying to stay on alert. Jimmy can be a loose cannon at times.

  “Pete, go the fuck upstairs.” He nods his head, and Pete stands there for a second. “What? Am I not speaking English? Go the fuck upstairs,” he repeats, and Pete reluctantly walks up the stairs like the puppy dog he is.

  After hearing the door close, I turn my attention back to him. “You didn’t have to beat the shit out of her,” I tell him, and he narrows his eyes at me.

  “Who are we talking about?” He shrugs.

  “Leah Thomas, Shane’s sister.” Then he nods his head, signaling we’re on the same page now.

  “Have to show him what can happen.”

  “Listen, I’m here to pay the debt.” I cut to the chase, mostly because I feel like I may catch something by being here.

  “Why? Dani? Kind of funny I knew about her all these years and you didn’t. Thought she might have been mine for a while. You know your sister was always—,”

  “Fuck, Jimmy, just tell me what I have to do to get this all behind us.” My fists clamp together next to my legs, because if I haul off and hit him, I’m sure to get nowhere.

  “You thinking you want back in the business?” He laughs.

  “I just want to pay the debt. If that’s how, then I’ll do it.”

  “You always were my best.” He bites his inside cheek, pondering the idea. When I came to the realization that I had to do this, I knew he wouldn’t be able to pass it up. I got him more money than any of the others.

  “So, I work off the fifteen grand, and then we’re square. You leave my family alone, and that includes Leah and Shane,” I say, not wanting to sit around here and reminisce from our old fucked up times.

  His eyes peer into mine, and I try not to allow them to waiver. “You start tonight,” he says, and I want to argue. Leah’s still in the hospital, but I’m not going to wait. The sooner I start, the sooner it’s done.

  “Give me the info.” I lean back. “One month, Jimmy, then my debt is paid.”

  �
��You sure you don’t just want the sister to pay. You know she’s loaded, right? Cassi used to brag about how much money she and Shane had, but, just like addicts, they blew it all.”

  Not even in consideration of that, I shake my head. “No way, and while I’m working it off, no one touches any of them, got it?”

  “You think you’re some kind of tough ass, Adam? I could kill you right now.” I’m starting to get him angry, and if I do that, it’s not going to work out, he’ll kick me out.

  “No, I just want to make sure my family is safe. Remember family, Jimmy?” I can’t help the sneer from forming on my lips. We were family once.

  “Oh, right” he says. “I heard a little rumor about you and the sister. My guys saw you around there. You’re nailing her, huh?” he asks.

  “Do we have a deal or not, Jimmy?” I stand up, wanting this conversation to end.

  He gets up from the couch. “Deal. One month, Adam, no less. I own you. When I call you run, got it?”

  Taking a deep breath. “Deal.” I sign my whole life away. It’s my sister’s debt, and my responsibility to pay it back.

  “Hold a sec, and I’ll give you the info.” He walks into his office, and I close my eyes, trying to calm my brain that’s screaming this is a horrible idea.

  When he comes back out, I notice how he still resembles my best friend. The long, dark hair hanging to his shoulders, but his muscular build is gone, leaving him appearing weaker. He may carry himself well, but I could still beat his ass just like five years ago when he gave my baby sister her first dose of oxycodone.

  “I’ll see you tonight.” I don’t shake his hand or say anything more. I make my way up the stairs to escape the drug house I called home once upon a time. As I leave, images of my life there plays through my memory. Remembering Cassi where she was seated when she took a hit off her first joint and the thought of banging girls in corners. It was a party house turned bad in a matter of months. Another reason I need to thank my dad; he got me out of this life. We thought we had Cassi, too, but Jimmy had a hold on her no one else did.

  I’m exhausted and feel like I need a shower by the time I make it back to the hospital. Leah’s sleeping so peaceful on the bed when I enter, so I sit down in the chair and use my time to figure out how I’ll go a whole month with practically no sleep. I have to keep my job, interview for engineering ones, spend time with Dani and Leah, and do Jimmy’s shit. My only saving grace is after a month we’re free from him, forever.