8 Mile & Rion

by K. S. Adkins

  “He said time was up. You need to help me find out who Senior owed, Rio, because for that guy to come to my place means that we must owe a lot of cash. This guy expected me to know what he was talking about, only I don’t, which means when I don’t pay, he’ll be back. Find out who he is and how he got in here.”

  “Fuck,” he says, clinching his fists. “You,” he says, looking me in the eyes. “Not out of your sight for one fucking second.”

  Nodding to him, then looking at her, I tell them both, but mostly her, “No harm will come to her.”

  The irony is not lost on me that though I declared myself her protector, I was also omitting to Rio that I was the same piece of shit who had hurt her twice before. However, I wanted to right my wrongs and I wanted to be with her while I did it.

  Rio leaves as quickly as he came and when she yawns, I pull her to me letting her fall asleep in my lap. It was more for me than her, I knew that. I also knew I was so far out of my league it was almost funny.

  Except, it wasn’t funny. It was freaking me the fuck out.

  ‘Good and bad - this is the story of my life.’

  ~Martha Reeves

  Waking up with my face in his crotch was equal parts amusing and mortifying. I don’t even remember falling asleep, which is odd for me considering I’ve never been much of a sleeper. Around him though, I seem to be narcoleptic and handsy. I’d be embarrassed if I wasn’t so awake. Despite last night’s events, I’m more alert right now than I’ve been in months. In an effort not to wake him, I try sitting up without him noticing. Lifting my head up thinking I’m in the clear it’s when his eyes meet mine, I squeak in surprise.

  So, not asleep then.

  “How do you feel?” he asks looking equal parts concerned and amused.

  “Huh?” I offer in response.

  “Are you in pain?”

  Reaching for my throat, I realize I’m not in as much pain as I had expected to be. “Oh uh, no, not really.”

  “Gave you a pain pill,” he says clenching his jaw like he’s angry. “It did its job.”

  Even when he mentions giving me a pain pill, which I don’t remember asking for, I don’t comment because it’s my position right now that’s painfully awkward. My arms are on either side of his stomach putting me face to face while I hold myself up. His arms were tight around my back until he let go and I swear, for a second, he squeezed tighter. My right knee is inches from his balls and more than anything I want to lean in and lick his bottom lip. The only thing stopping me is the look of pain on his face and the fact that he looks exhausted. Being near me is uncomfortable to him and that’s when I decided that my crushing on someone not interested needs to stop.

  “You look tired.” I offer backing up slowly.

  “I’m good.” he says bringing his arms to cross over his chest.

  “You didn’t sleep, did you?” I ask, remembering him telling me to never come near him when he slept.

  “You got shit to do,” he says, looking away from me. “Start doing it.”

  Oh no. He may have offered to be my personal pit bull, but I’ll be damned if I’m signing myself up for this pity shit. Pushing him back to the couch when he prepares to stand, I realize he let me do it and I’m glad that he did. I’m feeling rather feisty right now.

  “It was solid of you to offer to protect me and all, but clearly being near me is torture for you. I don’t need a babysitter and I certainly don’t want it from someone who can’t stand my presence. So why don’t you crash at my dad’s place? The key’s in the drawer next to the microwave. Give me an hour and we’ll head out. I’ll knock on the door when I’m ready.”

  “Did I say I can’t stand you?”

  “You don’t have to;” I tell him backing away. “It’s written all over your face. It’s in your defensive posture and it’s totally evident every time I open my mouth.”

  “If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be here.”

  “Sure you would,” I remind him, “because I’m the heartless bitch between you and homelessness, remember?”

  Stomping off to the shower, I don’t even bother with coffee. I lather, rinse, repeat, then towel dry. Throwing on jeans and a t-shirt, when I come out I expected him to be gone, but nope.

  “What did Rio mean when he said you could drop a man twice your size?”

  “He meant I could drop a man twice my size.”

  “Then why didn’t you?”

  Taking a deep breath, I confess. “Because I thought it was you.”

  “You need more training then,” he says in a stern voice.

  “I don’t have time for more training,” I snap. “I’m as trained as I’m going to get for a five foot nothing female. Look, the less time we spend together the better. For both of us but mostly, you.”

  Reaching for my coffee cup suddenly he’s there taking it from me, then he’s in my face. “Stop fucking telling me how I feel about you.”

  “Then stop acting like I’m diseased.”

  That angry look puckers his face up then he leans in, which puts his mouth inches from mine and I wanted to pounce. I want to lick the seam of lips with my tongue, suck his bottom lip and bite down gently. I just want this man and I don’t know why or how to fight it.

  “This is me,” he says in a low voice. “You want to help me, it radiates from you. But you can’t, so quit. When I tell you I’m fucked up it’s because I am. Stop looking at me like you want to ride me, stop looking at me like I’m a project and pay attention to the mother fucker you opened your home to. I am not a nice person, woman. I already hurt you twice. I won’t change, so stop fucking pushing me.”

  “Okay, you win,” I whisper, totally defeated.

  When he backed away for a second I swore he looked sad but, I couldn’t be sure because he was right back to scowling at me before I could blink. Grabbing my keys I head across the hall and spent the rest of the day ignoring the sentinel who demanded he protect me, yet looks like he regrets it.

  ‘Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles.’

  ~Alex Karras

  Her sleeping on me last night was the most peaceful I’ve been in almost twenty years. She made the sweetest sounds when she dreamt and I memorized every one of them. Putting my arms around her in protection felt good too. While she was out I traced her skin with my fingers and played with her hair. Jill never wanted to be touched and never touched me either. Didn’t matter, she wasn’t aware that I did it, for me it was huge that I did it at all. Because I wanted to do it again, I knew this was a onetime deal. After tossing and turning she woke up with her face smashed into my dick and her expression was priceless. If I hadn’t been fighting a hard on, I may have even laughed. Then after the surprise of seeing me awake her shocked expression turned to lust and I had to step it back.

  Yeah I want her, how could I not? But I’m not the guy for her and I’d rather ice my balls for eternity than hurt her again. I meant it. I wasn’t nice. I don’t think I’ve ever been nice. In a perfect world I would tell her I don’t think she’s diseased, but that she’s sweet and beautiful but, I won’t encourage her.

  Morning led to afternoon and for me the hours flew by because watching her eased the anger in me. I’ve noticed she does everything easy. Laughs easy, smiles easy and I’d bet she loved easy too. When she abruptly stood up to take a call in the hall, I nodded my consent but listened by the door anyway.

  “Hey Tank,” she’d said with a smile in her voice. She knew this man well, but how well? “My calendar just opened up. Is that offer still on the table?” I could feel it coming over me. The red haze coating my vision, my body tensing for a fight and the need to kill the competition. “You know I love surprises! I’m in!”

  Taking my seat, I’d schooled my features because it’s what I’m good at. When she walked back in, returned calls to take more bets, it was all I could do not to take the phone and throw it out the god damn window. Then she looked up, grabbed two files and handed them to me.

/>   “Two collections,” she’d said “You get ten percent of whatever you recover. I made you a log in, so once you collect put it in the system and you’ll get paid the next day. Around here no one works for free, so get over it. I’ve got something to do, so you go ahead and handle these, you can take my car too. Keys are on the table. Later!”

  “You’re not leaving my side, Rion.” I’d told her calmly. “You’re in danger and it’s my job to---”

  “It’s your job to collect,” she interrupted and I’d discovered I didn’t like dismissive Rion. I liked sweet and charitable Rion. Oh hell, I know what this was. I’d hurt her fucking feelings and she was teaching me a lesson. The whore used to do shit like this all the time. Only difference is, with the whore I didn’t give a shit, now I do. “I grew up here, I know these streets. I’ll be armed and with an old friend,” she’d said, standing up, “If you run into trouble call Rio. His numbers on the fridge program it into your phone. I’m taking the night off.”

  Walking away she didn’t slam the door but kind of closed it with purpose, which I thought was worse. Probably ten minutes had passed and I was still sitting there stewing. She’d left me to go out with a guy named Tank. Oh the hell she would.

  It’s five now, I note checking my watch. I’ll collect and be back here within the hour then I’d tie her to the fucking dining room table if I had to. Taking the night off my ass. She was going out on a date and it wasn’t with me.

  ‘I'm a dreamer.’

  ~Diana Ross

  I’m not smacking myself in the head for taking Tank up on his offer. Okay, I am. Yes, we’re just friends but Loyal saw right through my bullshit and it’s embarrassing. Bottom line is, I was running. I can’t stay cooped up with him any longer, if I didn’t get out, I was going to dry hump him. I was just dumped by Peter who never was worth a shit anyway, but I needed to feel pretty for a change. I needed to be noticed on equal footing, even if it was with a friend. I thought I handled it politely, stepping out into the hall so he couldn’t hear me. He was more than capable to handle those collections alone and I needed a diversion anyway. The second he leaves, I leave.

  When I hear the garage open, I know he’s taking my car and heading out. He needs the cash and I need the collection, so it works. Grabbing my bag, I slip on my flats and haul ass down to the corner of the building so Tank can pick me up. As always, I can hear him before I see him. Tank (AKA Thomas) and I go way back. We grew up together, raised a lot of hell together and when I left for school, I didn’t see him nearly as much as I used to. He worked with us for a while, but like most enforcers it wasn’t a forever thing. Next to Rio he was my best friend. We stayed in touch but I missed him terribly. Now he’s in town, wants to catch up and I wasn’t missing out. Tank always has the best stories and I needed my friend for a while.

  Another thing about him? Tank loves women. Women love Tank. He’s the bad boy women think they can tame but never do.

  When he sees me, he parks, jumps out, and pulls me up with one strong arm twirling me in a wide circle with ease. “Tank!” I squeal. “I missed you!”

  “Fuck it’s been a minute, Junior,” he says, squeezing me tight. “Look at you, drop dead gorgeous is what you are.”

  “Handsome as ever,” I tell him as he sets me down.

  “Got that surprise for you,” he announces. “Hop in.”

  Using the step, I jump up into his F-350 and we cruise down 8 Mile. I realize for the first time in almost two weeks I’m almost me again. “Gimme!” I tell him wanting my surprise.

  “Patience, Junior,” he says laughing, then for a while we talk about my dad until we pull up to Slows BBQ. Helping me out, I jump down and take his hand while he leads me inside. When we get in, he looks over the crowd for someone but I stay silent content to watch him. “Ah,” he says, taking my hand again. “This way.”

  Once we get to a table I peek around him and see the most beautiful woman sitting there. “Is this her?” she asks him, smiling up at us.

  “This is her,” he says, moving me forward. “Rion this is Shayla, my wife.”

  “Wife?” I ask letting out a huge squeal. Then pushing him out of the way, I tackle her with a hug. “Tell me everything! Don’t leave anything out! You are so gorgeous! You smell like happiness too! Tank, you lucky fucker!”

  For the next hour or so they both dazzle me with how they met and fell in love. After years of meaningless flings and bad choices, Tank finally found his one and only. Shayla was everything I would want for him too. Just the small amount of time with her told me she was good, she was real and she loved my friend hard. She hit the lotto with him though. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man so in love before. I’ve only had the love of my dad and Rio to go by, but this kind of love is different.

  This was the kind of love I wanted. The kind of love I dreamed about but kept to myself. Senior and Rio meant the world to me and we had no secrets, except this one. My dream of sappy forever love was mine alone.

  As the night wore on I could tell they wanted to be alone, I mean duh they’re newlyweds! I was so grateful that I could share this with them, that he would think to introduce me to her was special for me. These two were a reminder that it does exist and that I needed to be patient. Then I started thinking about Loyal and realized I missed his crabby ass.

  “Thank you,” I tell them, “for including me. I’m so happy for you both, I have no words.”

  “I had to meet you in person,” she says smiling at him. “If even half the stories about you were true, I knew I’d love you like Thomas does.”

  “Once I’m back on my feet, I’d love some girl time,” I tell her but when he looks worried I reassure him too. “I got this, Tank. I just need a little time.”

  “If you need me---”

  “I’ll call, I swear. My cab should be here, but plans soon, okay?” I promise them and then stand up to hug them both before leaving. “I’m going to walk her out Shay, be right back.”

  “Ok honey,” she says. “See you soon, Rion.”

  “You betcha, Shay.”

  As we clear the door to head out for my cab, I squeeze his hand hard. “I missed you, Tank,” I tell him honestly. “I haven’t been a good friend.”

  “You were getting an education, working, now this with Senior and the business... I had my own shit to work out,” he says squeezing me back. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you needed me.”

  “You’re here now,” I tell him giving him a hug. “It was good seeing you and she is perfect for you, I can’t believe you’re married.”

  “Kinda thought it would be you there for a while,” he says, “but you were right, we’ll always be tight as friends.”

  Wrapping my arms around his neck I was about to whisper something cheesy like “bff’s forever” but I didn’t get the chance. Because before my next breath, I was torn from Tank’s arms and found myself in Loyal’s.

  “You want to live, you will step back,” he says to Tank in a menacing voice.

  “Uh, Junior,” Tank says looking pissed himself. “Tell me you know this guy.”

  “Tank this is Loyal, he’s helping me collect. Loyal this is Tank my---”

  “You ever touch her like that again I’ll----”

  “Thomas?” Shayla asks, clearing the door. “Who is that man holding onto Rion?”

  “Well this is fun,” I moan, rolling my eyes. “Let go!” I order Loyal then turn around and level him with my best stink eye. “This is the amazing Shayla, my best pal Tank’s wife.”

  When he just blinks then crosses his arms, I feel my eye start to twitch. “Shouldn’t you be collecting?”

  “Already did.”

  “Oh,” I mumble, “What are you doing here?”

  “Came for you,” he says not giving an inch. “Told you no harm would come to you, meant that.”

  “Harm?” Tank asks “What harm? I wouldn’t hurt her.”

  “It’s fine---” I start, but Loyal cuts me off.

  “Someo
ne broke in, choked her, threatened her and I’m her protection. Who she told was going out tonight but left early.”

  “Choked you?” Tank yells.

  “Threatened you?” Shayla yells.

  But I don’t hear any of that. Loyal spied on me and I’m rather miffed and excited about it. If he wasn’t interested he wouldn’t spy, right? Okay whoa, no. Spying is bad.

  “It’s under control,” I toss out to the newlyweds. “But you spied on me,” I accuse him. “I said I was taking the night off, that’s it. So you, what? Followed me? Last time I checked, I only pay you for collecting.”

  “Last time I checked I made it clear you didn’t need to pay me at all, but you didn’t listen,” he says bluntly. “Get in the car.”

  Looking over at Tank and Shayla I feel badly for involving them in this. “Get in the car, Junior,” Tank says, taking Loyal’s side over mine. Stomping over to the car he managed to leave right out on the street without a ticket, I whip the door open. Getting in with as much attitude as possible Tank leans in and whispers, “You should have told me.”

  Closing my eyes in shame, I whisper back, “I’m sorry, you know why I didn’t. You know why I never will.” then finger wave to Shayla after buckling my belt.

  Tank was the last person I’d ever tell my problems to. Not only did he go through hell to stay straight, he found himself a beautiful wife. I would never destroy that and if I told him, I would destroy it, mark my words. Tank would go to war for me except I don’t even know who we’re fighting. He’s spent enough of his life in a cell and he would never see another one because of me. It was too risky and I had to trust that Loyal alone could help me.

  Watching him wedge himself inside of my car under any other circumstances would have me peeing my pants, but suddenly I’m too pissed off to laugh. Instead, I turn in my seat and let him have it.

  “You’ve got some fucking nerve---” I growl at him, but before I could finish my verbal tongue lashing, he gives me one of his own.

  Grabbing my face, he crushes his mouth against mine and I completely forget what I was so pissed off about. Doesn’t matter really. His tongue lashing was way better than mine anyway.