Level Up: Violent Circle: Book Five

by Shade, S. M.

  “Hey,” Trey walks in and sits beside me. “Are you okay?”

  I nod, but for some reason my throat starts to tighten. Damn pregnancy hormones. He brushes my hair back from my face. “It’s okay to be disappointed if you wanted a little girl.”

  “No,” I choke out. “I’m thrilled to have a boy. I just. I don’t know if I can do this!” Panic seeps into my voice and I get to my feet, charging back and forth across the room.

  “Sasha.” Trey’s voice is even and calm. “I’m scared too. I’m sure every new parent is, but we can do this. Together.”

  “That’s easy for you to say! A fully formed human being isn’t going to crash through your vagina like the Kool-Aid man!”

  He grabs me and pulls me into his arms. “I’ll be right there with you. Every second.”

  “I know I talked about a natural delivery, but I want drugs,” I sniffle, my face against his shirt.

  His big hands rub my back. “Whatever you want, sweetheart.”

  “All the drugs. Just dope me the hell up.”

  Chuckling, he escorts me over to the bed and starts undressing me. “It’s been a long day. Let’s get some rest. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

  I climb into bed and back into his arms, hating that I feel like I need him when I used to be fine alone, but also so glad he’s here.

  Chapter Twelve

  Trey

  A son. I’m not sure the news has really sunk in yet. Not even my parents showing up could get me down tonight. I’ve been thinking about the whole situation, and while I’ll keep in touch with my mother, I’m not going to be in contact with my father again. There’s no point. I’ve tried my whole life to get him to care about me and I’m done trying. I’ll have my own son to worry about and I’ll make damn sure he doesn’t ever feel like I did growing up. Like his choices are stupid. Like his dreams are irrelevant.

  I’m going to work my ass off to make sure he has every opportunity he could ever want. And whether he decides he wants to be an accountant or a dancer, a lawyer or an artist, I’ll have his back.

  What kills me a little is that I’m not sure I can be happy in the career I’ve chosen, and the thought my father may be right haunts me. I want to spend time with my family, not slaving away sixty hours a week in an office. My dream of creating games hasn’t changed, but my ultimate goal will be to work for myself, not a media company. Until then though, I don’t have a choice. Babies are expensive.

  I have a good buffer. Cluck Chuckers is still raking it in, but that’s bound to cease any day. I have every intention of buying us a house, making sure we both have very reliable vehicles, and starting a college fund so my son will never have to worry about student loans. That will still leave us money to live on until I find a suitable job, but I’m starting to worry I won’t find one in our area. Our lives and friends are here, and I don’t want to relocate. I’m sure Sasha doesn’t either.

  All this runs through my mind after I leave her sleeping in my bed, worn out from today’s gender reveal party. I sit out on the porch. A couple hits off a joint would feel good about now, but I can’t risk it. Most companies drug test now, and they don’t care that it’s legal in half the country. I’m hoping to hear back from the only other company near us that was interested in hiring me after graduation, which is only a month away.

  It’s not late, but the circle is unusually quiet. Maybe because it’s still a little chilly out. Pulling my jacket around me, I notice the new guy, Gavin, sitting on his porch a couple of doors down. He gives me a wave, reaches behind him to grab something, then walks down to join me.

  “Hey Trey,” he greets, holding out a bottle. “Beer?”

  “Thanks.” I accept it and he sits on the steps.

  “Congratulations on your son. You must be excited.”

  “Thanks. I am.” I pause for a moment, trying to place his accent. “You aren’t from around here.”

  Chuckling, he shakes his head. “I was born in Oregon, but I’ve lived everywhere. Military brat.”

  He’s older than most of the guys who live on Violent Circle, maybe thirty five or so. “How did you end up in small town southern Indiana?” I chuckle.

  “It’s a long story. Short version? Someone had to take custody of my sister’s kid or she was going to end up in foster care. I work from home and can live anywhere so moving wasn’t a hardship. Finding an apartment quickly was a bit challenging. This place was the first to offer.” A flash of emotion across his face tells me there’s more to that story. If he’s ashamed of being poor, he’ll learn quickly that everyone here is in that same situation.

  “Overnight parent, huh?”

  Gavin nods with an amused smirk. “To a teenage girl.” He holds up the bottle. “Hence, the beer.”

  “Want another?” I ask, finishing off the one he gave me.

  “Absolutely.”

  An hour later, we’re hanging out on the porch. I’ve filled him in on all things Violent Circle and we’ve polished off a six pack. The subject turns to parenting.

  “How long have you had custody of your niece?”

  “A little over six months. It’s definitely been a learning experience, but we’re doing okay.”

  Draining my beer, I set the bottle beside the porch along with our other empties. “I’m glad I’m having a boy. I’m not sure I’d know what to do with a girl. I think I’ll do okay. I’ve learned a lot about what not to do.”

  He nods. “Yeah, I don’t mean to get in your shit, you know, but I heard your father at the party.”

  Chuckling, I sit back. “He wasn’t exactly keeping his voice down.” I shrug. “I’m cutting contact with him. I have my own family to worry about now.”

  “If it helps, I haven’t spoken to my father in over ten years, and that was only a few words at my mother’s funeral. Sometimes, it’s better to cut them off. We spent a lot of time together when I was young. He taught me survival training, took me camping and stuff, so I wouldn’t be gay.”

  “How did that work out?”

  Shrugging, he grins up at me. “I can skin a deer, scale a fish, and suck a mean dick.”

  Laughing, I hand him a beer, open the last one, and hold it up. “To overcoming asshole fathers.”

  * * *

  The air smells like freedom when I step outside, grinning up at the blue sky. Maybe it’s only because I’m free. Of coursework and classes and tests. Today was my last final exam and I know I nailed it. I’m done. I’m officially a college graduate.

  The relief of that is only surmounted by the pure satisfaction of being able to walk into the financial aid office and pay off the student loans. I’m free in more ways than one.

  Sasha is at work, but I want to see her. It’s almost lunchtime, so I swing by the diner she likes and grab her a hamburger, fries, and strawberry shake. Pregnant women are supposed to get weird cravings, but she’s six months along now and so far she’s just developed a strawberry addiction.

  Dreams In Ink is never hurting for business, and I’m not surprised to see Becca, Sasha, and Elijah all working on clients when I walk in. It took a little while for me to wipe Elijah off my shit list after that whole kiss thing, but I’ve let it go.

  Sasha beams at me. “Hey! What are you doing here?”

  “Is that any way to greet the love of your life when he’s bringing you food?”

  “Strawberry?” she asks, practically drooling at the cup in my hand.

  “Yes, you fiend.”

  I hold it and she leans over, sucking the ice cream through the straw. It’s only because she doesn’t want to take her gloves off or contaminate them, but damn. The sight of her lips around the straw makes me want to drag her home and wrap them around my cock.

  “Mmm,” she moans. “You’re the best.”

  Yeah, now I have a hard-on. Glad my shirt is covering it.

  “I’ll be done in just a few minutes if you want to hang out.” The young man she’s working on is oblivious to everything, laid back wit
h his headphones on.

  “Sure.” I take the bag of food over to the empty desk and start unwrapping our burgers. Elijah finishes with the woman he’s working on, and right after she leaves, the bell rings again. I do a double take when I see my neighbor, Gavin. Before I can say anything, Becca waves at him.

  “Hi, Becca.” He walks past and seemingly doesn’t notice me. “Um…is Elijah here today?”

  Sasha’s client leaves as a bright smile jumps to Becca’s face. “Yeah, he’s in the private room, prepping for his next client. Go on in.”

  Gavin disappears through the door and Sasha sits beside me. “Are they?”

  Sasha grins, raising her eyebrows. “Are they what?”

  “You know, playing bite the pillow?”

  She snorts out a laugh. “Oh my god.”

  “I’m not judging. I was just curious. Being a good neighbor and all.”

  Sasha shakes her head at me, her mouth full of food. My phone beeps, and I look down to see I have two emails. I’m thrilled to see one is from the last local company I applied to, offering me an interview next week.

  When I click on the next email, I have to read the words three times before I believe what I’m seeing. “Trey, is everything okay?”

  Sasha’s voice comes from faraway, and I can’t seem to find the words to tell her I’m good.

  Vangra Games.

  I have an email from Vangra Games requesting a meeting to discuss the possibility of them acquiring Cluck Chuckers.

  Vangra Games is the biggest publisher of mobile games. Any developer would sell their firstborn and a plethora of organs to even get their work in front of them. An offer from them can be life changing. And they’re interested in my game.

  “Trey!” Sasha’s exclamation jerks me out of my stunned silence.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I just…” Looking into her eyes, I can’t get her hopes up because surely this can’t be what it looks like. “Sorry, I was just reading my emails. I got an interview with the company I was telling you about.”

  “That’s great!” She goes on, but I barely hear anything, and I take my chance to leave as soon as her next client shows up. I need to figure out my next step. Of course, I want to take the meeting, but this isn’t something you walk into unprepared or alone.

  I need an entertainment lawyer on retainer. Fast.

  Harper nearly blows my eardrum through the phone when I call him for a recommendation. “You’re fucking kidding me!” It sounds like he slaps his desk or a wall or something. “I knew it! I told you once it started taking off, that game was going to be something big.”

  “I don’t even know what they’re offering yet, man.” The thought of the deal Midon Development offered me and the unfairness of it is still fresh in my mind. “But I know I’m too green to do this alone. Do you know a reputable entertainment lawyer?”

  “Hang on one second,” he says, and puts me on hold. A few moments later, he returns. “Okay, this is one of the lawyers Midon uses. He’s not cheap but he has a stellar reputation.” He reads me off the name and number. “Give me a couple of hours to get with one of my friends in legal and I’ll have her tell him to expect your call so he’ll take you seriously.”

  “Dude, thanks so much. I owe you a steak dinner.”

  “A steak dinner in Vegas if this shit comes through for you,” he says. “Fucking Vangra Games and you haven’t even graduated yet. Like you got a damn horseshoe up your ass.”

  * * *

  For the last week, I haven’t let myself think about my meeting with Vangra. Nervous doesn’t even begin to describe my anxiety and anticipation. Going in, I had no idea what they were offering, whether they were only interested in limited or specific rights to Cluck Chuckers, or if they were looking to hire me.

  My hopes were up regardless, especially when I saw the rankings just before I sat down with the Vangra rep and my new entertainment lawyer. Number one. I have the number one mobile game in the country.

  The meeting went smoothly, a contract was presented, legalese tossed around, until finally, I came face to face with an offer that I never in my life expected to see. I would’ve said I had a better chance at hitting the lottery, but the results are the same.

  I walked out of the meeting a millionaire, thirty times over, at twenty-three years old. The lawyer wanted to argue for future merchandising rights, motion picture rights in the event of a movie, and so on, which lead them to tack on the last five million.

  “A movie,” I scoffed, when the lawyer still argued for future royalties and rights.

  He turned to me. “Angry Birds made billions of dollars through merchandising and media.”

  Maybe I should’ve listened to him, and spent months haggling over the rights. He certainly seemed disappointed when I accepted the offer.

  But now, as I sit on my porch in the warm spring air and try to process how this day has changed my life forever, I know I don’t care. I don’t need billions of dollars. I have enough money to take care of me and my family for the rest of our lives. I’ll be able to work for myself, have the creative freedom to make the games I want to make.

  My son will never want for anything, and Sasha will have all the choices in the world at her fingertips as well. As overwhelming as this is, it’s only one of three major changes I expect to shake up my world. Because I have a baby coming. And a ring to buy.

  In the meantime, I’m keeping this to myself, as difficult as it will be. I know how money affects people, and I don’t want my friends looking at me any differently. We only have a week until graduation, then a couple of months until our lease is up, and we go our separate ways. I’m dying to tell Sasha, but I don’t know that she could keep it secret from Becca, and the whole circle could find out, which wouldn’t be smart.

  For now, I have to keep my mouth shut.

  I’m glad I have the apartment to myself for a bit since the others are at work. It gives me time to make a call to the money manager the lawyer suggested. I have no experience handling this kind of wealth and I know I can’t just dump it all in a bank account. After setting up an appointment to discuss my finances and options, I pace around the living room.

  My mind is dreaming up so many possibilities that it takes me a second to realize someone is knocking on the door, and they bang harder until I open it.

  Today’s surprises just won’t end.

  “Trey, hi.” Kelly, my sister, stands on the step, a sheepish look on her face. “Can I come in?”

  Shaking off the shock, I step back. “Yeah, what are you doing here, Kel? If Dad sent you to—”

  “No,” she interrupts with a bitter laugh. “They didn’t send me. Actually, I hope you won’t tell them I’m here. I sort of…ran away.”

  “Living room,” I manage, pointing to the entrance, and she sits on the couch. Running my hand through my hair, I stand in front of her. “You’re nineteen. An adult. You can’t run away.”

  “Well, I ran away from Stanley, and as soon as they know, they’ll kick me out. You know they want me to marry him.” Her voice wavers.

  “Kelly, what happened?”

  Anger flashes through her eyes. “He’s screwing his receptionist. When I found out, he didn’t even apologize, just told me it was a one time thing and to get over it. He blames me because…” she pauses and sighs, sitting back. “Ugh, you’re my brother, you don’t want to hear this.”

  Oh yes, now I absolutely do. I need to know the reason I’m going to break the man in half who made my baby sister cry. “Kelly, just tell me.”

  “I wouldn’t sleep with him until the wedding night. He got tired of waiting.” She shakes her head. “I can’t marry him. So, after he left for work, I packed a bag, pulled all the money out of my account and took off.” Tears stream down her face. “I don’t know what to do. Mom and Dad have controlled everything. Even the car I came in isn’t really mine. It’s in Dad’s name. I have about a thousand dollars, but I know that won’t go far, and I’ve never lived on my own before
. I don’t even know where to start!”

  Parents of the year strike again. She’s absolutely right that they would still expect her to go through with the wedding. The most important thing is that she becomes some successful man’s wife. It occurs to me that I should’ve kept a closer eye on Kelly’s situation after I left.

  “You start here, Kel. I was your age when I left. It’s hard, but you can do it.”

  Nodding, she wipes her eyes. “You ran away and you’re happy. I hoped you could teach me. I’ve never even had a job. You know they didn’t want me to work.”

  Her eyes are droopy, and I realize how exhausted she is. “We’ll figure it all out, Kel. Come on, I’ll show you the guest room. You can take a nap, then we’ll deal with Dad.”

  She tackles me, hugging me around my waist. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, Smelly.”

  She chuckles at the childhood nickname I gave her when she was five.

  First things first, I call Sasha, Becca, and Denton and fill them in on what happened. I know they’ll be cool with Kelly staying with us temporarily, but I’m glad to see they’re all ready to help when they find out her situation.

  As much as she may want me to, I can’t keep it a secret that she’s staying here. Dad will file a missing person’s report pretty damn quick. It’s what he did to find me when I first left, and I had to explain to the police that I wasn’t missing and was old enough to decide they weren’t going to bring me home.

  It doesn’t take long for me to get a call from him.

  “Is your sister with you?”

  I’ve been ready for the call and I’m not prepared to take any bullshit. “Yes, she is. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want to talk to you and will not be returning.”

  “The hell she won’t. Stanley is looking for her.”

  “If he finds her, he’ll be sorry,” I warn. “She’s over eighteen and able to make her own decisions. And I believe she’s made her choice very clear.”