Book 0.5 by S. P. Macomber (e novels to read online txt) 📕

the hand holding her off, turning away from him completely.

I silently stood by the man, ignoring his presence and directing my attention to the girl whose hands shook as she prepared my apple pie. She bent down, unlocking her display case where pies and cakes were presently located. Grabbing the pie, she places it on the counter, cutting off a big piece and arranging it onto a glass plate. Making her way back to me, she slides my order over the counter.

I take it without uttering one word. Simply nodding thanks, I turn away and move across the room, finding a table close to the wall. Pulling out a chair, I placed my plate of pie and utensils on the table as I took a seat with my back towards the wall, allowing me a clear view of the shop.

Eating my pie, I observe the man as he reaches over the counter again, before the girl can escape. Grasping her arm, he roughly pulls her in his direction, forcing her to hit the counter. She would most definitely bruise, I knew that much, and yet I did nothing and felt nothing, preferring instead to finish my pie.

What a piece of shit that man was. What a piece of shit I was. I had no right to judge him, I found no interest in helping the girl; it wouldn't benefit me in any way. I could tell she was terrified and she had every right to be. This man deliberately towered over her small frame, intimidating her. She was nothing but a simple high school student while the man was old enough to be her father.

I had no clue what the hushed argument was about and I didn't care enough to find out. Finishing my surprisingly delicious pie, I stood up, heading to the counter to hand back my plate and pay for my pie. Both falling silent yet again. The man turns my way with an irritated look. "Just leave the plate and go I'll pay for your order."

Sending a cold glance his way, I decline his offer. Taking my wallet out from, my jean pocket. "No thanks, I don't like owing people."

The man uses his other hand to shove me back, still keeping a firm grip on her arm. Trying. Trying to shove me. I don't move an inch. "I wasn't fucking asking! Take a hike kid!"

Feeling slightly displeased by his attitude, I changed my mind about leaving without intervening. My eyes fell to his face, devoid of any emotion. "Let her go or I'll break your fucking hand," each word was spoken in a slow, low tone so that there would be no room for any misunderstanding. My entire focus was placed on the man who posed a threat, instead of the scared girl currently looking at me in surprise.

I knew he wouldn't fail to see what a danger I presented. He hisses a curse, shoving her away and turning with his tail tucked between his legs, storming out the door.

My gaze follows him out before turning back around to pay for my order. The girl stares at me speechless, holding her hurt arm close to her chest.

"How much for the pie?" I ask, taking out a couple of bills from my wallet.

She waves my money away. "No! Thank you, Ian, you don't need to pay. You just helped me, it's on the house."

Irritation sparked inside before quickly disappearing. I hated feeling like I owed someone money. Not bothering to listen to her, I take out a five-dollar bill, placing it in the tip jar. "Do I know you?"

She shakes her head in denial. "No." Before shaking her head in confirmation. "Yes. I mean, we go to the same school and are in the same grade. Everyone knows you."

Nodding in acceptance at her answer, but honestly not caring all the same. 

I couldn't care less about her. I didn't even want to know her name. "Thanks for the pie," I say, turning my back, heading toward the door.

I would have walked out without a second glance if she hadn't run around the counter taking ahold of my shirt. Internally sighing, I turn to glance down at her. Letting out a shriek from being in such close contact, she quickly releases my shirt, blushing. "S-sorry," she stutters. "I just wanted to know why you helped me. I know you were planning on walking out without helping. What made you?"

Slight amusement churned in my stomach. I knew she hoped that I saved her because she thought I would feel bad had I left her and something bad had happened. But she couldn't be farther from the truth.

"Don't be mistaken I didn't save you," I gave her a disinterested glance. "I just didn't like the guy. Simple as that," I state as I dismiss her, turning to walk away.

"Emma!" She calls out, needing me to know her name. "I'm Emma if you didn't know my name!"

I continued my walk to the door, completely ignoring her words. I didn't ask or want to know what her name was. As I said, if it didn't benefit me or my family in some way, I had no use for it. I could hear her sigh of disappointment just as the door closed behind me.

Making my way back to the garage, I finish up the rest of my workday with Bobbie. As soon as the day comes to an end, I help him close the shop and he hands me my money for the day. "You need a ride home?" He asked, waiting by his truck.

"No, I'm good Bobbie," I shake hands with him in thanks. " I'll see you tomorrow."

"Alright." He pats me on the back, jumping into his vehicle. "Be safe you hear, call me if you need anything."

"I will," turning away quickly, I didn't want him to see how much his words affected me. Counting the money, I had earned, I realized he had given me a little extra. I smile thankfully. 

Walking down the block, the sky started turning a slight gray, notifying me that nighttime was coming. But I don't call my brothers to get me. Instead, I head a few more blocks down, walking behind a few shady buildings to a back entrance guarded by a big, beefy black man named Slim.

"Yo!" He greets me, already expecting my arrival.

I slap hands with him in greeting

Opening the door allowing me entrance, I make my way down the dark hallway into the Arena. As soon as I step in, I look up to the upstairs windows overlooking the cage to spot Leo waving me up.

Walking up the stairs to Leo's office, I stroll to the chair across from his desk, where he was currently sitting. Taking a seat, I nod in greeting.

Smirking, he leans back in his chair, smoking on his cigar. "So kid... I heard a rumor."

"Oh?" I question, not showing an ounce of fear. Leo was the official crime boss in our little town of Ridgewood. He had his greedy little hands on everything from illegal, underground fighting, stealing and selling vehicles, to drugs and so on.

Cackling at my lack of fear, he flicks his still-lit cigar my way, trying to get a reaction. "Yes, do you know what it's about?"

Catching the cigar in my hand, I crush it. Not bothered by the pain, I threw it back, hitting him in the chest. "No. Why don't you stop playing games and just say it."

Laughing hysterically, he wipes the cigar ashes off his suit. "You crack me up. You do. I've never met someone like you, I don't know if you are just plain stupid or you got a death wish."

"Neither," I lean back, crossing my arms.

Shaking his head in amusement, he gets up, walking around the desk to stand before me, lurking above me. No doubt trying to intimidate me. He lost his humor real quick, turning serious.

"I heard a rumor you started your own little kiddy underground fight, that's what I heard."

"I did," I confess not bothering to lie. Why should I? Leo already knew the truth, he just wanted to see if I would lie to him.

"And who told you, you could do that," Leo demands.

"I didn't think I needed permission."

Slamming his hands on the sides of my chair, he gets in my face. "That's right, you didn't think! I run everything illegal in this town. Me! I gave you no fucking permission to go do your own shit!"

I don't flinch. I wasn't dumb enough to push Leo's buttons, but I was no coward, either. "Sorry," I say, not at all meaning it.

He scoffs, knowing I didn't give a shit about his little outburst. "You do know the reason I allow you to use my Arena don't you?"

"To fight your fights and make you money to pay my father's debt," I repeat the same phrase I have over and over again when Leo felt I needed a reminder.

"That's right!" Leo walks back to his chair, flopping down, putting his feet on the table. "I'll allow you to keep your little fighting ring going, but I'm taking a cut of the proceeds."

"No."

"No," he says, shocked at my denial. "Did you just tell me no?"

"I did." Sitting up, I ready myself for the consequences of denying him. I would pay whatever it was because I wasn't giving him a cent of the money I earned during my fights. That money went to my brothers.

Instead of getting angry, Leo sits there staring at me before grinning like a maniac. Putting his hands up in surrender, he walks to the window to stare down at the other people training. "Alright," he says, turning around to look at me. "You can keep the money and I'll allow your fighting ring to continue but..."

I wait tensely.

"But you'll need to start doing more jobs for me from now on. Whatever I ask, you can't deny me."

I bite my tongue, wanting to crack this sleeve ball in the face. The things he could ask me to do could be anything and that terrified me. I hated having anything to do with anything illegal but working normal jobs wouldn't cut it.

I still needed to attend school, take care of my brothers, and work a normal job. There were too many things in my life going on and I needed to make large amounts of cash quickly, not only to keep up with our bills but to keep my brothers from starving.

So of course, I would agree to his terms. "Fine."

He grins, feeling like he won and maybe he had, but I wouldn't be doing it for free.

"I'll do it. But I'll be getting paid for it too. Don't bother denying me either, I know you're smart enough to realize that you don't want me for an enemy one day. I make a better ally."

Sneering, he glares at me, loathing my overall existence. I didn't bow down to him as others did, and I wasn't afraid of him either. I was wary, of course, but I didn't let it stop me from taking what I felt was fair. "Fine! You little shit," he mumbles. "You're lucky you're so good at what you do if not I would get rid of you."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment!" He shouts angry. "No training for you today, you've irritated me enough for the day. Get out." He motions to the door, dismissing me. "I'll call you when I need you."

I don't linger wanting to get away from his psychotic ass. Strutting out of the Arena, I don't bother greeting anyone, deciding to get home and think some stuff over.

Slapping hands with Slim in farewell, I go back through the buildings, making my way to the main part of town in the dark, to be met by my black Hummer, with Heath waiting in the driver seat.

I hadn't called him, so he probably had gotten worried and came to check my whereabouts. Heath was the only one who knew of my dealings with Leo.