Destiny

My little brother gets into the toughest jam's. It's up to me to get him out of them.

December entry into the 'Starting Stories Contest.

“But I love you. I’m only asking a small favor.” Jeremy looked like he might start crying. “It’s only a few bucks. You know I’ll pay you back.”

The paybacks were already more than I could handle. “Right. Just like last time and the time before. I've wrapped up all your IOU’s in this pretty little box. Pay now or take the consequences.”

Jeremy flashed a scared look behind us. “I think you were followed. You set me up. I’ve got a backup plan. You are on your own.” Without another word, he spun around, dove down an open manhole in a storm drain and disappeared.

Twin headlights flashed towards me. I followed the sound of Jeremy’s splashing footsteps. Whatever he’d gotten me into didn’t look easy to talk my way out of. The sound of the car’s slamming doors followed by running footsteps made adrenaline shoot into my veins. The rush sped me faster into sudden dank darkness. The occasional flash of Jeremy’s flashlight was all I had to go on.

“We’ll catch him on the other side,” a distinctly angry male voice echoed behind us. So they, whoever they were, knew where the stormdrain led.

Jeremy was my younger brother. He’d always been an outsider, playing the odds. Our parents had charged me to watch out for him and trained me like they’d done the job before. The problem was it had become a never ending cycle of one crisis after another, each one worse than the last.

I always gave in, figured a way to get him out of his last jam, and this time was no different. Jeremy knew it. Why did he run away? I stopped, turned around, and started back the way I’d come. “Hey. Wait. I think I’ve figured a way out,” I called into the emptiness around me.

There was a surprised echo that might have been an answer. “I’m coming out. Wait right there.” It would give Jeremy time to make his escape. The folded money in the gift box along with the crossed out IOU’s lay nestled inside my jacket against my chest. “This is the last time I’m doing this, Jeremy,” I said to myself, knowing I was lying even as I spoke the words between my teeth.

They were waiting at the open manhole we’d climbed down into. “Who are you?” were the first words said as my head appeared down below. “This better be good,” said the second voice.

“This what you want?” I tossed the package up into waiting hands. They fumbled but caught it. Fingers began tearing the paper apart.

“IOU’s?” The first voice was incredulous. Then the second voice kicked in. “Look at the money. It more than pays for what the creep owes us."

“You his handler or something? Why are you protecting him?” The first guy’s voice shot out.

“You got what you wanted, right? Let’s leave it at that.” I climbed up the metal rungs, clambered out and stood up to face them.

“Sure. Sure. He’s your problem. If he comes whining back with another pyramid scheme, you’ll have a broken mess that used to be him to pick up. Tell him that.”

“Done deal,” I said, brushing dirty grime into my jeans. I watched them walk back to their car, get in, back up, and drive off. Their headlights slowly disappeared.

My own car waited for me around the corner. Nothing had been taken or misplaced. Jeremy sat in the passenger’s seat, knees trembling, face a worried mask as he turned to me. “I circled back. I’ve lived down there when things got rough. I know my way around.”

I nodded, got in, and started the car up. Above the engine noise, I asked, “So what’s next? Where do you want me to drop you off?”

“You can’t just leave me,” Jeremy’s chin trembled on the words.

I turned up the heater, selected an old time western channel on the radio for its calming effect and asked Jeremy, “What’s the real problem? It’s not just money this time. What aren’t you telling me? Whatever it is, I can fix it.”

“They’re following us. Let me out.” Jeremy didn’t wait for me to slow down. It was a good thing I hadn’t picked up speed yet. He flung open the side door and rolled out, disappearing over the edge of the curb. I kept driving.

The car behind me blinked its lights. They wanted me to pull over. I’d learned over time I had a gift for fixing trouble. Fine, Jeremy. I’d handle this like I’d handled everything before. If he didn't want to take my gift, fine! I could do it without him, even if I didn’t know what he’d gotten himself into. He’d never get out of whatever this was on his own.

“Where is he?” the new first voice asked as two shadows approached the side of my car.

“Long gone. What do you want Jeremy for?” I asked politely, with both thumbs high on my steering wheel.

“Let’s just say it’s personal.” A heavy set figure approached, rolling shoulders. “Get out of the car.”

“Sure,” I said, grabbing my cellphone, aiming it and taking a fast clicking set of Flash attached photo shots. The hulk stepped back, knocking himself over along with his comrade. I took more quick shots to get the face of the second guy before peeling rubber back into the street.

“Now to track down who these gangster types are.” Face recognition software has come a long way. Tony Delvato and Andy Markoni were known Italian mafia. Each specialized in types of violence that sent a cold chill down the back of my spine.

I headed back home. Jeremy wouldn’t stay hidden for long. He had no other options but tried and true me. The front door was unlocked when I got there. Light from my front room spilled out into my hallway. “Jeremy?” I called out.

A female answered. “No. It’s Destiny Rossi. You must be Jeremy’s brother, Jack.”

“How did you get in?” I wanted to know. “Are you alone?”

“Jeremy gave me a key. He told me to come here if I ever needed help. We were going to elope. My father, Lorenzo Rossi. He found out. He isn’t pleased. He’ll do anything to stop us.” Destiny dabbed at the new tears in her eyes as she sat back down on the sofa.

“Lorenzo Rossi? The Mafia King?” I asked as every feeling in my body went numb.

“Some call him that, but never to his face. Jeremy said you’d know where he would go if he got in trouble. Will you take me there?” Destiny Rossi stood, nervously tugging at her tight short dress.

I had to think for a moment, then remembered Jeremy and I talking about giving him added protection if and when things went south again as I was sure they would.

“Okay. Out the back door, just in case.” The alleyway was dark and quiet. I led Destiny by the hand, pressing a finger to her lips before she started asking questions. The motorcycle I kept locked to the fence purred into life as I got on, motioning Jeremy’s fiance behind my back.

I wove into a few extra turns to make sure we weren’t being followed. “How long have you known each other?” I threw the words behind me.

“One week. It was a whirlwind romance.” Destiny squeezed me in a hug. “If we’d taken any more time, Daddy would have found out sooner and probably done Jeremy in.”

“Nice.” I gunned the engine, watching the streetlights flash by until we were at the beach. The bike didn’t like the sand. I had to slow to a crawl before we got to my destination. Jeremy came out of the cave in the shoreline outcropping with a broad smile pasted on his face.

“Thanks, Bro.” Jeremy said, giving me five, then lifting Destiny into his arms. “Hi sweety, get the cash?”

“Yes, but Daddy’s going to be oh so mad.”

“You ripped off Lorenzo Rossi?” I asked, hearing my voice squeak like an injured mouse.

“It’s okay, bro. It’s the money he was going to give Destiny’s fiance, the one he wanted his daughter to marry. You know. The fake fiancee, when I’m the real one, so the money is mine.”

Jeremy’s head rocked sideways as Destiny slapped him. “Ours!” she said.

My admiration for her grew in that second. Maybe she might be the one to shape my little brother up and put me out of a job. “You two need to get lost and stay lost. Get the emergency pack out of the cave. You can take the motorcycle. Head for the Mormon Colonia Juárez colony on the Mexican border with Texas. I’ll make some calls.”

I got an Uber driver to pick me up from the beach parking lot. No way was I going back home, too much risk. I checked the money, extra clothes, and basic supplies in my own emergency backpack. It was enough for my own flight to El Paso, Texas, then hitch a ride for the four hour drive to the colony.

Mormons don’t believe in gambling, drinking, smoking, or any of the other sins my little brother was capable of. Nothing like that was available. Between that, Destiny, and myself, what trouble could Jeremy get into?

“Satellite Internet,” Jeremy explained as he met me at my drop off point.

I didn’t even have to ask, but I did. “What’s the problem?”

Destiny hugged Jeremy’s waist and offered me her hand. “See the pretty diamond. We got married as soon as we arrived.”

“And?” I prompted.

“We called Daddy to give him the good news. All is well. He forgave us. His well paying job for Jeremy is just to take good care of me and not indulge in past ways he went wrong.”

I recognized the implied threat of what would happen to Jeremy if he didn’t behave. It was another huge way of making him turn his life around, or else. But? There was something else going on they were reluctant to say.

“And then what?” I asked, noticing the troubled look on Jeremy’s face.

“Well. It’s like this. When I explained how good you’d been getting me out of all my previous jam’s, Lorenzo Rossi said you were now hired as his personal fixer to show his gratitude at how all had been forgiven between him, Destiny, and me.” Jeremy wouldn’t look me in the face.

Destiny looked radiant. “One big happy family.”

Jeremy chimed in. “He said if you didn’t want the job you’d better start running, or be a better fixer than the world has ever created. I’m sure you’re up to the challenge.”

“Such confidence.” That familiar cold chill was marching up and down my spine again.

My little brother hugged me. Destiny leaned in for a kiss on my cheek. I watched the dust rise in the dirt road leading to Colonia Juárez, and started working on my exit strategy before the black SUV's driving my way started me on my new job.

WC 1861