Raw (RAW Family 1)

He muttered, “Like you can talk.”

I smirked. He sure got my number down.

Turning to the boy, I ask, “What’s up?”

He grumbled, “Nothing.” If the boy wanted to tell me, he would. So I let it go. As soon as I start typing again, he blurts out, “There’s this girl.”

Of course there is. There’s always a girl. “You seeing this sparrow?”

Shaking his head, he utters, “No. I don’t want to ask her out ‘til I’ve got myself sorted.”

“You look pretty sorted to me, youngin. Got a job, going to school, earning some cash, and doing that all while looking for a place to stay when you turn eighteen.” I raise a brow at him. “I’d say you’re good to go.”

He smiles softly. “Yeah.” Then a firmer, “Yeah, I guess so.” I watch him closely. I see the courage bloom in his eyes and fight my own smile. “I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna ask her out.”

My lip twitches and I nod at him in approval.

Suddenly, he turns to me. “How exactly do I do that?”

I laugh on the inside.

The kid is toast.

The door to my office bursts open. “I’m gonna ask her out!”

Looking up, I see Michael looking snazzy in black slacks and a white shirt, with his sleeves rolled up and wearing black thin suspenders. He looks so much like Twitch, it’s scary. Minus the tattoos and all.

Narrowing my eyes, I point at his choice of ensemble. He looks down at himself and mutters, “Mr. T said to dress nice.”

Why does this not surprise me?

I mutter to myself, “Of course he did.” Quickly finishing my paragraph, I look up at him and grin. “You look so handsome. Like a mini-Twitch.” He rolls his eyes and I fight the urge to laugh. “Who are you going to ask out, sweetie?”

“Tahlia.”

Oh wow!

My heart swells.

I’m so giddy at the thought of Michael and Tahlia together. Both came from a less-than-stellar upbringing. They would totally get each other. And I know for a fact that Tahlia has a crush on Michael. When I called her last to check on her, she asked about him about three times.

Eyes wide, I lean over my desk a little and mock whisper, “Oh-em-gee! That’s so exciting! How are you going to ask?”

His smile falters. “I-I was just going to ask. Mr. T said to be up front, but not in her face. Just ask, but not give her an option to say no.”

I want to crow with laughter. He went to Twitch for dating advice? Oh dear God. I have to fix this. And quick.

Quelling down the insane urge to cackle, I start, “Honey, no. If you don’t ask her right, it could ruin the whole experience.” His eyes widen in fear, and I sigh, “Where do you plan on taking her?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. The movies or some sh- place.”

I groan, then whine, “Michael! You have to have the date planned beforehand so you can give her the details when she says yes.”

His brows rise. “She’ll say yes?”

I nod and smile softly, “She’ll say yes.”

Suddenly serious, he sits on the edge of my desk and says, “Okay. Cool. I want to take her somewhere nice. Mr. T already said I can have use of the company driver. I want to take her somewhere fancy.”

Ugh. No.

“Mickey, Tahlia isn’t the type of girl who wants to go somewhere fancy. A fancy place would just make her feel awkward and would make it look like you’re trying too hard. Tahlia would like somewhere homey.” I shrug. “Say, an Italian restaurant.” My brain pings and my eyes widen in excitement. “I know just the place! Hold on.”

Grabbing my cell, I quickly type a message.

Me: I need the address for the Italian restaurant you took me to the other night.

The reply comes almost immediately. I’m surprised there’s no hostility showing, being that we ended our visit yesterday in a rather abrupt way.

Twitch: Already booked for the kid and his girl. I’ll give him the address when he gets in. Tell him to move his ass. He’s gonna be late for work.

Smiling like a loon, I fire back a response.

Me: You are so getting laid tonight. Love you x

Twitch: I get laid every night, Angel. x

He doesn’t lie. He does get laid every night.

I’ve all but been living with Twitch for a few weeks now. I’ve only been home to get clothes and check my mail. And whenever I bring clothes from home, he glares holes in my head for not using the closet he’s designated for me. But I keep telling him the closet is creepy!

“You’re all booked, sunshine. Twitch has the details. You’ll get them when you make it to work, which, by the way, you’re going to be late for,” I tell him as I glance at my watch.

Checking his own watch, he hisses, “Shit!” then shoots out of the door. Not a second later, he runs back and pants, “How do I ask her out?”

I tell him what I’d like to hear. “Tell her you’ve been waiting for the right time to ask and that you’ve wanted to for a long time but didn’t know how. Bring her flowers. Daisies, I think. She’ll say yes.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Ms. Ballentine.”

I shrug. “You’re one of my kids. I’m going to lose you soon enough. I have to help where I can.”

He blinks at me a moment before dipping his chin. “I’ll always be your kid.”

Then he’s gone.

Leaving me a blubbering mess in my office.

You’re nobody ‘til somebody loves you.

At least that’s how I feel now that I have Lexi. I always thought I needed her because it’s what my mind told me I needed. Because my mind is broken in more ways than one, my interest in her turned into an obsession. Add in a hardcore drug addiction and you’re bound to have trouble. By that point, my mind had advised me that I didn’t just need Lexi, I needed to make her suffer for making me believe there would be a point in my life when things would get better for me…as long as I had her.

When I was eight, I had her. For one night. Fate is a cruel ass bitch, and that night changed everything for me.

I can make excuses.

I could say I was just a damaged kid that grew up to be a broken man.

I could.

But I won’t.

I don’t like labels. I won’t be defined by words like normal, unbalanced, or damaged. There’s so much more to me than words. I have layers, just like the next person, and if you picked me apart layer-by-layer, you’d find a blackened crust where my heart should be. But ever since Lexi came into my life, a thin bud of greenery sprouted there, giving me hope that even I could be the person who makes someone’s day better.

It’s growing every day. And I’ll be damned if anyone tries to take her away from me. I’d kill anyone who tried.

Running a hand through my hair, I swallow hard as my gut sinks.

A decision has to be made. No one would dare take her from me, so why am I risking losing her by telling her the truth?

I know what I did was unforgivable. I could tell her. I know what the result would be, though. My girl would walk out on me in a second flat.

The sinking feeling grows.

There’s a lot that needs to be said. And Nox was right…the noose around my neck is tightening. I can hardly breathe.

“You okay, boss?” The concerned voice coming from the doorway snags my attention.

The kid. “I’m good.” Smirking, I ask, “Are you? You ask your girl out yet or what?”

He half-glares at me. “I would’ve if I didn’t think I’d have been late for work.”

There are just some things that can’t wait. I know this now.

Picking up my cell, I type out a text, press send, and wait. Michael looks more and more nervous by the second, and I smile. I like knowing he still fears me when he shouldn’t. It’s funny.

Happy appears at the office door behind Michael. “’Sup?”

Crossing my arms behind my head, I lean back in my throne and

direct them both. “You’re gonna take the kid along with you today. First, he’s got a stop to make, though. Then you can both go about business as per usual.”

Happy’s eyes narrow on me. “No can do. I got…” His eye’s bore into mine. “…shit to do.”

Dammit. I forgot. He’s accompanying some runs today for some bigger drops that need to remain secure. My face falls. I don’t have time to take him myself. I’ve got an appointment in an hour.

I sigh. “Forget about it.” But then I see Mickey’s face. It falls faster than London Bridge. Fuck.

Happy raises a brow at me. I know he’d take him along, he just needs my say so. Lexi would be pissed.

That is, if she found out.

If. If is good.

A grin tugs at my lips. “Go on. Mickey, go ask your girl out, then you’ll be on the road with Happy most of the day.”

The kid’s face turns from stunned disbelief, to shock, to beaming, all in a matter of seconds.

“Seriously?”

Not wanting to see the mush coming off of him, I turn to my laptop, dismissing them both. “Go on. Get.”

Typing away, I pretend not to notice Mickey still standing in the doorway of my office.

“Thank you.” He says this so softly that I barely make it out. “For everything.”

My chest aches.

I respond with equal softness. “You’re welcome.” He gently closes the door behind him.

I whisper into the empty room, “You’re welcome, brother.”

Happy

Grinning like an idiot, I watch Michael run down the steps of the apartment building. His eyes wide, he looks like he’s about to faint.