8 Mile & Rion by K.S. Adkins Read Free Book Online Page A

remind myself he felt sorry for me nothing more. Forcing myself to pull away, I ignore the frown and head for the door. “I think I’m going to go get some paperwork done,” I announce, but just as I’m about to bolt, I tell him, “thanks for uh…listening.”
    “Why do you listen to the same songs over and over?” he asks.
    “Because he mellows me out and gives me hope all in one song. I figure if I play them all enough, one day I’ll actually believe love like that is possible for me.”
    When I reach the door his voice booms, stopping me from leaving the room. “Hey Rion?” he says and I turn to face him. “Yeah?” I ask wondering what he might say next.
    “I ain’t taken.” he says staring hard at me, like he’s willing me to believe it.
    “No? Then who’s Jill?” I counter and when his jaw drops open, I realized I hit my mark and that he was full of shit. Not taken, my ass. Better luck next time player.
     

‘You need a lot of different types of people to make the world better.’
    ~Joe Louis
    Who’s Jill? Fuck. I wanted to tell her she’s no one, a mistake, a cancer, a fucking whore. I didn’t because, I didn’t think she’d believe me. I also don’t think chicks like hearing other chicks being called whores, but in this case it was true. Instead I watched her walk away to work across the hall. Wanting to put my head through a wall, I opt for the less violent task of pacing. Christ, how does she even know about her? God dammit I’m at a loss here. She keeps looking at me and she looks…interested.
    Spending time with her is killing me. She’s honest to god, nice. I’ve seen her pissed too so, I know she’s got a line but other than that, she is genuine. Her brand of nice was addictive. Being near her was the only place I wanted to be. Watching her work outside the office was tough and I didn’t care for it. She’s a delicate woman and she’s got no business trying to get money from these people. She could get fucking hurt. Yes, she carries. Yes, she’s confident, but she’s still just a woman and one solid hit could kill her.
    I wanted someone to stand there and refuse to pay, giving me a reason to break a neck. I wanted her to see how dangerous this was. Now not only is she out on the streets collecting because she’s shorthanded, she’s setting herself up to be hurt for a few bucks she probably won’t get anyway. I decided I’d be doing her collections from now on. She wasn’t riding along anymore, period. Civilian life is killing me and she noticed it. Taking out some of my frustration on cheap bastards might be a good thing. I knew I needed the action.
    Decision made, I walk across the hall to tell her Jill was a bad memory and that I’ll do her enforcing. Finally, feeling good about something I’d actually be good at. Feeling positive about telling her how it was going to be, I give the door one knock. When she doesn’t answer, I open it to see her on the floor with her hands around her throat fighting for air.
    “Rion!” I yell falling to the floor beside her. “What happened?”
    “Threatened me,” she whispers, “said my time was up.”
    “Who?”
    “I don’t know who,” she says trying to sit up. “Grab my phone and call Rio, please.” Reaching for it I look him up, press his name and hand her the phone. “You,” she says, handing me back the phone with tears in her eyes. Nodding to her I wait for him to pick up.
    “Babe,” he says and I ignore the endearment for now.
    “Names Loyal, working for Rion. Came in to her office found her on the floor. Unknown was just in here choking her. Told her time was up.”
    “I’ll be there in five,” he said, then disconnected.
    “He’s on his way,” I tell her, gently pulling her into my lap.
    Leaning into me, she takes a deep breath and says, “Thank you, Loyal,” with the most sincere voice I’ve ever heard.
    Sitting her up, I move her to her apartment so she can sit on the couch to wait for Rio.