Debt and Ownership

[Disclaimer:This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.]


. . .

Jake walked.

He didn’t really know how long or where he was going. He just moved because he couldn’t be bothered to think or feel at the moment. The street lights turned everyone a sickly orange, the signs from bars and convenience stores flashed blue or purple or yellow or green across people as they passed along in the night. Always, under the neon was the smell of dirt and something faintly acidic.

The night breeze, clear and cool against his skin, briefly distracted him from the sting of his knuckles. Before long he found himself at the edge of the canal. He remembered his mother’s panicked ton when she’s caught him attempting to swim in the murky water. From his place at the top edge of the canal he could see the abandoned lawn chairs and grocery carts that would never leave the canal. He remembered how she explained that he could just swim at get his ball, glass and wire lay under the water.

Eight years.

“Two years for Alice.” Jake sighed “Two years for Mom. Two years for Kelly and two years for her mother.”

The silence of the night washed over him. His knuckles pulsed with his heart beat. Over the opposite edge of the canal the sky seemed to fade into a lighter shade of blue. Heart beating a million miles a minute he looked at his watch. An angry red flash told him it was 6:30.

Jake ran.

Toward the looming sky rises, he ran without stopping the air burning in his lungs. Eight years gone so quickly eight years of 7am service. He legs burned as he moved faster ten minutes and half as many blocks. Stopping impatiently for red lights and ducking past the few business people on the streets, he ran. Taking the stairs two by two up the fifteen stories, he panted out his exhaustion. He nearly crashed into the door as it opened.

Valda Mason stood at the front door of his apartment, eyebrow raised.

Jake fell to his knees, his eyes fixed on Mason’s shoes. His chest burned. His throat screamed with exhaustion. The wristband on his right hand rang out in alarm, seven in the morning. “Good morning, sir.”

“Good boy.” Mason patted Jake on the head and continued down the hall. “Follow me.”

Hurrying to his feet, Jake followed Mason to the elevator. No one spoke.

The car at the curb picked the two of the up. Jake didn’t think to question Obi and Leon’s absence. The dark window reflected his blank face back at him.

“Enders.” Mason’s voice sounded warm when surrounded by the leather interior.

Jake turned to Mason and scooted to the middle sit as directed by a single pointed finger.

“Good boy.” Mason’s voice patronized. “I’m surprised how attentive you’ve been since last night.”

“Yes sir.”

Mason rolled his eyes. “I know you were gone all night. I know when my lover is absent from my bed.”

“Yes sir.”

Mason leaned back in his seat, pulling a cigarette from his cigarette case, lighting the cigarette with the silver butane from inside the case. “I don’t do this often, but I’m willing to make a few exceptions for the people I fuck.” Mason took a long drag from his cigarette. “Don’t push me Jake.”

“No sir.”

Mason’s hand connected with his face hard. “When we’re alone I may be your master but you will talk to me.”

“Yes sir. I was just answering the way you told me.”

The same hand that hit him caressed Jake’s face gently. “You’re such a good boy and yet you run off after one job. You barely show up on time.”

Jake looked away, “I’m sorry, sir.”

“Again with that mouth of yours Enders.” Mason laughed, “It’s going to get you in trouble.”

Responding with silence, Jake looked back toward the dark window.

“Today you’re going to see the good the bad and the ugly kid. It’s a long day. Obi’s been busy with prep. We’re gonna be busy with clean up.”

Jake stared out the window. Warm lips pressed against his neck just above the collar of his dress shirt.

“Behave yourself Jake. Everything will go so much easier if you just listen to me.” The Warm breath caressed his ear

“I know, sir.”

“I know that you know. You’re still going to fight it though. Everyone resists giving up themselves.”

Whipping his head around, Jake turned to Mason.

Mason still sat in the seat next to him, leaned back like no one ever spoke a word. A puff of smoke flew from his slightly parted lips.

. . .

Jake stood behind Mason, the back of the chair blocking the well formed face from Jake’s view. At the other end of the table sat a woman with legs up to her ears. She wore a flowing white dress with a slit that ended dangerously high up her leg.

“Mason. It’s such a pleasure to see you again.” She smiled like sex.

Mason’s face didn’t change, “I admit I didn’t think that we’d met again under these circumstances.”

A laugh bubble up in her throat and came out like smooth music, “I do believe that’s the first completely honest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Now I know you’ve paid your debts or you’d never be so bold.” Mason clipped.

“Well Mason, every girl has her day and this just happens to be mine.” She took a long drink from her glass of orange juice, “I never thought I’d say this to your face, but I never want to see you or Obi again.”

Mason cracked an unseen smirk, “I’m just here to hand over your contract and then your last request will be a reality. Unless of course you’re looking to take out another personal loan.”

She shook her head quickly, “If anything I learned my lesson about the great Valda Mason. No man is worth being under your thumb again.”

A faint ringing sounded off in the room. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I need to take this.” Mason rose with his usual grace and moved to the adjoining room.

The dining table, round and moderately sized, sat in the center of the circular end of the dining room. Light streamed in from the large bay windows against one wall.

“I don’t know how you boys manage it?”

Jake turned his head toward the woman again.

“Yes I’m talking to you.” She nodded at him.

“Do what?”

She rolled her eyes. “Follow that snake around like he’s a god among men. The things I did to pay that man.” She made a show of her shudder, “Let’s just say ten years later I’ve done things I didn’t even know were possible back then.” She shook her head bitterly, “I’m sure you know what that’s like.”

For a moment, Jake thought to deny it but after his brief run in with ‘collections’ he couldn’t manage it.

“You don’t have to say it. I know.” She laughed. “You’re in it for someone else too.”

Jake thought he didn’t give her any answer but she laughed.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. You look too sweet to just want to sign on to play the bad guy.” She finished her glass, “Here’s a tip. Leave now. Fuck whoever you’re protecting. They aren’t worth it. Run as far away as you can as fast as you can. Don’t bargain with him and don’t believe a thing he says.”

Before Jake could even consider a reply the sound of Mason’s shoes signaled his return.

“I apologize for the interruption.” Mason returned to his previous spot, relaxing back into the chair.

“Not at all,” she flashed another one of those sex smiles, “It gave me and your muscle here some time to chat.”

Jake thought he saw Mason’s eyes narrow for a moment before Mason’s face returned to that same charming façade. “I hope Jake was entertaining enough.”

The sly look that washed over her face made Jake swallow deep in his throat, “Yes. Jake here is quite the charmer. Makes Obi look raw in comparison. Too bad Jake and I didn’t meet sooner.” Her voice came out more of a purr than anything.

“I’m glad to see that my new security staff meets your approval.” Mason didn’t miss a beat. His strong hand set the envelope in the middle of the table. “Your contract.”

The look on the woman’s face reminded Jake briefly of a starving man staring at his first meal in three weeks. Quickly she masked the look with that same smooth smile. “Mason, you know just what to get a girl to make her feel special.”

“Going to frame it?” Mason asked in his smooth tone as she reached out over the table to pull the envelope closer.

“No,” She smiled. “I have something else in mind. Either of you have a light.”

Mason retrieved his butane from his cigarette case.

She briefly looked over the contract her lip stiff and her face pale. The next moment she was the radiant beauty again. The contract, folded and return, burnt slowly. Every inch going up in flame and releasing another year from her life. “Happy independence day, boys.”

Mason nodded.

“Now get the fuck out.” She laughed.

Mason chuckled briefly, as well, the two mean headed for the door quickly.

. . .

Sitting in the luxury car the visit to the woman’s home seemed like a trip to the twilight zone.

“What did she say to you when I left the room?” Mason’s eyes never left the front of the car.

“Not much.” Jake’s eyes didn’t leave the window.

Mason’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not lying. She just went on about how I shouldn’t trust you.” Jake snapped.

A charming chuckle rolled from Mason’s list. “I don’t think she realized that you know that better than anyone.”

. . .

The second stop led them to a separate set of office buildings, ‘a remote branch’ as Obi put it. Mason stepped from the car and briefly spoke with the blond bodyguard before the three entered the building. The elevator ride was silent, no music to distract from the shiny metallic walls of the small box. Floor 45.

The secretary in the entrance hallway smiled, “Good afternoon Mr. Mason.”

Mason didn’t reply just headed through the glass double doors us ahead and down the hall. The same silver reflective surface led down both sides of the hallway. Jake followed Mason to the right. A few meters down and the door to the left led them into a conference room. Obi moved to shut one of the doors, Jake followed suit with the other.

“Mr. Ryans. I bet you weren’t expecting to see me again anytime soon.” Mason strolled to the head chair at the opposite end of the table. To Mason’s the left a calm looking man sat.

Obi remained at the door but nudged Jake with one shoulder. “Go stand behind Mason.”

Jake made his way to the other end of the room.

“I assume that you know why I’ve called this meeting Ryans.” Mason smiled.

“No sir.” The man looked down at his hands, white against the clear glass of the table.

Mason’s face returned to his usual harsh glare, “I want to go over a few of these accounts.” Mason shoved the stack of files sitting in front of his chair toward Ryans, who looked about ready to faint.

“I’ll need some time to review them.” He countered smoothly.

A scoff came from Mason’s lips, “There is no need to play coy Ryans. I’m well aware of the missing funds as are you.”

Not even a flinch from Ryans, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Every single penny is accounted for.”

“Accounted for yes, but not spent. I’ve spoken with a few of our suppliers. I’m aware what they’ve been charging us.”

For the first time a brief flicker of something passed over Ryan’s face, “Oh really, than you must be aware of our precise calculations.”

“I’m going to give you exactly one year to pay off this nonsense: over two million in missing and mischarged accounts. Since I’m in a good mood I’ll even give you an extra year to pay of the twenty five percent I’m tacking on for the trouble.” Mason didn’t skip a beat.

“Sir. I’m hardly responsible for the misappropriation of funds.”

Mason smiled charmingly, “Don’t mistake me. I’m not making just you pay it off. You’ll have plenty of help. In fact your wife and daughter have already agreed to cover half of your debt.”

Ryans paled considerably, “My… My wife.”

“Yes. They signed contracts this morning. After I explained exactly how this debt came about and exactly what I was going to do to fix it they were quite agreeable. In fact, why don’t you take a look at how much they’ve paid off so far.” Mason tossed the remaining folder in front of him at Ryans. Pictures flew out from it. A woman with auburn hair, her face buried in some man’s lap, her eyes teary, appeared in one of the photos. Another showed that same auburn haired woman bent over spreading her ass for the camera.

“Since neither are employed at the moment I generously offered to allow them to do odd jobs for some of our more exclusive clientele. You’re daughter has brilliant legal skills she’s transferred to our legal division. Your wife, as you can see, had something more to offer.”

“You… You” Ryans stood up, his face red with anger. “You can’t do this.”

Obi’s hand moved for his gun,

Jake stiffened.

“You did it Mr. Ryans. Not me.” Mason smirked. “Oh I have one more surprise for you.”

Obi opened to the door and a man walked in. His shoulders were rigid and square in his shirt. His blonde hair looked tussled but he other than that he looked fine, an all American boy with blonde hair and blue eyes and the body of a football player. Leon shut the door behind the two of them.

“Kenneth!” Ryans shot out of his chair.

Kenneth didn’t move.

“Why don’t you tell your dad how you’re helping out.”

Kenneth’s eyes widened for a moment and then a look of resignation passed over him. “I have some money saved up from some work I’ve been doing.” Kenneth didn’t look at his father. “I paid Mason with it. I’m gonna keep working though.”

“Tsk. Don’t be so modest.” Mason smiled. “You’re son paid me a whopping 200 thousand to protect your hide.

“What!” Ryan’s eyes bulged. “Where did you get that kind of money?”

Not even looking at his father, Kenneth didn’t reply.

“Answer me!” Ryan shouted.

Mason leaned back in his chair, “You’re boy hear is amazing on the field but you didn’t really think that he’d pay for college without your help on just a half scholarship.” A chuckle rolled from Mason’s lips. “He’s amazing off the field too. Worked construction for a while, but that just wore him out, didn’t it Kenny.”

Kenneth didn’t say anything.

“Obi why don’t you show daddy what he’s been missing out on.”

“NO!” Kenneth moved to stop Obi. “Please. I paid you everything I had. Please, don’t show him. I’ll keep paying, I swear. I signed your contract. Just don’t.”

“You really shouldn’t have secrets from your father.” Mason mocked. “One missed payment and he isn’t the only one that finds out. You can wave bye bye to the NFL.”

Kenneth nodded numbly, “I swear. Just don’t”

A hand waved Kenneth from the room.

The blonde walked warily from the room.

The door clicked shut as Leon escorted him out.

“What the fuck is going on Mason!” Ryans turned burgundy by this time, his eyes bulging.

“That I can’t tell you. You just heard me tell Kenny I wouldn’t.” Mason smiled like a shark.

“My daughter, my wife, my son!” Ryan panted. “What more can you want!”

“I want my money Ryans.” Mason leaned forward. “I don’t care how I get it, but I want it. You’re not going to stay on with the company Ryans, but don’t mistake me. You are going to pay. You’re moving out of your cozy little house. You’re wife will be staying with the company. She’ll be busy anyway.”

Ryan’s shoulders slumped with defeat, his eyes drawn back to the pictures on the table, some crumpling in his fists.

“You’re going to pay very close attention because you, and whatever measly job you find, won’t get a single inch of leniency. One missed payment and I’ll see to it that you’re daughter’s career disappears in front of her big brown eyes. One single dime not paid back within a year and you’re sons charming dreams of the NFL go flying out the window. I even get the feeling that you aren’t going to pay me my money and you’ll be sweating right alongside your wife.” Mason’s voice never changed. He leaned back in his chair.

“How… but…” Ryans face seemed hollow and blank as he slowly sat down in his chair. “You want everyone in your family to be healthy and happy. You want your wife back unharmed, if not better skilled, than pay me my money Ryans.”

Ryans nodded vacantly.

“Sign the contract Ryans. I have other things to do.”

The pale excuse for a broken man scrawled his signature at the bottom of the paper beneath the pile of photos.

Mason stood up. “Obi. You and Leon escort Mr. Ryans away from my building and clean up this mess.” Jake followed Mason from the room.

In the elevator Jake couldn’t help but stare at Mason in the reflective surface. Not a single ruffled feather even after he’d destroyed an entire family in fifteen minutes flat.

The door to the car slammed shut behind Jake like the lid to a coffin.

“When we get home, I have a surprise for you.”

Mason’s smile sent a shiver down Jakes back. He nearly laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation.

“Something wrong.” Came a cold tone to Jake’s right.

“No sir.” Jake replied stiffly.

“Don’t play games with me enders.” Mason warned in his same calm tone.

“I just can’t even begin to fathom how you think of surprises, hell how you think of anything after destroying a man’s life so quickly.”

Mason chuckled. “Now that was honest.” He pulled Jake closer to him. “Let me make this clear Jake. I didn’t do anything to that man that he didn’t deserve. Where do you think all that money came from? You think that he stole from me and I’m the bad guy. He stole that money from people like you Jake. From people paying off their loans, whoring their bodies or selling their souls. The sad thing is that he didn’t even take it for a good reason. He took it for a bigger car, a nicer house, a few extra weeks in the Bahamas come summer.”

Jake turned his head away.

Mason’s long cold fingers turned it back, “I lend people money. I run a few night clubs. I even own some hospitals and a few resorts here and there. I don’t do anything to people that they don’t ask for. You can pretend that I’m the bad guy if you want, Jake. But you’re doing just that: pretending.”

A warm kiss pressed against Jake’s lips and he pretended that it didn’t.

. . .