Three Years Ago
“Kane, help her, please help her.”
I stare at my sister Hazel, who has tears falling down her face. Why the fuck she feels anything for this whore of a woman we call our mom, I have no fucking clue. I lean back on the kitchen bench, inhaling on my cigarette, watching on as Hazel cries, shaking my mom and trying to wake her up.
“Mom, wake up, please wake up. Call an ambulance, Kane.”
I take one last drag of my cigarette and throw the butt in the sink, watching as it fizzles out in the water. Striding to my sister, I grab a hold of her arms, forcing her to stand up. She’s so tiny and hardly weighs a thing, and I hate my mom for neglecting her. I don’t give a shit about myself, but Hazel is precious—she’s kind and sweet, everything my mother’s not. Even after everything our mom has done, Hazel still loves her. The amount of men I’ve had to knock the fuck out because my mom offered her daughter’s virginity in replacement for a hit, I can’t friggin’ count. She’s still a virgin, and her first time will not be at the hands of someone my mother’s pimp has organized to rape her, all to pay for more drugs.
“Listen to me, Hazel,” I warn, squeezing her arms in a firm grip and shaking her. “She’s fucking dead, so listen to me! We need to get the hell out of here before one of her pimps comes knocking on the door demanding payment.”
Hazel’s eyes widen and her bottom lip quivers. Her brown hair, which reaches down to her lower back, hangs in her face, and I pull it back, tucking it behind her ear.
“Sorry, darlin’, but we gotta get out of here.”
“But… but… what about Mom?” she whispers as she looks down at the floor at our mother, who has white foam running down her jaw; God only knew what drug she’d overdosed on.
“Look at me,” I demand. Hazel reluctantly raises her eyes to mine, and I continue. “We need to get the fuck out—now. Are you coming with me?”
She inhales a deep breath, and nods in response. “Yes, Kane.”
“That’s my girl,” I say, giving her a brief smile. “Now be a good girl and pack your clothes, we’re leaving here tonight.”
“But… where will we go?” Hazel asks, tears sliding down her cheeks.
I stop what I’m doing and turn to face her, gripping her pale and gaunt face in my hands. “I’ll take care of you, no matter what. I’ll always have you, Hazel, you got me?”
Her eyes squeeze shut, and she nods her head. “I get you, Kane.”
“Good girl. I’ll meet you out front, I have a call to make. Be quick, now. We don’t have much time.”
Hazel nods then turns and heads to her bedroom. I look down at my mom and shake my head. “I hope you’re happy now, Mom. I hope that last fix was worth it,” I say on a growl, leaning over and grabbing the throw from the couch and covering her up with it, so Hazel doesn’t have to see her again on the way out. I walk over to the front door and open it before I make a call.
“Yo, Kane, my man. Where you at?”
“I need a favor, Slade.”
“Why hello to you too, man.”
“Stop fuckin’ around,” I grind out. “I need a fight. Tonight.”
“Whoa. Whoa. I thought you were done. You took a beating the last time you were in the ring.”
I smile to myself, rubbing my jaw, still feeling the sting from where my last opponent hit me.
“I’m still standing, aren’t I? And from what I remember, I won that fight. Now get me a fucking fight tonight, Slade, I’m not fucking around. I need the money.”
“Okay, man. I’ll get you your fight, but I don’t think you’ll be happy with who you’re fighting.”
“Don’t give a fuck who, I need the money,” I reply, kicking the brick wall with my boot.
“It’s Tank.”
I still and swallow hard. The last time I was in the ring with Tank, he knocked me out. I woke up not knowing where the fuck I was, and I even had to spend a couple of nights in hospital from the beating I took from him. Cracked ribs, internal bleeding, broken jaw, and the list went on.
“Kane, you still there, man?”
“Yeah, still here. Get me the fight.”
I hear Slade inhale and then sigh. “Okay, I’ll do it. See you at eleven sharp.”
“Will do.”
Just as I’m ending the call, Hazel exits the house. I smile. “Ready?”
“Ready,” she replies moving in step with me.
Over the last six months I’ve saved enough money to buy an apartment. It’s nothing much but it’s home to me. I’d tried to convince Hazel to move in, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She’d wanted to be with Mom, to make sure she was taking care of herself. I’d still dropped by each day, making sure Hazel was fine and that she had food—which most of the time she didn’t, so I took it upon myself to bring her groceries every chance I could.
Hazel finishes school in two weeks, and even though she knew she didn’t have the money to go on to college, she applied to two different ones, and got accepted into both. With a heavy heart, last month Hazel had opened the acceptance letter in front of me, and I’d promised myself then that I would get the money to make sure she got to attend her desired college. She deserved that. Hazel is bright and smart and could be anything she wants to be, but Hazel wants to study to be a lawyer. She doesn’t know it yet, but I’ve paid the first year’s tuition for college, and she’ll begin next year in the fall.
We stop at the front of my apartment, which is only a few blocks away from where she’s been living. I’d needed to be close to Hazel, and when this apartment became available I paid a deposit, along with a three-month bond.
I punch in the code and the gate opens with a squeak. Opening the gate wide for Hazel to pass, I take her backpack off her shoulder and carry it over mine.
Walking up a couple of steps, I open the front door and walk into the foyer of the apartment building. Hazel stops in the center and looks around at her surroundings. “Kane, this is… this is beautiful.”
I smirk, following her line of sight. It’s nothing much, but compared to where my mom lived, it’s bigger than the Taj Mahal.
“Just over here,” I state, pressing the button for the lift.
A ping sounds and the doors open wide. We step in and I hit the button for the nineteenth floor. Hazel leans back against the wall and crosses her arms over her chest. She’s so tiny, too tiny for my liking. It’s obvious she’s been neglected, the lack of food and essential vitamins leaving her skin pallid, making the black smudges under her eyes stand out even more. I did everything I could to help at the time, but Hazel kept insisting she was fine. Looking over her body, I don’t miss the rip in the knee of her jeans, the over-washed blue T-shirt that’s two sizes too big, and the way her brown hair seems like it hasn’t been washed in months.
“Tomorrow I’m taking you shopping,” I say firmly. I’m so pissed that I let her stay at Mom’s. I should have forced her to come live with me.
Coming out of her thoughts, Hazel frowns. “Sorry, what?”
“Tomorrow, I’m taking you shopping. Need to get you some new clothes.”
She looks down at her attire and sighs. “I’m fine, Kane, I don’t need new clothes. These are just fine.”
I shake my head just before the lift doors open. “I’m buying you new clothes and that’s final.”
She shrugs. “Whatever, like I had a choice anyway,” she grumbles, and I let that slide. She’s just seen her mother die in front of her, she deserves a break.
Walking out of the lift, with Hazel trailing behind, I’m suddenly face-to-face with Chelsea, my next-door neighbor. Her long-fingered hand lands on my chest then trails down my abs, where she pauses and smirks. I’ve been fucking Chelsea since I moved in here. She made it clear from the first time we met she wanted me, and I’m a man after all. If she wants to fuck me with no strings attached, then who am I to say no?
“Chelsea,” I say grasping her wrist in my hand, holding her still, not wanting my sister to witness where I know Chelsea is going.
“Kane, baby,” she coos. “Where have you been? You didn’t come over last night.” She leans in and nips at my earlobe. She smells good, always does, but this thing between us is temporary, and I need to remind her of that. Not saying she’s not beautiful, she is, with her glossy black hair, striking blue eyes, and a full, pouty mouth I know all too well. She’s good in bed too which is a bonus, but right now I’ve got other shit on my mind.
“Uh-hum.” Hazel clears her throat from behind me, and Chelsea stretches her head to look over my shoulder, her face falling when she spots my sister. “Oh. Sorry, Kane, I didn’t know you had company.”
I move aside, letting my sister come into view. “Chelsea, this is my sister, Hazel. Hazel, this is Chelsea, my neighbor.” I don’t miss the way Chelsea’s expression turns into one of relief at the mention of the word sister.
“Nice to meet you,” Hazel says, gesturing vaguely with her small, slim hand.
“You too,” Chelsea replies, popping gum in her mouth. She’s wearing tight yoga pants and an even tighter green singlet top, obviously on her way to the gym.
“Well, I gotta go. I’ll see you later tonight, perhaps?” Chelsea says, hope evident in her eyes.
“Can’t tonight, babe. Got shit to do. Maybe tomorrow,” I suggest, leaning in and smacking her perky ass, grasping the left cheek firmly.
She squeals out “Kane!” and I smirk. She may act shocked, but I know she likes it rough, and the way her eyes darken with desire confirms it. I usually head over to the gym with her, but tonight I need to make sure my sister is okay.
“Till later,” I say.
She smiles up at me. “Later.”
I watch her walk into the lift, her ass looking round and firm, and once the lift doors close, Hazel swipes me on my arm.
“What was that for?” I say, a stupid grin on my face.
“What’s the number?” she replies, rolling her eyes at me.
“What?” I ask as she passes by me, making sure to nudge my shoulder on the way. “Twenty-two,” I continue before I pull her backpack over my shoulder again. She turns right and stops in front of my door, facing me with a smile.
“What’s so funny?” I get my keys from my jeans pocket and unlock my door. I open it and let her walk in before me.
She turns to face me once she’s inside the small foyer of my apartment. “You and your women… I see you haven’t changed.”
Smirking, I walk past her and drop her bag on the couch, reaching up and rubbing at the back of my neck. “Did you ever think I would?”
She laughs out loud before quickly covering her mouth with her palm, and then sinking onto the couch.
“Hazel, what’s wrong?” I ask seriously, worried at her sudden change in mood.
She shakes her head, tears now falling down her face. I sit beside her and run my hand down the back of her head, then pull all her hair behind her back and smooth it down. “Hazel, tell me.”
She looks up at me, her eyes filled with sadness. “How can I laugh at a moment like this? Our mother has just died.” She begins to sob loudly.
“Shush, sweetheart,” I say soothingly, bringing her small frame into me. “It’s gonna be okay, I promise you. I’ll take care of you.”
She pulls back at that and looks up at me. “Kane, I’m not your responsibility. You obviously have a life… and a girlfriend. I don’t want to be in your way,” she whispers as she wipes away her tears.
I cup her cheek. “Look at me, Hazel.” She does, and I keep my focus on her. “You are never in my way, do you hear me? We are family, and family stick together. Do you understand what I’m saying?” I narrow my eyes at her, keeping my expression firm but gentle.
She nods eventually, and I let out a deep breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “But your girlfriend….”
“She’s not my girlfriend,” I growl, moving my hand away from my sister and getting up from the couch, beginning to pace the floor. “She’s a… a friend,” I try hesitantly, trying to find the right word to explain mine and Chelsea’s relationship. I can’t really say Chelsea’s my fuck buddy to my little sister.
I hear Hazel mumble something under her breath, and ask, “What was that?”
“Nothing, just saying you haven’t changed one bit.”
Lifting a corner of my mouth, I think on her words. Yeah, I’ve never had a problem with getting women in my bed. Before I left school, at the age of sixteen, I could have any woman I wanted, and nothing’s changed in that respect. I know I have the looks and build that attracts the ladies, all thanks to the amount of time I spend at the gym to prepare myself for fights. But Hazel doesn’t know about the fighting, and I want to keep it that way. If she ever finds out that’s what I’m doing to earn a living, she would beg me to stop, and I don’t think I can promise her that.
I fight underground, beneath a club on Hellium Street. Slade organizes the fights, and I’ve always managed to get one when I’ve needed the money. Only the rich and famous can afford these fights; minimum bet is ten thousand dollars. It doesn’t bother me who’s there, all I care about is that I’m the one who’s walking out with a win and cash in my pocket. It means I can afford a comfortable lifestyle, and also save for my sister to go to college. When I found her acceptance letter in the bin back at my old lady’s a couple of weeks back, I knew that she had to go, no matter the cost, and that’s exactly what she did.
I can’t wait to see her eyes light up when I tell her she’s going.