DamonI can’t get Jessica out of my head these last few days. I know I promised Mindy, and I intend to keep that promise, but I can’t help but want the forbidden fruit. I have been ignoring Jessica as much as possible, letting her know I meant what I said. “And how many is that?” Mikey asks me, pulling me out of my thoughts. I stare at the whiskey bottles that we are supposed to be inventorying. “Uhm….” I pause, and Mikey smirks, shaking his head.“Dude, where is your head at these days?” he asks with his eyebrows raised and I nervously chuckle.Jessica. But I can’t tell him that.“I’m still trying to figure out who my father had an affair with,” I say, making sure I own the subject, and Mikey sighs.“Damon, I don’t think he’s having one anymore. I think you should just let it go, you know?”I shake my head, fighting my anger, “Mikey, you know how good of a person my mom is and look what this did to her! She’s a fucking alcoholic now and it’s their fault!” I growl, and Mikey sighs,

DamonI race home as fast as I can, but when I get to the gates, the guards still stand on every part of the wall as they are supposed to. I let out a deep breath in relief as the gate opens, but if this wasn’t the emergency, then what was?I park my car quickly and run to the front door, walking inside, “Dad, where are you?” I yell, and I hear him yell from above me.“Damon! Come upstairs to our room,” he shouts. My eyebrows raise- what the hell is going on? Did he and Mom get in a fight? I haven’t heard her voice…“Mom!” I scream, running up the stairs, and my dad meets me in the hallway, blocking the bedroom door. “Damon, she’s okay, but she overdosed on pills and alcohol,” He says, his voice grim, but I push him out of the way. Tabby is inside the room, and my mother is lying in bed. She has IVs and machines hooked up to her, and my heart pounds as I stare at her- what the hell? Overdosed?“I don’t understand…. what happened?” I ask as I walk slowly toward her. She has tubes in h

DamonJessica’s voice keeps running through my head as I race toward the hospital, “Damon, he saved us. He saved us all. Mikey, wake up!!” Tears fill my eyes as I pull into the hospital, park abruptly and run inside. Mikey is that type of person…I know he would give his life for any of them…Time seems to stand still as I approach the nurse’s station, “Mikey- I mean, Mike Clody! Where is he?” I ask, my voice frantic as my heart pounds erratically.“Sir, you need to calm down,” The elderly nurse says as she stands, and I shake my head.“No, you don’t understand! Mike Clody! He’s my best friend, and he was shot tonight! Please, I need to know if he’s alive!”“Damon?” Jessica’s voice is faint, and I turn toward her, her eyes meeting mine. Her face is puffy, wet, and red from crying, and worst of all, blood is covering her clothes- I know it’s his.“Jessica!” I gasp as I run toward her. I engulf her with my arms, hugging her tightly, and she cries into my chest.“It happened so quickly, D

Damon I watch Jessica breathe from her bed from across the room. Her face is still puffy from crying, but I am sure mine is too. I have rarely cried in my life. In fact, I can count on one hand how many times I have. The first one was when I was six, and my puppy contracted parvovirus and died. He was my best friend in the entire world, but I couldn’t watch him suffer. We tried all the treatments- nothing worked. That was one of the reasons I didn’t mind exposing the pet store; animals have a special place in my heart. The second time was when I found out Jessica’s parents had died, which was my fault. I took something precious from her and her siblings. Something I can never make up for, but I can only help ease the burden. And this is the third. The day my best friend was shot because of me. Mikey knows who I am, and there was always a chance of him getting hurt or being killed, but I vowed never to let that happen. Too bad I have been distracted lately with everything going on.

Damon“They are bookies, Jessica!” The words explode out of my mouth quicker than I can think them over like word vomit.Bookies?! Is she even going to believe me? I am a billionaire. Why would I owe anyone money? This is not good!“Bookies?” The words slide off her tongue, confused, and I don’t blame her- It makes no sense, but it was the only thing I could come up with that was far from the truth.“Yes, bookies! My father owes them money!” More lies, but they could be true. Jessica doesn’t trust my father. I can tell by how her eyes dart whenever I bring him up, but who could blame her? He is a shifty guy. “They wanted me. I am the leverage. Don’t you see?” I say, stepping closer to her.I have lied already so much to her; I can’t stop now.“But your billionaires…” She says, almost in a whisper, her eyes slowly meeting mine as she tries to understand.“I know, but it’s complicated,” I say softly. “You would do anything to keep your parents safe, wouldn’t you?” I ask, my eyes serious