Page 9 of Until Ace

Jim

Don’t be such a cunt. I need you to do this for me. I had to get out of town for a while and lay low. You know how it is.

Yeah, I know how it is.

I don’t even flinch at the word he uses to describe me. It should be impossible to even imagine it, but he’s called me worse before.

Jim

I’m sorry, sis. I didn’t mean it. I’m under a lot of stress.

Jim

Please, I know you can do this. You’ve helped me before.

Jim

This is the last time. I promise.

Jim

I’ll pay you back

His texts come fast, one right after the other.

This is not the first time I’ve had to bail him out of trouble. As with everything else, I tell him this is the last time I’ll help him. He agrees and promises he won’t ask me again. After a few months, we go around the same circle again.

This time though, it’s different. I’m fully aware this won’t be the last time he screws up and comes to me for help. He’s in too deep with the wrong people. The kind of people who will kill you in the blink of an eye and then go through your family until they get what they want.

My dear brother got in trouble with some Russian guy. Besides the fact that he’s clearly in a downward spiral and is quickly moving further out of my ability to help him, I don’t have the money.

He and Courtney, my sister, drained me.

Me

I don’t have that kind of money.

I send the text, hoping that, by some miracle he will let me off the hook.

Jim

Then do something about it. You’ve got the looks. Use them.

Reading his message, a bitter laugh erupts from me.

This is also not the first time someone in my family suggested I use my body in some way or another to get them what they want. Their suggestions varied from finding some man who I could con out of his money, or become a stripper. One time, Jim went so far as to suggest I go find a street corner I could work on. My mother didn’t even blink. But that was the first time my dad stepped in. He didn’t pay Jim’s debt, but he at least told him to shut up.

Me

You know I can’t and won’t do that.

I hit the little blue arrow, but the guilt starts choking me even before the text makes its outgoing woosh sound. I start typing the second message immediately, cementing my future.

Me

I’ll figure something out.

Jim