Siblings with Benefits Ch. 38

Tony was a big guy, standing six-foot-three and weighing around two hundred and thirty pounds, not an ounce of which was fat. Years ago, in his early twenties, Tony had been an amateur boxer with such promise that he had been invited to try out for the Olympics. That was, until he went out to a party with some friends and tried cocaine for the first time. From there, it was a story like many others. He lost everything, ending up in jail for acting as a street enforcer and beating those who didn't pay the loan sharks and dealers he worked for. He was released and eventually ended up homeless. One night, he overdosed and ended up in a hospital. There, he met a guy he used to box with who had also had some issues. He had gotten into a program, and he talked Tony into going with him to a meeting. Tony had managed to stay clean ever since.

Tony told me a big part of how he stayed clean was finding out his younger sister, Julie, was using. Between trying to be a role model and constantly watching out for her, he had little time to worry about his own cravings. He had also dedicated his time to trying to help others; he not only worked at the shelter, but he also went to local boys' clubs and spoke on the evils of drugs.

Although, at thirty-five, any chance of a boxing career was over, Tony went to a gym where he boxed three times a week and worked out at a local Y. Tony and Julie were from a mixed marriage and unlike Julie who was so light skinned she could pass as white from a distance, Tony was quite dark. His features however, were quite similar to hers and he was quite attractive, especially with his powerful build and a surprisingly big friendly smile.

As I looked up into his expressive, dark brown eyes, I found myself thinking that, under different circumstances, I would have been attracted to him. No doubt, part of that attraction was based on how similar to Mark Tony was. Like my brother, Tony was fiercely protective of his sister, and, for that matter, me, as well. Tony had a temper and had no qualms with fighting, if it came down to it. He had grown up in Hell's Kitchen and walked the streets as if he owned them. As rough as Julie and I had had it, things could have been worse if not for him. Word on the street was that Tony looked out for us, and there weren't too many, even in this neighborhood, who would want to have to deal with him.

"You ready?" he asked.

I nodded and he frowned.

"It's like twenty degrees out Megan, where's your jacket?"

"I don't know," I said, shrugging. I did, in fact, know where it was. It was on my bedroom floor, covered in vomit.

"Hold on."Tony went into his room.

I looked at Julie, who was lying on the couch, staring at the TV. Following her gaze, I saw with a start that it wasn't on. I looked closer at her and saw that she was smiling slightly and her eyes were glazed. Somehow, she had gotten a hold of some dope.

Tony came back out and handed me an old New York Giants sweatshirt. I pulled it on, not bothering to push up the sleeves, which were quite a bit longer than my arms. I pointed at Julie and he sighed."She went out while I was working and either got fronted or turned a couple of tricks. She's been like this for the last couple of hours." He shook his head. "I still can't believe I can say she turns tricks so easy." He sighed. "Ain't life grand?"

I had no answer for that. I just stood there, thinking that here was another thing that Tony shared with my brother--the despair of watching his sister's disgrace.

"We're leaving," Tony told Julie. After getting no response, he rolled his eyes and walked out of the apartment.

We lived on the sixth floor, and by the time we reached downstairs, I had to sit on the first floor landing and rest for a few minutes. I got up, and as we headed outside, I felt my heart begin to pound.

On the sidewalk were several young Hispanic men lounging against parked cars and sitting on the steps. They were part of a local gang, and their leader was an old, grey-haired man, who was always sitting on the stoop, smoking. He would sit there all day, everyday, no matter what the weather. All day long, people would come up and hand him money. He would then send them around the corner to get drugs. I always stayed away from him because he was a Palero, a priest of Palo Mayombe, also known as black voodoo. My brother had studied it for awhile and told me that they were bad news, even by his standards. Back before I was such a mess, the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up when I walked by him.

For the most part, they would leave the tenants alone, but occasionally the younger ones would play games, saying a toll had to be paid to go in or out. Sometimes, the old man told them to knock it off. Other times, he let them go. They got me once, and I had to give them the cheap earrings that I was wearing. It was usually stupid things like that, but if it was someone they didn't recognize, they would get nasty.

I moved closer to Tony, who took my hand and led me down the stairs and past the old man. As we passed, the Palero looked up and I quickly looked away. He had a cataract in his left eye, rendering it milky white. Tony, who spoke Spanish, told me that the Palero claimed it was a sign of demonic power and that he could give the evil eye. Tony said hello to him, but rather than just nod as he usually did, the old man stared at me. After a minute, he shook his head and said something in Spanish.

"What did he say?" I asked Tony.

Tony just shook his head. When I pressed him, he sighed and replied, "He said, 'Such beauty gone to waste.'"

As we walked past the others, they smirked at me and muttered the word Prostituta. Tony scowled at one of them and said something in Spanish. The guy gave Tony a dirty look, but he didn't come any closer to us.

The three-block walk took forever. I had to stop three times, twice to rest and once to go into an alley and throw up. The drugstore was in a slightly better neighborhood, and as we stood in line, I looked straight ahead, trying to ignore the stares I was getting from the other customers. At one point, I started coughing and a little girl with adorable blond curls and huge baby blue eyes asked me if I was okay. Before I could answer, her mother came and yanked her away from me. "Stay away from her," she told her daughter, "She's disgusting!"

I put my head down, and a moment later Tony put his arm around my shoulders. Finally, it was our turn. To my relief, the money was there. As we moved over to the next line to get a money order, one cashier said to the other, "Wonder what she's going to spend that on." Tony shot them a look that made them step back from the counter.

Then he came over with me, where I was buying a money order. No way in hell would I take a chance on walking back to the apartment with that much cash. Tony made the money order out there so it wouldn't be any good for anything else, in case the building super didn't show up today and we went back to the apartment.

The walk back took even longer, as I had to stop every block to rest. At the apartment, halfway up the second floor staircase, my legs gave out. If Tony hadn't been behind me, I would have fallen. He not only caught me, but effortlessly lifted me up into his arms and carried me up the remaining stairs. I looked up into his face, and I could see that mixture of concern and pity in his eyes, the same one he had when he looked at Julie.

Tony put me down in front of the door, and when we entered, Julie was sitting up on the couch with a blanket around her, sweating. Tony went over to talk to her, and I went to the small fridge and grabbed a bottle of water for her. Julie smiled at me and told me how hot I looked, and I rolled my eyes.

She only took a few sips, so I took it back and drank the rest. The cool water felt good, wetting the dry mouth that I'd suffered from almost continuously for the last few days. Tony sat down next to his sister, and I turned to go lock myself in my room, and to do what I so desperately needed to.

Then there was a knock on the door.

Tony got up and asked who it was. "It's Fred," I heard the apartment super answer.

Tony unlocked the door and stepped back to let him in. I walked a couple of steps back towards the center of the room. I wanted to see Tony pay the rent, to see my charitable act through to the end.

"Hey, Tony, you have the rent?" Fred asked.

Tony nodded and handed him the money order. "Thanks for buying us some time. I promise I'll have something towards the other two months, when I pay February's. Okay?"

Fred looked up from the receipt book he was writing in and shrugged."Hey, don't worry about it, you're covered."

"I...what?" Tony asked.

Fred nodded and, as I stared in surprise, handed Tony three receipts.

"Yeah, some guy caught me down the hall and asked if I were coming to see Tony and Megan, I said,'Yeah,' and the guy whips out a money clip, takes out eight hundred-dollar bills, and after I write the receipts, hands me the money."

"What?" Tony asked again. "Who the fuck was he?"

Fred shrugged."Beats me, all I know is he sure as hell didn't look like he belongs around here."

I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. Tommy had come up here after all, come to try to take me home.

"Did he say anything?" I asked.

Fred looked over at me, winced at how bad I looked, and said, "Yeah, he said,'Consider Megan's debt paid.' Well, anyway, I gotta go." He clapped Tony on the shoulder. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, my man, you guys are all set." He glanced at me. "Hey, Megan, you should get to a doctor, you're looking pretty rough these days."

I nodded numbly as my heart began pounding like a jackhammer in my chest. My already upset stomach felt as if it were turning to ice. Tommy was here.

Fred said something to Julie, then left. Tony locked the door and put the chain across. He had only just turned away when another knock came. I began to breathe hard as Tony asked who it was.

"I'm looking for Megan," a muffled voice said from the other side of the door.

My eyes narrowed. I couldn't quite make out the voice, but it didn't sound like Tommy.

"Yeah, well, Megan doesn't do that shit man, get lost," Tony called out.

"I do!" Julie exclaimed, giggling.

"Then I'm looking for Tony," the voice came back.

Tony glanced back at me, and I shook my head at him."Tony, don't," I said softly.

Tony frowned, but a moment later there was a louder knock.

Stepping forward, Tony unlocked the door, but he left the chain on and pulled the door open a few inches. He peered around the door and asked, "Do I know you?"

I didn't hear the response, but Tony shook his head and said, "Hey, man, don't know who you are, but Megan doesn't have a brother."

"No!" I whispered as a wave of nausea passed through me. It couldn't be...

"Anyway, man," Tony was saying, "Megan don't have a brother, and I don't know you, so you need to get lost."

With that, Tony went to slam the door, but it stopped short. "What the...?" Tony asked, then looked down. I followed his eyes to see a familiar black snakeskin boot lodged in the door.

"Man," Tony started, "You... holy shit!"Tony cried out in surprise and Julie screamed as the door exploded inward, the chain snapping off. The impact caught Tony off guard, sending him staggering back. He lost his balance and fell onto the floor.

My attention, however, was locked onto the door, and I let out a whimper of fear as my brother walked into the room. Mark was dressed entirely in black--a leather jacket, boots, and a pair of black jeans. He swung the door shut behind him and thumbed the lock. I was standing off to the side and Mark didn't see me. His attention was focused on Tony, who had jumped quickly to his feet.

"You just fucked with the wrong guy, asshole!" Tony hissed, coming forward.

Mark immediately put his hands up, palms out, in a calming gesture.

"Stop, Tony," he said softly. "I'm not here to fight you. If anything, I'm here to thank you."

"Thank me?" Tony asked, stopping a couple of steps in front of Mark, his fists up and ready to fight. "Got a fucking funny way of saying thanks, man."

"Really? I thought paying your rent was a pretty good way to say thanks."

"You paid that?" Tony lowered his hands. "And thanks for what?"

"For taking care of my sister," Mark replied calmly. "I'm Megan's brother, Mark, and I've come to take her home."

"Megan said she has no brother," Tony insisted, shaking his head. "Who are you really, man? You some kind of narc?You trying to bust her? Maybe you didn't even pay anything. Maybe you just told Fred to..."

Tony stepped back as Mark moved his hands. All he did was slowly slip his jacket off and toss it to the side. Then he put his hands back up. "See? No gun, no badge, not even a knife. I'm not here to bust anyone or hurt anyone. I just want to take my sister back to her family."

I stood there frozen in fear, but as Mark spoke, I found myself looking him up and down. My brother had never looked better. His thick, black hair was perfect, as always, and his flawless features were as beautiful as ever. Underneath the jacket, he wore a black, long-sleeve shirt that fit him perfectly. My eyes lingered on his chest. He had gotten bigger. His shoulders looked broader than before, and the shirt was stretched tightly around his arms and chest. His waist, however, was just as narrow and, as always, he stood there exuding pure confidence. No, it was more than confidence; everything in Mark's appearance, body language, and even his tone, breathed power.

My brother was perfection, and here I resembled a living corpse.

"Family?" Tony repeated. "Umm, well, she always told me that--"

"She lied," Mark said. "Last night she called her ex fiancé looking for money for you. He called me, and I told him to send it. I followed you guys from Hannifords to here and waited for your slumlord to show up." Mark shrugged. "Now, as I said before, thank you for what you've done, but now I..."Mark stopped as he had finally taken his eyes from Tony and saw me standing near the bedroom door."There you are," he began. "I..." He stopped and his eyes widened as they looked me up and down. "Megan, you..." He shook his head. "You look sick, sis."

"I..." I didn't know what to say.

Mark took a step towards me."Well, let's get your things, Megan. I'm taking you home."

"No!" I snapped, taking a step back.

"No?" Mark asked, walking towards me. "I don't remember giving you a choice sis. Enough is enough, you're coming with me."

I took another step back. I couldn't find my voice, so instead just shook my head vigorously. I couldn't let him take me back! He would make me get help, and it would start all over again.

"Hey, hold on a minute!"Moving quickly, Tony took a couple of quick steps back and got in front of Mark.

"Look, Mark, like I said, she said she has no brother and..."

"I used to say that all the time!" Julie exclaimed from the couch. She then made a disgusted sound. "Then you went and found me!"

"Anyway," Tony continued, ignoring her, "thing is, man, she looks awfully afraid of you."

"She's mad I found her," Mark replied. "She'll get over it, now...."

My fevered mind locked onto Tony's saying that I looked afraid of my brother, and one last desperate idea came to me, a way to give myself a chance to avoid being taken home in anything other than a box. While Mark was speaking, I opened my mouth and forced my raw throat to emit a loud wail."Nooooo!" I cried out. "Tony, don't let him touch me! He's not my brother!"

"What?" Tony asked.

"Oh, for Christ's sake!" Mark snapped, rolling his eyes.

"He's going to hurt me again!" I yelled.

"Knock it off, Megan!"Mark started to step around Tony, who once again got in front of him.

As he did, I started screaming, "He's from back home! He's who I ran from when I came here! He beat me!"

"Oh, come on!" Mark exclaimed. Looking at Tony, he said. "She's lying. I never hurt her. She's my..."

"He used to pimp me out!" I yelled. "And...and when I didn't make enough he'd beat me! He...he broke my arm before and that's why I had to run! Tony, don't let him take me back pleeeeese!!"

"That's it, Megan!" Mark shouted. "Game's over! Your ass is coming home with me now!"

Mark came forward, but staggered back in surprise as Tony shoved him hard.

"Games over?" Tony asked. "That don't sound like a brother talking to his sister, man! I think you better get your ass out of here now!"

"Oh, give me a break!" Mark yelled. "She's fucked up! She doesn't want me to help her!"

"No, you want to take me back so you can make me work for you again! So you can beat on me!" I cried out.

Mark stepped forward, and I let out a long, loud wail of despair. "Pleeeese Mark, please don't hurt me anymore!"The fear in the wail was real. I was afraid to do anything but die. I could not let my brother get his hands on me."Tony, help meeee!" I wailed as I backed up against my door.

Tony looked back at me, and I saw his lip curl up in a snarl and his eyes darken with rage. Spinning back to Mark, he shoved him again.

"This is your last chance to get the fuck out of here, you piece of shit! I know guys like you! Why'd you pay the rent? To buy her back? You got 'til three to get your ass out of here, or so help me I'll..."

"Enough!" Mark snapped, and, moving quickly, jumped past Tony and started heading for me.

As I stood there rooted to the spot by fear, Mark reached for my arm. Just before he grabbed me, he cried out in surprise as Tony grabbed his shoulder and yanked him backwards. Mark spun around, swinging his left arm up. Tony saw it coming and, blocking it, slammed his fist into my brother's stomach. Mark doubled over and Tony dealt him a vicious uppercut. As his head snapped back up, Tony hit Mark with a right roundhouse that sent him flat on his back.

Tony glanced back at me. "Don't worry, Megan, I'll show this piece of shit."

He turned around just in time to see Mark draw his legs up to his chest and kick out hard enough to launch himself back up to his feet and go into a spin. Caught off guard, Tony tried to step back, but was caught in the face. The kick struck him square in the mouth, but Tony didn't go down; he only staggered back a couple of steps.

"Oh, that was good!" he nodded, wiping blood from his mouth. "I like that."Taking a step back, Tony unzipped his sweatshirt and tossed it off. Underneath, he was wearing a tight white t-shirt that showed off his enormous arms and chest."See asshole, there's two things I like, a good fight and getting a chance to beat the shit out of someone who gets off beating women, so let's go!"Tony brought his hands up in a boxer's stance and, with his left hand, waved Mark on.

Shaking his head, Mark pointed at Tony."For the last time, I don't beat women, and second of all," Mark said, bringing his hands up and weaving them slowly in front of his face, "watch what you wish for because, motherfucker, I will make this the last fight you ever have!"

"Then bring it over here!" Tony shouted, waving Mark on again.

"I don't want to hurt you," Mark said quietly as he started towards Tony, "but I have been looking for my sister for six months, and she's coming with me if I have to take on every nigger in this building!"

I knew Mark had thrown that word out to get Tony mad, and it worked. Tony stepped forward, swinging wildly. Mark stepped into the punch, blocking it with his forearm. Swinging his right hand up and out, he dealt Tony a vicious backhand blow, then, letting his hand come down and around, slammed his fist into Tony's stomach. Tony doubled over where his face was met with Mark's rising knee. Tony staggered back and fell to one knee. My brother immediately came forward; ready to swing, when the room was pierced with an ear-splitting scream.