Chapter 1
Dani-
I pulled up to the house and turned off my lights.
‘Just another job. Six more months Dani, six more months.’
I tried to ease my own mind.
No matter how many jobs I had taken, it always got to me.
I got myself into the mess and I would be happy as hell to finally get myself out of it.
My addictions cost me more than I ever should have let them.
They cost me her.
It started innocent enough, drinking in high school, smoking in college, then one night, my baby girl asked me to play in the snow with her.
The owner of the gym I worked out in had an eye for those needing a fix.
When we had to sell her car, and were still going to be in a mountain of debt, we realized we had to get clean.
We agreed to have one last night, use what was left, then quit cold turkey.
I woke up the next morning in something wet, only to find my lifeless baby girl beside me.
I took the money we planned to hand over that day, and checked myself into rehab.
When I got out four months later I stayed with some friends.
One night outside their apartment, I was met by a familiar face I saw at the gym.
I was informed that my debt had been collecting interest, and if I didn't have over at least half, I could expect more debt, because I'd have an emergency room bill.
He obviously underestimated my sober abilities, because it was only a few minutes before he spit his tooth onto the sidewalk.
The next day the owner of the gym paid me a visit and invited me for coffee, knowing I couldn't decline.
He was aware that I lost my job as a waitress at a local restaurant.
If I worked for him, he wouldn't take what I owed from my friends, or worse, my family.
I would be a Jaclyn of all trades at the gym.
I would teach classes, act as a personal trainer, or anything else that was needed during the day.
At night, I would be replacing the guy who's ass I kicked, collecting the debts of others, and using, physical motivation.
I was able to negotiate a little, like I refused to touch the product, under any circumstances.
He was getting several years of my life, but that stuff had ruined it.
So for two years my life had been spent repaying my debt.
I put on my rings and pulled my gun from the glove box, securing it in the back of my pants after getting out.
I heard yelling from inside, but casually walked to the door and knocked.
There was more yelling then a scrawny guy without a shirt opened the door with blood under his nose.
Guy: ‘What the hell do you want?! I said I would get you your damn money!’
‘We should step inside, you have neighbors.’
Guy: ‘You should step back into your little car and drive your ass away from here.’
With an open hand I hit him once square in the chest, causing him to move inside a few feet.
I stepped in and quickly closed the door.
‘This can go one of three ways.’
He threw a punch which I easily dodged.
‘Your loss, and my boss will give me a tip.’
After a few hits to his torso, he just looked blankly at me, and collapsed backwards.
His head hit a coffee table and I froze a moment before checking for a pulse, without success.
I heard something from a back room, and went to investigate.
There were a few stuffed animals on the bed and I covered my mouth.
I said no kids, I was promised.
What the hell was I supposed to do?!
I wasn't allowed to leave witnesses.
I had never killed anyone, that was another stipulation of mine, someone else handled that.
However he was dead and there was a scared kid in there somewhere, whimpering in fear.
‘I'm not going to hurt you, can you please come out?’
I said softly.
After looking under the bed, I went to the closet.
A brunette in a pink onesie had her knees up to get chest, but something was off.
When she sat up it was clear she was no child, she had to be in her late teens or early twenties.
She looked up at me, tears running down her face.
Girl: ‘Where's my daddy?! Is he OK?!’
