Tension stretched throughout Linda's day. The Henderson case weighed on her nerves. The details and evidence could sway the case in any direction. She could handle it, but it reminded her she was getting older. Running a law firm suited a younger, perky soul, not a woman in her 50's.
She was resilient, nonetheless. She had no choice. Growing up in Tijuana made her that way. Her parents raised her that way, fighting to get her into the states. She fought, survived, and thrived, becoming the woman she was today. She knew wat she wanted and had no problem finding the best way to get it. The traits didn't carry over to her son, Marco. He grew up to be a scared runt. He didn't get that from her or his father.
Good riddance to him.
Concern for him could fester another day. Tonight, she was happy to be home, even though the tension followed her. Her luxurious two-story served as her refuge. Linda pushed the tension from her mind as she stepped out of the garage. She bundled her way, black hair into a ponytail for the work day. She unwrapped it as she turned down the hall, pleased the gray hair hadn't taken over yet.
She had not planned for company.
Linda shrieked as the lights came on. "What the fuck?!"
Marco looked petrified, trembling next to the kitchen counter. "M...m...mom." Marco croaked through a voice so dry it sounded like a whisper.
"Hi. Mom." A large black man sat at a stool next to him. A big, bear sized hand gripped the back of Marco's neck, skin stretching across his Adam's apple. The man had almond-colored skin. The baggy camo pants and a black T-shirt made him look mean, but efficient, tactical.
"My baby!" Terror shot threw her deep, brown eyes. "W...What are you..."
"Your son owes me money."
Marco batted his eyes, afraid to face his mom or his dealer. He only wanted a pick me up for the weekend, but he was short on cash. Other dealers had either disappeared or refused to sell to him. The Demon, as the large man was called, only offered him weed. It pissed him off. He wanted the harder stuff. He hadn't had a good high in months. Drastic times gave way to dumb decisions. Robbing one of the Demon's underlings was the first. Pulling a knife on the Demon himself was his second.
"Le...let my son go." Linda trembled. Her voice quivered with every word.
"Can't." The Demon replied.
"Why...why not?"
"I said." The Demon stood, still gripping Marcos's neck. "He owes me money."
Linda's eyes darted between Marco and the large man. She had to protect her son. "Please." Linda took a step towards them. She'd been in fistfights before, but fighting was out of the question. The man outweighed and outsized her. "Let him go. We...we can work something out."
"You have no choice but to work something out. He fucked up, big time."
"P...please, you can take whatever you want."
The Demon raised an eyebrow as he looked around.
"Mom." Marco croaked. "Don't let him hurt me." He peered towards the Demon, refusing to make eye-contact. He shot his eyes back towards his mother. "It...it was a mistake." A tear welled up in the corn of his eye. His chest heaved. "P...please, mom."
"It's ok, Marco." Linda looked at the Demon. "Please. Whatever he owes, I'll pay it. I'll pay it!"
The Demon looked at Marco, then at Linda. He released his grip. Marco was free.
"Run, Marco." Linda hollered.
He was already sprinting. Jumping over the sofa, he moved like his life depended on it. He bolted out the front door, slamming it behind him.
The Demon stood like a statue as he watched the scrawny figure sprint. A smile flared across his face. He bellowed. His laughter echoed through the kitchen. "Some kid you got there." He wiped a tear from his eye.
Linda wasn't laughing. "What the hell, Damon?" The quivering left her voice. Steel replaced it. She stood straight, arms crossed.
"What?" Damon the Demon raised an eyebrow at her.
"Don't 'what' me! What the hell was that? Breaking into my house. Holding my son hostage..."
"I told you he owed me money."
"He always owes you money."
"Shouldn't you be worried about him calling the police?" Damon smiled.
Linda rolled her eyes. "He's gonna run to his apartment and hide. You probably made him shit himself. But never mind him, what the hell was all that about?" Her arms were still crossed.
"He fucked up, bad." Damon mirrored Linda, crossing his own arms. "Tried robbing one of my guys..."
"And that's enough reason to show up to my house? What if the neighbors saw you?"
"Sounds like your problem. Plus, you know I'm careful." He paused for a moment. " He did this too." Damon took off his shirt. A bandage wrapped around his left pec and shoulder. His brow furrowed. "Came at me with a knife while my back was turned. Be happy I didn't beat his brains out."
"Shit." The drugs were normal. Stealing was rare. Robbing a person head on was new. Stabbing Damon was downright stupid. "But...we have a deal." Linda whined. "What if someone saw you?"
Damon eyed her. His gaze sent tingles across her tan skin. He stepped towards her. "You're right. We do have a deal." The words rolled like velvet, smooth and cool. "I sell good, clean weed to your kid, a fucking 22 year old. A man. Same age as me. Keep him away from the hard stuff, and shut down anyone who tries to sell him harder stuff." He inched towards her. "Right?"
Linda felt the fridge at her back. "Yes."