Chapter 1

Michael

I sat by our tiny kitchen table, staring at the chipped coffee mug in my hands. The morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow on the cluttered space around me. This summer, my life had been simple, which I really needed: I helped at the bookstore, hung out with friends, and occasionally binge-watched some good TV shows. It wasn't much, but it was mine.

My older brother, Ryan, was the wild one. He lived on the edge, chasing thrills and making me worry constantly. He had crazy, adventurous ideas, but a good heart, and I knew he loved me and would do anything for me. After our parents died, he became my guardian, my protector and my overly obsessed babysitter… That was until a few months ago, when he started worrying too much about money, with our impending house repairs, our car breaking down, and my upcoming college tuition…

"You're not gonna get a full-time job now that school's starting, Mike," he told me again one night. "I swore to Mum you'd go to college, and I'll be damned if you don't!"

"I could do both, dude! Go to school during the day and get a part-time job at night…"

"And when are you gonna study, huh?" Ryan cut me off. "Look, I'm working on a couple projects and I'm gonna start making more money, alright? You focus on your books and one day you can support us both with your big, fat paycheck. Deal?"

I knew his "projects" were unusual, but as money flowed, I stayed silent about his late nights. When our debts resurfaced and his hours grew odder, Ryan became secretive, anxious, and exhausted. I wanted to ask, but his edginess made me hold back. His activities had taken a darker turn.

The front door opened, jolting me from my thoughts.

"We need to talk," my brother suddenly announced, throwing the keys on the table. He looked terrible, his thick, blonde hair disheveled, with deep, black circles shadowing his usually cheerful pale eyes.

"Ryan, what's going on?" I asked, immediately alarmed.

He sank into the chair opposite me, rubbing his temples. "I've gotten myself into some serious trouble, Michael. I don't know how to fix it."

I leaned forward. Oh my God, Ryan, what have you gotten into this time? "Tell me everything. We'll figure it out together."

Ryan took a deep breath, his eyes filled with regret. "I owe a lot of money to a guy named Salvatore. He runs a casino downtown. I thought I could win big, but I lost everything."

"I don't understand… How did you start playing? We had no money." My mind raced.

"I played once at Drake's bachelor party; he paid. I won a couple hundred that night. I kept playing and getting lucky, Mike. That's how I paid our bills."

"Everyone said I was on a lucky streak, so I saved some and moved to the big tables. But then it all went wrong. I got a few good hits but lost them right away. The house gave me credit, and I was just so stupid!"

Ryan covered his face, struggling to continue. "I kept losing and couldn't stop because I had to win the money back. Then, I borrowed money from him, thinking I could repay it with my winnings. But I just kept losing."

Unable to speak any longer, Ryan trembled, avoiding eye contact.

"How much do you owe?" I asked as calmly as I could.

"Fifty thousand dollars," he admitted, his voice breaking.

My heart sank. "Why would you gamble so much on credit?"

Ryan looked away, shame flooding his features. "I didn't mean to. Salvatore made it seem like I couldn't lose. He tricked me, Michael. And now he wants his money back. He's given me a week to come up with it, or..."

"Or what?" I demanded, fear rising in my chest.

"Or he'll come after me…" Ryan said, his voice trembling. "He's dangerous, Michael. I don't know what he might be capable of…"

A chill ran down my spine. Ryan had made bad decisions before, but I never imagined it would lead to something like this. "We have to find a way to pay him back. Maybe we can take out a loan or sell some stuff."

Ryan shook his head. "It won't be enough, and we don't have time for that. Salvatore isn't the kind of guy you can mess with, Mike. If we don't pay up now, I'm dead."

I swallowed hard; my throat dry. "Then we'll go to the police. They can protect us."

Ryan's eyes darkened. "And then what? We'll be living in fear for the rest of our lives, constantly looking over our shoulders. No, Michael. This is my mess, and I have to fix it."

I reached across the table and took his hand, trying to sound positive. "It's gonna be ok, Ryan, I'm with you."

My brother looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and despair. "I'm so sorry, Michael. I just wanted things to be better…."

"We'll figure it out," I said firmly. "There has to be a way."

He looked at me before taking a deep breath. "I'll go talk to him. I just…. needed you to know before I did."

In case you don't come back….

As we sat there, the weight of the situation settled over us. I knew our lives would never be the same, but I was determined to find a way to save my brother. Little did I know, the way would find me…