Adrian stood at the edge of the hospital hallway, his hands buried deep in the pockets of his worn-out jacket, his gaze fixed on the sterile white tiles beneath his feet. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered intermittently, casting a dim glow that only seemed to deepen the shadows around him. His uncle, Matthews, who was his real dad's brother—the man who had raised him after his father's untimely death—was fighting for his life in the ICU, the result of a car crash that wasn’t just an accident but a desperate attempt to escape from the loan shark demanding five million.
Adrian’s chest tightened at the thought. Five million. An impossible sum, a debt he didn’t know existed until the moment his dad was wheeled through the hospital doors, unconscious and bleeding. Now, the debt wasn’t just hanging over their heads; it had become a countdown to a man’s life.
His older brother Liam, the Navy +but he preferred referring to him as the marine, cause he didn't see the difference between the two and Liam let him), would know what to do, but they hadn’t spoken in two years. Liam had always been unreachable, lost in combat zones and classified missions, his rare calls more like interruptions in Adrian’s life than the comfort of a sibling's voice. And even when they did talk, Adrian had never once admitted just how bad things were—how the bills kept piling up, how the fridge was mostly empty, how job after job seemed just out of reach for a high school graduate like him.
Now, standing in that cold hallway, Adrian realized he might have to make the call he’d been avoiding for so long. Not just to tell his brother that their dad lay unconscious, but to admit the truth—that they were drowning, and Adrian, for all his determination, had no idea how to save them.
He took out his phone and looked at it...his brother could send them money but he didn't want to worry him...he was stressed enough about his job and Adrian didn't want to add to his stress about their dad being hospitalized and owing so much money...He now knew that the money Liam sent every month his uncle was using to pay the loan.He had managed to clear the principal interest...now they were left with the remaining five million.
He looked at his brother's number and sighed. The hospital bill was going to be expensive and now he had to pay the loan sharks another five million. He didn't cry, he could never cry, ever since his dad died he could never bring himself to cry over anything...his mom died during his birth , his aunt died when he was in high school due to long term cancer and he knew his uncle owed the money because of the expensive hospital bills and special medication and diet.He couldn't afford to lose any more people he cared about...he had to save his uncle.
He put his phone away and went outside the hospital. He saw the car of the loan sharks and went to them.
I hope you are coming here with my money Big Dee said he was the underboss in the loan shark firm.
I'm sorry I...I don't have any money right now... but I promise I'll work for it....I just need more time.... Adrian said.
The balls on this kid.. how old are you... shouldn't you be in school...Bid Dee said.
I'm twenty one sir.. please..my uncle is dying and I have no money.. please save him.. I'll make sure you have all your money including the hospital bills by the end of the month.. please Adrian said.
This is interesting boss...how does he intend to pay us Brick said.
I'll do everything I can even if I have to rob a bank.. just please...my uncle.. please Adrian said.
Okay kid... Big Dee said.
Bosss...
It's okay Brick..I know what I am doing... usually when family members learn that a family member took a loan from us they cower in fear and disown that member but instead of running away and letting his uncle die he's choosing to save him and pay us too...I lost faith in humanity a long time ago but he's different, I'll pay for your uncle's bill free of charge but I need the five million in a month and if any unknown number calls you... answer it Big Dee said.
Thank you..thank you...So much Adrian said.
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It has been two weeks since the incident and Adrian had been trying to work several jobs. He hadn't been sleeping for a long time and he was tied..he was starting to feel like if he robbed a bank then things would get better. But he couldn't bring himself to do it, his dad had raised him right, he didn't want to stray but if he didn't he would lose his uncle and his life for not paying the loan sharks on time. He was hungry, tired, sleepy and didn't know what to do. He had managed to make a hundred thousand dollars over the past two weeks but it wasn't enough... tomorrow his brother will send $1000 dollars and it also wasn't enough. He hoped Liam didn't call this time around.
Adrian then got a call from an unknown number. He quickly answered it.
Kid Bricks said.
Yes sir Adrian said.
I have a job for you...if you can carry it out, you won't owe us a thing and your uncle will be free from debt Bricks said.
Ok...who do I need to kill Adrian asked.
Kill...kid what kind of people do you take us for... you look like you are scared of seeing a dead body do you honestly think we will make you kill Brick said.
We are sending you some info about a person,he is hiring a personal assistant...We need you to send us Intel about him, report to us every single thing he does and make sure you don't quit....his assistant's never last a week, Big Dee said.
Sir... with all due respect, I am a man and only have a high school certificate... I'm pretty sure I won't even make the interview Adrian said.
You made the interview, because you are the only one who applied, well we applied for you and no one wants to work with a grumpy boss...he prefers male assistants and you have an interview at eleven, so you better get ready, our client wants details on that guy make sure you get in Brick said.
Yes sir Adrian said.
Aren't you curious about why the client wants to know and who the person is Big Dee asked.
I don't really care...I just want me and dad to be free of this debt Adrian said.
Dad... isn't he your uncle Brick asked.
He legally adopted me...I call him dad ... and sir I don't own any formal clothes Adrian said.
I'll have some suits delivered to you...I hope we met under different circumstances... you are a good kid Big Dee said and hang up.
You are a good loan shark too.... Adrian thought. He was pretty sure nobody else got special treatment like him, it wasn't special treatment but he did get a chance at clearing the debt..he didn't want to spy on anyone but he wanted the debt gone so his dad could be free.
