Sapphire

Carla desperately wanted to see all three of her children together so one Saturday she called us to ask if we wanted to have brunch at her place with Fox and Star. To my surprise, Ruby was also tagging along. I don't know how she managed to pull that together, but I didn't ask anymore questions. Star was there when we arrived. Ruby and Fox weren't far behind.

Blaze and I were over the moon with excitement. For them, it meant that they were sober, at least for the day.

Carla and Star had gone out of their way to make brunch. I helped a little bit in the kitchen while Blaze, Fox and Ruby talked in the living room. Everything seemed great and the two of them looked well.

"I still can't believe you two are together,"Ruby smiled at me when I entered the living room, settling myself down next to Blaze on the sofa, "When I saw the kids this weekend, they couldn't stop talking about Mr. Blaze this and Mr. Blaze that. Thanks again for what you've done for them and my little sister. I mean, she did have a crush on you when you guys were little."

My mouth dropped open, "I did not!"

Blaze glanced at me with raised eyebrows and a sly smile, "Oh really?"

"No, I didn't,"I said, glaring at Ruby, "I don't recall having any childhood crushes."

I really didn't and I felt bad, but it seemed to inflate Blaze's ego so I rolled with it. Did I have a crush on him when I was kid?

"Yeah, well ole boy here cried so hard when he left his little Spooks,"Fox taunted, "Didn't ya, Blaze?"

It was Blaze's turn to blush, "I don't know about all that."

"Yeah well we're older so we remember,"Fox chuckled.

Blaze looked over at me and I couldn't help but wonder if he did cry over leaving Atlas.

He put an arm around me while Ruby and Fox left the room to see if Carla needed help. I knew Blaze was keeping an eye on Fox because I was keeping an eye on Ruby.

"So, you had a crush on me?"He pulled me closer to him.

"No,"I told him, placing my head on his shoulder, "I mean, I don't think I did."

He'd been my best friend once, and even if I'd had a million crushes on him, we were just babies then.

Blaze relished in that and pulled me even closer into him. I loved it when he did this.

It didn't take long for the day to turn to shit.

Ruby took me off to the side and asked me for a favor. I thought it was going to be about the kids or maybe a job, perhaps helping out with her sobriety.

Nope. She wanted me for a much darker reason.

"I need help, Sapph,"We were far away from the house now, allowing Carla time with her kids, "I'm in some deep shit."

I breathed in heavily as the chill from the last day of January pierced through us.

"Do you need money? A place to stay? Is it Dad?"

"No, I need to keep my job."

"Your job? At the supermarket? What happened?"

"No, another job,"she shook her head and wouldn't look at me as we stared out onto the river just as Blaze and I did months before.

"What job?" I was so afraid to ask. She'd had so many, but I knew what other jobs she'd done to make ends meet or to feed her addictions.

"Chet's mad that I took off and I need him to know that I'll be back," she was saying.

"You don't have to do that anymore, Ruby,"I told her, "You have the other job!"

"No, I OWE Chet,"she glanced at me as I narrowed my eyes.

"You took the damn money didn't you?"I grabbed her by the arm and she tried to wiggle away, but her frailty was no match for me, "Why? You knew this could happen!"

Ruby sighed, "I'm sorry, sis."

That's all I ever got were empty apologies.

"What job?"I demanded.

"Escort,-"

I laughed, letting her go and walking away, "Oh hell no! Hell no, Ruby. I'm not sleeping with other people,-"

"No, no!"She followed me as I continued walking, "It's not that. You just show up, look hot, allow yourself to be eye and arm candy and that's it. If you want to fuck them, then that's an added bonus."

"Are you listening to yourself?"I whirled around and glared at her, "I am not judging what you choose to do, but this is ME. I'm your little sister and you want ME to put my life on the line for you like this? AGAIN?"

I'd never actually been an escort, but I'd done various things to help her out in the past. Some legal, some not. Blaze had no idea.

"It's only for a short while, Sapphire,"she was pleading, "It all goes back to him, but he gives me a cut and you can have it."

I turned to see Fox and Blaze walking in the opposite direction. Blaze waved to me and I waved back wishing this situation wasn't happening right now.

"You know what Chet and Lucas are capable of, Sapphire,"She tugged on my arm, "Please?"

I knew exactly what they were capable of and I couldn't bear the thought of it.

"How often do I do this?"I hated myself for giving in.

"Just a few times a week,"she said, breathing in a sigh of relief, "I can let you know all of the details when necessary. I know you're looking for a car, but maybe you can stay with me on the weekends and use my car."

I couldn't believe I was really going to do this.

"Do not tell Blaze anything about this!"I demanded of her, choking back my tears.

"No way! You two look so happy together!"She hugged me, but I didn't hug her back.

What the hell was I getting myself into?

Blaze

"Well, that didn't take long at all, Fox,"I crossed my arms and stared at my brother like he was a villain in my worst nightmares.

"Come on, Blaze. I need help. It's temporary."

"I've heard that before,"I muttered.

"Chet's on my ass and so is Lucas,"he said, "I don't owe them money, but they're going to find a way to get me kicked out of Atlas if I don't produce the product."

"Pimping? Dealing?"I was afraid to ask.

"I need to get some girls and a little dealing."he lowered his eyes, "I only need a few grand to end the deal and then I'm out. I promise."

I'd heard these promises before. Many, many times before.

"What am I supposed to do? And why can't you do it?"

"I'm going into rehab, but it's upstate,"he admitted.

I was shocked, "You're actually going?"

"Yeah, but as long as I have a backer who can cut my losses, Chet and Lucas and all those bastards won't bother me again. I have a few girls who need someone to look after them, get the money, give it to Chet and then, well, you know the other dealings and how that works."

"How often do I have to do this?"

"With your prowess and professionalism? A few weeks."

"A few weeks?! Fox, I've got shit to do. I go to work, school, I have Sapphire!" I looked to her as she was talking to Ruby and couldn't imagine what she'd think of me if she knew what I was doing.

"Please, Blaze?"

"I'm your little brother, man,"I scowled, "I shouldn't be doing this shit for you. You tell me exactly where you're gonna be and I'll bite, but if this gets back to Sapphire....."

"No way! I'm happy for the two of you and I don't want to jeopardize that,"he told me, bear-hugging me in the process, "I'll let you know all the details, but I'm sure you can handle everything."

Yeah, I could handle everything all right....

What the fuck was I thinking?

Sapphire

The ride home was quiet. The dynamic had changed when Ruby asked me to help her. I noticed that Blaze wanted to touch me more than usual and for us that was already a lot.

We curled up on the couch to watch some TV when I finally broke it to him.

"Ruby wants me to stay with her a few weekends to help with the kids and be her accountability partner,"I lied. I lied looking right at him.

He smiled and pulled me closer to him, "Well, I don't see a problem with that. Besides, I'm going to be starting my project with Greg soon so it works out. At least we won't be lonely, but I'll miss the hell out of you. I'll drop you and pick you up?"

"Sure, yeah."

He leaned in and kissed me, tousling my hair as we faced the TV again.

Oh, Blaze....

Blaze

Well, I very well couldn't be seen in Atlas over the weekends so I was going to make it my mission to do what I needed to do and come straight home during the weekdays. I'd lied to her, but Greg would lie for me. She was over the moon ecstatic when I'd told her about Fox's rehab stay. I also told her that I wanted to visit him during a weekend or so if it was permitted at the facility and she was fine with that, too. That wasn't a complete lie, but he'd mentioned something about me having to be in Atlas during February for something or another.

I had no choice but to lie. I couldn't get her caught up in this shit. It was bad enough she'd have to be in Atlas where fucking Tyler was, but I figured she'd be safe.

My sweet little lioness.

How many more sweet little lies was I going to tell her before the jig was up?

Sapphire

Blaze and I seemed to be everywhere and nowhere the next week or so. He'd started his senior project with Greg and I was busting it out with Star. We were practically done except for some revisions.

I wanted to see him more than before and it was lonely at the townhouse when the morning hours would roll by and he wasn't there. I wanted him to graduate, though. I needed to stay out of his way. The texts and calls were constant though and that was nice.

He'd come in around 2 or so in the morning, shower and sleep and then we'd both go to school, dragging ass all day. He was only at Greg's maybe twice a week, perhaps one more day, but he seemed exhausted.

The night he dropped me off at Ruby's I was a mess. He was agitated and I knew why. He didn't want me in Atlas without him. I didn't want to be without him, either.

"It's been a long time since we've had nights apart,"he said as he walked me to Ruby's apartment, "I mean, I get home late, but I'm always there."

I didn't even want to argue. I knew he was trying to get me to back out of this and I kept telling myself it was temporary.

"I know, but she needs me and you need that grade!"We stood in the lobby of her building for what seemed like forever.

"Is this where she was staying before?"He looked around at the décor, "Is this place even up to code?"

I winced and glared at him, "Blaze, please, I'll be fine. No, she was living everywhere else, including the streets or with Fox. This is a step up, to be honest." I knew if he didn't leave soon, I'd tell him everything and jump right back into that car with him and go home.

"We'll look for cars next week," he told me, "You need one and I promised you."

"You're so good to me,"I grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him into me, crashing into his lips with mine, "Let me know when you get home."

I knew he wanted to take me back with him, but he picked me up and kissed me again until Ruby appeared at the foot of the stairs leading up to her floor, "Oh, get a room!" she teased.

"I'll call you,"he said, nodding at Ruby and taking one long look at me. I searched his eyes, hoping he'd see the truth in mine, but even if he did, he didn't speak up. He walked away from me. I felt empty. I was lying to him since November and now it was February and I was still lying to him.

This was all too much. If he only knew I was seeing another man for drinks tonight.

I would lose Blaze.

I'd lose this challenge.

Blaze

I didn't want to leave her there. I hated it. I hated her being away from me, especially in Atlas without me to protect her. It was only for the weekends though and it wouldn't be long. Apparently, Ruby had other sponsors, but they told her she needed a supportive family member to be along for the ride. I'd never heard of that, but I wasn't in her position.

Sapphire didn't seem too happy to be in Atlas or with her sister. I could see it in her eyes and I wanted to shake it out of her, whatever truth she had hidden. Maybe she was going to miss me and that was all. Maybe she was scared to be there without me or maybe she didn't trust me to be alone at the townhouse.

We'd been with each other day and night for months now and it was weird heading out of Atlas without her. I kept staring at the passenger seat expecting her to be there.

If she only knew I'd had another girl in that seat the other night this whole bet would be off. It wasn't a girl for me. She was for someone else, but she was still a hooker in my car and I was taking so many chances.

I was taking the chance of losing Sapphire.

I was going to lose this bet.