The Diary

A/N: This is not based on a book. Or anything. I just got this idea after a dream I had. And I didn't know where else to put this…so yeah. Please enjoy. I haven't been writing in a while. But this story has me getting back into writing.

Chapter 1: Not Your Average Diary

Hi. My name is James Arthur Quinn Jr. And I will tell you now that you might not like my story. Because this is a story of Vengeance, Lies, and Love. I heard not many people like stories about those things. But I may be wrong.

My father James Arthur Quinn Sr. died a week ago. I know I should be sad about it, but he was never around for me to actually care. His parents started their own winery in Napa, California. And when my dad was old enough he opened up his own restaurant featuring my grandparent's wine. It went big so he expanded all around the U.S starting in Los Angeles, then over to Austin, Texas and up to New York. When I was younger I never saw him. EVER. He was always on business trips and whenever he came home I was asleep.

He cheated on my mom with his secretary while in a layover in Pittsburgh.

I will NEVER visit Pittsburgh. EVER.

So now I am Here in Los Angeles. Im moving here to take over the family business, since my father never re married after he divorced my mother, and I am the oldest of my brothers. I inherited his business and a third of his net worth. Which I will not lie about. It's a lot.

I come from a very upper class family because of the winery. But I was never spoiled. I started working at the age of 13. Helping out on the winery grounds. After that I did my span of normal jobs like working in a grocery store, working as a bus boy at my parents restaurant. I paid my way through college and got my paramedic training done in less than a year.

Im 26 years old now, single, and moving to a new city is a bit nerve wracking. Los Angeles is much more hectic than Napa. Im a country boy and I am not used to this city life. But for now I am moving all my stuff a(or lack there of) into my new apartment.

My Cousin Kyle is helping me move in. I don't have much stuff, but mostly basics, my bed, TV, computer. Kyle is probably the only family member I am really close with. mostly because he is like me. Although he is shorter and fatter than me. This being said. I am NOT short and fat. Im 6 foot 1, 193 pounds, athletic build, dark blue eyes. Im pretty good looking if I do say so myself. Although my history with women would say otherwise.

"Where do you want the TV?" Kyle asks as he carried it in through the door.

"just put it there on the floor I'll take it out of the box later." I answered as I placed another box of my clothes in my bedroom.

In retrospect, I would rather do intense cardio sessions than move again. Honestly moving a king size bed up 7 flights of stairs is just torture, even for a fit guy like myself. We barely fit the bed through the door and we slumped against the wall our faces a whole new shade of red.

"you need a couch dude."

"yeah I know…I'll buy one tomorrow." I answered back catching my breath. Kyle leaves after we eat some pizza and have some beer. We ended up moving everything in a few hours which is good. Tomorrow I would have to go down to IKEA and buy a few things of furniture but nothing too bad. I start my job at the restaurant next week. I lay down in my bed and look over at the clock. It's 11pm.

Im still in bed. I am restless. And it's 1am. I wanna go out. So I do. I lace up my running shoes and grab my hoodie from the closet along with my baseball cap. I start off slowly but pick up the pace about 5 minutes in. I think a lot when I run. Mostly about my mom.

She died when I was 20. Most people who lose someone will be more sad than angry. But for me I find other ways to cure my aggression. When my mom died, me and my partner were the first paramedics on the scene. I didn't even notice it was the parking garage next to my mom's job. I didn't know it was her until I turned her over and saw here face. Some gangbanger passing through had assaulted her. And my mom being the woman she is fought back. He shot her twice in the chest. These were her last words.

"I love you James. And don't worry about me. I will be fine. Take care of our family. And find the man who did this to me. Make sure he gets what he deserves."

She died in my arms that night. And I've had the same dream every night since. In my dreams I save her. And she is still alive. But sadly it is only a dream and I snap back to reality. There is a dark alley to my right. The smell alone would detour you, but I am on the hunt. I go down; the shadows almost playing tricks on me. I hear movement behind me, but I am not scared.

"I think someone is lost." A man says behind me. I stop. I take a deep breath. And I turn.

"Actually. I'm not, I'm just taking a short cut." I say with a smile. I pull my hoodie on so he does not get to see my face clearly. I hear more movement, another two guys come out of the shadows. They approach me, getting closer and closer to me. I stand my ground because I am not nervous. I have done this before. Why have I you ask?

Because I am completing the promise I made to my mother. I'm trying to look for the man that killed my mother.

Klatyton LeBrey.

Just saying the name makes my blood boil with rage. A notorious gang leader here in L.A. He takes no prisoners, and does not give mercy to anyone.

I hear the click of a switchblade and my body goes into defensive mode.

"give me your wallet or else Chino here will have to take it from you." The guy with the blade asks.

"hmmm…let me think about it…how about."

"No." I said my voice low and raspy.

I punched the guy to my left in the nose quickly feeling it break under the pressure. The guy to my right grabs my arm, but I bring my other one to his temple. He winces and loses his grip. I pull his arm back pushing his head down into a dumpster. The guy with the switchblade rushes toward me but I dodge him grabbing his hood and throwing him against the brick wall. I hear the other guys groan on the ground im sure in pain.

"alright buddy. Lets see how useful you are." I say in a deep voice keep my head lowered so he wouldn't see my face.

"take it easy bro…we'll leave you alone…" he stuttered

"Klayton LeBrey, what do you know about him?" I asked.

"I ain't telling you shit." He answers. I take the switch blade and put it against his neck pressing it against him hard.

"whoa w-whoa. Okay l-l-look im a low levler…I know of him but I've never met him in person. Just rumors about him ya know…" he said trembling.

"what rumors?" I hit his head against the wall again.

"I work for Big Jim, he's high level, he knows Klayton, he usually hangs out at The Klondike Bar." He snitched.

"Big Jim. Okay. This worked out better than I thought. I want you to send Big Jim a message." I say putting him down for a second. I take the switchblade away from his throat. I catch his hand and jab the knife deep into his hand. He screams in pain and falls to his knees.

"WHO ARE YOU MAN! WHAT THE FU…." He said trying to pry the knife from his hand.

I say nothing and continue down the alley and start turning back towards my apartment. I get back home in an hour and it is now 3 am. I lie back down in bed and close my eyes. Nothing gets me to sleep through the night like a good hunt.

Post A/N: All right so basically. I write this in the form of a movie. So for every major character I introduce I'll give you an actor or actress that would play this character.

James- A younger version of Eric Dane

James' mom- Meryl Streep

James' Father- Liam Neeson

Klayton LeBrey- Nelsan Ellis

Big Jim- Michael Clark Duncan

Cousin Kyle- Seth Rogen