Chapter 9

Riley walked out of the bar not angry or running for once. She had requested to be dropped off before the guys set out on their little mission. Her conscience was the majority in her brain now and if she couldn't talk Billy out of it, she just wouldn't be a part of it.

Wandering around the apartment, Riley started thinking again. She was thinking about Joe and the river, the day they first met. She was thinking of the day when he introduced her to Billy and then afterwards when he praised and scolded her for not being scared of him.

Joe had waited almost a year before letting Riley tag along with him. She had taken up house in an old apartment building that Joe was providing for her. He would visit her everyday, hanging out with her for most of the time before taking her back and making sure she didn't leave again until he showed up the next day. There were even a couple instances when Joe didn't show up for a couple days, although she never worried, he always seemed to come back.

He dragged her along the sidewalk, outside the front of her building. She was almost thirteen, and already as strong as Joe, if not stronger. She had been begging him for weeks, almost months, to let her know what he did when he wasn't with her. He had finally given in to her constant nagging and whining.

Now he dragged her up the street. They walked for maybe fifteen minutes before Joe stopped, looking at the abandoned mental hospital. Riley's hand immediately latched onto his and held on tight. Joe gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, which relaxed Riley completely. She had never really been scared of anything before, why should she be now.

"What is this?" She asked, letting go of his hand and wandering up the steps.

"The Office." Joe replied with such confidence that she would have believed him even if he called it the white house.

"And what do you do in this office?"

She wasn't stupid. She knew that he was involved in drugs and whatnot. He tried his best to hide it but she was a very intelligent twelve-year-old. She figured he didn't actually do the drugs as much as he sold and trafficked them.

"Make stuff."

He was trying to make his lifestyle seem less dangerous than it was. The best he could come up with was 'make stuff'. She snorted at his answer but received a glare almost instantaneously.

He stepped up behind her and grabbed her wrist, lurching her forward. He was walking extremely fast now, down the dark and damp hall towards a large, square room right in the center of everything. She held her breath after catching a whiff of the smell. Joe just snickered at her.

He stopped pulling her and let go when he got halfway into the square room, spotting six or seven other guys. Riley's eyes widened and she started to look around. She was oblivious to the death glare she was getting from one guy, Joe reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her back towards him. She looked at the group and locked eyes with Billy Darley.

"Joe get you're girlfriend out of here." The one glaring at her said.

"Billy wait a second." Joe was pleading.

"What Joe?"

"Joe you're going to take that from him?" Riley broke her stare with him and glanced at Joe.

"Billy this is Riley, Riley, my brother Billy." Joe looked at Riley then at Billy then back to Riley.

"Joe why'd you bring her here?" Billy asked, his anger rising.

"Look Buddy, why you gotta be so mean?" She asked, trying to step towards him, Joe pulled her back.

"What are you four?" Billy spat out at her.

"Twelve, almost thirteen." She was giving him attitude right back.

"Joey, come here."

Joe looked at his brother and complied with his demands. He left Riley standing there by herself, a few of the gang members looking at her, trying to figure out what was going on. Billy grabbed Joe by the arm and shoved him into a corner where he proceeded to poke and prod him, telling him off for bringing the girl.

Riley walked forwards and stopped only when she was a foot away from the group of guys. They all looked at her but one guy stepped away and bent down.

"I'm Heco." He introduced himself.

"Name's Riley." Riley stuck her hand out to him and he took it, shaking it lightly.

"Well, these guys are my friends Spink, Jamie, Tommy, Bodie, Baggy and Dog."

There was a simultaneous 'hey' from the guys. Riley looked at them, smiled at them and then waved at them.

"How are you in the kitchen?" Heco asked her.

"I love cooking!" She replied, her eyes wide with excitement.

Heco stood up straight and glanced at Billy, he was still telling Joe the rules in the back corner. Heco then looked at the contraption he was set to use to make his share of drugs. Heco took Riley by the hand and urged her forward, towards a stool. He helped her up onto it and started to walk her through the way to make drugs.

Joe looked over Billy's shoulder and his eyes widened. He watched for a few minutes, ignoring Billy all together. Billy caught him not listening but followed Joe's gaze and spotted Riley, sitting there, content as ever, just making him product.

"Joe." Billy started, grabbing him by the shoulder and pushing him towards her.

Joe almost smiled, watching as Heco praised her for her good job. Billy walked up and stood behind Heco and Riley, watching carefully. Joe broke free of Billy's grasp and leaned in close to Riley. He set his hand on her shoulder and she looked at him. Joe smiled at her. The sentimental moment was forgotten as Billy shoved Heco away and set his hand on the back of her neck, squeezing it slightly. Riley turned her head and glared at him.

"Get your hands off me!" She screamed, standing up and trying to shove him. He barely moved but he did let go of her neck.

"Joe!" Billy yelled, "Get her out of here!"

Joe lunged forward, grabbing her arm. He pulled her out of there faster than anything he had ever done before. He pulled her as Billy kept muttering, swearing at her occasionally. As much as Billy hated to admit it, she deemed a valuable skill to him.

Joe walked with her back to the apartment she was living in before sitting down beside her on the couch. He turned his head to look at her, she smirked at him.

"Please don't ever talk to Billy like that again."

"Well someone has to stand up for you." She retorted.

"Just please don't make him angry."

"Fine Joe." She rolled her eyes. She wasn't going to just let Billy push her, or Joe, around so easily anymore.

Riley fell onto the couch and sighed before letting out a laugh. She never did keep that promise to Joe, in fact, she did the complete opposite. She argued with Billy many times, even the first day that she started 'working' for him. She spent most of the first few months in the office, cooking up the product for him to sell. She even remembered one time when he had actually complimented her on how good of a job she had done.

It was never Joe's intention for her to get caught up with him and his brother, not in the slightest. It just happened that way. If it were completely up to Joe, he would have kept her clueless to what he did at nights, or the people that he hung out with. It was her own fault; she begged and pleaded with him to let her know what the big secret was. It was her biggest regret, but at the same time, her favourite mistake.