asked once he felt they were at a safe distance.
“Looks like it,” Solomon said as he searched the small bag.
“So we got it all?”
“We got it all,” Sam smiled, “looks like you're in.”
Jake couldn't help but smile as well. A chuckle escaped him. The chuckle turned to a laugh. The laugh brought a pain into his ribs.
“Let's get you home,” Solomon said.
The next morning Charlie and Harry found Jake sleeping on their couch. A jab in the shoulder woke him with a start. “How you feeling princess?” Harry asked.
A smile spread across Jake's face as he sat up. “Excellent,” he replied as he emptied the contents of his pillow case onto the coffee table. “Fifty-grand,” he announced proudly.
“Wow,” they both stared at the money.
“I'm impressed,” Charlie said.
“So I'm in?” Jake asked. The glance Charlie and Harry shared didn't look promising.
“We've thought about it, a lot,” Charlie began, “and we agree that it's too dangerous. You're not ready. I mean look at what's happened already, I don't think it's a smart move.”
“Are you kidding me?” Jake shot off the couch.
“Relax,” Harry spoke, “we're doing this because we care about you. It's dangerous what we do. You got a broken hand this time, we weren't there to protect you. What if it's serious next time?”
“I can take it,” Jake said.
“Sorry Jake. Maybe next year. Good news though, we found the guys that jumped you, we got the cash back, or at least most of it. But we do need to take two-grand out, for Theo.” Charlie said.
Jake fell back into the couch and ran his hands through his hair. “I don't care, keep it all.”
Harry already had the two-grand in his pocket. He took something from the fridge, a small object wrapped in red-stained cloth inside a zip-lock plastic bag. “I'll grab Theo and take care of this. You stay here and cheer him up.” Harry said before he left.
“You should be proud of what you've done,” Charlie said. “Let's go and drop this money off then have a drink at Dempsey's”
It didn't take much convincing to get Jake to start drinking. His pouty silence was something his brother had gotten used to whenever he was upset. They dropped off the money anonymously and watched Father Doug's reaction from a distance. A fraction of a grin spread across Jake's face for a moment.
A few hours later Harry and Theo joined them in Dempseys. Harry could guess the copious amounts of alcohol Jake must have already ingested from his slurred speech and delayed reactions.
“How'd it go?” Charlie asked.
“Interesting,” Harry replied. “I think he offered me a job. Don't think he was happy with Ivan.”
“Yeah I don't blame him after how you showed him,” Theo added.
“Hmm... What'd you say?”
“Not interested. He need another drink?” Harry motioned to Jake.
“A few more should do it,” Charlie replied as he signaled the bartender.
“Ooh, she's new,” Harry said as the young brunette made her way over.
“What can I do for you guys?” she smiled.
“You can start with a name,” Harry smiled back.
“Becky.”
“Well Becky, I'm Harold, this is Charles, and this inebriated fellow here is Jacob, we are pleased to meet you. If you don't mind, we will take three beers and three shots of bourbon please.”
“Such a gentlemen,” she smiled.
Jake's drunken eyes slowly focused on the woman standing before him. “Wow, you're pretty,” he slurred.
“And there goes the magic,” Harry laughed.
“I'll go get your drinks,” she said as she walked away.
Jake watched her go, then turned his head back to Charlie and Harry. “Oh” hiccup “god, she's so pretty.”
“So ask her out,” Harry said. “Maybe you'll finally pop your cherry.”
“Shut up,” Jake said as he turned red.
“Hey guys, I want to say thank you. I don't know what I would have done without your help, I'd be short a finger or two.”
“Don't mention it, it's what we do,” Charlie said.
“I know, so how much do I owe you?”
“Whatever you can afford, and whenever you can afford it.”
“You can start with getting the next round of drinks,” Harry added.
The next morning Jake woke up on the floor beside the couch. His head throbbed, a combination of the alcohol and painkillers, his ribs and his left hand ached. “Ahh,” he winced when a brand new pain presented itself. His finger tips felt the right side of his torso, a fresh stinging pain spread at the touch. “What the hell?” he said to himself. He lifted his shirt and looked down expecting to see a gash of severe proportions. A white bandage was taped onto his skin with the words 'You've earned it' written in black marker. He picked at the corner and slowly ripped away the bandage, revealing the moist ink of a new tattoo; the Roman numeral III. A smile spread across his face, while at the same time he wracked his mind to remember the application process. A familiar sensation emerged at the bottom of his throat, without hesitation Jake rushed for the toilet and filled it with his stomach contents. Once he was done, he rested against the bathroom wall and smiled.
He climbed to his feet and stood before the mirror. He stared at the new tattoo, his grin reached from ear to ear. He rinsed his mouth and walked out into the living room. A yellow envelope by the door caught his attention. He opened the door and looked down the empty hallway. He bent down and scooped up the envelope. Inside he found a handful of freshly printed photographs. Photo's of him, Sam and Solomon all huddled around the back of a car. He recognized the place, the underground parking garage, the last drop. The pictures came with a note.
“Now I have photo's of you too.”
I hope you enjoyed “Initiation,” The Favour Men will return. To be kept in the loop on when or to read the next short, “The Favour Men: Lost & Found,” visit www.thefavourmen.com. Thank you for reading.
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