He Needs Me (Wattys 2020)

2

Gently closing the door I smiled at dad, he was laying on the sofa with his eyes half-open. The stress of not being able to pay the bills and pay back our debt has gotten to him deeply.

No one but me has seen this side of him, women are still trying to get with him thinking he's so happy. It's actually funny, my dad a 42-year-old man gets so much attention from women it makes his friends jealous.

It's because he's mixed race, the look attracts. With his dark Afro, caramel coloured skin and blue eyes, he stands out. When he was younger he could have become a model and made us RICHHHH. I wish I inherited dads looks, instead I've gotten my mothers European ish features with a dark skin tone. My dark skin tone is my favourite part.

" dad what do you want for dinner?" I asked sauntering into the adjoining kitchen, dad sat up and rubbed his forehead tiredly.

"Before that, I have to tell you something" he said standing up and moving towards me. Halting my actions I leaned against the barstool on edge. "I've got a new job"

As soon as the word job registered in my brain I ran towards him squealing. He's got a new job! It's been 2 years since he's even attempted to get work.

"Speaking of jobs here's money from my latest job and what's your job dad!!" I squealed throwing the envelope in his hands. I expected a massive smile and excitement but instead I greeted with a blank almost sad stare.

I placed my hands on my hips, somethings wrong. His forehead lines stood out as he leaned back. The smile dropped from my lips slowly.

Dad would never be sad about getting a job. Confusion took over as he pulled out a letter from his pocket. Placing it in my hand he motioned for me to read.

Curtis Campbell,

Your daughter managed to pay £96,300 last year, your total now comes up to

£115,347.32

Since there is no sign of you paying me back the rest of the money you're going to work for me, slowly pay off your debt.

You cannot reject this offer, one of my men will be coming by at 9 am tomorrow to collect you.

Anger coursed through my body as I read the letter over and over again. He cannot work for these men. I can't let him.  Throwing the letter on the table I grabbed dad's shoulders confidently.

"dad don't worry, I'm going to sort something out ok"

His eyes immediately widened, he stood up harshly pacing the small room in a panic.

" Storm I am not going to let you do this ok, you already work alongside the Carter's for ends meat, I will not allow you to work off my damn debt!"

"Our debt dad! You took that money because we needed it, WE. not you so we're gonna pay it off together ok. I'm 23, I just got out of the army and I can do a lot more than you. He needs me dad" I yelled angrily, I despise it when dad blames himself, I'm at fault too.

He borrowed that money so WE could live, so he could feed US.

They need me not him, over time I've gathered more than enough information on these guys. They're specialists in heists and so am I, for the past 4 years I've practised, in the army I took many spare classes on hacking and basic knowledge. I knew one day they'd come knocking and here they are.

The only issue is they weren't supposed to go to dad, what's a 42-year-old man going to do for them.

I'm the one they need and they'll find that out soon enough, I thought tiredly.

Running a hand through my knotted curly hair I slapped a large smile on my lips for morale.

" don't worry about this right now, let's order some pizza" I mumbled heading towards the home phone.

.....

During dinner I couldn't help but let my thoughts drift back to the gang. Apparently they're the biggest in the UK with a mix of Italian, Russian, Albanian and the damn Yakuza.

The Russians run this branch apparently and they're said to be the most ruthless out of them all. They've not really been messed with but now they're asking for it.

They should have just left dad out of this and I would have figured something out but whilst I was in the army they made his life hell.

I almost went AWOL a couple of times because they went too far.

He was so scared to go out of the house I had to hire someone to buy and make him dinner, this only resulted in him getting even more depressed. They basically ruined his damn life and no one hurts my only family.

It was hard to protect him when I was a hundred miles away. They're all going to pay for hurting dad, I don't care how much power these men have, no one gets away with hiring him.

I've prepared for years for this and no one can ruin it, I will get rid of this debt for good. There's absolutely no way I will fail this job.

Being the only women in the game in my ends makes me known, not known by face but name. Go to the East end estate and ask about Stormi, you'll either get someone saying "prostitute Stormi?" Cause there is a girl

But most say "oh Carters girl" I hate being known as Carters girl but Jamal told me this is the way I must be known in order to stay protected and protect dad.

" Storm" dad muttered from beside me, dragging my eyes away from the tv I turned towards him with a smile. Dad gently placed my hand in his.

" I don't know what I'd do without you"

" I don't know what I'd do without you either dad"