Bound by Blood

1

Autumn was his favorite season because it was her birthday. He had been counting down the days for years in his kitchen calendar, an 'x' to cross out each each day. It drew closer and closer to where November 16th was circled 7 times over, only a week left. The present he bought over 4 months ago still sat hidden in the back of his closet. 

Daniel crossed out another day on the calendar, a grin spreading across his slim face. 

He was allowed one visit a month. 

He had scrounged up the courage to admit he had a little problem when it came to Kitty, but that wouldn't stop him from spending a weekend at her home with his mother and stepfather. He hadn't visited since August to make sure he would get the full three days to be around her. 

He fixed his tie in the mirror by his front door, pushing back his hair to slick it further in its grease. His water was turned off a week ago, the power still barely holding on in the shit apartment he could barely keep. 

He let out a puff of air, grabbing his office bag and slinging it over his shoulder, further wrinkling his navy shirt. His suit jacket was stained, and he couldn't risk a promotion over it. With lay offs, movements, and police raids, the Jefferson Company was crumbling under his feet, even as a coffee runner. But, if every one else was fired above him, he would move up to sales and afford to wear something other than jeans dark enough to hide the dirt and grime. 

He was already running late, like usual, the last of his money spent quickly on a single black coffee from the cafe in the lobby of his apartment building. He rushed outside, bag hitting his hip as he jogged to catch up to the bus pulling to a stop a few yards away. Without anyone getting on, the bus continued without him. 

"Wait!" he shouted, picking up his pace and running to catch up. 

He reached for the edge of the bus, slapping it with his palm before he tripped forward and landed in the curb. The coffee popped open and splashed his shirt, staining the fabric quickly. 

He sighed, huffing loudly. The next bus wouldn't be there for another half hour, he would be at the building by then. He pushed himself to his feet, brushed the dirt from his jeans, and began walking. He was quick, pushing past people and shouldering them as he did. Daniel didn't pause at stoplights, jogging through them when there were no cars around. As he started crossing the street to get to the high office building, a car came at him. Daniel jumped back as the car came to a halt. 

"Fucker," he cursed, slamming his fist into the hood of the fancy car, actively denting in the hood. 

He continued onto the sidewalk, slapping his key card against the scanner as he pushed the revolving door hard. He didn't even look at the front desk woman as he walked to the elevator. Daniel impatiently pressed the button over and over again until the elevator showed up, stepping in and pressing his buttons the same. 

He was a wreck, but one thing kept that malicious grin on his face: Kitty. It would only be another six days and she would be eighteen. 

He knew the rules. 

He knew he couldn't step over the line until she was of age, and now she finally would be. 

Daniel scrubbed his stubble on his chin with his palm, wiping the grin off his face with the ends of his fingers as the elevator dinged and opened at his floor. 

The office was beyond packed, clients angrily shouting into their phones and holding briefcases as they waited outside a conference room, interns running rampant as they dropped papers in their trail to rush behind a salesman. 

Daniel walked comfortably through the people, giving important people a nod as he passed. His "desk", a little table sitting in the restroom hallway, was at thievery end of the floor, past real offices and cubicles. In his eyes, the table was the best thing about the job. Once he was there, no one realized he was at work in the first place and he could continue on with his mission of stalking his mothers Facebook account for any updates on Kitty.