[M4A] A very dangerous debt

The neighborhood was the kind of place people moved to when they wanted to pretend the world outside didn’t exist, neat lawns, clean driveways, little trees planted in perfect lines along the sidewalks. Quiet. Safe. Soft. I hated places like that.

I parked across the street and sat behind the wheel for a moment, looking at the house John had been hiding in. Two stories, pale siding, family car in the driveway. It didn’t fit the man I remembered, the coward who used to sweat through business meetings and shake whenever money got tight. Somehow he’d managed to build himself a normal little life while owing me a fortune.

I got out of the car and walked up the driveway slowly, letting my shoes scrape against the concrete. The afternoon sun was hot against the back of my neck, but I barely noticed it. I was already thinking about John’s face when he saw me again.

I knocked once.

A few seconds later the door opened, and instead of John, I found myself staring at his wife.

Lauren.

Forties maybe, thick red hair falling over one shoulder, tight tank top stretched across a curvy body that she clearly knew men looked at. Freckles dusted her chest and cheeks, and there was something tired in her eyes that told me life with John probably hadn’t turned out the way she imagined.

She looked me over carefully, hesitation creeping into her expression.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for John.”

“He’s at work right now,” she said. “You can come back later.”

Her voice was polite, but cautious. Smart woman.

My eyes drifted over her body for a second longer than necessary, and I saw her notice it immediately. I smiled anyway, slow and unreadable.

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I’ll do that.”

Before I could turn away, I heard another car pull into the driveway behind me. Lauren glanced past my shoulder.

“Kids are home.”

I looked back as a boy and girl climbed out of the car.

The son, Toby, was tall and good looking, soft around the edges in a way that made him seem younger than eighteen. Pretty almost. The daughter looked more like her mother, red hair, pale skin, freckles across her nose, cute enough to make people underestimate her.

They slowed when they saw me standing there.

“Toby, Mia,” Lauren said, forcing a smile, “this is Matteo. He’s here to see your father.”

The boy nodded awkwardly. Mia studied me longer, curiosity written all over her face.

I gave them both a small smile, then looked back at Lauren.

“Tell John I stopped by,” I said. “And tell him I’ll be back later.”

I held her gaze for another second before turning and walking back to my car, leaving all three of them standing in the doorway watching me go.

(Would like to play as matteo and looking for someone to play from thr pov of one of the other characters)