Dom
AS WE LEAVE the house I look back at Chloe and Charity standing on the porch. The look on Chloe’s face is a picture and for a second I wonder if it’s sensible to leave them alone together. I look across at Mike—who was adamant he come along even though Andre said he wasn’t leaving the van in his physical state—I find him also looking back at them both, no doubt worried we will come back to a cat fight. I decide to give him an out.
‘Hey, Mike you sure you’re feeling up to doing this?’
‘What the fuck does that mean? I’ve told you already I’m going.’
I lower my voice ‘I’m just not sure it’s wise leaving them together.’ I throw him a look telling him what I mean. He gets it. And then he slows his pace.
‘You know what Andre I think it’s probably best if I stay behind.’ He calls out to Andre who’s leading the way.
‘I couldn’t agree more, you need the rest.’ Andre nods.
‘Somehow I don’t see me getting any rest with those two.’ He indicates their way discreetly. Andre chuckles and we wait while he heads back and I wave at Chloe while Charity throws her arms around Mike. I shudder at what Chloe must be thinking right now. As we get into Andre’s van he laughs out loud as he starts the van.
‘Glad I’m not the one dealing with that shit show,’ he says as we pull out of the drive.
‘I thought Chloe was going to lose her shit at dinner, the atmosphere was fucking awful,’ I agree.
‘I know! Why’d you think I ate at the breakfast bar.’ He grins. ‘I’m sure it will all work out for the best.’
‘Does Charity even know what we’re doing here?’ I ask.
‘She knows.’ He nods as we pull out of the small winding road.
‘And she’s okay with that? You know us killing her dad?’ I reiterate.
‘Look, all I know is he’s a bad motherfucker who tried to sell her like a possession.’
‘I guess, yeah… I can see why she’d be okay with it when you put it like that. So how sure are you that he’s there?’
‘I’m positive he was there earlier, whether he’s still there now? Not so sure, but I have eyes on the place and somewhere like that isn’t easy to get out of without being seen. I’m hoping we can put this shit to bed tonight.’
‘Here’s hoping.’
‘You okay with it?’
‘Killing Patrick?’ He nods. ‘Fuck no, I’m not, but I know it’s the only way so I’ve made my peace with it. I don’t know if this is your usual line of work but I’d be lying if I said the mere thought of ending another life doesn’t make me feel sick.’
‘It gets easier,’ he reassures me. But it doesn’t make me feel better about what I did or what we’re about to do. Its fucking hard, I see that man take his last breath every time I close my eyes. It’s not fun, and I truly hope that it does get easier. I try to change the subject.
‘How’s your husband?’
He side glances at me. ‘He’s fine.’
‘What’s his name?’
‘Greg.’ He looks at me again like he’s mildly amused at my line of questioning.
‘Cool, you been married long?’
‘Two years’
‘Who asked who?’
‘Are you nervous?’
‘Just trying to lighten the mood and make things easier, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.’
‘I asked him, in Paris on the Passerelle des Arts bridge we’d just put our padlock on there and as he threw the key into the river I got down on one knee.’
I smile. ‘That’s real romantic, I wouldn’t have guessed you’d be the romantic type.’
‘Yeah I’m not just a bodyguard and personal hit man.’
‘Definitely more than a pretty face, huh.’ We both laugh. As we near the spot he’d chosen for us to watch from he gets quiet and I’m glad because as we pull to a stop I swallow and try to get in my own headspace. Mentally prepare for what I hope ends tonight.
***
Chloe
I stand in the doorway and watch the love of my life pull away down the drive. Not knowing what will happen is killing me. Him being with Andre makes me feel a little better, but hell, look what happened to my dad. Some things are just avoidable.
My heart sits painfully in my stomach. I turn as they disappear from sight and come face to face with Charity in my father’s arms. Quickly walking past, them, I try to make my way through the doorway only to be stopped by Dad’s hand on my shoulder.
‘Please don’t run, Chloe.’ His eyes plead with mine.
‘I just can’t right now, Dad. I’m sorry.’ My tears begin to fall as soon as the bedroom door closes behind me. Never in a million years did I ever expect to be in this type of situation. Never in a million years did I expect to fall in love with a stranger. Yes, we’ aren’t strangers anymore, but I’d be lying to myself if I said I hadn’t loved him from the beginning. My Colton in shining armour. My saviour. My love.
Wiping the tears from my cheeks, I suck it up and start gathering my clothes to shower and get ready for bed. Granted, I don’t think I’ll be getting much sleep, but I have to try in case Dom needs me when he returns. I pull some pyjama pants out of the drawer and am reaching for a tee when I spot Dom’s shirt laying on the dresser in a crumpled-up mess. I grab it and head across the hall to the bathroom.
‘Chloe wait. Can we please talk, honey?’ My dad catches me just as I get one foot into the bathroom.
‘I’m about to shower, can it wait?’
‘Can you meet me in the living room when you’re done?’ Wetness pools in his eyes and the softie inside of me relents.
‘Yes.’
‘Okay. Good. Great. I’ll see you in a little bit. I can see if I can find some hot cocoa in the cupboards. It can be like old times.’ Old times… Pish posh, not in this lifetime, but I will hear him out, again.
My shower is longer than I expected. The house is quiet and it’s starting to get dark outside by the time I emerge. The hairs on the back on my neck stick up and my ears go on alert. I know my dad wouldn’t go to bed before talking to me. Not with the look he’d on his face before walking away. I take the steps down slowly, trying to be as quiet as I can. I could be overreacting, but the feeling in my stomach tells me different. When I get to the hallway, I turn cautiously to the right, towards the kitchen. Just as I’m turning, a dirty, stinky hand comes across my mouth and pulls my hands behind me. From that smell alone, I know exactly who it is.
‘I’m going to take my hand off of your mouth. Don’t try screaming or you’ll regret it.’ He moves his hand from my mouth but keeps a tight grip on my arms.
‘We’re in the middle of nowhere. Who do you expect to hear me scream? And after all these times you’ve already kidnapped me, have I screamed even once?’
‘Just shut up. All this hiding and running I’ve been doing isn’t allowing me to think clearly. And you know how I get when I can’t think clearly.’ Patrick runs the tips of his fingers down my cheek and then caresses my neck. I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I sure as hell don’t like the direction it’s going. All my time spent with him and he’s never attempted to get this close. He really must be scattered. All the sudden I hear someone struggling in the corner of the kitchen I try and glance over, only to see Dad on the floor.
‘Dad.’ I yell over to him and Patrick clamps his hand back over my mouth.
‘Now now, little missy, I thought I said no yelling.’ That’s when it hits me. He really is a vile man. He’s going to molest me in front of my father as some form of payback. Is he going to rape me? I struggle against his grip and my knees give out under me. He releases my mouth and both hands grab me under the arms.
‘Where’s Charity? Did you take her?’
‘Don’t worry where the fuck my daughter is. At this point, sweetheart, I think you need to worry about yourself.’ His foul whisky breath hits my nostrils as he bellows in my face.
‘Get off me!’ I yell back at him. A loud bang echoes and I see my dad hit his head on the bottom cabinet in the kitchen. His eyes close as if he’s knocked himself out from struggling so hard. ‘Come on, Patrick, you know you’ve never gone this far before. My dad is unconscious, there’s no one to get back at right now. You have Charity. Please just stop.’
‘Oh no, sweet pea. I’ve already started. And believe me, I always finish the things I start.’ He tosses me up against the breakfast bar and pushes my head down towards the surface. My pyjama pants are yanked down and he grinds his hard-on against my ass. Bile rises in my throat and I turn my head to try to bring in air. Oh my God is this really going to happen? After all this time, I thought this was all coming to an end. When I hear his zipper going down, I try and struggle back against him, but immediately halt as I realize it’s turning him on more.
Please Dad, come to. I need you right now more than I ever have!