Chapter 20
Arsen
Past
I kissed Val one last time before letting her go.
“I'll see you tomorrow for your birthday?” It was nearly three in the morning. Val meant later today, but I didn't correct her.
“Definitely.” I couldn't think of another person I wanted to spend the day with, or every day with. She opened the door to leave. Right before she slid out, I grabbed her hand. “Val, I...” The words I wanted to say were lodged uncomfortably in my throat for too long. “Thanks,” I wussed out and held up the pendant she gave me instead.
She kissed me on the cheek and hopped out of my truck. Her ruined dress train dragged behind her as she walked to the door. I could watch that girl forever. She looked back and smiled, then disappeared.
“I love you, Val.” The words finally came out, but she wasn't around to hear them.
Why couldn't I tell her? Was I too afraid? I sighed, then drove out of her long driveway, thinking that tomorrow was way too far away. I wasn't afraid of anything, my resolve hardened. I will tell her tomorrow.
When I arrived at my house I found a black Lexus idling in my spot. I knew immediately who it was, and part of me was glad for it. Now that I had a taste for it, I loved the idea of fighting for Valentine. She was mine, I wouldn't let anyone change that.
Hugh Dawson got out of his car, he'd been waiting for me.
I turned my truck off and walked over to him. It was kind of a surreal moment, it was like finding an angry George Clooney at your door in the middle of the night.
“What do you want, Hugh?” I cut right to it. Whatever this was, it ended tonight.
“You had your fun, Mr. Constantine. Now you're going to stay away from my daughter.” He stood in front of his headlights to look more menacing. He probably learned that on the set of one of his films.
“And why the hell would I do that?” I stood unfazed, refusing to be intimidated. He was just an a rich, spoiled actor. Our plumber had probably gotten into more real fights than Hugh ever had.
Hugh pulled a fat money clip from the breast pocket of his blazer. There must have been several thousand dollars in it.
“You think you can buy me?” I laughed. This asshole didn't know me at all. Despite how hard I fought against it growing up, my father instilled in me a sense of pride that couldn't be bought. “My father was a Marine. I'd never let him down by accepting your bribe.”
Hugh paused, slapping the thick clip of cash against his palm. “What is your plan, then, Hmm?” He looked me over, disdainfully. “You're a middling student, at best, with no future prospects to speak of; aside from a few wresting scholarships, which, you'll of course, squander. So that leaves you where, exactly? A future shift manager at the fast food chain down the road?”
“I'll figure something out.” I spat. “You're wasting your time here. Val already chose me over your bullshit.”
“Valentine?” It was Hugh that laughed this time. “She's a confused girl that needs structure and guidance.”
“I think you mean control.”
Hugh dismissed the clarification, I wondered if he even knew the difference.
“And if I say no?” I sized Hugh up. Hugh wasn't a small man, he was tall with a slender build. But if it came to blows, I would win. “What's stopping me from diving back over and picking her up? Val and I can be gone by dawn and there's not a thing you can do about it.”
“Aside from the fact that I legally own her for four more months?” Hugh didn't look concerned in the least. “Or that I'll lead a high profile manhunt to find you, which will result in you being arrested for kidnapping. And now that you're eighteen, you'll be tried as an adult thrown into prison.”
Shit, I hadn't thought of that.
“We'll just wait until she turns eighteen, then we'll run off together.” There was nothing illegal about two adults running off together. Even if Hugh didn't allow us to see each other in the mean time, I could wait for her.
Hugh smiled, it was a dark, knowing thing that put me on edge. It was the kind of smile that I imagined psychopaths had when they were about to run someone down with their car. “Your mother and I are going to get married, I'll see to that personally.”
“The fuck?” What the hell? I knew they occasionally did some work together, but that's a hell of a leap. “My mother's not famous, what could you possibly want from her?”
“You really have no idea how any of this works, do you?” Hugh's words were dry and wicked. “It's the Hollywood fairytale. I marry far beneath my own status, and instantly become relatable to the public, which in turn doubles my marketability. The grieving widow of a marine, no less. It's perfect for my image.”
“You have to know that I'll tell her everything you just said.”
“Why would you do that?” Hugh looked genuinely confused, as if the notion was absurd.
“You're kidding, right?”I expected him to attack me physically when I pulled in. That I could handle. I didn't know the rules of the game he was playing now. I was caught off guard by all of this. “Because you're a fucking lunatic. I would never let her marry you.”
“You would rob your mother of a life where she'll never have to worry about anything ever again?” Hugh's tone was so matter-of-fact that it sounded like he was reading the newspaper aloud. “Pamela needs financial security, stability and to be taken care of. All things that you couldn't possibly provide her. You're losing your house, did you know that? Where will she go once it's gone?”
The long silence that followed haunted me. She'd been working such long hours lately and just recently picked up a second job. Mom never let on that we were in that much trouble. I felt so stupid, how could I not know? Was I letting my own anger blind me? I loved my mom, she shouldn't have to work so hard just to scrape by.
“Face it, boy. I'm the best thing that will ever happen to her. There is no winning against me.” Hugh's tone never changed. His flat smile never faded. “If Valentine runs off with her future stepbrother, I will disown her. She'll be blacklisted from the industry and will never act in anything that matters. She will be a broken shell of a person, and you will be at fault.”
“Why are you doing this?” It seemed crazy that he could ever think about doing that to his own flesh and blood.
“To protect our family's legacy. If that means sabotaging Valentine's career...” Hugh let the implication linger, then shrugged indifferently.
“She's your own fucking daughter!” Outrage flared within me. Val deserved better than this. “Val's mother would be disgusted with you.”
“Valentine is no daughter of mine!” Hugh's calm demeanor snapped.
I must have really hit a nerve. 'No daughter of mine?' What did that mean?
“Holy shit. You blame Val for what happened to your wife, don't you?” What kind of monster blames a kid for something like that?
“By virtue of her inheriting the Dawson name,” Hugh collected himself, completely ignoring my accusation. “Valentine is eventually bound for a life of wealth and fame. Whereas, you've been arrested several times already. You're nothing more than a violent loser. What kind of life could you possibly give her?”
“You can't have her fucking up that last name of yours by hanging out with a 'loser', right?” I was angry. But not just at Hugh, I was angry because he was making sense. I felt like I had run into a dead end and now I lashed out because I didn't have any choice.
“Regardless of my motives, in the face of what either of us can actually provide, are you truly thinking of what's best for her?” Hugh paused, then drove the point home. “Or what's best for yourself?”
I swallowed hard. Hugh was an evil, self-serving asshole, but it was hard to disagree with the facts. What could I give her? I cared more about Val than anyone I'd ever known. Was I being selfish by staying in her life?
I thought about her last play, Romeo and Juliet. They chose each other and it ended so poorly for them. Val wouldn't die if I stayed, but her dream might. I couldn't live with myself if I crushed that sparkling hope in her eyes. I hadn't even known her for a full year. Who was I to do that to her?
Hugh saw that his words were having the effect that he wanted. He tossed the money clip at me, it bounced off my chest and landed on the pavement. “If you truly care for my daughter, do not force my hand.”
Whatever this game was, I had lost.
I stared at the bulging fold of cash on the ground, while Hugh got back into his Luxury car and drove off. I had to do what was best for Val. I kicked the bill fold onto the grass, then got back in my truck. Hugh might have been right, but he still couldn't buy me.
“I'm sorry, everyone.” I started the truck, having no idea where I was going. The only thing I knew was that I couldn't stay there any longer. The thought of Hugh and my mother made me sick and angry. And thinking of Val just made me sad. “I'm sorry, Val.
This wasn't my home anymore.
I tossed my cell phone onto the lawn as well. If it wasn't a clean break, I might have given in and come back. It was better for everyone if I left for good. I threaded Val's pendant to a shoelace and tied it around my neck. At least in this small way, she'd always be close to my heart.
Then I drove away.
Present
I tried like hell to stay away from her, but I couldn't.
This past week, I'd been going out of my mind thinking about what was going on at set. She never wanted to talk about work when she got home, but I could tell that it took a heavy toll on her. I packed her a lunch, it was a weak excuse, especially because all their meals were catered. I just needed to see her.
Everyone had just taken the lunch break when I walked into the warehouse set. I heard Val arguing with someone. Were they trying to change the script on her again? How long had this been going on? Goddammit, Val, why didn't you tell me?
I passed several elaborate sets inside the sound stage building. One was a courtyard, and one was lavish ballroom, all of which only worked from one angle. It was crazy to see the exterior of a massive stone castle wall, but when you rounded the corner, it was all just plywood and two by fours holding it up.
It was behind the castle set that I saw Val arguing with Phillip. Her fluffy blouse was ripped down the side. She had it pinned to her chest, to keep it from exposing her tits. Phillip was grabbing and groping at her.
Anger surged up the back of my neck, and my knuckles tightened. I took a step toward them, but forced myself to stop. What if they were rehearsing a scene?
Dammit, I hated this. Val was right, I couldn't be here. I'd always be a second away from snapping. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but I forced myself to turn around and walk away. I promised myself to support her, even if I didn't like it.
“Back the fuck off, Phillip!” Val's words were nearly a whisper, but there was unmistakable hardness in her tone.
Phillip was the actor's name, not the character's name! This asshole was really bothering her. That's all it took. When I turned back around I saw him, one hand down his pants, the other grabbing Val's ass. I lost it.
My eyes were burning with rage when they saw me. Phillip's no-one-will-know expression fell away. He immediately searched around for his entourage, but for once, they were nowhere to be found. He must've sent them away so he and Val could be alone.
Phillip had the balls to swing first, probably because he knew what was going to happen. I ducked it easily and whipped my elbow up into his chin. There was a sharp crack and Phillip's head whipped backwards, he was unconscious before he hit the ground. Disappointment washed over me, I hadn't had a good fight since becoming Val's bodyguard. And if anybody deserved to get their shit kicked in, it was this guy.
“Dammit, Arsen! Do you have any idea what you just did?” Val freaked out.
“That's the shittiest 'thank you' I've ever heard.” I said, rubbing the sting from my elbow. Phillip had an incredibly angular, boney features. I'd have liked to mess them up more, but not even I would attack an unconscious man.
“Oh my, God! I'm responsible for your actions while you're on set. Do you not get that? They could fire me for this!” She looked at Phillip on the floor and covered her nose and mouth.
“So what?”
“What?” Val's face puckered with indignation.
“You heard me.” It was one thing to support her dream and passion, but I couldn't stand around and watch her let people take advantage of her. “They've treated you like shit since you've been here. You come home feeling worthless every night. You don't deserve to be here, Val, surrounded by these pretentious assholes. You're not like them and you never will be. You're better this all this.”
Val's face was firm, but her eyes were floating in tears. “You should go, Arsen.” A tear broke free and streamed down her cheek. It took all the strength I had not to brush it away. “Leave now.”
“Fine.” I wasn't a fucking caveman, I wasn't going to drag her out by her hair. I was just disappointed in her, I thought she was smarter than this. Maybe it was myself I was disappointed with. I shouldn't have come back at all, what did I really expect? I didn't belong in this world. “I'm done, Valentine. I won't be at the apartment when you get back. I was wrong, looks like you'll fit in around here just fine.”
Later at the apartment.
“Yeah, it's me.” I was already on the phone with my contact, Malcolm, when I closed the apartment door behind me. Romeo greeted me with a crazily wagging tail. I scratched under his chin. At least someone was happy to see me. “I need a fight.”
“That's what you said last time,” Malcolm grumbled. “I had to cancel last minute. You made me look like an asshole.”
“I had this family thing, but that's over now.” I fed Romeo “Are you going to hook me up or not?”
After a short silence, Malcolm replied. “Tonight, south central LA. But Arsen, listen to me, this one's no joke. It's going to be a glass fight.”
I frowned. That was the most dangerous of the blood sports. It was the only kind of fight that I'd actually seen men die in. I thought of Val. This time she chose her career and hollow lifestyle over me. If I didn't have her, then what did I truly have left to lose? “Sign me up.”
Val kept a pad of paper on the counter. I tore a page off and scrawled out some instructions for Romeo... just in case I never made it back from the fight to pick him up. Then I wrote down the address Malcolm gave me. When I ended the call, I put it into my phone's GPS.
And just like that, for the second time in my life, I walked away from the one person I loved the most.