Chapter 1 #2
Every time I thought about how Sally let him get away with that shit, I’d almost explode. It was the same with me. After Dad died, she’d let her boyfriends go for me and not say a word. I was just the protégé she used when she needed a kid to back her up during a scam.
My sisters always easily found the phone after Terry confiscated it. Terry’s mistake was hiding it in shitty locations before throwing himself back into his ratty armchair to stare at the TV after he’d worn himself out.
“But we’re running low again, Dom,” Terry sighed heavily. “Car tax has gone up, and the price of food is just getting ridiculous, y’know?”
I held back my scowl, watching him closely. Either Sally hadn’t told him about the last money I’d sent, which was entirely possible, or he genuinely thought I was that dumb, even after all these years of knowing me.
He continued, “If you could transfer a bit more to tide us over, it would make everything so much easier.”
“Really? That’s fascinating. Because Sally has been sending me pictures of all the amazing things she’s been buying with that ￡10,000 I sent last month.”
Janie squeaked as the screen bounced around, and Terry rounded on her. His palm slammed against the desk in their bedroom. “Shut the fuck up!” he shouted at them before turning back to me.
And he didn’t even hesitate.
“Yeah, well, we had to pay to repair the roof, and we had another problem with the car, and the insurance is just insane.”
“Then send me the bills, and I’ll take care of it.” This conversation was a carousel. Every time I spoke to either of them, it went back to the beginning, and round we went again.
“Ah,” he hesitated. “Why don’t you just transfer the money? Saves you having to go through all those pesky details and whatever.”
They were both the same. Only Terry would blow that money on the horses as soon as it hit the account and then rage at me when I cut them off. I couldn't believe that was where all the money went. I was sure they were up to something else, but Grace couldn't find any digital trace.
“Dom!” Tammy’s voice cut through over the phone. “When are we going to see you again? It’s been ages. Like, since Christmas.”
“Yeah!” Janie said. “You keep promising to come home but never do!”
“Will. You. Both. Shut. Up.” Terry yelled, this time his hand slapping so hard against the wall that the window next to him rattled.
I closed my eyes briefly, keeping myself restrained. Terry was back in view, a disgusting smile on his face.
“Yeah, it would be so good to see you.” He showed off his yellowed teeth as he lied straight through them.
The thought had been drifting around my mind since Christian proposed getting away. Seeing my family would definitely be safer than going on the run from the mafia, at least physically.
But it was a sliding scale. I could stay in London and watch the fallout of the biggest lie I’d ever told, or go home and endure the endless layers of bullshit my ‘parents’ would pile on me.
The only good thing about going home was seeing my sisters, and I was usually willing to risk it.
But I was so pent up with everything happening here that I didn’t know if I’d be able to keep calm if Sally and Terry started on me.
“Yeah, that’s not a bad idea, actually,” I said. I knew it would just get my sisters’ hopes up, but it was worth it to see Terry’s tiny pupils flare. He hated when I went back, especially because I spent the money myself, instead of giving him and Sally free rein over it.
“I’ll need to arrange it with work, but—”
“Oh my God, Dom! Are you serious?” Tammy exploded.
“That would be so amazing! We’ve been waiting for you to come for ages!” Janie burst out in excitement.
Another slam against the desk and they were silenced instantly. I just hoped the promise of me returning would keep Terry down for now. It didn’t take much to set him off, but he could direct his anger at me instead of them.
“When’d you think you’d be coming?” he growled.
“I can’t say. But don’t worry about me. I can book a room somewhere.
You wouldn’t want me cramping up the house, would you?
” The one that was conveniently small which they deliberately kept to stay on benefits.
I was so tempted to report them, to send evidence of the bank account we shared, but I couldn’t guarantee my sisters would be safe.
And that was how they kept getting me. If only I could get them out of there, I could take care of them properly.
He glowered at me as the phone shook in his meaty paw. “Well, we probably won’t have time to see you.”
The girls protested, but he glared at them again. I just hoped he chose to go and get shitfaced down the pub and ended up with another black eye instead of turning on Tammy and Janie.
They said he had never hit them, but I'd been around guys like Terry my whole life. He beat me when I still lived with them, and guys like him didn't stop using their fists just because their main target left.
“What a shame,” Terry chuckled. “Because I would so love to know if you've been a bad boy. You know how I feel about you acting out.”
“Don't bother. We both know you aren't the brains of the operation.”
He kept his puffy lips fastened shut.
Sally and Terry thought they were vicious, and they had ruined people to get what they wanted, but they didn’t know the people I did. They had no idea about Christian’s connections, or how Grace could annihilate them if I asked. I was a fucking saint to put up with it for so long.
“I hope they have a good time at the party, is that clear?” I wasn't going to fuck around, especially after he had just been shouting at them. They deserved a place where they didn’t have to worry about what was waiting for them when they got home. I just wished I could give that to them.
“Yeah, I hear you.”
“Wonderful,” I said. Terry opened his mouth to continue, but I was done. “Lovely speaking to you, Terry, as always.” I raised my voice. “And you two! I’ll see you soon, okay?”
Their chorus of “Yes!” left me with a smile, even though I was leaving them alone with him.
I’d put money aside so the girls could travel, go to uni, or whatever they wanted when they were old enough to get the fuck out of that house.
Now that I’d mentioned it to them, the possibility was there. I’d poked fun at Christian for asking me to run away with him, but maybe that was the best thing I could do. Because would Harry ever see me again?
As if on cue, Molly’s phone dinged, and I swallowed, my anticipation bubbling as I reached for it.
It didn’t matter how fucked up it was. I’d already crossed the line. Now I wanted to see how far I could run before the rope that kept me bound to him strangled me.