Chapter 47 Violet
Violet
The first thing I heard when I opened the door was whispers, and I immediately paused, concentrating to make sure I’d heard right. I’d known mum to whisper to the voices, but they’d never actually whispered back.
I found mum on the sofa, our landlord standing in front of her. Her posture was unnaturally stiff, her eyes glazed and distant, staring at nothing while Chuck grunted with his legs spread.
“Oh my God!” I cried, my voice sharp enough to make Chuck jolt like he’d been electrocuted. His sweaty, round face twisted in panic as he fumbled to shove his deflating dick back inside his trousers. “What are you doing here?”
“You… you’re back early,” he stammered, wiping his forehead before forcing a smirk that made my stomach revolt. “What are you doing here?”
I glanced at mum, who still hadn’t acknowledged anything, or anyone. “What were you doing to her?” I screeched, quickly going over to touch mum’s cheek. She blinked, but stared straight through me.
“This was our agreement,” Chuck grunted, folding his arms. “You really think I’d let you stay here for cheap otherwise?” His shirt clung to him, buttons straining against his gut.
“Get out!” I snapped, shoving him back with everything I had.
“Wait a fucking minute—”
“I said get—” I went to shove him again, but pain exploded through my cheek, white-hot as I stumbled sideways into the wall.
“That wasn’t very nice,” Chuck growled. “I give you a cheap place to stay, off the books, and this is how you thank me?”
“Thank you?” I wiped under my nose, smearing the blood with a shaking hand. “You were taking advantage of my mum!”
“This was the agreement.” His voice dropped low, dangerous. The space between us disappeared, and I pressed myself flat against the wall. “Now,” he said, his eyes dragging over me, “maybe you should apologise properly.”
“Don’t touch me,” I hissed, forcing my voice to stay steady even as my pulse hammered in my throat.
He smirked, the expression oily and smug. “The only reason you’d be home this early is because you’ve quit, or been fired.” Leaning in, the heat of his breath ghosted over my face. “So, tell me, babe. Without an income, how exactly do you plan on paying the rent?”
He leaned forward, and I turned my face to the side, my lungs struggling to fill with oxygen.
His fingers brushed my jaw. “I have a suggestion…”
“Touch her and you’re dead,” mum snapped, the words cutting through my panic.
Chuck spun, startled, to find her standing there with a knife in her hand.
“Step back. Now.” She looked weirdly calm, even if her eyes were hard, her dark curls wild around her face.
Chuck stumbled back, hands raised like that could save him. “Now, let’s all just calm down—”
“Get the fuck out!” Mum screamed, the sound sharp enough to rattle the windows.
She swung the knife wildly, the flash of steel catching the light as Chuck tripped over his own feet in panic. He hit the floor with a heavy thud, scrambling upright before bolting for the door. I rushed after him, slamming it shut the second he was through and twisting the lock until it clicked.
I pressed my forehead against the door, chest heaving, before finally turning back to mum. She was still standing there, the knife hanging loosely at her side as if nothing had happened.
“What the hell was that?” I shouted, my voice cracking, too loud for comfort. Any louder and the neighbours would be calling the police, and I couldn’t let that happen.
“Honestly, Violet, you’re overreacting.” Mum wrinkled her nose, glaring at the smear of blood on my face instead of answering. “You should really go clean up.”
“What were you doing with him?”
“What I had to.” She waved her hand, dismissing the question like it was trivial. “He threatened to expose us, said it was suspicious we wanted everything off the books. That we were running. I was keeping us safe. You safe.”
“You shouldn’t have had to do that.” My stomach turned, nausea surging at the thought. “This is why I said we should—”
“No!” she exploded, the same sharp, visceral reaction as the first time I’d dared suggest we change our appearance. I only mentioned a haircut. Then maybe dyeing it, going darker. But every time, she’d shut me down.
I closed my eyes, trying to calm this hurricane inside my chest. “You can’t do that again,” I said, my voice trembling despite how hard I tried to keep it level.
“You shouldn’t have to put yourself in that position.
I’ll get another job; I’ll work nights, days, whatever it takes. But you don’t do that again. Okay?”
She scoffed, lifting her chin like I’d just insulted her. “You seem to be forgetting that I’m the parent here.”
“That’s not what—” I stopped myself, swallowing down the lump in my throat. “Are you okay?” The question came out broken, almost a plea.
“Absolutely fine,” she said too quickly, too sharp. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“He… he didn’t…” I couldn’t say the words. “We’re going to need to leave tomorrow.”
Mum sniffed, the faintest pout forming on her lips, as if I’d suggested something ridiculous. “This wouldn’t have happened if you’d just stayed out of it.”
I forced myself to nod, knowing there was no point in arguing. She’d already rewritten what happened in her head, turning it into something her mind could handle.
Resentment flared, quickly followed with overwhelming guilt. I hated myself for both. Mum wasn’t to blame, not really. She was a victim in all of this, shaped by things I could only guess at. I was just collateral damage caught in the fallout.
“Now go clean yourself up,” she said, her tone suddenly cold, distant. Her gaze flicked over me, pausing on where I’d wiped across my upper lip. “You’re covered in blood.”
I turned toward the bathroom, because walking away was easier than admitting how terrified I was.
For her. For me. For how fast everything was falling apart.