Page 77 of Perfect

So, Connor’s dad was called Carter. It didn’t sound like your usual thug type of name.

I frowned, thinking about his comment about the house; did he mean like witness protection places, or was that another TV thing? I shuffled back in my seat, contemplating his words.

Tom cleared his throat before explaining. “Carter put Connor in hospital and was arrested for a short time, so I heard.” His voice was reflective, as if he was still processing Connor’s uncomfortable past.

“How the hell did Carter find them if they were supposed to be in hiding? Does he have contacts in high places or something?”

“No, it was quite clever really. Simple Ella said.” Tom placed his hands back on the steering wheel, the skin was so smooth on his knuckles, the total opposite of Connors.

“Supposedly, Carter phoned their house pretending to be someone else and got the address from the housekeeper. Something like that, I think?”

I bobbed my head, digesting what he had shared. Sounded fairly simple to me, but there was a strange sensation twisting in my belly like I’d forgotten something. Like when you leave a light on at home or have misplaced your phone.

To add to that, it stung again that Connor appeared to have shared his life story with Ella. The girl obviously filled a void I couldn’t.

“Holy crap. Sneaky bastard,” I whispered, suddenly feeling drained.

I inhaled slowly and shot Tom a look. “Anyway, someone is home as the lights are on. I better go,” I said, flicking my head towards the house. “Thanks for being a friend.”

“Just a friend?” he put in softly with a kind smile.

I mirrored his look and understanding flowed between us. “Yes, and a very good one.”

Tom nodded his head, his face an open book before he replied in a low voice. “He’s a lucky guy, I just hope he doesn’t fuck it up.”

It was still strange hearing Tom swear. I decided against replying and patted his leg, silently thanking him for his support. He had obviously accepted that there could be nothing between us now. He must have realised I had genuine feelings for my stepbrother having seen how I’d reacted to the news of his abuse.

Tom pecked me on the cheek and I climbed out of the car and started off up the driveway, the gravel crunching under my feet. I could see the lights from the main house through the hedge.

I so hoped that Rachel and my dad were still out and I had the chance to speak with Connor alone. Not necessarily about what I had learned tonight. I needed to find the right time if I was ever going to encouragethatconversation.

As I rounded the corner, I could hear voices, raisedangryvoices and I rushed towards the sound. The noise was coming from two men who were squaring up circling each other in the yard, light from the house highlighting their rigid bodies. One was Connor and the other a stranger, tall and dark and scary looking. I didn’t recognise him as one of the farm hands. I briefly noted the parked blue van which I didn’t recognise by the barn.

What the actual fuck? I forced oxygen into my lungs and willed myself to calm the hell down.

It took me all of five seconds to process who he was, the two faces were almost identical, but the man I identified as Connor’s father was bigger and much meaner looking. He grunted and fell backwards as his son suddenly rushed him, shouldering him in the stomach, and panic clawed up my spine.

I yelled for them to stop and forced my feet to move, running towards them, my breath almost trapped in my throat, choking me. They were both on the ground rolling around, each trying to get on top of the other, blind punches catching skin and bone. There was blood on Connor’s nose and I felt a surge of helplessness.

I screamed at them again, circling their entwined bodies, but my voice was ignored and the grunts and growls continued.

Terror clutched me. They were likeanimals; it was hard to believe they were even related. How could two people with the same blooddothis to each other?

Connor angled his body and jetted to his feet before throwing a punch that hit his father directly on the jaw, knocking the older man to his knees.

“Stay down or I’ll knock you the fuck out,” Connor growled and spat aggressively next to the fallen man who had already started to push to his feet. His grim face was full of murderous rage and determination.

It was at that point that Connor noticed me, his face darkening before he shot out, “Go, phone Mikenow!” He shot at me over his shoulder, his face becoming swallowed by the shadows. I could see he was badly beaten and swollen.

I wanted to run to him and protect him somehow but his second growl shoved me into action and I dragged out my phone and searched for Dad’s number, allfingers and thumbs. I found it and pressed the screen with shaking hands, turning my back on the two guys going at it, hell for leather. Please answer, my God, please!

Tears were pouring down my face.

“Harlow?” Dad’s voice bit into my ear and I stumbled over my words in my haste to explain.

“You need to come home! They’re going to kill each other?”

“Who, what the hell are you saying?” Dad shot out.

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