Page 34 of Believe In Us

“Funny son, glad to see your sense of humor has improved in recent days. You’ve seemed less robotic in the last few weeks.” My mouth twitches in anger as I hear his silent insinuation.

“Yeah well I guess Wesley’s death was more significant than we all thought.”

“That it was son. If I’m not mistaken you’ve found a new, might I be as bold as to say, toy.” His smile proves he isn’t asking but more insinuating.

“Stay away from her father,”

“Is that a warning?” he asks amused.

“More of a heads up, that goes for your lackey’s as well. You’ve been out of town for some time so I haven’t had the pleasure of relaying the message. Kane Dalton better keep his filthy paws off of her.”

“Ahh yes, I hear Mr. Dalton is quite taken with the girl. However, I see now he isn’t the only one. Might I remind you son, you have a duty to this family, to me, so I will allow you to have your fun, but don’t forget where your loyalties lie. I would hate for something unexpected to befall the poor child. I hear she’s already been through so much.”

“You son of a bitch,” I shout, rushing toward him, but immediately freeze before my fist connects with his jaw. I feel a cold barrel pressed against my abdomen, as my father’s lifeless, steel blue eyesstare directly into my monochromatic gray ones brimmed with rage. “Wow, really pulling a gun on your son, father?”

“Enough, I’ve allowed this to go too far. You will respect me, you ungrateful swine. I am your father, and you owe me everything. Don’t you dare forget it. You don’t want to have me as an enemy Sebastian. If you thought Wesley was evil, if you fear Dalton and The Order, you have no idea what lengths your old man will go to, to ensure that this family, the Silver name, remains at the top.”

“I can see now the lengths you’re willing to go to father.”

“And don’t you forget it. Now, have a seat, let's try this once more, and this time try to be civil.”

“This time don’t pull a fucking gun on me.”

“Oh please, it’s not even loaded,” he says, though I’m not sure I believe him.

“Are you going to tell me why your little whore is causing this family so much trouble? Care to explain what thefuckthat Wolf girl was doing meeting with Kane?"

“Bass what the fuck?!”Ace calls out, his voice muffled by the sound of my fist hitting the wall. I’ve been relentlessly throwing punches against the wall of my bedroom for twenty minutes, blood dripping down from the gashes along my knuckles, puddling on the hardwood floor. I ignore Ace while he continues to shout, phrases I cannot make out, the ringing sounds in my ears making it too hard to focus on what he’s saying.

What. Fuck. Think. Doing.

His arms suddenly wrap around my waist as he tackles me down onto the floor, falling on top of me and landing a fist straight across my jaw. Son of a bitch.

“Snap the fuck out of it Sebastian!” he shouts out, his eyesglazed with fury, and subtly tinted with worry. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

I push him off of me with ease, the adrenaline coursing through my veins making it impossible for him to stop me. Quickly I jump to my feet, walk over to the restroom connected to my bedroom, and turn on the shower head climbing in clothes and all, letting the freezing water fall over me. I hate when it consumes me, the anger, the rage, the feeling of fucking helplessness. It’s the only constant thing I feel, the only emotions that overpower my senses, blinding me and throwing me into a fit of fury.

It’s exhausting. I scrub the blood of my knuckles, the ice water burning my wounds as it rubs up against them, but I welcome the pain. It’s a reminder that I’m still here, that all of this isn’t a nightmare, it's my reality.

A twisted, convoluted reality that I can’t escape.

“What’s gotten into you Bass?” Ace asks, his voice no longer threatening but softening, a more melancholic tone audible in his voice. “This isn’t like you.”

Closing my eyes, I let the water rain down my face before turning to face him. He leans back against the vanity, watching me with worried eyes. “This is me Ace. Always angry, dangerously violent. The only time I’m really myself, is in the moments after I see him. That’s when the monster comes out to play, when he overpowers me by sending the weak-willed little boy into hiding like I’m seven years old all over again. When I see him, I become the terrifying beast that is willing to do anything and everything to make sure he is seen.”

Ace shakes his head in disagreement, “No man, that isn’t you brother, not anymore. Not since you met her.”

I throw my head back in laughter, “Please don’t come at me with that bullshit. It may have happened to you, but you and I are vastly different. You for one no longer have the devil knocking at your door. You're free from the shackles, released from the hold he had on you. But I,” I turn off the stream of water, stepping out andgrabbing a towel from the counter, “I’m still under another monster's control.”

“What is he threatening you with Bass? Whatever it is, I can help you.”

I smile at his eagerness to help me in this situation, a situation he’s all too familiar with. Though there is nothing he can do. “It’s no use when the time comes he knows I’ll do whatever he asks of me. Because one thing we do have in common, Ace, is that we’re foolishly obvious.”

“I’m notin the mood for a night out Ace,” I grunt, slamming my head back onto the headboard of my bed. The guys stand before me, watching me intently as if I’m going to try and do something stupid.

“Come on Bass, since when?” Alek scoffs, smacking his lips together in an overly annoying manner. “You are the king of a good time.”

“Yeah but now he’s smitten, and all he can think about is snogging the gorgeous blond,” Beck adds, the two of them falling into a fit of laughter at my expense.

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