Page 25 of Past

“You have no idea, my little girl,” he replies.

“Elliot isn’t a bad guy, and I need you to leave him alone,” I tell him, lowering my tone a little as I feel tears coming to my eyes. I can't stand the thought of anyone touching him, hurting him. God, I really like him enough to stop anyone.

Dad laughs, his head falling back with it. I watch in a little bit of a shocked daze as he stands up and walks over to me on the other side of the table. He grabs both of my wrists painfully, making me look at him. I notice people are staring, but he doesn't care as he leans down to whisper into my ear.

"Stay away from Mr. King, or I will kill him myself. Trust me, I would enjoy the chance. Losing one brother wouldn’t be a total loss on my business, but it would be a shame. I willbe watching, I’m always watching you, my sweet, little girl," he warns with a glint in his eyes before letting go. He takes a wad of cash out his wallet and drops it onto the table before grabbing my wrists again and pulling me outside. I follow in shock before pulling away outside.

"No, you can't do this, Dad." I start backing away.

"Oh, Alexandria, we have a lot to discuss. Your brother won't be taking over my work because he doesn't have what it takes.” He smiles. “After tonight, I can see you are far more interesting than I thought you were. I have a feeling you would do anything to protect the Kings." He sneers the last part, sounding more like the man I've been told about. A car pulls up behind me, and I turn to see Tristan getting out of his car.

"Tris," I say with a confused look as he walks up to me. His every step is filled with anger.

"Allie, we are leaving," he says as he puts his arm around my shoulder.

"Don't forget. I will be watching," is all I hear my dad say as he gets into his car, not once looking at me.

I want to text Elliot, but what if my dad’s warning is true. Can I risk him? No, I can't, because it hurts my chest to even think of him hurt.

"What the hell were you thinking?” Tris says as we watch our dad’s car drive off. We both get into his car, without me replying to him. I don’t think I know what to say anyway.

“Blake called to tell me where you had gone, before you ask. Dad is dangerous, Allie, and even more so right now." Tris’ hands tighten on the steering wheel, so much so that his knuckles turn white.

"I wanted him to leave Elliot alone, but I think I made it worse. Dad said he would kill him if I–" I crack a little on the end of my sentence and am not able to say anything else.

"Al, you know I love you, right?” Tris says gently as he starts his car. “To keep you safe, I would do anything, but if you love Elliot, you need to do the same,"he says plainly.

"What can I do?" I ask.

"Stay away from him," Tris says, his voice full of pity, so much so that I can't even talk to him.

I look out the window as we drive home. I can’t say out loud that Tris Is right, even when I’m sure he is. I’ve wanted Elliot King since I was a young girl. Since I started liking boys. I wanted Elliot even when he was mean to me when he made my life a living hell at school. I liked the attention he gave me. My heart stings when I look at my phone, knowing I can't reply to Elliot's text and I can't see him. Tris is right, I'm not sure if I love him, but I care enough to stay away. I send a message to Maisy.

Me: I can't help with the wedding anymore. I will send everything I've done to Izzy so she can take over. I am sorry Maisybear x

She doesn't reply for a while. Tris drives me back to our old home. Memories of my dad and mum flood me. They were always arguing, she was always telling him to give up his job. I never understood why she hated his work. I do now.

"Why do we even come back here?" I ask Tris.

"I have an apartment in town. I didn't tell you because, well, I couldn't explain why. Let's get you some stuff, and I can take you to mine. I have a spare room and no roommate yet," he says with a tight smile to me.

"How long?" I ask, knowing he knows I'm talking about the apartment.

"Since I turned eighteen, I only used this house to bring girls back to or when I knew he was in the country. I didn’t want you alone with him," he says with a glance at me before getting out of the car.

Tris always had to deal with Dad ignoring him when we were younger. He always made it clear he didn’t like Tris, but I never understood why he stayed when we got older. We both have quite a bit of money in the bank from our grandparents, who passed away not long after I was born. Enough to easily live on without a job, and we both got it all when we turned sixteen. I try not to touch mine unless I have to, for general things. A lot is in shares, and I live off what I get back from those. My university course was paid off by my dad. I think it was a way of making sure I did the business course when I didn’t want to. In my life, I tell everyone what I want, and I do what I want, but not now. I never knew how controlled I had been until tonight. I know my dad has been controlling me for a while. I’m his silly, little girl.

"Tris, this . . . this isn't fair," I say with a sob when I'm out of the car. I go to stand next to him in front of our old home.

"It has never been, but we have each other. You’re my family, Allie, and I won’t let him hurt my sister. I am sorry about Elliot, but there will be other guys," he says as he wraps a massive arm around my shoulder, giving me a side hug before opening the door. I pack the rest of my clothes and things from my old home. I know I won’t be coming back here again. Dad can make me lose the man I want, but he won't have the family he clearly wants.

Chapter 13

Elliot

"Shot, shot, shot," is all I can hear, as we all take another shot at the bar of the strip club. It's Sebastian's stag night, and we are all hammered. Surprisingly, Sebastian didn't want to come, in case Maisy didn't like it. We ended up dragging him here anyway. Blake wasn't keen either, but he told me that Izzy knows. He said she is cool with it as long as he doesn't have a lap dance. Not that I think he is stupid enough to try that with all her brothers present. I laugh a little at how much my little sister can get angry, and how scared Blake can be of her.

"Dude, that one wants you," Daniel says in my ear. Daniel is one of our friends from school.

---