Page 62 of Past

"Sit, Daughter," he asks, but I'm not stupid enough to realise it's not a request. I slide into the seat opposite him, never taking my eyes off him the entire time.

"I don't like my orders being ignored," he states, looking pleased with himself.

"I don't understand. Where's my brother?" I ask again and hold my hands together tightly in a way of reminding myself to hold it together.

"I don't like repeating myself, either. Tris is busy, and I would be more concerned about explaining this to me. What is this?" He pushes a photo of me and Elliot, from his birthday. It's a nice photo of Elliot holding me in his arms, and I'm looking up at him. Dad slides another across the table, and I'm kissing Elliot in this one.

"I love him," I say in a way of explaining.

"He's a mutt, a fighting dog and nothing more. I warned you. I will see you tomorrow to discuss this further," Dad says, getting up.

"There's nothing to discuss. I'm staying with him, and where the fuck is my brother?" I slam my hand on the table, and he smiles at me.

"We will see. I don't think you will like the price of disobeying me,"he says, not answering my question about Tris.

“Like Elliot’s dad didn’t? Elliot told me you killed your best friend. Are you that fucked up that you are going to destroy your daughter’s life?”

“Don’t speak to me like that, Alexandria.” My dad hits me across the face, and I stumble back, away from, him as I hold my cheek.

“You know what,Dad? I’ve been slapped better than that by the bitches at my old school,” I say to him with a glare.

“You are so much like your mother, always back-chatting me. Do as you are told for once,” he says to me.

My insides feel like glue as I watch him walk out of the room. The front door slamming finally makes me move, and I pull my phone out. I quickly call Tris. I know he has him, so I'm not sure why I’m trying. Tris is his son, so why would he hurt him?

I try Elliot again, with no answer. I know there is only one other person who might be able to help me.

"Harley, my dad has my brother, and I can't get a hold of Elliot. I'm driving over to his now, can you help me?" I sob the last words so much that I almost miss what Harley says.

"You’re our family now, so yes, I’ll help you. I’ll meet you at Elliot's,"he says, and I can hear him moving around in the background.

"Okay, and thank you," I say, wiping my tears to collect myself as I put the phone down. I keep telling myself over and over on the way to Elliot's that Tris is his son so he won't kill him.

I pull up, and Harley is outside waiting for me.

"I tried to buzz up, but he didn't answer. I have a spare key, hold on," Harley says, going back to his car and coming back with another set of keys.

"I have keys to everyone’s homes, just in case," he says, smiling at me, but I can't smile back while Tris isn't here. I'm a crap sister for not realising Tris needed me.

"We will find him. Arthur is a lot of things, but I don't think he will kill his only son," Harley says with his mouth in a tight line. I doubt even he believes his comforting words for me.

I nod and start walking up the stairs. Harley follows and goes to unlock Elliot's door, but it swings open. I panic, going to rush in, but Harley grabs my arm, pulling me behind him, and gestures for me to be quiet by putting a finger against his lips. I follow and gasp when I see Elliot's apartment is trashed. What's worse is there is blood on the floor in the kitchen, which I can see from where I am. It looks like a lot.

“Allie, listen to me,” Harley says and grabs my shoulders so that I look away from the blood. My heart is pounding so hard in my ears that I just barely hear him. I can’t lose Elliot, not him.

"I’m going to check the other rooms, but call Luke for me,"Harley tells me.

"What about Sebastian?" I say numbly.

"No, Maisy needs him, and just . . . no," Harley says, and I nod in understanding.

Harley walks off, and I pull my phone out. All my movements are slow, and I’m sure I’m in shock.

"Luke, it's Allie,"I say.

"I do have your number saved. What's up?" he asks.

"You need to come to Elliot's apartment right now, it's an emergency,"I say, not knowing what to tell him on the phone.

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