Page 6 of Fallen Legacy

His gaze doesn’t falter. “Oh, I would. I’ll call that social worker up and say I can’t manage you both and that I want to relinquish you back to the care of the local authority. You know what that means, don’t you, Eliza? Your poor brother would have to move again. Another foster family. Only this time without you, as you’ll be away in juvie.”

“You heartless bastard. We are just pawns in your game, aren’t we? No wonder my dad left this place and did everything in his power to cut all ties with this bay and its poison.”

My words have no effect on him. The man is cold and calculating and I don’t think he loves anything or anyone but himself.

“You have until the end of the month to return home, or I will follow through on my threat.” He picks up the file and walks out of the office without a backward glance. I dig my nails into the palm of my hand as pure anger and rage burns through me. When I unclench my fists, I see I have dug my nails in so deep that I’m bleeding. Fuck. He has me over a barrel. There is no way of getting out of this. If I don’t do as he orders, my brother will go back into care. I don’t give a shit about him threatening juvie for me. What is six months of my life compared with a life I didn’t choose for myself? But Kit. It would destroy him. He can’t go back into care, he just can’t.

* * *

The doorto the bar opens and I look up from my drink to see Silver walking into the room. Shaking his head and sighing, he heads my way.

“Thanks for letting me know she was here, Jim.”

“Anytime, son,” Jim replies, looking over at me with a smile that says ‘sorry, but it’s for your own good.’

Silver sits beside me at the bar and, leaning his hands on the counter, he looks at me and waits.

“Are you going to tell me what has led to this little drunken party for one?”

Knocking back the vodka and coke, I wince. I hate vodka, but right now I need the alcohol. “I’m screwed, Damon. I am well and truly fucking screwed.”

I reach for the next glass of vodka in front of me, but he stops me, taking my hand in his. “Talk to me. Maybe I can help.”

I chortle at his suggestion. “No one can help me. My dear grandfather paid me a visit in school today. If I don’t go home and play the dutiful little granddaughter and let Savage put a ring on my finger, then he’ll hand a file over to the police that will see me locked up for the next six months. He also threatened to put Kit back into foster care.”

“Fuck,” Damon exclaims, shaking his head in shock. “He said this to you?”

I smile and nod my head. “Oh, he did, and he meant every word. He wasn’t bluffing. I have until the end of the month to drag my sorry arse back to the Alderman mansion or he’ll make good on his threats.”

Damon runs a hand through his hair and blows out a big breath. Good to know I’m not the only one who didn’t see this coming. “My dad is home tonight. Let me talk to him. Maybe he can help.”

“No.” I shake my head. “It will only bring trouble for your dad. Wilbur holds all the power in this town. I won’t bring your family into this mess.”

My stomach roils and I cover my mouth, feeling nauseous.

“How many have you had?” Silver asks me, sending a dirty look Jim’s way.

“Only two. Ugh, I need the bathroom. I’m going to be sick.” I jump from my seat and run to the ladies. I only just make it on time before I barf up the two vodkas.

When I feel a hand on my neck, I realise he has followed me in here. He leans down beside me and holds my hair away from my face whilst I empty more of the contents of my stomach into the toilet bowl. When I’m done, he offers me some tissue so I can wipe my mouth.

“Sorry, you didn’t need to see that.”

He chuckles as he helps me stand to my feet. “I’ve done it many a time for my sisters. How are you feeling?”

“Okay, I think. I shouldn’t have drunk on an empty stomach.”

Damon nods his head, leaning against the sink beside me whilst I wash my hands. “No, not the smartest idea. Come on, I’ll take you home.”

“What about school?”

He wraps an arm around my shoulder as he guides me towards the exit, waving at Jim as we pass. “Fuck school. It’ll still be there tomorrow.”

ARCHER

Istare at the door to the cafeteria waiting for her to come through. But she never shows, and neither does that opportunist prick, Silver.

“Do you think she’s fucking him?” I ask out loud to no one in particular.

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