“Pippa make me some tea,” he barked. “I need to ask Natasha something.”
Pippa disappeared into the kitchen leaving Tasha and Dan with him.
“I know you lent Dan a few quid this week, but any chance of a bit more. I had a bad time at the dogs last night. It’s the least you can do after all we’ve done for you.”
“How much?” She tried to disguise her wide-eyed stare and somehow ignored the fact that they, her parents, had done very little for her and he considered £25,000 to be a few quid.
“Five grand. But a couple of hundred would tide me over for a couple of weeks to keep Liam at bay, unless you would rather pay him the old fashioned way.”
The sight of his perverse sneer caused bile to rise in her throat, but she refocused on masking the old fears rising to the surface.
“I haven’t got five grand, Dad. I can let you have two hundred,” she replied, already taking the money she’d got from the cash point. She did have five grand, but it was her last five grand. Cash she was hoping to keep.
He snatched the money from her, managing to pinch the skin on her hand as he did so. “You are such a bitch, of course you’ve got five grand. Unless you would rather Liam took his payment directly from you.”
“I really don’t have any money left,” she protested, fearful of what might happen on the back of her father’s repeated threat. Suddenly, she thought of Jim and all the times he’d offered to help her to sort things. His words about being careful and his caring treatment of her gave her a renewed sense of strength and determination not to be made into her father’s or Liam’s pawn ever again. “So, you will have to find another cash cow or get a job,” she spat at him.
He leapt up, his anger obvious when he put his face in hers. She winced at the smell of stale beer, cigarettes and him.
“Well, you’d better find some or I may forget I’m a gentleman and introduce Pippa to Liam.” His words were whispered but laced with menace. He squeezed her face, not stopping until she cried out.
When Pippa reappeared with his cup of tea, he kissed her on the cheek as he accepted it.
“Thank you, my lovely, sweet, innocent girl,” he said, staring at Tasha. The threat was clearly being made and they both knew one way or another she wouldn’t allow him to follow through with his inferred intention, well, at least it was only inferred at this point.
Her phone beeped. She glanced at it in her bag and saw a message from Jim. She smiled and although desperate to read it, to speak to him, now wasn’t the time. She quickly put it on silent, returned her purse and fastened her bag.
“I should be going, but you two should come over and stay with me and Lucy for a few days when you’re free.” Tasha was desperate to keep them safe for a while longer. They both nodded and once she reached the door, she put a handful of notes into Dan’s hand. “Call if you need anything and I promise I am trying to sort this out for us all.”
He frowned at her but kissed her. “Tash, has something happened? Have you met someone? You seem different.”
She nodded. “Please don’t say anything to anyone yet.”
He nodded back and gestured to where their father was. “Don’t let him make you go back to Liam, please. You deserve to be happy, sis.”
Chapter 25
After the visit to her family home Tasha wanted to feel safe and although she knew she’d never feel truly safe until she was with Jim she went to her own safe place where she found Lucy with a selection of takeaway menus laid out in front of her.
“Indian, Chinese, pizza? What do you fancy?” asked Lucy.
“Pizza and white wine.” Tasha smiled but with a small sigh escaping Lucy picked up on the cause of her compromised mood.
“Have you been home?”
“Yes and my knob of a father was a bigger knob than ever. He has bled me dry and is now implying I may need to pay Liam backthe old fashioned way.
“Bastard,” spat Lucy.
“I’ve met someone and would never go back anyway so he is screwed on that front, but Pippa...”
“Oh no, has he?” Lucy nervously rolled the pizza leaflet.
Tasha shook her head. “But he’s holding it over me now. Jim has said he will try and find a solution with me when he comes over, but it’s not exactly romantic is it? Him sorting out my fucked-up family.”
Lucy shrugged, concerned for her friend, but unsure if Jim’s input would be beneficial or not. “You have a bath, I will open the wine and phone for pizza then you can tell me all about Jim.” Lucy offered Tasha an excited smile at the prospect of getting details on her friend’s week in The States.
With a small nod, Tasha headed for the sanctity of the bathroom, relieved to have Jim and Lucy in her life, fighting her corner if the need arose and if she was honest she was in no doubt the need would present itself sooner rather than later.
