I pushed him off, harder than he expected, as he stumbled back. “I’m not your fucking dog Danny,” breathing hard as I adjusted my jacket, “Not anymore.”
His hand flew, but I managed to dip away just in time. His knuckles smashing into the wall, a pained growl came from him, teeth gritted, glaring at me.
“She paid me for my time …You sold me! Just like you do with mum… Don’t pretend like I owe you for it.”
His lip curled, “So, you think you’re something now? Because some rich bitch likes the way you fuck her?”
I pushed myself into his face, instant regret filling my chest. “More like I’m sick of you selling me off and getting fuck all to show for it. All those times you sent me to strangers' houses. Every time you sent me to Selene. You just stood there, hand out, just waiting for the money to fall. What did I get? Fuck all that’s what.”
Danny stared at me, chest heaving. His face twisted with anger, betrayal, maybe even fear. He’d built his power on control, on obedience. But I wasn’t the quiet kid anymore, the one who flinched when his voice got loud. I opened the door, lingering in the doorway.
“You won’t be hearing from her again,” I said. “And don’t you dare think about contacting her. It will only bruise that fucking ego of yours to hear she doesn’t need you anymore.” I let the door close abruptly behind me.
The days started to blur. Mornings bled into afternoons. Nights crept in and stayed longer than they should have. Chester’s place became more than just an escape. It became mine. My breathing room. My quiet.
The flat still smelled like him in the corners. Smoke, and that cheap aftershave he swore by. Some days, I thought if I sat still long enough, he might walk back in. Call me a dumb bastard for getting in too deep and proceed to flood me with endless dad jokes. But he never did. And now, the quiet he left behind was where I hid.
I’d wake late, crack open a bottle of something Chester would have classed as old school, while flicking through some of his old notebooks. I couldn’t work out what I was trying to achieve—the mystery of what happened to him, or the mess of myself. Most nights, I’d pass out on the couch. It felt too weird to sleep in the bed.
Selene would call sometimes or text, keeping it short and precise.
You coming?
I’d go, but not always, just enough to keep the money coming in, to keep the mounting bills paid. Although I always left hating myself.
But the longer I stayed away from Danny’s place, the more distant things felt. I stopped checking in. Let the messages go unread, assuming Squeeks would be okay. How fucking wrong was I. If he couldn’t manipulate me, he had soon turned his attention to my little sister.
CHAPTER 17
Slamming the door shut on the taxi, I placed a cigarette between my lips, taking in a long drag before allowing the smoke to trickle from my lips. Another successful visit to Selene, another stack of cash jammed into my back pocket. Tiredness hung behind my eyes as I unlocked the door with a subtle thunk, a small smile appearing on my face as I pulled the cash out from my pocket, stroking it through my fingers.
Rounding the corner to the living room, my eyes grew wide as I froze in place. Slumped low in the battered armchair across the room, as if it belonged to her, legs draped over one side.
Misfit.
A half-smile curled up on her face like she’d been waiting hours and was only mildly amused by the inconvenience.
She didn’t speak right away, just tilted her head. Eyes flicking down to the money in my hand.
“Miss me?” she said. I didn’t move; I just stared at her relaxed posture, her arms hugging the chair. How the fuck did she get in? The lock wasn’t broken, and there were no signs of forced entry. Too many questions circled my mind.
“You look surprised. Did you honestly think I’d stay away?” The tension between us quickly shifted, buzzing like a wire ready to snap.
The last time I saw her, I’d left her with knives still warm in her palms, and a look in her eyes that saidnext time, I won’t hesitate. And now, she was here. Like no time had passed. Like we weren’t dangerous to each other.
Nah, not today.
I spun on my heels and walked out, leaving the door ajar, only hearing the faint sound of her voice as I hit the steps two at a time.
“Aw, come on Screech, don’t be like that!” I kept walking, pulling the cigarette from my mouth and held it at my side. Her footsteps came up behind me quick and purposeful.
“Running away from me Screech? That's not very nice.” She called after me, setting out into a run to catch up to my side. I wasn’t in the mood for her today. I was tired, and my body ached for rest.
“Ignoring me too. Wow.”
I sighed, fiddling with the cigarette in my fingers, “Sorry, cupcake, Daddy’s not in the mood. Why don’t you go play with your other friends?” I stopped in my tracks as I playfully brought my finger to my mouth. “Oh, wait. You don’t have any.” She just stood glaring at me with a coldness only she could pull off. I continued walking down the street, but it didn’t take her long to be at my side once again.
“Okay, firstly, what childish bullshit was that? That was low, even for you.” Her voice was flat as I sensed her annoyance. “Secondly, who needs friends when I have the voices in my head to keep me company?”
