Chapter 4

With my heart in my throat, I ran down the passage and down the stairs, hauling my body out of the door. 

I didn't have a car and I left my purse at the reception. Stupid, I know. I really didn't want to go back in there. Surely, there would be someone willing to give me a ride around here. 

With that thought in mind, I started down the gravel driveway, but immediately halted. A chill ran down my spine and the hairs on the back of my neck rose. 

I slowly turned around and froze. Near the expanse of trees behind the house, there stood a man. A haggard man with baggy clothes and a beard that reached his chest. His eyes were red and his teeth were yellowed. 

I saw the glint of a knife he was holding to his side. I didn't think, I just ran back towards the house and slammed the door shut behind me. 

My chest was heaving up and down as my eyes connected with grey ones. I sucked in a breath and rested my head against the door. What do I do? 

I wanted to cry, but I was made of stronger stuff. I angrily swiped a lone tear away, trying to formulate a plan, but it appeared that I didn't have to as a hand landed on the nape of my neck, dragging me away from the door. 

I was mentally and physically exhausted to fight, so when he opened the door, I followed him. 

"Take me home." I told him. I didn't need to ask him. Not after what he did. 

"This is your home." I watched his gaze flicker to the haggard man before turning to me. 

"This is not my home. Please take me to my real home. Better yet, drop me off at the cafè." It killed me to say please, but I needed to get the point across. 

He moved to his car and I followed. He opened the passenger seat and I got inside. Before I could grab the seatbelt, he dragged it across my body and clipped it in. 

I could've done that myself. I tilted my chin up and refused to look at him. He got into the driver's seat and the engine purred to life. 

We zoomed out of the driveway and thankfully, he dropped me near the cafè. 

I immediately jumped out when I saw Brandon and leaped into his arms. 

"Woah, babe, what's wrong?" I shook my head, finding comfort in inhaling his apple scent. 

"You left your purse there, I grabbed it."

"Thank you Bran." I kissed his cheek and took my purse. 

"You okay?" He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to him. 

I glanced at Geoff, leaning against the car with his arms crossed, watching me with narrowed eyes. 

I narrowed my own eyes at him and answered Brandon. "I'm fine now."

"Come on. Let's get you home."

I turned around and walked with Brandon to my real home. 

"I hate him."

"Don't blame you honey."

"Did he do something to you?" He whirled me towards him with his hands on my shoulders and peered into my eyes. 

I shook my head and gave him a small smile.

"Your mom told me that she's going to the Hollow Creek."

I dramatically shuddered at the name of the raunchy pub.

"You know you're always welcome to crash at my place." Brandon offered. 

We started walking again and my chest swelled with affection. 

When we reached my dingy apartment building, Brandon hugged me and left. 

I climbed up the creaky steps and dug into my purse for my keys and unlocked the door. 

I stepped inside and found a strange comfort in the yellow stained carpet, probably because it has been home ever since I could remember. Other than the carpet, I kept everything clean, from the second hand couch to the thrift store curtains. It was small, but it fulfilled its purpose and for that, I was grateful. 

I put my purse down on a small table and went into the small bathroom in hopes to strip away the memories of the day. 

I looked at myself in the mirror and scowled at the very faint marks on my neck. I looked at my wrist and my anger burned bright. 

I stripped and stepped into the small shower. After I was done, I dressed in an oversized shirt that fell to the middle of my thighs and that's when I heard the door bell ring. 

I frowned and looked into the peephole and saw the landlady Mrs. Troupe. I opened the door and smiled at her. 

"How may I help you Mrs. Troupe?"

She wrung her hands nervously in front of her. I smiled at her to encourage her to say whatever she came here to say. 

"I'm sorry dear, but you'll have to evacuate by tomorrow."

My smile immediately fell and my knees buckled.

"Why?" I said in a mere whisper. 

"Someone has purchased the building and they've asked for this flat to be evacuated. I've tried to reason with them, but they threatened to make me evacuate as well."

I placed a hand on her arm. 

"Thank you Mrs. Troupe. I appreciate it, but please don't put yourself at risk." I assured her despite my thundering heart. 

"May I ask who it is?" I asked even though I knew the answer. 

She pushed her glasses up. 

"Geoff Vasily." As soon as I heard his name, I had equal amounts of fear and anger coursing through my body. 

"Don't worry Mrs. Troupe, I'll be out by tomorrow." I smiled a shaky smile for the sole purpose of reassuring her. 

When she went, I released a shaky breath and didn't waste time in packing my clothes. My mother didn't keep any of her clothes or belongings here and when I did ask her, she would tell me to mind my own business. 

It was sad to say everything fit into one big duffel bag. That night, sleep didn't come to me. 

______________________________________

The next morning, I went down the apartment stairs and saw my nemesis. I launched myself at him and aimed for scratching his face. I did an internal victory dance as I succeeded, but only because he was surprised. 

"You took away my home." I snarled at him and faught against his hold. 

"Public assault is a punishable offense little girl."

"Little girl? Then that makes you a pedophile for molesting me yesterday."

"Get your things."

I scoffed. The nerve of him. 

"I'm taking you home. Get your things."

I couldn't help myself anymore. As his grip loosened, I took the opportunity to grasp his neck and nearly succeeded, but then, he twisted my hair in his fist, using it as a leash to deposit me in his car. He even child locked it before I could utter a word! 

He walked up the stairs and brought my duffel bag and tossed it into his trunk. 

He got into the drivers seat and gripped my cheeks, squeezing them together. 

"Disrespecting me again. Didn't learn your lesson the first time around? Don't worry, I'll teach you a better lesson today."

I hated, hated that fear started building up. 

As he started the car, I immediately spoke. 

"Take me to the police station."

He laughed. He actually laughed.

"You can try dorogoy, but I don't think you know who I am or what I do."

"You're a sick son of a bitch who molests their stepdaughters."

His jaw ticked and I smirked. 

"I can defend myself in court, but the best part is that I can turn the case on you."

He opened the console with one hand and tossed a glossy black card in my lap. 

I picked it up and saw the gold embossed words. 

Raymond and Vasily. The best law firm in Minnesota. Why didn't I even think of it? I didn't even need to ask him what type of lawyer he was. I had a gut feeling that he was a defence attorney. 

I put the card back in the console and acknowledged the fact that I was screwed.