Protecting Olivia

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

ETHAN

Eleven years ago

I drive towards the house I call hell, the papers that will determine our freedom sitting on the passenger seat of my old Toyota. In just two weeks, Kate and I will be out of here. I will be going to basic training for the army, while Kate stays at a nearby caravan park for the duration. I'm not worried about Kate being alone while I'm on base, anything is safer than our current living arrangements. It's prepaid and all organised, we just have to survive the next two weeks.

We can do that, we've been surviving our entire lives, we can make it two more weeks. Now I just need to convince Livy to come with us.

A smile forms on my lips as I think of her. Her long red hair that flows to the middle of her back, perfect for wrapping around my fist. Her pale skin, scattered with freckles. Her plump, luscious lips and sparkling blue eyes. Her legs that go for days and are what wet dreams are made of.

She's the epitome of perfect, in every single way and I still can't believe she's mine. We've been together for more than a year and I still pinch myself and wonder how the hell I got so lucky.

Thinking of Livy makes my jeans feel tighter, so I push the thoughts away and think to the task at hand. Get Livy to come with us. It's a big ask for her to follow me around the country with my fifteen year old sister in tow.

Kate's not an issue though, she can look after herself, and she has been for years. As soon as we are away from our parents she can live a semi normal life. They won't care that we are gone, I'm sure they won't even notice for a few weeks if we just disappeared into the night, and that's the plan, to leave without a word and never come back.

As I pull up on the street outside our house, my eyes automatically go to Kate's window as I look for the small flag that should be hidden. A system we developed years ago for when Kate got home before me. A blue flag means she's not home and hiding in the park around the corner, a yellow flag means she's locked herself inside her room. A red flag means she's hiding in the house, most likely under the floorboards.

I always pray it's a blue flag, knowing that she puts that up before she leaves the house in the morning. I would rather her hide in a dark park, in a dodgy neighbourhood than be at home alone with our parents. It's a sad thought, but the truth of our current existence. Our lives of hiding in the shadows to avoid our parents. Well, so Kate can avoid them. Sometimes I need to make my presence known, knowing that if they take their frustrations out on me, they will leave Kate alone.

Today it's a yellow flag, a tiny piece of paper stuck to the window, unseen to those who aren't looking for it.

Putting the car in park, I spot my parents car in the driveway, blocked in by a flashy black Audi, too expensive for this neighbourhood, but no doubt a "business acquaintance" of our parents. Getting out of the car I make my way slowly up the path. I've learnt to be light on my feet, to not make a sound as I approach the front door.

I open the door silently, thankful that I remembered to oil the hinges recently, one of many things I do around the house so that Kate and I can come in and out undetected. Stepping into the small entrance, hidden from the living room, I hear an unknown male voice.

"So where is this daughter of yours?" he asks and I hold my breath, wondering what they could have planned for Kate. Plans I would no doubt ruin.

"She's in her bedroom." My mother's voice sings out, chirpier than usual, meaning her last hit of whatever drug is her new favourite hasn't quite hit her yet. "She's a pretty and sweet little thing, I think you will like her." She continues.

"And you're sure she is a virgin?" the man asks. I bristle at his question, not at all liking where this conversation is going. I take a tentative step towards the hallway table and quietly open the small drawer. I know my father keeps a loaded pistol in the drawer, completely illegal to own and store that way, but right now, I'm grateful. If they are planning what I think they are planning, I need to get Kate out of here right now.