I'm His

Chapter 3

"Well, what have we got here then?" Slade's voice sent shivers down my spine. My dad cleared his throat. "Slade you know my youngest of course..." Slade interrupted. "Of course I know Adele, we have history. You've sure grown up since I last saw you." He bit his lip and he had a twinkle in his eye which made me uneasy. The two men sat on the sofa. The more I looked at them I realised they were likely to be twins. Both were about 6"3 straight brown hair, brown eyes and a very muscular build. I must have been staring because they started shifting uncomfortably under my gaze. "This is Ryan and Jason." Slade pointed at the twins in turn. "They're with me." That's all the explanation he gave for there presence 'they're with me'. What did that mean? Were they part of his gang of thugs? Maybe they were his henchmen here to do his dirty work by disposing of the debtors who wouldn't pay up?

Cindy broke me out of my panicked thoughts. "Adele go and make some refreshments for our guests." I looked at her blankly. "Now!" I quickly rushed out of the room and into the kitchen. I filled the kettle up and stared out of the kitchen window. I remember when Slade wasn't like this, when we were close. Our mothers had been friends when they were children and when we were younger so were we. The best of friends in fact. He could always put a smile on my face. Although we had a five year age gap between we were inseparable. However good things can't last forever. When I was five and he was ten his mother left and it all went downhill. It just started with him getting into fights at school and the odd bit of shoplifting. Then his dad started to fall into old habits of stealing and gangs and he dragged Slade down with him.

Slade got expelled out of three schools by the time he was 13 and all the while we had been drifting apart. The amount of time between when I saw him became more and more. It then became a rarity to see him rather than an everyday occurrence. One of the last times I saw him what just before my mother died. I was at the play park when these teenage lads came and told me to get off the swing. Being the headstrong, spirited girl I was, I refused. They started circling me and occasionally pushing my shoulders. I ended up in a ball on the floor as they cursed at me. Eventually when I did look up I saw Slade hanging out with a group of dodgy looking kids from the estate. It just so happens that he looked up and caught my eye. He stormed over to where the boys and I were and pushed them out of the way. He told me to run to 'our tree'. It was a tree where we used sit and enjoy each other company. I did I was told ran as fast as my little legs could carry me.

I climbed the tree and waited for him to come and get me. About an hour had past when I finally saw him and jumped down. His knuckles were bloody and his shirt was ripped. He wrapped me in his arms and I started sobbing in his shoulder. "What are we gunna do with you El?" I smiled slightly at his name for me. "You must take care of yourself you know! Soon I'm not gunna be here to help you out..." He continued. I looked at him in confusion. "But why Slade? Have I done something wrong?" His eyes softened. "No El nothing at all. It's just I'm growing up and I have new people I need to help..." Behind him I could see his 'friends' with their arms crossed waiting for him. I felt my heart sink. He was replacing me. I stepped away from him. "Oh, bye boo." I said and just walked away.

...........................

I felt a hand touch my hip and I jumped. "Hey relax El! It's just me." I recognised the voice instantly. "What do you want Slade?" I sighed staring defiantly out of the window. A pair of arms wound their way round my waist and spun me around. I looked down refusing to into his eyes. "You've grown up to be so beautiful El. Please don't be like this. Look at me!" I didn't understand. Why was he doing this? Why now after all these years? He just had to come in and mess with my feelings again. "Please El, the reason I left all those years ago was because I'm not good for you. I'm involved in things you don't even want to know about. But this is my life now, it's no good for you." My head shoot up. "I think that's for me to decide, don't you?" He held my gaze; a mixture of emotions were hidden behind his blue orbs.

His eyes left my stare and went to my lips. At first I thought he was going to kiss me but then I realised he was staring at my split lip. I turned my back to him and went about making tea. I caught a quick peek of Slade in the reflection of the kettle. He was standing with his mouth slightly parted and his fists in two tight balls. "Did he do that to you?" I carried on making the tea. "What are you on about Slade?" Slade slammed his fist onto the work surface. "You know damn well what I mean Adele! Your split lip! Did your father hit you?" I turned around. "What makes you say that?" The look in his eyes told me he wanted to commit murder. Although I hated my dad sometimes, I wouldn't wish the wrath of an angry Slade Johnson on anyone. "I've heard the rumours about his drunkenness and violence; I remember he always had a temper on him, I mean, I know he's not the best dad but, I never thought he would..." Not able to look into his eyes I fed him the same lie I told Harrie. "A door blew shut in my face." He huffed. "Don't insult me El I've known you since you were born, I can tell when you're lying."

I poured out the tea and put them all on a tray with some sugar, milk and custard creams. Picking up the tray I then brushed past Slade and into the living room which was in a tense silence. I placed the tray down on the table and handed them out taking the empty coffee mug from my dad and replaced it with some sweet tea. "Took you long enough!" Hissed Cindy. As Slade entered the room he took my wrist and dragged me toward the sofa and pulled me down onto his lap. I wriggled trying to get out of his grip. "I wouldn't wriggle too much if I were you El." He whispered in my ear. I froze and sat stiffly on his lap. My face must have gone bright red because one of the twins started sniggering only them each a punch on the arm from Slade. When the room was in complete silence Slade started speaking. "Mr Beckett, I have proposition for you..."