Nothing Left To Break

19

Thomas was waiting outside the warehouse with his car. He was standing next to his car with a cigarette dangling in his mouth and a look of worry on his face. As soon as he sees Lani he puts out the cigarette and walks to meet her. As soon as he gets to her he cradles her face with his hands and inspects her face, trying to analyse her emotions and her state of mind. Any idea of what had happened and why she was here in the first place.

"I'm sorry" she whispers, all of her confidence seems to have gone once she's with him.

She doesn't need to pretend.

Thomas had practically sprinted out of his meeting once he got the message. He would drop anything for her. He had raced over there and had been instructed to stay outside the building as he was not 'allowed' into the building, Alfies orders. Of course he had argued, but he was assured it was just family business and that Lani was in no danger. If she hadn't walked through that door in the next 60 seconds he would had fought his way in there.

Now, looking at her face he wish he had.

She looks anxious, nervous. Her eyes averted his and that scared the shit out of him. She was always so level headed. He didn't know how to act appropriately around her when she was like this.

Why was she apologising? She had nothing to apologise for.

"I didn't want to interrupt your meeting, I just didn't know who else to call" she whispers.

She was overwhelmed. There was too much going on for her. Too much for her to deal with. Alone. He wanted her to know that he would always be there for her.

"You are more important than any meeting. Get in the car, love" he says, taking his hands off her face and trailing them down to the small of her back and leading her to the car, not wanting to lose physical contact with her.

She doesn't say anything as she gets into the car. Thomas closes the door behind her and walks to the drivers side. As he looks back at the warehouse he sees Alfie lead Ada out.

For fucks sake.

He leaves the side of the car and begins to walk toward the pair. The car door opens behind him.

"Thomas, dont" he hears Lani plead with him.

"I just want to talk Lani. Two minutes, get back in the car" he instructs, the affectionate side of him had left. He was angry. An emotion that scared Lani. So she got back into the car and watched as he neared her brother and Ada.

"Are you fucking mad" he snaps at the two.

"Get the fuck out of here mate. I don't want to see your fucking face" Alfie shouts. His composure faltering. Anger taking over his body too.

"No. You two are fucking idiots. Do you see what your putting her through? If you love her like you say you do, you'll leave her her alone" he says, his anger building.

"Don't start" Ada shouts at him, scaring her son as she does so.

"No, Ada. You're hurting her, don't you understand that? You're going to loose her" he shouts at his sister.

Alfie turns to him and quickly punches him straight in the face, making Thomas fall back slightly, but thankfully not fall over.

"Alfie, stop. I'm not going to fight you" Thomas states, bringing a hand up to his face and wipes the new blood away from his mouth.

"Why the fuck not? You fucking hurt her too mate" he shouts, stepping toward Thomas once again.

"I know!" He shouts, breathing heavily "I fucking know, and I spend every day regretting it. But I'm not leaving her" he confesses.

That just causes Alfie to take another swing at him. The hit doesn't reach Thomas, however.

Lani watched the scene from the car. As soon as she watched her brother hit Thomas she scrambled out and began to run. She couldn't let this happen. This was all her fault. If she had just left Thomas, listened to Alfie, he wouldn't have gotten hurt.

But she hadn't. She stayed. As he had. She was in too deep now.

She heard Thomas's words and knew that she was in too deep. She couldn't leave now. Not that she wanted to.

So without a second thought as she saw Alfie lift his arm to strike him again, she ran in front of Thomas and took the punch herself.

She was knocked over instantly and fell onto the floor with a thud.

Blood quickly found its way to the surface of her skin. Not just from her brothers strike, but from the gravel stabbing at her cheek. Alfie's fist had connected directly with her eye.

"L-Leilani, I didn't mean to" Alfie pleads with her and bends down next to her. She scuffles away and lifts herself up, with the aid of Thomas.

"Not like I haven't been hit before, Alfred" she hisses and watches as a look of pure hurt crosses her brother face. Good.

As soon as she stands she falters slightly. Resulting in Thomas lifting her up bridal style. They do not stay in that situation for another second. Thomas carries her away and towards the car. Without saying a word.

Nobody says a word. All that can be heard are Karl's cries and the steelworks across the river.

Thomas places her gently in the car and crouches down by the car to inspect her injuries. Blood makes its way onto her face and there is a red patch forming under her eye.

"For fucks sake Leilani" he mutters before closing the car door and walking over to the drivers side.

He does not say another word.

Leilani looks over at him and searches his body language for any indication of how he's feeling. It's rather obvious.

He's angry, upset.

"Thomas, I couldn't let him hit you" she whispers. Reaching her hand over to his. He declines her advances and returns his hand to the steering wheel which he grips tightly.  Averting her gaze.

"Thomas, please" she pleads, her eyes not leaving him. He ignores her and keeps his eyes focused ahead.