All Is Love and War | Maxley |

➳ 4

Abuse warning!!!

CHAPTER 4

Bradley

My father smacked my mother across the face. Hot tears strolled down her cheeks but no cries were heard. She lay across the floor, face a bruised mess. The ugliest I've ever seen my mother, crafted by the hands of my father. It was as if she was taking the abuse as punishment. She hadn't done anything to deserve it, but my father had a terrible temper. My brothers and I stood carefully watching, not daring to move, silent. My father drew his eyes to my younger brother who shied away, hiding behind me. My father stood straight, motioning for him to walk forward.

My younger brother's eyes met mine, they shimmer with tears in the dip of his eyes. "Don't let him hurt me, Brad," he whispered with fear in his voice.

My lips quivered. Stay upright, don't move, don't speak badly, I reminded myself. "Go to Father," I said calmly. My younger brother's breathing was shaky. He frowned.

"You're just like him," he mouthed. Just like our father? He turned around to face our father. "Yes, father?"

"Come here."

With hesitant steps, my brother stalked forward. Our father whipped something off from the counter, using it to strike at my brother. He shouted out in agony. My older brother and I stood watching. We didn't dare to speak out, although we would have liked to. Fear drove us back. He cried, and my father struck him. "You're the worst mistake I ever made." He struck him again. There was so much blood. "You see your older brothers, they don't misbehave." Again, again, and again.

My older brother broke. "Father, he's bleeding."

Our father looked up. "You disobedient boy, after I talk about you so well?"

It was too quick, the several beatings my brothers endured as I stayed silent and watched. "Brad, you will always be my favorite." That is exactly what I didn't want, to hate my father so deeply and be his favorite son. He was a monster after all, but I was his protégé. A version so similar to him. I wasn't any different than the monster that stood before me.

"Mr. Uppercrust," a voice broke my thoughts. "Wake up." They shook my shoulders. "You're crying." Crying?

I sat up quickly, accidentally smacking my head against whoever was trying to get me to wake up. I rubbed my head, meeting eyes with him. I drew my eyes down. This was an awkward position ... "You're—oh my god—get off!" I shoved him off. His body landed with a loud thud!

"Fuck," he cried out.

I muttered oops, but I fully intended what happened. "Never sit on me like that again," I said quietly. He shook his head.

"Forget it, Mr. Uppercrust. What happened?"

His eyes bore into me. My body was feeling all too heavy, flashes of my nightmare ran through my head. Forget it, forget it, forget it, "none of your business." I sighed. "Get out, I have to dress." He didn't move. "Seriously?"

"I have to be at your side twenty-four seven, Mr. Uppercrust. They are orders."

"Fuck you," I cursed.

He hummed, a smile so infuriating across his lips.