His Angel

chapter 9 - Emily

I catch the bottle before it hits me and I angrily throw it against dad's truck.

"That's my car you stupid little bitch!" He yells.

"You can't drive!! You're drunk dad!" I yell.

"Em, calm down." Carlos says grabbing my arm.

I snatch it out of his hold.

Dad winds his hand back and brings it down connecting it with my cheek, "Don't call me dad, you lost that privilege when you killed your own mother!" He yells.

I stand there stunned and hurt by his words with my hand over my burning cheek. "Don't touch her!" Carlos yells shoving dad back, he stumbles but quickly regains his balance and winds his arm back, his hand balled into a fist.

No.

I yank Carlos back and close my eyes waiting for the impact of his fist, but it never comes.

I hesitate to open my eyes and see dad on the ground with Ace on top punching the crap out of him. I quickly grab the back of Ace's shirt and yank him off, "stop!" I yell.

Ace falls back but quickly gets up and walks towards me and holds my face in his hands. I can feel worry and relief crash into me, mixing with my own emotions. "Are you okay Emily?" He asks worriedly.

I turn out of his hold, not knowing what just happened and turn to dad, he's unconscious. I turn to Carlos, he's on the ground staring up at me with wide eyes. I get down on my knees, "are you okay?" I ask him.

He nods, "fine, are you?"

I nod, "thanks to Ace."

I stand back up and turn to Ace, "Thank you," I mumble to him.

"You don't have to thank me Emily."

"But I do," Carlos says standing up, "as much as I hate you, and God I really do hate you, a lot....thank you for protecting my sister." He says.

I turn to dad again, "what are we going to do about him?" I ask.

"Well he'll probably press charges," Carlos sighs.

"Shit, I didn't think about that." Ace mutters.

I hug Carlos to me, "what are we going to do Carly?" I ask.

I hear a snort and look up to Ace, "Carly," he chuckles.

"Shut up," I hiss.

Ace immediately stops laughing and looks down not saying a word all humor now gone.

I look up to Carlos to see him smiling and he kisses the top of my head, "I don't know, Em."

I close my eyes thinking for a minute, "Ace, I think you should leave. Maybe he didn't see you, we'll just clean him up and lay him down on the couch and see what happens." Hopefully he won't recall anything.

"What if he tries to hit you again?" Ace asks looking worried.

"He won't touch her," Carlos assures, but I'm not even sure of that.

"I'll be fine," I smile.

Ace nods, "okay, but before I go, can I talk to you?" He asks.

I know what he's going to ask and I already have an answer ready.

I turn to Carlos to see if he's okay with it, he nods.

I turn back to Ace, "yeah, sure."
We walk a couple feet away out of ear shot and Ace moves to put a hand on me but I move back and out of reach, he sighs sounding defeated.