Dangerous Lies

Chapter 14

Have you ever had a feeling that you had to do something, like it was so important? Maybe it’s what I'm feeling now; standing before the house Monica lives in with her family. but I think it’s mostly me wanting my mother to believe me just this once, that I wanted to make her see I wasn’t lying. I could already tell Jack was back home, I wonder what changed his mind.

I walk up to the door and knock. I'd done something similar in going to the prison to see my father and maybe this was a mistake. But for some reason, I felt the need to help Monica. Maybe it’s even I want some sort of validation of the years she abandoned us. I don’t know what it is, but I feel like I'm searching for something.

The light in the foyer flicks on and I can only guess they were on their way to bed. With the sun set, I can only assume the twins are asleep. The door opens and Jack is standing there with a scowl. His eyes take me in and I can tell he’s not sure how to feel about me being here. What has my mother said to have him doubt me? He’s always been kind, is this my mother’s poison at work?

His eyes flicker to the stairs behind him and he sighs, “Come on in.”

Mother’s greeting wasn’t as pleasant. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you.” I say emotionlessly.

She scoffs, “you’re not welcome here! Especially after everything you’ve caused. You’re just a home wrecking whore!”

Jack laughs bitterly, “She’s a child! Not only that but she's your daughter! God woman, maybe if she had any sort of role model she would be different! But no, you left her with an abusive bastard!” so maybe they weren’t back together? Glancing into the living room I could see a bottle of whisky on the coffee table and blankets and a pillow on the couch.

My mother scoffs, “I've already told you Jack, her father was a gentle man. He loves his daughter. He would never hurt her, ever. Don’t let her lies fool you!”

Jack scoffs before I can jump in and spill about his prison sentence, “do you think the cops don’t talk? I'm a lawyer, for God sake! I heard all about what Erin’s father did.” he laughs mockingly at her, “he’s in prison, Janice. He beat your daughter almost every day.”

“It’s not true! She's a liar!”

“He threatened to kill me” I blurt, almost wishing she’d care; I so desperately need someone to count on. Someone just to hold me and tell me it would be okay. I'm so tired. Just tired of everything.

The doubt in her eyes is expected but she says nothing. Jack looks angry…mostly directed at my mother.

I am surprised to see Monica coming down the stairs sniffling with bloodshot eyes. “Erin? Why are you here?” her eyes were wide and panicked. Her face shows bruises and on her arm is a cast. “You shouldn’t be here! Some people were looking for you, asking where you were.”

With cold rage brimming in my blood I walked over to Monica ignoring her flinch. “Who did this?” her hands shake and I calm my voice, making it soothing. “Tell me who did this to you, Monica.”

Her lips tremble, “I don’t know them. They were strangers but they made it clear what they wanted. You need to leave, Erin. It’s not safe.”

“Tell me what they looked like.”

“There were four of them. The guy giving orders was short and buff, he said he’d kill me. He had blond hair and brown eyes. He had a scar on his lip and chipped teeth.”

It’s official. I'd run out of time and they’d caught up to me.

Taking a deep breath I grab her hand, “come with me. I can keep you safe. We’ll escape this. There not just looking at me anymore, Monica. They know your close to me.” that could be taken anyway but the truth of the matter is I couldn’t let her be there target to get to me. I'd keep her safe. I owed her that much.

“You’re not taking her anywhere! This is your fault!” seethes my mother causing Monica to flinch. I could see the fear in Monica’s eyes.

Jack just frowns, “how deep are you in trouble, Erin?”

I clench my eyes shut. “Deep, Jack and I'm so sorry they came here. I wouldn’t have come here if I'd had a choice. But I would keep her safe. They’ll come back for her to use against me. They want to flush me out.”

Monica’s eyes well up, “they’ll find me no matter what, so what's the point?”

Jack’s eyes flash and he nods at me, “just get her safe.” he kisses his daughters head and tells her he loves her and there’s a pang in my heart that I'd never have that. Jack drags my protesting mother into the kitchen. I can hear her spewing abuse at me and him as she goes.

Twenty minutes later with Monica’s car loaded up with our bags we left; Monica for the first time and me for the second. I wasn’t foolish. I wasn’t done with this shitty place. Shawn is entirely too selfish to leave me be but I'm not entirely sure how I'll be coming back. The danger I'd avoided for the past two years seems to be closing in on me. The shackles of the pasts pulling me deeper and deeper, swallowing me in trouble and pain. The memories of the man I'd killed swarming into the front of my mind. I didn’t have a choice. It was either me or him and even to this day, I regret choosing him. I wish I'd let the blanket of death take me under. I'd killed the wrong man. That much became obvious very soon. None of them are going to forget I killed there leader’s son. I hadn't had a choice. I fought so hard and I pulled the trigger before I knew what I was doing. I never wanted to take someone’s life. But I did. I was just as bad as everyone else that has hurt me.

I would protect Monica. I wouldn’t fail like I did with Jace. I'd kill for her before I asked questions. None of this was her fault and for laying it on her shoulders the burden of this life, I'll forever owe her.

I'm so sorry about the wait. Laptop malfunction! Please comment and vote!

Yes, this is short and I promise the next one will be longer but I had to put in a filler. More past is about to be revealed. Tell me what you think?