My Deal With The Devil's Son

Chapter 18

Daniel's P.O.V

After saying goodbye to both Louisa and Paula, I made a dread filled journey back to my house. I parked my car in the garage and hung my keys up on the perfectly polished silver key rack. I slipped soundlessly into the hallway from the back door, trying to avoid my dad but he always seemed to detect my presence.

"Daniel?" His voice echoed through from the lounge.

I resisted the urge to ignore him and go to my room but the aftermath would only be worse. Might as well get it over with now, no point in delaying it I told myself. I waltzed into the lounge, the picture of ease, I always acted this way around my father. If I showed any sign of cowardice he would use it as much to his advantage as humanly possible.

"You summoned me?"  I asked in a bored tone, almost mocking, one that didn't go down to well with him.

"Don't be a smart-ass, boy. You got clients tonight," his speech was slightly slurred and I noticed the double whisky he was holding in his left hand, the bottle on the coffee table almost empty. He normally didn't drink that much, kept his wits about him as he had a lot of business to take care of and he wanted to be as intimidating as he could when his guys came in, that way he held power over them if they were scared of him. It wasn't so easy to keep up a facade so convincing when his brain was dulled. He only drank when he had a fight with mom, I wondered what it was about this time.

"Dad, I've told you, I don't want brought into this!" I knew I was treading on eggshells talking to him like this but my voice wouldn't co-operate with any coherent thought that ran through my head and my voice raised quite a few decibels.

"And I've told you, I don't care. I need someone young to draw in new customers, you know what kind." He tried to throw me a wink but failed miserably in his drunken state. The man made me sick.

I couldn't do as he asked this time. I couldn't shut myself out like the last time when I refused to feel anything. I had kept that up too long and now, because of Louisa, I would never be able to build up that barrier again. The truth was, I missed feeling happy, even if it was only for a minute, I missed feeling sad and depressed because at least I was feeling something. I felt like a robot for years, I couldn't go back to that now and I can't do what he wants because that would mean putting my girl at risk. I wouldn't only be endangering myself, but her too.

"I'm no criminal, why do you want me?" 

"Shut up boy! I've given you everything, big house, fancy cars, a business that you're going to inherit, be grateful!" He boomed. The noise was hurting his head, making him agitated but I didn't stop.

 "I didn't ask for any of that. You can keep the car, I'll move out, give your business to someone who gives a damn-"  I'm cut off by the glass that resided in his hand being launched at my head. I ducked just in time, thankful for my quick reflexes and the glass shattered against the wall sending tiny glass shards along the floor.

The glass crunched under his feet as he advanced on me, the whisky bottle in his hand. I refused to feel threatened as he drew nearer, I stood my ground as he carelessly slipped on the wet floor, gripping the leather armchair for support.

Now standing up straight, a mere breath away, he shot daggers at me with his eyes, sending a message daring me to question him now. The strong stench of liquor oozed from his pores making me wrinkle my nose in disgust.

I squared my shoulders in defiance, looking him straight in the eye. I knew it was a bad idea to provoke him at all, but even more so when he was drunk and somehow I was still carrying it through.