Mr. Lawson's Assistant

Chapter 33

"Where have you been?" David opened the door before I even had a chance to take out my keys. I frowned when he reached out and pulled me inside.
"Working late." I took off my shoes, moving past him to go to my room.
David blocked my way, "Why didn't you answer my calls?" He crossed his arms.
I let out an annoyed breath, "My phone died." I moved around David again.
"Oana!"
"What!?" I turned around to face my brother, gritting my teeth. His eyes weren't angry like I'd expected them to be, they were concerned. Instead of yelling back at me, he clenched his jaw and stayed silent. That made me feel terrible for having screamed at him.
"What is it?" I started again, this time my tone was softer.
"He's coming to stay here."
I froze.
I knew exactly who he was talking about, because I saw the way his eyes flashed when he said he.
"No!" I said quickly, looking to David with wide eyes. "Tell him no!"
David swallowed and grit his teeth together, switching his eyes to the ceiling. "I did, Oana. He won't listen."
My hands balled into fists at my sides, "He's not staying here! He killed our mom, David!" I screamed, dropping my shoes.
David's eyes flashed, "I know."
I covered my mouth, tears sliding down my cheeks. "I know," He said quietly this time, taking in a deep breath, and coming to pull me into a hug. "I couldn't stop him...he wasn't sober."
I gripped my brother, and forced a nod, laying my head against his shoulder. "I just didn't want him to scare you by showing up."
"He doesn't scare me." I murmured, inhaling. We both knew that was a lie.
*
The next few days I worked three or four hours overtime each day, until I had finally caught up my work.

Closing my desk drawer, and shredding the last piece of paper, I checked my phone to see what time it was.
6:30.
Letting out a breath, I stepped into Mr. Lawson's office to grab the dirty water pitcher and glasses from his last meeting at 4:00. Taking them out into the hallway sink, I washed them, then put them away so I could use them next week. Grabbing my phone from my office desk, I headed downstairs to start on my way home. Stopping at the first crosswalk with the small crowd of people, I pulled out my phone and texted David that I was on my way home.
*
Unlocking my door, I stepped into my apartment to see David sitting on the couch, staring at the TV. That wouldn't have worried me otherwise, except for the fact that the TV was not turned on. David turned to face me when I walked inside, but before either of us said anything, someone opened my bedroom door and walked- more like stumbled- out.
"Oana..."
Tony was standing in the doorway in a plaid shirt and jeans, with an empty beer bottle in his hand. When he tried to take a step forward, he stumbled and laughed, catching himself on the wall, and mumbling incoherently. I turned to David. His eyes were hard, but by the way he was gripping the couch, I already knew what had happened.
"Where's he going to sleep?" I said quietly, and David turned to me quickly.
"I'm sorry-"
"Not now." I cut him off, and he slammed his hand down on the couch.
"He's my dad Oana... I couldn't leave him outside like this."
I inhaled and set my phone on the counter, "You're going to have to sleep on the floor in my room." I breathed, staring at my step-father as he laughed and swayed in the doorway.
"Oana!"
I jumped.
"Your mommy died." Tony smiled, leaning forward, and loosing his balance. I glared at him, fisting my hands. "Your mommy... died..." He repeated, quieter this time, staring at his empty bottle.
David jumped up from the couch and shoved him back into the wall, "Shut up!" He yelled, but Tony just laughed.
He rolled his eyes over to focus slowly on David. "...Ok, Davie..." He hiccupped, still smiling.
I pursed my lips and shook my head.
"Put him on the couch." I crossed my arms and backed away from the living room.
David grabbed his dad and pulled him out to the couch, avoiding my eyes. I moved away from both of them and took cover in my room, closing the door behind me. I gagged at the smell of beer, but moved into the bathroom to take a shower anyways.
*
That night, I locked my bedroom door after David was in the shower and Tony had fallen asleep on the couch. Laying out some pillows and blankets for David, I turned on my music, putting in my headphones and climbing into bed. A little while later, I glanced at the bathroom door as David walked out without a shirt on.
"Put on some clothes!" I grimaced, hiding my eyes, and pulling out my headphones.
"I never sleep with a shirt on," David laughed, grinning mischievously. I rolled my eyes and turned onto my side to go to sleep.
"Turn off the light before you lay down."
*
The next morning, I woke up at seven, and David and I went out to the kitchen together to make breakfast. Tony was still knocked out on the couch, but when I started making eggs, he stirred. Just as he began to sit up, a knock sounded on the door, and David moved to answer it.
"Hey, Damon, right?" David's voice carried over to me.
I froze.
"Come on in, Oana's in the kitchen."
Of course, that's when Tony sat up. "Who's he?" Tony grumbled, grimacing at his headache, as Damon walked in behind David. I turned away from the stove to glare at Tony, but instead saw David and Damon in front of me. Damon's eyes switched from Tony to me, to David- who was still shirtless, but his expression remained unreadable.
"I stopped by to drop off your purse, you left it at work last night," Damon started, breaking the silence, as he held up my bag.
"Oh," I tucked my hair behind my ear, "I didn't even realize I left it. Thank you." I shut off the stove, as Damon set the purse on the counter.
"I didn't mean to interrupt your breakfast." Damon half-smiled, nodding to me, before moving towards the door, but David shook his head and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Stay, I'm sure Oana made enough eggs." David glanced at me, and I glared at him.
"I don't want to impose, but thank you anyways..." Damon glanced at me, and I dropped my eyes to the egg pan. I walked out of the kitchen, with the pan in hand, meeting Damon's eyes as I walked by.
"You're not imposing, unless you don't like the food." I raised my eyebrows, setting the food on the table, and turning to Tony. He looked utterly lost, and his face was pale from the stress alcohol had repeatedly put on his body. He was still wearing his same clothes from last night. Likely, he didn't remember a thing.
David saw my eyes flicker to his dad, and he cleared his throat.
"Tony, your stuff is in the bedroom." He said quietly, and Damon's eyes moved quickly between the three of us, no doubt trying to figure out where the sudden tension that filled the room had come from.
He won't even call him dad.
I thought, watching Tony with narrowed eyes.
Luckily, Tony had enough sense to stand and leave. As he shuffled off into my room, I set the eggs on the table.
"David grab three plates." I said, lifting my eyes to Damon. "That is if you're staying, Mr. Lawson?" I cocked an eyebrow, and turned to Damon. He met my gaze, and I knew exactly what he was thinking.
Mr. Lawson?
"That's really sweet of you, Oana," I could see the way he held back a smirk, "but I have a meeting at ten." Damon checked his watch.
He looked slightly out of place in my average apartment, with his crisp white shirt and black coat and pants. Of course, he looked completely at home; his confident body language took care of that.
David said something to Damon, and the both of them headed towards the door. I stared after them, but I noticed Damon's hand slowly retracting from his side, and his fingers working on the clasp of his watch. Frowning, I started to say something, but David interrupted and as the watch hit the floor, the noise was lost.
Damon's eyes flickered up to me over David's shoulder, and he cocked his own eyebrow. "See you soon," Damon offered a nod to me, before heading out the door. Mentally, I counted out two minutes as I pulled out a few forks for breakfast, before I turned and "noticed" the watch.
"Mr. Lawson lost his watch," I leaned down and grabbed the heavy, gold piece from the floor, and David reached out to grab the forks from me.
"See if you can catch him before he leaves."
Letting David take the forks, I hurried out the door, moving towards the steps. Turning onto the second floor, I balked when I saw Damon standing beside the steps, waiting.
Narrowing my eyes at him, I pursed my lips and held out my hand. "You dropped something," I muttered sarcastically.
Damon raised his eyebrows and took the watch from me, clasping it back on his wrist. "Thanks." He glanced up when he was finished.
I crossed my arms and lifted my chin. "What?"
"What?" He answered, feigning confusion.
"I saw you drop the watch, what do you want?" I almost rolled my eyes, but refrained.
"Greyson told me to pass on a message from him," He paused, searching my eyes.
I pursed my lips, "And?"
Damon smirked. "And he said to tell you that Pedro's men have agreed to meet up with him today at ten."
I shifted on my feet, chewing my lower lip in thought, before I answered.
"Good."
I uncrossed my arms and started back up the stairs, but Damon stopped me.
"May I ask you a question, Oana?" He said, making me pause midstep. I faced him and barely nodded. "Who was the man?" Damon asked, watching me closely. I did my best not to flinch.
"David's my brother." I tried to steer away from what I knew he was asking. Seeing his face, I pursed my lips. "My step-father."
Something in Damon's eyes clicked, but he said nothing, and just nodded.
"Enjoy your breakfast." And with that, he started back down the steps. I didn't wait for him to leave. I climbed the steps upward at a quicker pace, hoping David hadn't noticed how long I'd been gone.
"Did you catch him?" David asked me, as I came through the door. I nodded, grabbing the wooden spoon from the pan of eggs, and serving myself some breakfast.
"Where's my plate?"
I tensed, midway between setting the spoon back down, and it clattered into the pan. Tony sauntered out of my room, wearing a fresh pair of clothes, and buckling his belt. I straightened and ignored his question, sitting down across from David and starting to eat.
"I asked a question," He snapped. Gripping my fork, I raised my eyes to him and glared.
"And I don't have to answer it," I spit.
His brown eyes flashed, and he took a menacing step forward, reaching for a vase on the couch side table.
David jumped up from the table and stepped up to his dad, looking him in the eyes and clenching his jaw.
"Leave it." David growled, and I saw Tony clenching his hands into fists at his sides.
Forgetting my eggs, I grabbed my plate and shoved my chair back as I stood. Not putting the chair back into place, I dropped my plate into the sink, before I passed the two men and slammed my bedroom door.
Inside my room, I changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top, pulling on my shoes and yanking my hair back into a ponytail. I didn't say a word, as I left my room, and bee-lined for the front door. Neither of them stopped me.
The second I was outside, I started jogging away from the apartment, but my pent-up anger and frustration pushed me into a run, and then into a sprint.
I hated him.
Sassing off to Tony just a few minutes ago in the kitchen, had taken all the courage I could muster. It didn't matter that I'd moved hundreds of miles away from him. He was back here, in my house, ruining my life again.
I grunted as I pushed forward a little faster, trying to distract myself from the memories.
When I had left at seventeen, I'd been only a shell of a girl, mentally scarred and scared more than anyone I'd ever met. I was afraid to speak to anyone, or have an opinion about anything- but I'd changed. Getting away had helped me become the headstrong, confident person I truly was. And now, here I was again, fighting the same old fears, desperate to not let them take me over again.
God help me.