Goodbye Ain't Ever Meant A Thing

Chapter 9

"Sienna darling! I've been so worried. I couldn't reach you." Her heart dropped making her feel nauseous as she stared at the man before her. She had escaped him. She left. Her throat felt as if it was closing as she began to talk. Her palms began to sweat as she stood still. It seemed as if time had stopped around her.

"Derrick I left you." Plain and simple. He shook his head smiling at her but she saw the glint that was hiding behind that kind smile. The same glint he got at every party he deemed her to be too outgoing. The glint that meant he would beat her as soon as they were alone.

"Darling we had a fight. We both said things we didn't mean." his accent seemed to become thicker with each word. He was begging her to keep going. To keep making it worse for herself and those around her. Jason stepped closer to his younger sister, placing a hand on her lower back as he saw her tensed stature.

"I meant it, Derrick." Her heart was racing, pounding in her ears. She wasn't going to go back. Not when she had gotten this far. Not when she had just gotten Brantley back. The last two weeks she had been home had been the best two weeks of her life. Hell, the last bruise had finally just healed.

"May we have a moment alone, please. You know how it is, lovers quarrel." He spoke almost laughing to Jason who stood behind her.

"Ummm yeah just let me know if you need me, sis." Jason nodded his head towards Derrick before walking into the house. She begged him to come back, silently of course. She didn't want to be alone with this monster. She prayed her brother could see the truth behind the shaded eyes but he just walking.

"Now that the hillbilly is gone we can really talk." there was the true Derrick. Anger dripped from each of his words, but she stood her ground. Brantley's truck was parked outside his mama house along with Kolby's. Jason was just inside. There was no way that Derrick could hurt her here. "You're coming home Sienna. You will be with me whether you like it or not."

"No, Derrick you need to leave before I tell everyone why I really left and trust me you wouldn't want that." She glared at the monster of a boyfriend she left. Within seconds her face was shoved against the hard tin of the garage door as her arm was bent behind her. Pain shot through her arm as he bent it farther, the strain on her shoulder becoming unbearable. She gasped as she balled her hand into a fist, turning her body more and more until she was on her tiptoes. A whimper left her lips as he squeezed harder pushing into her back more.

"Ohh little Sienna grew some guts while she was gone huh? Let me rephrase this. You see that house down the street? The one with the sold sign? That's where we're going to live. That's where we're going to raise our children. Where I'll make you that obedient housewife you should be." tears flowed from her eyes as she shook her head, "I wasn't asking. I already had men damage your father's shop and break Brantley's window. I wonder what Brantley would do if slipped some whiskey into his drink. Would he fall down the rabbit hole of addiction all over? What about some opioids huh? What if I were to cut his brake lines? Think I could make his accident on 129 happen again?"

"Derrick leave him alone. Please. Please leave Brantley alone." She begged him. She couldn't let him hurt Brantley. Not again. Tears began to flow freely from her eyes as she begged him to leave Brantley alone.

"I won't hurt him as long as you come home." He bargained. She wanted to say no, wanted to run far away again, but she wouldn't risk it. She couldn't be the reason that Brantley became addicted again, or worse killed. He released her turning her to face him as he glared. She whimpered at the sudden release as she rubbed her now aching arm. Slowly she backed away from him. His blue eyes were cold much colder than she had ever seen. His hard jawline was tight with anger as he closed the gap. He kissed her hard, making her stomach drop and her skin crawl as he wiped away her tears. The nearly kind gesture seemed out of place but soon it was apparent why.