Under pressure

9: The dinner (Part 2)

Betty's POV

"Elizabeth," my dad says angrily, "Let go of that boy and come with me," he says.

I wipe my eyes dry and look at him, "No," I say.

"What did you just say to me?" he asks furiously. I see my brothers appearing behind him.

"I said no," I say and rest my head on Jug's shoulder, hoping for my dad to be gone in a second. Jug kisses my hair.

"You boy," dad says to Jug, "You watch out. You have no idea of what she's capable of," he says.

Tears drop from my eyes again. Jug looks at my face and then back at my dad, "What do you mean?" he asks. Wow. I've never heard his tough voice.

Dad snickers, "She had three brothers. You knew that?"

"Actually I did," he says, "And she didn't do anything to him."

"Oh yes she did. The poor boy was killed. And she just sat there and cried," he says.

I look at him furiously, tears streaming down my face, "There wasn't anything I could've done," I say.

"Oh yes, there was. You could've stopped the woman. You could've stepped in front of him. You could've called the cops. You could've called the ambulance," he says. I've started breathing faster. I can't do this again.

"I was 5," I cry.

"If you would've done anything, my son would still be alive," he says.

"I wouldn't," I say, my voice breaking.

He chuckles, "No, you wouldn't. But you're a murderer. So who cares?" he says.

I smile, "Maybe someone can do you the favour and kill you, so that you could join him if you prefer that," I say.

A hard pain appears on my cheek. "You do not talk with me like that, girl," he says, squeezing my face between his hand.

Jug pushes his hand away from me and punches him into the face. Dad grabs his cheek and then looks at his hand. It's bloody.

"If it's anyone's fault that your son is dead, it's yours. They were little and you left them home alone... And after that didn't talk to her for 3 years? Maybe you could do yourself a favour and get out of here before me or any of your sons who you don't care about do something," Jug says furiously. He sounds... Dangerous.

Dad puffs in anger and goes out of the room, his shoulders bumping together with my brothers'.

I breathe out and wrap my arms back around Jug and squeeze him tightly. He hugs me back and kisses my hair.

"Thank you," I say quietly. He kisses my temple again.

"Baby, show me your cheek," he says.

I sigh and raise my head up. His eyes widen, "Does that jerk wear rings or something?" he asks.

I nod. He sighs and presses his lips against my cheek. And then a few mm to another place and another and another. That bastard had 4 rings on him.

He pulls away and there is blood on his lower lip. I guess he can feel it, cause he pulls the lip between his teeth and basically tastes the blood.

"Ew, Juggie," I chuckle.

He kisses my forehead, "Come on, you need ice," he sighs and helps me up.

Chic and Jor are still standing on my doorway. "Wow," Jor says as we go past them.

"Dude. Thank you," Chic tells Jug.

He sighs, "Nothing to thank me for. She still got hurt," he says.