Mad World (Gone Editing)

Chapter 22

Cori's POV

Concentrate by Demi Lovato

Being around Elliot was harder than I had imagined. Especially after the kiss we shared in the elevator. I know I shouldn't have allowed it to even happen in the first place if I really was going to get over him, but Id missed him and being alone with him just reinforced the feelings.

The first few weeks were precarious at best. My emotions were all over the place. Half of the time I was nervous because lying to my parents, especially my mom, just wasn't something I was good at and I was afraid that they would pick up on the tension between Elliot and me. Other times I'd be pissy and irritated because I felt like my choice in breaking up with Elliot was completely taken away by the fact that my father alone could not guarantee my safety. And still I found myself confused because my feelings for him, well confusing. Before I'd found out about his real occupation and inclination toward violence, I had been falling for Elliot but the incident in New York City coupled with the cold blooded murder of the two men sent to kill me, Elliot scared me even while I was grateful that he had saved my life. I saw too much of my father's dark side in him. On the other hand, Elliot never showed signs of the mental and emotional abuse that I remembered my father inflicting on his employees and colleges over the years.

I knew what I would have told one of the patients from the clinic. For one I would have suggested going to the police, though not super smart considering my life was on the line and my father's black mailers would likely kill us all if the police got involved. Two I'd advise her to tell her parents the truth about her involvement with the mercenary protecting her, again not smart for me because my father would try to kill Elliot and that wouldn't be good for anyone. Three I'd tell her not to dwell on her thoughts of Elliot.

Truth be told it was eating at me, making me irritable and bitchy toward everyone in the house, especially Elliot and my father. I really hated that I was even put in this position. Plus, I felt so alone in all of this.

I really, really missed Corvin. I felt like my brother would be able to help figure out who was after us and everything would be okay a lot sooner than the meager efforts my father seemed to be putting forth.

I cried every morning as I passed the doorway to his bedroom, which my mother had preserved like a shrine following his death. I wasn't even allowed in there and that hurt almost as much as him not being able to hold him in my arms.

Being back home was proving to be more emotionally traumatic than anything I'd faced over the last two and a half years. Every bad thing that had happened to me, to our whole family could be traced back to something my father had done in his past.

After a full month of dealing with all of the mess in my head I finally allowed Cheryl and Baleigha to sneak me out of the house to go to my favorite drinking spot to unwind.

It took Elliot and my security team all of 30 minutes before they found us. Elliot was pissed as I'd expected but I in the little time wed been at Club Rose, I'd gotten drunk, danced a little and the pressure in my chest had eased enough that I almost felt like myself again, so I wasnt too worried about him.

They practically drug us out of the club and once we were back home, I was marched before my parents.

My father was pacing in the living room while my mother sat on the loveseat with a tumbler of Grey Goose that she downed when I walked into the room. I crossed my arms over my chest and looked back and forth between them, waiting for one of them to start. I thought it would be my mother, but it was my father who began.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING", he yelled at the top of his lungs.

3 years ago, I would have cowered away from his anger but now, in my drunken, almost relaxed state I just stared at him. He stepped in so close I could feel his breath on my face and still I held my ground.