Fated to them book 2 chapter 8

Book 2 Chapter 8

“About time you got back” Brian says the moment I walk in the door. A sneer on his face as he takes in my appearance.

“You look like shit, what happened to you?” He asks and I place my bag on my granite bench top before quickly closing the door. Shutting the door I hear Brian move behind me before hearing him rummaging through my bag. Turning around he had his hands in my handbag taking my wallet out. I took in his appearance, he was wearing jeans and a tank top. He looked bigger then when he went to prison last, his hair cropped really short and he had more prison tattoos covering his arms and neck. He also hadn’t shaved in a long time, his stubble thick and turning into a beard.

“I know you have more than this?” He says taking the money out of my wallet and waving the notes in the air.

“You need to leave, I have a friend coming over” I tell him though I would hardly call him a friend more of an acquaintance but I hoped my lie would be enough to make him leave.

“Who, that girl.. What’s her name? That bimbo you were a secretary with?” He asks.

“Just a friend Brian so you need to leave before they get here” Brian’s lips tug up cruelly a look I have seen a million times on his face when he doesn’t like the way I speak to him, but I was almost frantic. If Xavier comes in here while Brian is here it is going to be a problem.

“It’s a man isn’t it, you think some man can protect you from me?” He chuckles darkly and my stomach drops, that is far from what I am worried about. More worried about getting Xavier killed for merely bringing me home.

“Is it a boyfriend?” Brian says, taking a menacing step forward and I step back as I watch his hands clench into fists at his sides. I shake my head.

“No, just someone from work,” I tell him.

“A man?” He asks and I don’t answer. He sighs, running his hand down his face.

“I want your car keys then” He says digging through my bag though I was a little shocked he was actually leaving. The last time he saw me with a man, he beat the poor bloke bloody and he was only a handy man that just happened to be in my apartment at the wrong time fixing the air conditioning. Brian was charged and luckily the landlord knows what my brother is like having dealt with him many times trying to break into my apartment over the years.

“Hurry up if you want me to go, or I will gladly meet your new boy toy” He spits at me.

“Such a fucking whore, damn embarrasisng the way you throw yourself at any man” He spits rummaging through my bag. I fight the urge to tellhim to fuck off, knowing he would see that as a challenge and the last thing I want is him breaking my arm again.

“What’s the pin number?” He asks, grabbing my card out.

“I am not telling you my pin number” I tell him knowing he would clear out my bank accounts like he did a few years back. He stalks over to me gripping my hair.

“Don’t forget our arrangements sis” He says jerking my head back as I clutch at his hands. My hair rips painfully from my scalp and I cry out at the sudden pain.

“Pin number now” he demands and trattle off the four digit pin before he shoves me away.

“Keys and I will be back later on to return your card” he says,when I realise I still don’t have my keys and that Xavier still has them.

“Keys Bella” He says impatiently and I shake my head.

“I don’t have them, my friend does, he is downstairs. I will go get them, meet me at my car” I tell him while turning on my heel to head for the door.

“Good I will come with you” He says, grabbing my shoulder painfully and jamming his fingers into the pressure point making me hiss and I shove him off as I jerked away from him. I mentally curse myself realizing my mistake as he hits the bench in the kitchen. His hand moved so quickly and I blink before feeling his palm hit me in the side of the face. My ear ringing having copped most of the blow, the slap making my skin burn.

“Ever try that again and I will put you 6 feet under alongside dad” He says through gritted teeth, while I rub my ear.

“Understood Bella?” He spits at me. I nod my head.

“See the things you do, why do you make me hurt you, you know I have a temper?” He says pulling me to him, he smells slightly of whiskey, I could smell it on his shirt like he spilt it on himself.

“I’m sorry ok, I didn’t mean to” I tell him as he pulls me to him.

“There, there sis, you know I love you” He says pressing his filthy lips to my head. I fight the urge to cringe away knowing it would anger him more.

“I will meet you at your car, go grab your keys” He says, turning me toward the door. I fight back tears, taking deep breaths as / walk out of my apartment. Brian close on my heels following me down the steps and I walk to the small building off to the side of the apartment block. Brian wanders off to my car, knowing my landlord doesn’t like him here.

Walking over to the small grey brick building I open the blue door pushing inside to see Xavier talking to Jack, the owner of the apartment block. Jack looks over at me and smiles before his smile falters when he peers behind me looking into the parking lot.

“Bella, what did I say about him being here?” Jack says. Jack was in his forties and is a great landlord and probably the only person other than Taylor and Addie I consider a friend.

“Sorry jack I’m just getting rid of him, I just need my keys” I tell him before grabbing them off Xavier who was looking at me but I refuse to meet his eye or Jacks.

“Bella, do you need me to call the police?” Jack says. I shake my head, my cheeks flaming with embarrassment this couldn’t be happening.

“No, he is leaving now, Jack sorry about this” I tell him, turning to walk out when Jack speaks again as I reach for the door handle.

“You know this man?” Jack asks, and I wasn’t lying when I said he doesn’t like male tenants, especially young ones. Not that he was young Xavier looked to be in thirties but that definitely wasn’t old either.

“Yes from work” I answered, still not looking at Xavier but I could feel his eyes boring into me questionably.

“Would you vouch for him and his two friends, are they good people and won’t destroy the place?” Jack asks. I swallow I barely knew him, but they didn’t look like trouble makers but did I really want them living in the same apartment block as me, and why would they? It isn’t exactly a resort over here, the place isn’t bad but I just couldn’t picture Latham wanting to live in an apartment like mine.