Page 30 of Fighting My Demons

“Here are your car keys. I would have parked it in the parking lot, but your guard dog over there would have called the cops,” he says before waving at Jack.

I take my keys from him, looking at them.

“How are you getting back?” I ask, not wanting to offer him a lift. I can tell he is on something by his dilated eyes and the way he speaks, barely opening his mouth properly.

“Friend is picking me up in ten minutes. I sent him a text when you pulled up.”

I nod. “I will just move my car into the parking lot. I will be back in a second,” I tell him.

Walking over to my car, I notice he’s washed and cleaned inside it. I shake my head because it is so unlike Brian, making me wonder what he is up to. Getting in, I start it and turn into the lot and park my car next to the stairs. Hopping out, I lock it up and walk back over to Brian.

“So, those men you were with the other day. What’s their deal?” he asks casually.

“They work in my office,” I tell him, leaning on the brick wall holding mailboxes.

“Are you fucking them?” he asks, and I turn to look at him.

“No, of course not.”

He smirks. “Fuck you’re a terrible liar. I knew you were a slut. Didn’t think you would fuck three men, though. If you aren’t fucking them, why was one in your bed?” he says, shaking his head with a laugh.

I don’t even bother correcting him; there is no point as he won’t believe me, anyway.

“So, which one of them is your boyfriend, or are you seriously with all of them?”

“None of them, Brian,” I tell him.

“Tell them to mind their own business. Would hate for anything to happen to one of them.”

“That’s not even funny. Don’t say shit like that,” I warn him.

He pushes off the wall before moving in front of me and leaning forward. I cringe away from him, pressing closer to the wall.

“And what are you going to do, Bella? Call the cops? Should I tell them what you did? Don’t try and tell me what I can and can’t do. You fucking owe me. Five years I lost, five fucking years. I tell you to ditch them, you ditch them. Got it?”

I nod.

He leans closer and presses his lips to my forehead. “You know I am only looking out for you, Bella. Can’t have my baby sister led astray,” he says, dropping his arm across my shoulders and tugging me to him.

I try to push off his chest when a car suddenly pulls up out the front.

“My ride's here. Come meet my friend,” he says, dragging me over to the black Audi.

It is an older model, but the man driving it is covered from head to toe in tattoos; I can’t see a single piece of skin on his shaved head. His arms and chest are covered, as well as his neck.

“This the baby sister?” the man says, as Brian tugs me over to the car.

“Yep, this is Bella. Bella, this is Tank,” he says, patting my shoulder.

It is obviously a nickname, but it sounds suiting, considering he is huge.

I wave awkwardly. “Hi,” I say softly before trying to pull away from my brother, not liking how the man is staring at me.

“She is a pretty little thing. The boys will like a turn of her,” he says, and I step back, jerking out of my brother's grip at his words.

“What? He was playing around. You take shit too seriously, Bell. I will see you later,” he says, kissing my cheek before climbing in the car.

“Are you alright, Bella?” Jack says.