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I could try and figure out what it was, but experience tells me that it would be pointless. It could be something as simple as a piece of fluff on the floor. His temper is like a switch. The second it’s flipped, something explodes. And if he’s been drinking, it only gets worse.
Unease washes through me that we’ve left Maria there to deal with the fall out. But I find it increasingly hard to really care.
She married in. She knew the kind of man he was, yet she chose to be there anyway. More fool of her if you ask me.
Not waiting for a response, she continues toward her room on the second floor of the girls’ dorm building.
She’s been boarding here since she started year seven. Thankfully, Dad didn’t argue. He was more than happy to have the house to himself. But she still goes back at the holidays. If I had my way, she’d never step foot under that roof ever again. But we have to keep up appearances, for now, at least. He’s the mighty Anthony Ashworth. One of Christian Beckworth’s best lawyers. Can’t say I’m surprised. He’s the master at covering up indiscretions and fighting for the guilty, even more so if it’s himself.
It’s why it’s going to be so sweet when I knock him off his pedestal.
The red haze lessens a little as Millie unlocks her door and steps into her own space.She’s safe here. His vicious words and hot temper can’t touch her.I can sleep tight at night knowing that she’s doing the same.
“Message me with anything you need and I’ll get it all for you tomorrow,” I say, lowering the armfuls of food I have to her chest of drawers. “Do you have homework to do before school starts?”
“I’ve got it,Dad,” she teases. “We’re not all bad students, you know.”
“You’re going places, kid. Get yourself some epic grades and the world is your oyster.”
“It can be yours too, you know,” she says with a small smile.
“You know that’s not how life is going to go for me.” Heirs of the founding families in Saints Cross have their futures mapped out before they’re even born. And I have another reason to stick around here. I’ve got justice to serve. The time is getting closer to when I can finally expose the truth both Millie and I deserve about our past.
“Theo,” she sighs.
“Not now, Mills. It’s been a long arse day. I’m ready to kick back and enjoy what’s left of the holidays.”
“Easy for you to say, you’re about to go home to friends. I’m now stuck here alone.”
“And that’s worse than being stuck at the house?”
“Well, no. Not really. But…”
I raise a brow, waiting for her to finish that thought but she decides against it.
“Forget it. I’m just going to find a series on Netflix to binge and make the best of it.”
“Things will get better,” I promise her. Tomorrow her friends will return ready for the new school term to start. Things will return to normal. As normal as things ever get at All Hallows’.
“Lock the door after me,” I demand.
“I’m not a moron, Theo.”
“Shit. I know. I’m sorry, M. Sometimes I forget that my baby sister is growing up,” I confess, wrapping my arms around her and holding her tight.
“Don’t I know it,” she mutters against my chest.
“She’s a smart-arse too,” I counter.
“Go and have fun with your friends. Just remember how hypocritical you sound when you don’t let me do the same.”
My lips part to explain but she holds her hand up between us. “I’ve heard it all before, Bro. Just go. I’ve got this.”
With one more hug, I leave her to it, although I don’t go far. I loiter in the hallway until I hear the click of her lock.
Happy that she’s safe, I take off, more than ready to find my boys, a bottle of vodka and a joint.
Yeah, Millie is right. I am a fucking hypocrite.
