Taking the Fall (1-4)

“I’m not too inclined to fuck my own daughter. I know I’m into some shit but that’s a little much don’t you think, Claire?” my father says casually.

I hear Jeanette gasp beside me as she finally catches on that this is my mother.

My mother snaps back around and what I think is going to be happiness to see me is quite the opposite. She comes lunging at me. I haven’t seen her in over eight years. She disappeared the same night I was beaten. My father would never tell me what happened to her. Every time I asked, he brushed me off until he finally snapped at me so I quit asking all together.

“You fucking bitch!”

Stumbling back, I knock into Jeanette who keeps me from falling. My father holds my mother back as she continues to lunge at me.

“You stole my man. He was mine, you little slut!”

“Come take her, Sam,” my father orders one of the men at the bar. I have no idea what my mother is talking about. Stole her man?

“Carter was mine, you fucking whore. We were in love and you took him from me.”

I just stare at her in shock. She and Carter were lovers. I feel the vomit rise in my throat but I push it back – my Carter would never do that.

“Put her in the back room until she calms down. Give her something. I don’t need her running around here in one of her crazy moods,” my father says, passing her off to the guy they called Sam.

“I still don’t get why you brought her here. She’s a fucking nightmare,” Sam grumbles and takes her from my dad.

“It’s not your concern why I brought her here. It’s your job to do what you’re told.”

My father fixes his tie and jacket. “And a word of advice, if you fuck her again make sure you use a goddamn condom. You don’t want to know where she was when I found her. I don’t need you spreading her shit to other girls.”

My mother continues to scream about Carter as Sam drags her down a hallway. I think she’s has lost her grip with reality.

“Lays, your mom is fucking crazy,” Jeanette murmurs to me.

“What’s wrong with her?” I whisper, more to myself than anyone else.

“I told you, you chose wrong,” my father says.

“Chose wrong?”

“Carter,” he says simply.

“It wasn’t a tough choice. I love Carter and he was the only person in that house who ever loved me back. So the way I see it, I chose right.”

He starts laughing hysterically, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s taking whatever my mom seems to be on as well.

“Lays, your dad is fucking crazy too.”

I just nod my head in agreement.

When my father finally stops laughing he drops a bomb.

“Don’t you get it, Layla? You were just a toy. Carter slipped into our lives to rip my world apart, first by fucking my wife. Then he went after you when he saw I couldn’t care less where your mother’s attentions were, as long as she wasn’t in my way.”

“He would never!” I snap back, letting my anger get the best of me. No way did Carter sleep with my mother. He would’ve told me that. But then again Carter doesn’t like me to know things he thinks might hurt me or that would make me run from him.

“Vengeance is a powerful thing, Layla, and it’s all that drives a man like Carter. You saw your mother. Clearly they had something…no?” he says, a smirk dancing across his face.

“Think about it, Layla. Think.”

I search my mind for what he’s hinting at. I don’t recall my mother and Carter being close. She flirted with all my father’s men to try to get a rise from him but it never worked. I remember a few times she would flirt with Carter but he always just blew her off. My father didn’t seem to care what she did with her time. But I know without a shadow of a doubt Carter loved me and would never do anything that could hurt me. He tries to be my shield, never would he do something that would cause me pain. It’s why his plans all went to hell. It’s why he sat in that jail cell for eight years – all for me, all to keep me safe because, to Carter, family is everything, and I’m his family.

“No. I don’t believe you. I don’t remember anything like that,” I say firmly, shaking my head.

“Carter used you. Like I told you time and time again, someone would try to use you against me and I was right. The only problem was when you chose to go to him I no longer had loyalties to you. You turn your back on me, you’re as good as dead!” he bawls, punctuating the last part with a glare at his men. He whips his gaze back to me. “Even if you’re my daughter.”

“You’re a monster. Why would I stay with you? You were cold and heartless. It wasn’t a life I wanted. I knew what you were, and I just wanted to go. I wasn’t choosing to kill you or go after you. I was just choosing to leave. I had no idea what had gone down between Carter and you. Carter told me we would run and take off. Never look back. Carter was letting you go. You. You did all this,” I shout and throw my hands in the air.

If he’d only let us leave that day none of this would’ve happened. Carter told me he had every intention of leaving his plans behind to just be with me. But my father came after me, and everything went to hell that night.

“I’m the monster? Your Carter is just as much a monster as I am. At least I don’t hide my viciousness. He played you, Layla, and it seems he’s still playing you. He tried to get at me through your mother and when he saw that wouldn’t work, he went for you. And you just played right into his hands, packing a bag and going to run off with him. He was just trying to get you out of the house because he knew I was finally on to him. He was going to use you against me. Don’t be so dumb, Layla. You think one little girl can make a man change his whole plan? That he would give everything up for you? No pussy’s that good. I know I kept you somewhat sheltered, but you can’t be that naïve!”