A Secret Between Us Three [COMPLETED]

This was a mistake. I should never have come back here and I know that the minute I step off the train. It should have felt like coming home; after all once upon a time this city held my hopes and dreams. Now it was like a city of nightmares and I was it’s prisoner. A marionette doll dragged back to the centre stage. People scurried the streets like frantic zombies. They had work, they had meetings, they were a tidal wave that could wipe out anyone in there way. A couple of times I was that collateral damage. There elbows would jab and shove me out the way and little did they know the effect that had on me. My skin crawled at every touch and I could fell the vile rising up in my mouth as flashes of that night came rushing to my head. I tried my best to shake it off and pull my blazer around me more, covering my insecurity. I took a deep breath. Nothing was going to stop me from what I came back for. I sweep my blonde hair into a ponytail and hail a cab with the confidence a New Yorker should have. “ The hospital, please.” “You got it, miss.” Despite his best efforts to make small talk I didn’t have it in me to respond. I was still trying to organise my brain. I was trying to work out what I was going to say and how I was going to act but before I could make up my mind we had pulled up outside. I paid my fares and headed for the front desk. The nurse looked up to me. “Rufus Dawson?” She clicked away at her keyboard. “Level 4, room 11.” “Thank you.” I got in the elevator and when the doors opened there was my brother standing there with his arms crossed. “So, it’s true,” he exclaims. “When Nanna said you were coming I called her bluff.” “Hello, Ethan.” For a minute he looked torn. He’s going to shout at me, I thought. He pulled me to him with force and engulfed me in his arms. If it was anyone else then I would have collapsed from fright but this was my brother and nothing felt more right. It had been too long since I had last seen him or even talked to him for that matter. I didn’t exactly leave a note when I left or stay in contact. “I missed you, Angel.” He confessed into the top of my hair. I start to feel a little suffocated and slap him so he will let go. I don’t have it in me to reply to that. What if he asks question? What if he starts doubting why I left? He can’t know the truth. Never. “Take me to him.” Ethan nods and leads me down the hallway, carrying my luggage for me. He opens the door and I see my frail looking mother sat in the hospital bed by my father’s side. Except... He doesn’t look like my father. His face is bloody and bruised to the point it’s unrecognisable. They both look at my direction as I enter. Silence follows. It’s like they’ve seen a ghost and after all this time that’s what their daughter has become. I pick up his chart at the end of his bed and read that he has broken ribs, his left leg is broken and he was shot in his shoulder. They were using morphine to dull the pain. Shame. “You’ve looked better, father.” “I’m,” he sputters. Mother fetches him a drink of water and he takes a sip before continuing. “I’m better now after seeing you. It’s been too long my daughter.” I hum in reply. “I didn’t know you were coming, Angel.” My mother speaks up with her mouse like voice. “Nanna planned it. She thought it was best that I come back and help her run the business for a while.” “That sounds great, Angel. If anyone can save us then it’s you.” My mother replied with a hopeful smile. How can she smile like that and pray for a saviour when it was her husbands fault that they were in the mess. When I didn’t reply my mother took it as a chance to ask me questions. “Will you be staying with us?” She asks, “I can set up your old room. It will be like you never left.” “And yet I did.” “Angel?” Ethan questions noticing my tone. It’s so hard to be the golden daughter. If I could, I would bolt out of this room and make sure they were locked inside where they could do no more damage. “Nanna has rented an apartment for me.” I confess, “If I’m to work miracles then I’m going to need space and peace and quite to focus. Don’t take it personally.” Mother shakes her head with that foolish smile. “Of course. We fully understand. Perhaps you could come round somewhen when your father is allowed to leave. We could have a family night, like we used to.” Could there be anything worse? “We’ll see. Speedy recovery, father.” “Thank you, Angel.” I still at his gratitude. He should be apologising, but for now a thank you will suffice. I leave them to it and head back to the entrance were a town car is waiting for me. I approach the chauffeur who’s looking for me and he takes my bags from me and places them in the boot. I get in and breathe in and out slowly, trying to calm myself. File the feelings. Organise your stress. Breathe. As we drive to Nanna’s townhouse I look at the passing scenery. New York was beautiful I could never deny that. I leave him to it when we pull up and race up the stairs. A maid opens the door and I barrel in to the old lady who’s waiting for me in the hallway. “Nanna,” I squeal. She hugs me tightly and cries, “ oh my darling girl, I have missed you.” I forgot how petite she was and how she smelt like whiskey and perfume. To be honest I wouldn’t be surprised if whiskey was actually her perfume scent. I pull back and look at her watery eyes, “Nanna, we talk every day.” “It’s not enough.” I laugh as she finally lets go and we head over to the sofa. “If I go to the hospital, will I find your father still there in the same condition?” She asks as the maid brings us in tea. “Broken and useless, you mean?” She laughs, “I feared one look at the man and you might have hit him.” “No. As much as I hate him for what’s he done to this family, I wouldn’t harm him.” I see Nanna looking away rather mischievously. “Did you hurt him?” “No,” she gasps. One look at me and my judging eyes and she folds. “Fine, I spat in his tea when he wasn’t looking.” I laugh. Despite her age, Nanna was still a child at heart. She’s laughing along with me when suddenly she starts coughing. My smile disappears immediately and I’m scared. She leans forward and takes some pills the maid is handing over to her. She gulps them down and takes a sip of water before turning back to my worried face. “I’m fine.” “No you’re not and we both know it.” I say back. Nanna orders the maids away and they close the door. Once the door is shut she stands up and looks out the window. She’s avoiding me. Avoiding the truth. “You wouldn’t have brought me back if you weren’t bad, Nanna.” She rolls her eyes, looking at me with a childish pout; blowing it off like it’s nothing. “I’m a dying woman, you don’t have to remind me” she says. “But I would rather die knowing that the company I built is safe and stable and out of your father’s hands.” She takes my hands. “You were destined to run this company, Angel. When you first picked up a pencil and designed a dress, I could see the gift had been passed on to you. If certain things hadn’t of happened.” I squirm but she squeezes my hands for support. “Then you would be standing by my side now and creating glorious fashion lines that people would die for.” “I’m ready now.” I say. “ I’ve spent too long hiding from the past and trying to avoid it but I can’t anymore and I shouldn’t let it stop me from following my dreams any longer.” I say, trying to believe in this outburst of confidence. “You’re aware that they’re family is responsible?” I nod. “And this could very well be a sick and twisted way for them to lure you back.” I nod again. “And it worked, but I’m not the same girl as I was before.” Nanna smirked. “That’s my girl. Give them hell.” “And then give them a little extra” I finish our motto. We stand up and dust ourselves off. “Are you ready to meet them again?” Was I ready to meet the men (yes plural) that had stolen my heart, made me fall in love with them, only for them to drug and r**e me? Hell yes! They had no idea what was coming... a storm and it’s name was Angel Dawson.