Sophia
What happened to me?
What in the world made me knock on an unknown person’s door and attack him like I had no functioning cell in my brain?
Had I gone completely mad?
Probably.
But considering the turmoil in my head that refused to settle down and let my thoughts clear out, it was no wonder I fucked up.
“Kieran…” his name rolled off my tongue as I marched away from the estate gate I had intruded so rudely. Who the hell was he?
Darkness started enveloping the peaceful part of town I found myself in, so I pulled my phone out of my pocket and called a taxi. After what happened earlier, I could never again feel safe without light. Memories of what could’ve ended differently at my former workplace flashed through my mind, and I shivered in fear. As if it wasn’t enough, being reckless almost cost me my life not so long ago. If I had died on that threshold, who would have been there to take care of Ellie and her baby?
By the time my ride arrived, I was shivering. Getting inside the car cabin made me realize it was not only the shock that had me trembling like a candle in the wind; instead, it was the cold. Although spring had officially come, the nights were still chilly, especially when you weren’t wearing a coat. Driven by pure adrenaline, I never noticed I left the house in the thin white blouse I wore to the office and never had a chance to change. When there was no more sun to warm the air, I was freezing.
Grateful to the lady behind the wheel who took me home, I allowed myself a few moments to relax, as much as possible under the circumstances, but at least I didn’t feel a threat to my life from her.
About an hour later, I was comfortably tucked into bed with my sister. Careful not to disturb her peaceful sleep, I dropped my arm around her and spooned her from behind. It has been a while since we slept in the same bed, though it was a common occurrence in the first few years after we moved to Washington, DC. I needed the comfort of knowing she was breathing deeply.
It took me a while to surrender to the dreamless oblivion myself. But it wasn’t something I worried about. In the end, the passing day was one of the most stressful ones in my life, and it was a miracle I was still sane. At least, I believed I was.
Right then and there, I decided nothing in the entire universe mattered anymore, nothing but my sister and her baby.
I had to forget everything that had happened and focus on our future. It wouldn’t be so hard to push the trauma to the back of my mind and not let it influence my life; I’ve done it before.
I would be fine… we would be fine…
~ ~ ~
I couldn’t be entirely sure whether I was woken by the smell of food or by the unconscious realization I was alone in bed, but either way, I jumped up like never before and ran to the kitchen.
When I came in, I was surprised by the full-on breakfast my sister had prepared for the two of us, and the sight made my heart swell with love.
“When did you get up?”
“Hours ago,” she giggled while we took our places at the table. “When are you leaving for work?” Ellie inquired casually, and I almost choked on food, suddenly remembering I didn’t have a job anymore.
“I won’t be going to work for a few days. I asked Mr. Saunders for some time off.” I lied through my teeth, continuing to devour eggs, giving my best to block the thoughts of that fat pig.
“Oh, is that why you went out last night?” Ellie didn’t stop with questions, and I honestly hoped she could not read a thing from my face because if it showed the tension I felt, my sister would know something was very wrong, and a pregnant woman should not worry about it.
“Yeah.” I brushed her off as casually as possible. “And today, we’ll go to the clinic to check on my little nephew there,” I smiled. Knowing that the peanut was all right was the top priority.
Later, I’d search for a new job, and hopefully, something would come up soon.
And that’s exactly how our day passed. We got to the hospital where Ellie had her check-up, which told us the baby was about ten weeks old. The doctor couldn’t yet be sure it was a boy, but I knew it.
Hearing his little heartbeats made my own flutter and rushed tears to my eyes I had no intention of stopping. Ellie was the same, smiling through tears, though guilt was written all over her. Good, that meant she wouldn’t be trying anything stupid again.
Paying the bill and hiding it from Ellie was a pain because I discovered Mr. Saunders had already canceled my social security that covered my sister too, but I used a chance of her going to the toilet to settle the invoice. And judging by its price, I would have to find a new job today!
That old weasel wasted no time. That was a thank you for everything I did for him for years. I was a waiter’s assistant with lousy pay when I started working there. Being resolved to get my younger sister through high school gave me the verve to do my best, work overtime, and even do things that were not on me to do. My efforts paid off, and I climbed the ladder step by step. My responsibilities increased, but so did my salary.
I should’ve known from the start that something was off about the whole deal. Being too happy about getting a job at an elite restaurant with so much room for improvement and promotion, I never stopped to consider how a 20-year-old at the time with poor experience became manager of the joint in a matter of a few short years. I naively believed it was due to my merits and hard work, but now I was starting to think it was all his sick plan from the beginning.
As it wasn’t long till the end of the semester, Ellie insisted on not freezing her studies just yet, but I made her quit the part-time job she had at the college campus. Her pregnancy was more important.
After we left the hospital, we went to the fair, and it was like we were little kids again, before all hell broke loose and our lives were changed forever.
We strolled around the stands and got licorice hearts, candy canes, and ice cream. Couples and families enjoyed themselves, and even the mere sight of the children's excitement filled us with positive energy, making us look forward to tomorrow.
The most beautiful thing about the day was how we reconnected and made up for all the time we lost because I was too busy to be there for my sister. We were honest and open, and we strengthened the bonds that tied us together. At that moment, I swore never to let us go down that road again. After all, I had no one else in the world except for Ellie.
After lunch in a small Italian restaurant, I picked up takeout for dinner, as I had no plan of cooking. It would be a sin to destroy our good mood by worrying about food.
Unfortunately, the elevator in our building was out of function again, so we had to climb three sets of stairs to our floor, and by the time we arrived, I noticed Ellie’s breathing had fastened and become labored.
I should start looking for a new apartment, too. Soon she would become heavier, and getting home would be a tiring and unnecessary exercise for her. The rent here was decent, but I was sure I could find something similar somewhere on the ground floor.
Nearing our apartment door, I noticed two figures standing in front of them, and one was awfully familiar. My heart picked up its pace as I recognized the man I had a confrontation with last night, Kieran. Fear surged through me, and I forgot how to breathe. The other, younger version of him stood by his side, and I didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out those two were brothers. It was just my damn luck that took me to the door of the wrong King brother.
As soon as the one I guessed was named Philip noticed us coming, he rushed towards us, worry written all over his face.
“Philip?” Ellie gasped.
“Where were you, Ellie? I’ve been calling you all day!” He scolded her before pulling her into an embrace; she didn’t fight but didn’t accept it either. “Why aren’t you answering your cell?” he demanded, sounding furiously angry and caring at the same time.
“I left it at home because I didn’t want to be disturbed.”
I didn’t know my sister could sound that cold. Her tone made the fine hairs on my body stand straight. Or was it something else…
The sound of footsteps that resonated off the walls made my head involuntarily snap in his direction. Kieran walked towards us, his saunter reminding me of a king who ruled the world, confident and self-conscious of his own dominance.
“So, we meet again,” his deep voice rumbled from his chest as he watched me straight in the eyes, locking my heavy feet in place.
Sophia “What do you want, Philip? Weren’t you the one who said to forget you, not to look for you? So, what are you doing here?” To a stranger listening to Ellie’s rant, she would’ve sounded cold and distant, accusing... But I knew my sister better. I heard how her voice trembled; she fought to keep it steady, not allowing it to break and uncover her pain. “Please, Ellie. I need to talk to you. I need to explain…” the young man pleaded. “Mind if we take this inside? I’m not a big fan of giving a free show to neighbors.” Kieran interrupted the scene, his deep voice startling me. Ever since we showed up, he didn’t take his eyes off of me, not giving a shit about the scene happening between his brother and my sister. I could feel his intense stare on me as he assessed me, scrutinized me, making an army of ants crawl down my back. “No, Philip. You don’t need to talk to me. You need to leave.” Ellie stood her ground, and I admired her for that. Just yesterday, she was a broken little gi
Sophia Every time I faced catastrophe in the past, I found a way to make things right; I found a way to hold all the strings that my life consisted of tightly in my hands and not let go, no matter how much those strings were cutting into my flesh. This time, though, things were falling apart in front of my eyes, and all I could do was watch. I was sure my sister was about to destroy her life and that Philip King, the father of her child, could bring her nothing but trouble and tears. Her happiness was the most important thing to me, but I believed she could never have the life she deserved with the man she chose. Ashamed of my thoughts, I kept quiet and never voiced them out. I tried so hard to mind my business and not meddle in her decisions, letting her be an adult but controlling my never-dying wish to protect her, even if that was from her own actions, was a struggle on a whole new level. It’s been a few days since the King brothers raided our apartment, and from that moment,
Sophia I had to give Philip a chance for Ellie’s sake. My rationality persuaded me to be patient and listen to whatever he had to say while my heart screamed at me, flooding my mind with images of an orange pill dispenser and my sister in tears. The silence surrounded us for just a few moments before Philip spoke. “I know you don’t like me, and I understand. I deserve it. To be honest, I will never forgive myself for what I did, no matter what you think of me after I tell you my reasons for acting the way I did. But what I want to say is that I love Ellie more than my life, and I would never intentionally hurt her.” Sincerity was beaming from Philip’s eyes, entrapping me in their depths. Intrigued by the hint of mystery in his voice my senses picked up like a hound hunting a rabbit in the woods, I unconsciously leaned towards him, not wanting to miss a single word, as I pushed aside all the other things that bothered me. Philip had my full attention. “That was exactly why I wante
Sophia “What is it with you strangling me every time you see me? Is that a fetish or something?” I squeaked; every word I uttered felt like sandpaper on my constricted throat, causing tears to blur my vision, but I didn’t back off. Not this time. I watched him straight in the eyes, and I didn’t waver. No matter the rage and hate that blazed in his grey, stormy eyes, I held his gaze with all the courage I could muster, and it angered him even more. He shoved me inside and advanced after me, and as soon as he crossed the threshold, Kieran slammed the door behind us and forced me further in until we reached the living room, which was just a few steps, really, but now it seemed to be a hundred-mile-long journey. “What do you want?” I spat, whispering. Kieran’s nostrils flared, his jaw clenched, and I was sure he was holding himself back from snapping my neck. I wasn’t afraid of dying, though. At least it would serve a good purpose. Kieran would go to prison, and Ellie and her baby wo
Sophia Ellie and Philip stared at Kieran and me for a few moments since we were still standing too close to each other. Her eyes flickered towards my neck, but she couldn’t see anything thanks to the dim light and my soft, blond locks that were let down freely. Upsetting my pregnant sister with the truth about her future brother-in-law was the last thing I’d want if she didn’t already have her own suspicions. And Kieran never really tried to hide his bigotry towards us. “Why are you so giddy?” I asked, catching Ellie’s eyes, pretending I did not know what was happening. A diversion was always the best strategy, and it worked like magic. As soon as that question was out, Ellie’s face lit up with a smile that showed how happy she was. “We have something to tell you,” Ellie mused. I didn’t miss her small hand searching for Philip’s and his finding hers. “Yes, we have an announcement to make, and as you two are the most important people in our lives, you deserve to be the first to kno
Kieran She was driving me crazy. Sophia Howard. She wracked chaos in my soul; she dominated my every thought, and as if it wasn’t enough for her to torture me during the day, she was there every night, too, creeping around in my dreams. She was all I could think about, she and the ways I could make her submit to me and do as I wanted because nobody ever dared to defy me the way she did! And she had to be punished for that. She was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, I was sure of it! All I had to do was prove it, and I would have her trapped. She would have to abide by me. Although I had no doubt Philip was the father of that baby, I still insisted on Sophia breaking them up. It was only a test for Sophia because I could never wish harm to my nephew or niece. My brother’s kids were my kids. She passed the test successfully, which made me more conflicted with myself as I tried to reconcile two impulses: punishing her for not doing as I ordered and wanting to own her because she didn’t do a
Sophia Ever since I woke up, I had one thing on my mind - what could Kieran possibly want from me? Whatever it was, if it meant he would let Ellie live peacefully with the man she loved, I was ready to listen and set aside everything that transpired between him and me. My feelings about Kieran were conflicted. I hated him from the deepest pit of my soul. I hated who he was and what he represented, and I hated him for being a threat to my sister’s future. I hated how he acted and what he considered me to be. I hated his violence and arrogance. However, I could hardly wait to see him today. While I was getting ready, I chose to wear a turtleneck, the only one I had in my closet. I detested the restricting feeling it gave me, but I had to hide bruises that formed on my neck, and the weather could still justify wearing such a piece of clothing. Ellie went to her class, after which she would have lunch with her fiancé, and I stayed home. Alone. ‘I’ll have to get used to this,’ I thoug
Sophia I sat in Kieran’s office chair as if I were glued to it, not daring to blink. He was serious. He was bloody serious! My mind was in reverse, and no matter how hard I tried, I failed to understand what was happening. Marry him? He wanted me to marry him? “You must be joking!” Would denial make this any less real? Probably not. Still, I hoped Kieran’s mask would fall and that he would start laughing at me for believing him, but no such luck. “I’m not.” He said sternly, leaving no room for doubt. “But… but… you…” I jumped from the seat, completely astounded and unable to find words. Kieran rolled his eyes as if he was bored, or better yet, annoyed with me. “So, what do you say?” Fuck! Was he for real? He expected an answer? My hands started to shake from the adrenaline rush that surged through me. I was sure my face perfectly reflected the whirlpool of confusion storming up in me, while Kieran’s expression didn’t change. Only his jaw tightened a little; I couldn’t help bu