Total LockDown (LockDown #2) (20 page)

I am struggling
hard, I want to lay him the fuck out, knock some sense into him and then I want
to hold him, to wrap my arms around him and feel him once more.

“MURDER GEORGIA,
OUR FATHERS MURDER, AND YOU’RE STICKING UP FOR THE FUCK WHO MADE IT HAPPEN.” He
shouts at her, his face close to her.

I step in front
of her, getting into Brandon’s proximity, I can feel the waves of absolute rage
rolling from within him. His eyes are black and aggressive.

“Sit down Brandon.”
I command him.

He ignores me,
trying to heighten himself to scare me. “I said, SIT the FUCK down NOW!” he
cowers a little, drawing back into himself. I walk towards him causing him to
step back. I carry on walking until he is in line with the sofa and then I
place my hand on his shoulder and push him to sit down.

“Now, Brandon.
You are going to sit there and you’re going to fucking listen to the truth.
It’s going to hurt and most probably disgust you, but you are going to listen
nevertheless. You are not going to talk until I am finished and you, if it’s
the last thing I do for you, are going to drop this childish, petty façade
you’ve got going on.” He nods, his fists tensed slightly.

“Now, I’m going
to start at the beginning, the point that caused our father to lose his life.”

“You have five
minutes Leighton, and then you’re gone. You understand?” he tells me once
again, trying to act the big man.

“Our father was
not the straight laced, perfect husband-father you thought him to be. He was a
criminal, a murderer and a fucking asshole. He fucked people over, killed them
and left no trail behind. There were always other women in his life. He didn’t
give a shit for our mother. He paid for her luxuries to keep her happy, but I
knew, hell I caught the fucker more than once. How do you think he got most of
his black eyes?”

“I don’t believe
you.” He tells me, always the naïve little brat.

“That’s your
problem, but I’m telling you the truth you fucktard.” I roll my eyes at his
insolence, “Anyways, the last time it happened I caught him. I threatened to
throw him out; I packed his stuff and left it on the doorstep. He threatened me
back, told me if he came home to his stuff outside, I would pay.” I hear the
breath Brandon inhaled through his teeth.

“I just don’t
get why he’d do it, Leigh, he loved mum.”

“He did once
upon a time, but power changes a man. He became the animal most power hungry
men do. The man who would take and use anything he wanted to. He was a fucking
asshole, Brandon; you were just too quiet and self-absorbed to see it. I’m glad
in a way that you were so into your computers to even notice the wreck he was
turning our family into.”

I saw his head
lower in sadness, his childhood perfect family images ruined. “Brandon mate,
look at me. I need to tell you the rest. I know you’ll hate me after, but at
least you’ll know the truth.”

He nods slowly,
still looking to the floor.

“I killed our
father, Brandon.” I say aloud, hearing both of them gasp in shock. They have
always believed it was my fault, but never thought it was actually me who took
his life.

“WHAT THE FUCK!”
my brother shouts, standing up and puffing his chest out.

“Sit down, let
me finish.” I order him, standing myself up to make him cower.

“Our father got
back at me, like he always promised he would. He got back at me by killing my
fiancée, Brandon, he was the person who ripped Josie from me and nearly killed
Joe in the process.” I bite out, needing him to hear me.

“What? No, he’d
never do that, Leighton.” Brandon defends our father, whilst Georgia bursts
into a violent flood of tears, her heartbreak evident. She had seen me at my
worst and weakest, dragging me through it, to find out she had done so all
because of our father. I knew she disliked him, even thought of his death
herself, but I knew her finding out how bad of a person he was, has destroyed
any trust she has in this world.

“Mum told me,
she knew. That’s why she couldn’t bear to come to the hospital, because she
knew he had killed Josie. Our mother told me the day she died. That’s why I
left, that’s why I abandoned everything, I needed to have revenge, Brandon, I
had to find peace after everything, and then, well after that, I kind of went
mad, thought of nothing else than killing. It wasn’t right for me to be here
anymore, Brandon. I couldn’t allow for you all to see me in such a way. It’s
only recently that I’ve calmed down, that I don't need to do it anymore. I have
a reason to live again, Brandon.” I let it all out, telling him everything I
felt and how I feel now.

“Why didn’t you
just tell me when this all back then, Leighton, why did you hide all this hurt
and try to deal with it yourself? You didn’t need to go at it alone, I would
have been there, fuck I would have helped you.” his eyes are filled with regret
and absolute disgust in himself.

“Two reasons
buddy, first you were just a kid, I couldn’t let you help me murder our father,
you would never get past it, me I’m tough as old boots, I don't possess any
humanity, well I didn’t and second, I didn’t want anyone’s help, didn’t want
anyone to be honest. I wanted to be alone, at least that way I can't lose
anyone I love.” I shrug at him.

“You stupid
fucking prick,” He stands from his seat and pulls me into a hug. “God, I can't
believe this. I can't believe I stood up for that bastard, I abounded you when
I should have helped you.” I wrap my arms around him, the gesture being a
little harder with him, than it is with George. The guy has built out a lot
since his weedy, nerd days.

“You been
hitting the gym, Bro?” I ask him, clasping his enormous biceps. The change in
atmosphere and tension is incredible; it is like nothing had ever happened, but
it has, so much has happened and I for one can't forget the pain I caused both
of them.

“Yeah, a
little.” He shrugs nonchalantly.

“Aha, a little,
are you trying to please someone?” I ask him, wiggling my eyebrows.

“Yeah, my wife
you shit face.” He says, pushing me back a little, jokingly.

“Your wife?” I
ask him in total shock. I have missed so much these past few years.

“Yes, Leighton,
my wife, fuck this is total bollocks; we’ve all missed so much.” He walks to
his drinks cabinet, filling us all a glass of scotch and then taking a seat on
the sofa in front of me.

“Yeah we have
mate, but now we have time to make new memories okay. Let’s forget the shit
that’s happened, and be a family. Deal?” he raises his glass to me and my
sister jumps on the sofa next to him, pulling him into a side hug and kissing
his cheek.

“DEAL,” She
squeals on behalf of Brandon. “eeekkk, this is so fucking awesome. You’re going
to love April.”

“April?” I ask
unclear of who April is exactly.

“My wife, April
Hurley, well now April Lock.”

“April Hurley is
your wife?” I ask, utterly shocked that my brother is married to one of the
most famous glamour models in the UK.

“What? Didn’t
think your little bro could tap something so fucking sexy.” he bites his lip,
clearly imagining her naked, just like I am right now.

“Oi fucker, stop
thinking of my wife naked.” I chuckle at him, feeling so at ease and so fucking
happy that I now have my family back.

“Can’t help it
mate, but wait till you see my fiancée you’ll be mind-fucking her yourself.” I
miss Abigail and Melissa so goddamn much. I hope she is okay at home on her
own, I knew she still panics about people being after her.

“We’ll see mate,
we’ll see.” He drains the last of his scotch as he snuggles my little sister to
his side, protecting and comforting her. I am assured she won’t need too much
protection, she is a feisty little madam and I am proud to call her my family.

“Georgia, who’s
that man?” I hear the small, quiet voice of someone behind me. I turn my face
to the sound, a young boy with the brightest blue eyes, dark brown hair and
perfect pale skin, looks back at me.

I couldn’t
mistake him, never in a millions years would I not be able to see who he is. He
looks like her, like his mother, so perfect and flawless, so beautiful and
innocent.

I have screwed
up monumentally, missing this, missing seeing this face growing and developing.

I am a shit
person, a coward of a man.

I look to the
boy and smile sadly, smile at my loss. It breaks my heart that he doesn’t know
me, doesn’t know who I am to him.

My own son
doesn’t even know his father.

I am now
paranoid as hell. I can’t sleep, my eyes refuse to close in case something
happens. They keep flicking back and forth to the mirror where the edge of the
lipstick heart lays smudged. I am sure it wasn’t like that when I had left
earlier, It was a perfect beautiful heart, made from the love my man had for
me.

“Fuck, Abbi,
pull yourself together love.” I toss and turn for another hour, trying my damn
hardest to sleep. It finally greets me at two in the morning, my eyes finally
dropping closed.

I awake to
Melissa’s screams through the baby monitor, high pitch wails I am sure I have
never heard before. I jump from the bed as quick as I can, trying to get to my
daughter. My heart is palpitating and thrumming in my chest. I am finding it so
God damn hard to breath. “I’m coming baby girl” I call out from my room, as I
walk from my room to hers.

“Come on baby
girl.” I say as I lean over her cot to get her. I scream as I see her bed
empty.

I sprint to
Maria’s guest room to see if she has her. As I open the door, I find her bed
also empty. I relax a little, as I think she must have gotten up to feed her. I
walk the stairs down to the kitchen to see where my baby was.

“Isn’t Auntie
Maria lovely getting up to help you?” I say aloud as I walk into the lounge.

Sprawled out on
the couch, sound asleep, is a very fat, very pregnant Maria.

Holy fucking
shit!

“MELISSA.” I
scream loud, jolting Maria awake.

“Abbi, what’s
wrong?” she says, as she wipes the sleep from her eyes. I am already halfway
out of the room and darting up the stairs at a dangerous speed.

“Mel, where are
you baby girl?” I cry, tears streaming my face as I look into her room again
finding her cot still empty. I sprint the length of both wings, searching every
room for her, slamming the doors against the walls as I power through the wood
to find her.

“Oh fuck, please
god no. Melissa, baby please.” I punch a hole in the landing wall as I continue
my search.

“ABBI!”I hear
Maria scream for me, from the opposite wing. I run the length of the corridor
towards my bedroom and Melissa’s.

“Abbi,
sweetheart, she’s in bed.” Maria tells me, causing my heart to drop into my
stomach.

“No she fucking
isn’t, Maria.” I call out as I near Mel’s room.

“Yes, she is
honey. She’s asleep right here.” I walk into the room cautiously, my heart
pounding beneath my ribcage. I lean over the cot once again to see my little
girl wrapped in her blanket, her little lip pouted as she snores gently.

“You’re going
crazy angel face.” Maria tells me as she walks past me, stroking my cheek. “I’m
going to bed, Hun, try and sleep some okay. You look like shit.”

I stand stock
still, trying to sort through my brain at what the fuck has just happened. I am
a hundred percent certain she isn’t in her bed, I am also certain that I have
heard a hideous scream through the monitor. Jesus I feel so fucked up right
now, I don’t know which way is up or fucking down. I sink to the floor, lifting
my knees to my chest as I pull gently at my hair.

I wasn’t
imagining it, I swear to god I wasn’t, surely everything I have been through
isn’t causing me to imagine things. Maybe it is the lack of Leighton’s presence
that has me imagining things that aren’t there.

I stand and kiss
my daughters cheek, going back to my own bed. I climb into the covers and let
my headrest against the soft pillow. My fatigue is drowning my exhausted body
fast, causing me to fall into an instant coma.

*****

The constant
fucking ringing is irritating me. “Shut up!” I scream as I throw a pillow
across the room, hoping to achieve silence. It continues, loud and petrifying,
as I realise it is the house alarm.

“Abbi, wake up!”
Maria screams as she skids to a halt in my room. “Someone just threw a brick
through one of windows downstairs. Fuck, there’s glass everywhere.”

I shoot up in
bed, my body aching from the lack of sleep. My daughter is crying in her room,
my head is spinning and the loud ringing is penetrating my skull, making me
want to heave.

I climb quickly
from the warmth of my duvet and run to Mel’s room, lifting her from her cot, she
clings to my body as I walk hurriedly to get my phone.

I flick through
my contacts and dial Leighton’s number straight away. “Come on Leigh, baby pick
up please.” It rings and rings and rings.

“Welcome to the
02 voicemail service, please leave your message after the tone.” The irritating
voice comes through the speaker.

“Fuck, Leighton,
baby, call me, someone’s tried to break in, the window is smashed. Hurry,
please baby, I’m so scared.” I plead down the phone as my fear begins to take
over. My body is trembling and the tears are burning my face.

“Here, give her here
Hun?” Maria manoeuvres Melissa from my arms, as I drop to the floor in my
bedroom.

I look to the
lipstick heart, wanting to feel Leighton close to me. To see his words telling
me he’d see me soon. I scream loud and deathly as I see the heart completely
smudged, a hand having swiped through it.

I jump to my
feet, running from the room. “Maria, get Melissa out of here.” I scream as I
run down the stairs.

“What the fuck’s
going on, Abbi?” she asks me, as she rocks Mel in her arms, trying to stop her
little cries.

“Somebody’s been
in the house, in my room. Fuck, I need Leighton now.” I say, as I grab my phone
again and try his number once more.

It rings three
times before his sleepy voice came through the phone.

“Hey, baby,
what’s up?” his tired tone makes me feel slightly guilty before I remember the
safety of my daughter.

“Leighton, I
need you home now. Come quickly baby, somebody’s broken in during the night,
was in our room while I was sleeping.” I am panicking a lot, my body shaking
violently as I think about last night and Melissa being missing, fuck please
tell me I was imagining that.

“Okay baby, call
Antonio have him and the guys come over now and you get out of the house now.
Go to Maria’s baby and wait there for me. I’ll be home in an hour max.” He
tells me, no panic in his tone as he takes on a professional, rational persona.

“Leighton, they
were in Melissa’s room. I woke last night and couldn’t find her. I looked
everywhere, when I returned to her room she was there. I thought I had imagined
it but I swear it was real. Fuck please tell me they didn’t touch her.” I feel
sick; my stomach is convulsing, trying to expel its empty gas.

“SHIT! Do as I
say Abbi, take Melissa and go to Maria’s. I love you baby, stay safe and wait
for me. I love you Princess.” He hangs up before I can reply.

“Antonio is on
his way Abbi, what the fuck is going on?” she asks me a little nervously, her
arms still holding my crying daughter. I need to change her and feed her but
I’m not risking her wellbeing, I’ll buy some clothes and nappies at a god damn
supermarket on the way.

“We’re leaving
now, Maria, open the door for me.” I command her as I pick up my phone, bag,
and keys head to the underground parking garage. She swipes open the wood on
its hinges and follows behind me to the car spaces.

“Holy Fuck!”
Maria says as we look upon every car with slashed tires and smashed window
screens. Upon the wall, in what I hope is red paint, is a message
‘you’ll
fucking pay you whore’
I am guessing it is aimed at me, as the words whore look
back at me. I don’t know who the fuck it can be, all I know is I am in deep
trouble, I have no means of driving away and my daughter is crying so fucking
much I am beginning to become stressed.

“Maria, you need
to take her now, get her out of here. Walk if you have to.” I command her,
lumbering my daughter into her arms.

“Okay babe, stay
calm, Antonio will be here soon. Stay in the front driveway for him, stay out
of the house.” She walks out of the underground entrance to the front driveway,
holding Mel on her hip as she goes.

“Calm down Abbi,
nothing is going to happen, everything is okay.” I tell myself as I take
several deep breaths in and out, trying to stop the urge that is infesting
itself within my entire body. The shakes and sweats covering my skin are near
painful.

“Shit.” I say as
I run from the garage, through the house and to the kitchen. “Key, key, fucking
key where are you.” I say as I swipe everything from the sides, pulling every
draw out.

Fuck, it is
getting so hard to breathe right now. I am crying badly, tears streaming my
face and sobs choking me.

“Office.” I
express, as I sprint to Leighton’s study, searching his draws and cabinets
until I find that little key that will open my sanctuary.

I unlock the
safe that is in his office, the click of the lock already starting to sooth me.
I grab the pack of pills laid inside, a shiny halo covering them, beckoning me.

“Yes, come to
mamma.” I say as I walk back through the house, to the kitchen to get some
water. I pop one tablet in my hand, looking down at the pill. “One more.” I  tell
myself as I pop another two out.

Three pills lay
in my hand calling for me. My body isn’t in control anymore; it is suffering
bad and needs help.

“Just these
three and I’ll be fine; I’ll be in control again. I can stop this; I won’t need
any more after this. I’m a strong woman I don’t need these anymore.” I say as I
lift my hand to my mouth to swallow the pills.

“ABBI, PUT THEM
THE FUCK DOWN, NOW!” I hear Antonio shout from in front of me, my ears having
not heard him before. “I swear to god, you swallow them and I’ll spank your
arse so fucking hard you won’t be able to sit down ever again.” the venom in
his eyes has my hand frozen in front of my mouth.

My tongue darts
out to try latching onto one of the tablets. As it attaches itself to the
wetness of my tongue, my hands smash to the side, as Antonio slaps it away, out
of reach from me. The pills scatter on the floor, the three of them like bacons
in the stormy sea.

I fall to the
floor, crawling on my hands and knees to collect the tablets, desperate to feel
in control again, to feel the pain within my chest evaporate.

I feel firm
hands around my body as I’m lifted from the tiles. “No, you don’t Abbi. You
calm the fuck down now. Leighton will be here soon and he doesn’t need to see
you like this. Control yourself sweetheart. You don’t need them.”

He tries his
hardest to sooth me, to calm me down as my body shakes and hungers for the
pills.

“I need them
Antonio; I need to be in control again. Someone wants to hurt my family because
of me. I need them to stop the pain. Help me please.” I beg him as he squeezes
me tight to him and lets me sob.