“Well, we’re up and down, of course. The girls are doing good, aren’t you?” His voice took on an edge as he glared down at them.
I didn’t see their faces, but this had been going on for long enough that I knew my sisters would be nodding away. It was less hassle to agree with him to avoid his outbursts.
He never hurt them, but sometimes he would lock them in their room for a day or two, or shout at them until they were shaking messes. But the police didn’t believe me for a second, not with Sally there to back Terry up when his face was black and blue from my fists. And that was also the main reason my sisters weren't allowed phones.
I'd told them to record him if something bad ever happened. I'd beaten Terry before for scaring them, and that was enough of a threat to keep him away from them.
Every time I thought about how Sally let him get away with that shit, I’d almost explode. It was the same with me. After Dad died, she’d let her boyfriends go for me and not say a word. I was just the protégé she used when she needed a kid to back her up during a scam.
My sisters always easily found the phone after Terry confiscated it. Terry’s mistake was hiding it in shitty locations before throwing himself back into his ratty armchair to stare at the TV after he’d worn himself out.
“But we’re running low again, Dom,” Terry sighed heavily. “Car tax has gone up, and the price of food is just getting ridiculous, y’know?”
I held back my scowl, watching him closely. Either Sally hadn’t told him about the last money I’d sent, which wasentirely possible, or he genuinely thought I was that dumb, even after all these years of knowing me.
He continued, “If you could transfer a bit more to tide us over, it would make everything so much easier.”
“Really? That’s fascinating. Because Sally has been sending me pictures of all the amazing things she’s been buying with that £10,000 I sent last month.”
Janie squeaked as the screen bounced around, and Terry rounded on her. His palm slammed against the desk in their bedroom. “Shut the fuck up!” he shouted at them before turning back to me.
And he didn’t even hesitate.
“Yeah, well, we had to pay to repair the roof, and we had another problem with the car, and the insurance is just insane.”
“Then send me the bills, and I’ll take care of it.” This conversation was a carousel. Every time I spoke to either of them, it went back to the beginning, and round we went again.
“Ah,” he hesitated. “Why don’t you just transfer the money? Saves you having to go through all those pesky details and whatever.”
They were both the same. Only Terry would blow that money on the horses as soon as it hit the account and then rage at me when I cut them off. I couldn't believe that was where all the money went. I was sure they were up to something else, but Grace couldn't find any digital trace.
“Dom!” Tammy’s voice cut through over the phone. “When are we going to see you again? It’s been ages. Like, since Christmas.”
“Yeah!” Janie said. “You keep promising to come home but never do!”
“Will. You. Both. Shut. Up.” Terry yelled, this time his hand slapping so hard against the wall that the window next to him rattled.
I closed my eyes briefly, keeping myself restrained. Terry was back in view, a disgusting smile on his face.
“Yeah, it would be so good to see you.” He showed off his yellowed teeth as he lied straight through them.
The thought had been drifting around my mind since Christian proposed getting away. Seeing my family would definitely be safer than going on the run from the mafia, at least physically.
But it was a sliding scale. I could stay in London and watch the fallout of the biggest lie I’d ever told, or go home and endure the endless layers of bullshit my ‘parents’ would pile on me. The only good thing about going home was seeing my sisters, and I was usually willing to risk it. But I was so pent up with everything happening here that I didn’t know if I’d be able to keep calm if Sally and Terry started on me.
“Yeah, that’s not a bad idea, actually,” I said. I knew it would just get my sisters’ hopes up, but it was worth it to see Terry’s tiny pupils flare. He hated when I went back,especially because I spent the money myself, instead of giving him and Sally free rein over it.
“I’ll need to arrange it with work, but—”
“Oh my God, Dom! Are you serious?” Tammy exploded.
“That would be so amazing! We’ve been waiting for you to come for ages!” Janie burst out in excitement.
Another slam against the desk and they were silenced instantly. I just hoped the promise of me returning would keep Terry down for now. It didn’t take much to set him off, but he could direct his anger at me instead of them.
“When’d you think you’d be coming?” he growled.
“I can’t say. But don’t worry about me. I can book a room somewhere. You wouldn’t want me cramping up the house, would you?” The one that was conveniently small which they deliberately kept to stay on benefits. I was so tempted to report them, to send evidence of the bank account we shared, but I couldn’t guarantee my sisters would be safe. And that was how they kept getting me. If only I could get them out of there, I could take care of them properly.