Chapter 129 - The Ambush

Ford. 

''Dad,'' I manage, my hands shaking as I hold unto the bag in my hand tighter. His eyes shift to my hand and I know there is no escaping him. 

Slowly, he presses his hand on the hands of the chair and stands up. My eyes look at everywhere in this hallway but him. there is a large picture on the wall above him of a deer and headlights. That is how I feel right now. 

Like a fucking deer caught in headlights. 

''Where are you going?'' he demands in question again. 

I don't know how to answer that question. 

''To Lance's apartment.'' I try with that. At least that is a little believable. He knows that we are close. 

''I thought I warned you to stay away from him.''

Oh shit, I forgot about that conversation. I don't have an explanation or a way to defend myself. I don't know what to say now but it is not like he can keep me in the house. 

''Why do you have luggage with you?'' he asks another question. There is this suspicious look in his eyes. he knows something that could potentially put me in trouble. 

I don't think Marybelle has told him anything. she is still processing everything, and I don't think this is something she would run off to tell. I am sure she is still in denial herself. 

''My clothes are in there,'' I tell him. 

He raises a brow ''I am going to ask you a couple of questions and I want you to be completely honest with me.'' 

i nod my head because there is nothing else, I can do or say. 

''come on,'' he walks over to the direction of the living room. I know he expects me to follow him and don't get me wrong, I can use this opportunity to make a dash for it, but he will not let me leave that easily. I don't know what he could possibly have to say, and I am scared. 

He walks over to the couch and I follow him, leaving my bag by the large door. I watch him as he sits down on the chair he usually sits on ''Have a seat, Brad,'' he tells me.

With shaking hands, I take a seat opposite him. 

''What is your real relationship with Lance?'' 

Shit. 

I didn't think he would be quick to that. what does he know? My answer depends on what he knows. I had plans to tell him the truth. That was the plan before Lance's mother found out. now he knows something that I am not sure of. 

''We are friends.'' 

That is the only answer I have for him because I am a fucking coward. Now all I want to do is run away with him. I am not brave enough to fight him. I am not strong enough to fight for Lance. 

I watch him stand up from the chair and walk over to me. there is this calmness in his face. It looks like a poker face. like he is not really showing how he feels. Maybe this is for the best, I might not like what I see if he shows his real emotions. 

He stops in front of me and goes on his knees ''Do you remember what I did to you the last time you lied to me?'' he asks, reaching for my chin to make me look at him. 

I don't want to think about the last time. I don't want to think about anything. 

''Do you want a repeat of that time?'' he asks. His grip on my face is hard. It hurts but I don't show it. I haven't shown weakness in front of him since he killed my mother. 

I don't show him anything. 

''Do you want to take a second to think about the right answer to my question and give it to me?'' he pushes my face with his hand, but I manage not to flinch. I can take him in a fight. I am strong enough but whenever I am with him in these situations, it feels like I am a helpless child. I feel little next to him. No matter how tall I get. 

''I will ask you again Brad… What is your relationship with Lance?''

It feels like time has frozen at this moment. I feel broken and confused. Terrified that I will end up saying the wrong thing. Whatever I do say will be used against me. 

There is no right answer to his question. 

''There is nothing going on between us. I swear.'' I choose to lie. I don't know what he has but it must not be tangible enough. He would've used it already. 

He gets up from his knee and walks over to the bar by the corner. He pours himself a glass of whiskey and walks back to me with the glass in his hand. Slowly, he takes a sip of the drink and I watch him, unsure of what to do. 

This whole thing is messing with my mind. 

All I can think of is Lance and how sad he is right now. He needs me and if I am not waiting for him at that store in forty-five minutes, he will just hurt more. I don't want him hurting anymore. I just want him to be happy. Why is that so hard? 

He walks back to me ''I warned you not to lie. Why would you lie, just after I warned you?'��

Okay. 

He definitely knows something. 

''I am not lying, there—'' in that instant, I feel the slap unexpectedly as he cuts me off. I grab my face immediately from the shock of the hit. He takes another sip of his drink. He is not drunk. He is doing this in his right state of mind. this is his own form of control.

He has always been able to control me. 

He drops the glass on the small table next to my chair and faces me again ''This is the last time I am going to ask you. What is your relationship with my wife's son?'' 

The tears in my eyes are in the brink of falling but I am not going to give in to him. I have to get the balls to tell him the truth because there is no hiding this again. 

''He is my boyfriend,'' I tell him point blank, managing to keep my face straight. The fear that he wants to bring out of me will not be shown today.

The blank expression on his face slowly disappears and a frown replaces it. I expect a lot more than a slap now but at the end of the night, I plan on leaving. 

''I see your sickness is back,'' he mutters. 

I furrow my brows. 

''You can come in now,'' he says, his eyes away from me and to the door. I turn to the direction of the door and two men in white overalls come in through the doors. 

I stand up from the chair immediately ''What are you doing?'' I shout to him. this is not the first time this has happened. I don't even know what I can do in this situation.

He is sending me away. 

As he did the last time. 

I can't go away again. 

Lance is waiting for me. 

I walk to a corner in the room, my hands outstretched to block them from coming close to me ''don't do this dad. Please don't send me away.'' I didn't expect him to react so harshly. 

This is fucked up. 

How can he do this to me?

''it is for your own good. You have been doing things that will just end up compromising your health. I love you too much to watch you spiral this far.''

He loves me.

Ha. 

''Please dad, please,'' I beg because that is all I can do. I can only beg him but from the look in his eyes, there will be no mercy. 

''Take him in,'' he tells them. They both walk towards me. I will fight them all if I have to. There is no way I will let him win again. I need to go to Lance. I need to leave this man and all his overbearing control. 

''Don't come any closer,'' I put my hands in fists in front of them. They are used to this. They deal with sick people all the time. Apparently, I am sick. Just because I want the freedom to love, I have become a mental patient. 

One of the men stops in front of me with a faint smile ''Calm down Brad. No one is going to hurt you,'' he tries to assure me but I don't believe him. they are all hurting me by forcing me to go with them. 

I don't blame them, this is their job. 

''There is nothing wrong with me. leave me the fuck alone,'' I shout at the same time, the other guy pounces on me, grabbing my arm as I fall the floor. I try to budge off him but his partner holds me.

''Please don't do this,'' I beg as I feel the syringe pierce into my skin. The last thing I see before I blackout is my father and the evil smile on his face. 

This is just like the last time I told him I knew he killed mom. 

He must always have his way.