Page 27 of Girl Like Me

“Anything you need to know is available for the right price. I forget you’re not part of our world. The one where money talks.” I yank on Carter's arm and pull him to a dead stop.

“Don’t come in here and offend my boyfriend, it’s beneath you. I thought you were the one ally I had in our family.” I really don’t but I figure if I pull the sister card he’ll stop.

“My apologies.” Carter shakes off of my arm and walks into the living room. The guys have moved all the furniture back to where it belongs, not a single item out of place. I move into the room, annoyed that he has barged in on my time here. I narrow my eyes at him, everyone outside of my guys is a suspect at this point.

“How did you find me?” He smiles, but it’s not a nice one. I see the guys move in, keeping their distance but still close enough in case anything happens. They don’t trust him and neither do I yet.

“Did you really think you could hide from me?” The pit of my stomach drops.

The sound of a voice outside startles me.Rory couldn’t be back yet, he barely just left. I pull the old worn woollen curtain back, one so old the fibres mix with the air and float around the dimmed room, but there is no one there. I’m just imagining things. I’m almost free, all I need is a few months to hide out and when I get back surely they will hear me out, they have too, right? It’s his word against mine. It was my gun.

“Did you really think you could hide from us Bristol; you know there are eyes everywhere.” A scream escapes me and I let the curtain fall back into place. Looking around the room, I have nothing here to protect me, nowhere to hide. I find my phone, which I had turned off so it couldn’t be traced and I power it on with trembling hands as someone starts banging on the door. As the screen finally powers on, I call the one person I know will help me, but his help comes with a price, one we had been trying to avoid. The door is kicked in before the call even connects. A scream tears its way through my throat.

“JD.” I blink a few times and see the guys all crowded around me. I nod, taking them all in. Chloe and Mac have now joined us in the room.

“Sorry, panic attack.” I lie, my brothers’ eyes on me assessing everything. “Ever since I lost my memory, I get random panic attacks and you being here has me freaked out. Our father will know I lied to him and all I wanted to do was see my friends. They are the only people I feel like I know.” I pile on the water works. I don’t know whose voice was in that memory, when I get them they’re always muffled, like I’m hearing it from underwater.

I’m made to sit on the lounge next to Carter. I tense as he places a hand on my knee. “B, you’re my sister, it was us against the world growing up. I would never do anything to hurt you. I would never tell our mother or father you were here, your secret is safe with me.” I want to believe that’s the truth. Chloe coughs and it seems way too convenient, she’s trying to change the subject and I could hug her for it. “Oh, hey Chloe, I didn’t realise my father was serious when he told me Bristol was hanging out with you. My, how far you’ve come up in the world.” I watch with wide eyes as Mac launches his whole body towards my brother. It happens in slow motion. I’m pulled from the couch just a split second before Mac lands on Carter and starts throwing his fists into his face. Mercer moves in fast, as does Levi, and pulls Mac from my brother. His face is scrunched, his eyes feral.

“I think it’s time you left.” I state. Carter is holding a hand over his face. It looks like he’ll have a nice black eye tomorrow.

“You think our dad is going to be okay with all this, especially after one of your boy toys attacked me. You can only be daddy's little princess for so long.” I shrug, not really caring what else he has to say. Rory stands beside Carter and holds out an arm, gesturing for him to leave. Carter doesn’t say anymore as he storms out of the house.

That was fun, my brother’s jealousy rearing its ugly head and showing his true colours. Although it still doesn’t rule out that we weren’t close. I was as bad as him when I had my memories. I’ve watched the videos and been told some of the stories. I was a bitch, there’s no doubt about that. I hate to ruin the good time we were having but I need to go and speak with my father. It’s time to stop pussy footing around and just lay it straight. I want to see the guys and Carter let it slip that I was daddy's princess. I can hopefully use that. I can’t tell the guys; they would want to come with me and my dad doesn’t seem like the type that would like sneak attacks.

The guys aren’t happy I have to leave. I explain that if Carter does go straight back to my dad and tells him what happened that I need to be there to make sure he tells the story right. I promise we will see each other next weekend. I’ll find a way to sneak out if I have to. Chloe agrees to help, I knew she would, her and Mac have hit it off and it’s nice to see Mac happy. It may keep the guys off his back for at least a little while.

We make it back to Chloe’s in record time, who knew Chloe had a lead foot. One thing we hadn’t considered was Chev, who is currently standing in the driveway with his hands over his chest and legs apart, his stance warning us of his anger.

“Don’t let him bully you. Guys like him love to be in control but you don’t belong to him.” She visibly inhales and nods her head.

“I know you’re right. I’m always so afraid of what will come out of his mouth and yet my body betrays me every time.” She comes to a stop on the driveway since Chev is blocking the way into the garage. He hasn’t moved a muscle. His intimidation is his power. Guys like him thrive on it, targeting the weak because he can.

As soon as we both exit her car at the same time, Chev decides it’s time to make his move. I watch as he steps in close to her, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. My god he is really doing this, playing the caring type, playing on her emotions.

“Are you okay? I was worried about you.” His voice calm, his eyes locked on hers. Damn Chloe, don't fall for it. Come on, you're stronger than that.

Her knees go weak, that action alone seems to trigger something in her, and she pushes him away. “Stop, just leave me alone Chev. You hate me at least eighty percent of the time and the other twenty you either confuse me with your touches and this caring act. I’m over it. Scare every guy away from me, I don’t care. In a few months I’m old enough to leave this place and never think about you again.” She storms off up the driveway. I mentally fist pump at her standing up for herself. Chev looks at me with disdain, and I smirk at him.

“I guess the badass and his manipulation tactics don't work any more, such a shame.” His face goes a light shade of red and a thick vein on the side of his face starts to pulse. He might actually kill me if his demeanour is anything to go by. I stand tall with my back straight and try to walk away. I give it to the guy, he is quick, he has me by the arm before I realise what is happening and slams me back against Chloe’s car. My hands go clammy and a lump forms in my throat.

“You might have everyone fooled with this no memory crap, but I can see right through you B, the little good girl virgin act doesn’t suit you. Word on the street is,youkilled your brother and so your family wouldn’t kill you, you went to the crazy house and conveniently lost your memory.” It’s funny how anger can trump fear. I don’t remember my brother but how dare he insinuate I killed him. In my flashback he was killed with my gun. Why did I even have a damn gun? I know for a fact; a minor can’t have a gun but I have learned my family isn’t really one to follow the law.

My father is the type to bend the law to suit himself and my uncle is a suspected crime lord, but no one seems to have any proof to link him to any serious crimes. Google tells me he is known asThe Ghost. Which is fitting, Echo had mentioned you don’t contact him, he will contact you. Whatever that is supposed to mean. Maybe my older brother was part of their world. I also googled him and he owned a chain of nightclubs. How does a guy at twenty one get that kind of status?

I bring my knee up to Chev’s crotch as hard as I can. His grip on me loosens before he drops to the ground. “You don’t know shit about me, but you clearly know some history of the Montgomery family. So I suggest you back the fuck off of me or I’ll reign down hell on you.”

He has the nerve to laugh through his groaning. “Echo was right, you will make the perfect queen of the underworld.”

His words ring through my head as I run into the house and race upstairs to get my things. Queen of the underworld. Why would I want anything to do with whatever they do? Screw that, they can keep their illegal crap to themselves. I find Chloe in her room. I expected tears but she is on her phone, with a smile on her face. She mouths Mac, and flushes. I nod, pointing to my stuff. She understands I’m leaving. Clarissa’s stuff is already gone so I take it, she has gone home. Which reminds me to turn my phone back on.

I need to get home. I may not have my memories but I am sick of waiting. I need to confront my father. I want to be able to see the guys, and to do that I need him to drop all the charges. Since I’m daddy's princess I think I can use that. I also want some answers about Milo. What happened to him, and why the hell was I put in a mental hospital. Besides being a bitch, I didn’t seem to have any other issues.

When I pull up at my house, Carter’s car isn’t in it’s usual spot in the garage. A good sign he was only bluffing about giving me up to our father.

Like a mad woman on a mission I beeline straight for my father’s office. His car was in the driveway when I pulled in so I’m hopeful he’s here and has time to see me. Since being back, I have spent as little time with them as possible. It's still strange waking up here everyday after just getting used to Beth’s. I feel like a fish out of water.

Voices carry out of my father’s office through the closed door. I can’t quite make out what is being said but both voices sound angry. I take a deep breath. I don’t care if he is busy. I need to get to the bottom of this. I knock hard with determination not to show weakness and the voices hush immediately. My father’s voice is evident as he says come in. I push the door open and step inside. I falter at the sight of my father’s double.

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