C15 You Will Not Touch Her

Annabelle could only shake her head.

His eyes narrowed further as he asked, “Have you ever had any alcohol before?”

The shake of her head seemed to anger him further as he swore beneath his breath and paced away before saying; “Next time, don't just collect whatever is handed to you like an idiot.”

Annabelle didn't have the breath to answer him so she only nodded once again.

Gone was the concerned look she had thought she saw in his eyes, now he merely looked at her like a pest he couldn't wait to get rid of.

Good, maybe that was what she should have done since. Annoy him to the point that he would toss her out. She needed to find Cathy, and she couldn't do that while he was glowering at her and watching her every move.

“Who else can you call? Who knew where this friend was? You have her address or something?”

“Idiot. What a fool I have been.” Annabelle thought as she shook her head and said, “Nobody. I just knew that she would be waiting here for me in Acadia.”

“You gave your sister to a friend you know nothing about? Some sister you are.”

“It was…” the only option she had. But he didn't need to know that. Not that he gave a damn anyway.

She just needed him to help her get her sister back or let her go so she could do it herself.

“Could you?” Her mind taunted her.

“What is her name? Family name? How did you meet?”

I don't know. I don't know. I have never met her.

Annabelle doubted that was what he wanted to hear. He would only think her more foolish than he already thought right now.

So she quickly wracked her brain to see what she could get out of it.

She knew Jose’s surname. It was Phildee. That must mean that his sister's surname was Phildee too, right?

She tried to remember if he had mentioned his sister's name during their discussion.

She tried not to look at the glowing man in front of her as random names popped into her mind.

Cassie? Did he mention Cassie? No, that was not it.

She closed her eyes and tried to track all the short discussions they had had about the plan.

When he pretended to bring the cherries, so she had some time with him that last day, what was that name he had mentioned?

She couldn't remember. She…

“I see you are finding it hard to come up with a lie. While you are at it, remember you will regret it if you dare lie to me too.” He said tersely.

“I am not lying. I just…” her voice and expression were filled with the frustration brewing in her at her failed memory. “Her name is Phildee” she said in defeat.

“Right, the girl is Phildee. You should have simply said she is John Doe, you know.”

“That is it!” Annabelle leapt to her feet in excitement.

“What? Seriously? She is John Doe now?” he asked as he raised his brows in that dangerous way that made her want to run as fast as her feet would carry her.

“No, the other one! Jane. She is Jane Phildee. Jane Phildee in Arcadia. Can you help me find her? Do you think someone might know who she is? Jane Phildee has my sister.”

He looked at her like he had no idea what to do with the animated look on her face, and then he nodded curtly before dialling a number on his phone.

“Mario” she heard him say almost immediately. “Find me Jane Phildee right away.”

A pause, and then he added, “Yes,” before he disconnected.

She expected him to say something, but he didn't even turn to her.

She stared at his rigid back before saying, “And now? Can he find her? What is the next step now? What do I do?”

“You will leave this to me and do as you are told,” he said, without turning towards her.

“What do you mean? I can't just stay here. I need to…”

“You need to shut the fuck up.”

“But…”

His frigid look shut her up faster than his command as he turned towards her.

“Do you know the deal I had with your stepfather?”

A chill raced down Annabelle’s spine as she squeaked out, “Wha…what?”

“I can keep you if I make sure your sister is returned to her grieving mother.”

“Kee…keep me?” The stirring anger at that word slammed back into her ribs, then doubled when the last statements penetrated. “Bastard!” She yelled as she launched herself at him.

She was kicking, hitting and yelling even though he easily held her away from getting to his face where she would have done some real damage.

“You will not have her! You will not touch her!” She was screaming like a mad woman as she twisted and tried to scratch out his cold arrogant eyes. She didn't care how dangerous he was. Nobody would take her sister back to that hell.

“Fine by me. I don't want her. It is you I want.” He said blandly.

She went limp for a moment before her frenzied energy spewed up again.

In a moment of desperation, she reared her head back and headbutted him.

“Fuck!” He yelled as he banded his arms around her, holding her back to his front. “Are you crazy?!” He snapped.

Crazy? Oh, he had not seen crazy yet. Her head rang with the pain she caused herself by hitting his hard head.

She wasn't sure her legs would have held her if he hadn't held her up with his punishing grip.

The pain in her back from Tad’s assault flared as he held her tightly, but she didn't stop strongly. “You bast…bastard. You will not touch her. You will not return her. I will kill you first. I will…”

“Stay still, will you? I don't want to hurt you, dammit! You have bruises all over your back!”

“You won't want to…” she let out a caustic laughter that sounded shrill even to her own ears. “Can you believe this? You don't want to hurt me. Just kill me, will you? Kill me! But then I will rise from my grave and make your life hell if you touch Cathy!”

“Oh, fuck me!” She heard him groan before he gritted out. “Just. Stay. Still.”