Resisting my step-brother 2

First time

Grinning at Dan, Liam replied “everything’s fine mate, I was coming to see why Elle wasn’t at work that’s all” he explained but I couldn’t shake the look of embarrassment. That must have looked so bad from Dan’s point of view.

“I’d better get back to the office. Gimme a ring when you are ready to come back to work” he said to me and I flashed him a quick smile. Liam left the house and Dan was still standing in the same spot. 

“Babe, that looked bad but...”

“Is there something going on between you that I don’t know about?” He interrupted. I lowered my brows at him before responding.

“No Dan, he was honestly here to make sure I was okay. I hadn’t told anyone why I didn’t come in today so as my boss he...”

“Well it seemed to be getting a bit close and personal if you ask me” he spitefully said cutting me off again I stood up and walked over to him. I tried to put my hands on his arms to calm him but he shook them off. I sighed and his expression exaggerated. 

“Is there something going on between you two Elle?” He repeated in a more tense tone. 

“No Dan” I bluntly replied. He shook his head at me and turned to walk away. I grabbed his arm to get him to turn back but he flicked his elbow aggressively to shake me off. 

“Dan, you’re being ridiculous!” I shouted and he turned to me.

“Ridiculous? You’re the one who was getting a bit touchy feely with your step brother... I mean ex f**k buddy” he snarled. 

“He wasn’t doing anything wrong. I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Liam just came to check on me!” I shouted and he squared up to me.

“Now your defending him!” He yelled and I rolled my eyes.

“You’re being f*****g stupid Dan. Nothing is going on between us!”. I expected him to either shout back at me or walk off. He did neither. Instead his hand raised from his side and whipped across my face suddenly. The slap was so intense that my head snapped to the side. When I gazed back at him my expression had turn to shock. My cheek started stinging and was gradually getting warm.

“Don’t you f*****g dare! I’m trying to make sure that the streets are safe for you. This is how you repay me!” He shouted and tears were welling up in my eyes. He sometimes got verbally aggressive but I didn’t ever think he would get physically aggressive to me. 

“If Liam sets foot in this house again I won’t hesitate to lock him up for trespassing” he continued to yell ignoring the fact he had just struck me.

“It’s not just your house Liam!” I snapped still holding my cheek and his nostrils started to flare. His chest was visibly raising dramatically from the anger he felt. The look he was giving me made my skin crawl and I wasn’t sure what he was going to do next. 

“I think you’ll find it is Elle” he said leaning down to me.

“It will always be mine so don’t you forget that” I was frozen, frightened from his sudden ability to lash out. 

“Now, if I find you two close like that again then I swear to god, you will be f*****g sorry” he growled with his fists clenched. I was petrified. As he stormed away from me I was trying to make sense of his behaviour. What have I done to deserve this? Dan was slowly turning into Cameron, the one person he was protecting me from. I could speak to Gemma and get some advice as I know she went through this, even if her experience was far worse. On the other hand, she could tell Liam and that could make things worse. 

A week later, there was still no sign of Cameron and Dan’s anger had gotten progressively worse. He was constantly on edge and I was permanently walking on egg shells. Although he hasn’t hit me again since last week, his words were much more hurtful. He started to blame me for his stress, telling me that none of this would have happened if we didn’t go to the ceremony. He drilled it into my head so much that I started to believe it. 

Sitting at my desk, I had fallen into a day dream and had completely forgotten about my surroundings. I was so tired from not sleeping that I struggled to keep myself focused.

“Elle!” Liam’s voice jolted me from my day dream.

“Huh?” I shook my head and he was standing there with an impatient expression on his face. 

“I said, can you send me the appointments for this week?” Liam repeated and I nodded. I thought he would walk away at that point but he just stared at me silently. 

“Come to my office please” he commanded politely and I narrowed my eyes.

“Why?”I asked and he pressed his lips together.

“Office, now!” He demanded. I hated it when he treated me like this. I know he’s my boss but he could at least cut me a little bit of slack. After all, we are ‘family’. I followed him to his office and he locked the door behind. 

“Sit down Elle” he ordered as he leant against the desk in front of me. I looked up at him and waited to listen to another Liam lecture.

“What’s going on with you Elle?” He asked me with a softer tone.

“Nothing Liam” I replied and he grabbed my hands.

“Elle, your not yourself at all and I’m getting worried” he confessed. I gazed down to the floor and he squeezed my hands. 

“Is it Cameron?” He guessed and I shook my head, 

“Elle... talk to me” he said brushing my hair behind my ear. I closed my eyes at his gentle touch and felt like collapsing into hysterics in his arms. I stayed strong and replied “I’m fine”. He sighed and pulled me out of my seat. He embraced me gently and then gazed into my eyes.

“You’re driving me insane Elle. Why won’t you just talk to me?” He asked.

“There’s nothing wrong Liam. I’m just tired that’s all. I haven’t been sleeping very well” I explained and his eyes slowly dropped down from my face to the ground.

“Okay” he bluntly replied and walked round to the other side of the desk. 

“I’m always here for you Elle, no matter what” he assured me and then faced his computer. I waited for a moment before unlocking the door and returning to my desk. I wanted to tell Liam everything. Regardless of all the drama that went on between us in the past, the one thing he always did was made me feel safe. But I didn’t want him to confront Dan because I had no idea what demon that would unleash.

“I’m home!” I yelled as I walked through the front door. I made my way to the kitchen and found Dan sitting at the table with his back against the chair and his arms folded.

“Everything alright babe?” I asked him calmly and he didn’t move a muscle. I put my bag down on the side with my keys and he stood up slowly. The rage from his body language was frightening. 

“What’s wrong baby?” I asked him, sounding like Gemma when she spoke to Cameron.

“Hmm... you’re late” he said bluntly. 

“I had a lot of emails I needed to sort out at work babe, I’m sorry. I should have called” I explained and he crept closer to me, as if he was creeping up on his prey. He stood in front of me and gazed down Intimidatingly. 

“I’m sorry” I repeated.

“Sure it wasn’t a little private meeting between you and your boss” he spitefully implied and I narrowed my eyes.

“No Dan, I was replying to emails. Like I said!” I felt irritated of what he was accusing me of.

“So why don’t I believe you then Elle?” He asked and I scowled at him.

“You know what Dan, this threatening behaviour needs to stop. I didn’t fall in love with...” his hand slapped across my face.

“Don’t f*****g talk to me like that” he commanded and I groaned with pain.

“Dan! I will not have you treat me like...” his fist clenched and he punched me in the stomach. I collapsed to the floor and cried out. 

“You’re a f*****g liar!” He yelled and I looked up at him, tears falling from my eyes from the shock and the pain he was inflicting.

“I’m done Dan, I’m leaving” I told him trying to gain some control but this only fuelled his anger and he kicked me in the same place his fist had made contact with my stomach. I cried out, screaming at the intense pain that shot through my injury. 

“Stop it Dan!” I screamed but he didn’t. The rage had taken over and his arms were raising and connecting with my body. His knuckles imbedded my skin and soon enough the punches he was throwing turned numb. I couldn’t feel anything. The adrenaline acted like a pain killer. I closed my eyes as his fists connected with my face and it felt as if it had gone on forever. I was crying and pleading for him to stop. Once I opened my eyes he was gone. He had walked out and taken his keys with him. He drove away and I was left on the floor. Bloodied and crying. I knew exactly who I needed to ring and at this point I didn’t care anymore.