Chapter 4

TANYA

*Four Months Ago*

"Hey, dad," i drop the bags of groceries on the counter. When i hear no response from him, i know he's wasted. I check the time and it's it 1 pm on a monday in the afternoon.

I sigh.

"What will i do with you."

Just then, a bang comes on the door.

Once, twice, thrice.

Each bang louder than the last.

I frown.

"Who is it?" I ask, but the only response is two more bangs.

I place the keys to the lock i ise to chain my bike and head over to the door, ready to tell off whichever one of his friends has decided to get high dyrthe day and choose to come and break down the door.

"Coming!" I yell irritated at the distraction. I pull the door open. "What the he-"

I don't even get to finish my sentence because I'm immediately shoved to the side.

The three men head straight for my dad, pulling him off the sofa by the shirt.

"Wake up!" One of them says, throwing a harsh slap at his face.

I'm still stunned by the fall that all that leaves my mouth is a shocked gasp.

My dad's eyes pop open, i don't even think he registers what is happening at the moment because of his drunken state.

"Where is the money? Your days are up."

Dad's eyes widen.

"Wait, wait, please.. i- i don't have it."

The man throws back his elbow and punches dad in the face. Blood spitters from his mouth, and i see the panic in his eyes.

"Leave him alone!" I finally manage to shout.

Both men's heads turn to where i am on the floor.

"And who are you?"

"No, don't. Leave my daughter out of this."

The one who punched him slowly turns his head back to dad, and then he smiles.

"Well, well, well. Now, what do we have here? Old man Richard has a daughter?"

Fear seeps into my bones at the way he just stated, me being my father's daughter.

The other one steps closer to me and crouches, then he places his hand around my chin, lifting my face.

"Hmm.. aren't you a pretty little thing."

"I am not," i strain. "A thing."

"Hmm, and she's feisty. What do you think about me having a little fun with her while you watch, old man Richard?"

"No, no, no, no, please."

The man licks me from my cheekbone, to my cheek, then my mouth. When he pulls back, i am for the part between his thumb and finger, then i bute down with all my strength.

His scream bounces across the house, and he lets go. Before i can stand, he slaps me hard across the face, sending me flying to the floor.

"Bitch!" He yells as heat spreads across my cheek and tears roll from my eyes.

"Please.." dad pleads. "Don't hurt her, don't hurt my daughter. I promise I'll have the money in a few days."

"This is your final warning, Richard. For the sake of our old friendship, I'll plead on your behalf for one last chance to the big boss, but if you won't have the money by friday, there's nothing I'll be able to do for you."

Then he's shoved to the floor. For a second, i think it's over, but then i hear,

"Teach him a lesson."

"No!" I scream.

The two men gang up on him, kicking him in the stomach, back, and every part their feet can. Then, as if they were the perfect gentlemen, they straighten their jackets, fix themselves up, and then walk out.

"See you soon, princess." The one who hit me winks and closes the door.

I quickly crawl to dad's side. He's badly beaten, and there are cuts on his face. His painful growl has more tears running down my cheeks.

"What did you do? Who are those guys?"

* * *

It's thursday and I'm on edge. Dad refused to tell me why those men barged into our house and beat him up, demanding for money.

The door bursts open and i startle despite it not being friday.

Dad walks in, at least this time he's not drunk. But he honestly looks homeless if you ask me.

"Pack your bags, we are leaving." He goes straight to his bedroom without even looking at me.

"What?"

  I ask, confused as i start following him to his bedroom.

"What do you mean by pack my bags?"

He starts to stash things in his old brown bag, the leather started to tear years ago.

"Dad, what do you mean?" I stand between him and the bag when he returns with more clothes from the drawer.

"Just do as i say!" He yells, making me flinch.

I step aside and watch him.

"Hurry up, girl! We need to leave now!"

⁸

"No." I say and he pauses. "I'm not leaving," he meets my eyes. "Not until i know wp8hat's going on."

He runs a hand over his face, his face is only a bit of trace of the man i once looked up to. He has wrinkles around his eyes, his lips slightly burnt by the amount of booze he takes, and stuble on his jaw and chin. He looks ruff.

"Look, they will kill me, you hear me? but not before they rape you. And God knows what will become of you once i die. He will make you his slave, and i can't let that happen."

A chill runs through my bones, the fear i see in his eyes scares the living crap out of me.

"How much do you owe him?"

He sighs.

"Five hundred thousand."

"Five hundred?" I gasp. "What did you use the five hundred thousand for, dad?"

"Tanya..."

"Because you couldn't spent all that money in a short period of time on only alcohol, that's impossible."

"I- i gambled it all away."

"Dad! I thought you stopped going to casinos."

"I tried okay, i thought i could multiply it and we can start off elsewhere afresh, just you and me. I wanted to give you a good life."

I suck in a deep breath.

"Who did you piss off, daddy?" I whisper, searching his eyes. "Who did you borrow from."

"The devil."