I hissed pressing the cotton ball to my eye cursing. Ella was better at this shit than me. I kicked the wall pissed at that thought, then cursed that now my foot hurt.
"Whoa, buddy! Are you trying to end up in the hospital?" Rich was at the door of the men's room chuckling.
"Just pissed. I can't believe I lost that fight."
"I can, and that is why I didn't bet on you. What were you thinking taking on a guy twice your size? If you needed a beat down, I'll be more than happy to give you one." He smiled at me walking closer. "Shit! I think that needs stitches, Eros. That dude fucked you up."
"Stop fucking gloating." I wasn't in the mood for his everything is so funny fucking mood.
"Relax! Here." He handed me a drink and I chugged it. The entire right side of my face was throbbing. I think he fractured something too. This never hurt so fucking bad before.
"I'm fucked tomorrow. I can't hide all this shit for my dad's company party."
"Ooooo, rich people dilemma. I got it. Say you saved a chick from getting robbed. The scumbag got a few good hits in, but you took him down and saved the day. They will throw you a party for being such a good hearted soul." His hands crossed over his own heart and he looked at me like his hero.
"Go away." I shoved him. I picked up the band aids and added some small ones to my eye. That was the best I could do.
"You're really pissed about something. Are you going to talk to me about it or just keep bottling it up?"
"I'm just pissed I lost. Nothing else to talk about."
"Whatever you say. One of these days you're going to get yourself killed trying to let out your anger in the ring or on those stupid bikes."
"They're aren't stupid. You're fucking stupid." I pushed passed him bumping his shoulder.
"Ooo, good come back. Love how you're maturing more and more everyday." He chuckled as I left the club. I don't even know why I came to this shit hole anymore.
I jumped in my Porsche and sped out of the parking lot. Ever since I left the tree lighting last night I've been pissed beyond I ever felt before. My mind wasn't in a good place, but I didn't know how to fix it. I couldn't talk to Aaron because he hates me now too.
I pulled in my driveway cursing. Of course my father wasn't home either. I slammed my door shut looking up to Ella's window. A small smile tugged at my lips seeing her jump on her bed. I couldn't see who she was with, but I knew my sister. Amber was home. We bumped heads a lot, but we also loved each other. For some reason she loved Ella the moment she saw her.
I shook my head and headed inside. I was debating about climbing through that stupid window. Now I knew that was not happening. Amber would probably sleep over there and I had no reason to be crawling through Ella's window in the middle of the night. I was disappointed, but I also felt a little better she had Amber. Somehow my sister always knew how to bring that gorgeous smile out in Ella.
"Whoa! Someone got his ass served." Jackie was sitting at the kitchen island slowing peeling an apple with a big sharp knife. Her black hair was even longer and her face was more defined in true evil than the last time I saw her. I loved all my sisters, but this one scared the shit out of me. She was like La Femme Nikita, but only fourteen.
"Mouth... and knife." I gave her a look of disapproval for cursing, then took the knife from her hands. One time she had twenty knife shoot at me as I walked out the front door. I nearly shit myself before work.
They were all plastic, but still, it was creepy. I asked her why and she said because I turned off her cartoons. She was eight and it was midnight. I thought saying it was bedtime was a reasonable excuse to turn it off. I was very wrong according to little Nikita in training over here.
"You know if I wanted to hurt you, I would." Her black eyes looked deep into mine.
"At least give me a hug before threatening me little sister." I threw my arm around her and hugged her tight. She was annoying, but I loved her.
"You're too soft, creep."
"Missed you too." I chuckled and kissed her head.
"Oh no, I missed family hug." Lucy ran in the kitchen grabbing us both to hug again.
"Back off Barbie or I'll shave that head while you're sleeping." Jackie warned Lucy.
"I missed her psycho little attitude." Lucy pinched her cheeks and I shook my head. We were all so different connected by one dumbass man that couldn't keep his shit in his pants, or a condom.
"Do you want to have a movie night? I don't think Amber is coming home tonight so it will just be us." I smiled at both them.
"Yes." Lucy clapped her hands together loving the idea.
"I don't have anything better to do, or a lesbian lover next store." Jackie rolled her eyes heading to the living room. She was always jealous Amber preferred to hangout with Ella than us. She was a tough little cookie, but we all saw how she craved our sibling love.
"We can invite Ella too!" Lucy added.
"No!" I shouted. "I mean, Ella doesn't really get along with any of us. Let them catch up before Ella leaves for her home town." I cleared my throat hoping that hid my instant panic of seeing her again.
"That was weird. Whatever! I don't like the little everything is perfect girl next door anyways." Jackie sat on the twelve seater couch huffing. It wasn't that she didn't like Ella, it was that she wanted Amber's attention that she got.
"Pick a movie, little demon girl." I ruffled her hair sitting next to her and Lucy hugged her other side.
"I love you, Jackie." Lucy kissed her cheek and Jackie wiped it off. I chuckled at them throwing my arm around her.
"You're stuck with just the two of us and we are going to make you as soft as a teddy bear." I smirked leaning closer.
"Oh yes!" Lucy's eyes shot open wide to me. She knew exactly what I meant.
"'No! I'll murder you in your sleep." Jackie threatened covering her stomach. She couldn't hold us both back.
"Get her!" I yelled and Lucy grabbed her arms so I could tickle her.
"No! Stop! This isn't fair!" She thrashed her body cracking up. There is that smile.
"Do you love us, Jackie?" I tickled her more.
"I hate you both."
"Wrong answer little sister." Lucy teased.
"Ok, ok, I love you. Both of you. Please stop!" She pleaded crying in laughter.
I pulled her to sit up straight laughing at our victory. Lucy and I cuddle her between us and she turned on the TV annoyed.
"I did miss you guys. A very little bit though." Jackie said then turned the volume up. Lucy and I looked at each other smiling. Our little future assassin of a sister loved us and we always knew it.
We all fell asleep on the couch watching a three part movie. I woke before them and sat on the couch watching them. I loved my sister and wished we had a childhood all together. That was impossible considering the circumstances though.
I once asked my dad why he had so many women. His answer was that people change and sometimes they grow apart. It didn't explain the fucked up family he created. I left it alone knowing he didn't understand himself.
"Hey, Eros." My father whispered from the hall.
"Hey!" I got up slowly heading to the kitchen with him.
"I see the girls are here." He smiled at me. His eyes went straight to the side my face bashed in and sighed.
"Would you believe me if I said I was jumped while saving an old lady from getting robbed?" I tried smiling to him, but it still hurt to move any part of my face.
"No, it might work for the party tonight though. I was hoping these days were behind you."
"It was just a fight, dad. I almost won too." That was a complete lie.
"Martin called me last night. I know you entered a fight that you knew you couldn't win. He also told me about you selling your bike to pay 300k to some piece of shit gang. I thought..." he sighed raking his hand down his face. "I don't know what I thought." The way he looked at me with so much disappointment had me wanting to punch something.
"It's not like it seems, dad. I wasn't involved in any gang bullshit and I thought I could win last night. I swear I did."
"I don't know what to say, Eros. I'm handing you a career that's worth millions. When I was your age I barely had enough money to buy food for the week. I built all this for you and..." he looked away annoyed. He was going to say you and your mom. He did build us financial security, but with that power he also built three other families.
"I know. I'm sorry. I'll be more careful."
"No more fights! I'm serious, Eros. You can't be CEO during the day and caging fighting at night. Whatever is going on with these gangs needs to end now too."
I clenched my jaw cursing from the pain in my face. I won't promise my dad then back out of it. I wasn't ready to leave it all behind.
"Dad I won't be CEO overnight. I haven't even finished college yet. I have a good ten years before I have to worry about all that."
"No, Eros! You need to worry about this now. You are apart of this family and working part time at the company. Everyone is watching you and you will lose all their confidence acting like some hood rat."
"Hood rat? Seriously? What even is that?" I chuckled. He didn't find it funny though.
"This isn't a joke. Fix what you can of that face and make sure you have Chrissy's story straight with how you got your whole face bruised. No more missteps, Eros." He looked at me annoyed.
"Chrissy and I aren't together."
"Then fix that shit too. She is a good woman that tolerates you for some reason. She knows how to work the crowd. You need her tonight."
Lucy came gliding in with her best smile. She was always dying for our dad's attention. "Don't worry, dad. Chrissy will be over shortly and Eros can talk to her then. I'll help him cover those bruises too."
"Thanks Angel." He kissed her cheek as she lifted to his face kissing his. He gave me one more look over then walked out. He never stayed around Lucy long.
"Kiss ass!" I teased her.
"Whatever! I would die to get half the attention you do from that man."
"You're not missing out on anything. Speaking of pleasing daddy. I need a favor." I smiled despite the pain.
"What do you want now? Or should I say what do you not want to do this time?"
"Well daddy dearest needs someone to represent the company in Japan next month? Want to take the opportunity. Marcus is leading the trip too." I wagged my eyebrows at her. She had a major crush on him. He was so far up my dad's ass though that he showed Lucy the same annoyance our father did to her.
"Yes! I'm definitely in!" She was glowing now and it made me chuckle.
"Perfect!"