''Oh, least I forget, the man he scammed is in there to make sure he doesn't get out.''
Era paused at the electronic doors of the police station. The breeze of the cold night air brushing past her face as she turned to face Daniel still at the bottom of the stairs with Josh and Stephanie staring at him in surprise. The distant sounds of sirens bustling down the streets moved through the silence that occurred between them.
''Wh…what?''
Era couldn't help but acknowledge the slight chill that coursed down her spine at the thought of also getting to meet with the said dangerous victim her unbelievable brother dared messed with. Who knows, once he finds out that they are all related he could also have them thrown into the cell with his brother to rot for all eternity.
She wrapped her arms around her body. The possibility of that happening should not be entirely ruled out. She had dealt with thousands of people her brother had messed with. The least they all did once they knew she was related to him by blood was to disgrace her publicly. Costing her huge sum of money to get those videos down from the net.
What this presumed mafia boss would do to her scared her in many ways. These were times she wished she were adopted, maybe the burden would be more bearable.
Be unfazed.
You feel no pain.
Maintain full composure.
Have courage like that of the devil.
Because it is someone with that much guts that would start a rebellion against the creator of the universe. You should at least pretend to be fearless. What's the worst that could happen?
The girl nodded her head and turned to walk in like the boss lady she should be at all times. Her entrance was enough to turn heads of both criminals, victims coming to file a report and police officers all littered around doing their job to ensure justice is given. Apparently, she was here not to have justice be served but be tampered with. Because of her unfortunate ties with her unfortunate brother.
She moved past them all with her chin held up high as she followed behind Daniel leading the way to where Joel might be. Josh and Steph following closely from behind. Their hearts racing anticipating how this night would end.
As she moved down a more secluded and private hallway, she never expected her night would end up with her trying to stop her brother from being severely punished for what he'd done. She imagined her lying naked in her bathroom with the cries and screams of the possessed vibrating through the walls as she tried to drown herself in the dark living the real feeling of Hell. The place she was forced to survive in.
They all paused before a door and waited until Daniel pushed it open, and they were all greeted with the full blast of air conditioner. There were tables and chairs arranged at specific sections of the room. The logo of the police proudly displayed on the walls. Era walked in getting familiar with where she'd walked into. As Daniel waited to close the door when Josh stepped in last.
''I swear, I didn't mean to. It was just a prank.''
''A prank?'' The police officer bellowed on his feet as he leaned on his table, glaring down at her brother who appeared smaller than he is on his seat. Fake tears streaming down his face as he ruffled his dark hair with his head bent low in fake regrets.
Era paused in the middle of the room with her hands crossed on her chest.
''Do you even have any idea who you just messed with boy? You promised us the last time and wrote a statement that you wouldn't get into any more trouble! That you wouldn't trouble your little sister and the rest of your family again!''
The angry officer leaned close with clenched teeth. ''You promised that we wouldn't have any reason to want to cover up your crimes anymore.''
Joel held his head in his hands out of frustration.
''What happened to those promises?!'' His hands slammed hard on the table. The shock forcing everyone to jump in fright, with Joel genuinely looking like he is fucked already. When they finally notice her presence with them in the room. The all too familiar officer, officer James stared at her with a slight head shake as he lowered his head to pinch the bridge of his nose in disappointment.
She had always got that reaction from him every time.
Did he get a promotion because this was not his office the last time they dealt with a case like this? She had been called over to the station more than most wanted criminals, and it was starting to affect her life in many ways.
When their eyes locked, his blue eyes that seemed remorseful darken on her instantly, and he was up on his feet within seconds.
Her heart skipped one beat when he grabbed her with angry glares.
''Where the fuck have you been, Era? Why didn't you respond to my messages the moment you saw it, so I will know you were coming to help?!''
''Joel leave her—''
''Stay the fuck out of this! All of you!'' He shouted at everyone. Causing both Josh, Steph and even Daniel to step back. He was drunk and crazy the girl could both smell it heavily from his mouth and saw it from his eyes.
The dumb skull must have passed out somewhere for the person he scammed with one hundred million to get him so easily.
He faced her again. Her expression void of any emotion even though his grip around her shoulder hurt more than being pierced with a knife. She had gone through worst episodes that she had trained herself not to react in front of them anymore.
She bit down hard on her lips maintaining eye contact with the bastard. ''I was busy with my life. You texted you needed help without being more specific.''
He shook her violently causing even Stephanie to tremble in fear at the way he was treating his sister.
''So you saw the text you slimy little boss bitch and decided to leave me hanging.''
Silence.
The psycho released the hold he had on her to step back in laughter like he found being ignored funny. It was all funny until he landed Era a dirty slap across her face. The force was enough to knock her off her feet and sent her tumbling to the ground.
Steph screamed as everyone bent over to check if Era was fine. Officer James was too stunned to react.
The girl held her face as it all went eerily numb. She could not hear anything for ten seconds straight. Her mouth slowly began to taste coppery as blood rolled down the side of her mouth. She raised her head up to stare right at the face of her sobbing assistant in terror. She asked her if she had any rubber bands to spare. Steph was confused as to why she was asking for a rubber band when she just got slapped so hard right across her face, but this was not the time to be asking why. She dug through her purse immediately and handed over a black rubber band.
Era collected it in gratitude before struggling to stand upright, removing her feet from her shoes to stand on her bare feet.
Everyone watched her in silence as the girl began to tie her hair up quickly with the band.
She could endure a thousand slaps from her sister for many reasons, but not from this brat. The reason she showed up at the police station more than she showed up to the hospital to check her blood pressure like her doctor advised.
Once her hair was packed up in a tight bun, Joel shifted back because she looked bloody and scary.
The smack of her purse had him crash landing all over on officer's James chair and table. The officer moved back reeling in shock.
The day after she considered not killing herself and standing up to the monster in disguise of a father, she enrolled herself in Taekwondo and some underground self-defense training. They were the worst season of her life, but it was a necessary evil. She went through it all for times like this. It wasn't all about being mentally prepared but being physically ready as well.
Joel moaned heavily in pain, and before he could gather himself to his feet, she was on him delivering blows upon blows on his face. The cries of Joel echoed so loud, she was sure the people on the second and third floor would know someone was being torn up by a monster.
Everyone gathered to pull Era up from him before she beats him to death, but she refused to let him go.
Joel burnt the anger of all her bent up frustration and pain that night. She imagined his nose was that stupid-pointed nose of her ex. Who had the guts to go for the one thing she had always looked up to every year. She raised her hand as high as she could to punch it, so hard enough to break into two.