(2468 words)
"Bella?"
I looked up and saw my Dad standing there right in front of the door, "Dad?" I questioned confused. I thought Uncle Leo said he would be able to come home in a few days.
"What are you doing here?" I asked confused hugging him. He hugged me back and kissed my head.
"I was able to come down for a couple of days," he said as I pulled away to look up at him.
"Are you okay honey?" he asked. No, I wasn't okay but I didn't want him to worry about it. Of course, I know I can tell my dad anything but he doesn't need my overthinking that was getting way out of hand, and that my anxiety was starting up again. He had enough to worry about.
"I'm okay Dad a little worried but okay," Dad seemed content with my answer and didn't ask further, "you have nothing to be worried about hun, Detective Leo isn't going to let anything happen and neither will I," I nodded at my Dads comforting words.
"Now we should go over some rules," I pouted but nodded understanding that he only wanted me to know the rules so that I was safe. He had made the rules when I met him for the first time. Except those rules were more strict.
"Rule number one, don't open the door for anyone unless you know them. If someone is at the door and they refuse to leave or if you feel like they are a threat, Detective Leo's phone number is on the fridge, including my work and cell phone number. If you tried all of these numbers and none of us answer call 911." I nodded.
"Rule number two, make sure the bolts and locks on the door are always secure, same goes for the back door, and windows are all locked and kept closed,"
"Rule number three, make sure you're never alone. You aren't allowed to walk to school anymore or walk home, by yourself. Detective Leo said he would be driving you to school from now one. Make sure that when you're at school you walk with people things like that," he said and I nodded.
"Rule number three, your gonna start your self-defense classes with Michael again every day right after school till six. The only day you won't have classes will be on the weekends but you will need to still practice at home, just for your safety," I nodded, "I already started about a week or two ago,"
My Dad seemed surprised that I had asked for the classes. I could see the pride shining in his eyes, "well that's good. I don't have any other rules at the moment, but how is everything else?" he asked
"Everything is okay I made some friends"
"Really?" he asked in disbelief. I nodded with a smile on my face. My Dad knew how hard it was for me to make friends.
"Did you want to change into something more comfortable?" I asked now noticing that he was still in his work clothes.
"No im fine I have to go to my office and do some work in a bit,"
Before I could answer the front door opened, "yo sis where you at?" I heard Bobby yell causing my eyes to widen. I didn't know why he was coming over.
Bobby walked around the corner with a smile on his face only to frown when his eyes drifted over to my dad. He seemed to tense up and his smile disappeared and was replaced with a serious look.
"Bella who's this?" Bobby asked not taking his eyes off my Dad.
"Bobby this is my Dad, Dad this is Bobby," I said introducing them to each other.
Bobby relaxed when he heard this tall buff guy standing behind me was my Dad, and a smile was placed on his face. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir, I'm a friend of your daughters," Bobby said extending out his hand for my dad to shake.
My dad took his hand and returned the greeting, "it's nice to meet you as well," he said.
They let go of each other's hands, "how did you get in?" My dad questioned confused since he locked the door.
"Oh I have a key," Bobby said holding up a key with a big smile on his face, I almost laughed from my dad's facial expression. Bobby tucked the key back into his pocket and sat down on the couch making himself comfortable.
"Why do you have a key to my house?" My dad questioned.
"Uncle Leo made sure that I and the others had access to the house just in case something happened to Bella," Bobby said grabbing the remote and turning on the tv.
"There are others?" My Dad asked surprised.
"Yeah Brian, Ace, Ryder and Michael," Bobby said flipping through the channels.
"Do you have any chips?" Bobby asked turning to me. I nodded with a smile on my face and walked into the kitchen. I grabbed the potato chips out of the cabinet and walked back over to Bobby and ahead of them to him.
Bobby smiles widely and grabbed the chips, "Thanks sis," he said opening the bag and stuffing his face with the chips.
"Why are you here?" My dad asked taking a seat in his armchair.
"I got a message from Uncle Leo saying that he wasn't going to be home when Bella got home from the gym so I came here so she wasn't alone," he said continuing to eat the chips.
"Ah, I see," my Dad said, "well it was nice meeting you son, I'll be in my office if you need me, Bella," he left me and Bobby alone.
We had a couple of minutes of silence, well kinda silent with Bobby continuing to eat the voices from the TV, "how are things?" he asked making me chuckle.
"Im okay, Bobby thank you for asking,"
"You don't have to lie to me Bella," Bobby placed the chips down and turned to me, "you can't be okay after what was found in your room,"
"How did you know about that?" I started playing with my fingers nervously
"Uncle Leo had messaged Ace, Brian and I about it,"
"Does Ryder know?"
"No, he doesn't know. Leo thought it would be best if you talked to him about it," I nodded understanding.
"You're not scared?" he asked
Am I scared? Yes, I am. I know what they are capable of, what they can do, but I think I am more scared for the people I care about. I know that they will do everything they can to get to me and that's scary. The people I care about will get hurt and I don't want that.
"I am scared, but I'm more scared for you and the others,"
"What do you mean?" confusion laced in his voice, "you shouldn't be scared for us Bella, don't worry about us, worry about yourself,"
"Bobby you don't understand, they're gonna do whatever they can to get me. They don't care who they hurt as long as they get me,"
"It doesn't matter what happens to us Bella, just-"
"If something were to happen to you or Ryder, Ace, Brian, Uncle Leo, even my Dad, I would never forgive myself because I could have prevented it,"
"We would rather get hurt then let them take you, can't you see that we care about you?"
"You barely know me, why do you care?"
"I care because you are like the sister I never had, yes I don't know a lot about you but you are the nicest person I have ever met. And I'll be damned if I let anyone hurt someone like you,"
"I don't want you to get hurt," I whispered playing with my fingers.
"I understand that Bella, but you need to understand that you're not alone in this anymore,"
I nodded he was right I wasn't alone anymore. I was glad I wasn't carrying something like this is a lot on me, but now I have others that care and want to help me, and that's more than I can ask for.
"So what's for dinner?" Bobby asked causing me to laugh.
"Pizza or Chinese?" I asked
"Surprise me," he said leaning back on the couch.
I got up and walked down the hall to my dad's office. When I got outside his door I heard him talking, "I don't care what it takes you find those bastards now," he said sternly. I've never heard my father use that tone before, it caused this unsettling feeling in my stomach.
I walked closer to the door, seeing how it was cracked I could see him standing at his desk. He all of a sudden slams his fist onto his desk causing me to flinch from the sound. My heart started to beat faster and anxiety started to grow in my chest.
I took a couple of deep breaths trying to calm my nerves and then I knocked on the door, "Dad?" I questioned hoping he heard me.
I heard him whisper something then he said to come in. I opened the door and saw him now sitting at his desk, "Is everything okay dad?" I asked cautiously.
He sent me a small smile and nodded, "yeah everything's okay honey, is everything alright?" he asked.
I nodded, "yeah I was just wondering if you wanted pizza or Chinese," I said softly.
"Chinese is good, do you remember my usual?" he asked and I nodded with a smile, "ill get double the meat on the stick stuff," I said with a chuckle as I walked out of the room.
I ordered our food and when it got here I delivered my dad his food in his office. Bobby and I ate in the living room while watching Castle. I love the show, I always wanted to be like Beckett but knowing the things I would have to go through just to be a cop sounds way past challenging to me.
After a while, I decided to take a shower in the guest bedroom and get ready for bed. I knew I wasn't sleeping in my room for a while. I was okay with that though, the couch was just as comfortable.
Bobby needed to leave around 9 because we had school tomorrow and his mom wanted him home. He had even informed me that he and the guys would be picking me up tomorrow for school. He had even talked to my dad about it he was a bit reluctant at first but then he gave in.
It was now 11:15 and I was laying on the couch watching tv. I knew I needed to get to bed because I have school tomorrow but I wasn't tired. My mind was racing with thoughts of Ryder. I haven't heard from him since he left last night, and I was getting worried. I know he was very angry and needed to cool down but it's been a full day since I've seen or heard from him.
"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?" I jolted awake at the sound of my father yelling. I quickly got up and walked into the kitchen only to see him punch Ryder across the face,
"Dad stop," I said quickly getting in between them hoping that would stop them from killing each other. I was only pulled behind Ryder in an instant with him pressing me into his back.
"Let go of my daughter you sick boy," my dad hissed out.
"Fuck no old man," Ryder hissed out. He was completely tense and alert ready to strike if he needed to. Every time I moved he would push me closer to his back to the point where I couldn't move at all.
"Ryder this is my dad, dad this is Ryder," I said, hoping that would make him relax but it didn't.
"Ryder it's okay, my Dad would never hurt me," I placed my palms flat against his back which caused him to relax. I was able to slip out of his hold from behind his back and stand between him and my dad. I gasped when I saw Ryders cut lip that was bleeding and his bruised cheek.
Did my dad do this?
I quickly grabbed an ice pack from my freezer and wrapped it in a towel and handed it to Ryder, "put it on your cheek," he did and then to a seat watching my father. I turned to my dad go see that he didn't even have a scratch on him.
"Dad, Ryder is Uncle Leo's nephew. He also has a key to the house and has been staying here whenever I was alone,"
My dad's eyes widened, "he's been sleeping here," I nodded, "just the two of you?" I nodded
He grew angry, "you let a boy stay here without my permission, are you trying to get kidnapped again?" he asked causing me to flinch. He has never used that tone with me and it freaked me out.
"Watch it old man," Ryder said between clenched teeth.
"Shut your mouth boy," he yelled at Ryder, I wrapped my arms around myself feeling unsafe. I have never seen this side of my dad and it was scaring me.
"What has gotten into Bella you never even had friends before, and this boy has no right staying here,"
I felt anger start to bubble up inside me. I didn't like the way he was talking to Ryder, "T-this boy has been there for me more than y-you have," I spoke shakily. The look my father was giving me looked like he was ready to kill, "he has c-calmed me down whenever my anxiety attacks startup, i-if anything y-you should be thanking h-him,"
My dad was shocked, probably for sticking up for not only myself but Ryder as well. My dad just stood there not knowing what to say. I couldn't look at him though I felt ashamed for talking back to my dad.
I heard my Dad sigh, "thank you," he said, causing me to look up at him surprised. He was looking at Ryder with slight pride in his eyes.
Ryder nodded, "of course sir," he said calmly.
"Bella do you mind heading up to my room for a bit, I would like to talk to Ryder," I nodded and turned to Ryder giving him a small smile he nodded and I headed upstairs into my Dads room. I crawled into his bed feeling tired. I wanted to stay up and find out what my Dad was talking to Ryder about but my eyes got too heavy and I ended up falling asleep.