Samuel

Socio

Blood is thicker than water. Misery was not as viscous as guilt, but then again it took more away from me…my family and sanity.

All I know is that you will not speak to me or my daughters in that way ever again, Judy's voice echoed in my tormented head.

The shattering of a heart when being broken is the noisiest silence ever.

They are my daughters too. My flesh. My blood.

They looked at me with envy, so much hate that it suffocated my soul.

I didn't blame them though. My heart was blacker than Harlem night. I pushed everyone away. I started drinking a lot. I started cheating on my wife. I became a visitor in my own home.

Alcohol seemed to solve my problems. It helped me forget. I soaked up the drink and it, in return, absorbed me.

I found love in the arms of a man. His name is Chase. I feel like a deserter, a hypocrite, a fake. But I am a hypocrite with the greatest purposes, and I need love dreadfully. I understood that I was a cheater. I am a deserter that is drawn to pursuit the illusory of what could be… as a substitute of bravely tackling my own self-destructive behavior and fostering what is.

In a way I was glad that Judy had struck out at me once more. I had overlooked her pain for too long, and this was the only kind of remuneration I could provide her.

My daughters.

My wife looked at me with disgust. She turned my daughters against me. Gave her everything that I loved. If only it were imaginable to love deprived of damage loyalty is not enough: I had been loyal to Judy and yet I had injured her. She blamed me for what happened to Clara.

I will always love Judy forever, but I cannot love her now.

I cannot love someone who turned my daughters against me. She belittled me.

I was supposed to be their protector. And now my daughter would never walk again. I am not bitter, I am not hateful, and I am not unforgiving. I just don't like who I've become.

Love hurts when it changes us.

I swore I would do whatever it took to protect my blood. Even if I had to make a deal with the devil himself, I had to protect my daughters. I made a mistake of not doing that before.

If Lacey found out what I've done, she would hate me more than ever.

I did for her. She would understand…


After storming out of my house this morning, I had to make a quick stop; the Desai mansion. I wasn't exactly proud of what I've done but it was for Lacey. It was to keep my little girl safe.

As I parked my car in front the huge mansion I saw Karen Desai outside watering her plants. I got out of my black Mercedes and walked nervously walked over to greet her.

"Hello Karen, how are this fine day," I say.

"Hi Samuel!" Karens shrieks as she gives me a big hug. I embraced her small frame as her blonde hair tickled my face. "Where have you been?" she asks.

"I've been busy with work, you know."

"Oh wow, I tried calling you to apologize for what happened to Clara."

"Thank you that means a lot," I lie. I looked away from her pitiful face. Knowing Karen she probably already talked to Judy and she's blaming me too; blaming me for paralyzing Judy's daughter.

"I got my baby back!"

I snapped my neck as I focused on her. "What do you mean you got your baby back," I ask skeptically.

"Oh you didn't hear? Danny is back, my son is home. Samuel it been-"

"Danny is back?" I interrupt her.

"Yes he came home a couple of days ago, he was-"

I run off into the Desai leaving Karen shocked and confused about my behavior. I made my way upstairs to the office. I stormed in almost knocking over the door.

"Well hello Samuel," Vikram says smoothly as he smirks at me. If I could get away with murder I would kill him like I had nothing to lose.

"What the fuck is Danny doing back Vikram!" I scream.

"Ah yes my son is back," Vikram smiles.

"We had an agreement Vikram; you were supposed to send away for two years...away from my daughter!"

"Ah I did promise that didn't I." Vikram laughs.

"I paid you ten fucking million dollars!" I screamed. He was ruining everything. Lacey wasn't supposed to see that boy before she went off to college.

My daughters.

Vikram laughs out loud. "Well you see Samuel, the ten millions ran out. I thought it was only fair I got my son back."

"You said it was for two years! He was supposed to be in boot camp." I ball up my fist.

"I lied," Vikram smirks. "I mean Samuel you got what you wanted."

"What is that?" I ask.

"According to a little birdie, they are no longer engaged. She gave him back the ring," Vikram holds his hand over his nonexistent heart.

"Are you sure?" I start calming down.

"Yes, this little birdie is a bit faithful…she/he wouldn't lie to me."

"Who is this little birdie?"

"It was nice doing business with you Samuel," Vikram smiles avoiding question. "But if you shall ever have the decency to disrespect me in my face again; I promise you will go missing."

I swallow hard. "Tell your son to stay the hell away from my daughter!"

Vikram gets up from his chair. Seconds later, he has a knife at throat. He starts laughing, taunting me. "No one would miss you, when they find out what you have done Samuel. Lacey would never forgive you for separating her and Danny," Vikram laughs. "Clara already hates you for paralyzing her," Vikram laughs harder. And Judy would never forgive the man that paralyzes her daughter, damaged the other daughter, and on top of that she find out that her loyal husband was fucking around with her daughter's caretaker," Vikram hoots.

He read me like an open book. How did he know about Chase?

Vikram releases me and I fall on the ground. He crouches on the floor next to me.

"Now, now Samuel stop being dramatic I didn't hurt you…yet," Vikram chuckles. "Now tell me nicely for Danny to stay away from your precious daughter."

"Go to hell! I scream." Pride overtook me.

Vikram stands up and he kicks me with his heavy boots repeatedly while I am on the floor screaming in pain. "I don't want to do this Samuel; after all we are business partners."

I grasp for air and I hold on to my side. The pain was too much to bear.

"No one would miss you, when they find out what you have done Samuel. Vikram words ring in my head.

It was not time for pride. "Please tell Danny to stay away from Lacey," I clenched my teeth.

"Much better," Vikram snorts. "I don't work for free."

"How much will it cost?"

"Five million."

"I don't have that kind of money right now."

"Well, that's not really my problem is it?"

"No." I whisper. "But I will get the money." I knew Judy saved a lot of money in the Lacey and Clara's college fund. I just had to get from there.

"Good. Tomorrow it expires and it goes up to ten million. Now get out my office Samuel, I have a few phone calls to make."

I get up from the floor.

"Wait," Vikram says. "My son has done nothing wrong to you or your daughter, why are you trying to keep them apart?"

I swallow hard. "Danny might become like you, a sociopath."

Vikram smirks. "Are you sure I'm the sociopath Samuel," he chuckles.

"It's not like you want your son to be with Lacey anyways, I fire back.

Vikram walks over to his seat. "I have nothing against your daughter, in fact I love Lacey. She's perfect for my son. But just like you are in debt to me, I am in debt with someone else, now get of my office."

As I made my way to my car, I heard Karen calling after me. I pretended as though I didn't hear her. I got in my car and drove away quickly.


After knocking on Chase's door, I replayed the events that occurred in Vikram Desai's office earlier. My ribs still ached.

"Hey Sam-," Chase said as he opened the door.

I pushed him inside the house. I brought his mouth towards mine. He pushed me backward, lifting me so that I sat at the table.

No one would miss you, when they find out what you have done Samuel.


I don't know if you noticed from chapter one when I mentioned that Samuel insisted that it was Chase who was Clara's care taker...I don't know if guys remember that small little detail. What do you guys think of Samuel? What do you think will happen when Lacey finds out that it was her father that caused Danny to be sent off to boot camp? Any thoughts on Vikram? It was fun writing his character because he is a very charming character. Who do you are the people working with Vikram? Trust no one. Thank you for reading. Please Review.