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Chapter 3

Breaking free

Tobias' POV

I gulp down yet another beer, staring off into the brown bottle in my hand. I bite down on my lips. I glance around my living room with its bare white walls. My living room. A perk that my father calls it for agreeing to run one of the branches of his company. Although like everything else in my life, he didn't really leave me much choice in the matter. Reminding me of how easily he can make Tris and everyone else I left behind disappear.

I wonder what he would do the day that line won't work on me anymore. The one day that I would actually counteract him with "your bluffing father"… Perhaps dare him to go through with his disgusting threats. But then I think of the blood on my hands, the possibility of Tris' or Zeke's lifeless body somewhere unidentifiable…. I know I wouldn't have the heart to live with myself. But I can't imagine another ten years of this same shit. The same threats, the same prison of a life that I'm living.

Today I graduated from college at Harvard, no less. It should have been a cherished moment in my life... For a typical college student… I should be out partying, getting wasted with my college buddies or something. But instead I'm sitting here in a bare white and black living room that is now mine for the time being. Having no choice but to embark on a new career first thing in the morning, the day after graduation. Everything on his terms. It's my life, but I have to live it his way. Every second, every choice... All his. The other day I overheard him speaking to Amar on my options to marry. Odds are he will have his choices there as well. I wonder if he will tell me when I should sleep with my wife and impregnate her. As if those thoughts aren't enough… the thoughts of another innocent life for him to ruin and portray his lessons on, come to mind. I know I will kill him before I ever allow that to happen.

I made that decision long before I even began to date Tris back home, that kids are nonexistent for me. To even risk portraying what I went through as a child on someone I loved, especially my own blood, would be the end of me. I would be no better than Marcus. There isn't any greater fear than that. I would rather die before I let that happen to an innocent child. There were often sleepless nights when I would wake up in a pool of my own sweat, refusing to go back to sleep. The dreams felt so real and always ended the same. Tris' blood on my hands, her lifeless body on the floor before me, beaten to death, clearly by no other than me. Awake I knew something like that wasn't possible. No way in hell would I ever think about laying a hand on her, not even during our worst fights did I even think about doing that. I even trained myself to keep my hands digging deep in my pockets while an argument took place. Tris hated that, she always thought it was a careless move on my part, as if what she was passionate about didn't matter. I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth behind that action. Although I wanted to more often than not. I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth about what was happening to me at home. I just couldn't dare to think about that puppy dog look on her face if I ever told her the truth. So I lied, time and time again. Explaining the slashes on my back were from an accident of some sorts. I don't think she ever really believed me, but she never pushed me for a real explanation. She must have thought that if I really wanted her to know, then I would have told her. I always appreciated that about Tris. It's a skill that she obviously inherited from her mother and not her father. Although like her father, she is kind, smart and selfless… He doesn't at all portray the patient type like Tris' mother does. No. Tris' mother is more gentle and patient than anyone I have ever met. You can definitely see what traits Tris got from who very easily. You can also see the love they all carry for each other. Even when it comes to Caleb, Tris' brother, who gets far better than he deserved at times. Nothing like my family.

I, on the other hand, was hatched from my mother's womb and my father's seed. One thing for sure… My parents are a match made in hell. One ran from me, didn't care enough to look back, while the other beat me black and blue and used me as a pawn in his sick, twisted games.

My mother tried to reach out to me a few times over the past two years since that night I met with her. I happily declined each one, refusing to meet with her. Deciding to turn my back on her, just like she did to me so long ago. It's a choice I haven't regretted at all. I won't give her the satisfaction of forgiving her. No. Not the one person whose DNA should have been programmed to love me, to want to take care of me. Yet, she couldn't. She left me, knowing the monster she left me with. No. I could never forgive her.


Present day

"And so, to my only child Tobias Eaton, I leave my estate house in Chicago and my condo in New York, along with the family business to run as I would have. By no means can he sell or give the business away." Mr. Brooks reads off. I feel the pressure of Amar's hand on my shoulder. Although I know he is doing it for support. I hate to tell him; I don't need it. "I do wish that Amar Parkins continues on staff as he had been with the same pay as always. But I will leave this to my son's discretion to decide." Mr. Brooks pauses for a moment, glancing up from the legal document. I nod, of course I would have no problems with that. Amar has meant more to me than my father ever had. "Lastly, I would like the continuation of my donations monthly to continue upon my death. My lawyer Mr. Brooks has been advised to hold the rightful amount for these payments to continue for another eleven years." He finishes. My eyes crease together as confusion sets in. Eleven years? That's an odd time span.

"How much are we talking about?" I ask.

"It's already been dealt with Mr. Eaton-"

"Please call me Four. Mr. Eaton was my father," I spit out. I take the paper he is handing me, glancing through it. There isn't a named amount on it for these so-called donations. What is this?

"Excuse me, Four. Your father took care of those details many years ago. Set aside the money for it as well. This is just a formality to make sure the money is deposited every month as committed." Mr. Brooks explained.

"For eleven years?" I ask. What's the big secret? "Figures." I mutter under my breath. "Are there any other demands?" I ask, ready to get this meeting over and done with.

"Yes. His final wishes are to be buried in the family cemetery back in Chicago." Mr. Brooks finishes. What the fuck? Here I was having high hopes of burning the son of a bitch.

"Yes Sir, the arrangements for your travel have already been arranged. Your flight has been booked, we leave in the morning." Amar chimes in. When the fuck was he going to tell me this shit? "I'll arrive at seven tomorrow morning to fetch you and your belongings." What am I a dog?

"Jeez thanks. Couldn't you at least have warned me," I say, letting every ounce of my sarcastic tone show.

"I was prohibited from saying so, Sir." He says, nodding his head.

Sir. For fucks sakes, I'm not my father. That's another thing Amar and I will have to speak about later. I'm Four, not Mr. Eaton. If he chooses to continue on with me, he might want to remember that from now on and build a little trust. I won't have my father run my life from the fucking grave.

I pull down my tie, a little rougher than I probably need to, but the feeling of suffocation is overwhelming me. It's been a rough 36 hours. What started yesterday as a normal day, ended up with hours in the hospital waiting on the news of my father. Theresa, his secretary, said that she noticed he was a little off that morning. He was distracted and confused before going into a meeting. It wasn't long before she heard the screams from the clients, calling for help as he collapsed on the floor.

It was her that interrupted my own meeting to tell me that Marcus was being rushed to the hospital. I quickly finished up my own meeting, explaining the situation and hurried off with Amar in tow. It was hours before we finally heard anything. By then he was gone. The Doctors explained that they did everything they could, but the damage to his heart was just too severe.

I admit at that moment I didnt feel anything but relief. For the first time in my life I was free of him. Well actually both of my monstrous parents. No longer did I have to answer to either one of them. No longer needing to worry about whose blood or lives would be destroyed if I fucked up even once.

I fell onto my couch, leaning forward placing my elbows on my knees. I can't help but think of the next few days or even weeks. Chicago. Fuck. The thought of going back there. Even if there is no longer a threat.. Maybe I am a coward. Maybe everyone has forgotten about me, but I doubt it, especially when it comes to Tris. I think about the awful letter I had Amar send to her. Fuck, I was so cruel to her. For good reason though, because it worked.

I think of the last time I was in Chicago. The hell it was to leave like I did. For years Marcus has tormented me. Keeping me from everyone that I loved. I wouldn't blame them all if they did move on.

I stand from the couch, walking towards my closet in my bedroom. Reaching for the box on the top shelf. I carefully, as if it will burn me, place it on my bed. The layer of dust on it shows how long it has been since I last opened it. I shift through the pictures of my past, of the people I have always held close to me. Wondering what they are doing. If they have had a fulfilled life. I wonder if Zeke ever did go to college. If he ever got married. Did Uriah ever get the nerve to ask out marlene? Then I finally allow myself to look at a picture I haven't been able to bring myself to look at in years. It was the last picture of Tris and I, laughing in each other's arms. We were so happy and in love. No one ever knew. Not even Zeke. Pictures of us that no one ever saw but me and her.

I can't help but wonder if it could be too late.


A/N

Is it too late?

What are your thoughts?

Will Tobias ever know the truth about what he really left behind?

Revised by: FDFobsessed

Like always, happy reading everyone, PLEASE be safe in today's world and stay healthy,

Trini