The night you saved me

Veronica

There are certain conversations that a parent will have with their child over the course of their childhood. My dad and I had plenty of awkward and uncomfortable conversations that we now both laugh at.

But there was one talk that was serious. It was the first time I truly understood what my dad was involved in and how it would possibly, one day, end up dragging me into it. But Dad was determined to ensure that no matter what happened, I would be prepared.

But no number of conversations could ever have prepared me for what it felt like to stare down the barrel of a gun.

The man before me was tall. Dressed in black from head to toe, a pair of sunglasses over his eyes concealing his proper facial features from me. He had managed to slip into the house without making a sound, not even Backup had initially noticed him when he came in.

Backup stood just in front of me. Numerous deep growls rumbled from his chest as he eyed the man before us. I knew all it would take was one word and Backup would go for the throat, but the risk wouldn't pay off. Backup might hurt the guy but he would probably kill Backup in the process.

"Who are you?" I asked.

The man smirked. "You don't need to know."

"Then what do you want?"

Backup growled again.

The man's eyes flickered between me and Backup. He gestured with his gun behind me. "Put the dog outside."

I hesitated to move. I didn't want Backup hurt, but that would leave me completely alone with this guy.

"Or I can shoot it!" snapped the guy.

"Okay, okay." I took Backup by his collar. "Backup, chill."

Backup's growls ceased but his body was still tense as I tugged at his collar and pulled him to the back door. As I slid it open, I could feel Backup resistance. He didn't want to leave me.

"Hurry up," the guy snapped.

I pushed my hand against Backup's butt and got him through the door before closing it. Backup jumped at the glass, barking as his claws slid down the glass. I turned back to my captor. "What do you want?" I asked.

"Your father has been causing me a lot of trouble in the last few months."

Dad had been worried about me staying in New York and this guy was why. Dad had decided it was safer for me to be where no one would think to look, expect it seemed they did look. If this guy had enough connections to find out who my dad really was he could dig and find out who my mother was and where she was. It wasn't unreasonable to think a teenager would be shipped off to see the other parents during the holidays. But maybe Dad had anticipated that this guy would find me here. Maybe he just needed to slow him down.

"I don't know what you are talking about," I said.

"Sure you do. Even if you don't know the specific details, you know your dad isn't just a normal guy. He's like that character in that Liam Neeson film. You know, he's got a very particular set of skills." He laughed. "But those skills have been making a mess of my operation."

"What does any of this have to do with me?"

"Have you ever seen an action movie? The proposed good guy tries to stop the bad guy, and so the bad guy gets back at him by going after his family."

"What makes you think my dad gives two shits about me? He shipped me off to this fucking shit hole of a town because he wanted me out of his hair."

He narrowed his eyes for a moment before he smiled. "You are quite good at lying. Did he teach you to do that?"

I crossed my arms over my chest. This guy seemed to be content to chat, but how long until he got bored. And was he really here to kill me or was he just looking for my dad? I had no idea if anyone would show up. I wanted to believe that Dad had anticipated this and would come busting through the door at any moment, but I couldn't rely on that. I was going to have to find a way out of this myself.

"I can see that brain of yours churning. Trying to consider what you can do to get out of this. And the truth is, nothing. You can try and run, but I'll just shoot you. You can try and attack me, but I'll just shoot you." He took a step forward. "So how about we make this easy?" Another step. "You tell me how to get your father here, and I'll let you live long enough to say your goodbyes." Another step.

The gun was only a few inches from my chest, and so I took my chance. I couldn't wait around. I wasn't going to just surrender. I used my hand to knock the gun to the side and used my hands to grab at the guys arm and twist. He cried out and the gun slipped from his fingers and hit the ground. I considered reaching for the gun, I could grab it and have a hand up, but I barely had a chance to think about it before the man other hand grabbed one of my arms and bent it around. A sharp burn burst up my arm as I felt a foot hit the back of my knee. My leg gave way and I fell to my knees.

He released my hair and picked up his gun. "You stupid bitch."

I pulled my burning arm to my chest and tried to use my other arm to stand, but the guy grabbed me by my hair. He yanked my hair back, forcing me to look up at him.

"I was going to be nice."

He yanked harder, pulling my whole body back and onto the ground. I cried out as my back his the ground.

"Why don't we have some fun?" he asked.

He stepped over me and dropped to his knees. He was straddling my chest. He was heavy and it forced the air from lungs. I felt a wave of panic fill me as he grabbed my chin in one hand. I used my hands to whack at him. I grasped at his hand, tugging and scratching to try and get him to let me go but he just laughed.

"Shhhh," he hushed me. "Enough of that." He tightened his grip on my chin, enough to make my jaw ache. He lowered his face so we were eye to eye. "You are quite lovely. I would enjoy seeing the rest of you."

I sneered at him.

"I have no doubt you're quiet feisty in the sheets."

"Fuck! You!" I said before spitting in his face.

My glob of spit stuck to his cheek. The smile of his face evaporated and a dark fury took over. His nails suck into my chin making me gasp. He used the back of his other hand to wipe away the spit before he suddenly released my chin. He suddenly grabbed the front of my shirt and yanked my up before slamming me back onto the ground, forcing my head to smack against the floor.

The room around me flickered. My vision faulted for a few moments before it started to spin. A painful throbbing sensation expanded from the back of my head.

"I was just going to play with you," the man sneered from above. One of his hands grasped the top of my throat, holding me still as he placed the gun to my cheek. "Indulge in a few pleasures before I snuffed out your useless life."

I groaned and tried to blink. The room around me was moving to quickly making my stomach turn.

The man pressed his lips to my cheek. "But I think I'll enjoy cutting you after once your dead and then leaving pieces of you for your father to find."

I squinted my eyes to try and focus on him. My whole body was screaming at me in pain, my head most of all, but I couldn't give up.

He raised his head slightly and pressed the gun to the side of my head. "Any last words?"

I didn't speak. I just found what strength I could and threw my head forward. My forehead connected with the guys nose, making a loud crack upon impact. The guy cried out in pain, and probably shock, and sat up. A wet drop hit my cheek and as I blinked slowly, my vision going in and out, I saw blood now running down the guys mouth from his nose.

"Fucking cunt!" He ripped off his glasses and threw them to the side along with his gun. Both of his hands wrapped around my throat and squeezed.

I gasped as panic exploded from every part of me. I lifted my arm to grasp at his arms. I tried to pull them away from my throat but I didn't have the strength. My vision flickered. The images before me, the man's face stared to blur as a cloud of black started to creep in from either side. I clawed at his skin, my nails finding purchase along his wrist but he didn't waver.

I tried to push up my lower body, I tried to kick my legs but I couldn't seem to get my body to react enough to get him off of me. I gasped as the man's fury softened and a satisfied smirk filled his face. The last thing I was going to see was him.

But no, it couldn't end like this. Logan. Logan was coming. But not to the house, I told him to meet me on the beach. He wouldn't know what was happening. Regret overwhelmed me as I realised all he would think was that I decided I didn't want to see him. He would think I didn't care and that I didn't…no…I didn't—did I? He would think I didn't love him. But I did. I loved him. And I'd never get to tell him.

Logan

The late afternoon air was cool as I sat on the beach. The water was mostly quiet, not good weather for surfing but the perfect evening to sit in the sand and work everything out.

Veronica had agreed to meet me. After days of silence, she'd finally responded. I was a bit surprised that she wasn't already on the sand when I'd arrived. I told her I wouldn't be more than 15 minutes, and I'd already been on the way. I had jumped straight in my car after leaving her the message, debating as I drove if I would just show up at her house and talk to her directly. I had even passed Casey on the way in past the check-in point; I don't know if he noticed me, but I didn't care. I'd parked at the end of Veronica's drive and used the lane between her house and to neighbors to get down onto the beach.

I had wondered why the beach and not her house. Maybe she was nervous and wanted a public place where she could leave if she needed too. Hell, I was terrified to have to see her. But it was good—that is what I was telling myself. I was doing what she had been telling me from the start, working out what I really wanted. And I felt confident that Veronica was it. She was what I wanted.

I played with the sand, picking it up and letting it fall between my fingers as I waited. I checked my phone more than once as the minutes went by but there was no sign of her. The longer she took, the more my head started to scream at me. Reason after reason as to why she wasn't coming spilled out and my chest started to contract. I tried to shake off the thoughts, she was coming. It was her idea.

But maybe she wasn't ready. I was ready to see her, to talk, to be honest. But maybe Veronica needed more time. I pushed myself to stand. I had barely given her ten minutes and I didn't want to rush her. Maybe she'd known I was already outside and it had freaked her out.

I really wasn't sure.

A familiar bark made my body relax. She's coming. I turned, expecting to see Veronica walking towards me, Backup running ahead of her. But I didn't. I saw a man, kneeling in the sand with Backup. I frowned. I'd never seen the guy before. Backup barked at the guy before him and tugged away.

The man was holding him by the collar. "Hey, calm down boy," said the guy.

"Backup!" I called.

Backup turned to see me and moved towards me. The guy lost grip of his collar and laughed as he slumped in the sand. He said, "He yours?"

I frowned. "No, he's a friends." Backup jumped up at me. "Hi, boy. Where's Veronica?" I asked him.

Backup barked and turned towards the house.

"He was just on the beach. He started barking at me when I got closer," said the guy.

"Thanks, I'll take him back."

The guy nodded. "No problem."

I turned to see Backup waiting. He barked again and moved further up the beach. "I'm coming, boy." I said as we reached the back fence.

The gate was closed, locked in fact. But what I could see was a broken piece of fence and a hole. Backup had broken out of the yard.

"What did you do that for?"

Backup whined in response.

I reached over to flip the lock and Backup barreled through the open gate barking. I looked up the steps that led to the back deck. Veronica wouldn't be able to avoid anything now. I felt a sense of dread. What if she had in fact changed her mind and didn't want to see me? Would she be angry to see that I'd let myself in? But I had to get Backup back home.

I sighed and started climbing the steps. As I got higher, I got hear Backup still barking but he was also banging against the door. I frowned as I watched him jump up on the door. "Backup," I called, trying to get him to stop but he ignored me. I moved faster towards me and grabbed at his collar only to freeze.

My eyes widened as I took in the site before me. There was a man sitting on top of Veronica and his hands were around her neck—I threw the door open and rushed inside. Veronica's desperate gasp for breath caught my ear as I barreled towards the guy on top of her and shoved him. I caught him by enough surprise that he flew sideways.

I looked down at Veronica and she was still. Her eyes barely open but she didn't seem to realise I was there. I went to kneel down to check on her but a force hit me. I stumbled sideways, but managed to catch myself and turn to grapple the guy. He wrapped his arms around my waist and tried to push me off my feet. I lifted my arm and sent down my elbow, hitting him in the back. He groaned but pulled himself up and brought his fist with him. His knuckles hit my cheek, knocking me back. The first punch was followed quickly by a second to my stomach. I grunted and threw my own punch. It hit the guy in the chin, throwing his head back and making him stumble. I threw another, this one he caught. He twisted my arm, bending it behind my back before he kicked me in the back. I flew forward and onto the ground. I pushed myself quickly up, knowing I would have no hope if I was stuck on the ground. I turned back and stopped.

The man smirked as he held up his gun. "You look familiar," he said.

"I get that."

He turned his head. "You were the guy she was fucking." He laughed. "You know the slut had another bloke here earlier. They were getting real comfortable."

I sneered. Just how far did Casey get.

"It's a shame that I had to kill her. She was a fine ass."

I glanced over at Veronica. Backup was standing over her, licking her face.

"Anyway, now that you've caught me. I'm gonna have to kill you too."

"Not if I kill you first."

He laughed. "Come on tough guy, what are you going to do?"

I had no idea. But I needed to get to Veronica, she needed help.

"That's what I thought." The guy lifted his hand higher and moved his finger over the trigger.

I looked away from him and towards Veronica. Not because I was scared, but because I wanted her to be the last thing I saw.

Bang!

The shot rang in my ears. But I felt nothing. I frowned and looked down at my chest, I was fine. No blood. I looked up at the guy. The smile gone from his face, now he looked…blank. A hole had appeared through his head and after a moment a trail of blood started to drip down before his body fell forward.

I looked up from the now dead guy and saw another man. This one older, dressed in a nice suit. He wasn't overly tall, a little rounder in the middle, and he looked pissed. He glanced me up and down before turning and rushing over to Veronica. He knelt down beside her and pressed his fingers to her throat.

"She's breathing," he muttered and pulled out his phone. "Alpha, units required at my current location. One dead, two injured." He put the phone away and placed his hands on either side of Veronica's face. "Wake up, pumpkin."

I frowned. I remembered I could move and made my way across the room. I stepped around the now dead attacker. "Who are you?" I asked.

The man looked up. "Veronica's father. Who are you?"

My eyes widened. Veronica's father just killed a guy and didn't blink.

"Dad?" Veronica groaned.

I dropped down beside her as she started to shift.

"Yeah, I'm here, sweetheart."

Veronica blinked a few times and smiled softly. "Did you get the fucker?" Her words were hoarse.

Veronica's father nodded. "With help from your friend."

She slowly turned to look at me. "Logan."

I nodded and reached for one of her hands. Her nails were covered in blood. "I'm here." And I wasn't going anywhere.

Veronica

I could feel a dull ache radiating over my whole body. It was mixed with that heavy sensation of grogginess that you feel when you wake up from a nap that was a little too long. My eyes were heavy and I found it difficult to open my eyes. I shifted my head on the pillow it was pressed against and a dull throb rippled from the back of my skull, making me wince at the pain.

"Hey, careful," a familiar voice reached my ears, followed by a warm hand touching my shoulder.

I pushed my eyes to open and blinked as the bright lights of the room I was in blinded me for a moment. The room came into focus and my dad's familiar face was staring straight at me. A sad smile graced his lips as he waited.

"Dad?" I croaked out. My voice was hoarse and the single syllable hurt.

He nodded. "Hey, pumpkin. How do you feel?"

"Sore," I groaned.

"I'm not surprised."

I stuck out my tongue to run along my lips, feeling that they were dry and cracked. "Water?" I asked.

Dad nodded and produced a paper cup with a straw. He placed his hand gently behind the base of my neck and helped me lift myself enough to take small sips from the straw. Once he had settled me back down, I noticed the slouching figure behind him. I angled my head back to see around him and recognised Logan.

"Poor kid is exhausted," said Dad. "Has spent the last two nights in that chair."

Logan had a dark bruise forming on one of his cheeks, and one of his hands were bandaged. He looked how I felt. But how did he get so injured.

"What—h—happ—ened—to Log—an?" I asked.

Dad glanced at him. "He saved your life."

I frowned. "How?"

The last thing I could remember was staring at my attackers face. His hands wrapped around my neck as the world started to fade. I vaguely remember something wet on my face and then hearing Dad say my name, but not much else.

"Logan told me he was planning to meet you on the beach outside the house. He said he heard Backup barking and turned to see him on the beach with a stranger. Turns out that Backup broke out of the backyard. Logan brought him back to the house and saw you being strangled. He charged the guy, shoved him off you. He got in a few good strikes but the asshole got him right back," Dad explained.

"The guy?"

"Dead. Shot him myself."

I closed my eyes and sighed with relief.

"I'm so sorry I didn't get there sooner."

I snapped my eyes opened and shook my head, ignoring the growing ache from movement. "No, it isn't your fault."

Dad grasped my hand in his. "My job put you in danger, something I swore would never happen."

"Dad, I understand—the—dangers of your job."

"You might, but that doesn't mean you should ever have to face them."

"How did he even find me?" I asked.

Dad's face darkened. "Bribery, that's all I can say. But I can assure you the person has been dealt with." He squeezed my hand and the anger on his face disappeared. "So, Logan?"

I looked at him, confused.

"Just a friend?" He raised one eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes and narrowed my eyes as I smiled at him. "He's—so much—more."

Dad smiled. "He seems like a good kid. He gets brownie points for almost taking a bullet for you."

I turned to look at Logan. He looked so peaceful as he slept in the chair in the corner. I could imagine his neck would not forgive him for the awkward angle, but I felt happy knowing he had stayed and not left. There was so much that we needed to talk about, so much I wanted to say to him, but for now that could wait.

The door to my room opened and a doctor walked in. She was short, with brown hair that was braided into a bun. She smiled at me over a pair of yellow glasses.

"Miss Mars, how nice to see you awake. My name is Doctor Jameson. How are you feeling?" she asked.

I nodded slowly. "Okay. My head—aches. Throat—hurts."

"That is to be expected. You have some soft tissue damage from the attack around your throat. So you are going to have some severe bruises and swelling. The swelling will go down in a few days, the bruises might take awhile longer. The soft tissue damage is also the reason why your voice is so hoarse, it will be difficult for you to talk properly or for long periods of time for a few days, so try to keep the words to a minimum."

"That will be a challenge for you," said Dad.

I frowned at him, wanting so much to reach over and smack him. "Be nice," I croaked.

Doctor Jameson smiled, but continued. "As for your head, you were incredibly lucky. You do have a number of stitches but your skull, while bruised, has no fractures and there is no swelling either. Your throat definitely got the worst of it."

"How long will she need to stay?" asked Dad.

"I'd like her to stay for a few days, just to ensure there isn't delayed effects. Also just want to ensure that the restriction of oxygen she suffered hasn't resulted in any damage to her brain. We will run a series of test just to ensure her motor functions and memory are still all in tacked."

Sounded like fun, not. The only plus side would be Dad would hang around, at least, I hoped he would.

"I'll leave you to get some rest. I will check on you later," said Doctor Jameson.

"Thank you, Doctor," said Dad.

I gave her a soft smile.

She nodded politely before stepping out.

"So, how about ice cream?" asked Dad.

Logan

Veronica was okay. Injured, but alive. We both were.

After Keith's last minute save, we had all traveled to the hospital. I'd gone in the ambulance with Veronica while Keith stayed to have things 'cleaned up'. I hadn't argued, just did as instructed. When we'd arrived at the hospital, Veronica and I were separated.

I tried to protest, but was man-handled by a surprisingly strong female nurse onto a bed so she could check me over. I was lucky; bruises mostly. My knuckles were a bit busted up from punching the guy and I had a cut to the side of my brow, but otherwise I was fine.

Veronica had it a lot worse. I was forced to wait forty minutes until Keith arrived and we were taken to see her. She looked so small and fragile in the hospital bed. They had inserted a ventilator to ensure she could breath as they had no idea how bad her swelling would be, or what other damage had been done to her throat. They took it out the next day as she could breathe on her own, but the bruises that had formed around her throat were horrible. Veronica's doctor had assured both Keith and I that the bruises made it appear worse than it was, that it would take sometime, but the bruising would fade and she would be fine.

But even with the assurances that she would be fine, and with Keith around, I couldn't bring myself to leave. Not even to sleep. My mum had dropped off a change of clothes, for myself, as well as for Veronica. Meg had helped my mum get together the things Veronica would need, staying for a short visit before leaving. There was no need for everyone to hang around at first because she was asleep, it was just Keith and I, talking turns sitting beside her and then going for a walk to stretch our legs.

Until finally, she woke up.

I only realised she had woken up, when I was woken up by a pillow hitting me in the face. I was startled from my sleep and almost slid from the chair I was in. I snapped my head up to see Veronica sitting up in her bed. She was looking at me with an amused smirk on her face.

"Wakey—wakey," she croaked out.

I shook the sleep from my head and stood. After a moment, my head caught up with the situation and my eyes widened. "You're awake. How do you feel?" I walked over to stand beside her.

She smiled at me. "I'm okay." Her hand stretched out and she took my hand. Our fingers locked together. "Thanks—to—you."

I lifted our joined hands up and press a kiss to her knuckles. I ran my thumb over them. She tugged at our hands and shifted in her bed. She pulled until I sat beside her on the bed. I lifted my arm to place it behind her head and she leant into my chest.

I felt my whole body relax against hers. Having Veronica in my arms just calmed that voice that had been panicking since the moment I saw that man on top of her. She was here, she was safe, and she would heal.

"We need—to talk," she said.

I nodded. "And we will. But it can wait until you are feeling better and are out of here."

"Okay."

Veronica ended up dozing off against my chest. I adjusted my position, kicking off my shoes and laid stretched out beside her on the bed. She rested against my chest, her head beneath my chin. I stared contently out the window as I felt her steady breaths against my throat.

Keith made a reappearance around thirty minutes later. I was feeling somewhat sleepy until the door opened and he stepped in.

He said, "That is probably much better for your back."

I smiled. "Definitely."

Sharing the room with Keith while we waited on Veronica to wake up, we had somewhat talked but not about anything in particular. He'd asked a few questions about how I'd met Veronica and what we had been doing over the summer, but he didn't press anything.

"How long has she been asleep?" he asked.

"Thirty minutes."

He nodded. "The doctor stopped by while you were asleep. She will need to stay for a few more days."

"Maybe they'll bring in a bed if I ask," I said.

"I think maybe you should go home for the night."

I frowned. "No—"

"Logan, she is going to be fine. I will be here."

"I want to stay."

"I know. But we need to take care of ourselves. She won't forgive you if you stop taking care of yourself because you are too busy worrying over her. You don't need to leave now. But tonight, go home. Have a shower. See your mum."

I sighed. I didn't want to leave her. "Okay, fine. But I'll be back first thing in the morning."

Keith smiled. "Good. Now, I believe there is another conversation we need to have about my daughter."

Now, father's don't normally scare me. But Keith Mars was on another level. The man had shot another guy point blank and didn't flinch. I had no idea what the man did, but he was well armed and well trained, and somehow, if I did find myself on the other end of his gun, I had no doubt my body wouldn't be found after he was done with me.

"Dad, lay off." Veronica shifted against my chest.

I glanced down as she moved her head.

"What?" asked Keith. "As a father, I have a right to ask what this man's intentions are towards you."

Veronica rolled her eyes. "Leave him alone."

Keith squinted his eyes at me. "Just wait till she isn't here to protect you."

I swallowed, knowing that the smile didn't mean he wouldn't hurt me. "Yes, sir."

Veronica sighed. "Logan, don't let him bully you. It's an act. He's a marshmallow."

I frowned. "You have an interesting definition of a marshmallow."

Keith chuckled and moved to sit down in the chair I'd previously slept in. "She's the marshmallow. Acts all tough, but really she's a big old sap. Has she baked you any snickerdoddles yet to apologise?"

Veronica baked?

"Don't give away my trade secrets!" she grumbled.

Keith shrugged. "I can give away trade secrets or I can interrogate Logan. You choose."

Veronica turned her head into my chest, one of her hands gripped my shirt. And muffled, she said, "Neither."

I chuckled and rubbed my hand against Veronica's back. I felt the ties of her hospital gown and it reminded me that she was naked beneath it.

"Hands, Logan," called Keith.

My hand stopped.

"Dad, seriously!" Veronica's voice cracked as she lifted her head.

"How about you change?" I suggested. "Mum and Meg dropped off some stuff. Some PJ's were included."

"That sounds like a great idea."

"Let me call a nurse," said Keith, "to see if you can shower." He stood and walked back out of the room.

Veronica lifted herself up and she looked at me. She smiled and reached out to touch my cheek. "Quick, while he's gone."

I looked at her confused.

She smirked and shifted her hand to cup the back of my head. "Kiss me, stupid."

It was around six o'clock when I was promptly kicked out of Veronica's room by both Veronica and Keith. Veronica had sent me away with a sweet kiss and my promise that I wouldn't come back until after eight the next day.

I was conflicted as I walked out of the hospital and climbed into the taxi that the hospital staff had kindly ordered for me. All I wanted to do was march back up to her room and not leave her side. I felt this horrible doubt in my stomach that kept trying to tell me that she wouldn't be safe if I wasn't there. But Veronica wasn't alone. Keith wasn't going anywhere and she was checked on regularly by the nurses and her doctor. I kept telling myself over and over that she would be fine all the way home.

When I did arrive home, I hesitated as I climbed out of the taxi. In the driveway was my father's car. He was back early. He was the last thing I wanted to deal with. As I paid the taxi driver, the front door swung open. Thankfully, it was my mum.

"Logan, sweetheart. How are you feeling?" Mum pulled me into a hug.

I leant in her arms and closed my eyes, enjoy the comfort. "I'm okay. I've had worse."

Mum pulled back and cupped my cheeks. "And Veronica?"

"Her injuries aren't as bad as they thought. She's been lucky. But she was awake and her normal self."

Mum smiled. "Oh, I'm glad. I've organised some flowers for her room. She needs something to brighten up such a morbid place."

"I'm sure she'll love them."

"Logan."

I turned from Mum to see my father standing in the door frame.

"Hey, Pops. Your home early." He was supposed to be gone all summer.

My father grinned, but it wasn't a genuine smile. It didn't reflect in his eyes. All I could see in them was annoyance. "Well, it seems someone leaked details on your activities to the press." He pulled out a tabloid from behind his back. "Aaron Echolls son spotted bruised and battered after brawl with unknown assailant."

The image on the tabloid was a terrible picture from the other afternoon. It was me following Veronica out of the ambulance and into the hospital. I had blood running down the side of my face from a cut on my brow.

"My assistant showed me this while we were on set. I was about to film an extremely important scene and I was faced with this." He shook the tabloid towards me. "Do you have any idea what this looks like?"

"Like I protected my friend from being killed?" The words came out before I could stop them. I knew better than to try and provide an explanation for anything. There was no reasoning with him.

The tabloid flew towards me. I moved my head just in time and it sailed past me onto the ground.

"Don't smart mouth me," he sneered. "I had to halt production and come home to see you. Because what kind of father ignores the fact that his son was hospitalised after a fight. Do you have any idea how bad it makes me look halting the whole production because you had to play knight in shining armor?"

"I wasn't trying to cause any trouble for you. But I wasn't going to let Veronica die."

He let out a sigh. "Oh, yes. Veronica. Your mother was just telling me all about this wonderful girl."

I glanced at Mum, she looked uncomfortable and worried.

"Lilly not enough for you?" My father mocked. "Needed another slut to waste your time with."

"Don't talk about Veronica that way!" I snapped. I had always hated my father, but hearing him talk about Veronica in such a way just made me hate him that much more.

"Why not? All these girls don't care about you. They see who your family is and just want the chance to get close. They hope by latching on the Echolls name that they will get something out of it."

"Veronica couldn't care less about the Echolls name. In fact, she thinks your a terrible actor."

Mum's hands wrapped around my arm. She pulled me back, away from my father. I hadn't even noticed that we had closed the distance between us. "Enough!" she declared. She stood between me and my father, as he reached towards me, surprising both of us. She never did anything to interfere. "You both have said enough." She glared at my father. "Aaron, go inside, please."

My father glared at me. I waited, knowing he wouldn't listen. He never did. My mother was a piece of his persona. He didn't actually care about her, or about me. I shifted my foot, ready for him to charge at me. I would need to move Mum out of his way to ensure any blow was directed at me and not her. I narrowed my eyes as his stiff posture relaxed. He sneered but turned and walked back inside.

I stood there, shocked. He had actually listened.

"Wow," whispered Mum.

"That's a first," I mumbled.

Mum turned. Her hand shaking as she placed it on my arm. "That it was."

I placed my own hand over hers. She had found courage to stand up for me. And while I'd never hated my father more, I'd never loved my mum as much as I did in that moment.

"Thank you."

She smiled. "I should have done that a long time ago."

"I shouldn't have pushed him. I know better."

She shook her head. "No. He is being ridiculous. The movie hasn't even halted. He finished his scene and they have just changed some things around."

"How long will he be here for?"

"Just a few days. Enough to make it appear that he has spent enough time with you."

I sighed. Just a few days. Just avoid him for a few days. I could do it.