Page 58 of Ghost Of You
As I speak, his face turns an alarming shade of red. He points a trembling finger at me and sneers. “You’re the reason I don’t have a relationship with my daughter!” he hisses, stepping closer. “You’re the reason I’ll never have a relationship with my daughter!” Another step. “You’re the reason I have no family anymore!” Another step, leaving him just inches from me.
He’s trying to intimidate me, but it’s not working. I’m not afraid of him. His attempts to make me grovel for his forgiveness are misplaced—he’s barking up the wrong tree.
“Step back and leave the premises,” Ethan commands, his voice firm. Brian’s gaze shifts to Ethan, his eyes filled with menace.
“I’d keep that mouth shut if I were you, pretty boy. It won’t be so pretty after I’m done with you,” Brian threatens.
Ethan lifts his chin, meeting Brian’s hostility with calm defiance. “Is that a threat?” he asks.
“No,” Brian hisses, “That’s a fucking promise.”
Ethan steps closer, unflinching. “Come and say that to my face. Let’s see what happens.”
Brian, not one to back down, strides past me and swings at Ethan. Ethan lands the first punch, and suddenly, it’s a full-blown brawl. They’re trading blows, and the room fills with chaos.
As much as I’d relish seeing Ethan teach Brian a lesson he desperately needs, I’m not keen on the idea of Ethan ending up in jail because of this drugged-up misfit. Brian’s got a knackfor stirring up trouble, and one day he’s going to mess with the wrong people. When that happens, he’ll either end up in the hospital or six feet under. And as harsh as it sounds, I wouldn’t mind if it were the latter. He’s a drain on society, a disgrace. He’s mistreated his wife, ignored his daughter, and exploited his drug-addicted girlfriend. He’s a waste of space.
I charge forwards and pull Ethan back as he struggles against me. “He’s not worth it,” I say, trying to reason with him. Ethan shakes off my grip and wipes blood from his lip, a smirk playing on his face.
“I got a few good hits in,” he chuckles, his tone light. “Next time, he won’t be so lucky.”
Brian glares at Ethan, spitting blood onto the floor. “Next time, you won’t be so lucky,” he snarls.
Ethan just laughs, finding Brian’s threat amusing. “We both know you’ll end up in the hospital.”
Maeve, who has been watching the scene unfold, finally speaks up. “I think it’s time you left,” she says, drawing Brian’s attention.
Brian’s eyes narrow as he smirks and licks his lips. “Well, aren’t you a pretty thing,” he leers.
Ethan moves to advance, but Toby grabs him by the back of his shirt, holding him back. “Leave it,” Toby advises.
Brian sneers at Ethan, “Sit down, little doggy, and listen to your master.”
I step forward, gesturing towards the door. “Leave and don’t come back. You’re not wanted here.”
Brian’s face twists with rage as he glares at me. “Keep your eyes open, Killian. You’re the reason I’ll never see my daughter again. You’re the reason she’s gone.”
“No, Brian,” I retort, “the reason she’s out of your life is because you’re a selfish man who treats women like garbage. You use them for their money to fuel your addictions and discardthem when they’re no longer useful. If I were you, I’d leave now before we call the police.”
Brian spits at my feet and shoots a final, contemptuous glance at us all before storming out and slamming the door behind him.
What the hell just happened?
Sweeping up the shards of glass, I carefully scoop them into the dustpan, wincing as I hear the crunching sound under the bristles. I dump the contents into the bin, only to look around our shop in dismay. The place is in disarray, a chaotic mess that will likely set us back several hundred pounds to repair and replace everything. The sight is disheartening, and it’s hard not to feel a sinking pit in my stomach as I contemplate the cost and the effort it’s going to take to get things back to normal.
My gaze shifts to Ethan, who is slumped on the sofa with Maeve working diligently to patch up his bruised face. Ethan’s eyes lock onto mine, and it feels as though I can almost see steam rising from his ears, so intense is his glare. Despite our recent confrontation with Brian and the brief argument that followed, Ethan has barely spoken to me. His silence speaks volumes, and it’s clear he’s not just frustrated but genuinely concerned. He thinks my persistent nightmares might be linked to the concussion I suffered just over a month ago and that I should see a specialist. But I’m convinced that’s not the issue. I believe that, in time, these nightmares will fade away on their own. It’s just a matter of waiting it out.
Maeve finishes up her work on Ethan and starts gathering the scattered debris and rubbish from the floor. With a nod of acknowledgement, she exits the room. Toby enters next, his expression a mix of exhaustion and frustration, and lets out aheavy sigh as he surveys the damage. "Alright," he says, rubbing his temples, "I think the best course of action right now is for us to head home, take a moment to unwind, and then come back tomorrow to tackle this mess." His voice carries a note of finality, suggesting that while we’ve hit a rough patch, there’s a clear path forward.
Ethan’s eyes, sharp and unyielding, finally shift away from me and land on Toby. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I don’t think we can do much now anyway,” he says, but there’s a noticeable edge in his voice.
Toby nods, but there’s a palpable unease in the air as he looks between us. “Alright then. I’ll start clearing up,” he says, moving to help with the debris.
As Toby begins tidying up, Ethan pushes himself off the sofa, clearly agitated. He walks over to me, his expression a mix of frustration and desperation. “Killian, we need to talk,” he says, his voice low but firm.
I glance at him, trying to read his mood, but my own frustration is starting to bubble over. “About what? The mess? The broken glass? Or is it the fact that you’re still convinced my nightmares are something serious?”
Ethan shakes his head, clearly struggling to keep his emotions in check. “No, it’s not just about that. It’s about everything. We’re running in circles, and I’m tired of it. I need you to come back to reality, Killian.”