TABOO: THE COMPLETE SERIES(5)

“Really? Because for the past few years all you’ve done is lie! You’re so much like Dad sometimes.”

Anger raged inside me at the idea of being compared to a sleazy man like my father. “Hey, I’m nothing like Dad! You don’t have a clue what you’re even talking about.”

“Jake that’s not what I meant.”

I wanted to say something but I couldn’t. I just wanted to leave this room. I wanted to leave this fucking world.

“Jake?”

“I’m okay.”

“See that’s exactly what I’m talking about. You’re not okay! You haven’t been for a while, Jake. But whatever it is you’re going through, you pretend like it doesn’t exist.”

“What do you want from me?”

This time Colton came toward me and sat next to me on the bed. “I’m not stupid.”

“I know that.”

“I know Dad makes you do stuff…”

This time I almost jumped up and rushed to the window because I felt like I was running out of oxygen. I wanted Colton to stop talking, but instead he kept going. “Jake you don’t have to hide. Whatever it is we can deal with it together. Dad, finances, the rest of it. You’re not alone, Jake. I’m right here.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I finally managed to speak.

Colton stood and walked over to me. He gingerly placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

I turned to face him. “What were you doing down there with those people?” He was hiding something. I knew that much. “You said no lies, Colton!”

He still wouldn’t look at me. “I was just trying to help…”

If I had a weapon in my hand I would have shot my father first and then every single one of his friends. Instead, I smashed my fist into the wall hard enough for my knuckles to bleed.

Colton stood there, not saying a word.

“Colton, please listen. Please. The only reason I let Dad do this to me is so he won’t touch you! We have an arrangement.”

“I don’t need your help! Stop being a fucking martyr! I don’t need you to save me, Jake.”

I cupped my brother’s face with one hand. “Yes, I do.”

At this, Colton put his arms around me. I could feel the dampness of his tears on the shirt I was wearing. I hugged him right back. “You’re my baby brother,” I said. “I’d jump through fire for you. Giving a few perverts what they want, is nothing. Besides, I have a plan. This is temporary. Just until you turn eighteen.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. Now stop crying or I’ll tell every single chick on your Facebook that you cry like a girl.”

He pushed me jokingly. “You cry like a girl!”

We were both laughing when the door opened and Dad walked in. “Jake, we need to talk.”

Colton spoke up before I could reply. “Dad, don’t be mad at him, he was just trying to protect me…”

“Who the fuck told you to open your mouth, Colton?” Dad cursed. “I swear to God I’m living with a bunch of whiny ass bitches.”

Colton stood there staring at me and I tried to make light of it by giving him a goofy smile. He didn’t go so far as to smile back but he did stop arguing with my father.

I knew as we ran down the stairs, that I would have to figure some stuff out, make sure that I actually delivered on the promise I made to my brother.

Downstairs, those men were still sitting and discussing everyday stuff. The weather, the super bowl, the downfall of the media. Dad pretty much pushed me to talk. One of those men handed me a drink and placed a hand on my thigh. I looked at his ridiculous long hair and downed that drink like it was water.





JAKE


Someone ripped the duct tape off my mouth. It hurt like a mother and it was still too dark to see much besides silhouettes. “What do you want?”

In my mind, I had been running all kinds of scenarios. I remembered sneaking out of Trey’s apartment, I remembered reaching home and finding my Dad in the living room with some new faces. I don’t remember much else. Just that I woke up in the dark, with no one around and ages could have gone by and I wouldn’t know because there was no way to know how much time had passed.

My hands still tied behind my back, they pushed me outside, whatever that cramped space was, and that’s when I learned it was a basement. The man who had a grip on my arm, forced me to walk straight but I was having trouble concentrating. He was tall and had tattoos all over like a second skin, massive forearms and a chest that was wide enough to bury someone in. In any other circumstances, I would have been attracted to him but this wasn’t any other circumstance, this was a nightmare. I hoped it was a joke someone was playing on me, nothing but a prank.

The man pushed me to the floor, so I went on my knees in front of this other guy whose face I couldn’t see. There was something familiar about the feet but I couldn’t put my finger on it thanks to my foggy mental state. But then, I made the mistake of looking up. My heart jumped to my throat when I saw who it was that I was kneeling for and most of the fog cleared. “Dad?”

I didn’t understand but I had a feeling some serious stuff was about to be thrown my way. The man that I was forced to call Dad, grimaced. “Get up.”