“How about we dump our bags and drive over to see them then,” Sly replied, without the slightest hesitation.
I leaned in and kissed him. “Thank you, my darling.”
Sly smiled. “I just want you happy, sweetheart, and if going to check on your brothers makes you happy, then lead the way.”
I didn’t phone ahead to tell them we were coming. I wanted to surprise them. We parked up outside Father’s house and got out of the car.
“Are you the oldest son?” a voice demanded from behind me.
I turn and see an elderly man standing there, walking cane in one hand, a dog lead in the other, and a border collie sat next to him. I nodded. “I am. I’m Ebby, and this is my husband, Sly.”
The old man nodded. “Good, there’s two of you. We hear the shouting every day. We’ve heard screams of terror and pain, as well.”
“What?!” I exclaimed in horror and looked at Sly, then back at the old man.
“You need to rescue them and take them as far away from your evil father as possible. I’ve called the police a couple of times, thinking they could help, but nothing was ever done.”
I nodded. “We will do that very thing and right now,” I said, anger lacing my voice at the thought of what Father could be doing to them. He’d never win Father of the Year award, even when I was little, but he had never been violent.
We heard loud angry shouts from the house, and a scream of pain.
“Gotta go. Thank you,” I said, turning around and with Sly by my side, we ran to the front door.
Sly blew it open just as we reached it, and we raced inside. We found my father and brothers in the lounge, Xander and Enoch cowering on the floor, hugging each other and crying out in pain as my father used his magic to hurt them.
Sly flung his hand out, and Father went flying into one of the walls, before dropping to the floor unconscious.
I rushed to my brothers, dropping to my knees and hugging them. They both leaned against me and hugged me back, still crying. “I’m so sorry. I would have been here sooner if I hadknown.” I dropped a kiss on both their heads. “Can you both move? I want to get you out of here?”
“Where will we go?” Xander asked softly, pulling back.
“With us, of course,” Sly said, before I could say anything. “Just so you know, my magic is black and I will do whatever I have to to keep you both safe.”
Enoch leaned back, looking at Sly, tears still on his pale cheeks. “Promise?”
Sly put his hand over his heart. “I promise.”
“Okay,” Enoch said softly.
“We need to quickly pack some things for you,” I said, standing up.
“I grabbed the basics for you guys, plus your electronics,” Sly said, holding the bags out. “Have a quick look and see if anything is missing.”
Just how long were we hugging?
The boys stood and took the bags and looked.
“This looks like everything important,” Xander confirmed.
“It does,” Enoch agreed.
I heard a moan. Father was coming to. I walked over to him just as he opened his eyes. He looked shocked to see me. “Come near my brothers again and you’ll wish you had never been born,” I toldhim angrily, and with that, I turned my back on him, put my arms around my brothers and walked them out of the house towards our car.
The old man was still standing on the path watching, his dog lying at his feet.
“Thank you,” I called to him.
He nodded and waved, and watched as we got into the car and left.
