Chapter 302

Elena After a long day of work, I was finally on my way back home.

How was I going to find a way to talk to Tiago?That was the only thing going through my mind.

Getting the name of Maddens real killer was one way to kill two birds with one stone. I could clear Marvin’s name, and I could save my dad’s career.

Several minutes later, I arrived home and made my way inside. Surprisingly enough, all the lights were turned off, which possibly meant my dad was probably in one of his weird moods.

“Dad?”

“Alex?”

I called out their names but got no answer in return. A small part of me was starting to get worried, especially after seeing the suitcases at the staircase. Would he be okay?

“Dad?”

dad looked up from the Curious, I made my way to the living room and watched as my couch. The half-empty bottle beside him was enough proof that something was bothering him. He was drunk.

“Oh, here you are!” I smiled. Perhaps my cheerful mood could take away his worries. The expression on his face had not changed as he looked at me with his sharp eyes. “Here I am.” He slurred his words.

“What are those suitcases? Are you going on a trip?”

My dad grabbed the bottle beside him and took a long sip. “No, they are yours.”

“Mine?”

He slammed the bottle to the table and tapped the glass with his fingernails. “Elena, I’m going to ask you a question-and you have to tell me the truth.” He spoke with closed eyes. It was probably about one of his crazy theories, and he needed my opinion.

“Sure, what is it?”

I stumbled back and grabbed the door for support as my dad stood up from the sofa. No words could leave my mouth, as all I could think about what his unexpected question.I was so careful.

“What?”

“Are the two of you together?” He closed his eyes in annoyance.

“No-”

“Elena!”

“No, I promise!”

He grabbed a pile of papers and made his way to me as I held in my breath. The smell of alcohol was too much for me to handle. “Then what is this?”

My dad pushed pictures in my face as I was forced to take in his evidence. Not just pictures, they were pictures of all the times Marvin and I had met.What was the meaning of this?

“Have you been following me?” I whispered, surprised.So I wasn’t crazy after all.”It doesn’t matter.”

He sighed. The one thing he didn’t know was that both of us had the same goal. I wanted to find Stevie’s killer just as much, but he was so obsessed with Marvin that he couldn’t look at the bigger picture.

“Dad, I can explain!”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“I’m doing this for you-”

“For me?” He yelled in my face. I flinched at his tone and kept my mouth shut.

“Take your shit and get out.”

Those words hit me hard as I did not want to leave him. Who was going to take care of him? Who was going to make sure he was alright, got enough of sleep, enough to eat-who was going to do it?

“Dad-”

“Get out!” He shouted. “I don’t want any liars, gangsters, or mob wives in this household- take your shit and get out!”

His own daughter?

Before I could say anything else, my dad grabbed me by my arm and dragged me to the hallway while I yelped in pain. “You’re just like your mother. You’re just like that woman.

Grab your shit and get out!”

“Hey, what’s going on!” Alex rushed inside. He pulled me away from my father’s grip and covered my body with his. “What are you guys doing?”

“Dad’s kicking me out.”

“Dad is what?” Alex spoke, startled. “Dad, is that true?”

My dad scoffed. “Alex, she’s been lying to us this entire time, and she’s still in contact with Marvin Castillo.”

This time Alex turned to face me, and all I could see in his eyes were disappointment. “Elena, is this true?”

“I know it looks bad, but I can explain-”

The hallway was filled with my dad’s laughter, causing me to turn around again. What was so funny? Ganging up on me? Bullying me? Kicking me out?

“Other than the fact that you’re a desperate, hungry, criminal-loving, attention whore like your mother, there’s nothing more to explain!” My dad pointed his finger in my face. “Now get out of my house!”

After my dad’s outburst, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Neither of us said a word, and the tension was high until I decided to do something about it. “Yes, because you’re so perfect.”

He furrowed his brows. “I’m sorry?” He spoke, offended. I leaned in closer, making sure he would catch every single word. “You’re a pathetic abusive man who wants to ruin other people’s happiness because you can’t find your own,” I told him. “Let’s face it, you’ve already lost mom, you’ve lost me, you’re obsessed with Stevie Maddens whose bones are rotting six feet under, and after Alex leaves your ass, you’ll have nobody-”

My words got interrupted by my dad’s hand, which had almost reached my cheek, but before he could slap me, Alex held his arm to stop him. My dad and I had gone through a lot of stuff, but this was as far as I could go. Calling me names was one thing, but getting physically abusive was another.

No man would put his hands on me without me putting up a fight, including my dad. I was not in the mood for the ambulance to take him away, and I didn’t want to get locked up for murder-so it was indeed time for me to leave.

I grabbed the two suitcases and walked to the door. “I hate you. I don’t want to see you…ever again.”

“Good, I don’t want to see you either!” My dad yelled back. “And you’re not taking the car because you’re not paying for shit around here!”

“Elena, wait outside-I’ll be right there!” Alex tried his best. I looked at my pitiful brother one last time and could only watch as the door closed.

How would my brother be able to help me?

I couldn’t let Alex choose, and I still cared for my dad’s safety. I did not want him to do anything stupid, and someone had to look after him.

With a deep sigh, I grabbed the suitcases and started walking. I had no further plans, but I did know one thing-and that was that I could not stay in that house any longer. The suitcases felt heavy, but I didn’t have that much choice.

After a few minutes of walking, it felt as if my legs were going numb. “Elena?” A car pulled up beside me. Shocked, I turned my head and looked at Panther, who had rolled down his window.

What was he doing here?

Did it even matter?

“God, nice timing,” I spoke as he stopped the car and walked to the trunk to put in my suitcases.

Panther seemed confused but did not react as I sat down and made myself comfortable in the passenger’s seat.

“But wait, what are you doing here?” I wondered. The panther looked at me with a frown.

“What are you doing in my car?” He turned around the conversation.

“No, seriously-Panther, what are you doing here?”

Panther refused to answer my question and drove off, which I didn’t mind at all. I had no complaints whatsoever about leaving this neighborhood.

“Are you an informant?” Panther suddenly broke the silence.

“Huh?”

“George Torres.” Panther called out my dad’s name. At that moment, it felt as if my life had ended. It seemed like today was not my day as yet again, another secret of mine was exposed.He knew. If Panther knew, it meant Marvin did too.

“Well respected DEA agent, single father of two, former partner of agent Stevie Maddens who had quite the connection with the Castillo’s, and Marvin in particular…” Panther continued. I peaked at the locked car door and quickly concluded that jumping out of the car would not be an option. This was my unfortunate fate.

“How do I know all of this?” Panther chuckled. “That’s what you’re thinking, right?”

The sound of his chuckle made me freak out even more. What was he going to do with me? Would he know about my dad’s investigation?

Even then, just in case-I had to defend myself. “I’m just an ordinary girl who happened to get into contact with Marvin, and I had no idea who he was until I found out by accident-”

“I haven’t told Marvin….yet.” Panther ended my rant.

I was safe…

He hadn’t told him yet, but why?

“You know, you confuse me, Elena-so I wanted to wait and see what your intentions were.” Panther shared. “Coincidences like these? They barely happen-”

“But they do, and you have to believe me!” I said. “I swear it on my mother’s life.”

“I thought you had no contact with your mother?”

“Good, I’ll swear it on my own life–but you have to believe me!” I pleaded. “Trust me. If I were an informant, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now because come on. I’m way smarter than that-”

“I know, relax.” Panther reassured me. “I believe you….we don’t choose our parents.”

Good, that’s all I needed to know. He believed me. If Panther really wanted to hurt me, he would’ve done so a long time ago. What would Marvin’s reaction be? Would he also be understanding?

“So, are you going to tell Marvin?” Panther asked carefully. “Yes… of course, I am.” I lied.

“I just need some time-”

“Don’t.” Panther shook his head. “Don’t tell him.”

“W-why?” I asked, confused. Panther didn’t want me to tell him, which meant there had to be a reason for that.

Panther took a breath. “If you care about him…you won’t tell him about this…ever.” He said. “I can keep your secret, but Marvin…don’t put him through that again.”

Again?

Judging by the tone in Panther’s voice, I could tell that Marvin’s reaction would’ve been a different kind of story. I couldn’t help but wonder why Panther didn’t seem to have any issues with me hanging out with Marvin.Wasn’t he supposed to rat me out to the Castillo’s?

“Now it’s your turn to speak, Elena.”

“Oh, right.” I nodded, thinking about a way not to make this situation any worse. “My dad and I don’t really get along because he doesn’t want me around you guys…so I left.”

“You left?”

“Okay, I got kicked out-but is there really a difference?” I rolled my eyes. Luckily enough, my short explanation was enough for him. As long as he didn’t know about my dad’s investigation, there were no issues. As far as he was concerned, I was nothing more than the daughter of a DEA agent.

“So, where are you staying?”

“At your place?” I teased him. I was not going to lie about it. An invitation would’ve been nice. Rona was a good friend but too much to handle. Victoria and I weren’t exactly on speaking terms, and I was not ready to see her. I didn’t want to bother my brother, or anyone else.

Panther laughed. “Alright, to Marvin’s it is.”

“W-what?” I stuttered. Did I hear that correctly? Was he going to take me to Marvin? I couldn’t possibly face any more embarrassment.

“I said, I’m taking you to Marvin. He’ll know what to do.”