It’d been days since Terry had spoken to any of his sons. Laura too. Partly because he was trying his best to stay away from them all, for various reasons, but did it work the other way too?
Henry and his gambling issues. Laura and her no-good husband. Dumbass Eric and what he knew about the loans. Will…
Was he Terry’s biggest problem now? Will had been speaking to someone about Terry, that much was clear. He wouldn’t rule out that Will even knew something about the deal with Hamed, and how Laura’s terrorist husband had resorted to arson to get their way.
But the situation that concerned him the most was the possibility that Will knew about Elle. How on earth would he know that?
Of course there was no way that he would ask Will directly. He wasn’t going to prompt a discussion about it, even if he was fearful about what Will would do with the information. If there was one thing that could be said for his youngest son, it was that he often used his wits to get exactly what he wanted.
So what did he want?
Regardless, Terry wouldn’t confront Will. But he would ask Elle. When the time was right.
Today. He’d ask her today.
They hadn’t seen each other for a couple of days. Hugo had been keeping a tight leash on her. Quite literally. Barely letting her out of his sight.
But today Terry knew that Hugo was with Peter at the Somerton development.
Hence why he was travelling over to Bridlington Terrace.
Somehow it made him feel all the more powerful – and smug – that he wasn’t just having an affair with Hugo’s girlfriend, but that he was screwing her in Hugo’s home.
Terry smiled to himself.
He’d often wondered exactly why Elle was with Hugo. She bad-mouthed him all the time. Other than his money and good looks, Hugo simply wasn’t good enough for her in any way.
Her attraction to Terry? He firmly believed it was because he offered everything Hugo couldn’t. Yes he was older, but no less capable. Elle wanted a real man, not a spoilt boy.
He arrived there in good time. With any luck they’d have at least a couple of hours together before Hugo was finished with his meetings. Terry was already bursting with excitement as he travelled up in the lift. Her voice on the intercom… fuck, did she know how to get him going.
He could already imagine her. The look in her eyes. Her body. Her smell. Her touch.
The doors to the lift opened. He tried to calm himself as he approached the front door. He rapped the wood with his knuckles.
Barely a second later and the door swung open.
Terry’s face dropped as his heart faltered.
‘You piece of shit,’ Hugo said.
Then he grabbed Terry by the scruff of his neck, yanked him inside, and tossed him to the floor.
Moments later they were all inside. Terry stood motionless in the lounge area. Why? Why was he just standing there like an idiot?
The look on Hugo’s face, in his bloodshot eyes. That was why.
Hugo was high. Out of control high. Strung-out. The white powder remnants were spread across the coffee table. Hugo was sitting on the edge of the sofa, credit card in hand, as he played with the bits, pulling them together for another hit. The bottle of scotch on the kitchen counter showed it wasn’t only the coke that was coursing through his system, and causing his erratic behaviour.
Elle was sitting on the opposite sofa. Curled up. Her eyes teary. Her make-up a mess. Her bottom lip swollen and bloodied, her cheek red.
Terry just stood there, watching them both. Numb.
‘I knew I couldn’t trust her,’ Hugo said, his body trembling as he spoke. ‘I see the way every bastard looks at her. Do you know what kind of power trip that gives? But somehow I knew it’d come to this… I really fell for her. I couldn’t stop it.’
Which was exactly how Terry had felt.
Hugo caught his eye.
‘But you?’ he said, with pure revulsion. ‘Look at you. I just don’t get it.’
He leaped up from the chair. Elle cowered back.
‘What the fuck is wrong with you!’ Hugo screamed, leaning over her while waving his arm towards Terry. ‘He’s old, weak, pathetic. He’s a piece of shit.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Elle sobbed.
Quite who she was speaking to, it wasn’t clear.
‘Hugo. Just let her leave,’ Terry said, trying to sound as calm as possible. The truth was, he was scared. For himself, and for Elle. The state Hugo was in, who knew what he was capable of. ‘She doesn’t want to be here. Look at her.’
‘Look at her? I’ll look at her if I want. You? You don’t get to. Not ever again.’
‘We don’t have to do this,’ Terry said.
Hugo burst forwards. Terry couldn’t react quick enough as Hugo grabbed him around the neck and lifted him up off the floor and pushed him against the wall.
‘This is my house! She’s my woman! I’ll do whatever the fuck I want! Got it?’
Terry couldn’t have choked a response even if he’d wanted to. Hugo’s grip went tighter still. He was grimacing so hard from the effort.
Across the room, Elle got to her feet. She looked shocked. Petrified. She moved over.
‘Hit him,’ Terry tried to say.
Really it sounded nothing more than a splutter. But the effort, and the aversion in his eyes, caused a momentary lapse in Hugo’s concentration. His grip loosened. He flicked his gaze over his shoulder.
Terry went for it. He hauled his knee up into Hugo’s groin. Snapped Hugo’s arms away. Then delivered a thunderous hook to Hugo’s jaw to send him sprawling to the floor.
‘Hugo!’ Elle shrieked with concern.
She rushed to him. Knelt down by his side as he groggily tried to prop himself up. Blood dribbled down his chin. Much the same look he’d given Elle.
She cradled Hugo in her arms. Tears streamed down her face.
Terry was gobsmacked. She glanced up to him.
‘Just go!’ she shouted.
What was she doing?
‘You heard her,’ Hugo croaked.
Terry was so shocked he found himself backing away, towards the door.
‘If I see you around her again…’
Hugo left the threat dangling. Terry turned for the door.
‘And I want my money!’ Hugo shouted out. ‘You pay me what we agreed. Or I’m gonna make your life hell!’
Terry didn’t respond. Didn’t look back at all. Unsure what to think, he simply opened the door and walked out.