With Love, Elena

23

Tommy's whole world came crashing down.

He shook his head, refusing to believe a single word. "Charlie, quit lying."

Charles looked at his brother. "I was trying to protect you-"

"Dad would never," Tommy interrupted him. His father would never do that to him! Charlie on the other hand definitely would have when they were younger. Charlie was the ass. "If he did, why would you not tell me the truth?"

"Dad was your idol," Charles whispered, wiping his own tears. "You loved him more than anyone despite everything he did and I know that what he did was wrong but I wasn't taking the blame for the rape because I wanted to protect him. I wanted to protect you, Tommy. I thought it would be easier on you if it was me that did it, not dad."

Tommy wept."But you knew details about what happened-"

"I forced dad to tell me everything and I...I just placed myself in the story because after all, dad heard Elise's last words, that it was Charles that raped her. So...I took the rap for it. I was trying to protect you. I know it was wrong but he was the only good person you looked up to when you were a bad egg and I thought he could influence you to become more like him-a general nice guy who had his life together."

Tommy nodded to himself, sniffling. "I hate you," he croaked.

Charles kept quiet.

"Why do you get to get the girl? I saw her first." Tommy looked at Elena. "You can't have everything, Charlie. Not after everything I lost."

He aimed his gun back on Charles, prompting the policemen to aim theirs. Everybody had even forgotten that the two men were present.

"WHOA!!" Charles yelled at them. "Gentlemen, it's fine! It's fine! Lower your guns-"

"You don't get to tell-"

Charles rushed on his bad leg at his father, tackling him to the ground in one swoop. The man grunted in pain. "Tell your dogs to back off!" he said to his father angrily. "No one is going to hurt Tommy!"

"You can go to h-"

"NOW!!" Charlie barked, spit flying.

Mr. Francis ordered his men to leave, breathing heavily as Charles got off him and pushed himself up. He limped over to Elena who would not look at him.

"I am sorry," Charles whispered, making her look up at him. "I never meant for any of this to happen...and...I know that I deserve your silence but I will rebuild what Tommy has destroyed and I will pay you back for everything that you lost."

He brushed back his hair with his hand, wincing at the pain in his leg. "I don't know if you could ever forgive me but Tommy might kill me at any moment so I do not want to die with you being angry at me."

"I know you were trying to do what you thought was right for your brother but the thought of you forcing yourself on a woman, a woman like me at that...it terrified me, Charles," she confessed, her tears spilling. "You are not perfect but you were close enough for me and when I thought about you raping a helpless young woman...I hated you, Charles. I'm sorry."

Charles slightly chuckled. "I'd hate me too." He took her face in his hands, his thumbs wiping her tears. "Elena...I know you do not want anything to do with me now and..." he kissed her on the forehead for a long second before pulling her into his arms as he tensed up with emotion. "It's alright if you wanna go."

Elena looked up at him. Then she hit him in the chest. "What the hell?"

"You gave my ring back and-"