"Never throw the first punch. If you have to throw the second, try to make sure they don't get up for a third." - Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

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Caden's POV

Silas is unbelievable. Utterly and completely unbelievable.

I feel like a toy, used for his needs and discarded when I don't give him what he wants. Is this how our relationship is going to be? Him ignoring me and then smothering me with kisses to forget his problems.

God, the last three months have been amazing, albeit painful whenever I stay over at his place and pay for the consequences when I get back home, but amazing nonetheless.

We've never really had fights. I mean yeah, before, when I was just his PA, but we're something more now.

I guess it was naïve of me to think that we were this perfect couple. I mean, I don't know much about Silas's past either. But I believed he would share it over time, when we've become closer, if he wants to share it at all.

But, seriously, to ignore me the whole night only to be used to forget whatever squabble he was having with Philip was unbelievable.

I'm not oblivious to the glares he was sending to Philip nor the looks Philip kept glancing at me. But I thought Silas was smart enough to know that I'd never even entertain the idea of being with him.

I want to be with Silas, just him, how does he not get that?

After the bathroom situation, I seated myself and began picking at my food, having lost all my appetite thanks to a certain someone.

"Are you okay?" Philip asked me. I didn't want to talk to him. I didn't want to talk to anyone. But I also didn't want to sabotage the partnership between Sanders Corp and Nguyen Enterprises. "Mhm," I mumbled, hoping he would take the hint that I was not in the mood for talking.

But Philip continued and I contemplated just ignoring him.

But I didn't. I did the complete opposite of that.

Is it because I wanted to form a good relationship and hopefully show Mr. Nguyen that our companies would work cohesively together? Yeah... no.

Is it because I'm petty? Most likely.

I saw the looks Silas gave me and Philip the more we talked and honestly, I could feel the lines on my face ache due to the amount of fake smiles and laughs I had to plaster on for Philip.

But, it worked.

Silas was furious.

Hm, maybe I am evil.

But you know the best part of it all? I did not care.

Okay, maybe a little bit, but for the most part, it serves him right for thinking he can just use me like a toy whenever he likes. I made sure to add salt in the wound when I asked to ride with Sawyer than with him.

I wasn't kidding when I told him that stuff in the bathroom. I refuse to be treated like this anymore. Like a toy, or an object. I've endured that pain long enough. If Silas doesn't get that, then maybe we shouldn't put ourselves in a relationship that is doomed to end.

Arriving home, I tiredly open the door and surprise, surprise, Cole is waiting for me. He's been doing that often, I guess finding every excuse to abuse me.

That's why I admittedly began training with Sawyer's defense trainer sadly. I don't expect Cole to change anytime soon, and I definitely would prefer it if my back didn't sear with pain every time someone graced their fingers across my spine.

Plus, being in constant pain would just make Silas more suspicious, which is why I bought a gazillion ice packs which I used to ease the tenderness and swelling after every lashing.

It's been working, surprisingly. My usual routine is taking a cold shower then pressing the ice packs onto a towel and laying my back on top of it. After a few hours, the pain has subsided tremendously, and it's almost like the night before never happened.

I find comfort in that, even though I'm reminded every time I see beer bottles scattered across the living room and my brother passed out on the couch.

I never have the chance to zone in on my "training" simply because I don't have much experience. But I knew I might I need it someday, for when I am on the brink of insanity and might just fight him back.

I know I said I would fight back the next time he touched me, I know. But that was easier said than done. I didn't know how to fight back, that was the problem. I've tried my hardest to rectify that problem and I guess now was the time to actually utilize it.

I come home at around 11 pm, way past my curfew that I now apparently had. So, like I said before, Cole was waiting for me, belt in hand.

"Why are you staying out so late again?" Cole's voice drawls on as I remove my shoes. "Cole, I really don't have time for this. I've had a bad day, can you just save it for later?" I've honestly just given up at this point. I'm frustrated with Silas and tired from the night in general. All I want is a hot bath and my bed. The only thing standing in my way of that is Cole.

"Oh, look who's getting confident now." He smirks, an evil glint in his eye. "Too fucking bad, bitch. I told you not to stay out late. Who knows what kind of creeps are in those streets. You never listen to me when all I want to do is look out for my baby sister."

I scoff. This bastard is really trying to manipulate me into thinking he cares about me. "Don't do this, Cole, I'm really not in the mood. And for the record, you've never cared about my well being before any of this, so I don't even want to hear it."

I take a deep, tired sigh and try to walk towards my bedroom but Cole blocks my way. "Don't fucking take that attitude with me. You know how much shit I've had to go through to deal with your ungrateful ass." He raises his belt slightly higher, using his height to try and intimidate me.

"Do you think I like hitting you all the time?" His patronizing tone is starting to get on my nerves. "No, I fucking don't. I do it because you need to fucking behave. I'm your brother; all I want is for you to do good in life. How are you supposed to when you can't even follow simple rules." He plasters on a fake sincere smile, but I know all the words he's spewing is bullshit.

And you know what?

I'm tired of it. I'm tired of all this "love" he now claims to have for me ever since I got this new job. And the way he tries to manipulate me into thinking I deserve his cruelty. I might've believed it four months ago but fuck that shit. I'm done.

"Hit me with that belt and you'll regret it." I look up at him with pure hatred because that's what I feel right now. This man is not my brother. Hasn't been for years now and I am tired of living under his abuse.

He laughs. Cole laughs, as if my I'm actually joking. "You're funny tonight. I wish you said this bullshit every night I punished you so I could have something to think about while I beat you." He lets out another chuckle before raising the belt and no doubt aiming to whip it across my back.

But I dodge it. I completely side sweep the belt and find myself to the side of the Cole. The look of shock on this man's face was priceless. God, I wish I could've taken a picture of his expression to cherish forever.

However, I didn't have time for that since Cole's arm recoiled to produce another whip. Again, I swipe sweep to the right and find a window of opportunity as he glares at the belt as if it was the belt's doing as to why he can't hit me. Reeling my arm back, ensuring that my fingers are where they're supposed to be, I sucker punch him in the nose just how Sawyer's trainer, Nathan, taught me. A loud crunch echoes across our living room, and soon, Cole is groaning in pain.

Fucking loser.

Emotions are whirling through me right now but the most prominent one is pride. Jesus, I feel so happy for myself. I finally did it. I finally stood up to him. I could even see the blood now leaking from his, no doubt, broken nose. However, my excitement is cut short when his left knuckles connect to my right eye.

I fall hard on the ground while Cole tries to regain his strength and control of the situation. "Never thought you'd actually do it, you bitch." He spits a glob of bloody saliva on the ground right next to my head.

He raises his fist again, most likely aiming for my nose, but anticipating his next move, I push my head against the ground and use the draining energy left in my body to connect my forehead with his fist.

Nathan taught me that the forehead was the hardest part of the head and the region you want to be punched at by an attacker. And thank god for that advice because I can see pain flash across Cole's eyes. He probably didn't break any bones but just the sight of the redness and potential bruises on his right fist leaves me almost laughing.

Let me rephrase that: the sight of the redness and potential bruises on his right fist leaves me heaving from hysteria as I reimagine his face glaring at his hand.

"You think that's funny, do you?" Maybe I shouldn't've laughed.

Yep, I definitely shouldn't've laughed as I now feel the breath knock right out of after Cole knees me in the stomach.

What do I do, what do I do?

"Not so tough now, are you?" He laughs again. "This new job giving you some balls, I gotta say. And you're stronger than you look. Obviously not strong enough, though." He knees me again before looking away to the coffee table to grab another beer which gives me the perfect opportunity.

Grabbing one of the empty beer bottles on the ground, I smash it onto the side of his face. While he collapses onto the ground, I push his legs off me and rush to the door. I make sure to grab my keys so that I can lock the door from the outside.

That bastard is trapped there until the cops arrive.

I can already feel the adrenaline that was once coursing through my body starting to drain, leaving behind shock and pain. I stumble to the pavement and fall to my knees when the pounding of my head starts to distract me.

What do I do, what do I do??

Get up, Caden. C'mon, get up. You have to go to the police and file a report.

I try to get up. I really do, but it's as if my legs are jelly or the pain has caused me to go paralyzed because I just can't.

Jesus, my head is killing me right now.

I lay there for a good minute before trying again to function my legs. When I make it to my hands and knees, and finally to my feet, I thought I'd be happier.

Nope, I don't. I just feel my head spinning and my eyes going blurry.

Take one step and then the other.

Big mistake. Very big mistake. I mean, I'm pretty sure because the next minute I'm on the concrete again. I don't feel pain though. Actually maybe I do, my brain just hasn't caught up to the rest of my body.

I don't know how long I stayed there on the ground. It could've been ten seconds, ten hours, I couldn't tell.

I could hear voices but couldn't place them. I could see faces but most of them were blurry. At one point, I could feel my body being lifted off the ground, and I wanted to say something, but for some reason, my voice refused to cooperate.

And then I could see nothing.

Utter darkness.

I liked it. It felt comforting.

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Silas's POV

"She's pretty great you know," Sage finally says after ten minutes in silence.

"Yeah, I know," I sigh. I don't want to talk about this, especially with my little brother who's never even had a real relationship.

"And you were an asshole, if you didn't already realize it." Jesus, way to put it lightly. I chuckle lightly. "You don't think I fucking know that."

"Nope. I don't." Okay, he's starting to get on my nerves. "What the fuck do you know, Sage? Just drive."

"I know a lot of things. For one thing, I know that you are totally falling for her. I know that you would do anything for her. And I know that you don't know how to treat a woman as perfect as her. You shut her out when you don't get your way and bring her in when you conveniently need her. Blame it on your mommy issues or daddy issues, whichever one you have, or both, I don't care, but if you continue to treat her like you did tonight, expect a temporary, or permanent, heartbreak. Because ain't no other person on this planet is going to deal with your bullshit as much as she has."

Jesus, I hate him. Does he always have to fucking do this?

"I hate you, you know that." I mean, I gotta make it known. How the fuck does he know just the right thing to make me feel more like shit?

"You love me, admit it. Sawyer's cool, but I'm the favorite little brother." He tries to playfully elbow me but I stop him. "Do that and I will tell everyone woman in a 30-mile radius that you got a three-inch pinch down there." He chuckles out loud before saying, "Go ahead, my looks will attract enough women for the both of us."

"You know, we never hangout just the two of us anymore," this son of a bitch continues to babble. "Ugh, I need more big brother time. Will you do that for me, Si, pwetty pwease." His bottom lips sticks out to look "cute" but he just looks like an idiot.

"Shut the fuck up, I see you everyday."

"Not enough, obviously. I need to feel you. Like how women always randomly bite their manz, I want to bite you, Silas."

Literally, this motherfucker is the dumbest person I know. "Literally, Sage, just stop talking. I can feel my dick growing smaller the longer you talk."

"Well in that case, maybe Caden is the only person you'll ever pull." I elbow him hard which makes him lose the control of the wheel and slightly swerve to the right.

"Will you watch it, bro, I'm driving!" He says it like he's angry but I know my little brother. Literally nothing can make him mad except maybe Sawyer and abusive parents. "That's what you get for insulting my penis."

"Hey, you said the words, I just agreed to them," he laughs again.

As Sage continues to drive, still chuckling, my phone rings.

Hm, it's Agnes.

We haven't been talking much lately, not that we always talked in general, but I do miss her warm smile and baked goods she always used to send me. "Hey, Agnes."

"Silas, listen to me. It's important."

All of sudden, I can't feel my heart, I don't even think I can breathe. Actually, maybe I can because I can feel my chest moving hard as if I'm hyperventilating.

I'm not hyperventilating, am I?

"I'll be there in five." My voice doesn't even seem to be attached to my body.

Fuck.

This can't be happening.

"Stop the car." Sage doesn't listen to me. Why the fuck isn't he listening to me when the love of my life is hurt right now. "Stop the fucking car, Sage, right now!"

"What the fuck, man, what happened?" I shake my head, not even knowing how to process what I just heard. "Pull over." Sage listens to me for once, most likely seeing how my face has gone pearl white and my voice is shaking with panic. But not just panic. Anger.

I will kill whoever did this to her. And then I'm going to bring her home and take care of her and tell her how sorry I am for taking her for granted. I can't lose her. I can't. I have never become this dependent on someone, and honestly, I never wanted to. But fuck that because if I lose her, I simply will just die. Because there's no point in living if she's not here to live with me?

"Get out of the car." Sage wordlessly unbuckles his seat belt as do I and we switch places.

When I feel the ignition turn on and ensure that Sage is buckled in, I slam my foot on the gas.

I need to see her, I need to see that she's alive. That she's breathing.

Please be alive, please. I will do anything. I can't lose someone else, I just can't.

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