Chapter 8 Emmi - Mother

• My mother is stood there, waiting.
• “Your dress for tomorrow is upstairs.”
• I walk past her and nod. “Oh.”
• “Oh? Is that all you can say? Oh? When I bought you the dress because you weren’t home to get one yourself?”
• What does she want? A thank you, mum, for getting me a new dress that I will wear while you give me away? I just want to rush to my room and hide away.
• “I have also booked for you to have your hair and makeup done.”
• I continue walking up the stairs.
• “Emmi!”
• I turn, hearing her shout. “Would you be throwing yourself down to say thank you if your parents pretty much sold you off and forced you into an arranged marriage?” I stare at her, waiting.
• “You were not sold. It was a deal. The Wolversons helped us gain control of the city again. In return, we promised you would marry their son.” She looks at me like I have It all wrong.
• “You may not have sold me for money, but you gave me away to cover the debt. You are still giving me away when you don’t even know the family!” I feel my frustration rise.
• “I know the Wolversons well, Emmi. I know they run their city like we run ours. I know the brothers are well-loved, respected, and some of the most sought-after men between both cities. Yet they hold more power than I do.”
• She doesn’t know them. I want to tell her what I saw, but at the same time, I don’t want to. I don’t want her making out like they are monsters when she allows the same things to happen in this city, just behind closed doors.
• “Where’s Jamie?” I want to speak to Jamie. I will fight her on this tomorrow.
• “In his office, knock first, Emmi. He may be busy with a client.” She looks at me. “Why do you want Jamie? He agrees, Emmi.”
• “He may agree, but that isn’t why I’m speaking to him. If I’m getting sent to live with them tomorrow, I'd like to speak to Jamie before then.” Turning, I walk to his office, not knocking because they never knocked for me, hence the lock. He doesn’t even look at me as I walk in.
• “Make sure he gets the message. Tell Bear I’ll get someone to find him and bring him to the checkpoint. He’ll collect Paul from there.” There is a short pause. Standing, I wait to see if he notices I am here. “Yeah, it needs to be done. But honestly, it will be so much easier after it happens.”
• I move further into the room and shut the door, watching as he spins around to look at me.
• “I need to go. I will get that message sent and have him found.” He hangs up, clearly sending a message. “What is it, Emmi?”
• I walk further into the room and sit down. “Who am I to you, Jamie?” I look at him, waiting.
• “My little sis, why?” He is looking at me like I’m crazy.
• “I’m not your little sis though, I was born a good fifteen minutes before you. I want to know what you see me as.” Not what the world tells him he is.
• “Your size, lack of adult personality, and actions deem me older. Either way, you’re still my sister.”
• “You see me as your sister but are not doing anything to stop this? You took over, so why not refuse?” I look at him, waiting and hoping.
• “The deal goes ahead, Emmi. I follow Dad’s rules, which Dad put in place. You going to the Wolversons is part of that.”
• “You know who they are and what they do, and you don’t care? How can you say I’m your little sister and then agree to that?”
• I wouldn’t. I’m the one trying to save him. He has more power than me. He can make a new deal! I’m kept out of everything.
• “It will be good for you, sis. Get you to grow up. You will need to become an adult to fit into their lives. It will make you useful to the family in some way.”
• “I have grown up! I got a job, Jamie, which you made them push me out of. Maybe if I’d had freedom, I would have got further in my life?” How could he not realise?
• “Emmi, the fact you were planning on leaving and getting into a plane with a guy proves you didn’t grow up. That and the fight in a biker club and sneaking past the checkpoint.”
• “They told you!” I honestly thought they wouldn’t. Why would they tell him?
• “The Wolversons didn’t. I don’t need them to tell me things, Emmi. I found out about Paul myself after I found money in your room. The fight and sneaking over the border, I also found out. Nothing stays hidden. Your behaviour is why the party was moved forward. We can’t protect you when you break the rules.”
• So, they didn’t tell him? The Wolversons had been telling the truth when they said they weren’t going to tell him, but someone did? So, me trying to break free means they pulled the date forward?
• “You’re going to let them take me? Come on, Jamie! This won’t solve anything.” Why can’t he just make a new deal?
• “No., Emmi, you need to grow up and fast because you’re going tomorrow. You were restricted to keep you safe, the money is gone, so there is no getting out of it. I have guards on all exits, so you can’t leave.”
• “You know if I refuse, they take you, right?” I look at him, watching as he nods. “I refused to fight this to save you, Jamie! I know. Everyone knows that you’re soft. You act like Dad did, but you do nothing at all to get your hands dirty. How can you tell me to grow up when you act like that and hide the truth?”
• “Enough! You are going, Emmi. You can fight and scream, but you are fucking going. I don’t care what I have to do. Even if I have to tell them to tie you up and kidnap you, you’re going. Now leave. Nothing you say will change this.” He turns his back to me. There is something else. I don’t know what, but I feel like there is. I walk out and go to my own room, locking the door behind me. He’s been checking, everything is open, he was searching for something, or maybe just checking to see if there is anything and he found the money?
• Closing my eyes, I fall back onto the bed, my mind instantly going to the car, to Gunner’s lips so close to my neck, to Bear’s hand wrapped around my throat. I’m crazy, so fucking crazy to even be getting slightly turned on by them!
• I spend the day hidden away, the door locked, refusing food, refusing to talk. Refusing everything. I met the Wolversons, and somehow, they know more about my family, this city and me than I do. How is that possible? How is it possible for my family to do this and no one step in? The whole city knows, including the police, but they’re still doing it?
• I wake up and keep myself hidden away. The noise of everyone getting ready for the party becomes louder and louder as the hours pass by. I should be getting ready. My mum has knocked several times today trying to get my attention, and I know soon she will give in and just get Jamie to unlock the door.
• I found out quickly having a lock fitted made no difference. My mum and Jamie just got a copy of the key. Everything I have in this room which locks, they can get into. Maybe going to the Wolversons will give me more freedom? Sure, I have to marry one of them, but that doesn’t have to be tomorrow, right? I hope not anyway.
• “Emmi! This is your last warning. The party starts in half an hour.” Groaning, I climb out of bed and walk to the door. I unlock it and watch as my mum walks in, her eyes widening in shock. “Shower now! You look awful.”
• “Does it matter? Why have a party, mum? To celebrate that you’re getting rid of me? You can just send me there with one of the guys. It saves you money.” So why does there need to be a party?
• “The party is to show both cities the deal was upheld. Some from this city and theirs will be here. All major deals are done in this way with some sort of party to make the cities people aware. So, get showered and ready.”
• I give in, all the while hoping the Wolversons don’t show because surely I will get left here? I’ll find a new way out, even if it means hiding in a van, anything, I don’t know. I know, though, nothing I do will stop this happening. Maybe escaping the Wolversons’ city will be easier? Not many know me by face there.