Standing in front of me, on Johnny's front porch, was the guy I had been avoiding for years. Ricky. He was the only male that my "parents" had accepted and had apparently set us up to be married from a young age.
"What--what are you doing here, Ricky?" I asked in disbelief. He wasn't supposed to be here. That part of my life was over.
Ricky smiled at me and ran a hand through his dirty blonde hair. "Did you think we wouldn't find you?" he asked in his thick accent. "Like I would seriously let you go, Eliza. You are the girl for me. The only one."
I stared at him, mouth agape and unable to say anything. At this time, both Jimmy and Johnny had snapped to attention and now I was being moved behind the both of them. I looked around Johnny to watch Ricky and I saw that he was now getting angry.
"Who are you?" he asked the two men who were blocking me from him.
"I could ask you the same thing," Johnny said. "This is my house and I don't like uninvited guests banging on my door early in the morning."
Ricky looked at Johnny with a raised eyebrow. "I'm the man she was supposed to marry before she ran away and ruined everything."
I was looking between Johnny and Ricky when something he had said earlier dawned on me. "Wait," I said, stepping around Johnny who tried to keep me back but I shrugged his hand off. "Ricky, you said 'we'. Who else is here with you?"
He gave me a smug look and crossed his arms over his chest. "What makes you think somebody came with me? Maybe I came alone."
I shook my head. "Unfortunately, I know you, Ricky. You wouldn't come all this way by yourself."
"Not if you were smart," Jimmy said staring Ricky down. He was taller than me and Johnny, but Jimmy was the tallest here and right now he was in protective brother mode.
Ricky turned back to me and smiled. "You're right, like always, Eliza. I could never hide anything from you," he said and winked at me. He turned and waved at the green car that had been following us that was now parked in Johnny's driveway. "I brought your dear brother with me."
I stared at the car with wide eyes as the door opened and Liam stepped out. He saw us all on the porch, and with a small smile on his face, he made his way over to us.
When he joined us on the porch, he pulled me into a hug and I only stood there. This wasn't right. Liam never hugged me. He had never even cared about me. This had to be some kind of trick to get me back to Ireland.
I pulled away and stood in between Jimmy and Johnny. Liam looked at me with a pained look on his face. "Eliza, what are you doing?" he asked me. "Why do you pull away from your own brother?"
I shook my head and got closer to Jimmy. "You're not my brother. Jimmy is. Your parents stole me from somebody in Texas! And then they have treated me like shit my entire life! I'm tired of it, Liam!"
At this, Liam stood up straight and glared down at me. This was the Liam I knew. "How dare you talk about them that way!" he shouted. "They gave you a family and a roof over your head. You should be fucking grateful!"
"I had a family before they came along!" I shouted back at him. "They had no right to take me and then they treated me like scum under their shoes!"
Johnny wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. "Shhh, Lizzy," he whispered in my ear. "You're shaking and you need to calm down."
Ricky looked at me and then at Johnny and I saw rage grow in his eyes. "What the fuck is this?! You're gone for a month and you're already all over somebody?" Ricky threw up his hands and headed towards me. "You are a fucking whore, Eliza Allen!"
Before Ricky could reach me, Jimmy stood in between us and grabbed Ricky by his shirt. "If you EVER talk to her like that again or even think of doing harm to her, I will personally make sure your body is never found!"
All of us were watching him with wide eyes and none of us doubted that he would do it too. I moved forward and gently placed my hand on his arm. Jimmy relaxed his hold on Ricky and looked down at me. I gave him a sad smile. "It's alright, Jimbo. Let's go inside, ok?" I said.
Jimmy nodded and made his way to the door but Johnny only stood there and looked at me. "Come on, Lizzy," he said holding his hand out to me.
I turned to Liam and Ricky. "I don't know how you found me and frankly I don't care," I said with a sigh. "Just leave me alone. I love my life here. The guys of Avenged Sevenfold have taken me in and they all care about me."
I put a hand on Liam's arm. "I'm home now, Liam. I'm happy here and you can tell Ma and Da that. Jimmy and the others are my brothers now." I then turned my attention to Ricky and I said, "I'm sorry that you came all this way to get me, but I don't love you Ricky. I love Johnny and I'm staying here with him and the others."
I heard an intake of breath and I knew it was Johnny, but I stayed facing Ricky and Liam. I had to get this over with. "Please just go home, guys. There is nothing for me in Ireland anymore. My life is here now and I'm happier than I have ever been. If you care about me at all, you will respect that and let me go."
They both shared a look then turned to me and nodded. "Alright," Liam said. "We'll leave. Just...take care of yourself, Eliza."
I nodded and went inside closing the door behind me. I leaned against it and sighed heavily. Thank God that was over!
Johnny pulled me into a tight hug. "Eliza! Did you mean that? What you said?"
I smiled at him and put my hand on his cheek. "Yes, Johnny, I meant it. I do love you."
He leaned down and kissed me. When we pulled apart, he leaned his forehead against mine. "I love you too, Lizzy. I have since I first met you."
I heard a loud sigh come from behind Johnny and I looked to see Jimmy leaning against the wall. I smiled at Johnny before I made my way over to my brother.
I wrapped my arms around Jimmy's waist and he relaxed and hugged me back. "My Ly-ly is growing up!"
I laughed. "Yes, Jimbo, but I will always be your Ly-ly."
Jimmy lifted my face up to look at him. "You'll tell me if he hurts you, right?"
I nodded and he squeezed me again. I let go of him and looked over at Johnny who was smiling at the both of us.
I smiled back and thought of how truly perfect my life was now. I knew who my real parents were, my past would never bother me again, I was cared for by so many people and now I was in love with Johnny.
I loved my life.

Notes

I'm sorry it took me so long to update and that it's so short. I've had so much personal stuff going on lately that it's been hard to focus. And I know you guys were expecting more drama in this chapter and I'm sorry I didn't deliver, but it will get better I promise. Please stick with me and continue to read my stories. Y'all are the reason I keep updating even if I want to stop. Thank you.
Comments and cookies, my loves <3