Brian’s POV

I had no idea what really happened, but it took Emery way too long in the shower and I didn’t like her being apart and absent from me.
I don’t know but I felt this weird ache in my chest, what the hell did that mean?

I looked back over to the door and walked closer, trying to hear any sound, but it was just the water I heard running, nothing else.
I waited some more running up and down before the bathroom door, closing my eyes and trying to remember what had happened and why Emery had been acting so weird this morning.

I looked down on my watch trying to figure out how long Em had been in the shower by now, shouldn’t she be long done?
More anger was surfacing from second to second, was she trying to get away from me?
What was she trying to do?
A new headache was starting at my temple and I tried to rub the pressure away.

I walked closer to the door again and put my ear to it, thinking that was below me? Maybe…
Still I was trying to hear another sound, the water was still running and what was that? A sob? I wasn’t sure… could she be… nah… this was Em I was talking about…

Still it wouldn’t let my mind wander to other things, I finally punched in the code so the door opened and walked inside, hot steam was wavering up and I inhaled deeply, it didn’t even smell like shampoo or shower gel, what had she done the entire time here?

I watched around the shower stall and saw Em on the floor, the water raining down on her, her head buried between her legs.
My mouth instantly went dry seeing her naked form, my heart beating faster and the ache vanished instantly. I moved closer confused by her weird position, had she fallen?

“Em?” I asked carefully and walked closer, opening the shower door to get inside and have a better view at her. Was she hurting? What had happened?

“Emery? What happened? What’s wrong?” I asked concerned and went under the water. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close to me, the feeling of protectiveness slamming so hard into my body that I wanted to murder whoever dared harm this woman in any way.

Her breath hitched and I tried to whisk the wet blonde mane from her face to see her features more clearly. She still didn’t talk to me, which made me even more concerned. Even though when I saw her naked form first in the shower, my body wanted to ready itself for pleasure like it always did with Emery near, now it just wanted to hold her. Knowing she wasn’t feeling well and that something happened, all lust vanished to a minimum while comforting her came to the front of my to do list.

“Em what’s wrong?” I asked again but she just kept on crying, her small hands were grabbing my shirt tightly and she just wouldn’t stop. Her sobs were heartbreaking and I wanted to help her wanted to fucking hurt the one that made her sob, made her cry. I wanted to leash out at that someone for making my- for making her cry.
The warm water had us drowning in the suds, my clothes completely soaked and even though the water was warm Emery began to shake. I had to get her out of here and dry her up, there wasn’t any way that I could let her get ill like Jo did.

I reached up and turned the water off, I ripped the shirt off my body and pried Emery’s hands gently off the fabric. She still seemed in some kind of trance, but when I moved away, her big blue eyes met mine for the first time, when she saw me looking at her, she immediately rolled back into a ball, her knees drawn up her head down, the eye contact served.

I swallowed thickly and debated with myself, why was she acting so weird, what was going on here?
I quickly pulled my shoes and pants off to not set the whole bathroom under water and then grabbed two towels.

I wrapped one around my waist and the other I hung around Em’s shoulders. She still didn’t lift her head or look at me. So I crouched down and lifted her petit frame into my arms.
She shivered again and I quickly moved her next to the heating. I turned it completely on and set her down carefully, when I was sure she was standing safely on her legs I began to gently rub her body dry with the towel.

She didn’t help me or look at me, which was completely odd for Emery. She was really making me nervous. I always used to call her my feisty princess, but nothing looked like that princess anymore, she seemed completely lost and broken and I had no idea who had caused that and how I could fix it.

Being harsh and demanding, like we used to play our roles wouldn’t do shit in this situation, she would probably go running from me, so I had to find some other way to reach her.
“Emery… please…” A word my lips very rarely spoke “What happened? How can I help you?” I asked and she lifted her head after I spoke and wrapped herself in the large towel, so her body was completely shielded from my view.

“I-I can do this on my own” She whispered like she was trying to test her voice. Another tear strolled down her face when her eyes wandered over me and I frowned, she was giving me confusing feelings with her behavior but I wouldn’t let her out on this one.

“You don’t look like you can handle this on your own, Em. I found you crouched down on the shower stall, crying… what happened?” I demanded, when I noticed the way she cringed away I gentled my voice and touched her arm lightly “Please, tell me…”

She closed her eyes “Let me get dressed… alone” She opened her eyes the blue standing out stark, her face looked white, making a big contrast and I bite my tongue, everything within me was telling me to stay but the way she looked so fragile and vulnerable I decided to listen to her once and wait outside.

“Fine, I’ll give you 5 minutes or I’m coming back in” I said and with all my might I ripped my eyes away from her and walked stiffly to the door. One last glance but she waited until I was completely gone before she would move.

When the door fell in its look I looked at my watch, 5 minutes, that was it. The seconds ticked by and I waited… I smelled food, heard voices but didn’t pay any attention to that, all I wanted was to get information out of Emery, why she was behaving the way she did and what I could do to get my old princess back.

Just when the last 5 seconds ticked by I heard a knock on the door from the inside and opened the door immediately, Em’s hair was on her head in a bun, the strands still looking wet, her face still looked ashen, her eyes red from crying.

My heart squeezed in my chest painfully and the need to draw her into my arms was nearly overwhelming, so when I took a step forward she backed away, her eyes watching me now.

“Come on, I’ll bring you to my room and get you breakfast afterwards.” I led her on her elbow to my room, glad no one was watching us right now.
I opened the door and let her inside, she immediately crouched down in a chair her knees up, hiding herself again.

I wanted to punch the wall in frustration but thought an anger outburst wouldn’t do her any good right now. So I kept it inside, grabbed some fresh clothes and vanished out the door.

As soon as the door closed I let out a long held breath, fuck... what the hell was happening here, and what the hell was wrong with me, why did I care so much... what was Emery doing with me?!

I disappeared into the bathroom once more and got dressed, quickly towel dried my hair and went to the prison room to gather the spectacular breakfast that Jimmy had made for my-
Had made for Emery... asshole...
I should have thought about that, if I hadn't been as drunk as I had clearly been last night, I might have. I could still feel the pounding in my temple, no wonder the headache was coming and going all the time.

I took the tray and walked back to my door, opened up and found Emery in the same position as before, expect that she had pulled a long sleeved shirt over her head, and not even mine, but one of her own which made me long to see her in my shirt, to know she was with me, wanted me as much as my body was right now calling for her.

I set the tray down and motioned for her to take something but she shook her head. I frowned and looked her over, she was already thin, if she now wouldn't eat, I was afraid she would lose even more weight.

I took some of the pancake on my fork and brought it to her mouth, wanting to feed her but she pulled away, her head held to the side and away from me.
I moved closer, nudging her with the pancake, she licked some of the syrup away making my body spring to alert right away, oh fuck...
That sexy little tongue running over her full bottom lip was doing things to me.

"Come on, princess open up" I cooed but as soon as she looked at me she moved away again.
"I want to go into the other room." Em said her voice small but stubborn and I stared at her for a moment.
"What?" I must have heard her incorrectly.
"You heard me, Brian. I want to stay in the other room." She said again this time more firmly and my heart skipped a beat, she indeed wanted to get away from me, but I wouldn't... I couldn't let her!

“I won’t let you go to the other room.” I said just as stubborn back but she just closed her eyes “Tell me what is wrong with you… maybe… fuck, Em… I will help you, okay?” I let my hands ran through my hair pulling on the strands in frustration.

“You want to know what’s wrong, huh?” Emery’s blue eyes shot daggers at me but I wouldn’t back down, this was at least a little of the fire I was so used to see from her and I would take whatever I could get for now.

“Yes, tell me princess” I nodded and held some juice out for her but again she refused and I sighed, setting the glass back on the tray.

“Fine, first of all. I am not your princess” She spat, then turned away from me further to continue “I want to go home… I want to get away from here, I want to get away from you and everyone else, I want to take my sister and go fucking home!” She hissed and I had to shake my head “You know what that is?! Bullshit! You don’t want to go home… Tell me what’s really going on!” I shot back but she just closed her eyes shutting me and the rest of the world out again.

“Em.. Emery!” I touched her shoulder but she flinched away from my touch, while her eyes snapped open “Don’t touch me” Her voice was low but menacing and it was on the tip of my tongue to remind her that I could make her feel so good, but refused, not sure how she would take my teasing currently.

“Guess what princess. I call you however I want… and another thing, you are stuck here and with me, for however long we decide that it suits us. So you should better get used to the thought again!” I spat and got up leaving her and the food alone. I didn’t know why but she was pissing me off with her behavior.

Why was she pulling away from me? Why wasn’t I allowed to touch her anymore… and not the way in the beginning where she acted like she didn’t want the sexual chemistry between us, no.. now it was like she really didn’t want me near her… fuck… what have I done?!
And why was this making me so fucking angry that I wanted to punch a wall!? A-fucking-gain!

I spent the rest of the day away from my room… okay fine… that wasn’t quite right. I indeed did some work, trying to distract myself from Emery, problem was nothing was able to really get my thoughts away from her.

So every now and then I found myself back at my room, standing before the door more often than I should, I even found stupid excuses to go inside and check in on her… which made me even more concerned.

Emery lay on the bed, curled on her side, the food untouched, no tv, just her on my bed, in fetal position. My body screamed for her, wanting her… needing her almost… that in the evening it was too much to bear.

I went to Johnny and send him on a special mission, I told him to drive to my favorite Italian restaurant and get my favorite food together with some tries of everything he could imagine a girl could like to eat.

When he arrived back I took the food from him and set everything down in the living room on the table. I made sure the other guys were gone, and as it looked Shads had an appointment out which made my plan work just fine.

I went back to my room and crouched down next to Em tapping her shoulder lightly “Hey… princess…” She didn’t react so I leaned further into her. I heard her sharp intake of breath and saw how her nostrils went wide when my cologne hit her.

“I got a surprise for you” I told her but still no reaction from her other than breathing. Shit… I couldn’t and wouldn’t see her like this any longer… I needed to see her smile, needed her to talk to me, needed… fucking hell just needed her.

“Come on, let me show you something” I pulled the sheet away and she sighed heavily. “Please?” I tried again and she shook her head like she didn’t have enough power to fight with me now, which was another sign that something was damn wrong here.

Finally she gave in and stood up, she swayed a little and I grabbed her hips to steady her, her eyes went wide and my fingers began to tingle when I touched her.
“What surprise were you talking about?” She asked and slowly backed away from my touch, while I immediately felt her loss.

“I’ll show you… but you have to follow me” I smirked and her eyes began to shine and my smirk became a full smile, that was the Emery I knew, I guess I had done something right today.

“My sister… will I spend time with her?” Emery asked, excitement in her voice and the smile fell from my lips… fucking hell… why did it hurt that she rather would spend time with her sister than me… god since when was I such a pussy?! Man up, Haner!

“No, sorry princess… but I bet I can make it worth your while” I said but heard the grumbling in my voice as well and knew Emery must have heard it too.
I decided to let that rest and just guided her out of the door and brought her to the living room, where I had set up all the food, made a comfortable place on the couch for her and had lined up different movies I thought girls could like.

I looked at her from the side and saw how her eyes moved over the couch and the spread out movies as well as the food variations on the table, together with different drinks. I also put up alcoholic drinks, I didn’t exactly know why she was pulling away from me and everything, but I thought maybe with some alcohol she would loosen up and tell me what was really going on…

I waited for her reactions, my heart beating a mile a minute and I really hoped she could see the effort I had put into all this and she would let me be close to her again… sadly right now, I had no idea what was going on in Emery’s pretty little head.

Jo’s POV

My head was still full of thoughts… Matt and the woman just wouldn’t leave my mind, but then again… everything he said… he said he wanted to give me a real date, would he hold to that? Would he make it real?

I mean.. I have never been on a real… real date. Wasn’t that weird? At my age, never being on a real date?
No guy had every really asked me out or had been able to take me somewhere, thanks to my Dad. When I wanted to see a guy or he wanted to see me I had to sneak out and we had to meet somewhere where no one could see us, not really date feeling…

Would Matt make this special? Would Matt laugh at me not being on a date before? Would he think of me as a weirdo? Would I disappoint him? Oh god, Jolie! Don’t think like that, maybe he will not even hold true to his words.

I was giving him the benefit of the doubt… until he proofed his words worthy… and was it wrong of me to hope that Matt would make it work?
Because if I wanted or not… the boss man was already holding my heart in his hands, it was now his decision to hold it dear or stomp on it without a care…

“So…how are you feeling?” Zack asked rousing me from my thoughts. I hadn’t even really realized that we were alone in the kitchen now, and wasn’t too sure how I would feel about that. I liked Zacky, I mean… I could like him like a friend… like Jimmy, but if he was ready for that I wasn’t sure.

“Fine,” I said, looking into my cup of coffee, trying to sort through my confusing thoughts of Matt and the whole situation.

“Even after last night? Are you sure you’re okay? You know you can talk to me, right?” Zack carefully set his hand on top of mine, our eyes met and I tried to avert eye contact right away, not sure how to respond. It hadn’t been the cleverest idea to cry and hide in a corner where everyone could see me, especially Zack.

“Yep…it was all a misunderstanding… I guess…” I told him without really knowing how to be able to explain the misunderstanding.
I continued to eat trying to get away from answering any of Zack’s questions. “You know you can talk to me about anything. If Shadows is hurting you then I will—”

“Matt is not hurting me,” I said, why was everyone thinking that Matt would be hurting me?! Had they ever seen him with me?! I mean, he was the most gentle man ever… and had I just called him Matt?! My eyes snapped up to Zack’s.

“You don’t have to lie to me, Jo,” Zack continued, apparently he didn’t notice my slip, thank god. “If he is hurting you, scaring you, or making you feel uncomfortable all you have to do is say the word and I will fix it for you. You don’t have to hide anything. Do you understand that?” I really wanted to tell Zack he shouldn’t be concerned, that… that I was happy and fine, but I couldn’t, not without giving away Matt and my relationship.

“Then why were you sobbing in a corner last night?” Zack asked, he followed me and cornered me in, he wouldn’t let me go that easily and on one side I was really touched by his concern, even flattered by his advances, if I wouldn’t be having a relationship with his boss and best friend.

He was pressing further and further, wanted more and more answer, his body close to mine, with no escape for me, at least no escape without saying or doing too much.

“Besides you know we have chemistry,” Zack stood so close, his breathe fanning over my face, his words soft in my ear. “Don’t you remember the night we met…how good I was making you feel in that corner booth? Don’t you want to experience that again?” His hand slowly ran down my side, guilt instantly came crashing down on me, what would Matt think if he saw me like this with his friend?! I had to do something, say something… This was going too far!

“No I-I—”

“No what?” Zack smirked, leaning into me even more. “Don’t deny what’s between us Jo. You and I both know what we want here…”

“I-I cant Zack, please…” I said, gently trying to push him away.

“You can’t what? Be happy? Don’t be silly, I will make everything okay…” Zack was going further and further. His lips brushing my ear, his fingers gently pushing my hair behind my ear, and just a few months ago I would have easily fallen for him, even had… but now, he didn’t get any rise out of me… at least not like Matt would. “Besides I’m single…your single…and no one will have to know if you don’t want them too…”

“I’m not single!” I suddenly burst out and Zack pulled away, looking down at me with a raised brow.

“You were single the night we met and there were only three days in between when we kidnapped you. There is no way you are seeing anyone unless…” Zack combined, I didn’t dare say anything but I didn’t have to he continued for me already.

“Did you fall for the boss man?” Zack asked, his features unreadable to me.

“I-I—”

“You did, didn’t you? You’re fucking Shadows!” Zack said, his voice angry, he stepped away anger clearly written all over his face, but why?!

“Shh…please Zack…” I said looking around “Yes but please don’t tell anyone. I-I know what you’re thinking and it’s-it’s not like that! I swear…it just kind of happened—” I tried to explain but Zack wouldn’t let me say anything further.

“Just kind of happened?!” Zack hissed at me, taking a step away and running his hands through his hair. “Do you know how much fucking danger you could be in?!” Zack narrowed his eyes and I swallowed thickly, what does he mean with that?!

“Vengeance!” Matt’s voice suddenly called from down the hall but Zack just kept staring at me. “Vengeance?!”

“What?” He finally snapped, and then he turned away from me. While Matt was already standing in the doorway, his eyes wandering between me and Zack back and forth, he seemed to think about something, when his eyes met mine, they softened but just for a second before his face was strict like the boss man again.

“I want you to go get vehicle and district area reports,” Matt said, looking over at me again before closing the distance between us. “Why? What area?” Zack demanded more than confused and anger was still evident in his voice.

Both men hissed some words back and forth but I couldn’t hear what they were exactly saying, until Matt stepped forward and Zack rushed off muttering and cursing under his breath.

“Sorry babe, I had some arrangements to make.” Matt looked around and when he was sure we were alone stepped into my personal space hugging me to him.
I felt his warmth seep into my body, I smelled his cologne immediately closing my eyes, this man always made my mouth water and I really had to concentrate not to fall for him right away again, I had to keep at least a little distance, until I really knew if he would make true to what he promised me.
“Work arrangements?” I asked “Are you done, or still need some time?” I gently pulled out of his arms and he seemed disappointed but quickly masked his face.
“Not really… and no I have a little time to spare, do you want to join me in my office?” He pulled my hand to his mouth, gently placing kisses on my knuckles making my stomach flutter nervously.

“What does that mean?” I asked while he pulled me to his open office door. When the door closed behind us, Matt turned us around and pushed me against the next wall.
His big body caging me in, comparable to what Zack just had done but this time butterflies started to fly in my stomach and I felt this need inside of me, to touch him, to mark him… and let him do the same things with me-

“Don’t push me away, Jo” Matt leaned down, his deep voice in my ear sending even more shivers down my spine.
“I promise, you will have an unforgettable night… but more I can’t say” He kissed my throat, his mouth leaving a trail of kisses everywhere.

I grabbed his shirt, clinging to him afraid my knees would gave away but then Matt’s arm circled around my waist holding me up.
All the thoughts that had been in my mind before vanished, didn’t I want to tell Matt something… shouldn’t I be telling him about… about what?!

“Matt… wait” I tried to wiggle out of his grip, to be able and gather my thoughts again, but he wouldn’t let me, his lips so close to mine, I felt the hunger slam into me, wouldn’t it be so bad to kiss him, to allow myself one taste?

Before I could ponder the right decision he slammed his mouth back on mine, we both moaned at the taste and the feel of the other and again, every common sense was gone from my mind.
My hands reached up and sneaked around his neck, pulling myself closer to him, grinding against him when I remembered why I shouldn’t be doing this!

I pulled away finally, taking a step towards the door. Matt’s eyes narrowed, he looked every little bit the bad boss man everyone thought he was, and he probably was, but never with me.. no. I wasn’t afraid seeing him like this… I knew why he was looking at me that way.

I took away what he wanted… but I had to be sure he wanted it now and always… and not just because I was here right now.

“Jo…” His words were low and I shook my head “No… Matt… I can’t not.. not like this” I went for the door.
“I told you before” I laid my hand on the doorknob and Matt stood up, looking at me curiously.

He closed his eyes, bite his bottom lip and when he opened his eyes again they looked at me with affection and maybe even a little bit of the one thing I wanted most, but I wouldn’t dare say it out loud… not yet. He had to proof it first!

“Fine… You were right, I still need some things to do. I want you to go to our room, take some fresh clothes, preferably a dress…I love to see you in dresses” He smirked and I lifted my eyebrow, why was he saying that now?!

“Take a shower, you can take your time… I’ll let you know when I’m done with work and we can talk afterwards” He said and I frowned, why would I need to shower and dress up for talking to him?
Wasn’t I looking okay how I was now?! I looked down on myself and frowned, okay fine… I might have looked better… but still, wasn’t he just about to ravish me in his office, now this weird excuse?

This man was a miracle to me but I didn’t want to think about his intentions any more, I would dress up, would take my time making the best out of myself, but not for him… for me.

If I was honest I missed going, fine sneaking out and dressing up, especially with Emery together, so why not just do it…even if it was on my own.

If Matt wouldn’t appreciate it in the end, then fine… he wasn’t worth it. I flipped my hair over my shoulder and dismissed him, when I stood at our door which was ajar I searched through the clothes we bought and decided on a cute red dress that I had sneaked in during the shopping, I knew I probably wouldn’t wear in anyway, but somehow I couldn’t walk past it.
I took everything that I needed and headed to the bathroom door, Matt leaned against the wall looking at me with a smirk.

He didn’t comment just opened the door for me and led me in, his eyes wandered over my body and he leaned in before the door closed.
“You can take your time… I’ll make sure no one interrupts you” He said and again his eyes scanned over me, he licked his lips and I swallowed thickly, I felt like he was undressing me with his eyes, and if I was honest... I wanted him too.

“If I’m not leaving now… we won’t leave at all” He muttered under his breath and then ripped his eyes off of me and left the room without a word but before the door closed I heard him yelling orders already and frowned, something weird was going on here… but what was it?!

Notes

Soooo... finally another update!

Give us some comments, pretty pleaseeee ! ;)

Someone is confused and someone got busted, huh?!
What u say to that!?