Brian’s POV

“Actually you’re coming to the meeting with me” I said and her head snapped back to me.
“W-What?” She gapped, totally confused and I had to hide my smile “Why?”

“Well princess,” I said and guided her to the bed, I didn’t know why but it felt like everything always led me back to the bed with her. Like a magnet pulling us there. I wanted to hold her, feel her, comfort her even.

“I talked to Shads and told him about everything and we are meeting to come up with a plan to keep you from going back with your asshole father,” I said and saw hope flicker in her eyes. “I told you I would make good on my promise, didn’t I?”

“So I get to stay?” she lifted her head, so I could see her face fully and I felt hope inside me too, I didn’t want to let her go, I didn’t really know what I wanted, but I was sure I wouldn’t let her go back to that bastard of a father.

“If everything works out, you’ll be stuck with me princess,” I almost growled, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. I needed to feel her close to me, breath her in, did she want to stay? Why didn’t she just fucking say so, but she kept silent.

“There’s no way you’re going back to that asshole to be sold off. And what is all this shit about being forced into medical tests and implants?” I took the chance to ask, or rather demand, I still couldn’t believe she hadn’t said a damn word to me. “Why didn’t you tell me?

“I thought the whole selling your daughter stuff covered it all,” Em went into defensive mode and snapped back at me. “How did you find out?” She frowned and I wasn’t satisfied with her answer, I wanted more details.

“It doesn’t matter how I found out,” I sighed and wanted her to trust me in this, “Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked again and tried to hide the hurt feeling that was coursing through my body. “And what the hell did he do to you?”

She opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to decide what to reveal? I wanted to know it all, so I could give her father the payback he deserved once I got the chance to do it.

Em slowly pulled away and I frowned, I felt immediately how the cold replaced the warmth of her body, feeling like she was shutting me down… yet again. “Why do you care?”

I sighed and made a quick move forward, grabbing Em’s hips and pulling her back to me. I wouldn’t let her get away, I wouldn’t let her pull away like that. I knew I had to say something, knew I might even have to reveal something I wasn’t ready for, wasn’t even sure what it was myself, but if I wouldn’t do that now, I knew she wouldn’t get to trust me again.

“I just want to make sure that you never have to go through any of that again,” I said softly, my breath tickling the back of her neck and I saw her shiver, I did affect her and she knew it.
I left out the punishment I wanted to dish out to her father, because this wasn’t the place and time to reveal that.

I thought about my next sentence for a while, not knowing how to put it in words the way I could make her understand that I wasn’t always the asshole she probably thought I was. I wanted her away from this guy, and wanted her preferably in my bed, I wanted her smiling and happy, and hoped maybe she would see that this happy place could be here?!

“And believe it or not, I do care about your well being and want you to stay someplace where you’ll be happy.” I said and hoped she would get the meaning behind it, without me having to really voice it.
Em kept slilent and I knew our time was up and the meeting would soon start, this was important, we couldn’t be late, it was about her or genereally about the girls future. I let Emery out of my question from earlier, but was sure this topic wasn’t entirely done, at least not for me.

“Gates will you fill them in?” Matt asked and I was glad the meeting was finally about to start, it was really hard for me sitting next Em and not being able to openly touch her. Show her that I was there for her, but I couldn’t do that, not as Shads was displaying it so demonstratively with Jolie on his lap.

I had Em sitting beside me, my thigh brushing hers, my arm draped aound the back of her chair. Em didn’t seem like she felt comfortable, and I wanted nothing more than to pull her onto my lap and hold her close, I knew she would melt against me, and I could then calm my nerves with inhaling her perfume.

When I was deep enough into the story and Em still hadn’t moved or looked any less freaked out, I let my hand slowly move away from the back of the chair and over to her shoulder, it was a small movement and innocent enough that no one would think it was weird or assume anything.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Zack raged when I finished. “What a sick perverted fuck!” Em cast her eyes down on the floor, both girls looked pale and I wanted to keep my little princess away from this, but she had gone through all this by herself, now we had to find a solution.

“We can’t let that happen,” Jimmy agreed shaking his head. “We’ve got to do something,” he looked utterly disgusted.

“That’s why we called the meeting,” Matt stated, sitting up a little taller in his chair. “We obviously can’t return the girls to Pagano, so we need a plan on how to keep them and get what we need in return,” Matt explained and I saw the first movement from Em since we entered the room, she rolled her eyes and I had almost chuckled seeing that was the first reaction from her really.

“As you know we are on contract with Pagano right now to help find the girls. The Rev delivered some security videos to him tonight that made it appear that the Vipers have Jolie. But as part of our contract we will need to eventually return the girls to him to get the rest of our territory back,” Matt explained as the others nodded.

“But is getting that territory back worth the risk of losing the girls?” Zack asked and I nodded in agreement, looking at Emery out of the corner of my eye. I had to make sure Emery was safe and that was worth more then a piece of land. Damn, I never thought I would think that way.

“So how could we break out of the contract without him getting suspicious?” Matt asked looking at us one by one, I was silently just glad that Matt had come to reason and knew both girls had to stay, that was what this was about, right? The girld would stay, no matter the other outcome.

“What if we stage the girl’s deaths?” Jimmy asked, causing everyone to turn and look at him. “You know, use the initial ransom that the Vipers put out that Pagano refused to pay and ‘kill’ the girls as punishment?” Jimmy shrugged. “We could take pictures of them looking dead with makeup and everything and send them to Pagano along with a box of ashes or something?”

I thought about Jimmy’s idea for a moment and had to agree, that wasn’t as bad as it first sounded, “That just might be crazy enough to fucking work,” I said, pursing my lips as I thought about it. “Short Shit could you do some research into the Vipers ransom and find out if we could use it to our advantage?” The girl would have to go into an unlimited time of hiding, but weren’t they doing that already? Until we were sure Pagano had believed the show and would take out all the Vipers. We would be finally getting territory back while the girls got their freedom.

“We will have to make sure everything fits on the appropriate time table to make that work,” Matt added thoughtfully. “It has to be flawless or else Pagano will be onto us.”

“So what are we going to do with the girls after all this?” Zack asked, looking between the Pagano girls. “Obviously Jolie will be staying with us, but what about Emery?” I felt Emery’s shoulders stiffen under my touch, her head slowly lifting up as if to finally be part of the talk.

Wasn’t that obvious, she would be staying, where else should she go?! We had to hide her, keep her safe until everything was going normal again, then we could organize them some new names and passports, we could give them new identities, after a while no one would question it at all.

I turned to look at Emery and it seemed like Em was staring at her sister, I lifted my eyes and saw Jo giving her sister a smile, she looked at her hopeful and they both turned their heads to the sides as if they were having a silent conversation. I noticed that Matt was looking at Jo the way I was trying to gain any idea of what the two girls were thinking, but ended utterly clueless.

“Can I say something” Jo finally broke the silence in the room, while all five us as had watched the two girls with confusion.

“Sure babe, do you have an idea?” Matt smiled at her and I had never heard Matt use this tone with anyone, especially not in an important meeting, normally his temper was already at the highest and just the slightest irritation send him boiling over, this was something new.

“I thought…” Jo started and gave Em another smile, then lifting her eyes to look over each one of us “It is pretty clear that if the plot you were planning right now is working out, Emery and I need a secure place to stay, we need to hide and be protected.” She looked at Matt touching his cheek with a smile “I have that here.” Matt nodded “You are damn right, love” He smiled at her grabbing her hand pulling to her lips while Em this time didn’t roll her eyes, I saw her looking at me, but when I turned to her fully she turned away, as if nothing happened, making me frown.

“So, we need to be safe and protected, but don’t want to be trapped, we have been trapped for enough time in our life. We want to finally gain the freedom we deserve” Jo continued and up till now I really liked what she was saying. Em would be safe here, I would protect her, she would have it good.

“Em deserves someplace to go where she can be happy and out of the danger zone, she needs to find a place where she can live without trouble, with a man who loves and cherishes her just the way she deserves, and I know out there someone is just waiting for her” Jo finished and my heart almost skipped a beat, Jo wants to send her sister away, to some other man? Who would love and what!? No, no no!

I swallowed, my mouth feeling dry all of a sudden and I clenched my fist, I wouldn’t let her be send away.
“I agree, what about we send her to Dan- The Body, we could introduce them and he could take her to his palce outside of Pagano and Sevenfold territory, she would be safe and who knows what could work out there” Johnny said and I stiffened, turning my face to him, I could just freaking murder that little fucker right here right now.

I wouldn’t accept Emery going to Body, he had no business spending time with my princess. She was fucking mine, and I wouldn’t let anyone else have her! He would think she was free game, and what if they fell in love, what if she would do exactly what her sister just said?! I couldn’t deal with that, my head full of thoughts that my brain couldn’t process.

“That could work out” Matt mused and I stared at him, willing him to say otherwise, that she would be here the safest, but I didn’t dare say anything myself, it would be too obvious if I did so.

I felt eyes staring at me, boring into the side of my skull and when I turned I saw Emery’s eyes. She was looking at me, hurt and anger in those blue orbs, but why, weren’t we just trying to figure out what was best for her?!

She must know I wouldn’t let her be sent someplace far away… hell how could these assholes even think of it like that?! When I didn’t say anything, Emery suddenly stood up, my hand falling from her shoulder, she swirled around and shoved the chair flying backwards and slammed the door closed after she stormed out of the room.

FUCK! How could they even think about sending her away! I couldn’t believe these so called brothers were even wasting a goddamn thought over it! I wanted to keep her safe, when we kidnapped them, Em was my fucking responsibility, I wouldn’t let her be protected by someone else!

Now, look how genius your idea turned out, she fucking left, angered and probably afraid to go someplace she didn’t know! How could they think its right… and what if she would want to go?! What if… what if that would be indeed best for her?!

It couldn’t be, fuck it just couldn’t.. I wanted to be with her, see her, I fucking wanted her as mine. I grabbed the next thing I could reach and threw it against the wall beside me, the lamp hit the wall, the glass breaking, the cable ripped off and Matt pushed to his feet narrowing his eyes at me, while he had Jo pushed beside him.

“WHAT THE FUCK! YOU GONNA CLEAN THAT SHIT UP; NOW GET OUT OF HERE!” He yelled and I huffed out air, wanting to destroy more, wanting to punsh someone, something, anything.

I headed for the door noticing Jimmy had left after Emery and I felt even more anger, he was now the one comforting her, hell no! Just before I closed the door I heard Matt say “We gonna talk about this again, Gates!” I slammed the door shut, I had more important things to do now.

Jo’s POV

I knew my sister was still mad at me for keeping a secret from her, and really I could understand her. I mean if I would put myself in her shoes, I would have probably reacted the same, but then again, did she just once think about me?

Did she once, think how I was feeling in all this? That I had finally found something for myself, that made me happy, and that I wanted to hold on to it?
Matt was the one thing, the one person beside Emery that I thought I could trust completely.

I would have told Emery about us, and I know now, I should have done so from the start, but the way she reacted while finding out, it was exactly how I had thought it would go, she didn’t realize that I was really having feelings for Matt.

That we belonged together and this wasn’t just some game, couldn’t she see how much he meant to me? Couldn’t she see that I meant something to Matt as well? Didn’t she want me to be happy, because I knew I wanted for Emery to be happy?!

I wanted for her to feel the same way I felt with Matt, I wanted for her to be loved and to love in return and that was exactly what was between me and Matt.

I just had to get through Em’s stubborn behavior and make her see, once she would finally realize this was real, I knew we would get back together the way we were, but we were both stubborn to the core and Em even more than me, so no wonder she was backing out, distancing herself from me, from everyone…

During the whole meeting I watched Emery closely, I felt Matt’s strength behind me, he was giving me warmth and the courage I needed. Just where my father had always put us down, Matt was encouraging me and helping me to stand up for myself.

I felt secure and loved and that was what Emery needed to, so she wouldn’t back out and back down. She just needed the help of someone as devoted to her as Matt was to me or I to him.

My eyes moved over to Gates, he was sitting close to my sister, I didn’t know if anyone beside me noticed but he was running his hand over her shoulder, touching her hair, feeling the strands between his fingers and then back to her shoulder.

His eyes while talking went to his boss mostly, but when he stopped every now and then they were directed at Em. Like seeing if she was okay with what he said, his body seemed relax but I could see his clenched jaw, his tense muscles underneath his shirt, as if ready to jump and attack at every move or word that was said wrongly.

Hadnt I been suspecting something weird was going on between those two for a while now?! Though Emery didn’t lift her head once or look at Gates, he seemed all to aware to all her little movements, just the shift of her seating or the direction of her eyes was making him move in return, a frown fell over my face knowing something was going on.

They didn’t act as lovers, at least not as Matt and I did. I knew when we were still not able to talk about us openly, I had a hard time still keeping away from him, and he was struggling the same battle, now that we could openly enjoy each others company there was no hinderance between it, but Em and Gates were acting differently.

Was he acting as her bodyguard after all we been through wanting to protect her or was there more to his weird bahavoir?

I planned on watching him more closely to get a clearer view on the situation, something was really going on with that guy, I just couldn’t pinpoint what exactly.

The talk went on and on, it felt like that at least. I heard things, I knew I heard things that I hoped never to deal again with. Neither Em nor me.
We were free now, or at least as free as we could be in a situation like this. Or was it more like I was free, and Emery was still feeling trapped.

I zoomed in on her, watching how miserable she looked and I regretted not being able to be there for her, felt hurt that she wouldn’t want my comfort right now. She hated me, I could see it in her eyes. She felt betrayed and hurt and like nobody loved here, which wasn’t the case.

She would always be my little sister, my best friend, my trusted person, my everything, no matter what. I would never let her go back to a place where we were both in pain and held hostage. I would never let her be traded into something where I could escape from.

We had always been in this together and I would never let her live through any of that alone, even if she was thinking I would. There was no way…

“Can I say something” I broke the silence in the room, my eyes were on Emery, she had slowly lifted her head, her hurt eyes boring into mine, while I tried to make her see that I only wanted the best for her.

“Sure babe, do you have an idea?” Matt smiled at me, I could see it from the corner of my eyes and to make him know I appreciated his words I patted his chest lightly, smiling back as well.
“I thought…” I started and gave Em another smile, then watched each of Matt’s men in the room, they should all be in on this, it would probably concern them all, maybe one even more than the others. “It is pretty clear that if the plot you were planning right now is working out, Emery and I need a secure place to stay, we need to hide and be protected.” I knew where my place was, with Matt was it. I let my thoughts fly and told them just what I imanged for not only me, but especially Emery.

“Em deserves someplace to go where she can be happy and out of the danger zone, she needs to find a place where she can live without trouble, with a man who loves and cherishes her just the way she deserves, and I know out there someone is just waiting for her” I voiced my thoughts and Emery’s eyes seemed for a moment to be hopeful. I don’t think anyone really noticed but her body shifted to the side, her eyes just for the blink of an eye were on Gates beside her, until she let her eyes fall back down.

“I agree, what about we send her to Dan- The Body, we could introduce them and he could take her to his palce outside of Pagano and Sevenfold territory, she would be safe and who knows what could work out there” Johnny said and I saw Emery stiffen, her eyes went up meeting mine again, then over to Gates anger and hurt all over again. My idea was to have her somewhere where she would be safe and loved, but I knew exactly what Emery only heard from this situation, being sent away!
“That could work out” Matt mused and I frowned, he also didn’t get it, I would talk to him later, if he meant she would be really safe there, I would ask for a way for me to stay there too, to settle her in and then when Emery made the decision she wants to go elsewhere she would be able to go. I wouldn’t make her stay someplace she didn’t want to be in, that was just the same as it been here, at least in the beginning and then with our dad. That would make her feel trapped again, make her feel like just another prison to stay in.Em’s eyes were filled with tears, when she threw me a final look, before she stared at Gates with open hate and regret, at least that’s what I would name that certain look and then she stormed out.
She slammed the door shut, making me jump and I heard Matt sigh. I was about to get up and follow her when I saw that Jimmy was already out closing the door softly, I guess he would be the right person to calm her down now.

Suddenly I heard a lout crash and was shoved behind Matt’s tall frame, I hadn’t even realized something had happened until I heard glass breaking and Matt’s booming voice.
“WHAT THE FUCK! YOU GONNA CLEAN THAT SHIT UP; NOW GET OUT OF HERE!”
With that not only Gates who had apparently a freaking meltdown, and I could almost name just why, all of the other guys scrambled from the room.

I went around the desk and was about to pick a shard of glass up, when a big hand covered mine and I was lifted of the floor and onto Matt’s desk. Matt moved in between my legs, a frown on his face. “You didn’t just think about cleanding that shit up, did you?” He asked, his voice still gruff and I looked into his face, he was still angry, but I knew he wasn’t upset with me.

“Well…” I started and he shook his head “You will not clean shit up that my men fucked up. Gates will get here as soon as he fucking got a grip on himself… that’s his mess he made, he gets it back in order. A rule we all always went through with.” Matt said and I nodded against his chest.

“I have no idea what is wrong with that guy… he always was a hot head, but not as bad as me. That right there, was a move I would make… not him. I don’t get what’s going on in his head” Matt sighed heavily and I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to bring his man into trouble and putting ideas into Matt heads if I wasn’t sure they were really true.

I let my arms slide around Matt’s waist and pulled him closer, my head resting against his chest and I inhaled deeply. We stood like that for a while, until Matt slowly pulled away “Come on, babe… We head back to our room, I have a thing or two I want to do with you” He smirked showing me his dimples and I was really tempted.

“I would love that, but-” I started and Matt immediately frowned, his brows drawn together and I had to hide the chucke that wanted to escape me.

“But?” He asked lifting his eyebrow and continued before I could “What is more important than you and me?” He asked and I smiled up to him “Emery, I need to talk to her, you saw how she stormed out, I need to make this between us right again, she is my sister Matt…” I said and Matt rubbed a hand down his face “Damn it… You are too good for me…for everyone” He muttered but let go.

“Fine, let’s find where she is and then talk, but I promise you, I won’t tolerate her making you sad. If shit got out of hand come to me, I’ll be here, making some business calls, trying to set in motion what I can about this situation” He held his hand out to me and I nodded pressing a quick kiss to his lips that Matt immediately took as as a chance to draw me in closer, he opened up, his tongue running over my bottom lip and I let him in, playfully nipping on his lip until he growled.

“If you keep that up I won’t let you out of my sight for even a second, Jo” He threatened and what could I say, I loved those kind of threats, but that had to wait till after my sister talk.

I pushed away from his chest and Matt groaned, readjusting his pants and followed me out of his office “I manage to find her on my own” I chided, which didn’t concern Matt the least, he put his hand on my lower back, running circles, getting lower and lower, a playful smile on his lips.

“I know you can” He shot back until we stood before Gates room. “But I like staying by your side, and with the mood Gates is in, I want to make sure he calmed down by now.”Matt knocked loudly at the door “GATES!” We heard voices but the door was too heavy for us to hear what was really going on inside.

“OPEN THE FUCK UP!” Matt yelled again until a raised voice could be heard “WHAT?!”A bark I could identify as Gates voice.

“OPEN UP!” Matt wouldn’t give him more, probably so he couldn’t refuse in the end.
“FUCKING HELL!” Gates voice sounded, the door opened and I saw Emery sitting on the bed while Gates pushed himself in the frame blocking my view.

“I want to talk to Em, in private” I said and Gates looked at me lifting an eyebrow “She cant” A growl came from beside me and I heard rustling behind Gates. “Let her talk to her sister, Gates” Matt’s voice low and angry “What if she doesn’t want to talk to her” Gates shot back just as angry.

“I want to” Emery’s voice sounded and she pushed at Gates so he stepped aside. I took Emery’s hand even though she looked at me for a moment and I thought she would pull away again, but in the end she didn’t.

“We weren’t done, princess” Brian growled but I wasn’t too sure if I heard him correctly “Yes, we were”
Em shot back and I let her away, Matt didn’t follow this time when I led Emery towards the living room, no one was around, so we had a little private moment.

“First of all” I turned to face Emery and she still looked upset and hurt “I wanted to apologize. I am sorry, sorry for not telling you right away, sorry for thinking I you wouldn’t understand. Emery, you are my sister, my best friend, my only family left” I said that and meant it, after discovering what was behind all what our father did, I wouldn’t count him as family ever again.

“I should have known better, you were worried for me, and I love you even more for that. But I can assure you, Matt doesn’t-” She shook her head “Jo… please, don’t” I frowned and shook my head, taking her hands in mine to make her look at me.

“He doesn’t hurt me, and I love him. But that doesn’t mean, I would let you be send away. You are my family, Em. You and me, we were always one unit” I smiled and Em’s smile turned into a sob “But you chose him… not me” Em said and I felt like I was stabbed in the heart.

“I didn’t chose him over you… this is no competition, Em” I touched her cheek and she lifted her head “Yes, Matt and I want to be together, but that doesn’t mean I can’t spend time with you… and what I said in the meeting, I didn’t mean to send you away, I just meant that you deserve a place where you feel like you belong there, find a man for yourself, love, freedom… If you don’t feel it here-” I trailed off and Em’s eyes widened, or did I just imagine that, then she quickly averted her eyes and I frowned.

“Em?” I asked “Are you okay?” She nodded, but wouldn’t meet my eyes “You know I never meant to hurt you, right? And that I am sorry” I asked and she nodded again “I’m just- It’s just- I’m jealous, okay?!” She finally snapped and I shrank back.

“What?” She finally looked at me again “I want what you have. I saw you with him, saw him around you… I cannot stand it, because… I want to have that, too. Jo! Why does nobody want me the way he wants you?!” Em finally broke free and her words stunned me, I had no ideas she was feeling that way, when a thought crossed my mind.

I hugged her to me, and after a stiff moment, Emery finally gave in, she held me close and sobbed. I let my hand run over her hair, like I used to do when Emery was upset, I murmured in her ear that everything would be fine.

I held her and let her tears fall until she would be too exhausted, when she slowly calmed down, I still held her “Then what is going on with Gates… I know something is happening with you two, Emery. You don’t have to tell me now if you don’t feel like it, but let me tell you something, after you ran from the meeting, he head a meltdown himself…” I waited for her reaction, but she didn’t move a muscles waiting for me to continue as it seemed, so I did.

“He threw the lamp against the wall, cursing and throwing a fit… If you ask me, I would say he wasn’t happy about the fact that you would be going anywhere else” I said and that was the first time I said my thoughts out loud and when I pulled away and looked into Emery’s almost hopeful eyes the things became a little more clearer for me.

Notes

Sooo another chapter :)
What do u think!?
Let us knowww!


Ps. If u havent checked it out yet...
My lovely co-writer Kay has a story together with Hollie called : Behind closed doors
You should def. check it out!!

And if you have even more reading hunger, you can also check out my story : Choices

Thank you girls for staying with us! :)
Mei