Dan “The Body” POV

I quickly jogged down the long dark alleyway with my black hoodie pulled up over my head, shielding my face from the dim street lamp. I still wasn’t exactly sure why the Avenged crew needed me at 3AM, but Christ had given me explicit instruction to stay hidden. I was to be nothing more than a shadow on the wall and make sure no one saw or followed me. So I had been circling the block for the past hour, pretending to be mid-workout to ensure no one was following me.

“We are ready for entry,” I whispered into my headset as I leaned up against the nearest tree, pretending to stretch out my calves.

“Roger that,” my earpiece buzzed before two more black hooded figures appeared at my side.

Without hesitation the three of us made our way through the darkness to the back of the decrepit building. This abandoned warehouse was on the boarder of Huntington Beach and was Avenged Sevenfold’s secondary complex and safe house. I hadn’t been here in years and the fact that we were all meeting here now made me feel a little uneasy. What the hell was going on?

“This cant be good,” Jason muttered behind us as we followed the alley to the garbage shoot at the very back of the building. “They only come here if they are in danger. Have you heard anything?”

I swallowed thickly and shook my head. The last thing I’d heard before I went to bed was that Pagano had arranged a marriage for the younger daughter. I didn’t really think anything of it, considering that Shads and the gang had the Pagano girls with them. Is that what this was about? Was Pagano onto them? But if that were the case, wouldn’t the Berry brothers have given them the heads up? They Pagano’s right hand businessmen after all.

I looked twice over my shoulder, before I climbed inside the old metal garbage shoot. As I slid down the cool metal slide, I could hear hushed voice arguing back and forth, and I knew we were in the right place.

“Let me at ‘em! I’ll bust Shads and the guys out of there! No one takes Avenged off guard! They will pay for this!”

“Calm down, Rev. You know we can’t just charge in there. We need to come up with a plan,” I heard Johnny say as I jumped off the metal shoot. “I just hope the troops are ready to help…”

It had been ages since I had been to the secondary Avenged complex and I could see why. This building was severely out dated in comparison to the other compound. I mean, it was basically one large studio apartment with run-down furniture and old kitchen appliances. There weren’t even separate bedrooms for the guys, just five beds in a line against the brick wall. To me it looked like they almost planned this location to be a temporary safe house.

“But what if it’s too late by then?!”

“Too late for what?” I stepped out of the shadows only to see both Jimmy and Johnny stand up straight and look in my direction. “What’s going on? Where are the rest of the guys?” It was too quiet here, almost eerie. Something was off and I had a feeling that the other guys’ absence had something to do with the secrecy I needed to keep in getting here.

Johnny let out a sigh while Jimmy rubbed his hand over the back of his neck, sending an unsettling feeling into the pit of my stomach. I shook my head, my mind instantly going to the Pagano girls they were harboring in the other compound. “Don’t fucking tell me Pagano has them…” Though by the looks on their faces, I had my answer.

“Pagano has who?” Matt Berry inquired as he and his brother dusted off their clothes.

I hung my head, shaking it slowly, my heart thundering wildly in my chest. This couldn’t be happening right now, especially since everything had been going so well.

“No… how-how could that have happened?” Johnny and Jimmy’s faces must have given them a wordless answer.

“Fuck…”

I slowly looked up to see Johnny and Jimmy exchange a glance before Johnny spoke up. “I don’t know how they found us… we were patrolling the fourth district when the alarm sounded in the car. We pulled over to access the security camera but by then it was too late—” Christ swallowed thickly. “It was bad. Really bad. We didn’t dare go back to the compound because it was crawling with green coats. We came straight here and called you guys…”

“Shit,” I cursed, shaking my head and looking between the Berry brothers. Did they know anything about this? Weren’t they supposed to be the source from inside Pagano’s mansion as his financial advisers? Fuck!

“It will be a fucking miracle if he hasn’t killed them yet…” Jimmy let out a curse and I covered my mouth with my palm, shock still coursing through my veins. How the hell were we going to get them out? Pagano had the most guarded house on the west coast and his own fucking army. “But we’ve got to get them out of there—the girls too. We can’t leave them there with all that engagement shit they’ve been broadcasting—”

“Yeah, I’ve seen the news,” I sighed and ran my hands over my face.

“But it was a bluff,” MB said, clenching his fists. “He said he was just doing the press conference to keep the bidders for the girls. Last I knew the McGinley deal for Emery was on shaky terms because he hadn’t met her yet.”

“Well apparently he got his quick fix,” I retorted bitterly. “And you didn’t see any of this coming when you were there earlier?” Both brothers solemnly shook their heads and I cursed. “Was anyone following you guys?”

“No!” Christ shook his head, looking like he was going to be sick. “I even looked back through all the security footage and there wasn’t a damn sign of a green coat or a suspicious person. I… I just don’t understand how they found us…”

“I don’t care how they found us,” Jimmy burst, throwing his hands up in the air in frustration. “I just want to know how we are going to get our best friends back before it’s too late. I swear if we don’t come up with something soon, I’ll burst in there and take no prisoners!” his eyes were wild as he looked around between us. Jimmy had always been a little crazy but never before had I seen him this unhinged. “I will fucking kill every single one of those bastards! They will get away with taking my friends!—”

“Relax Knife Master,” Jason grabbed onto his arms and pulled them back down to his sides, trying to restrain his wild movements. “We will come up with a plan to get them out. Avenged Sevenfold doesn’t go down without a fight.” He held on tight as Jimmy thrashed in his arms.

I knew Jason was right, but how the hell were we going to get them out? We didn’t know where Pagano was keeping the guys, let alone if they were still alive. Though, knowing Pagano, he would want to make the execution of those who went against him public to make an example out of them. My guess was that he still had his guards are searching for the Rev and Christ. Well, tough luck, he wasn’t going to find them under our watch.

“Do you guys have an appointment with Pagano later today?” I asked, the new cast flashing through my thoughts. Maybe if Pagano was still working on the deal for Emery’s marriage, the Berry’s could get some information, or at least check on the situation.

“No… but we do tomorrow,” MB shrugged, watching his brother lead a struggling Jimmy over to the couch. The guy honestly looked like he was having a mental breakdown and I didn’t think the rest of us were far behind. Never did we ever think that Pagano would steal our boss, let alone his two right hand men. “He wants us to look into the bidding slips from the party and see if we can decipher who the anonymous donor for Jolie was.”

Johnny’s head suddenly snapped up and a small smirk appeared on his lips. “You don’t have to search for the anonymous donor because I know who it is!” Color was quickly returning to his face and I raised a questioning brow. I didn’t follow where he was going with this.

“And who would that be?” MB look skeptical and so did I. How could Christ know that? Though I knew better than to underestimate the little man, he had access to more files and technology than anyone could ever image.

“Shads,” he smirked, crossing arms over his chest with a satisfied look on is face. “He made the bid at the party so he could keep Jolie with him. I think I still have the bid slip and everything. He gave it to me for safe keeping.”

“That’s great and all, but how is that going to get the guys out?” I asked only to have him look me up and down with a mischievous smirk.

“You’re going to Pagano’s as the anonymous bidder for Jo.”

I shook the memory away as I walked down the long gold trimmed hallway with a guard on my side. I could feel the sweat dripping down my back underneath my suit coat, but I couldn’t worry about that now. I had a job to do and I couldn’t blow my cover. As far as everyone in Pagano’s wheelhouse was concerned, I was David Simon, a big business mogul out of Northern California with expensive taste in woman.

It had taken a lot of risky dealings but Christ had finally set up a meeting with Pagano and Jolie through a burner phone. We just used Shads bid card number and called Pagano’s business associates, the Berry brother, and the plan was in motion. Now all I needed to do was meet Jolie and pray that she could do some inside work for us. We just needed one night where we could sneak the Pagano sisters the guys and the guys out without any guards catching on. It was extremely risky, but it was the only choice we had.

“Ahh, Mr. Simon, so good to finally meet your acquaintance,” Pagano’s voice boomed from the end of the hallway as he walked towards me with the world biggest smile. His smile alone made me feel sick to my stomach. How could someone be so happy to sell off his daughter? What a sick bastard. I couldn’t get the girls and the rest of the Avenged crew out of here soon enough. “I’ve heard so much about you!”

Pagano reached out and shook my hand, his smile almost looking manic. Okay, so this guys was definitely a few fries short of a Happy Meal. “Same here. I’m glad I finally get to meet this exquisite daughter of yours.”

“You are in for a treat my good man!” Pagano laughed before the guard opened the door to the office. As soon as we were inside my eyes landed on Jolie, sitting on the ottoman in front of the fire. She looked sad and frightened until her eyes met mine and I sent her look to not say a word. I was going to get her out of here and as far away from her deranged father as I could. I could see why Shads and the guys had decided against returning the girls—this shit was just fucking sick.

“Mr. Simon, this is my daughter Jolie Pagano. Jolie, this is David Simon,” Pagano announced as I crossed the room and pulled Jo into a hug. It was so good to see that she was still in one piece.

“Ssshhhh, it’s fine. We have a plan. Play along…” I whispered in her ear before I pulled away. “Your pictures simply do not do you justice, Miss Pagano. You are simply stunning,” I raved, playing up the act so that Pagano wouldn’t get suspicious. The last thing we needed was for him to catch onto our plan and kill us all.

“Thank you,” Jo muttered, pretending to blush as her father chuckled happily. “You are not too bad yourself… Mr. Simon was it?”

“That’s me,” I smirked, taking her hand in mine and leading her back over toward the chairs in front of Pagano’s desk. “I’m just happy to finally have met you and to finally discuss some of the details of our upcoming nuptials.”

“Yes, let’s talk details,” Pagano said happily clapping his hands together. “I know you said that you would like to take my daughter’s hand in marriage soon, so what were you thinking?”

I looked over at Jo to see her looked panicked for a moment, put I placed my hand on her leg underneath the edge of the desk so Pagano could see. I hope she realized that none of this was actually going to happen and that it was all for show. We just thought the quicker the wedding, the more distracted Pagano would be, giving us the perfect opportunity for our rescue mission.

“I was thinking end of the week, early next week at the latest. I leave for a business trip next Friday and I would love to take my beautiful new wife with me. Have you ever been to Italy, Miss Pagano?” I leaned in towards Jo as she opened and closed her mouth, looking between her father and myself.

I wasn’t sure if she was acting or if these were her genuine emotions. In reality once we got the girls and the rest of our gang out of Pagano’s clutches, we all planned to flee the area. We would be sitting ducks if we stayed anywhere near Huntington Beach. Pagano would want revenge and he would be so generous with the guys’ lives as he was this time.

“Don’t-don’t you think that’s a little soon?” Jolie swallowed, looking at her father with a panicked expression. “I mean I don’t even know him!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Jolie,” Pagano flashed his daughter a stern look before looking back at with a smile. How could the man be so cold toward his daughter? It took everything in my power not to ball my hands into fists. This son of a bitch had it coming to him one way or another, especially now that I understood why the rest of the Avenged guys were so keen on getting the girls out too. “Mr. Simon’s is a great man and is offering to take you to Italy? Wouldn’t that be wonderful? And of course we can work around your busy schedule, Mr. Simon.”

“Miss Pagano,” I turned toward Jo and took her hand into mine, meeting her eyes. She looked slightly panicked and I hoped the look I was giving her would help her relax. This was just all for show, and if our plan worked out, she would soon be back in the arms of the man she loved. “I know this is scary… It’s scary for me too,” I explained. But really this was nerve racking shit right here—lying to the most powerful man on the West Coast. “But if you just give me a chance, I’m sure I could make you a very happy woman.”

I looked back over at Pagano, a plan quickly forming in my head. I needed to calm her down and talk to her alone if we were going to make any of this work. “Would it be possible to take a walk in your beautiful garden with your daughter, Sir? Just a few minutes and then we can come back in to discuss some more details?”

“Of course,” he replied, looking down at his phone with a frown pulling at his features. Suddenly he didn’t look as well put together as he had a moment ago. No, now he looked like he was about to explode. “Take Officer Tucker along with you… I have some business to attend to…” he grumbled before following Jolie and I out the door.

We quietly walked down the long corridor with the guard behind us. He was so close I could almost feel his stare burning a hole in my back, not to mention feel him breathing down my back. Jeeze, what was wrong with this guy? I looked over to see Jolie nervously chewing on her bottom lip and looking at me out of the corner of her eye. I bet she was waiting to talk because she knew it wasn’t safe to do so in the company of her guard.

“So tell me about yourself, Miss Pagano. What do you like to do for fun?” I asked, trying to make it seem like we weren’t about to plot something.

Jo scoffed and shook her head, turning to look at me with a questioning smirk. “I guess what normal girls like to do… hang out at the beach, talk to friends, shopping, going out on the town,” she shrugged, half looking back over her shoulder at the guard.

“So you like to party it up?” Jo shrugged in response and I let out sigh, playing up the awkward tension between us for the guard. “Come on, Miss Pagano. I know this whole situation is a little bazar… but if we are going to make this work, we need to get to know each other. Trust me it’s weird for me too…”

Jolie shook her head before letting out a long sigh, the garden appearing before us through the double doors. “Do you think you could give us a few minutes alone, Jer?” she asked the guard as I continued to walk outside.

“Your father said not to leave you unattended.”

“We wont be unattended. You know that this is the only exit from the garden and if I need help, I will yell. Okay? If I’m going to try to make this work for my father… I have to talk to him…” I could hear the sad tone in her voice and I couldn’t even fathom what she was going through, let alone her sister who was actually being force into a marriage.

“Fine. You have five minutes,” the guard grumbled before Jolie appeared at my side, pulling me toward a small stone bench on the far side of the gardens. We were blocked from the view of the door by a large tree and for that I was thankful.

As soon as we were alone, Jo turned to look at me, her eyes wide and full of questions. “What’s the plan? How are the others?” she rushed out and I gently pulled her down onto the bench next to me.

“Rev and Christ are fine. They are held up at the secondary compound,” I whispered, looking around to make sure no one could be listening in. I still wasn’t sure how safe it was inside this mansion. “But we have an escape plan… but we need some help from the inside,” I started to explain, earning a nod from Jolie. “But first things first, have you heard or seen anything of Shads and the others?”

“I snuck down to see them last night,” she said, tears forming in her eyes as she twisted her hands together. “They are still in good spirits… but I don’t know how much more they can take… they look… bad. I’ll do anything I can to help. I cant stand to see them look like that!” Jo brushed a stray tear away and I swallowed thickly. I was afraid of this.

“We will get them out soon…” I promised. “But we’ll need your help.”

Emery’s POV

My whole body felt numb as I stared blindly into my plate, pushing my dinner around in circles. I could feel every dull throb of my heart, each beat reminding me of me that this whole thing was real. I was being forced into marrying a man that I didn’t love, while the one I did rotted away down in one of my father’s cells. But what other choice did I have? I had to play along with this whole façade or else that awful nightmare would surely become a reality. As much as it hurt to think about marrying another, I knew I had to in order to protect Brian. It was the only way he could possibly get out of this alive.

I took in a shaky breath and momentarily closed my eyes, trying to fight the tears that wanted to come. The guilt and the pain had been weighing hard on me. I didn’t know how I was supposed to carry on as a shell of person with this man babbling across from me. I guess I just had to hold onto the memory of the beach and pray that one day I would be able to see those haunting brown eyes again. Though with each passing day, my hope seemed to fade a little and my new reality started to sink in.

“Emery?”

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, picturing Brian’s eyes staring down at me, promising that everything was going to be okay. I wanted to be with him again, alone in the little beach bungalow, hiding from the rest of the world. We had promised to build our own little slice of paradise, and honestly, that thought was the only thing keeping me together.

“EMERY?!” Mr. McGinley’s silverware clattered to the table and I looked up at him with a started expression on my face. He looked beyond frustrated but I didn’t care. Maybe he would decide against purchasing me if I continued not to respond. “Did you hear and damn word I just said?”

I simply shrugged and looked back down at my plate, piling the mashed potatoes up into a little mountain. I know my father told me to be on my best behavior but this was all I could manage. Thomas didn’t want to hear what I had to say to any of the crap he was saying, which was why I was ignoring him. God, I just wished I could get out here, run away, and never look back.

“I’m going to say this one time, and one time only,” I heard Mr. McGinley say before I felt a shadow looming over my small frame. I swallowed thickly and looked up to see his tall, lanky frame glaring down at me.

“And what’s that?” I muttered, looking away, only for him to grab my chin and roughly yank it back to look at him. I whimpered slightly as he squeezed my chin, my heart thundering in my chest. No… this couldn’t be like the Vipers all over again. I took in a shaky breath, trying to calm myself down as the tears began to rise.

“As my wife, you will be required to follow along and be engaged in any and all conversations. You will respond when prompted and maintain eye contact,” he hissed before I pulled my chin away, the fear transforming into anger. Who the hell did this guy think he was? “And you will learn to love me.”

I scoffed and crossed my arms over my chest. I couldn’t take this any more. I was no ones slave to order around! “And what if I don’t?”

Suddenly I was hauled off of my chair and I found myself inches from Tom’s face. “Then you will face the consequences, my darling,” he said in a sinister tone that made my blood run cold. He set me back down onto my feet and stumbled backwards a little bit. “Now would you like to finish your dinner?”

I gritted my teeth as I took my seat, glaring him down. I wasn’t afraid of this man at all. No, it was my father I was afraid of. I would be damned if this asshole was going to tell me what to do. If he wanted me to talk and respond to him promptly, boy was he in for it.

“Now where were we? Ah yes, guest for the ceremony… I will be flying in my immediate family from Palm Springs. My sisters, my brother Charles, and my parents. Your father said your sister will be coming, yes?”

“Yes,” I growled, giving him the death glare. I kept imaging Brian punching his lights out and taking me far away from this hellhole. I just hoped that dream would become a reality.

“Though I did hear a little rumor that we might be having a double wedding,” Tom continued and my heart stopped in my chest. No… he couldn’t be doing this to Jolie too! She deserved so much more than this! I had to find a way to get us out of this, not matter what it takes. I would protect my sister, Brian, and the Avenged guys to the very end.

“No… that cant be,” I replied, my demeanor instantly changing. Though much to my dismay, Tom really seemed to enjoy that.

“Yes… and actually I think it would be quite nice,” he continued only for me let my thoughts wonder to our escape options. There had to be something I could do… Thankfully after another ten minutes of ignoring Mr. McGinley, Christopher came to take me back to my room.

“This is complete bullshit! How can he expect me to do this!” I raged, angrily pacing my room, or should I say my new prison cell. “How can my own father force me to marry that asshole?!”

“Em… please…. Just sit down and relax. The last thing that we need is for him to hear you,” Chris sighed, running his hands over his face in frustration. I didn’t care that he had been trying to get me to calm down for the past half hour. I was beyond pissed off and hurt by my father’s demands, not to mention completely crushed. He had taken away everything I loved in the past two days, leaving me with nothing. I literally had nothing left to lose… my sister and Brain were already gone… Now all I was left with was a control freak fiancé who I loathed completely.

“Good let him fucking hear me!” I screamed, looking at my guard like he was out of his mind. I had lost all control and I couldn’t stop myself now. I couldn’t hold in my frustrations any longer. “I am not some papered princess! I refuse to be some prize that he can just sell away! I’m not doing it, not matter what he says! I’d rather live in the cell! He’s already taken everything from me! What’s one more thing?”

“Em you know you don’t mean that and disobeying him will only make things worse. Maybe if you just play along with him, he will let you see Jolie again,” Chris sighed. He looked beyond frustrated with me but I didn’t care. He used to be on my side but apparently I didn’t matter to him anymore. “Besides it will be my ass on the line if he hears you.”

I scoffed and turned toward him with a pointed finger, getting right up in his face. “You only care about yourself! You’re just as bad as he is!” My heart throbbed painfully in my chest as I looked back at him. Chris and I used to be so close and now he had chosen the side of the devil himself. I couldn’t believe my one friend in this hellhole, besides my sister, had turned on me.

Chris let out an exasperated sigh and looked up at the ceiling. “That’s not fair, Em. I’m just doing my job. You know if I don’t your father will have my head. Will you please just humor him, just once… for me?”

“No!” I bellowed, pulling at my long blonde locks. “What part of this don’t you fucking understand! I’m. Not. Doing. Any. Of. It! I’d rather be back in that gross basement cell with the Vipers!”

I turned my back on Chris, feeling the tears forming in my eyes. All those awful memories came flooding back and wrapped my arms around my body, rocking slowly. Come on, Em… don’t go back there. You’re safe here… I told myself, trying to recall Brian’s face. Those brown eyes were all I needed to keep from revisiting that nightmare over and over again.

As I pinched my eyes shut, I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist, pulling me backwards into a hard chest. The smell of Chris’ cologne washed over me and I instantly stiffed. These weren’t the arms or aroma I wanted around me. No, the man that I craved was locked away in the basement prison and god knows if he was still alive. All I had was his last note to hold onto. Fuck, I needed him so badly it hurt!

“You know you don’t mean that either,” his voice purred in my ear and I clenched my jaw. “You father isn’t nearly as bad as what you experience while you were with them. He just wants you to have a bright future and has your best interests as heart.” I felt like I had been slapped in the face.

I turned around to face Chris so quickly that I the sudden movement made me feel dizzy. “Get out!” I hissed, my eyes narrowing on him as my chest heaved up and down. How dare he defend him! He was no father of mine. If he was he never would have done any of this to us! But what hurt the most was the fact that my guard had taken his side. What the hell was wrong with him?! Didn’t he see anything wrong in all this?!

“What?” Chris asked, looking taken aback by my words.

“Did I stutter? Get. Out!” I growled again, my temper rising as the reality of it all set in. I was literally alone in all this…

Chris chuckled and shook his head as he took a step toward me. “Come on, Babe. You know I cant—”

“I don’t give a flying fuck what you can’t do. Get out of my room,” I ordered and this time it was Chris who looked like he had been slapped in the face. “I don’t want to see your face anymore.”

“But I was ordered to keep watch over you—”

“Then keep watch on the other side of my door. I mean it, Christopher… Get out!” I warned on the verge of losing it completely.

“But—”

“GET OUT NOW!!”

“As you wish,” Chris said with a sigh before he headed out of the room. As soon as the door shut behind him, I broke down all over again because my nightmare was quickly becoming a reality.

Without thinking twice, I moved over to my desk and pulled out Brian’s note, the sobs raking my body. This was all I had. This one shred of hope—one thing to look forward too…

I quickly opened the small piece of paper, my heart hammering painfully inside my chest.

We will have our own paradise. Just you and me, Em. Be strong for me. We will get through this. Love, Brian

The tears rolled down my cheeks as I read the note over and over again. It wasn’t enough. I selfishly needed more, but there wasn’t anything. Nothing to tell me how he was holding up; no plan to get out of here. Was he losing hope too?

“No… we will both make it out of here,” I cried, pulling out a piece of paper and writing my soul down on the paper. I had to tell him how much I cared for him and how sorry I was that everything had turned out this way. It may be the last time that I ever got to talk to him, so I wanted to make it count.

As I continued to write, my eyes slowly started to droop, exhaustion from crying and the stress of the day finally catching up with me. I finished the letter and let my eyelids fall shut, the darkness taking me captive in a dreamless sleep.

“Miss Emery? Miss Emery?”

I felt my body being shaken awake and I jumped to the side, falling off my chair with a loud thump. My heart was racing wildly as I looked up to see my maid, Espinoza, looking down at me with a concerned frown and a letter in her hand. No!

“What is this, Miss?”

Notes

And here is another chapter for you lovely readers! Thank you for sticking with us and for your comments! We love to hear form you! Tell us what you thought of the newest chapter!!