*FREYA*
I climbed out of the car right after Jacob, staring at the huge mansion in front of us, the building I was locked up in while I have no idea of the monstrous things people in my life were doing. I take a deep breath as we started to walk up the front door, the garage was filled with enough different cars for me to know we weren’t the only ones here. With my heart racing in my chest, the two large security guards standing at the front door, unlocked the door for us to go in.
Fortunately for me, I know this house like the back of my hand so I’d rather risk escaping here than do it back at Jacob’s house plus I still didn’t want to believe my mom is dead. We came to the large living room, a lot of men in black suits could be seen gathered around discussing, even the women were dressed in black and there was an open casket at the far head of the room.
I swallowed back the sob threatening to explode from me as Jacob half dragged me to where Dane Grayson was standing with his monster friends, I didn’t recognize any of them because I don’t know them to begin with. My life started and ended behind these walls, I recalled overhearing an argument that happened between my parents years ago, apparently, Dane wanted me to be homeschooled but my mom disagreed. Looking back now, I wondered how she won the argument.
“Jacob, I’m glad you could make it” He turned towards his associate. “You remember Jacob Xavier? And this is Emma, my daughter” I almost gagged at the word daughter, I made no move to make their outstretched hands until Jacob pinched me.
“It is nice to meet you” I said forcefully before focusing my attention once more on the man who had not only fathered me but might be responsible for the death of my mother.
“I wouldn’t miss paying my last respect to my mother-in-law, her death was very shocking” Jacob responded and I almost rolled my eyes. Are they really all pretending that they don’t know what is going on here? Well, I bet it is normal for men in their worlds to murder their wives. The women were only whispering as if afraid if they speak any louder than that, they will be punished which might be true considering the men they are married to.
“She was my wife…. her death is still very much unbelievable to me” He replied then directed the rest of his words to his associate. “Jacob will brief you about anything you need to know about the project, I would like to be excuse so I can speak with my daughter privately” He started to walk away in the direction of his office, giving me no choice but to follow.
He went in first to seat behind his desk and I purposely kept the door open, just to be on a safe side. Although I didn’t think anyone in the room would lift an eyebrow even if Dane Grayson decided to murder me in front of them.
“Will you shut the door and seat down” He didn’t yell but there was something in the tone of his voice that made me flinch. I hated the fact that I was scared of him. I stared at him trying not to cry as I recalled all the moments we spent together as father and daughter, was he pretending to love me? I would never really understand the way I was raised unless he explain it to me.
“How can I be sure you won’t kill me the same way you killed my mom?” I demanded, enjoying the flicker of annoyance that crossed his face at my words.
“Do you think the people here can stop me if I decided to kill you? And I did not kill your mother, she died from overdose. If you want to see the doctor’s report, it’s right in front of you” He gestured towards one of the files on his desk.
I didn’t bother reaching for it. “You could have force her, and why is she taking drugs in the first place? Was it not to escape the harsh reality you force her into?” I sneered at him.
“Emma, I’m only going to say it this last time, close the door and seat your fucking ass on that chair!” He roared coursing me to jump. I shut the door behind me and did as he instructed.
“Can at least see her?” I managed to say, a chance to say goodbye to her and then start plotting my escape plan. She was the only thing holding me back, the only thing I wished to have from here but she’s gone. I couldn’t stop the tears that roll down my face as I thought about her.
“Believe it or not, I did not kill your mother. I’m not a monster as you think of me to be. You are the reason your mother turned to drugs, after you were abducted, she lost all reasons to live” He explain making me glare at him.
“Are you really going to blame me? I was abducted in the first place because of you! You were planning to ruin my life! How could you ever think getting me married to a man like you would be? Look where she ended up” I wipe away the tears in my eyes, hating how emotional I was getting in front of him.
“I loved your mother” He half said to himself than me. “I never kept who I am or what I do away from her, her only request was that I keep you away from it. I wanted an heir and she couldn’t give me that, so what is the point of loving her when she couldn’t give me one thing I desire? Jacob seems capable of taking care of my empire at first but people can get greedy for power” He paused, looking towards the door.
I wasn’t that surprise to hear him say that but when he spoke about Jacob, that got my interest. Thinking I might get anything to help me escape from it, I encourage him. “Did you change your mind?”
The fact that I was interested made him smile for the first time since I have seen him. “Jacob is plotting behind my back with your cousin” He declared and my eyes widened with shock, so he knew they were plotting against him?
“You knew about that?” God! I feel like flinging myself across the table and choking him to death! How the fuck did I became a pawn in a game I have no knowledge of? And these are the people I trusted! People I thought were my family.
“Of course I do. Do you think I would be a successful crime lord if I trusted people blindly? Which is why I have a plan of my own, I will let Jacob continue to believe he will marry you for now until the paperwork is complete. You are my heir, it does not matter if you are a girl or boy. You survive being abducted by a werewolf, and I have heard stories about you from one of the councils, is it Sophie? You will be taking over my empire” There was a long pause after he declared that, I waited for him to laugh but none came and then I realize he was serious.
I burst into laughter. “Heir to what? Thank you for that very generous offer but I want no part of it! In fact now that mom is gone, I want no relation with you” I spat angrily at him, still having difficulty believing what he just said.
“I’m afraid you have no choice in this. The decision is final….” I interrupted him before he could continue.
“No, listen to me! I want no part of your crime empire! You have no idea what you are doing do you? You are involved with the councils! You traffic humans to them! Do you have any idea what happens to those poor people? People lives don’t matter to you does it? Because you cannot tell me you didn’t see the sign of addiction in my mom but you refuse to help her. You killed her Dane Grayson and I will make you pay, maybe not today or tomorrow but someday I will fuck you up” I threatened and then stood up.
Despite him yelling my name, I ignore him and return downstairs where the open casket was still in place. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me as I approached the casket, tears stung my eyes and my vision blurred.
“Mom” I murmured bursting into tears expecting her to stand up at the sound of my voice but no movement from her, she was truly gone. My mother was gone! Jet was gone! Hunter was gone! Claire, Hazel, Kale, everyone that ever mattered to me was gone.
I burst into tears collapsing in front of the casket. “It hurts” I cried ignoring the hands trying to pull me away because without looking I knew it was Jacob.
“Everyone is watching, stand up this instance” He whisper yell in my ear.
I did as he said, dusting myself from the floor. Dane Grayson had also left his study and was now part of the crowd staring at me, his eyes were challenging as if he was daring me to pick a side by telling Jacob what he told me.
I meant it when I told him I want no part of him, they can both keep playing games and as long as I’m no longer the pawn, I don’t give a fuck. Brushing Jake’s hands off me, I stepped away from him, my mind made up. Today, I was going to escape, like my mom told me. “Risk dying trying to escape than die without trying”
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TBC