Chapter 2
Rosier, Evan Rosier
She turned around to see a man in a black suit strolling casually towards them. "Dad…" she whispered fearfully. "Who is that?" -BANG-
"His name is Avery- he works for Rosier. Go back in the house!"
But Lily was rooted to the spot as the man raised a gun and aimed it straight at her head.
"Lily! Now!"
The bullet hit the right rear tyre of the car with accurate precision. Lily jumped as itexploded and retreated back the few steps that were required to be standing in line with her father.
"Tut tut, Evans." the man named Avery scolded "Trying to escape, were we?"
Mr Evans said nothing.
"And who is this young thing?" Avery cocked his head to Lily, a small smirk on his face.
Mr Evans made a strangled sort of noise, before moving so he was stood in front of Lily.
"This is my daughter."
Avery's grin widened. "Well, well. We can't have her knowing of our little secret, can we?" His smiled dropped. "You'll pay for this, Evans."
Edward's eyes darted around the quiet street he called home, from the narrow; terraced houses to the uneven pavement, then, they moved to his daughter.
"Leave Lily out of this. Please." He said quietly.
Avery shook his head as a sleek, black car with darkened windows pulled up alongside them.
"Get in, Evans…both of you."
Lily looked to her father fearfully and he mirrored the look.
"Now!" Avery spat. With shaky hands, Lily slowly opened the car door and climbed in to the leather interior. A man dressed in an expensive suit sat on the opposite side.
"Nott here will make sure you don't do anything rash." Avery called in as her father clambered in soon after. She glanced at the man to her left. He moved his suit jacket enough so Lily could see the hilt of a gun. Her attention shifted as her father grabbed her hand.
"I'm so sorry Lily." He moaned "Oh god, this was never meant to happen."
Lily couldn't speak. She swallowed the lump that was starting to form in her throat and tried to calm her heartbeat. She soon realised this was a pointless endeavour and squeezed her father's hand who was still spewing distraught mutterings and apologies.
"Dad…" she said softly, her voice quivering. "Please shut up."
He looked to her with wide eyes and she squeezed his hand again. He nodded and looked at the passing scenery instead. Quicker than Lily would have liked, the car stopped and her and her father were being dragged out into a dark alley. They were pushed through roughly until they reached a door covered in peeling red paint. Avery pushed past Lily to walk up the door and gave three sharp knocks. The door opened a crack.
"Yes?" a voice hissed.
"We're here to see Mr. Rosier. He asked for Evans to be collected."
The door opened fully and they were being pushed again through the opening. Lily barely paid attention to the hallway as they walked through- it was in total contrast to the alleyway outside. The carpet was deep and a brilliant shade of blue. The furnishings were made of a dark, polished wood- it looked like a show home. The two Evans' were led up the staircase and along a long corridor until they reached a large oak door.
"Wait here." Avery instructed and he walked into the room.
"Where are we?" Lily whispered.
"I don't know." Her father replied hoarsely.
Avery returned after a brief few moments.
"Mr Rosier will see you now." He said with a malicious grin. Lily felt her father shudder next to her and gulped. Surely this was a nightmare? Once inside, Lily squinted as her eyes adjusted to the bright lighting in this room as opposed to the darkened corridor outside. At the other side of the room sat a man with sleek blonde hair. Next to him was a man standing straight-backed and expressionless.
"Who is the girl?" the sitting man asked. Lily followed the sound and met the most piercing set of blue eyes she had ever seen.
"This is Evans' daughter, Sir." Avery supplied. "She was there helping him escape when we came to collect him." The man smirked.
"I see. Her name?" When silence greeted the request, Nott shoved her father forward. "Well, Mr. Evans? What is your charming daughter's name?"
Her father stared at the floor as he mumbled out a soft "Lily."
"Ah. Well, Miss Lily Evans- Evan Rosier, pleased to meet you." She stared at him with wide eyes. "Shy?" he laughed. Lily still refused to talk. Rosier sighed and turned away from her. "So…Edward. Time to talk business."
Mr. Evans met his eyes and swallowed nervously.
"You still owe me quite a large sum of money."
"I can get it to you, Mr. Rosier. I promise! I just need more time."
Rosier shook his head. "Edward, Edward…I'm a reasonable man. Really, I am. I give to the local homeless children's charity once a month. I give our kitchen left-overs to the homeless…but I really, really can't stand it…" he stood and raised his voice "when people LIE to me." Silence followed his words. "And you have lied to me, Edward." His voice was calm and controlled now. "Many, many times."
"I'm so sorry." Mr. Evans whispered; his gaze on the floor.
"What I want to know is…" Rosier mused "is how you intend on getting the money."
"I…I would have to sell some things…pull a few strings…"
"No. No…for me to believe that you will have to learn your lesson…Avery- call Yaxley and have him torch Evans' place."
Mr. Evans and Lily simultaneously blanched.
"No!" Mr. Evans and Lily yelled, he falling forwards onto his knees. "Please! Please! Hurt me instead! Just don't hurt my family." He sobbed.
"You've done that yourself." Rosier sneered, looking down at Mr. Evans with hard eyes. "Do it Avery- and Nott, restrain the Evans'."
-.-.-.-
Peter Pettigrew was normally a quiet sort of man. He kept himself to himself and quite liked blending into a crowd. It was for this reason that he passed unnoticed by the tall, bulky Yaxley strolling down Spinner's End with a gallon of petrol. Yaxley also missed Peter pull out a camera and take the photos that would land him in prison for the next four years. After a good dozen photos had been taken, he pulled out a small walkie-talkie. "Done. He's all yours." He whispered and melted into the darkness.
-.-.-.-
"Sir!" Avery called out urgently as he re-entered the room some twenty minutes after he had originally left. Rosier looked up lazily from where he was reading the newspaper in his armchair, his two captives guarded in the corner of the room. "Sir! We have to move- now!"
"Why, Avery? What have you cocked up this time?" he drawled, sounding bored.
"Sir- Yaxley- he was caught! Seems a neighbour saw him with the petrol and called the police. He's in custody now- there's no saying he won't give away your position if offered a deal."
"Yaxley won't talk." Rosier said, waving a hand "He knows we'll come for him if he does."
"Sir- they'll offer him protection. Yaxley hates being inside. He vowed he never would again."
Rosier pursed his lips and turned to the expressionless man who had not moved a muscle since Lily and her father had entered the room.
"What do you think, Potter?"
The man named Potter glanced down at Rosier. "I think it would be wise to move, Sir." He said in a smooth, deep voice. "Then if Yaxley does talk, it proves you're always one step ahead of the police and gives you time to clean up his mess."
"See? This is why Potter here is head of security." Rosier smiled. "Very good, we'll leave." He stood and it was only when Lily shifted, he seemed to realise he had his own prisoners. He frowned. "It seems like your little family are safe, Evans." He sighed. "So, we'll do your punishment the quick way." And with that, he pulled out a gun and aimed it at Mr. Evans' head.
"Stop!" Lily yelled, panicked.
"Lily…" her father warned, his shaking voice betraying his fear. Rosier looked to Lily amusedly.
"Yes, Miss Evans?"
Lily hesitated briefly, searching her mind for an escape. "T-take me."
"Excuse me?" Rosier asked at the same time her father screeched "What?"
"Take me. As insurance. Don't kill my dad. Give him another chance a-and take me to make sure he comes back…I'll work for you. You don't have to pay me…just make sure it comes off of my dad's debt."
"Lily, don't be ridiculous." Her father snapped.
"No…no." Rosier spoke. "I'm intrigued."
Her father paled. "You can't be serious."
"Yes!" Lily said desperately, grappling onto the idea. "I'll work for you. I'll do whatever you want…please…just don't hurt my family."
Rosier contemplated her for a while, before an evil glint appeared in his eyes. "I tell you what…I'll wipe your father's debt to me completely clean…on one condition."
"Yes?" Lily asked, as her father shook his head, furiously, sensing this would not end well.
"You, Lily, have to marry me."
Silence filled the room- not even Avery was moving out of shock.
"Ok."
Heads whipped around to look at her, even the emotionless Potter raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise.
"Lily…" her dad whispered hoarsely.
"Are you sure, Miss Evans?" Rosier taunted. "A lifetime bound to me…to do my bidding? One toe out of line and your family becomes my next target?"
Lily took a deep breath, but then nodded.
Rosier grinned. "Excellent. We'll send you an invite, Dad."
"NO!" Lily's father yelled, leaping up as far as his bounds would allow him and making for Rosier. Rosier nodded to Nott, who proceeded to knock him over the head with the butt of his gun and he fell to the floor unconscious.
"You promised you wouldn't hurt him!" Lily cried, rushing over to her father.
"He's alive." Nott grunted disappointedly.
"Er…sir? Sorry to interrupt, but we really must go!" Avery said, his eyes darting to the door as if expecting the police at any moment.
"Yes, yes." Rosier said. "Come now, Lily. We must leave."
She closed her eyes briefly, desperately trying to hold back tears as she pressed a kiss to her father's forehead.
"Bye, dad." She whispered.
"Nott- take him back to his house. Wouldn't want his missus to get worried and tell him he must not inform them of Lily's true…ah…predicament."
"Sir." Nott nodded, before starting to drag Mr. Evans out of the door.
"Come, my lady. Your castle awaits." Rosier smiled, offering her his arm. She took it, sticking her chin out defiantly as she did so. For Dad. She chanted mentally to herself. For Mum. For Tuney.
The chants lasted the following few hours she spent in a dark blue saloon car. Potter sat opposite Rosier and Lily, whilst Avery sat in front with the driver. Lily had to try very hard not to be sick. Every so often, Rosier would slide his hand up her thigh and rub circles too high for her to be comfortable with and then smirk every time she flinched. Meanwhile, Potter sat there either oblivious or just uncaring. She found herself focusing on him to try and forget the man next to her- her (she shuddered at the thought) fiancé. Potter was quite thin- for a security guard. She would have expected a bit more muscle, though the suit he was wearing didn't give much away. Everything about his suit was impeccable: from the iron-pressed trousers; to the perfectly cinched tie. Lily thought this was odd. He, obviously, was not a naturally neat person. His hands were calloused and his fingernails, though cut, were uneven. His eyes were a warm honey-hazel, completely contradicting the expressionless state of them and his hair. It was simply, for want of a better word, chaos. Lily supposed it would work on him if his attire was different, perhaps if he were a surfer or musician? But as Evan Rosier's uptight head of security, it just looked weird. He remained indifferent to her stares as well, even though Lily was sure he had caught her looking a few times. She also observed that despite the fact she had not seen him smile once, the corners of his mouth were naturally turned up slightly, indicating he did, in fact, do an awful lot of smiling. She did not understand how that could be possible in this job, unless he was a sadist. She was contemplating that very thought, when Avery's voice pulled her out of her reverie.
"We're here, sir."
"Are you excited, Lily?" Rosier smirked.
"Ecstatic." She muttered. Rosier laughed briefly.
"You know, you really should address me as Evan," he chided, patting her cheek in a patronising manner. "After all, we are going to be husband and wife!"
"Yes, Evan." Lily said, plastering a fake smile on her face.
"That's the spirit. You'll grow to love me, Lily. I'll ensure it." The last sentence was added darkly and so softly, Lily barely heard it.
"Ah, here it is. Rosewood Manor…my family home! Passed down through generations- worth three and a quarter million pounds." Rosier announced proudly.
Lily openly gaped. It was a monstrosity- everything was huge and over-the-top and it was at least six times the size of her own home. The four of them walked in through the iron-wrought gates and large oak door at the front of the house. A butler met them on entry and automatically took their coats.
"Did the meeting go well, Sir?" he asked in a soft voice, his gaze wandering briefly over Lily.
"Yes, it did. Thank you Lupin." Rosier said, wrapping his arm around Lily's waist. "This is Miss Lily Evans. We're going to get married!"
Lupin's eyebrows shot up his forehead. "Indeed, sir?"
"Yes and to you and all other staff, she is to be treated as the future Mrs Rosier, do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly." Lupin said, before bowing to Lily slightly. Lily met his eyes on the way up. They were tired, but friendly and Lily couldn't help but automatically feel like she would perhaps have at least one ally in this place.
"Show Lily to the second guest bedroom on the third floor. After all, we can't be sharing a room before the wedding night, can we?"
Lily shook her head furiously, relief flooding through her being that she would not have to face that for at least a good few weeks.
"Potter- go with her."
He looked taken-aback. "Sir- my primary concern is your safety." He swept his gaze over Lily and she raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Black can mark me, Potter. She's a higher priority. As a civilian, we can't be certain the police or even," he dropped his voice "other agencies won't try and snatch her."
Potter put his hand on Rosier's shoulder and led him out of earshot of the others.
"Sir? Are you talking about the Order? What would they want with…her?"
"Why wouldn't they?" Rosier challenged. "I'm not getting into this now, Potter, but I want you watching her. She is going to become my greatest asset."
Potter paused, but then nodded and strode back to the other three.
"Avery, cover Mr. Rosier until Black gets here. Lupin, Miss Evans, let's go."
-.-.-.-
"This is your room, Miss Evans." Lupin said. Lily cast her eyes around disinterestedly. Yes, it was huge and expensively decorated but it didn't have her childhood toys piled up in the corner or a pile of washing at the foot of her bed that her mum would tell her off about tomorrow morning or a map of the world with pins sticking in every city she wanted to visit… she started to well up and hastily wiped at her eyes.
"It's lovely. Thank you, Lupin. But you can call me Lily."
"Oh!" Lupin said, surprised. "Are you sure, Miss Evans?"
"Please." She begged. "I need some normalcy."
Lupin smiled sadly. "In that case, call me Remus, Lily."
Lily was about to respond when Potter cleared his throat. "Once you've finished having such a heart-warming moment," he said sarcastically "I'd like to get some sleep tonight."
Remus flushed and nodded. "Sorry, sir. I hope you both have a good night's sleep." And with that, he left. Lily felt strangely small without him there. It was the first time all night she had felt a slight slither of hope that it would not all be so terrible.
"You can use the bathroom first." Potter called her from her thoughts. She frowned.
"You're sleeping in here?"
"Yes, Miss Evans. How else am I meant to protect your safety?" he said, as though explaining something to a small child.
"Sorry." She snapped. "There's no need to be so rude you know!" She stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door.
-.-.-.-
Later, when Lily was wrapped up in some of the finest silk blankets in Britain and the cosiest pillows she would ever find and Potter was laid up in a camp bed halfway between the bed and the window, he spoke again.
"It was a very stupid thing you did tonight."
Lily's mouth actually dropped open from shock. How dare he! She ignored him and pretended to be asleep.
"I know you heard me." He said and Lily could practically hear the eye-roll in his voice "You're breathing like an angry bull."
Lily shot up in bed furiously. "I am NOT!" she hissed. "And MOST people would have found what I did tonight oh…I don't know…brave perhaps? Or maybe selfless?" she said sarcastically. Potter snorted.
"You think what you did was brave?" He shot back and Lily was surprised to hear actual bitterness in his tone. "It was completely idiotic. Rosier is never, ever letting you go. There is NO way out. You're here for life and how do you think your dad is going to feel about himself? Knowing it's his fault you're here. Knowing you're going to be a prisoner for the rest of your life? All of your family and friends will never see you again- not properly- and on top of all this you will be in a marriage with a man you despise. How is any of that selfless? Or courageous? Tell me, Evans." He was breathing heavily when he was finished- it was the only sound in the room as Lily stared at her hands. His words were the truth, but they were also so cruel. Not for the first time that night, Lily felt hot tears leak from the corners of her eyes. She tried to think of a comeback, something that would prove he had not broken her- but he had and so she sat there, desperately trying to control her sobs. Eventually one passed through her lips in a gasping shudder. Automatically Potter shifted.
"Are you crying?" he asked.
"It's usually what someone does when they actually have a heart!" she spat. "I had to save my dad and this was the only way to! So I'm sorry if that doesn't fit your definition of anything but 'stupid' but I had no other fucking clue what to do and now I'm here and I'm stuck with him and I'm stuck with you and I want nothing more than to go home and curl up in my parents' bed but I can't so just…just…if you have a decent bone in your body, just leave me alone!" She fell back onto the pillow and muffled her sobs into her pillow.
"Evans." Potter started evenly.
"I mean it Potter: piss off." She grumbled.
"Ev-"
"PISS. OFF!" she screamed. Silence followed her words and she heard Potter shifting on the bed. He made to get up, but then thought better of it and lay back down. She heard his breaths even out after a while, but she stayed wide awake, thinking over all he'd said. Her father would be wrecking himself- she knew he would- but it was better he was alive… wasn't it? She hugged her pillow to her and cried again. How had this happened?
-.-.-.-
A/N: Thank you for the reviews I had for the previous chapter and cheers for reading this. I hoped you liked it! Tell me what you think so far