Greetings all... another chapter... there might be another one by the week's end as a thank you for your patience. Marsupial... this one is for you... love you.
Much love,,, I own nothing...
Chapter6
"Who the fuck are you?" Naomi faced off against the man in the doorway. Effy shook her head and looked at Emily who was on the verge of a panic attack. She reached out to her and took her hand.
"Like I says. I work for Mr. Martin and he won't want you two hanging around'er. Best bugger off." He wasn't entering further into the room and he didn't bother meeting Emily's eyes or Effy's. He was staring off with Naomi which suited her fine. She needed someone to lash out at.
"Doesn't bloody answer who you are. And I give zero shits about this Mr. Martin. And unless the Prime Minister herself comes down here and politely asks me to leave the room, I'm not fucking moving. And chances are I still wouldn't fucking go." She crossed her hands across her chest. Effy didn't open her mouth.
"Cook. James Cook. And I think if Mr. Martin walked in'ere, you'd be fussing a lot less." He pulled out his wallet. "Maybe you need some sort of recompense for being good samaritans." He started counting out £50 notes. "Maybe £600 does the trick?" He held them out to Naomi who was glaring at him.
"Fuck... off." She stepped in front of him. "Take your sodding money and shove it up your arse. I don't care who you fucking work for. I don't care what you think you can walk in and do. Get the fuck out of here before I call security and have you escorted out. Or better yet... I can call the police and you can talk to them about your employer." Cook eyed her then.
"Feisty. I like that." He finally looked up at Emily. "You know he'll have a shit fit over all this little one. Your sister won't be none too pleased either." When she didn't respond, he tried a different tactic. "Look you both helped. It's appreciated. Truly. Mr. Martin and Ms. Fitch are away and left Emily in the care of one of their security men. Unfortunately, he underestimated how quick she is. He lost her in a crowd, called me but by the time I got to the locale, she wasn't there. I've been looking everywhere ever since."
"Security man lost her. How careless. But thinking you mean goon."
"That hurts luv. You hardly know me." He smiled a boyish grin and touched his hand to his heart. "What can I say to make you understand that I need to care for her? That I need to phone Mr. Martin and tell him she's ok."
"If you want to call your boyfriend, be my guest. But her welfare doesn't concern you or him anymore."
"Naomi." Effy tried interrupting.
"Get out before I lose my patience." The blonde wasn't to be deterred.
"Naomi."
"What?" When she turned around she noticed how scared Emily was. She was literally shaking. She was by her side in a blink. "Hey... you're safe. No one is hurting you again. Not while I'm around. Ok?" She reached out but let Emily decide if she could take her hand. It took a moment but the scared woman linked their hands. Effy stepped to the man who was taking everything in.
"Can we talk outside? Please?" She was stern but managed to meet his eyes and appealed to what she hoped was his better side. He shrugged and stepped out of the room. She took a moment to close the door to the room as she exited.
..
"What the fuck are you doing'ere?" Whispering, he closed the distance between them now that they were alone.
"I'd ask you the same but we both know the answer. You've got to leave Cook." Effy was keeping her own voice low. She didn't need Naomi hearing her.
"I've got my orders and unless..." A nurse was walking past them and he stopped whispering.
"Your orders are shit and you know it. Walk away for a bit. Let Naomi and I take Emily."
"That'll go over like a fart in church Eff." He ran a nervous hand over his short hair. "How'd you find out?"
"Naomi rode up on her white horse as per. She saw who it was and called me. Had me dig around."
"And you what? Handed information on a silver platter?" He was angry at her. She nodded. "Fuck Eff. Do you know what that can do?"
"It can get that girl out of a shit situation."
"And you talk about Naomi's white horse. Jesus." He turned away from her and seemed to be calculating something. "He knows she's'ere. I called him as soon as I found out. He and Katie are in Greece and the flight isn't til later."
"So we've got a couple hours then at least." He turned to her.
"A couple hours? You trying to get me killed?"
"Not today." She smiled at him. "Disappear. Give me an hour. One."
"What then?"
"Then you call the dicksplash and tell him she rabbited. Tell him you'll put more men on it. Cause a scene. Act the tit. You're good at that." He smiled at her. "I can get her to a safe house. Keep her out of sight. Let her recover a bit. She almost did herself in."
"Fuckin'hell. I warned him, I fucking told him he was pushing too far. The past six months..." She put a finger to his lips.
"Stop. I don't want details. Not now. I can handle a lot but I need to get her out of here. I'm opening that door and you need to make it a good show tiger."
"I hope you know what you're doing Eff."
"Don't I always?"
..
Katie was sitting on a bench in the park. Her tears falling freely. It had only been three days. Three days since her entire world collapsed around her. She remembered their mum grabbing the keys, yelling and ranting. She was aghast that her daughter would be kissing another girl in public. She'd railed on about it. This wasn't a teenage phase. This was her besmirching the family name, their honor. Their dad tried reasoning with her, asking her to wait until Emily came home to talk to her. In the end it didn't work. They left in the family car only to be hit by a truck that had missed a light. Death was instant according to the police who called in on her and James. Emily wasn't home yet. She remembered asking the officer if there had been anyone else in the auto. She imagined them picking her up and her losing all of them. It was almost enough to make her collapse.
She'd escaped the house full of relatives paying their respects and trying to comfort them. She'd left James and Emily there. She couldn't look at them. She knew James would need his sisters. But as the days went on, her anger towards her twin was getting uncontrollable. She'd started blaming her for the accident. She hadn't voiced it. She couldn't. Not in front of James. Not in front of their relatives. It was something for them to deal with on their own. So here she sat in the park, crying. She opened her bag to get tissues and everything fell out. She cursed and sobbed harder.
She didn't see him approach. He bent down and handed over a handkerchief while starting to help gather her things.
"Such a pretty girl shouldn't be crying as you are." His voice was full of charm. Under other circumstances, Katie might have sized him up as a player but she wasn't in a good head space.
"Sorry... Not usually so... blubbery... But... my parents..." Another sob left her body as she pressed the handkerchief to her face. She found herself enveloped in his arms quickly. It was a comforting embrace. The fact he was a stranger made it bearable. She hugged back and could smell his cologne on his suit.
"Shh... it's alright pretty girl. I've got you. Cry as you need to." She did just as he said, leaving a damp spot on his lapel. He stroked her back gently while almost cooing words unmerited given they didn't know each other. After a bit, Katie finally stopped outright sobbing and simply sniffled.
"Fuck I'm really sorry." She pulled back and looked up at him. He smiled. She looked in his blue eyes and took in his features. Good cheekbones, slightly goofy ears and a grin. There was a clarity but also a sense of strength. There was an electricity between them. "I'm Katie."
"Luke." He pushed her hair away from her face. He used the pads of his thumbs to wipe away the remaining tears. "Better. Don't suppose I can buy you a cuppa and have you tell me whose arse I have to kick to make you feel better?" She giggled and said sure. They walked to an awaiting car where a young man with short dark blonde hair opened the rear door for them. He wore a suit as well.
"You some kind of a big deal or something to have a driver?" Katie asked curiously as she got into the car. She didn't even consider the danger of it.
"Something like that." He said as he smiled and tugged on his ear. "Driver is Jimmy. Jimmy this here is Katie. Drive us over to the cafe on Queen St would you?"
..
Effy opened the door and walked in as Cook voiced loudly. "This ain't over. Not by a long shot. My boss ain't gonna be'appy. Not at all. You'd best be gone by the time he gets'ere." He stormed off as he looked at his phone and pretended to be placing a call.
"That could have gone worse. How do you feel Emily? Did the doctor say anything was wrong?" She noticed neither Naomi nor Emily had moved from their spots. They looked like they'd frozen in place and were waiting for something. She went to her bag and looked inside for the clothes she'd brought with her in case she stayed overnight.
"What? No... he wanted me to stay for observation but was surprised that I'm ok. Umm... what?" Effy walked over and lowered the side rail, handing her the clothes.
"Think we need you changed into regular clothes if we're leaving."
"Effy?" Naomi was finally reacting. "What do you mean..."
"I put him off for a bit with some fancy words... not the sharpest tool that one, but I don't want to hang around and see what his 'boss' is like. Don't fancy neither of you want that either?" She was walking to the door, shutting it. "Come on, help Emily change."
"I think maybe I should... you know... wait outside.. be on the lookout." Naomi was already on her way out of the room. A slight pink on her cheeks told Effy all she needed to know.
..
The first couple of weeks after Luke's arrival into the picture weren't horrendous. Emily spent a fair amount holed up in her room. She could hear when people were in and out of the house. She could hear laughter and yelling at different times but none of it seemed angry. It was boisterous. She didn't think it welcoming but she also didn't feel as afraid. She'd tried skipping meals the first couple of days and sneak down in the middle of the night, eating while everyone else slept. But soon after, she received a knock at her door at breakfast time and a plate of food left behind. The same occurred at lunch. She had wondered if Katie was softening up, maybe forgiving her in some way. On the fifth day of such activity, a casual interaction with her sister in the hallway cleared up that misconception. One of Luke's boys was tasked with making sure she was taking care of herself. She stopped accepting the plate of food.
On the eighth night, she snuck down to the kitchen. She froze when she found Luke sitting there. He shook his head and pointed to the chair opposite him. Emily didn't run as her mind screamed for her to. She took the seat and kept her eyes down. "You're not playing nicely Emily." She remained quiet, praying the ground would shake and open up, swallowing her. "I am here providing... for you and your sister and you throw it back in my face?"
"I didn't." She shook her head. He held up one finger and she stopped speaking. He smiled, knowing how easily he had trained her to obey something so simple.
"I sent you food to your bedroom. And you refused that gesture." She swallowed but didn't look up. "First you insult me by not partaking of mine and my boys' company during mealtimes. Then you spit at my goodwill by declining food delivered to your bedroom as a means of showing my good graces. It's a bit rude and ungrateful." She shivered and looked at him. His eyes were cold when they looked at her. She opened her mouth but didn't say anything until he motioned for her to continue.
"I wasn't being ungrateful. I was..." She stopped, unsure how to explain. She didn't want his good gestures. But she didn't not want them. She wanted her family. She wanted her old life back even if it hadn't been perfect. What she had now was too unknown, too uneasy for her to settle into.
"You were being rude." He sat back in his chair. "I'm here making sure you and your sister are secure. You don't need to work. You have your bills paid. I'm putting food on the table. And you turn away. If that's not rude and ungrateful, what would you call it?" She blinked at him. Her nerves sending out urgent warnings to flee. "My folks... they wouldn't tolerate that. Not one moment. My father would hand me a right beating when I acted out less than what you have." He stood up and undid his belt. He pulled it out of the loops on his slacks. Emily was shaking now.
"You can't." The words slipped out before she knew it. Her hand flew up to her mouth as he stopped moving. He stared at her. "I'm sorry... I'm... I didn't..." He grabbed her face like he'd done the first time they'd met.
"You didn't mean to what?" He leaned down so his face was against hers. "Didn't meant to be ungrateful? Mean to be rude? Which one?" He squeezed his fingers harder, watching her panic. "Or you didn't mean to speak? To tell me what to do?" Luke let go of her face and yanked her out of her chair. She was bent over the table in an instant. It was too late to fight back but Emily still tried to push against the table. He easily held her down with a hand on the back of her neck. "Stop moving!" He yelled it and gripped her harder. She froze again. Her heart was threatening to break through her chest and through the table. Luke held the belt in the other hand and brought it to her eye level. "I should be using this on you, you ungrateful entitled little shit. I should tan your hide until you can't sit right. Show you I won't put up with any of your disobedience."
She let out a whimper, terrified. Her body trembling. She heard someone walk into the room. In her position, she couldn't turn to see who it was but hoped they would put a stop to whatever was about to happen. Whoever it was was silent. They stood there for a few moments and then their footsteps went back they way they'd arrived. She was alone with Luke again.
"I run this house Emily. Not you. Not your sister. Me." He caressed her cheek with the belt as tears spilled from her eyes. She bit into her lip to stop herself from outright screaming in fear. "This is your only pass. From now on, you will eat your meals here in the kitchen with us. You will not be locked away in your room all day. I expect you to be civil. Courteous even." He leaned over her. His body against hers. She closed her eyes and waited. "No more hiding. You only go to your room when I or your sister dismiss you. I told you this was your home and that means your presence is demanded." He stroked her cheek with the belt once more and then stood up, releasing her. She clung to the table as if she would collapse otherwise. "Tomorrow... meals down here. Spend time with the boys who are around. Play cars, video games... make sure the mood is relaxed. They know you're grieving so they won't expect a lot of interaction but they need to see you as part of the house. I want them to feel at home. Now get the fuck up to bed. You refused to eat, so you don't get a late supper. Go."
..
Naomi was fidgeting. She didn't want Emily to leave the hospital yet but knew none of them would be able to fend off Luke if he showed up. From what she'd read, he was violent and unyielding. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and swore under her breath. She answered. "Hey babes. Yeah no.. I'm off... I got held up by.. yeah I remember. Dinner tonight... it's on my calendar. I swear I didn't forget." She closed her eyes knowing she'd completely blanked. "7... yes at the restaurant.. I know you can pick me up.. but yeah no.. restaurant is good... yeah ok.. alright.." She ended the call and groaned.