“Do our words matter anymore?” River asked. “We can’t save her. We know this.”
“We’ve got to do what we can.” I turned on my heel and decided to go and see my father first. I’d work my way into their confidences, and then I’d save Emily for us.
****
Vadik
Ashley was proving useful for one thing, keeping an eye on Emily. Our girl brushed past her friend, heading into my house. I knew this place like the back of my hand, and so I entered the room and followed the path of dirty shoes. There was already a maid cleaning up the mess.
Partway up the stairs, Emily had taken them off, but I decided to go to the first bedroom. Closing the door, I flicked the lock into place. There was no sign of her, but I heard the water running in the bathroom.
I got to the door and looked inside. Sure enough, there she was.
She was pulling out the flowers that were woven in her hair. She’d also splashed water on her face.
“Emily,” I said.
She lifted her head, turning off the tap.
“You didn’t need to follow me,” she said.
“I did. All of us would follow you. You know that.”
“What I do know is that you’ll only follow me so far, right? When your dads have given an instruction, I’m on my own.”
“It’s not like that. We’re trying to figure everything out.”
She nibbled on her lip and shook her head. “I started to believe everything you said. All of it. Every last little detail, but it’s all lies. We can’t trust anyone in our world. That’s the lie. It’s the illusion.”
“It’s not. You can trust us.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?” She screamed the last part. “It’s my life. My body. My choice, and I’ve got none of it.” She slapped her chest. “I’m being given to a stranger. I know nothing about him.”
I stepped toward her and she backed away. I didn’t stop.
Pulling her into my arms, I held her tight, refusing to let her go. “I’ve got you. This isn’t going to happen. He’s not going to have you.”
She stayed silent and tense.
I stroked my fingers down her back, teasing the strands. “You have to believe we’re on your side.”
Emily lifted up and she wiped her hands beneath her eyes, removing the tears. She looked at me. Her gaze stayed on mine as she put her hand on my chest.
“You know what they want from me,” she said.
I didn’t stop her as she reached out, fingering the buttons of my shirt. Placing my hand on top of hers, I reached toward her wrist.
“Emily?” I said.
“What?” She tilted her head back. “This is my life. My body.”
“You’re making the wrong choice.”
“Why am I? He only wants one thing from me and all my life, I’ve never been given the chance to make this choice. I want to make it now. I need to make it now.” She gripped my shirt even tighter. “Please, Vadik. Don’t you want me?”
“I do, I want you.” There was no doubt in my mind how desperately I wanted her. “This, tonight, I don’t know if I should.”
“You know I’ve thought about you,” she said.
I still didn’t stop her as she began to unbutton my shirt, but then she suddenly stopped and turned, presenting me her back.
“Help me, please.”
Everything told me to stop, but I didn’t. I reached out and grabbed the zipper at the back. Slowly, I lowered it down. She’d already removed the strap, and then she stood before me. The bra she wore didn’t have any straps and appeared to be fighting to keep it up.
I didn’t stop her as she flicked the catch and her tits spilled out. Within seconds, she’d removed her panties, and then she was right in front of me, her hands on my shirt.
My cock was rock-hard.
I should walk out the door and leave her alone. She had to stay a virgin while our parents figured out this deal, but then I couldn’t do it. Why would I willingly give her to someone else?
Emily belonged to us.
Her body was ours.
“Don’t let them win,” she said.
The pain in her voice, I couldn’t allow it. Even as I stood frozen, waiting to make a decision, I knew it had already been made for me.
Emily was ours and I was tired of playing by the rules. She didn’t want some old bastard pawing at her. She was already claimed as far as I was concerned. We weren’t going to let her go.
Grabbing her ass, I lifted her up, but I wasn’t going to fuck her in the bathroom. I carried her through to the bedroom. The room was already prepared for any guest who needed to crash. After dropping her to the bed, I stepped back and removed the rest of my clothes. She sat up, watching me.