Chapter 19

Like hell, she was missing the Ball. Emily wanted everyone to believe she wouldn’t be attending. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her parents, but nobody knew who the hell this guy was. Her mom and dad could let it slip to the very person doing this without even knowing.

Emily sat back silently and held her mother’s hand while she gave Kurt the detailed account of how she was abducted. The room was completely silent as her mother spoke.

“I’d just left the printers next to Nelson’s office. I had put in the order for the invitations for the ball. I’d parked my car at the back of the building because as you know the parking in downtown St. John’s is awful. It was starting to get dark, and when I opened the car door, someone grabbed me from behind and put something over my mouth.” Emily squeezed her mom’s trembling hand. “It smelled sweet, and I felt really dizzy.”

“Does she have to do this?” Her dad had obviously heard the story, but it still seemed to bother him.

“It’s okay, Nel.” Her mother’s sweet smile appeared to calm him.

“I know this is hard, Lynn but the more we know, the better,” Kurt said as John held a box of tissues out to her.

“I don’t know what happened after that until I woke up in a room tied to an old creaky bed. I felt him before I saw him. He’d untied one of my hands and shoved the phone into my hand. When I looked at the screen, it had Emily’s number on it. I was still woozy, and when I looked up at him, he shoved a piece of paper in front of me. He wanted me to call Emily and have her come meet me.” Her mom took a deep, shaky breath and continued to explain how everytime she refused the man would hit her and give her less and less food and water.

“Ya poor girl.” Nanny Betty’s eyes were filled with unshed tears.

“I don’t remember how I got out of there, but I do remember the lovely woman who found me in the parking lot.” Lynn sniffed. “She saved my life.”

Emily couldn’t listen to anymore, she stood up and left the room. Hearing that her mother could have died at the hands of this monster shook her to her core. She couldn’t stop the trembling or the anger that was quickly invading her.

“There’s a place in hell for a bastard like you,” Emily whispered to herself.

“Hell is too good for people like the man that took your mom.” Emily turned to the voice. Marina was pouring a cup of tea at the counter.

“True.” Emily moved into the kitchen and sat down on one of the stools.

“I’m a firm believer that if people like that don’t get what they deserve in this lifetime, they will be in the next.” Marina put a steaming cup in front of Emily.

“I don’t understand how people can be so cruel,” Emily immediately wanted to take the statement back. She’d been told about what Marina had gone through with her late husband’s twin brother. He’d killed her husband and taken his place. From what Emily knew the brother was abusive to Marina, and she’d left him thinking something had changed her husband.

“I don’t either, but I wouldn't change anything I’ve gone through. It made me who I am, and I met the love of my life. You want to know something?” Marina rested her arms on the counter.

“What?”

“The O’Connor family are good people.” Marina smiled. “and I can say with confidence, the big lug standing in that doorway won’t let anything happen to you.” Marina glanced over Emily’s head and winked.

Emily turned. Keith had his shoulder braced against the doorjamb, and his hands shoved into his front pockets. No matter what he wore, or what he was doing, he always took her breath away and made it easier to breathe at the same time.

“Marina’s right. Nobody’s going to hurt you.” Keith said as he moved in front of her.

“On that note, I’m gonna leave you two alone.” Marina winked again and left her alone with Keith.

“I just couldn’t listen to what mom went through anymore.” Emily dropped her gaze to the floor.

“I don’t blame you.” Keith put his finger under her chin. “Your mom is a very brave lady.”

Keith didn’t need to tell her that because Emily had known that her whole life. It was her mother that gave her the advice to stand up to her father and stood by her when Emily made her career choice.

“It just hurts to know that she went through this because of me.” Emily swallowed hard.

“This is not on you, Princess.” Keith cupped her cheek. “He’s disturbed and who knows what made him snap.”

“You think it’s the guy that my grandfathers paid off, don’t you?” Emily had got the impression Kurt believed it.

“I do. We just need to find out who he is.” Keith wrapped his arms around her.

When everyone had finally left, Emily felt guilty for feeling so relieved. Especially, since they were there to help her. She wasn’t used to being around such a large family. The only ones left were her parents and their ever-present shadow, Rex. Her mother was quiet, and her father was pacing.

“Dad, will you please sit down.” Emily groaned.

He turned and gazed at her mother. It was the first time that day she’d seen the bags under her father’s eyes. His usually bright gray eyes were dull and bloodshot.

“I’m worried about you, dad. You don’t look well.” It was evident by the way her mother nodded her head that she felt the same way.

“Don’t you worry about me. I'm all right.” He grumbled. “I wish I knew who the hell this fucking bastard was.”

Her mother gasped, and Emily knew why. Her father never cursed. At least not that she’d ever heard. The situation was changing her dad and not in a good way.

“Nel, watch your language please.” Her mother spoke with a soft but firm voice.

“Sorry, honey.” He sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her.

“I’m so sad you won’t be going to the ball, but I know it’s not safe for you.” Her mother’s eyes filled with tears. “I love having you there.”

“I know, mom.” She wanted to tell her mother that she was going, but it was better that she didn’t. Keith would be the only one to know.

Emily glanced out through the living room doorway. Keith was standing just outside talking quietly with Rex and someone else she couldn’t see, but the only one she was really studying was the man that had stolen her heart, and he didn’t even know.

He glanced at her, and his sparkling blue eyes met hers. Her stomach did a flip flop but not in a good way. The look on Keith’s face told her that the person she couldn’t see didn’t bring good news.

Now what?