Chapter 22

Brianna’s POV

“Baby..” he starts, but I don’t let him finish.

“No,” I snapped, for the first time I felt a consuming feeling of anger. “Tell me, what did you do? Do you have anything to do with why they’re not responding to me?”

“My love,” I shake my head, stepping backwards, my eyes darting away from him.

“No…No….”

“Baby,” he states sharply, his hands cling to grip me by my arms, steadily, keeping me from drifting too far. I couldn’t help but look at his face. He looked like he was scared. Why?

“Your parents are safe. They are fine.” He averts his gaze, like he still had something he was holding back. “But…”

I followed his eyes, staring right at him like his face held the answers. “But what?” Panic floods through me at that hesitation.

“I may or may not have your sister locked up somewhere for interrupting our wedding.”

“What?” I spluttered, the word barely making it past my lips as I instinctively took a step back from him.

A cold wave of fear washed through me, sharp and immediate, settling deep in my chest as I stared at him.

I mean this was the kind of thing I thought he’d pull. Maybe even worse. But I didn’t think he would do that to my sister.

It suddenly dawned on me that there was always an iota of truth in lies. In the rumors, some might have been exaggerated but some may very well be true.

For the first time since coming over to this house, I realize that I wasn’t looking at Adrian the warm and doting husband, he wasn’t just the one that treated me with so much sincerity, warmth and tenderness. He was also the cold and brutal boss and right now that was what I saw.

I turned fully away from him, like if I kept looking at him, I would completely fall apart.

My mind was running too fast, too loud. Thoughts of Emily and her current predicament flooding her mind.

Was my father blaming me for all of this?

Was that why he hadn’t answered any of my calls?

I could understand Emily not picking up, she was truly being held somewhere, but my father?

Why wasn’t he answering?

Had he decided this was my fault?

Did they all think I had something to do with this?

Did they think I had chosen Adrian over them?

My breathing grew uneven as the questions and doubts plague my mind.

What if they hated me?

What if they thought I had asked for this?

The thought made my stomach twist violently. I turned back to him so fast it almost made me dizzy.

“What do you mean by you have her locked up somewhere?” My voice cracked. “Please… please, Adrian, you have to stop this. Please. Let Emily go.”

His expression softened instantly, like hearing me plead physically hurt him. “Baby, You know I’d do anything for you.”

“Then please do this.”

He stepped closer, his voice quieter now, calmer, like he was trying to soothe a frightened child.

“I promise you, this is for your own good.”

“No, it’s not,” I snapped, tears burning behind my eyes. “It really isn’t. Do you know how many times I’ve called my family? Nobody is picking up. No one. What do they think? That I’m the one who asked you to do this? That I wanted this?”

“No, baby, trust me, they wouldn’t.”

“You don’t know that!”

“Baby..” His jaw tightened. “There are so many things I can’t tell you right now,” he said carefully, “but I need you to listen to me and trust me. This is all for your own good. I promise you.”

“But—”

He cut me off, stepping even closer, his hands finding mine, holding them firmly.

“My love, listen to me.” His voice dropped, steady and serious. “I would never do anything that would put you in danger. You are safe with me. You are safe here. And you will always be safe.”

His eyes locked onto mine, unwavering.

“And while we’re talking about safety, I need you to understand that everything I’m doing is for that reason. Your safety. You may not understand it now, but you will. With time, you will.”

I swallowed hard.

“Emily is safe,” he continued. “She is not hurt. No one has touched her. No one has threatened her. She’s simply being held… temporarily.”

“Temporarily…but why?” I repeated weakly.

He gave a small nod. “She interrupted our wedding. She crossed a line she shouldn’t have crossed. I needed to make a point. I have a reputation to protect, baby. People need to understand there are consequences for messing with me.”

I stared at him, letting every word sink in. Part of me felt relief. Emily wasn’t hurt. She was alive and safe.

I just hope my father wasn’t sitting somewhere, hating me for all of this.

I hope he knew that I didn’t need him to fight my battles. I have no issue with my family and do not intend to create one now. “I don’t need you to fight my battles, Adrian,” I said. “I don’t even have battles.”

“I’d create one on your behalf and fight to win. No one is allowed to wrong you, mi amor. Not even me.”

“Adrian….”

“Just trust me, my love,” he assured. “It’ll all make sense in the end and I promise to let you, I wouldn’t do anything drastic in without you knowing.”

“Is that supposed to console me?”I questioned, glaring slightly at him. “It’s not working. Now I fear you’ll just cause gradual harm instead.”

He laughs. I wasn’t trying to be funny. “I’m serious. Please?”

He groaned, “Don't look at me like that, baby. You know I can’t refuse you.”

“Then please listen.”

“Alright baby. Come here?”