SIX

I'm going to marry Alexander!!

Wait why am I going to marry Alexander!!!?

"Wait!" I say stopping everyone from their banters. Turning to face dad and Eriel I say.

"And why am I the perfect candidate for this job? what is my family getting out of this?" I ask ever so furious at this decision.

" Well, Jack do you want me to do the talking?" He says smirking.

"No" this time mom talks.

I take in a deep breath to subside the anger burning in me.

"Can we talk. Both of you" I stand pointing to both mom and dad but Logan already stood up, ready to follow.

I turned to face Alex only to notice him clenching his fist making his knuckles turn white.

I shook my head before walking out of the room, sensing Logan behind me as he put a reassuring hand on the small of my back.

"Would you please start giving me the reasons for this outrageous decision? This is my life and I make the decisions for myself " I seethed.

"Look, as much as I want to tell you why we are agreed to this, I can't but please just know that I'm doing this for our family," Dad says calmly with mum nodding her head in affirmation.

"Family? Family? Now suddenly, you want to talk about family when all you did was treat us like strangers after Leon disappeared and what did you achieve?. Nothing. Nothing. He's not still back, your men are still on their toes looking for him and now you are treating the remaining family you have like we're nothing and yet, you can't even seem to tell us the reason" Logan, yes Logan surprisingly shouts, speaking my damn mind.

I'd feel very proud if we were in another situation.

Dad didn't surprise me when he walked out on us. He never liked being confronted by the truth.

"Now listen, don't you talk to your father that way, whatever we've done is for the safety of our family, and it's not up to either of you to know" Mum responds for dad, scolding us.

" I can't believe any of you. This is unbelievable. I just can't seem to process this. This is just too much for me" I laugh humorously running my hands into my already messy hair in frustration, my mind seeming not to grasp the sudden information.

"Look, baby, what Eriel has on your father is worth tearing apart what is left of this family. It may not be true, but your father has no proof, and this is the only way that he can save himself and this family" mum tells me placing her hands on her shoulders silently pleading with me.

"No mum it isn't easy. This is too much for me. I haven't even started my life yet" I sigh in exasperation. Why do I even have to be their scape goat.

"I know darling but if there was another way, we won't have put you in these shoes" she pleaded.

" You are going to give me at least a little more time to digest it this whole mess." I finally said. I really don't want to do this but there isn't much I could do.

"Yes, darling, but you know, Alexander is a total hottie" she tries to lighten up the mood, earning a scowl from me.

"God. No, he's the worst person to be around" I gagged and mum just laughed and went to look for dad.

I headed back to the dining table when I heard Eriel and Alex having a not so quiet conversation. Well, that cannot end well.

Having nowhere to go, I decided to go to my favorite spot in the house, the patio.

I took a seat and let out a huge amount of breath I never realized I was holding.

"So what do you think" Logan said in a low voice causing me to jump.

"You almost scared the shit out of me" I replied trying to gain my composure before continuing "Well I don't know; this is just so new to me. I haven't even turned twenty, and they want to ship me off to marriage I mean that's hard but as you can see there's just something that's holding dad, and I want to know what it is" I replied mumbling.

"Hey" Logan reached for my hand.

"I don't want you to feel like this. If it's something you can't handle, let me know I'll talk to dad, and we'll figure this out, we'll find another way okay? -"

"There are things that you can't change you know. what is done has been done and I think it's best if you accept this proposition. Just think of it as an offer for the safety of your family" Eriel says briefly, and walks back out, the devious smile still on his face.

" I hate this man's gut" Logan spoke up.

"I could never agree with you more" I reply.

We just continue looking at nothing in particular but at least we were getting the fresh air we deserved. Mum and dad came to join us and it was suddenly like old times. But without Leon of course.

" I miss him" Suddenly mum muttered, voicing our minds.

" So much" I affirmed and Logan nodded in agreement.

" We all do. That is why I'm giving my men sleepless nights to find him" dad finally says.

I was still as aggravated with dad as ever so I decided not to say anything.

" What if something actually happened to him," Logan says unsure.

"Don't say that our boy is going to come home safe and sound" mum interjects with a sad smile etched unto her face.

We continue having small talks, and soon enough I drifted off to sleep.

.........

I woke up to the smell of cologne on my sheets, Leon's cologne to be precise. I shifted in my sleep trying to move my hands to my bedside table check for my phone and well I didn't seem to have one. Confused, I opened my eyes and closed it immediately due to the sun seeping its way into my eyes almost blinding me, so I turned to another way and I finally noticed that they weren't my sheets. They were Leon's. Sitting up, I took in my surroundings, wondering why I was here. Then the door opened revealing a very happy Logan.

"You are probably wondering why you ended up here. Well after you fell asleep, I carried you to your room and by the way what do you eat?. Anyway I was already about leaving when you started mumbling about Leon's room and how you must go there so of course, I took you there and again you started speaking incoherent words and started telling me to stay. I wanted to sleep on the bed, but you kept on pushing me off and after the second time, I just left you" he chuckles and I laugh giving him a small sorry.

"Anyway I'm off to work, and Maisie has been going off my head, waiting to see you so get your ass to my house and visit your niece" he pleads with me.

" I would. I promise" I let out a small laugh, he smiles and leaves. After having my bath, I changed to Leon's favorite top and shorts and headed downstairs.

"Hi mum, how was your night and where's Dad?" I asked at once.

"Hi sweetie, it was lovely, thank you and your father's at work. I made your favorite. Pancakes" she smiles.

Halfway through eating mum got up to wash her plate and as she was leaving, she quickly called out; "Your dad wants me to tell you that you are going to have to go on a date with Alex to make your engagement more realistic" she called running off.

Suddenly, I didn't feel like eating anymore.