Zale stopped the car a few blocks away from my house and turned off the engine before turning to me.

I undid my seatbelt and turned to face him. "I really enjoyed tonight, thank you."

He cupped my cheek and caressed it with his thumb. "I am glad you did." And he pecked my lips. "You should go before your father comes hunting me down."

I hummed and leaning forwards, kissed him fully this time but kept it short and sweet. "Goodnight, Zale."

"Goodnight, princess." He kissed my forehead, smiling at me softly.

He watched me walk towards my house and when I neared it, it was then he drove away and sighing I went inside.

In the middle of the the living room, dad was pacing back and forth and Dane sat on one of the couches with a frown and in a deep thought.

My smile slowly faded on seeing them and their heads snapped to me, and they scrutinized my whole body as if looking for any injuries. Aargh.

Ignoring them I walked upstairs to my room and thankfully, no one stopped me.

After I was done changing my clothes there was a knock on the door and the door opened and Dane walked in, looking pissed. "Was he the reason why you were glowing yesterday morning?"

Seriously? I rolled my eyes and said dryly, "Yes."

He seemed to be controlling his anger as he stood there grabbing the door handle, his knuckles turning white. "You don't know what you are doing, Jezebel. Stop it right now before you hurt yourself. That man kidnapped you."

"I do know what I am doing, Dane! You don't need to act like my dad! You don't have any authority to order me around, I can go date anyone I want!"

This time he stepped forward, his teeth gritting together. "I am going to take over dad's position soon which means you will have to listen to me then!"

Even I took a step forward and jabbed a finger at his chest. "Don't forget that I was going to be the leader in the first place. I was dad's first choice but I didn't want that position so he chose you because he didn't have a choice!"

His cheeks flushed with anger. "I'm trying to save you, Jezebel. You are my little sister, I care about you."

"If you really care about me then you must care about my happiness and my happiness lies with him. With Zale. And you can't stop me."

"He fucking kidnapped you! How can you love him?! How can you love him after he threatened to kill us all?!"

"Because he isn't that bad! Our dad killed his parents and took away Alaska. He just wanted it back and he deserves it! But now, he doesn't even want it anymore; why? Because he loves me!"

"What is going on here?!" Dad yelled standing behind Dane.

"She needs help, dad!" Dane looked over his shoulder. "She has a fucking stockholm syndrome!"

"No I don't!" And I shoved him hard making him stumble back and hit dad's chest. And I quickly slammed the door shut and locked it.

Tears fell down my eyes due to all the frustrations. He really loves me, why can't they believe that? I was so happy till I was with him, they had to ruin my night.

My phone rang and saw Zale's name flashing on the caller ID. We exchanged our numbers earlier this evening.

I picked it up and pressed it to my ear and I heard his voice. "Hello?"

Hearing him made me sob loudly and I sat down on the edge of the bed, crying over the call.

"Hey, hey, hey..." He sounded panicked. "Jezebel, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Did I hurt you? Please just tell me, princess."

I slowly laid down on the bed pressing the phone between my ear and the bed. "Zale." I cried softly.

"Yes, princess? Tell me what's wrong."

I snifled. "How much do you...love me?"

He replied instantly. "More than you can ever imagine, more than you can ever comprehend."

"Then take me out of here. Take me away with you. They don't understand." And I wiped my tears and spoke more firmly. "They won't, Zale. I love you, I really do but they think it's all a joke."

"Hey..." He said softly. "I love you. However, we are not going to run away, okay? You love your family, Jezebel, you are just angry with them at the moment. We can run, yes but for how long you will you be happy before you start to miss them? You are going to miss them eventually and even if you come back, how much time would it take you to make things okay with them?"

I listened to him, not saying anything as another tear rolled down my eyes.

He continued. "Tell me, do you wanna miss the day when your brother would be made the new leader? Do you want to miss the day he would get married? Or any other special day? You don't. I love you, don't doubt that for even a second, I can risk it all for you but not at the cost of your happiness."

When I didn't say anything for another couple of seconds, he spoke again, "Are you listening? Do you understand?"

"Hmm..."

"Okay, I am going to video call you."

"Okay..." And I hung up the call and stared at my phone waiting for him to call which he did and I picked up immediately and a sense of relief washed over me on seeing his face.

He was lying in bed too on his side, shirtless but I could only see till his collar bones. "Hey..." He whispered.

I tried to smile but only more tears fell which I wiped making him frown. "Stop crying now, my love. I am going to make you my wife very soon, don't worry."

"You better." And I pouted making him chuckle softly.

"Now go to sleep, you need rest."

"Stay on the call though..."

"And watch you sleep like a creep?" He raised a brow.

"Yes." I yawned.

He smiled. "Okay. I love you."

"I love you too." And I closed my eyes and waited for sleep to take over me.

.
.
.

There was a tense atmosphere at the dining table the next morning, I refused to acknowledge their presence and ate my food in silence.

They want me to leave Zale and that's not going to happen. I would never ever leave him.

I was in my room that afternoon when I heard dad shouting downstairs, so frowning I walked down the corridor and to the top of the stairs where I paused seeing Zale standing downstairs and Dane and dad stood opposite to him and in a second they both pulled out their guns and pointed at Zale.

And Zale wasted no time in taking out two guns and pointing them each at my brother and father forming a stand off.

"I fucking told you not to enter my house ever again." Dad spoke.

"I came to talk, Enver." Zale replied. "Put down the gun and let's negotiate."

"Not happening." Dane cocked his gun, scowling at him. "You fucking brain washed my sister only to fuck with her."

"I don't need to explain anything to you; I love her and that's fucking enough besides she is an adult and she can make decisions for herself."

"Okay, stop it!" I shouted, running down the stairs. "Just stop it, dad!"

When none of them made an effort to back off, I walked to Zale and took a gun from him and pointed it at Dane instead while Zale's gun was pointed at dad and I intertwined my fingers with his.

Their eyes widened slightly and Dane looked like someone had punched him hard. "So, you are choosing him over us now?"

I ignored him and said to dad, "Put down the gun, dad. Please. You promised not to hurt him."

"Jezebel. Back off." Dad warned. "Don't bring yourself between us."

"Not bring myself between you? Are you serious? All this is about me, isn't it? And I don't want anyone of you to get hurt. So, dad, please put down the gun."

"You put down yours first." Dane offered.

Dad seemed to be in a deep thought, he was considering it, he was always the one to think about everything before taking action not a hot headed fool like Dane.

"Dad, if you do love me, you would put the gun down and hear him out first, please." I said softly, emotionally blackmailing him. "Please, dad. For my happiness... please."

And very slowly, dad lowered his gun and tucked it away making me sigh in relief and he said to Dane, "Put it away."

"But, dad--"

One glare from dad and with a grumble, Dane lowered his gun but didn't tuck it away. At least he listened.

I gave Zale's hand a squeeze and he looked down at me and I gave him an assuring smile and without any hesitation, he quickly tucked away his gun too and I handed him back the other one.

"Leave", dad said to Zale all of a sudden. "I am not in a mood to have any conversation right now. Leave."

Zale's jaw clenched and I pressed myself closer to him and rubbed circles over the back of his palm. "It's okay..." I whispered. "You can talk later, you should leave."

He looked unassured but nodded anyway. "If you say so..." He ran his hand over my head and leaned down. "I'll text you an address, meet me there later."

And he turned around to leave as I nodded but Dane being Dane just couldn't shut up. "Don't order her around as if you are her dad."

And Zale halted. Uh-oh. No, this isn't going to end well.

Zale slowly turned around to face him, his eyes twinkling with mischief and his lips twisted into a smirk. "Oh, what a coincidence, she does call me daddy."

Oh God. I don't call him that! And why did he have to say that infront of my dad and brother. My face turned red as a tomato.

And before I could react, Dane did. He pulled up his gun and fired it at him and my eyes widened and I pushed Zale out of the way but I wasn't fast enough as the bullet grazed his bicep making him groan and fall down.

Chapter completion on: 26/6/22
Published on: 28/6/22