Chapter 5: His name is River

Raiden's POV

I check on Harley one last time before leaving her room. I haven't seen Emery since we brought Harley in, I look around and see it's dark, she must be in her cell.

I walk upstairs to be met with a titanium door that leads to the basement, I walk slowly towards cell 23 and faintly hear sobbing and muttering.

"NO! stop I have to go to her or he'll take her away from me forever, please you can do anything you want with me just not her I'm begging you don't torture her for my mistake!" Emery sobbed. I quickly reach in my pocket and grab the key to unlock the cell.

Once I get in I see her on the floor with the blanket wrapped around her legs, she keeps kicking trying to get out of the blanket so desperately.

I crept closer to her only to see her eyes are closed, she must be sleeping while having a nightmare, I thought.

I ran to her side and knelt down trying to shake her awake but her sobs grow louder, She finally open her eyes quickly revealing her pale green eyes. She sits up and wraps her arms around me, sobbing in my chest.

I say soothing words to her while rubbing her back gently, her sobs quieting down she removes her arms and scoots back, instantly missing the warmth of her.

"Why are you crying?" I asked choosing my words carefully trying not to upset her again. It doesn't help as she scoots away, wrapping her arms around her knees.

"Just a bad dream." She puts her head down. Scooting farther away from me

"What was it about?" I questioned trying to get answers out of her.

"Nothing," she easily answers.

"Yeah right, Who were you talking about?" I say sarcastically.

"No one," she says like she wasn't just crying a minute ago.

"Bull, tell me right now!" I demanded to know.

"It wasn't really that important," she lied.

"What was your mistake? Who did you beg for 'her' not to be tortured because of it?!" I questioned angrily.

"No one, nobody it was just a mindless dream okay?" She lied again.

"It is not okay! You need to tell me everything right now!" I yelled getting frustrated.

I look up to see someone sleeping on the top bunk, how is this person still sleeping from all my yelling. Must be a pretty deep sleeper.

I look at her again "Tell me or there will be a punishment!" I said

She stayed quiet

"Looks like you picked punishment" I grabbed her hand roughly and dragged her out of the cell and locked it.

"Wait! No! Where are you taking me?" She frantically said. I squeezed her hand tighter.

I didn't answer. She stopped walking and tried to pull me back but thanks to me and my build I pulled her harder to where she fell on the ground, I didn't give her a chance to get up and just dragged her to my bedroom door.

"Stop! I don't have to tell you anything," she said still not giving in.

I opened my door and dragged her inside right in front of my walk-in closet door.

"Yes you do! Cause last time I checked you are in my house and I am your boss, so I own you!" I deadpanned.

"What are you gonna do?"

"Like I said, punishment."

I threw her in the closet and locked it from the outside.

"Hey let me out!" She pleaded. Pounding on the door.

I ignored her and walked into my bathroom humming while she still pounds on the door, I take a shower and quickly brush my teeth.

I walk out and still hear her pounding, I plopped myself down on my bed while turning off the lights. I look towards the alarm clock to see its already 3 am.

I cover a pillow over my head to block out the pounding and scratching.

'Ugh when will she stop' I thought. Obviously she didn't have any good parents as role models. She needs to learn discipline, she needs to learn what happens when you disrespect someone who is very serious about consequences.

I waited about 5 more minutes before the pounding and scratching finally stopped and I heard shuffling. She must be making a bed since I didn't provide her with anything, this was last minute addition, I didn't plan to have a 'sleepover.'

I inwardly smiled and fell asleep in a soundless room.

~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~*~~~~~*

I woke up to a constant beeping, I turned to my side and turned the alarm off. I yawned and sat up straight to clear my head.

I stretched and remembered the previous night, I smiled and walked to my closet door, I unlocked the door for only my smile to drop.

Emery is rolled up in a ball in the corner of the closet and all my clothes are knocked down on the floor, she lay most of my clothes onto her acting as a blanket.

I look at the back of the closet door and see claw marks and chipped off paint on my closet door.

I walked inside and instantly feel the cold, I forgot my closet doesn't have heat.

I walk towards her and shed my clothes off of her and see her bruised up hands and her shorter nails that have dried up blood.

I touched her to try and wake her up but she is freezing cold, she feels like an ice cube.

Before I can lift her out of the closet, she wakes up instantly and gives me a hard, cold glare, like she knew what I was about to do.

"I think you've punished me enough, can I go to the ladies washroom now?" She asks backing away

"Not until I fix your hands," I negotiated.

As if now realizing she looks down at her hands and gasps as she tries to touch them.

"Don't, let me fix them," I said getting her up.

She nodded. Once we reach my bathroom I grab some gauze and a sanitized wipe while I lifted her up and put her on the counter.

"It might sting a little," I stated.

She nodded while I wiped the sanitized wipe against her fingers where the cuts were.

She doesn't even flinch, she just stares blankly into the wall like she's in a different world.

I wrap the gauze around her knuckles and fingers.

I announced that I was done and she doesn't even move or blink to indicate that she heard me.

"Emery?" I nudged her knee.

"Huh?" She said snapping back into reality.

"You're done," she looks down at her hands surprised like she didn't realize what I did.

"M'kay um I'll just be going," she jumped off the counter and hurried out of the bathroom.

I watched her pass by the closet and look into it for a second before leaving.

There was something not right with her. 'Well duh idiot she just spent the night locked into your closet' my conscience scolded.

It's not that though, once she woke up she didn't yell or show any emotion she was just blank.

Like a different person.

I huffed out a breath I've been holding and walked to my office.

Emery was definitely keeping something from me.

So I ringed up Kade.

"Kade I need you to dig deeper on Emery Denton's life," I ordered.

"Okay sir, but the document I gave you is all I could find so it might take some hours to dig up something personal that has never been documented," he reasoned.

"I don't care how long it takes I just need you to figure it out," I concluded.

"Whatever you need, sir," He hung up.

I feel like I'm being watched, someone who's listening to everything I say and do.

That's not a feeling I want to feel

There was a knock at the door and I jumped.

"Come in," I said unsure.

A man with light brown hair and blue eyes walked in.

"Who are you?" I demanded

"The name's Keith and I have some important news for you about Emery," He said very sure of it himself

I remember this guy in Emery's cell before. Maybe Emery told him something.

"I'm listening," I curiously said.

"Emery has some secrets but some of the secrets she doesn't know she has, she's clueless about them.

One of her secrets that she doesn't know about is going to be a man asking to be in your gang and you have to accept him or you may never know what her dream was about," he finished.

I looked at him shocked and confused.

"How would you know any of this stuff?" I questioned him.

"I have my ways," he smirked then got up and left.

My phone rang and I picked it up a bit dazed.

"Hey man we have a man out here claiming he wants to be in this gang, his name is River, would you like me to send him up," Graham asked

I took thought in to Keith's words actually surprised he knew about this.

"Yeah he can be part of the gang but send him up too," I normally wouldn't do this but I have to know what's going on with Emery.

"Umm okay sir" Graham said shocked.

I hung up the phone and heard a knock on my door. Well that was fast.

A man with hazel eyes and blonde hair walked in.

"Why did you accept so quickly sir," This 'River' asked.

"No reason, what would you be useful for in my gang?" I asked putting his question aside. I can't believe I'm taking Keith's word for it, I haven't even had a backround check for this guy.

"I'm a great fighter, my step dad was a professional boxing trainer," He answered.

I looked at my watch.

"Looks like we will have to finish this conversation later due to my meeting, my guard Sawyer will take you to your room," I said not sparing him another glance while I walked out of my office.

I headed downstairs towards the conference room trying to deal with some bomb threat.

~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~*

It has been an hour and the breakfast bell finally ringed indicating breakfast is ready.

I head towards the dining room to see all the slaves on one side of the room and my gang on the other.

I look around and spot Harley wearing a sling on her shoulder. Her bullet wound wasn't that serious, she just needed to rest.

"Where's Emery?" I asked.

"Oh after preparing breakfast she headed to the ladies washroom to freshen up and get all the grease and food off her," she stated.

The breakfast was getting served when River walked in and sat right next to Duncan, closest to the door.

Harley placed some fruit, eggs, bacon, pancakes, and sausages on the table with the help of some ladies.

Everyone started digging in, moaning and thanking Harley for the food.

Harley went in the back of the kitchen and came back with a glass of orange juice.

Someone pushed their chair out wanting to get up but Harley didn't see and tripped over the leg of the chair landing on her good shoulder.

Her orange juice spilled while the glass shattered, three girls got up including the one who pushed her chair out causing Harley to trip.

"I'm so sorry Harley, I didn't see you," the girl apologized.

"It's alright dear it wasn't your fault," Harley said trying to steady herself.

"Here let me help," River offered and got up from his chair to help Harley up.

Once she steadied herself she picked up the broken pieces while the girl mopped the orange juice.

Once everything was settled everyone sat down including Harley.

River was just walking back to his seat when Emery entered.

They looked at each other and their eyes are met briefly, like they were castes in some spell. It's a spell that I would really like to suck out of them.

Emery gasped.

He smirked at her.

"You!" Emery said with her jaw dropped.

I looked at River and saw the sunlight hitting his hair making it turn a bit of orange. The guy has unique hair, I'll give him that. Keith better be sure on this theory of his, or I'll kill him right after I kill River.

"What? No hug for the guy who saved you're life."

Hello guys!
Hope you liked this chapter!

Raiden's bedroom and closet on the side>>>>>>>

Questions:
How did Keith know what would happen?

What was Emery's secret dream about?

Who do you think has more secrets, Emery or Raiden or possibly another character?

Who do you think River is the Emery?

Does River have some secrets, if so then what?

Thank you guys for your time and stay tuned for my next chapter!

💕Izzy💕