Several hours later...
I open my eyes to find the man glaring down at me with narrowed eyes. Feeling embarrassment wash over me I immediately sit up and stare back at him in confusion. "What?" I snap at him.
"In your sleep, you kept screaming and uttering his name. Why were you screaming his name over and over again?" He asks as I straighten up, and smooth out my clothes, feeling embarrassed. As I fumble with my hands, heat spreading in my cheeks I glance up into his face not wanting to tell him anything.
"I keep having nightmares about the torture that they put me through, I am sorry!" I told him.
"I knew it... let me see your arm!" he snaps at me, and I furrow my brows at him in worry.
"How did you know it was on my arm?" I ask him.
"It doesn't matter, now let me see it!" he snaps out grabbing for my arm, twisting it so that he can clearly see what was written there. "That ass hole! He branded you?" I glance up as he stands up and heads towards the closet pulling out a dress, which he tosses towards me. I watch it fall across the bed before looking back up at him in surprise. "Put it on, we have somewhere to go," he says simply then disappears out the door.
My eyes linger on the dress, which he told me to put on. Where was he taking me? I wondered as I grabbed the dress and walked into the bathroom to change. As I gazed in the mirror, I was amazed at the gorgeous gown I was wearing. Silver in color, it had a sheer fluffy skirt and the neckline plunged down low showing off my lady bumps. There was a slit in the side of the skirt that went almost to my hip, and the bodice was embellished with silver beads. The dress would have never been my choice, but since I had no choice here I stepped out of the restroom just in time to see him standing there with a grim look on his face next to someone unfamiliar. "This girl here is Harper, she is in charge of hair and make-up," he spoke to me before turning his attention to her. "You have one hour, do not be a minute late," he demands before turning and walking out of the room leaving me staring at this girl as she held a black case and led me back into the bathroom.
I watch as she set up a stool in front of the mirror for me to sit down, before getting to work on my hair and makeup. She did subtle highlights on my face and pulled my hair up into an elegant braided up-do adding silver beads throughout my hair so that it matched the dress perfectly. Observing her work, I quickly noticed that she had a few bruises on her arms and I wondered where they came from but chose to keep quiet as it wasn't any of my business. As soon as she was done, I stepped back into the room and noticed that he was standing there holding a pair of deadly-looking heels in his hand. "Get these on now," he growls out and I did what he ordered.
The massive heels made me almost as tall as he was, and made the dress easier to walk in since the skirt was too long for me in the first place. He then grabs my hand and leads me out of the room, down a set of beautiful wooden stairs. When we reached the grand foyer, I saw his mother and his father I assumed standing there dressed up as well. I had no idea what was going on, let alone where he was taking me to. "Oh my, you look stunning my dear!" his mother spoke drawing me into a hug. "Get prepared, as he has decided to do this today. Says there is no time to waste, he needs to beat Jasper in filing the paperwork for your marriage to my son to be legal," she whispers into my ear before letting me go. I finally understood where we were going and why he dressed me in such a nice dress. He glares down at me as if issuing out a threat, telling me to stay in line.
"What? Are can't be serious... No, I never agreed to this. You can't force me to marry him!" I start to plead with them before he cuts me off.
"Stop right there, Jasper is engaged to my sister and I will make sure that the wedding takes place. As to why you got dragged into this whole thing, trust me I am looking into that. I want to know how my Flash Drive got into your bag, this was never supposed to happen and I feel that the only way to keep you from talking is to trap you in this marriage with me, and bonus it prevents Jasper from filing the paperwork for his so-called marriage to you as well." he says before gripping my wrist and pulling me out the front door, his grip tightening as I tried to walk away. "You need to do as I say, my dear. This is the only way that I can keep you safe," he says shoving me into the back of the limo that was waiting for us. As I fell to the floor he picks me up and places me on the seat next to him while his parents both climb in as well. I stare wide-eyed at all of them in shock, they were really going to force me to marry this man.
"Keep me safe?" I ask.
"Yes, keep you safe. I know very well that you are an innocent girl who got dragged into this war between our two Syndicates. I need to keep you away from Jasper as he is very cruel." he explained to me as the limo begins to pull away from the house.
"But, what about your sister?" I ask him, thinking about what he said. Jasper is engaged to his sister, he said he was going to make sure that the wedding takes place.
I hear his mother let out a chuckle, and glance in her direction. "Elizabeth can take care of herself, all of us have made sure of that!" she laughs. I turn my head back at this man, my body began to tremble under his glare.
It never occurred to me that he was the leader of a syndicate, didn't they do bad things like traffic people? I wanted nothing to do with that and nothing to do with him. "Calm down Grace, I will not harm you and neither will my parents so long as you are married to me. Your life will never get mixed up with the syndicate, I wouldn't risk that," he spoke calmly. I tried to steady my breathing by taking in deep breaths, I wanted to trust him and his parents but I just couldn't forget what I'd been through.
"What about going home... and seeing my father?" I ask in hope.
"My dear, he won't keep you locked away forever, will you Bellamy?" she asks him causing me to glance up into his eyes. He was staring back at her like he wanted to kill her.
Taking a deep breath before he turns to me and answers, "No I won't keep her locked in the room. She will have full reign of the house and can use anything there. As for her stepping out of the house, or going to see her family that will only be done with me by her side. Let's not forget something here she will be my wife and I do take her safety seriously." he growls out. Despite not feeling any better by his answers I glance away, refusing to look back at him.
As the limo slowed, I glance out the window to see where we were. We've pulled up in front of the courthouse, and Bellamy drags me out after him forcing me to stand next to him as everyone climbs out of the limo. "Behave!" he says as he pulls me inside the massive building. As we walk silently through the building, the sound of my heels on the marble floors echoed throughout.
"Son, I called in a favor with Judge Mathis." I heard his father say and I glance at him. "When we reach his chambers, he said to knock."
Standing before a closed oak door, I see a plaque that read, "Judge Eugene Mathis," and watch as Bellamy knocks on the door. A few seconds later the door opens, and I see the face of an older short man who is definitely past his prime. Despite being plump and balding, he smiled sincerely as he greeted us. "Come on in... I hear congratulations are in order. Young Bellamy has finally found a woman worthy to wed!" he exclaims with a smile on his face.
"Indeed, he has." I hear his dad's reply.
I wanted to scream it all out to him at that moment, to tell him that they have pretty much kidnapped me and are forcing me to marry this man. But catching the glare from Bellamy, I decided to keep quiet. I didn't want him to hurt me. I watch as the Judge gives his parents each a hug and offers them a drink, while Bellamy leads me inside the chambers and offers me a chair. That was the moment the Judge lays his eyes on me, "Well now isn't she a beauty! So this is the lucky girl?" he asks, glancing up into Bellamy's face who only simply nods back in reply. "Tell me, girl, what is your name?"
"Gracelyn Lauder, sir," I answer him softly.
"Well Gracelyn, how old are you? You don't actually look old enough to be getting married right now," he asks suddenly, and I hear the sharp sound of Bellamy's fist slamming against the desk reverberating in my ears. As his eyes start to burn with anger at the man's questions. I straighten up, putting myself on guard.
"That is enough questions, Eugene... she is 19 yrs old, surely that is old enough by law to get married, or am I wrong?" he growled out through clenched teeth, I kept my mouth shut because at that moment I was too terrified to say anything.