Chapter 20
Emmanuelle arrived and Mariyah had no clue how to act or what do in his presence. She greeted him and went and sat outside to be with Caleb. "What's going on in there?" Caleb asked her.
"No clue, let him and his daughter catch up, I don't want to be around and get into any more trouble."
"I heard Olivia talk to Javier about what to prepare for lunch." Mariyah cursed under her breath. “He’ll be here for a while I think…”
"Zak is going to blow… He needs to work on his temper…" She really did think that.
"Mariyah he worries about you…" Mariyah looked at her brother like he was absurd.
"Yes worries so much he got engaged to that piece of work. Whatever, I just don't want to get in any more shit with him."
"Well learn to behave yourself. You’re not a child anymore, think before you speak."
"Wow so chummy with the bad ass criminal who you repeatedly warned me against."
"Do you want us to get along or not?" She looked at him like of course she wanted them to get along. "Then stop fucking complaining"
"Are you seeing anybody?" Mariyah decided to change the topic. Caleb shook his head.
"Nobody I want involved in my life at this moment."
"What moment? What are you three up to?"
"Let it go woman!" Mariyah rolled her eyes knowing that he was not going to go spill. The big baby ordered her to grab him a drink. Mariyah loved her brother so much, she really did… She would do anything to make things right for him.
As she made her way inside she heard Zak and Emmanuel talking.
"Emmanuelle, I'm sorry, I can't allow it."
"Only a short visit, nothing to worry yourself over Zachary. You trust me don't you?"
"I have trust issues. Don't take it personal.
My niece will not be staying with you. I wish you can accept it.
No hard feelings. Family is very important to me.
Her father died so I am her only relative.
You could say I'm extremely overprotective.
" Mariyah grabbed two cans of coke and walked ever so slowly trying to hear the rest of the conversation.
"Zachary you wouldn't want to offend me would you?" Silence...
"I would rather not offend you. For your daughter’s sake as well as my own but I will not bend. Mariyah stays with me always." Ummm, where the hell did Emmanuel want to take her? What the fuck?
"I see. Olivia is not too happy about that." That bitch was setting this entire thing up. She was pushing for her father to take Mariyah… Maybe have her killed in the process.
"Leave Olivia to me. I know what makes her happy." Zak the all arrogant said.
"Fair enough, we'll leave it for now." Mariyah hurried outside to fill Caleb in on what's going on.
"Why the hell would you even contemplate flirting with somebody as dangerous as him?" Caleb shook his head as though trying to figure her out.
"Oh My God! I already explained myself." Caleb gave her a don’t be cute look…
***
By lunch time while they were all seated at the table, all except Caleb and Eric who were outside. Mariyah did not want to be there, it was awkward as hell. "Mariyah my dear I haven't seen you at all today, has your uncle warned you to avoid me?" Straight to the point Emmanuelle... Fuck!
"Why would he do that? I just remember my father when I see you and thought you wanted to spend time with your daughter. It's so nice of you to visit her. I really miss dad, I wish I had more time with him." Zak almost rolled his eyes at her acting. She gave him a what look.
"How old were you when he passed away?"
"I don't want to talk about it, it makes me upset." Emmanuelle nodded his head, respecting her decision.
"Anyway daddy, Zak and I were thinking about places to have our wedding. Have you any ideas?" Mariyah wanted to barf at Olivia and her voice. Livo acting all sweet like for her daddy… Gross.
"You'll have the wedding at my place... If Zachary agrees. It will be my gift to you."
"Emmanuelle, I wouldn't want to put you out."
"No it will be my pleasure. Olivia is my only daughter, let me treat her like my baby one last time."
"As you wish Emmanuelle." So lunch went by pretty much discussing the wedding. Mariyah kept her mouth shut and ate her food feeling restless and bored she kept fidgeting.
"What is it Mariyah." Zak whispered.
"I'm bored. Can I go?" He shook his head and she pouted.
Unaware of her actions she started tapping the table with her fork and Zak had to take the fork out of her hand.
She smiled awkwardly and apologized. When the most boring lunch in the world passed Mariyah couldn't be happier.
She picked up her plate and cup and took it to the kitchen.
She heard Emmanuelle ask why she would clean up.
"She doesn't like to be waited on." Zak replied. She could hear the exasperation in his voice. They all decided to sit on the deck outside. Zak and Emmanuelle were in deep discussion and Eric and Caleb moved inside to give them privacy. Olivia was sitting holding her father’s hand.
Mariyah actually hated her, she had never hated anybody in her life but with Olivia she genuinely hated everything about that bitch.
Finally after a long draining day Emmanuelle decided to leave. Olivia was crying and hugging him and acting like a complete idiot. "I will come by again. You know you are all welcome to stay with me."
"I know daddy but Zak won't stay anywhere but here.
I wouldn't want to leave him alone. It's okay I'll visit next week.
" Mariyah was so happy that it went smoothly and she was off the hook.
She didn't fuck up once today and was almost home free.
Emmanuelle kissed her hand and then her cheeks.
He also held her for a little too long. Mariyah had no clue at what he was up to.
She stood stiff not liking this at all. He was in her space.
She gave him and awkward smile when he pulled away.
Mariyah dared to look at Zak and regretted that move.
His jaw kept clenching and her heart skipped a beat. He looked downright murderous.
Once Emmanuelle left, Mariyah hurried inside not wanting to confront Zak.
She didn't do anything wrong but Emmanuelle touching her would be a trigger for Zak.
Seconds later he came in after her. Mariyah braced herself for the upcoming battle.
"Caleb get her out of my fucking sight before I fuck her up for good.
" Caleb quick to listen grabbed Mariah’s arm.
"Let's go." She didn’t fight Caleb. Was Zak learning to control his temper?
"Just stay here until he calms down." Caleb told her once she was in the room.
"I haven't done anything. Why is he so high strung?"
"Emmanuelle is trying to show him he will get you eventually. The underworld is a fucked up place, different rules apply. Just don't do anything to piss him off or piss him off too much."
***
The next few days Mariyah didn't do much.
She was bored as hell and really needed to get out for a bit.
She went looking for Zak, she needed out.
She was going to bug him so much he let her go out for a while.
Mariyah assumed he was in the office because the door was ajar, she looked in and noticed Olivia going through his drawers.
Olivia must have heard something because she jumped and quickly sorted out the papers that she had been looking through.
Mariyah hid away so she wouldn't be noticed.
Mariyah went outside and found Zak and Caleb having a beer by the pool. "Here comes trouble." Caleb being a jack ass.
"Zak?" He looked up at her. When she did nothing but stare at his bare chest he prompted her to continue.
"Yes?" She shook her head feeling like a complete idiot, always looking like a lustful schoolgirl.
"Oh um..." Fuck what was she going to ask him?
"Wow sis, I'm glad I paid for your education." Caleb teased.
"Zak?"
"Yes? We've already done that. Spit it out." Zak looked over her.
"Can I go shopping please?" She waited for his no you cannot go anywhere reply, she was going to beg and plead and cry and do whatever it took.
"If Caleb goes with you."
"You can't keep me locked up here forever, I've been behaved, I can't handle it anymore. Please Zak just this once I'll prove to you that..."
"Mari... Mari… He said yes." Mariyah did a double take when Caleb said that.
"Oh... Very well…" She heard Caleb whisper to Zak before she could think of what to say and complete her sentence.
"Three… Two… one…"
"Thank you!" Mariyah ran and wrapped her arms around Zak kissing his cheek.
"I'm the one taking you." Caleb called out when he didn't receive any love. She blew him a kiss. Zak was letting her go? She didn’t get it… Why was he acting all different with her? Something wasn’t making sense… Still, she was not complaining. She was going out!
***
Zak had given Mariyah his credit card. She didn't want to take it telling him that Caleb had some money. "I'm sure he does but you are my problem not Caleb's." Whatever, she took his card and smiled.
"Well consider yourself warned, I can be a big spender." He laughed before shaking his head and turning away.
At the mall Mariyah hugged her brother. "Thanks for this." He winked at her and her heart melted. She loved him so much.
"Do you want me to leave you?" He asked her. She shook her head
"No, let’s go grab lunch. I miss being able to do things like this. It seems like we have been on the run forever, it's nice not to be scared and looking over our shoulders." Caleb nodded his agreement.
After lunch they shopped, Mariyah wanted to go into every single shop in the world. Caleb was losing his shit.
"Mari, let's go, shopping is boring... I'm bored." Mariyah gave him puppy dog eyes and always won out.
"Just one more shop, please?" And he would let her go into the next clothes shop. By the end of the day Caleb was over his life.