Chapter 9 Emmett: Family Matters

• Emmett POV
• We watch Raven leave, and we walk through to our mother. She looks happy, stupidly fucking happy.
• "Mother." Grayson walks in and sits at the table.
• "Grayson, look after her, please." Our mother looks at him, and he stares, shocked.
• "She's not a child, and she can babysit herself." He looks at her, annoyed.
• "That may be. However, something tells me there is more beneath the surface, and she hides it well. There is only so long that booze and sex can hide those things, though. I can see it in her eyes."
• Those things? We all look at her, confused, and she smiles.
• "It isn't my place, and to be fair, I only know because her father left out some things about her. You boys be nice to her, I mean it." Her words are stern. Shit, she does like Raven. I want to laugh, as in reality, Raven is someone who doesn't belong near us.
• "Sure, for a month, then they will be gone," Grayson states, and I groan; here we go again. Why can't he keep it shut around our mother?
• "Don't Grayson! Dave is a nice man."
• "Nice? Mum, he's like the rest. You're too blind and want someone to love you, so you don't see. I swear I won't get involved, but I know this won't last. The fact he stays here when you leave for business trips says that."
• Grayson isn't wrong. He could go with her and have a holiday, but he stays. Why? He doesn't work, so why does he always stay?
• "Grayson, it's late. I would like to spend time with Dave when he gets home; please just leave." Grayson stands and storms out, and I look at her. She's a fool, but she's an adult. Turning, we follow him, and getting back, we sit in the living area.
• "So, any ideas?" Grayson looks at us, and I shake my head. Our mother knows but clearly won't tell us, which is fucked up. She lives with us, we need to know.
• "Maybe we could get someone to dig up her past?" I mean, surely we should know if she is living with us? I don't trust her.
• "Maybe? Mum clearly knows. I will try to get her to tell me at some point when she calms down." Grayson stands and walks off. Giving up, we go to our rooms. I sit with the guitar I play. It helps quieten my mind.
• A short while later, I hear Dave calling to Raven; I listen to her rush past my door and open it slightly.
• "Why were you in the main house?" I hear Dave and step out, Grayson and Ashton joining me. Why is he bothered? It's our mother's house. He also shouldn't be here, does he ignore everyone's fucking warnings and rules?
• "Emilia wanted to meet me."
• "Don't, ever again!" He looks at her, pissed off.
• "Fine, next time, I will tell her no. Are you happy now?" she says with a taunting smile.
• "No, I spoke to your mother more; she warned me of this." I watch him hand her something and see her body freeze. What is it? I look at Grayson, and he shrugs his shoulders.
• "Why have you got this?" I hear her scream as she tears it up, but she sounds broken and scared. We need to know. We can't have her living here without knowing.
• "A reminder of what happens when you whore yourself out!" I go to move, and Grayson stops me. I get it, we get involved, and Mum gets hurt.
• "Whore myself out? Do you even know the full story of what happened then? I'm guessing not, or maybe you do, but your own money-grabbing schemes too blind you. You can't see the fucking truth!" I watch him hit her and move, Grayson, stopping me again.
• "It's not our family, not our problem; leave it!" He looks at me, and I nod. I know it isn't. Had this happened in a bar in the city, fine, but we're stuck. If we broke his fingers, Mum would cry.
• "Look at you!" Dave points to her body. "You can deny it, Raven, but this, all this is proof you do." Sure, she dresses wild, but that doesn't make her a whore. I feel the need to defend her, but we can't. This isn't two strangers. It's a daughter and her father.
• "Fuck you! At least men know they can't fucking touch and are paying for nothing more than a dance. At least I don't lie and pretend to love someone to get their cash and jump from one relationship to the next. The men I dance for know that is all they get for their money; the women you fuck assume it's a commitment, but the only commitment you have is to their cash!" I stare, so there is a story there? I watch him hit her, and Grayson moves, this time I stop him.
• "Not family, remember?" I laugh, and he nods. He can't change the rules now.
• "One day, you will regret raising your hand to me. Do you think hitting me hurts? After everything that happened, you think a slap will fucking hurt? Screw you, Dave, I may be a whore, but at least I'm not a prostitute like you and Mother." Her words sting, and says something has happened to her in the past, something her parents clearly blame her for, but what? Shit, I stare at her, feeling a need to protect her, which is fucked up.
• I watch her walk towards us. Her head raises, pausing slightly, and she juts her chin up more. She glares at us, and the hurt burns in her eyes. Then, she disappears into her room.
• Grayson walks towards Dave, stopping in front of him with us behind him. Please don't hit him. As much as he deserves it, Mum will hurt.
• "You're not welcome here. I have told you before that I'm no fool to men like you. Stay out of this side of the house, or next time, I'll raise my hands."
• Dave laughs. "My daughter is here, so I will come when I want."
• "She isn't your daughter, just a woman you wish you didn't have the burden of. Stay out. That is your final warning." Turning, Grayson walks past us, and I watch Dave walk out. Family drama is great. Who said blended families were great?
• I turn and call out to Grayson, turning, he looks at me. Shit, he looks different right now. "So, do you want us to find out more?" She got to him. It's a bad thing.
• "No, leave it. Don't try and find out her fucking past, Emmet. I mean it!" He disappears into his door, and it slams.
• "She got into his head." Ashton laughs, and I have to agree. She has—a lot.
• "No doubt he just wants to protect her; he's soft for a damsel; although she isn't weak, she has shown that." She isn't, not that it matters. She won't be here long enough to be considered a target. I walk to my room and slam the door. Something needs to change. Grayson is slipping further and further away. Raven being here, will only add when he lets her in and she walks.