14

                                    

                                          
After two more days of being locked in the room, I'm more scattered than ever. I feel the dryness of every breath I take in my lungs and my tongue is drier than I've ever felt it. 
                          
My father usually would've saved me by now. But this is my punishment.
                          
For the first time, the door swings open, revealing a man I haven't seen before. 
                          
"Who are you?" I ask dryly. 
                          
"I'm the guy who ordered them to take you," he says, crouching in front of me. 
                          
"Ahh," I nod, rolly my eyes. "You're my kidnapper."
                          
He nods. "I am."
                          
I lean my head back against the wall, looking at him with a tired, bored look on my face. Or at least that's what I imagine my face looks like. 
                          
"Don't you think it's funny your father hasn't come running to your rescue?" he asks. "I mean, the least he could do is send a couple of his men to try."
                          
I roll my eyes again, not wanting to have the conversation.
                          
"Seriously, Addison, don't you think it's a little weird? I mean, if we're being honest, I think it's more funny than weird. We' can obviously tell who the favorite child is not." he chuckles. 
                          
"I was his favorite," I cough. "Then I ran away and left for months. He had to track me down and force me home to have me again." 
                          
I pause, shrugging weakly. "I guess you could say this is my punishment."
                          
"This is him punishing you?" he asks, intrigued. 
                          
I nod. "Yep. He's a great dad, don't you think?"
                          
"So, if what you're saying is true, he's not going to come and get you because to him this is a way for you to learn your lesson about running away?" 
                          
I nod. "He was angry with me for leaving. So, if I'm with you, he knows that it's not gonna happen again."
                          
The guy stands for a moment, staring at me. 
                          
"What?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at him after he doesn't answer immediately.
                          
"Jared, Louis!" 
                          
Two men walk into the room, looking to him. 
                          
"Yes sir?" one asks. 
                          
The guy walks over to me, grabbing my arm and getting me up before looking at me in the eye. "Do you want to go home to daddy?" 
                          
"I'd honestly rather die here with you," I tell him dryly, shrugging. 
                          
He smirks. "Then I want you to run back to wherever the hell you ran to the first time. Maybe even further,"  he says before letting go of my arm. "She's free to go." 
                          
I look at him, scared to move. "Really?" 
                          
He smirks. "The most pain I can give your father is to do the opposite of what he would want. So yeah, go ahead." 
                          
I look towards the door, looking at the two men still guarding it. 
                          
They both step aside, leaving room for me to leave. 
                          
Taking a step forward, cautiously, I wait a few seconds before taking another and another, soon making it out of the building and jolting into a run. 
                          
I can go back. I can go back to California and tell Joe everything and make this right. I can go back to my life.
                          
No. 
                          
I shouldn't have to run away to live the life that I want to live. I should be able to willingly leave and still have the support and love from my parents. 
                          
I turn around in my spot, knowing which direction I need to go. 
                          
I need to go home to talk to my dad.
                          
Arriving back to the house, I stumble in the yard, raising my arms in the air as the guards come towards me. 
                          
"Addison!" One of them say although I'm not sure which one... my vision's a bit too blurry to tell who anyone is if I'm being honest. 
                          
"Addison!" Stella yells.
                          
"Put your weapons down!" my father's voice yells as I'm assuming Stella grabs my arm to help balance me and take me inside. 
                          
Once inside, I'm sat in a chair in the kitchen and given some water and food, which I quickly scarf down. Within minutes, my vision becomes normal again making me stand and look at Stella. 
                          
"Wait, sit, you need to relax." 
                          
"No, I need to talk to mom and dad. Now." 
                          
"They're up in the office I think. They just made sure you didn't get shot and then left for me to get you settled back in," she explains. 
                          
I leave the kitchen, hurrying up the stairs and into the office. 
                          
"We're having a meeting-"
                          
"I don't care we need to talk," I cut my father off. "I never got the guy's name that kidnapped me but he let me go because he wanted me to run back to California in order to get back at you." 
                          
My father, now interested, sits back in his seat to look at me. "And you didn't?" 
                          
"No, because I wanted to say this," I start, taking a deep breath. "You're my parents! You're supposed to love me no matter what! There aren't supposed to be rules of being your child. I should be able to live my own life, have my own friends, and do the things that I love even if it means it's not following in your footsteps. Family is unconditional love! For the last time, I don't want this life! I don't want to be kidnapped every time someone that hates you doesn't know how else to get to you! I don't want to have a gun on my hip every time I leave the house. I don't want to look over my shoulder everywhere I am. I want to live a normal, happy life! I wanna have a boyfriend and a job and friends. I wanna go bowling and maybe to school and do all of the things that normal people my age do! Why is that so much to ask!?" 
                          
I finish, opening my eyes after a few seconds, realizing I had closed them in frustration. 
                          
My father nods lightly as my mother looks at me in shock. 
                          
"Well," he starts. "I want to start by saying I'm impressed that you came home instead of running off as he wished you would." 
                          
I sigh, licking my lips, not knowing what to say. 
                          
"Second, I think you're right,"  he says, shocking me. 
                          
"Wh-what?" 
                          
"I think you should live the life that you want to live whether that be in this life or another," he states, nodding. "If you wish to leave and create a life for yourself elsewhere... I grant you permission." 
                          
I blink, not knowing what to think. "Really?" 
                          
He nods. "Yes, but I want to make something very clear." 
                          
I raise my brows. "Okay?" 
                          
"If you leave..." he pauses. "You do not come back. If you leave, you will not contact us. You leave and you are no longer a part of this family."
                          
I gulp, my mouth parted slightly in shock. 
                          
"Then I guess I have a decision to make." 
                          
He nods. "I suppose you do." 
                          
I turn on my heel, walking out of the room and towards my room, past Stella who had been eavesdropping. 
                          
I have a big decision to make.
                          
*** 
                          
it's a bit of a longer chapter which I'm happy with
                          
how are you all liking the book? 
                          
i know there's not a lot of joe but he'll be back... i promise.
                          
do u think u know what addison's decision will be? 
                          
family or a free life? what would you choose?
                          
much love,
                          
shan:)