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“After Albert, there’s a list to work down, and I’m not short of people,” says Jolene.
“Kill us all. I’d rather we were all dead than he marries you,” snaps Albert.
“You don’t have a choice,” mutters Meli, finally looking at me. She clears her throat. “You don’t have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice,” I say.
She shakes her head. “Not a good one.”
“I need a minute,” I say. “Let me talk to Meli.”
“I’m not leaving. Do your talking here,” says Jolene.
“Please,” I growl. “If I agree to this, what’s a few minutes to say goodbye?”
Jolene sighs but stands. “Fine. Two minutes.”
I wait for her and Albert to leave before pulling Meli to stand. There’s still hurt in her eyes, and I hate myself for it. “I’m sorry I said all that to you. I had no right. I was angry when I found out you’d aborted the baby, but I know you had your reasons, and they’re none of my business. It’s no excuse, but I was angry about Jolene taking my deal and I took it out on you.”
“You have to do what she wants,” she says, not addressing my apology.
“I can’t lose you.”
“And you can’t lose your mum and Albert. She’s got you exactly where she wants you.”
I cup her face in my hands. “I fucking hate her,” I whisper angrily. “Why aren’t you angry?”
“I am, Arthur. But something told me you’d never be mine, not truly. And she’s right, you’d have so much power if you joined forces.”
I place my finger over her lips. “Don’t fucking put a positive spin on this, Meli. It’s tearing me up inside.”
A tear rolls down her cheek, the only sign to show me she feels something. “I don’t want to let her see us upset,” she whispers. “She gets a kick from it.”
“I’ll find a way. I promise. I’ll get out of this before we hear wedding bells.” She nods, and more tears roll down her cheeks. “No one tells me what to do. She’ll die for crossing me.” I wipe her cheeks. “I have no right, but you’re mine, Amelia. I can’t stand to see you with anyone else. Just wait for me to sort this out and I’m all yours. Okay?”
“Okay,” she whispers.
Jolene and Albert come back in. “So, are the goodbyes out the way?” she asks, grinning.
“Seriously?” yells Albert. “You’re gonna agree to this shitshow?”
“I can’t lose you, Bert,” I tell him. “I can’t risk it.”
“So, what, we just hand everything over like fucking puppy dogs?”
“What choice do I have?” I growl. “Ma is with them now. I can’t protect her any other way.”
He turns to Jolene. “I might have underestimated you, but you’ve certainly underestimated me if you think I’ll let this go ahead.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
MELI
I don’t cry as Albert takes me home. We sit in silence most of the way until I can’t stand it any longer. “What are we going to do?”
“We?” he repeats, smirking. “We’re a ‘we’ now?”
“Rosey could go and get your ma, then Arthur can kill Jolene.”
