Page 36 of Under Their Protection

“No. I texted her and she said the only thing she knew was that the marriage license had been officially filed,” I say as I look up from my phone. We will be boarding in a few minutes for New York. I am so fucking anxious. I just need to get on this plane and out of this town before I implode.

“Are you okay?” Rowan asks.

“Yeah. I’m just jumpy. I keep thinking someone is going to come out of nowhere and commit me,” I admit. “I mean, I have a temper, but I’ve kept it very well controlled as an adult. I’m not crazy and the fact that they are making me out to be crazy is infuriating.”

My phone vibrates in my hand, and I look down to see it’s Emma. Anxiety swells inside of me and I just stare at my phone.

“Answer it, Nika,” Max says. I huff and take the call.

“Hello?” I answer.

“Hey,” Emma sighs.

“Fuck it’s bad, isn’t it? You sighed,” I say.

“They are contesting the marriage. They are claiming that Rowan pressured you into marrying him so that he could take over a trust they have for you.”

“They don’t have a trust for me. Are they still claiming that I’m crazy?” I ask.

“Yes. They said that you had a mental break after Isaac left you and they are concerned for your well-being. They were granted a hearing,” she explains.

“Fuck, Emma,” I say as I stand. I can’t sit anymore. Rowan stands with me and Max watches from his seat. “What can I do?”

“We may need people to vouch for you and Rowan about your relationship over the last eight years. You two have worked very closely for a long time so even as a friendship it helps. I’ll have Quinn pull security footage for any time he’s been in here, as well as you. You always came and left with Mia. He came and went with many women,” she says.

“When is the hearing?” I ask.

“They originally set it as tomorrow, but I told them that you were on a trip for work and couldn’t be there until Thursday. We have to be there at nine.”

“Alright. Has anything been said about the kidney bullshit?” I ask.

“No. I’m not bringing it up until the hearing. As long as they don’t annul the marriage, it’ll be fine,” she says.

“And if they get their way and annul the marriage?”

“Then we are in for a fight,” she says simply. “I am setting up a video chat with a psychiatrist for you tonight. He is a good friend of mine. I want to get something on the record now that you are of sound mind. Understand that you have to be absolutely honest and cooperative. He is going to make you talk about everything, including The Cherry. He is going to dig into your childhood and your family relationships. Let him in and tell him everything, Anika. I mean it. If we can get a diagnosis on record to prove their emotional abuse, then we can very easily prove that they are trying to manipulate you. Add in them wanting you to donate your kidney and you are solid.”

“I swear to God, Emma. I will kill myself before I ever let someone give her my kidney. I’m not letting her have anything else of mine. I’m not joking,” I say seriously.

“I know, sweetie. You’ve done nothing but give her your entire life. I understand why you don’t want to help her. Anyone with common sense understands,” she says comfortingly. “Just don’t threaten to kill yourself on the video chat.”

The speakers in the airport inform us that our flight has started boarding and I sigh. “We are about to get on the plane. Send me the details for the video call with the psychiatrist. Literally, everyone at work knows how close Rowan and I are.”

“Mia is going to talk to people at your work. She said that she is confident that many of them will write a statement for you two. Also, everyone at your work knows you two got married,” she says. I go to pick up my bag, but Max takes it and my ticket as we walk towards the jet bridge entrance.

“Yeah, Rowan called the owner and told him yesterday as well as what’s going on. He’s already said he will do what he can to helpso just have Mia go talk to him and fill him in on this bullshit. When we land today, we will go to the conference. I can do the video call any time after five. Tomorrow we will be there from eight until four. Wednesday we will land around noon,” I say as Max gives my ticket and his to the woman at the door.

“Okay. This guy is someone I use frequently in cases. I trust him and so will the guys, so I need you to trust him, okay?” she asks.

“I know. I will communicate why I am hesitant if I hit a wall. I am so used to Mom and Dad being able to buy people off. I know they will pay someone off to say I am not competent at minimum.” Once Rowan gives his ticket to the lady we make our way onto the plane. I take a seat between Rowan and Max.

“Well, they can only buy off so many people. This hearing is out of their reach because the judge it was assigned to is very strict. She can spot manipulation from a mile away,” Emma says.

“I mean it’s pretty straightforward. I exist because she had cancer. They took the stem cells and when I was old enough that a whack job doctor would do it, they took bone marrow. Now her kidneys are trying to jump ship and they expect me to give her a whole ass organ. I said no and they are throwing a temper tantrum,” I say.

“Basically. I feel good about this. Just please actually talk to the therapist. If he reports at all that you wouldn’t talk or you were hostile in any way, then they will use it against you and at minimum annul the marriage.”

“I will. It’s going to be hard, but I’ll do it. However, if I have a mental breakdown talking about my trauma then that will look bad,” I sigh.

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