Forced Family 3

T W E N T Y S E V E N

"It's weird I'm not getting any signal here," Liam mutters glaring at his phone, "Lee we're here as a family put the phone away," Zayn scolds gesturing to Annika and Thomas, "R-right, I-I just wanted to check on Niall,"

"He's safe with Papa rest assured," Zayn retorts feeding Thomas with a coo, "Anna how is it?" 

The family was at dinner, Annika had found comfort in the fact Liam was there even if he had whipped her the night prior, she knew that if Niall truly told Liam everything he'd be working on getting them away from the Maliks. After all, she'd been sneaking down to read Liam's books at night and found him to be extremely smart, but he had his weaknesses, and Louis was one of them.

Annika almost hoped the brother not being here would set off alarms in Liam's head the way it was hers.

"I wanted to check on Lou as well," Liam tuts clearing his throat as he places his phone to his ear once more grimacing at the no signal tone.

Zayn inhales deeply gaining attention from the family at the table, "How about no phones at dinner? We're classier than that, yeah?"

"S-sorry Dad," Liam mumbles placing his phone on the table, the man clears his throat extending his hand, "I'll hold onto it for you-"

"D-dad-"

"Liam," Zayn growls his hand remaining open, Liam swallows past the burning lump in his throat feeling a sudden lifeline to his phone even without its working signal. Shakily he nods retrieving it from the table, he meets Annika's concern-filled orbs, as if she's begging him not to hand over their only form of communication to Niall.

Dropping it in Zayn's awaiting hand, he lowers his head glaring at the meal in front of him, "There we go," Zayn coos resuming to feed Thomas uninterrupted. 

"I-I have to-to go to the bathroom," Annika suddenly remarks, her eyes glazing the table as she clears her throat running a hand through her hair, "I, uh, I have to go to-to the restroom, da-daddy wi-will you go with me?"

Zayn smirks, "Princess Anna I believe you're plenty old enough-"

"Dad it's fine, we-we're uh working on being less independent, 'ya-ya know more de-dependant on Ni-I-I mean Papa and-and me," Liam rambles off the first lie he could conjure, standing before Zayn can protest further, "Excuse us, we-we'll be right back,"

Placing her hand in Liam's, Annika trails him toward the restroom ensuring the two were far enough away before taking her hand from Liam's and scowling at him, "why would you hand over your phone?!" she demands, Liam scoffs, "I'm sorry who's the parent-"

"Cut it out Liam, if we're going to get out alive I need you to be smart enough to not hand your phone over to the bad guy!" Annika growls, the man rolls his eyes dragging Annika further away from the dining area, "And you need to lower your voice, I'm doing the best I can after learning everyone has been working against me my whole fucking life," 

Annika frowns at the words, she can't place herself in Liam's shoes to feel that sort of pain, she knows the pain of abandonment, and being kidnapped, but to learn everything in your life was set up to keep you at a loss of control has to be terrifying. She had to give him some grace for that.

"I-I'm sorry, I-I just wish Papa was here," she mumbles, Liam nods, "Me too," he meets her eyes, "Yo-you called him Papa," Annika sighs glancing at the bustling dining area she knew they'd have to be returning too, "I won't say everything has been horrible, it hasn't been. I won't even say I haven't enjoyed parts of it," she looks to Liam, "You did too, e-even when you were me," 

"An-and Niall is-is, will be my Papa, I-I trust him," Extending a hand toward Liam she offers him a truce, "I know you love him," The man kneels down in front of her brushing hair from her face, "I love you and Thomas too, and even if all I am after this is Papa's husband, I'm fine with that," 

Accepting the truce, Liam stands scanning the area, "We have to go back, b-but I want you to know I'm going to do whatever it takes to save us all," Annika nods letting herself be led back to the table.

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>This book is ending at 30 chapters by the way :) Expect the last 3 to be longer!