Anchor

Chapter 8

John

It was still early morning and John hoped to god whoever was making that raket had a bloody good reason. Shuffling into the kitchen wearing only my pants and unbuttoned shirt I was shocked to see Lotte and Tommy sitting in the kitchen cradling a tiny baby, their faces split with wide grins.

"Who have we got here then" I reached for the squirming baby

"She arrived last night it was all a bit surreal" Lotte replied as she smiled up at Tommy who leaned down and kissed her. I gazed down as I watched the sleeping child

"She's beautiful, nothing like her old man" I said grinning as Tommy rolled his eyes as the rest of the family laughed "she's going to be a little heartbreaker"

"Ada will be down from London in a day or so" Polly told us "where're your boys?"

"Upstairs sleeping, I'll get them up soon" I handed Lotte her baby as she let out a yawn which made me smile "What's her name"

Just as Lotte was about to reply the front door burst open and in came Ellie and David with panicked expressions

"John you have to help Emily" Ellie tearfully asked

Emily

25 minutes earlier

As my siblings played downstairs I decided to clean their rooms which was quickly beginning to get more and more full with toys and trinkets they had been given. As I folded the sheets I thought back to what Arthur said about John. Maybe I was being a little unfair towards him, yes he liked me and I like him, my brother and sister liked him which was a bonus but did I want to risk being hurt when he would leave me?

The front door downstairs opened and then the sudden yell from my siblings pushed me into action. Quickly rushing downstairs anger surged through me as I saw our father standing in the living room, he was bent over David as his dirty hands latched onto my brother.
Ellie cried in the corner as our father yelled at an equally scared David.

I jumped onto his back, wrapping my arms around his neck tightly to get him off David. He yelled and eventually let go only to push me against the wall with his hands on my throat. Punching him in the face I watched him stumble towards the table before it collapsed against his weight. The small cut on my hand had reopened as my knuckles ached from the hit. I turned to my frightened siblings

"Go, I'll handle him" David clutched Ellies hand and ran out the door.

Gasping I tasted blood in my mouth as the bastard punched me

"You ungrateful little shit, after everything I've done for you"

"You haven't done anything for me"
I yelled back as our fists collided with each others body. Unfortunately he managed to get the upper hand and pin me to the ground and tried to strangle me again. Just as black spots clouded my vision I felt his weight being lifted off me as I gasped for breath.

"Em? Emily" I saw the face of Polly as she crouched beside me but I didn't realize she had a twin who shared her same expression. I could hear rapid movements to my right but I blinked and the two Pollys were now one. Coughing harshly I spat out some blood as I turned to my side. I quickly regretted it as pain went through my body.

Gasping I sat up just in time to see our no good father run out the door and I saw John and Arthut turn towards me.

"Bloody hell girl" Arthur spoke as he looked me over

"Where're my..."

"At our house, they ran in and told us" with a helping hand Polly helped me stand as I clutched my side. I caught a glance at myself seeing the blood against my cheek and lips, a bruise forming below my eye and feeling sharp razor blades down my throat as I swallowed.

"Can they stay with you tonight?" I asked John wincing slightly as my voice broke "I don't want them to see me like this"

He nodded not saying a word as he looked ready to fight again. Without another word they all left and shut the door. Looking around the room I felt tears brim my eyes as the once clean and happy living room now seemed dark and tainted. Pushing back the tears I began to clean.

John

"Is she ok?" Lotte questioned

"Asking her she'll probably say yes, but that bastard didn't hold back, I should have fucking killed him" I snapped the toothpick from my mouth before throwing it into the fire. I'd told Ellie and David their sister wanted to clean the house before they came back. They seemed reluctant to stay but my boys were keeping them busy.

"Killing him wouldn't have done any good" Polly poured me some scotch as she eyed me "not that it's not tempting"

"Where is he now?" Tommy questioned as he held his little one

"If he's got any sense a long way from 'ere" Arthur remarked as he rubbed his knuckles

I was silent as the talk moved away from today's events but my mind was still stuck on Emily how...wounded she looked.

Without a word I stood up and left.

Tommy's POV

Watching as my younger brother left I turned towards everyone "I know how Johnny dogs knows Emily"

"Still keeping bloody secrets" Lotte smirked at me

"Sorry sweetheart" I gave her my best innocent look causing her to roll her eyes and mumble something. Turning back towards Polly, Arthur, Finn and Michael I told them who Emily's mother was

Emily

My skin felt better as I washed the blood from me. I now sat in the tidy living room as I listened to the silence and realized how much I didn't like it. A knock brought me out of my thoughts and I immediately tensed before realizing the bastard wouldn't come back yet and he definitely wouldn't knock. Slowly to avoid further injuring myself I opened the door and was surprised to see John on the side.

"Thought you could use some company"

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A/N

Ok guys whoever names the baby gets a sneak peak for the next chapter.

Also I was going to tell you who Emilys mother was but it didn't feel like the right time 😏