Tangled Love

CHAPTER 80

"I am s-so sorry." He apologises, taking a few steps back away from Jones. He's shorter than him by a fair few inches and Jones looms over him like an authoritative giant. The man appears terrified and cowers a little, backing up into the wall behind him. I scoot as far away into the wall as I can, wishing I could find a way to make a run for it without having to pass Jones.

I watch silently, my hands trembling in my lap as DC Jones takes a few steps towards the petrified man and grabs him by the scruff of his neck. The man instantly shut his eyes as if expecting a blow to his face, something I recognised from my time living with Trevor.

"Please! I didn't do anything, I wasn't touching her, I swear!" He pleads, his eyes growing wide with terror. DC Jones remains silent, blue flames burning holes into the man's face. His lips curl up into a smirk as he enjoys the reaction he's getting from his victim. He slowly brings his face towards the man's ear and whispers, loud enough for me to hear.

"If you touch her again, I'll tear off your limbs one by one. Do you understand?"

His words sent icy shivers pulsing throughout my whole body and my face drained of any colour remaining. If I thought I was shaking before, it was nothing compared to the chills in my body now. The man whimpered in his arms and nodded profusely before DC Jones released him, causing him to fall hard onto the floor. He immediately scurried to his feet and fled straight out of the pub, leaving his unfinished drink behind on the table in front of me.

Jones shook off his hands and smiled chillingly at my pale face, knowing his words scared the living crap out of me. He took a seat opposite me where the slob previously sat and moved the drink out of the way before looking straight at me, his eyes confident and gleaming.

"Emily, you came." Jones smiles, signalling for the bartender to come over to our table. The women immediately scurried over, smiling tightly at me before waiting for Jones to speak to her. I nod, still not able to speak due to how dry my throat is.

It seems like everybody in this pub is terrified of this man, including myself. I reach into my jacket and slowly take out my phone, ready to text Jake if anything goes wrong. Thankfully Jones doesn't notice as he speaks to the bartender, ordering his drinks. I fiddle with my phone in my hands underneath the table and I'm grateful for the small device that reassures my nerves. The feel of the knife in my pocket reminds me I have some sort of safety and I blow out a breath, composing myself.

Jones brings his attention back to me once he's finished with the bartender and he places both hands on the table between us, interlacing his fingers. His entire body language reminds me of a police officer, confident and demanding. He cocks his head to the side slightly and studied me silently before speaking again.

"You're scared of me, aren't you?"

I look up at him in disbelief. Isn't it obvious? His eyes flash with sadness before quickly masking them over with his signature cold front. I drop my gaze, unable to look at him any longer than a few seconds.

"Can you blame me? The crazy texts. The stalking. What sane person does that?" I ask him, my voice surprisingly confident. I've had enough, I need answers. The worst feeling is being left in the dark when it involves a man I love with all my heart. I need to know what Jones knows about my family and my past.

"I want to ask you a few questions and you need to tell me the truth."

I want to lead this conversation, it's I who organised the meeting. DC Jones nods and signals for the bartender to leave without so much as glancing at her.

She places a drink in front of him and an orange juice in front of me before hurrying off, her eyes trained on the floor. Jones picks up his drink and takes a gulp before placing it back down and licking his lips. I do the same with mine, grateful for the cool juice travelling down my throat. I feel instantly refreshed and place it back down onto the table.

"What do you want to know?" Jones asks me, his voice low and deep, laced with amusement. I clench my jaw at the sheer cheek of this man.

"Who the hell are you to start off with?"

He is starting to anger me and I need some answers. My life seems to be one big messed up lie and the jigsaw was missing pieces, too many pieces.

Jones chuckles deeply at my question before he leans back, interlacing his fingers once again. I notice a dragon's head tattoo sneaking out from under his jacket on his wrist and he immediately pulled his sleeve down, keeping it hidden.

"You're not ready to know the answer to that question yet Emily. I will tell you soon though."

I let out a scoff, narrowing my eyes at him.

Is this man actually for real right now?

"I came here for answers! I don't want to play your games any longer." I spit back, wanting him to know I'm more than just a scared vulnerable little girl that he can manipulate.

"Whoever you are, I won't let you treat me like this! I've spent most of my life being pushed around and I won't stand for it anymore." I add, meaning every single word. Jones remains silent, listening intently before nodding. The corner of his lips turn down into a straight line and his face becomes emotionless, hard as stone.

"You've finally grown a back bone."

I sit back, frowning as I study him. Why does he act like he's known me my entire life?

"How long have you known me?" I ask desperately, my mind a jumbled up, confused mess.

"All your life."

His tone is blunt, dark eyes full of truth. My head reels from his answer and I lean backwards, finding it difficult to understand. I've never seen him before, never laid eyes on this man up until a few months ago.

"You're lying!" I snap back, my words shaking as I didn't know whether he's telling true or not. Is he lying? He sounds so certain.

My head throbs and I rub at my temples with my fingers, feeling light headed and dizzy from the conversation. I desperately search through my memories, trying to picture Jones' face again.

"You have to be lying," I whisper, shaking my head. My throat runs completely dry and I can feel my stomach twisting with knots. The pounding in my head increases and I let out a small groan, my hands tightening around my phone.

I glance up to find DC Jones watching me, a small smile playing on his lips as my vision began to blur.

The noise in the pub intensifies and soon enough it feels like the music was blaring straight out from my head, each beat stronger than the last. I groan again, my muscles instantly turning weak. My grasp on the phone loosens and it drops from my hold, landing on the floor. My eyes flutter closed but Jones' grinning smile flashes through my mind.

"What did you do?" I choke out before blackness invited itself inside my head. My body slumps forward, slamming straight onto the table in front of me. The glass shatters, piercing into my skin. Remnants of orange juice pours onto the floor and all that's left in the bottom is a powdery white substance.

"Goodnight Emily."