Chapter 24

“I just found out that she’s pregnant.” Ben is pushing fingers through his hair, rubbing his face in complete agitation. “I’ve been away for a while on business … London. I only got back yesterday.” He seems so overwhelmed and completely rattled. We’re sitting in the quiet booth of a bar near the one we came from. It’s almost deserted and both men are cradling neat gin while I hold a glass of coke. I’m too wired and awake to contemplate sleep now. Ben’s revelation has all sorts of crazy plots swimming through my overemotional brain and Jake seems far too calm and in control from this revelation, to be good for him.

“So … The baby could be either of ours and yet she failed to mention it?” Jake appears pensive. He’s been in closed-off thoughtful mode since Ben’s disclosure, with his dark looks and scowling tone, and I really want to know what’s going on in his brain. He’s not someone to hide a temper flare-up unless something more sinister is brewing in that clever head of his. This is very much business brain mode and usually means a whole lot of trouble is brewing in its calculated depths.

“She came to me after the awards show. The after party you and she apparently hooked up at.” Ben downs his gin and slides the glass away while Jake continues to cradle and swirl his. “Told me she wanted to give us another go and proceeded to fuck me stupid for three days with no protection because she was on the pill. Then I never heard from her again.” Ben’s face tightens, anger on show, now obvious to the game of manipulation he’s been duped into.

There’s a lurch in my stomach at the disgust of any woman being that vile, that conniving.

“But if she was on the pill then she wouldn’t have got pregnant, right?” Ben looks at me as though expecting to confirm it, but Jake cuts in.

“Emma’s pregnant and she was most definitely on the pill.” I nod, what else can I do in a conversation so over my capabilities right now. This bitch was riding Jake’s back for months and now he might not even be the father at all.

“Oh … Congratulations, Emma.” Ben frowns and gazes at his glass again, both men mulling things over, trying to decide if Marissa’s pregnancy was planned or accidental.

“Thanks, Ben,” I reply shyly, noticing Jake’s unapproving glare toward Ben. I interrupt to break up whatever that look meant. “I think she got with you to ensure she would get pregnant and lied about the pill. She was making sure there would be a baby no matter what and she probably has no idea which of you it belongs too, hence the resemblance.” I carry on, instead of silently listening. My brain is whirring in chaos, trying to figure out if one woman could really be this cold and calculated.

Ben is as close to Jake in looks as earthly possible, so it would make sense to ensure that when she got pregnant, she would pick someone to resemble Jake. That way, when the baby came, he wouldn’t question paternity and possibly drop the DNA request just on looks alone.

Was she that desperate to link herself to him for a lifetime that she would do this?

How could any woman have so very little morals or self-decency?

“She’s turned down the DNA request enough times.” Jake cuts in before Ben can answer, his mind slowly turning over my theory. I can see it in his face, the same one used to churn over business proposals that I thought might be of benefit to his company.

Both men regard one another for a second, some strange look transpiring before them, and Ben sighs heavily. The atmosphere is weirdly calm considering these two are at the same table and the topic is Marissa.

“I’m sorry, Jake … Not for this shit, but for the past, for letting her get inside my head making me believe she meant more to me than our friendship did.” Ben looks defeated and remorseful sitting with a bowed head and sad expression.

My breath catches in my throat as a hit of emotion inside of me flashes, at this sudden apology right out of the blue.

Jake pauses and stiffens, exhaling loudly, before sitting back in his seat.

“You were in love with her … I thought I was too.” He shrugs quietly looking at Ben with absolutely no emotion whatsoever.

Thought? Meaning he never really was?

I catch the way he’s looking at me and I get it. He thought he knew love until he found it with the right person and my stomach somersault, a little jump of happiness, probably mildly inappropriate right now.

“I know, but I should’ve seen her what she was, the way she always twisted things, so she was the victim. For years, she had me hating you, believing that you broke her heart and she could never trust me because of it. Too stupid to realize it was all her and you were just as much a part of the fall out as I was.” He looks genuinely sorry. There’s something decent coming through about Ben, despite what I know of him and the past, underneath all that anger and rivalry is a guy that once meant a lot to Jake.

“And now? … Your obviously still in love her if you wanted to try again?” Jake watches Ben intensely and Ben shrugs.

“I was … Maybe I still am. I don’t know. I never could understand why no matter what I did she wanted you. But now I realize, Marissa doesn’t know love, she only does possession. She thinks you owe her; she hates that you walked away and won’t accept that she can’t have you. To her I’m a sure bet she can pick up whenever she feels like it so to her, I’m not any fun anymore.” He sighs, knocking his glass against the table, emotions running across his face in a flash.

“She’s cold and calculated so none of this surprises me.” Jake laces his fingers in mine and pulls my hand to his mouth, rubbing my knuckles across his lips. A gentle gesture to reassure me because of the topic, always caring about how I feel. Right now, with him and all this mess, I’m strangely detached and emotionally tired; Marissa and her antics exhaust me.

“So, what do we do now? … How do we find out who the father is?” Ben is watching us a little closely, hints of envy glimmering in his pretty face.

“We can’t find out for definite until it’s here, but I’m not one to sit back and wait while she calls all the shots. We go see her, now, and let her know her little fucking game is up.” Jake’s tone has tightened considerably, and I think the anger is beginning to settle in. The fact that she’s been deceiving us all for months has obviously dawned on him. My chest tightens and I turn to Jake with wide worried eyes.

“You want to confront her?” I sound childlike and vulnerable suddenly, every instinct telling me he shouldn’t do this tonight.

“Why not?” Jake has the look of a man severely pissed and not about to drop it. He’s also more than a little drunk and impulsive spontaneity is his worst trait when he’s under the influence.

“Because it’s stupid o’clock in the morning and you’re both drunk.” I try for sense, not getting any, with a wolf like snarl they both nod in agreeance at Jake’s plan.

“Can’t imagine a better time.” Ben quips in and both men raise an eyebrow in solidarity. It’s not hard to see that these two used to get along. They are annoyingly similar right now, reading each other’s minds, already making moves to get up.

Oh crap, crap, shit.

“You don’t even know where she is.” I sound panicked and I am. This has stupid written all over it and a part of me wants Jake to take me home so we can talk alone and process all of this. I have no idea what confronting her right now will do.

“She’s here in Manhattan, her father’s apartment.” Ben points out as Jake lifts his full glass from the table and downs it in one very fast glug.

That’s not a good sign. Oh god.

“You sure?” Jake’s even voice is simmering with rage. His no-nonsense posture and tense muscles make my heart pound through my chest.

“Positive. I was screwing her friend Amy last night, that’s how I found out she was pregnant. Amy told me where she is.” Ben shrugs into his jacket.

What is it with these Casanova men and random hook ups?

“Why haven’t you gone to see her then? Asked her before you saw Jake?” I wish he had, we could’ve avoided all of this, saved it for a time when Jake is sober, and this isn’t so fresh. I can feel anger bubbling inside of him and it’s only spelling disaster.

“I needed space to think. Then when I saw you two at the club earlier, I figured some confirmation was a good idea. For all I knew Amy was lying.” Ben is seemingly more accepting of this situation than Jake, but it’s most likely because he hasn’t had months of Marissa badgering him, arguing, and digging her claws in.

There’s something so … Jake-like in Ben … old Jake. It’s in his mannerisms and alarmingly similar face, something disconcerting about his presence and authority too. Only, Ben is less fiery, calmer, in the way that Hunter appears to be. Jake always seems like he has something hot brimming under his surface, a sense that you know he’s capable of pouncing. Changing from laid back to crazy aggressive in an instant, but Ben doesn’t. He seems to be a calmer and more relaxed person than Jake.

“No better time than the present.” Jake’s already on his feet, pulling me with him, that spark simmering, highlighting what I was thinking. I wonder if it’s the hot Italian blood Sylvana likes to boast about.

Uh oh.

“Jake. Wait until tomorrow or maybe I should go home?” inner panic is setting in and a wash of fatigue. I don’t want to get into an all-out screaming match with Marissa again, as much as the last one ended in happy tears, this one might not.

“No. I want you with me, baby. I swear we won’t need to stay long. I’m sure Ben will want some time alone with her to talk when we’re done, then I’ll take you home. I want you to witness this too.” Jake leans in, kissing me tenderly, his hand grazing my face softly and I catch Ben’s eyes on me. Jake doesn’t want to be with Marissa without me being there, always in the back of his head that I won’t trust him. I would rather he went without me in this.

“This is a better fit,” Ben says suddenly, nodding at me, “You and Emma. I see what Marissa always wanted with you and never got. It’s obvious how much you love her; it was never obvious with Marissa.” He drops his chin to his chest. “I don’t have that with her either … I don’t think I ever will, even if the kid is mine. I can’t trust the bitch anymore.” He lets out another deflated breath.

Ouch.

Ben lifts his head and gets to his feet, a showing seriousness to his face and we all head out. Jake all but has to drag me out into the crisp dawn air on a mission I want to be no part of. Jefferson appears as though by magic, and I wonder where he’s been hiding all night.

Surely that isn’t what he has to do? Sit around and wait for us?

We slide into the car and Jake pulls his phone out and dials before sticking it to his ear with a look on his face of sheer determination and a somewhat sardonic expression. It rings for a few minutes before she answers him. I can almost make out her sensual purring on the other end of the receiver even from my distance.

“Marissa, it’s Jake. I need to see you, where are you?” He sounds deceivingly sexy as he tries to keep his tone even. I know he wants to make her think he’s begging to see her for something she may actually like.

I shiver with jealousy but bite it down. He sounds like the guy from the office, the one who used to call dates and arrange casual hook ups, back when I was nothing more than his assistant. Casanova in full control.

“Stay there. I’m on my way.” He slurs a little, trying to make sure she thinks he’s coming to see her for a booty call in the middle of the night or early morning whatever it is, believing that she’s getting a drunken Jake and some sort of reunion. He’s making sure she’ll open the door to him, alone. I know it’s pretend but it still makes me hurt and emotional. I look at my lap and instantly feel his mouth against my temple.

“I love you, baby,” he whispers quietly in my ear brushing my hair back, his eyes finding mine reassuringly with a small tender smile.

Always so in tune with me.

I smile up into his adoring face and melt.

“Still a clever fucker.” Ben smiles and Jake pulls me closer, an arm around my shoulders between the two men, as he helps me get my seat belt on in the black Lexus. Ben is still on the pavement at the open door, leaning in.

“Much smarter than you ever were Benny-boy.” Jake smiles back, a moment of friendly sparks suddenly fill the air. It’s weird yet strangely comforting.

“That’s true, you saw through her shit and got the fuck away … I kept getting dragged back, repeatedly it seems.” Ben sighs and climbs in beside me. I notice that Jake has no qualms about sitting me between them. Jake of yesterday would’ve put me on one side away from Ben, guarding me possessively from the guy he hates so much. But, in the last hour something has changed between the two men, some sort of truce and forgiveness in such a simple conversation.

* * *

Getting into her apartment is easy enough; all Jake needs to do is bark two words into the intercom.

“I’m here,” and she lets us in without any hesitation.

Whore.

She has the shock of her life when she answers the door, in nothing more than lace bra and panties under a see-through robe and is faced with two angry men and a seething little blonde girlfriend. All I can do is balk and take in her slutty attire, she truly believed he was coming to fuck her.

What planet is she from?

Marissa visibly steps back mouth gaping, before recovering her equilibrium, making no attempt at covering herself. She glances swiftly at Ben, noticing him seems to knock the wind out of her sails and she pulls her robe across her protruding bump.

“What the fuck is this?!” She snaps. Jake pushes past her dragging me, quite confidently, by the hand into the large expensive apartment. It’s a loft apartment and is decorated in an almost industrial style. I don’t want to know if he’s ever been here with her, even when they were teens.

“What does it fucking look like, Marissa?” Jake growls, taking me to a low couch, sitting me down gently, plumping a couple of cushions up behind my back and running a finger across my mouth as though to ground me, trying to help me relax. His attention is always on me.

“We came to party.” Ben breaks in sarcastically. He wanders over to the mini bar and I notice the way he starts fixing two drinks, acting equally as cocky as Jake. He seems a little too comfortable in here as well. I guess this is an apartment they’ve both known quite well, and it makes me feel a tad sick.

“I want you all to leave, I don’t know what this is but …” She starts with hands on her hips, nastily pouting.

“Cut the shit, Marissa,” Jake snaps and walks beside Ben to lift a glass, downing it in one go. I cringe at every drink he takes, knowing it’ll fuel that less than reasonable side to him. Jake is more capable of ferociousness when he’s consumed alcohol.

“Were you ever going to tell me that your baby has two possible fathers, Marissa?” He glares at her icily, all hostility on show.

Ben seems immersed in cracking ice for his own drink and pours Jake another without question. He is irritatingly cool, laid back and almost smiling. I wonder if this is why they used to get on so well. Jake was the hot head and Ben was the calm one. Hunter is that for Jake now, sometimes.

It’s weird to see them so buddy-buddy, side by side at the drinks bar while impressively intimidating the shit out of her. Both scary in full-blown scowling-alpha mode, in entirely different ways. I can see why she has a hard time picking between the two when they’re like this, so effortlessly alike, domineering in their own way. But to me, Jake is far more beautiful. I like his impulsive fire way more than Ben’s cool mood.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I know which one of you is the father.” She lifts her chin nastily, no hint of remorse, surprisingly no hesitation either.

Interesting.

“Sorry … How can you tell who the father is when you fucked two men within twenty-four hours of one another?” Ben remarks snapping at her and I catch a tiny flicker of something appear on Marissa’s face.

Not knowing her well I assume it’s a tiny flail in her perfected bitch stance. She’s lost her confidence, but Jake’s sharp eyes swoops right in.

“What the fuck was that?” Jake snarls viciously, and I jump at the temper only moments ago, I was admiring.

“Hmm?” Ben looks up, a little clueless, completely non-phased with Jake’s outburst.

“That look … That tiny little falter on her calculating face.” Jake raises his empty glass like a pointing tool and

Ben is now staring intently at her. She moves her hands to her hips.

“You can stop the double act and get the fuck out before I call security,” She walks toward me, and Jake grows a little taller, bristling if she dares come anywhere near me. She sees it in the corner of her eye and halts, changing direction and goes to the chair near the door. It seems like she knows enough about that Carrero temper to not be sure of how he would react to her getting so close to me. At last she realizes I mean more than life to him and it gives me a sudden sense of calm and control, old Emma moving in, making me sit a little taller.

“You have thirty seconds to leave.” She sounds confident and bolshie but both men just laugh at her, almost manically.

“I’d love to see your fucking security try sweetheart.” Jake bubbles, his anger simmering as he downs another drink equally as fast as the last. I’m a little nervous. I’m starting to wonder if his fast alcohol consumption is wise. He knows how it can make him and Marissa isn’t someone he can take his fists to. He’s bristling for a fight and I pray to God she doesn’t bring any men in here that he can inflict damage upon.

If I was her, I’d fear the psychotic sound to Jake’s tone. He can be as scary as hell and I can’t imagine what he’d do to her security.

Ben isn’t much of a fighter against Jake, but I’m sure he would give it a damn good go countering some heavy-handed bouncer. He has Jake’s build and height and looks like he could inflict a great amount of damage and, despite downing as much booze as Jake, he still appears to be the calmer of the two.

“What do you want? You want me to say yes I fucked you both?” She laughs and nothing, but manic bubbling come out; acting like this amuses her. I’m starting to wonder if she’s mentally all there.

“We already know that sweetheart.” Ben glares at her icily.

Yes, that’s what it is, ice and fire, Ben, and Jake. I can see it clearly now.

“So, what? You’re going to try to force me to consent to DNA testing when it’s born? You can both fuck off and I’ll see you in court! No one can do anything to this kid without my fucking consent and as neither of you will get a chance to be alone with it … good luck with that!” She gets up and goes to walk airily toward the phone sitting on the table beside me. I automatically pick it up, standing to meet her.

“Looking for this?” I hold it up. “Calling your security?” I raise an eyebrow at her and catch Jake moving nearer to me from the corner of my eye, always trying to protect me. He’s ready to take her down, I have zero doubts about that and I’m not sure how I would react if he did. Jake isn’t someone who would hurt a woman, but if he felt I was in danger maybe he would.

“Thank you.” She holds out her overly manicured hand sarcastically, red talons and swinging charms, but I just slide her phone into my bag with a wicked smile. She isn’t bringing any form of help that would put Jake into fight mode until he’s finished with her.

I can protect him too.

“When we’re done … I wonder how many close friends you talk to about your pregnancy, Marissa? I know I have at least one female friend who knows everything intimately. You know? Every single tiny detail.” There’s that tiny ray of hope inside of me, the one Arrick planted a while back, the slithering of doubt that this baby is Jake’s at all. The way she seemed to confidently suggest she knew exactly whose baby this is … there’s only one way a woman would know for sure.

There’s that faltering flicker on her face again and I sense Jake’s warmth right behind my shoulder. I’m a little more empowered as he seems to get what I’m hinting at. His hand coming to my waist lets me know he’s right behind me, not that I need it. I can always feel his presence.

“I wonder how many texts you’ve sent about it?” I reach back into my bag slowly, wondering how easily I can make her fold especially if I’m right about this.

“You can’t access my fucking messages. I have a pin.” She smirks, but Jake steps in front of me protectively, sliding a hand behind him to keep me close, telling me he doesn’t trust her not to fly at me.

“I don’t need one,” he growls at her. “I’m pretty sure any of my tech guys could access your messages seeing as I managed to track my girlfriend’s cell in less than five seconds when I needed to.” He’s back to that snarling furious tone sending shivers down my spine.

So, that’s how he did it?

“What do you hope to find?” She lifts her chin defiantly, smirking, but the look of smugness has evaporated from her dark eyes, replaced with a slight hint of apprehension.

“Maybe something fun and incriminating, maybe nothing.” Ben slides in and seems to be enjoying this a little too much. I’m sure he has no idea what we’re on about but he’s playing along. An old friendship flickers between the two men who used to, so closely, have each other’s backs.

“Did I actually fuck you?” Jake comes out with it, getting to the point, and I catch Ben’s confusion flicker across his brow. He quickly regains his previous expression, blank-faced, and says nothing while turning to look at Marissa.

She snorts but doesn’t answer. Her head shaking as though this is ridiculous. Her foot tapping and hands firmly on her hips as she pushes her bust out. She looks impressively feisty and ready to take them both on. I can see why she may have held some attraction to a fifteen-year-old Jake. He likes the feisty in me and my ability to stand up to him. He always smiled when I bristled back at him and gave him attitude as his PA.

“Did. I. Lay. A. Single. Fucking. Hand. On. You?” Jake says it very slowly, so agonizing to hear. Every word, precise, oozing with a hint of poison.

“It’s not my fault you can’t remember, baby. But you still fuck hard, even when you’re drunk, and I more than loved it. You made me cum like a freight train.” She throws me an evil look, her arched eyebrow and haughty smile trying to wound me. Ben clenches his jaw and looks away, still obviously affected by her. He has some feelings left for her, but Jake is showing that there’s nothing at all in there for her with him. Inner anger seethes and bubbles inside of me and I want to gouge her eyes out.

Fucking bitch!

“I never did I?” Jake sounds shocked. My head snaps up to him wondering what he sees close-up in that cocky whore’s face that I can’t. She hesitates and looks back at him, like she’s been caught, and she loses the mask for a millisecond. It quickly draws back up, but I think even Ben caught it, a tiny flicker of shit he knows.

“Yes, you did,” she snaps a little too quickly. The flicker turns into a full-on twitch as she has trouble keeping her face under control.

“No, I didn’t. I can tell when you’re lying to my face … I never had sex with you, did I?” Jake’s tone has completely dispersed, instead of rage he sounds shocked, something in his brain whirring and clicking. Figuring it all out, trying to work through the drunken haze of a night he still can’t remember.

“Marissa? Surely even you couldn’t scrape as low as that?” Ben snorts in absolute disgust and I see the ways she clenches her teeth, pure hatred emanating everywhere. Ben shakes his head, appalled, deciding that this is the truth right here. He walks off to get another drink.

“That night in the hotel …” Jake’s lost in memory and talking out loud, his voice a little soft, “… You never said my baby. You said you were having a baby.” He seems to be trying to pull something out of his head, running fingers through his hair. “You knew I would see a lie when you were faced with me that way.” His chin lifts again and glares at her angrily.

“You’ve got no clue of what you’re saying.” She throws her hair back over her shoulder and turns to storm off, but Jake’s lightening quick reflexes means he catches her wrist and pulls her back with serious aggression; yanking her to him with a hollow thud as she hits his chest with her arm, he draws her wrist up to his shoulder angrily. The grip is harsh, even from here.

“You said you were pregnant and having a baby. You asked me what I was going to do about it, but you never actually used the fucking words my baby … Not once … In that whole conversation. Later when we were separated by lawyers and distance, sure … but up close like this … Never fucking once!” He’s standing but his back is bent, nose to nose with her, voice seething, scarily intimidating and I being to wonder if he’s capable of hurting a woman in this state. I recoil behind him, suddenly unsure of this person I’ve never seen before coming out.

My heart is pounding and every part of me is fighting to intervene. I can’t let Jake hurt her even if I hate her. I would never look at him the same way. This isn’t what I want, this isn’t who I love. I can feel his hatred for her sweeping off him, around us, like smoke filling the room. So many memories of cruel men with power over me and I can’t let that happen to anyone else, even her.

“Stop it, you’re hurting me,” she snarls through gritted teeth but there’s fear in her eyes too. She doesn’t know this version of him and neither do I. I feel faint with the confusion tearing through me. My hands cover my mouth and I have absolutely no idea what to do. Even Ben looks a little uneasy at this terrifying version of Jake in full-on viciousness and he tenses as though ready to intervene.

“Did I fuck you?” His angry glare and nasty growl, through clenched teeth, show a man on the verge of so much rage it’s sweeping off him in droves so powerful the air seems to be cracking around him. His knuckles are white with the grip of his fisted hand by his side, and the one on her wrist is almost crushing her. This is a side to Jake I’ve never known and he’s terrifying.

Her eyes fill with tears and she stops pulling at her wrist because it obviously hurts. The color drains from her face, her eyes losing a little of their confident arrogance and her lip starts to wobble in the presence of this version of him. She feels the same fear I feel, but she’s the object of his pure undivided attention so I can only imagine how much worse it really is. He’s almost nose to nose with her in the most vicious scowl I have ever seen. I reach out to his back and touch him, a begging touch, to stop hurting her for me. I may hate her but right now I can’t bear to see her hurt like this, not by him or any man. No women ever deserves to be treated this way even if she has done the unthinkable.

His grip loosens enough for the color of the pale skin in her fingers to start warming again. He’s responding to me even full of rage and I calm a little, knowing he’s still in there and still responsive to me. He hasn’t succumbed to some red veil of rage and blanking me out at least. Marissa looks ashen faced and scared.

I don’t blame her; this isn’t my Jake. This is a man with the potential of someone like Ray Vanquis, someone with enough strength and aggression to make a woman submit to the truth by any means. Someone who could beat a woman to the floor without a second thought if he wanted to.

The tears start pouring down my face, willing me anywhere but here so I don’t have to witness what he thinks is necessary. I couldn’t forgive him if he does this. I don’t want to see this, so many memories brimming to the surface of my brain and wounding me.

“You still want me,” she whispers to distract him, aiming for some emotion inside of him that she’s sure he still has for her, trying to manipulate and claw back some of the man she previously knew. But this time she’s pushed him too far.

“Marissa, I fucking hated you for years, but I don’t hate you anymore, because I don’t give enough of a fuck about you to feel a single fucking thing.” He lets her go, with a voice as cold and empty as ice and steps back, much to my absolute relief. I feel faint with it.

His words must sting as eyes fill with moisture and tears come pouring down. If it were me, I’d be dying right now knowing that Jake could be so brutally cold and cruel and emotionally dead inside. My body sags with relief that he’s backed off and I’m so confused with all the emotions hitting me over this scene.

I shiver and wrap my arms tightly around myself, willing my Jake to come back into this room. I hate being here without him. I need him to be the one dealing with this, not this crazy, rage brimming Jake that Marissa seems to have pulled out of him. He’s like a stranger to me.

He stands towering over her, every part of him poised and solid. Even Ben has moved away far enough for me to get the impression that this isn’t over, and I start to tense again. That tingle in the air, a mix of dangerous and crazy, lingering and I am on the verge of tears again. My body, heart, mind, and soul are really struggling to endure this.

She doesn’t say anything, just looks from one man to the other in desperation, like she knows she’s losing and is floundering at what to do. Afraid of the man before her, her face softens, her tone changes, eyes widen to alarming Bambi type levels. Her whole body seems to sag and turn submissive.

“Ben?” she whispers tearfully reaching out for him, turning on the tears and victim eyes much like my mother used to do, as though trying to get some sort of comfort or reaction. She’s acting scared hoping Ben will protect her from the obvious lunatic in the room.

She’s completely nuts.

“I don’t think so, sweetheart. I’m done being head-fucked by you. Just answer him.” Ben downs another drink, clinking the glass down on to the counter without another look her way. Offering no help at all but he does, however, shift closer and I wonder if deep down he would still protect her; especially from this angry and raging man stood in front of her. Jake is possessed by something, by her and their past, and the way she nearly messed-up our future; all his anger is focused on her, built up, ready to burst.

She raises her chin in one last show of pride and then nastiness moves in, a darkness taking over her face as she stands tall to meet Jake with matched venom. She’s decided to stand and fight. A switch in her head goes off and a new personality steps in; she knows she’s lost so she’s going down in a blaze of fire.

“All your lame-ass drunk self could do was talk about her.” She nods at me nastily, eyes never leaving his, defiantly. “Some fucking assistant you were hung up on, then you told me to fuck off, before you passed out face down, fully dressed.” She’s decided that if the truth is to come out, she’s going to do it in grand fashion, twisting the knife at the same time. She’s on a sinking ship and doing herself no favors.

A massive gust of relief rushes through me, my heart soaring, squealing, and aching that even back then, Jake obviously loved me. It makes me forget the past few minutes, in elation. But I need to hear her say it, I need to be a hundred percent certain. I want the actual words to finally free us from all the anguish she’s held over us these past few months.

“So, I never touched you in any way … Nothing?

Not once?” Jake is back to snarling as pieces of the puzzle click into place. The agony of these past few months and

all the drama and hassle she’s caused over a baby that

wasn’t even Jake’s? All of that and there was never even

a tiny sliver of a chance at it being his. He is ripping her

head off with his eyes, yet his ferocious unpredictable

poise has slowly dissipated. Her confession was all he wanted. It was all an act, a maneuver, another Carrero manipulation on his part.

“You were as much of a disappointment to me that night as you always have been, Jacob. You don’t know what to do with a real woman like me and you sure as hell couldn’t get it up. Yeah, I fucked Ben to make sure I got pregnant because payback is a fucking bitch!” She slaps the glass out of Ben’s hand since he’d sauntered over to hear every word from the lying whore’s mouth. It smashes to the floor and she turns on her heel storming away.

Jake seems to be immobilized in rage and maybe relief, while Ben with blinking disbelief, is still trying to take in the fact that he is one hundred percent the father. He’s ashen faced as though it’s dawned on him that he’s having a baby … with her!

He has the look I must’ve had when I found out about tadpole, and Marissa’s baby.

“Marissa?” I call after her and she stops, spinning her head to me with a look of complete hatred. I toss her phone onto the floor between us, not caring if I break it and scowl right back.

“You’re pathetic … It’s sad that you had to go to such lengths to get something he gave me so freely.” I lift my

chin and slide my hand into Jake’s, anger tremoring through his body, vibrating with rage, as I tug him with me. I’m no longer afraid of that scary psycho look on his face. Jake would never hurt me in that way no matter how seething he is, and my touch seems to calm him. He never left me in here at all, he just needed to push her to break her barriers and confess, always the manipulator and never a Vanquis.

I was stupid to ever doubt him.

“Take me home, Jake, I want to go home.” I turn my adoring eyes to the man who loves me, smug at the seething despise on her face as she watches us. Secure in just how little he must’ve ever felt for her to be able to scare her that way and now elated that her hold over him is gone.

Jake slides an arm around me pulling me in, watching the sheer toxic rage in her eyes, and we leave Ben and Marissa to sort out the future their baby will have now. I niggle with a little remorse at poor Ben’s crushed demeanor as we walk out.

With every step away from that apartment Jake seems to lose some of the soaring anger coursing through his body and starts to loosen up. Every footstep pulls him back to the man I know and love and as we reach the stairwell, his palms slides over my stomach with a huge sigh of relief. He pulls me to a stop before hauling me into his arms and exhales slowly right into my hair in an all-consuming full body embrace.

“I’m sorry I scared you, bambino … Really, really sorry. I just needed to push her for the truth … I needed her to be scared enough to admit it.”