Chapter 22.

Overwhelmed, I felt my stomach jump. Within seconds I was throwing up. The woman came up to me and put her hand on my shoulder. "Don't touch me!" I said. She quickly jumped back. Elena and Becca walked me to the bathroom. Andi was clearly uncomfortable with the ordeal. Conner, Luka and Lacy tried to stay collected, but were uncomfortable as well. The name Santoro barely fazed Jesse. He acted as if he didn't even hear it. I didn't know what he was doing, I was too infuriated with my father to even think about it. The twins walked in and introduced themselves to Jesse. "I'm Liv, and this is my brother Kane," said the girl. "It's a pleasure to meet you both" said Jesse. "Henry, may I speak to you?". Jesse ushered my father into his office.

~

"Henry-" I said. "What the hell are you doing with her?". "I don't understand," said Henry. "She's Lincoln Santoro's wife!" I said. Now I was pissed. He knows my thoughts on that family, how much we hate them, and how dangerous they were. Henry agreed to let me keep his daughter safe from them, and yet he forcibly brings them into my home. "I didn't think you still felt the same way Jesse" said Henry. "Are you kidding me? Of course, I do!" I said. "I'm sorry, I thought you only fought with him, not the wife" said Henry. "She's even worse! The twins almost killed your daughter Henry. What makes you think it's okay?" I shouted. "I just wanted to visit my daughter," said Henry. "I understand that, but you had to bring them too. How long have you been affiliated with them? You need to separate yourself from them now!" I said.

~

I walked out of the bathroom and saw everyone sitting in the living room. Elena waited by the bathroom door and helped me sit down on the couch. "So, Jenny, how'd it feel to get your throat cut open?" said Kane. "Kane shut up!" said Liv. "I'm sorry, he doesn't know when to shut his mouth". The two of them got into a fighting match. "Can you two shut the hell up?" said Andi. "Sorry Baby, you're not my boss" said Kane, sizing up Andi. Andi shot up and got in his face. "Listen kid, you're in my house, I suggest you do as I say" she snarled. "And if I don't?" he said. Andi and Kane were standing eye-to-eye in the middle of the room. "Andi-" said Lacy.

Before I knew it, Andi punched Kane in the face. "Andi!" shouted Elena. Kane grabbed Andi's arm and flipped her across his back. Andi kicked him in the groin, getting him off of her. Kane doubled over in pain and then tried to swing at Andi. As he was just about to connect his fist with her face, Andi grabbed his hand and catapulted herself over his head, clearly breaking his wrist. She wrapped her legs around his neck, choking him. Kane screamed in pain.

"Andi, that's enough" said Jesse, walking in the room. Jesse was surprisingly calm. He acted like the situation didn't bother him. Knowing him I knew, he was strategizing and considerably nervous. But boy did he do a good job of hiding it. "Mrs. Santoro, may I offer you a drink?" said Jesse. "Sandra is fine, I will pass, thank you for the offer" she said. She genuinely seemed like a nice person, but I knew from what I've been told she's the most two-faced person anyone's ever knew.

"Jenny dear, can I speak to you?" said my father, walking in the room. "Sure," I said. Jesse helped me off the couch and walked me into the other room. "If you need me, I'll be next door" said Jesse, smiling at me and walking out of the room. "How are you Jenny, really?" said my father. "I'm fine, granted in a little bit of pain, but I'm fine" I said, smiling at him. "Are you happy here?" he said. "Yes, I am very happy," I said, wondering what he meant. "Well good. I'm glad to hear it" he said, with something still on his mind. "What's wrong?" I asked. "Oh nothing, I'm just happy to see you Jenny" he said. I reached over and hugged him, lightly. "I'm happy to see you too dad,".

"I'm afraid I can't stay long," he said, breaking away from me. "I am taking Sandra and the twins to France". "France?" I said. "Why there?". "Because she wants to go there," he said. "Okay…" I said, confused. "If she told you to kill me, would you?" I said, smarting off. "Jenny," he said, getting angry. "You act like she's the only thing that matters Dad, you had the audacity to bring her here unannounced. Of course, I'm glad to see you, but her? It feels like just yesterday Mom died, and now you're just forgetting about her?" I said. I was furious, and he knew it. I was on a roll. Suddenly, Luka walked in. "Hey Jenny- oh I'm sorry am I interrupting something?". "No, you're fine Luka. We were just finishing up." I said, walking out. "J," said my father. I kept on walking.

I walked into the living room and saw everyone looking at me as I entered the room. "Jesse, a word?" I said, smiling at him. "Of course," he said. I grabbed his wrist and walked out the door. I drug him to the barn, swung the doors open, and walked in. "What's up, J?" said Jesse. I couldn't hold it back any longer. I bursted into tears. Jesse instantly threw his arms around me. "What's wrong? What did that bastard say to you?" he said, getting angry. "It's not important," I said, crying. "Well, it clearly is," he said. "Talk to me, J". "He's taking them to France, not because he wants to, but because she does. What if she's just using him for his money? He's clearly blind!" I shouted angrily. "J, calm down" he said. "I can't calm down!!" I screamed.

"Punch me J," said Jesse. "What? No." I said. "Do it, it'll help you calm down," he said. "I don't want to hurt you," I said. Jesse laughed and said, "Believe me J, you're not going to hurt me". With that, I punched Jesse as hard as I could in the shoulder. Jesse didn't flinch, he only stood there and laughed. "You're right, that did feel good," I said, feeling a sense of relief. "C'mon, try to fight me, let it all out J" said Jesse. "Jesse," I said. "I don't want to hurt you". "As you wish," said Jesse. "Hey Jesse," I said. I walked over to him, jumped on him, and wrapped my arms around his neck attempting to choke him.

Jesse started to laugh and let me hang on his neck for a minute or so before he finally stopped laughing. "Alright J," he said, trying not to laugh anymore. "You asked for it". He leaned his back forward, and I started to fall to the ground. Just before I hit the ground, he wrapped his arms around me and caught me. He just held me there, and I gazed into his beautiful blue eyes. "Jenny-" he said. Without hesitating, I kissed him. I didn't care what he had to say, in that moment all I wanted to do was feel his lips on mine.

Suddenly, I heard the door creak. Jesse shot his head up, and I turned to see who it was. I was unable to see anyone at the door. "Who is it?" I said. "I don't see anyone, that doesn't mean someone's not there," said Jesse. He helped me up, and we walked to the door. Just then, I heard the sound of something metal falling and hitting the ground. "Jesse, what was that?" I whispered. "I don't know, stay behind me" said Jesse. I started to panic, not knowing what was there.

Just then, a black figure ran across the floor. "Jesse what was that?" I shouted. I could hear it rifling through something on the floor. Jesse walked across the room fearlessly. He peaked over the table and started to laugh. "What's so funny?" I said. Jesse cocked back his gun and pulled the trigger. "Jesse, what the hell!" I shouted. I ran over to him to see a giant raccoon laying on the floor. "Guess we shouldn't leave the door open huh?" said Jesse, laughing at me.

We walked back to the house, laughing at each other. "Where did you two go?" said Becca as we opened the door. "I needed to vent," I said, smiling at her. "Then a racoon ran into the barn and Jesse shot it". "Well alright then" said Becca, laughing. Just then, my father walked up to me. "Jenny, I'm sorry we can't stay long, but we fly out in two hours," he said. "Oh well okay," I said, trying not to cry again. "It was lovely meeting you, Jenny" said Sandra. "Likewise," I said, lying. My father came up to me and hugged me really tight. "Dad-" I said, gasping. "Sorry honey" he said, letting go. "I love you," I said. "Be careful please". "I will, I promise," he said.

They walked out the door, got in my father's car, and drove away. "I'm sure I can speak for everyone here," started Conner. "But that was the most awkward experience I've ever had in my life". "I think that calls for drinks" shouted Claire from the basement. As we all started walking downstairs, I could feel Andi grab my arm. "Hold on a second J," she said. "Okay, what's up?" I said. "Are you doing okay?" she asked. "Yeah I'm fine, my throats a little sore but I feel fine" I said. "No J are you mentally okay?" she said. "I'm fine, thank you for asking" I said. "Okay, well you know you can talk to me" said Andi.

We walked downstairs and saw everyone drinking. I plopped down on the couch and exhaled hard. I could finally relax. "What do you want J?" said Claire, walking up to me bottles in each hand. "Conner makes a mean margarita" she said, laughing. "Anything with ice," I said, smiling at her. I felt as if Claire and I were starting to make peace. She didn't seem like she hated me anymore. Claire handed me a blue margarita, and I started drinking it. I was expecting a sting from the alcohol, but it didn't. The cold drink felt really good on my throat. I could hear Jesse start to laugh, really really loud. One thing was for sure, Jesse could not hold his liquor well. Despite what he thought, he couldn't. Elena and Becca came down and sat with me on the giant black, leather couch. "I could sleep on this couch" said Elena, putting her head on my shoulder.

"Listen up guys," said Luka. "Tonight, is the first night we don't have to worry about anything, we have a night... to relax". "Preach brother" said Lacy, raising her glass. Jesse tried to walk over to me. "J, come here" he said. "I can't move," I said, pointing to Elena sleeping on my shoulder. Jesse lifted Elena's head off of my shoulder and picked me up. "Jesse what are you-" I started. Jesse put a finger to my mouth and said "Shhh, it's a surprise". I could hear Andi and Conner laughing behind me.

Jesse walked me upstairs and we sat on the couch. "Jenny, I want to talk to you," said Jesse. "Are you drunk Jesse?" I asked, already knowing the answer. "Yes… I mean no… I don't really know" he said, laughing at me. He put his head on my shoulder, and I started playing with his hair. "Jesse, you need to go to bed" I said, kissing him on the forehead. "No, I'm okay," he said. "I want to go somewhere". "What?" I said. "You heard me; I want to go somewhere. We all need a vacation" said Jesse. "Okay, let's go to bed," I said, putting my head under his arm, helping him up. "I can get up," he said. "I'm perfectly fine". I walked Jesse to his room. He sat on his bed and nearly collapsed. "Are you alright, Jesse?" I said, trying not to laugh at him. "Goodnight, J" he said, mid yawn. As I walked past my room, I could hear the sound of laughing coming from inside. Curious, I stood near the door wondering who was there. The sound stopped, so I thought to myself maybe I was just hearing things.

I walked downstairs and realized everyone had already gone to bed. How did I not see anyone walk past me? I walked to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water. As I took a sip, I realized it was two in the morning. I put my glass in the dishwasher and walked down the hallway to my room. As I walked to my room, I could hear the laughing again. I turned around, confused. Nervous, I walked to my room faster. I put my hand on the door and turned the knob. I turned the light on and nearly screamed. Becca and Luka… under the covers… on my bed. "What the hell???".