Zach and I sat in the restaurant sized kitchen in Tanner's house. It sure was a blessing being able to read minds. Even though father had kicked all of us out of the living room I still knew what was going on. That said, I was more focused on my best friend, who sat beside me at the bar. Zach looked as if he had just been dumped. I did my best to stay out of his mind, I didn't want to invade his privacy. "I'm not mad at you. You did what you could and I appreciate that." I said staring straight forward.

"I know. I'm mad at myself. I should have killed the son of a bitch, but I froze. I didn't want to risk her getting hurt if I was too reckless. What's worse is I let it happen again. You needed me and I did nothing. I'm sorry Finn." His eyes remained downcast at his scotch. His lengthy body was folded over the granite counter top. This wasn't Zach. He was normally the one with all the optimism and energy. I searched his thoughts: 'I don't know why I offered to help. Everyone knows I freeze when I'm needed most. I just don't want to be the reason why Finnigan is without the one thing that actually makes him happy. I remember when I had that...' A tinge of guilt hit me. I shouldn't have read his thoughts.

"Hey," I placed my hand on his shoulder, "it's going to be okay. Jessica is safe. My father is doing a blood test. After that he will break the news to Tanner, and we will be home free."

A scream rippled through the house. Not just any scream, Jessica's scream. Zach jumped up out of his seat. "That was Jess!"

I scanned her thoughts, 'How the hell had he done that? He snapped it back without using his hands. Was my blood really that magical?'

I couldn't help but smile at the reassurance. "She's fine, my dad drank her blood and fixed her nose. If you're all that worried, let's go check." I understood his worry. I would be a wreck if I couldn't hear her in my head.

Zach sunk back onto the bar stool, "no. Every time I go near her something bad happens. You go check. I'll be here."

I sighed, as much as I didn't want to leave him I knew that Tanner had to have heard her scream too. He was more than likely barging into the room right now. I better go check.

I made my way back the entertainment room making sure to take my time. Tanner didn't need to know I cared about her. Not yet anyway. Sure enough, I was right. Tanner was already in the room questioning my father. I leaned up against the doorway and watched from a distance.

"You're a Pureblood? Wait, Finnigan drank from you?" Ha. Took him long enough to notice. He searched for my bite marks and finally found them on her neck. That must hurt his 'bad boy' pride. "What the hell, Jessica?!" He yelled. Why was he pissed at her? It's not like I had given her the choice. What a dumb ass.

She flinched. "Y-you told me to behave. He was my master for the week. I-I thought...I'm sorry." I rolled my eyes. "Don't be mad at her. She did whatever I asked, exactly like she's supposed to." All their attention changed to me.

Tanner appeared in front of me, "I hope you enjoyed it because you're never going to see her again."

"Wanna bet, brother?" I smirked. I wanted him to even try to attack me. Without Jared around he was nothing. I could beat the shit out of him and I gladly would. Right in front of his ex-girlfriend too.

"Boys. I told you, you were not to bug us. Go in the study and wait for me to join you. If I get there and you two are still fighting I'm leaving ,with Jessica." My father threatened.

"Yes father," Tanner and I said in unison.

I walked away with Tanner following behind me. Jared waited for us at the top of the east wing stairs. "Did he kill her? I was really hoping he was going to let us do it. I know exactly how I would have done it. He should have let me do it." Jared rambled.

Normally, I would have responded with something fun and witty, but I pushed right past him. There were way more important things to focus on than Jared and his dumb ass remarks. I opened the double doors to the study and sat in one of the rolling chairs.

'I don't understand. Why did he lock me in here? He could have used the basement or Tanner's room but, the living room? This is strange. Having a human babysitter is even weirder.'

It sounded like dad locked Jess up for safe keeping. I was definitely thankful for that. I didn't need her hearing any of what we were about to discuss in our meeting. I turned my head to see Zach and Tanner enter the room followed by father. He closed and locked the double doors behind us.

"Why the hell does he get to be here? Jared wasn't allowed." Tanner protested.

Dad sat at the head of the desk and faced us as we all sat side by side. "Because he is an important part of what this entails. Now, this is going to be a little hard to hear. But I need you to know that everything I do, I do for this family," father began. I watched Tanner out of the corner of my eye. What was my dad going to lead with? The pregnancy? Or my taking her from him? I was glad I wasn't the one having to tell him....

"I know of the awful things you have done to Jessica. Given the new found proof that she is a Pureblood, it is in all our best interests that she is kept somewhere out of harms way. Mainly, away from you and Jared." Over the course of my father's life he definitely mastered his business voice. There was not a hint of emotion to it.

Tanner's eyes narrowed, "you can't do anything to her without my consent and I most definitely decline. She's mine and she will stay here. Jared and I do fine taking care of her."

I glanced back at father, his chiseled face still showed no expression. "I'm sorry son, but that is inaccurate. Because it was my bank account that the money came out of to pay for her and my name is on the bill she is legally my property. So no, I do not need your permission to take her from you."

"So, what...you're going to take her in!? You're rarely at your house! How are you going to make sure she's taken care of?"

"Actually," I cut in, "I'll be obtaining custody of her."

Tanner pivoted his head in short movements in my direction. "You? You have GOT to be kidding me. Why didn't I realize this before?" He laughed to himself. "This is all your fault. You can never let me be happy, can you? You always have to one-up me! What kind of lies have you filled everyone's heads with this time, Finnigan? Did you spin a bunch of bullshit about how you saw Jared and I mistreat Jess while she was here those three short days or something? Huh?" He spoke half with his voice and half with his hands.

I admit, I should have let my father explain but I hated how he was talking to him. I couldn't help but cut in. "I didn't lie about anything. Jessica," I paused. Here I was, breaking my promise to her yet again. "Jessica told me everything about you three. I know all of it and Zach showed it to me through her memories too. There's a lot you don't know too, Tan. Jared's a monster to her. He's done such horrible-"

Tanner stood up and cut me off, "Stop, just stop. Don't bring him into this! He has been a better brother to me than you ever have! You don't see him trying to pry the one thing that makes me happy away from me!"

"You're right. He hasn't. He just assaulted her, almost drowned her, and killed what could have been your child!" I couldn't stop myself. He was so damn arrogant. It drove me nuts.

Tanner retreated away from me, taken aback by what I had said. "What? You're lying. Jessica would have told me if any of that had happened."

"Except she couldn't. Not with Jared always right next to you." How was he this blind?

"I can show you," Zach finally spoke. "I'll pull it straight from Jessica's mind if it'll help."

"Fine." Tanner spat. "Show me then."

----------------------

Happy New Year!

Things are getting tense... see you next time!

*this chapter has been edited for grammatical & developmental mishaps, enjoy!